Its a privilege to be here at this forum an business and science diplomacy and people from world affairs gathered for many, many years to discuss how we can to advance prosperity and peace. I'm here to represent the interests of the America people and affirm America's friendship and partnership in building a better world.





Like all nations represented at this great forum, America hopes for a future which everyone can prosper and every child can grow up free from violence, poverty, and fear. Over the past year, we have made extraordinary strides in the U.S. We're lifting up forgotten communities, creating exciting new opportunities, and helping every American find their path to the American dream. The dream of a great job, a safe home and a better life for their children.





Since my election we've created 2.4 million jobs and that number is going up very, very substantially. Small business optimism is at an all-time high. New unemployment claims are near the lowest we've seen in almost half a century. African-American unemployment reached the lowest rate ever recorded in the United States and so has unemployment among Hispanic-Americans.





I believe in America. As president of the United States I will always put America first just like the leaders of other countries should put their country first also. But America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world. American prosperity has created countless jobs all around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity, and innovation in the U.S. Has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and far healthier lives.





As the United States pursues domestic reforms to unleash jobs and growth, we are also working to reform the international trading system so that it promotes broadly-shared prosperity and rewards to those who pray -- play by the rules. We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others. We support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal because in the end unfair trade undermines us all. The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices including massive intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, and pervasive state-led economic planning.





These and other predatory behaviors are distorting the global markets and harming businesses and workers not just in the U.S. But around the globe. Just like we expect the leaders of other countries to protect their interests, as president of the United States, I will always protect the interests of our country, our companies, and our workers. We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to our trading system. Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade can we create a system that works not just for the U.S., but for all nations.





My administration is proud to have led historic efforts at the united nations security council and all around the world to unite all civilized nations in our campaign of maximum pressure to de-nuke the Korean peninsula. We continue to call on partners to confront Iran's support for terrorists and block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon. We're also working with allies and partners to destroy jihad it terrorist organizations such as ISIS and very successfully so. The nights is leading a very, very broad coalition to deny terrorists control of their territory and populations, to cut off their funding and to discredit their wicked ideology. I am pleased to the support that the coalition to defeat ISIS has retaken almost 100% of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria.





There is still more fighting and worked to be done. And to consolidate our gains. We are committed to insuring that Afghanistan never again become as safe haven for terrorists who want to commit mass murder to our civilian populations.





I want to thank those nations represented here today that have joined in these crucial efforts. You are not just securing your own citizens but saving lives and restoring hope for millions and millions of people. When it comes to terrorism we will do whatever is necessary to protect our nation. We will defend our citizens and our borders. We are also securing our immigration system as a matter of both national and economic security. America is a cutting-edge economy but our immigration system is stuck in the past.





We must replace our current system of extended family chain migration with a merit-based system of admissions that selects new arrivals based on their ability to contribute to our economy, to support themselves financially, and to strengthen our country.





We must invest in our people. When people are forgotten the world becomes fractured. Only by hearing and responding to the voices of the forgotten can we create a bright future that is truly shared by all. The nation's greatness is more than the sum of its production and a nation's greatness is the sum of its citizens, the values, pride, love, devotion and character of the people who call that nation home.





Together let us resolve it use our power, our resources and our voices, not just for ourselves but for our people, to lift their burdens, to raise their hopes and to empower their dreams. To protect their families, their communities, their histories and their futures. That's what we're doing in America, and the results are totally unmistakable.



Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley announced that Jamie Hurley has joined its Napa office as a sales associate.

A licensed real estate agent since 2003, Hurley moved to Napa in 2013 and joined Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley as assistant to Napa County real estate agent Cyd Greer.

Prior to her life in Napa, Hurley was an escrow officer in the Bay Area serving the Alamo, Danville and Blackhawk markets.

Later in her career, she worked for a construction management firm in San Francisco specializing in public works projects and then as an account executive for a risk management startup where she conducted audits on high-rise, luxury condominium developments.

Info: 707-980-3601JOHANNESBURG - Dozens of African leaders will convene in Ethiopia on January 28 for the annual summit of the African Union, with the official theme of combating corruption. But already, one man has taken the spotlight at the gathering  and he isn't even attending.

U.S. President Donald Trump's incendiary comments about African nations  in which he allegedly used a profane term comparing them to toilets  has deeply resonated among the 55-member body, according to the AU's commission chairman, Moussa Faki Mahamat.

aa aaa a aaa aaaa aaa FILE - Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission Chairperson, left, attends a Summit in Berlin, Germany, June 13, 2017. FILE - Moussa Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission Chairperson, left, attends a Summit in Berlin, Germany, June 13, 2017.

"Africa has not yet finished digesting this shocking statement and the hatred and desire to marginalize and exclude Africa that it conveyed," he said. "Such a statement, coming after others by the Trump administration on Jerusalem and the reduction of U.S. funding for international peacekeeping operations, makes one think that multilateralism is in the midst of a grave crisis. The African continent cannot remain silent on this subject."

Trump, for his part, denied making the comment during White House talks on immigration earlier this month.

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

?Rare words

Such harsh words directed at a major ally are rare for the continental body, which makes decisions by consensus and prides itself on multilateralism.

This is the second year that the U.S. leader has become a focus in an event meant for African nations to talk about reforming national institutions, restoring peace and improving the lives of some 1.2 billion people on the world's fastest-growing continent.

Last year, delegates were upset over the Trump administration's announcement that people from certain countries would be banned from visiting the U.S., which initially targeted three AU member states: Libya, Somalia and Sudan. The ban has since been expanded to include the central African nation of Chad.

AU analyst Liesl Luow-Vaudran spoke to VOA from Addis Ababa and said she expects to hear some pointed words against the U.S., but that the remarks are likely to be less vitriolic now that firebrand Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has left office. Luow-Vaudran also said she does not expect the AU to pass any resolutions on the U.S.

And that, she says, is a key weakness of the Addis Ababa-based institution: The AU is built on consensus, and getting 55 members to agree on sensitive issues is a challenge. For example, she says, while it's commendable that the continental body has chosen corruption as its theme this year, members have little power to enforce their resolutions, and are hesitant to make decisions that could be seen as trampling on the sovereignty of other nations.

"The AU, for African citizens, has yet to show its relevance when it comes to, for example, intervening in peace and security issues and crises on the continent, which, to an extent, is the core business of the AU," she said. "It needs to intervene where no one else will and mediate in crises. ... But to a large extent, the AU is struggling, because it is such a big organization in terms of member states, but it's a small organization, in terms of capacity."

When it comes to the U.S., it is clear the body doesn't speak as one: The AU's current head, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, smiled Friday as he met with Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and discussed trade and cooperation. Neither man spoke about Trump's alleged comments on African countries when they met afterward with reporters.

US President Donald Trump (R) and Rwandan Presiden FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Rwandan President President Paul Kagame attend a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 2018. FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and Rwandan President President Paul Kagame attend a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 26, 2018.

Luow-Vaudran notes, however, that for decades, the only non-African leaders allowed to speak at the opening ceremony  and again on the schedule this year  were Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, and members of the Arab League.

More action?

Elissa Jobson, AU relations adviser for the International Crisis Group, says she'd like to see more action from the AU.

"What I'd like to see on the agenda would be some of the crucial peace and security issues: The [Democratic Republic of] Congo, South Sudan and Somalia, although I expect these will not be on the agenda," she told VOA. "I think we'll probably also see them tackling another crucial issue for the African Union, the institutional reforms that have been spearheaded by Paul Kagame."

But that, she says, is the nature of meetings like this.

"I think it's similar with a number of summits like this: the main sessions, the formal sessions, countries come with prepared speeches, they're not open to debate, it's a place to get your position across without really, sort of, getting into the details of the subjects that are on the agenda," she said. "So often, the real debate takes place on the sidelines, inside meetings, in bilateral meetings."WASHINGTON - When President Donald Trump unveils his plan to beef up the nation's infrastructure plan next month, it will include a crater-sized hole.

The trust fund that pays for most federal highway and transit aid is forecast to go broke in about three years unless the government significantly scales back its transportation spending or comes up with more money. But Trump's infrastructure plan is silent on the looming problem, an administration official familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the plan and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump's plan proposes to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure spending over 10 years. But the plan seeks only $200 billion in federal dollars, relying instead on state and local governments and private investors to come up with most of the rest of the money.

The administration views the plan as a supplement to current infrastructure spending. The money would be distributed through new types of programs that are designed to generate greater state and local government and private sector spending. Also, there's no guarantee how much of the money will go to transportation projects since the administration is broadly defining infrastructure as everything from building water treatment plants to expanding high-speed internet access to rural areas.

The administration is open to working with Congress to address the trust fund later, although those conversations haven't begun, the official said.

Republican leaders have been waiting to see what the White House will propose. There is wide, bipartisan support for continuing, and even increasing, transportation spending. But most lawmakers have been unwilling so far to back tax increases or spending cuts to pay for it.

The federal government is currently spending $15 billion a year more than the Highway Trust Fund takes in through gasoline and diesel taxes. Authorized trust fund spending for the current federal budget year that ends on Sept. 30 is about $56 billion.

"Addressing the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is the most important infrastructure issue facing us today," said Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which represents state transportation departments.

"A failure to address the long-term solvency of the [trust fund] could mean a 40 percent drop in highway spending in 2021," Wright said. "We're hopeful the president will play a strong leadership role in addressing this challenge."

Citgo FILE - A driver fuels up at a Citgo gas station in Kearny, New Jersey, Sept. 24, 2014. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has proposed an increase in the federal gas tax to shore up the Highway Trust Fund. FILE - A driver fuels up at a Citgo gas station in Kearny, New Jersey, Sept. 24, 2014. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has proposed an increase in the federal gas tax to shore up the Highway Trust Fund.

?Gas tax option

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week called for a 25-cent, phased-in increase in the federal gas tax to shore up the trust fund. Congress hasn't passed a gas tax increase since 1993, primarily because being associated with a highly visible tax hike felt by most Americans is viewed by many lawmakers as political poison. Asking lawmakers to vote for an increase in an election year seems a stretch. On the other hand, 26 states have raised their own fuel taxes since 2013 without significant political repercussions.

The American Trucking Associations has proposed increasing the wholesale transportation fuels tax by 5 cents a gallon a year over four years  a little less visible than an increase at the pump. That would generate about $340 billion over 10 years, the group estimated.

Passing the administration's infrastructure plan without bolstering the trust fund would amount to "taking one step forward and two steps back," said David Bauer, executive vice president at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Michael Sargent, a transportation and infrastructure expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the administration appears to view the trust fund shortfall as "Congress' problem."

And, even if it's not in the infrastructure plan, "a gas tax increase is still on the table  the administration hasn't written it off," he said.

Chris Spear, president of the trucking group, said passage of a tax overhaul bill last month provides lawmakers with political cover if they decide to raise fuel taxes.

"You have a situation where the White House and Congress sent historic amounts of money back to the taxpayer," he said. "We're here to help this president get a bill passed ... but there has to be real dollars in there."NAIROBI - Two African dancers in tribal costumes and painted faces  one man and one woman  alternate between strong, gyrating movements and slow, smooth motions before a small crowd at the opening of the 8th East Africa Art Biennale in Nairobi, hosted by the French cultural organization, Alliance Francaise.

Halfway through the performance, the male dancer singles out females in the crowd, some foreign and some local, and one by one takes them to the floor. The perplexed volunteers try to figure out if they are to wait for instructions, mimic the male dancer's unclear movements, or do their own dance. A parallel could be drawn between the varied reactions and East Africa's contemporary art scene  emerging slowly and step-by-step.

Behind the dancers, large contemporary paintings on the wall depict interpretations of modern life in Africa  one of them an old woman in a village reading a book titled How to Get Rich.

Africa's traditional arts are making room for the contemporary  and East Africa is no exception.

"Wow, it's blossomed," declared Kenyan arts and culture TV presenter Evie Maina, when asked about the growth and development of East Africa's contemporary art scene. "Fantastic and beautiful, and it's just blossomed from how it was five years ago  very few artists participating in an event like this to now, there's all these artists that are here today."

Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Bien Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Biennale which opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya. The exhibit represents 62 artists from 11 countries. (Source - Facebook/EASTAFAB) Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Biennale which opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya. The exhibit represents 62 artists from 11 countries. (Source - Facebook/EASTAFAB)

The region's emerging talent was on display at the traveling exhibit, opened for the first time in Kenya's capital. Titled Moving Art across East Africa Borders, the show features works by 62 artists from 11 countries and aims to promote East Africa's emerging artistic talent.

The Tanzania-based show includes works from Europe and greater Africa, but focuses on promoting East African artists and their culture.

"From the history of East Africans, that uniqueness, that unique thing need[s] to be seen by the world," said Kiagho Kilonzo, director of the show. "So, we thought the East African artists, although most of them do not have  we call these folk artists  most of them do not have a lot of formal education, they use talent. But that talent make[s] them unique."

Artists

A few years ago, Joy Maringa began displaying her talent as a make-up and lip artist. Her short, dyed-yellow hair and painted, dark violet lips stand out  even in a room full of artistic and fashionable types  and draw attention to her medium.

"It's different," replied Maringa when asked why she focuses on lips. "I love lips. It's ignored. Most people don't want to talk about lips normally. And, I thought it was the best canvas for me."

Paper-quilling Kenyan artist Fatima Qureish rolls thin strips of paper into different shapes and arranges them into decorative designs or depictions  such as a small giraffe displayed on the wall.

Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Bien Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Biennale which opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya. The exhibit is part of the "Moving Art Across Africa" project which launched last year in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. (Source - Facebook/EASTAFAB) Artworks are displayed at the East Africa Art Biennale which opened this week in Nairobi, Kenya. The exhibit is part of the "Moving Art Across Africa" project which launched last year in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania. (Source - Facebook/EASTAFAB)

"Actually, I just started to decorate cards and envelopes and small things for friends and family," she said. "And, they really pushed me, like, 'You should be doing something bigger.' And, that's when I tried to do this art."

Other artists send social and political messages that resonate globally.

Visitors

Dara Wise is visiting East Africa to get in touch with the culture as an African-American, and was moved by one painting, in particular.

"There's an image of [former U.S. president] Barack Obama and he's holding a woman, and I see the woman as Mother Africa, it's like, I believe, 'Welcoming Home,'" Wise said. "And, for me, Obama is home. But, America no longer feels like home as the president that we have now."

As an American, Wise says she gets a lot of negative images about Africa. But she came to East Africa to see it for herself, "going in with a blank canvas" and "holding the brush" to paint her own image. She describes the results as "absolutely beautiful" and "humbling."

Dressed to the nines in a suit he says a friend designed, Kenyan artist Ken Othiam Omam, a visitor to the exhibit, tells VOA that East African art is taking baby steps onto the world stage.

"Like the African Art Fair in London, which had few Kenyan artists and few artists from Africa, which was more interesting [be]cause actually, [to] be honest now seeing like this, there's actually much of talent in art in Kenya and East Africa as a whole," Omam said.

The interest is mostly because it's undiscovered, says arts and culture TV presenter Maina.

"Because of that, it's like new to everybody," she said. "It's new to the artist, it's new to, you know, like, consumers of art. It's just new to everyone and it's different."Scott Cooper's western, Hostiles, starts at a U.S. army outpost in New Mexico, where Captain Joseph Blocker, played by Christian Bale, is ordered to escort a Cheyenne chief to his ancestral land in Montana.

Chief Yellow Hawk had been imprisoned in New Mexico for seven years for committing atrocities during the Indian Wars. Now dying of cancer, the chief is Blocker's mortal enemy. His orders come from "back East" in Washington, D.C., in reaction to negative press reports about the treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. Army. Blocker has to obey.

Defying the order would cost Blocker his pension and reputation. With no choice, he and his unit set out to Montana along with the ailing chief and his family.

Like many Westerns, Hostiles is a journey story throwing together a group of people from different backgrounds. But the narrative emphasizes the reconciliation of two mortal enemies, Bale's Blocker, and Chief Yellow Hawk, played by acclaimed Native American actor Wes Studi.

Wes Studi arrives at the premiere of "Hostiles" at Wes Studi arrives at the premiere of "Hostiles" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 14, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Wes Studi arrives at the premiere of "Hostiles" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 14, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

In an interview with VOA, Studi described the changing relationship as "not a full-blown reconciliation but simply a matter of having a common foe -- not only the Comanche but the weather, the land, the robbers, or the fur traders."

Bale offers a powerful performance as a U.S. Army captain legendary for his merciless attacks against the natives. Yet, his character is full of quiet dignity and stoic resolution.

Bale says Hostiles departs from the old Western trope of cowboys versus bad Indians.

In Cooper's Hostiles, everyone is capable of atrocities in a fight for survival in an inhospitable landscape. The landscape is majestic, but also terrifying, desolate and threatening.

"For me, there is a horror element to this," says Bale. "There is this kind of imprisonment that certainly, I can say, my character is feeling and at the same time, the absolute beauty of this landscape and of America, but how it could be absolutely horrific at the same time when you had so many friends die for this land."

Some critics question Cooper's tale, accusing it "of aggrandizing a white man's conscience and using Yellow Hawk and his family as vehicles for Blocker's social and spiritual awakening."

Studi, an actor and an activist, says though such alliances between whites and Indians as the film shows did exist, they never quite bridged the deep divide between the two races.

Even today, he says, Native Americans feel displaced by losing lands to oil and mineral extraction.

"Well, they've always been under threat. And now I think what's happening is that the larger American public is beginning to feel what we felt back in the day, when genocide was the practice and colonialization was actually what was practiced," Studi says. "Now that we have these public lands that are being taken over on a local level for unspoken but we know what the reason is, I think that the American public is beginning to feel the kinds of things that we felt over the ages."

LA Premiere of "Hostiles" LA Premiere of "Hostiles" Download Comp Cancel Apply Back to search results 7 of 94 results LA Premiere of "Hostiles" Overview Download now Phillip Whiteman Jr., from left, Lynette Two Bulls and Christian Bale arrive at the premiere of "Hostiles" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 14, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif. LA Premiere of "Hostiles" Download Comp Cancel Apply Back to search results 7 of 94 results LA Premiere of "Hostiles" Overview Download now Phillip Whiteman Jr., from left, Lynette Two Bulls and Christian Bale arrive at the premiere of "Hostiles" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater on Dec. 14, 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif.

Studi says the positive tone of the film is cathartic for audiences, but adds that Native Americans will not "forget what they endured in the hands of the whites."

"I dont know that there is any way or even any reason to forgive," he says, "except for one's own mental stability perhaps. But it's something, I think, any native American has an idea of what history has produced for us over the years, we will hold a grudge I think, I have no problem with saying that and I think we have every right to do so."

Asked about the message his character Chief Yellow Hawk is conveying, Studi says, "It was really a challenge to play and it also opened up thoughts about how does one perceive the world and himself at a time when it's obvious that you are soon going to die.

"You only have a limited amount of time and what in the world goes through the mind of someone who knows this? Your thoughts go to legacy, you begin to think what it is you want to do before you die?" he says.

Studi wants Native Americans to start taking charge of their own narrative. He compares Native American filmmakers, screenwriters and actors to teenagers, who are gradually coming of age in mainstream Hollywood.

"We only have entered this market since perhaps the '60s and that gives us 40 or 50 years of having made an effort to become a part of this industry and we've begun to train ourselves, began to learn what it takes to work in this industry and now we are getting to the point that we are actually talking about how to really tell our own stories and how to go about funding them and how to actually, be able to tell and sell a story to the world about who we are and it's always gratifying to know that young people are becoming more interested in doing the same thing that we've been trying to achieve for a number of years," he says.

That is, finding their own voice.After an errant ballistic missile alert terrified residents and visitors on Hawaii earlier this month, a senator from the Pacific island state says he will introduce a bill that would mandate that only the federal government could send nuclear alerts.

Senator Brian Schatz said it made no sense for local authorities to alert the public of such an event.

"A missile attack is federal," Schatz told a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Thursday. "A missile attack is not a local responsibility. Confirmation and notification of something like a missile attack should reside with the agency that knows first and knows for sure. In other words, the people who know should be the people who tell us."

The hearing was held in response to the January 13 alert that was sent to millions of residents and visitors on Hawaii telling them a ballistic missile was heading toward them and they should take shelter.

The message, which specifically said "This is not a drill," was not retracted for 38 minutes.

The Federal Communications Commission, which oversees the technical standards behind the alerts, has launched an investigation.

Lisa Fowlkes, chief of public safety and homeland security for the FCC, said the mistake was unacceptable and has eroded the public trust.

She told the committee that while she was "quite pleased" by the cooperation of Hawaiian leaders, she was "disappointed" that the person who transmitted the false alert is not cooperating with the FCC and has yet to be interviewed by investigators.

"We hope that person will reconsider,'' she said.

Hawaii Emergency Management Agency has not identified the employee. He continues to work at the agency, though has been reassigned to a section where he doesn't have access to the warning system.

An FCC spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a question about what reason the employee has given for not cooperating with its probe.CHICAGO - The mosquito-born Zika virus may be responsible for an increase in birth defects in U.S. states and territories even in women who had no lab evidence of Zika exposure during pregnancy, U.S. health officials said on Thursday.

Areas in which the mosquito-borne virus has been circulating, including Puerto Rico, southern Florida and part of south Texas, saw a 21 percent rise in birth defects strongly linked with Zika in the last half of 2016 compared with the first half of that year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in its weekly report on death and disease.

Researchers said it was not clear if the increase was due to local transmission of Zika alone or if there were other contributing factors.

The Zika outbreak was first detected in Brazil in 2015 and spread through the Americas. It has been linked to thousands of suspected cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect marked by unusually small head size, eye abnormalities and nerve damage resulting in joint problems and deafness.

For the report, the CDC examined existing birth defect reporting systems in 14 U.S. states and Puerto Rico to look for birth defects possibly associated with Zika.

They divided these areas into three groups: places with local Zika transmission, places with higher levels of travel-associated Zika, and places with lower rates of travel-related Zika.

Overall, they found three cases of birth defects potentially related to Zika per 1,000 live births out of 1 million births in 2016, about the same as the prior reporting period in 2013-2014.

When they looked specifically in areas with local Zika transmission and looked only at birth defects most strongly linked with Zika, they saw an increase.

"We saw this significant 21 percent increase in the birth defects most strongly linked to Zika in parts of the U.S. that had local transmission of Zika," Peggy Honein, an epidemiologist and chief of the CDC's Birth Defects Branch, said in a telephone interview. "The only area where we saw this increase was in the jurisdictions that had local transmission."

CDC researchers anticipate another increase in possible Zika-related birth defects when 2017 data are analyzed because many pregnant women exposed to Zika in late 2016 gave birth in 2017.ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN - Indonesian President Joko Widodo proposed Friday the establishment of a committee of Islamic scholars from his nation together with others from Afghanistan and Pakistan to promote a peaceful settlement of the Afghan conflict.

Widodo made the proposal as he opened a two-day official visit to Islamabad along with a large delegation of ministers and business leaders from Indonesia.

Widodo told Pakistani President Momnoon Hussain that Indonesia could play "a positive role" in the Afghan peace process, according to an official announcement after the meeting between the two leaders.

Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain in a meeting wi Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain in a meeting with Indonesian President Ir. H. Joko Widodo at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Jan. 26, 2018. (Pakistan Press Information Dept.) Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain in a meeting with Indonesian President Ir. H. Joko Widodo at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Jan. 26, 2018. (Pakistan Press Information Dept.)

"He [Widodo] also proposed the establishment of a committee of Indonesian, Afghan and Pakistani Ulemas [Muslim scholars] for this purpose," the statement read.

Hussain agreed to the proposal and both the countries vowed to work together in this regard, saying peace in Afghanistan was necessary for regional development and progress, according to the statement.

Earlier, Widodo addressed a specially convened joint session of the Pakistani parliament and underscored the importance of political stability and security for regional economic progress.

"Conflicts and wars will benefit no one," said the Indonesian president. "The people, mainly women and children, always become the most impacted ones in conflict and wars."

He was addressing lawmakers of a country accused of secretly supporting the Taliban insurgency in Afghanistan and allowing insurgents to use Pakistani soil for plotting cross-border attacks.

The Durand line, on the Afghanistan-Pakistan borde

Islamabad denies the charges and insists peace in Afghanistan is essential for stability in Pakistan.

Widodo emphasized the need for resolving conflicts through dialogue. He recalled that his own country underwent conflict for a long time.

"Conflict in Aceh in Indonesia, for example, took place for more than 30 years. A military approach alone did not resolve the conflict in Aceh," he said.

About 87 percent of Indonesia's estimated population of 260 million people are Muslims, making it the largest Muslim-majority country in the world.

There was no immediate reaction from Kabul authorities to Widodo's proposed three-nation committee of Muslim scholars.

However, a high-powered delegation of Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC), a panel appointed by the Afghan president for promoting peace and reconciliation with Taliban-led insurgent groups, visited Jakarta late last year with a mission to involve the country in efforts aimed at ending the Afghan war.

The HPC sought the support of Indonesian Islamic scholars to rally arguments against the Taliban's religious justification of their war as being against the "foreign infidels and their hirelings." That's the language typically used in insurgent statements, according to the Kabul-based independent Afghanistan Analysts Network (AAN).

The council's chairman, Abdul Karim Khalili, said Indonesia could effectively support the peace process because the country is not involved in the Afghan conflict and enjoys a "good reputation" among Afghans, with Indonesians forming the largest national group of Islamic scholars worldwide, noted AAN in a detailed article published this week on Afghan peace efforts.An Iranian official has announced the allocation of $2.5 billion more for the country's military to increase what it terms the country's "military capabilities."

Ali Asghar Yousefnejad, a member of Iranian Parliament and the spokesperson for Iran's special parliamentary committee that deals with the country's budget, told the country's official news agency IRNA on Tuesday that the $2.5 billion is in addition to what the military will receive once the fiscal year begins in March.

The country's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly approved the increase in military spending.

FILE - Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamen In this picture released by official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with a group of Qom residents, in a mosque at his residence in Tehran, Jan. 9, 2018. In this picture released by official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei attends a meeting with a group of Qom residents, in a mosque at his residence in Tehran, Jan. 9, 2018.

The additional money comes from Iranian National Development Fund (INDF), a developmental fund established in 2011 that reserves a portion of the country's gas and oil revenues and spends it on projects that the government deems necessary.

Economic protests

The increase in military expenditure comes on the heels of large-scale protests across major cities in Iran that continued for several weeks. Among other things, protesters criticized the government's economic policies and its military involvement in regional countries resulting in neglecting the well-being of its citizens.

Some analysts believe Iran is spending big chunks of its military budget on foreign military interventions and adding to the military budget means more regime interventions in regional countries.

"Huge amount of this budget will be spent for regional ambitions in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and Palestine in support of Iran proxies," Babak Taghvaei, a Malta-based Iranian analyst told VOA. "Iran extends invaluable support to its allies including Hezbollah, Hamas, Houthis and other Shia militias in the region through various projects."

In terms of how much the government spends to allegedly finance proxy wars in the region, Taghvaei said it is hard to come up with a number because the regime is secretive and denies it finances these regional wars.

Out of touch

Alex Vatanka of the Washington-based Middle East Institute thinks the allocation of additional money for defense spending illustrates that the religious-based government is out of touch with ordinary Iranians.

"Earmarking this fund a month after budget planning [for the] defense sector when people are dealing with real vital shortcomings and environmental issues shows how unrealistic and detached decision makers are in Iran," Vatanka said.

Hezbollah and Syrian flags flutter on a military v FILE - Hezbollah and Syrian flags flutter on a military vehicle in Western Qalamoun, Syria, Aug, 28, 2017. FILE - Hezbollah and Syrian flags flutter on a military vehicle in Western Qalamoun, Syria, Aug, 28, 2017.

Tehran has reportedly spent billions in propping up its allies in Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. Until November 2017 when it was replaced by North Korea, Iran topped the U.S State Department list of state sponsors of terrorism.

"Iran continued its terrorist-related activity in 2016, including support for Hezbollah, Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, and various groups in Syria, Iraq, and throughout the Middle East," U.S. State Department said in its 2016 Country Report on Terrorism.

"Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Qods Force [IRGC-QF] to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and create instability in the Middle East," the report said.

Tehran denies the charges that it supports terrorism and that it has been engaged in proxy warfare in the region.GENEVA - Two of the largest mass vaccination campaigns against yellow fever ever seen in the world have begun in Nigeria and Brazil. Both campaigns, which are supported by the World Health Organization, aim to prevent the spread of the disease.



Nigeria plans to vaccinate more than 25 million people throughout the coming year, making this the largest yellow fever campaign in the country's history. In preparation, the World Health Organization has trained thousands of health care workers on how to administer the vaccine.



The WHO says nearly 3,000 vaccination teams are being deployed across the states of Kogi, Kwara, Zamfara and Borno. In the case of Borno State, it says the campaign will focus on camps for internally displaced people and host communities.



WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic says the goal of the campaign is to reduce yellow fever transmission by achieving 90 percent coverage in those states.



"It is a part of an initiative to eliminate yellow fever epidemics," he said. "As you know, we cannot  eradicate the yellow fever virus because it is being transmitted by mosquitoes. But, with the effective vaccine that exists for a number of years now, it can be prevented. So, mass vaccination is the best way to prevent outbreaks of yellow fever."



The WHO reports the mass immunization campaign launched in Brazil will deliver so-called fractional doses of yellow fever to nearly 24 million people in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo. Fractional dosing is a way of extending vaccine supplies so more people are protected from the spread of the disease.



A full dose of vaccine provides life-long protection against yellow fever. One-fifth of the regular dose confers immunity against the disease for at least 12 months and possibly longer. That is considered an effective short-term strategy in places where the vaccine is in short supply.19292018

Brother Paul LaSalle (Norman) Bossong, F.S.C. died at the age of 89 on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at Mont La Salles Holy Family Community after a fatal heart attack. Brother Dominic was born in San Francisco in 1929, where he attended Saint Peters School, and Central District Catholic High School. He entered the Juniorate of Brothers of the Christian Schools at Mont LaSalle, Napa and received the Religious Habit in 1947. His tour of duty included Garces HS, Bakersfield, San Joaquin Memorial HS, Fresno, LaSalle HS, Pasadena, LaSalle HS, Milwaukie, Oregon, Justin-Siena HS, Napa, and of course, his beloved Cathedral HS in Los Angeles. His total dedication to the Brothers and to education showed that he was very much loved, honored, and respected.

Brother LaSalle was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Norman and Lupe, and his brother, Addison who was killed in action during WW II. He is survived by his cousin, Jean of Paradise, California. His Brothers, his friends, his colleagues, and especially his former students too numerous to mention, are also his survivors.When the White House asked to borrow a Van Gogh painting from New York's Guggenheim Museum, the request was denied. Instead, curator Nancy Spector, offered another piece of art: an 18-karat, fully functioning, solid gold toilet.

The toilet was used as a temporary interactive exhibit in one of the museum's public bathrooms. The piece, titled "America," has been described as satire mocking excessive wealth.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania had asked to borrow Van Gogh's "Landscape with Snow," for display in their private living quarters.

The Washington Post reported Thursday that Spector had emailed the White House to say the museum could not accommodate a request to "borrow" the painting, but she said the artist who created the toilet, Maurizio Cattelan, "would like to offer it to the White House for a long-term loan."

"It is, of course, extremely valuable and somewhat fragile, but we would provide all the instructions for its installation and care," she said in the email, The Post reported.

Sarah Eaton, a Guggenheim spokeswoman, confirmed that Spector wrote the email Sept. 15 to Donna Hayashi Smith of the White House's Office of the Curator.

The White House did not respond to The Post's inquiries.Grocery shopping went a little nuts in France when a supermarket chain deeply discounted jars of Nutella.

Aficionados of the chocolate hazelnut spread jostled and fought each other when the Intermarche supermarkets offered the treat at a 70 percent discount.

"They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand," one customer told French media.

Videos posted on social media showed huge crowds gathered around pallets of Nutella, with people grabbing as many jars as they could carry.

In some stores, including in Ostricourt in northern France, police had to be called as scuffles broke out between customers.

In L'Horme, an employee told a newspaper that he saw a customer with a black eye in the crowd. "We were trying to get in between the customers, but they were pushing us," he said.

France is the second-biggest consumer of Nutella, eating around 100 million jars per year, behind Germany.At Dadaab, the world's largest refugee camp in northeast Kenya near the Somali border, they were the lucky ones. They had tickets to American destinations such as St. Louis, Missouri; Buffalo, New York; and Fargo, North Dakota.

But all the euphoria and preparations died at the stroke of a pen, when U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily halting settlement of refugees from seven mostly Muslim countries.

A year later, hundreds of Somali refugees are still in Dadaab waiting to grab a chance to live in the United States. For some, it is a matter of life and death.

Five-year-old Nimo Mohamed Nur Salan is nursing a wound from surgery to remove her kidney two years ago.

"When she is walking outside and sees other kids, she says, Mum, what if they stumble on me? What if they touch me? Push me and hurt my stomach?'" says Salan's mother, Timiro Hassan Baraki.

The girl faces another serious challenge. She has been diagnosed with nephroblastoma or Wilms' tumor, a type of kidney cancer. She has had one cycle of chemotherapy but needs more extensive medical treatment, says her former doctor, Aden Hassan.

Hassan said treatment is too expensive in Kenya, which is why the child was referred for resettlement. "If untreated, she won't make it. Her system will shut down," he told VOA Somali. His interview and the others in this story were conducted by telephone.

Salan's mother worries. "She will die, I don't know what to say," Baraki says.

Somali refugee boys recite the Koran at a Madrassa Somali refugee boys recite the Koran at a Madrassa, or Islamic religious school, at Dadaab refugee camp, Dec. 19, 2017. Somali refugee boys recite the Koran at a Madrassa, or Islamic religious school, at Dadaab refugee camp, Dec. 19, 2017.

Relying on Allah

Salan is the youngest of nine siblings. She and her family were looking forward to living in Fargo. The family was only waiting for a flight; they had gone through a full screening process that started years ago. That dream has now been revoked.

Refugees were stripped from the travel ban in October and became the subject of their own presidential order, which imposed additional screening requirements on 11 countries. The countries were not specified, but are thought to include Somalia.

"What am I going to tell Trump? He is not listening to other big countries. Some of his compatriots appealed to him, and if he resisted to listen to them, he is not going to listen to me," Baraki laments.

"If I just add my appeal, I would tell him that we have been refugees here for almost 30 years. We have been waiting our luck for resettlement for a long time, which you [U.S.] have offered to us. We didn't know even what resettlement mean, you said you will take us to your country, and now you are blocking that. This has been painful to us and shocking what the president is doing. You have extended the carpet; now you are folding it."

Baraki falls back on her faith: "Nimo was brought to this world by Allah; her health and fate are up to Allah."

U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi, center-right, v U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi, center-right, visits a hospital as he tours Dadaab refugee camp, Dec. 19, 2017. U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi, center-right, visits a hospital as he tours Dadaab refugee camp, Dec. 19, 2017.

If the door closes ...

Salan is not alone in desperately needing health care. Hassan says at the top of the list are children with congenital heart disease that requires open heart surgery, most of them under 5 years of age. He knows of a 3-year-old boy, who died while waiting to go to the U.S.

"Literally, their heart is not working normally, and the more they stay in the camp, the higher the chance of heart failure and the 3-year-old is just a case of heart disease that was waiting for resettlement," he says.

Ahmed Noor Hussein, 6, also has serious health problems. He is suffering from nephrotic syndrome, causing his kidneys to fail. Diagnosed with the disease when he was only 18 months old, Hussein has been evacuated to Nairobi's Kenyatta Hospital for medical emergencies more than 12 times. The last time, he spent 65 days in the hospital.

Referred for emergency resettlement, Hussein had his case submitted to the U.S. government in October 2015 for consideration. In September 2017, the family was interviewed at the camp's Refugee Support Center, which comes under the State Department's Refugee Admissions Program, and is a first stop for applicants.

Four months later, he still has not heard. His father, Noor Hussein, believes the case has dragged on because of the new restrictions.

"It's very clear it's stagnant because of the Trump decision," Hussein says. "It affected everything, including people like me. Other countries that were accepting these cases were influenced by Trump's decision."

"The doctors said if he gets treatment in one of the developed countries, it's a possibility he could live. If not, he is likely to die," Hussein says of his boy.

Baraki is unsure if her daughter will get the opportunity again. "If the man closes the door to you, you knock the door and he does not open, you get around and still can't get in, then you accept it and go back," she says.

FILE - An aerial view shows makeshift shelters at FILE - An aerial view shows makeshift shelters at the Dagahaley camp in Dadaab, Kenya, April 3, 2011. FILE - An aerial view shows makeshift shelters at the Dagahaley camp in Dadaab, Kenya, April 3, 2011.

So close, yet so far

On January 23, 2017, Liban Aden Omar arrived in Nairobi to prepare for his flight to the U.S. six days later. His itinerary would take him through London's Heathrow Airport and Newark, New Jersey, where he would catch another flight to Buffalo, New York.

This was the break he was looking for. He was being resettled because he was an orphan. In the U.S., he would be able to help his grandmother, who raised him from a young age. But two days before his scheduled flight came the travel ban.

"I was sent back to Dadaab. But just two days later, we heard a judge blocked the ban, and we came back to Nairobi for a flight on February 12," says Omar.

Then his situation took a disastrous turn. Omar says doctors with the International Organization for Migration called him before the flight.

"They said, We'll take you to the hospital for a checkup again. (You) will have to miss the flight on February 12 and will be put on another flight on February 21.'"

Omar says he was taken to a hospital and had an X-ray. He was told doctors had diagnosed a spine injury and he would need back surgery.

"I went into surgery, and the next thing I know my legs are paralyzed," he says.

Doctors told him he would need physical therapy. He was put a Nairobi hospital and then moved to a second hospital, but did not regain his walking ability. Last week, almost a year later, he was returned to Dadaab with his American dream in tatters and worse, his life turned upside down.

"Imagine leaving your friends healthy and to come back like this, unable to walk," he says. He had a wheelchair to move around in hospital, but that did not come with him to Dadaab. "I was carried from a car and then thrown on to a mat."

Omar says he was told many times he would be resettled to the U.S. He says refugee representatives who visited him in the hospital said they would also try other countries, to no avail.

"I need care all the time; I have none," Omar says. His aged grandma is blind, unable to care for another person. He says the planned trip last year to the United States would have made his life completely different.

Even now with his spinal injury, he can't understand why he was not resettled, a gesture he says would have benefited him.

VOA Somali contacted IOM doctors in Nairobi, and they refused to discuss Omar's case.

FILE - The sun sets over the Ifo extension refugee FILE - The sun sets over the Ifo extension refugee camp in Dadaab, near the Kenya-Somalia border, in Garissa County, Kenya, July 31, 2011. FILE - The sun sets over the Ifo extension refugee camp in Dadaab, near the Kenya-Somalia border, in Garissa County, Kenya, July 31, 2011.

A 'need to resettle'

"There is a need to resettle these people." says Mohamed Abdi Affey, the special envoy of the UNHCR High Commissioner for Somali Refugees. "We have identified them as cases that deserve resettlement, and we hope that the quota or the number that essentially have been allocated to Somalia comes back, because as special envoy I believe that the Somali refugee situation is not out of the woods."

Affey told VOA the U.N.'s refugee resettlement agency has processed the cases of about 20,000 refugees in the Horn of Africa for resettlement. Of those, more than 15,000 are in Kenya.

He says U.S. resettled about 2,000 Somalis last year compared to nearly 10,000 in 2016 and just over 7,000 the year before.

Even the larger numbers are a small drop in the refugee population. Affey says resettlement cases, the most vulnerable, generally account for less than 1 percent of the overall refugee population.

"They have gone through security background checks, including processes that U.S. has put in place in order to ensure that anybody who is coming into the country is well screened," he said.

Affey urges the U.S. government to reverse the travel decision: "The U.S.  is a country that has been known, and it continues to be known, as a champion of refugee protection. And we hope that that spirit, we hope that fantastic name is maintained and maintained for the protection of humanity."Heavy rain is compounding the threat to villages surrounding the Philippines' Mount Mayon, a volcano that has been belching fumes, ash, and lava for the past two weeks.

The State Vulcanology Institute says lahar, or mudflow carrying volcanic debris, is a major threat to the low-lying communities surrounding the volcano. Officials warn that boulders rolling down the volcano's slopes could wipe out entire houses. And lava, or molten rock, carried in the lahar can destroy anything in its path.

Some 81,000 people have evacuated the nine-kilometer "danger zone" around Mayon. The threat level is at 4 on a five point scale, as experts warn a full eruption could come at any time.

The Philippines National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Friday that classes had been suspended in 117 towns and cities near the area and that nearly 100 flights had been canceled since January 22, as the community remains braced for disaster.

With Legazpi city in foreground, the Mayon volcano With Legazpi city in foreground, the Mayon volcano erupts anew at dusk, Jan. 25, 2018, in Albay province about 200 miles (340 kilometers) southeast of Manila, Philippines. With Legazpi city in foreground, the Mayon volcano erupts anew at dusk, Jan. 25, 2018, in Albay province about 200 miles (340 kilometers) southeast of Manila, Philippines.

Mayon, the Philippines' most active volcano, continues to belch fountains of red-hot lava and ash plumes reaching as high as three kilometers above the crater, according to the latest report from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. The institute said Friday that swiftly moving walls of superheated gas and volcanic material were being detected more than five kilometers from the summit crater.

Lengthy displacement possible

Officials warned that residents taking shelter in 69 area evacuation centers might remain displaced for as long as three months, based on the volcano's previous eruptions.

Experts said Friday that the volcano might have expelled about 30 percent of its molten material, but its swollen sides still indicated a powerful eruption might be coming.

A spokeswoman for the disaster council, Romina Marasigan, told reporters, "We remain on red alert." In addition to those taking shelter in evacuation centers, she said, nearly 12,000 people have gone to stay with friends or relatives, or are staying in tents outside the danger zone, which is considered to be anywhere within eight kilometers of the volcano.



Some residents who refused to leave were being compelled to evacuate by local officials.

News reports said there were already concerns about hygiene at the evacuation centers. Government officials admitted there were not enough toilets.

Volcanic ash from Mayon volcano's eruption partly FILE - Volcanic ash from the Mayon volcano's eruption partly blankets Guinobatan township, Albay province, Philippines, Jan. 24, 2018. FILE - Volcanic ash from the Mayon volcano's eruption partly blankets Guinobatan township, Albay province, Philippines, Jan. 24, 2018.

Nestor Santiago, assistant secretary at the Philippines health ministry, told reporters that the province "is doing everything to close the gaps for these toilet facilities."

Health care workers also fear that falling ash will cause or exacerbate respiratory ailments at the centers. A further danger is lahar, or flows of volcanic material that can stream down the sides of the volcano and devastate everything in its path.

No looting

Maria Evelyn Grollo, who was managing a grade school-turned-shelter for more than 4,000 people near Legazpi city, told the Manila Bulletin that some evacuees were going back to their properties inside the danger zone during the days to check on their houses and property, and returning to the evacuation shelters at night. A civil defense official in Legazpi told the French news agency AFP that so far there had been no reports of looting.

Located more than 300 kilometers from Manila, Mayon is one of the Philippines' 22 active volcanoes. Records show Mayon has erupted at least 50 times, the worst in 1814, when the town of Cagsawa was buried in volcanic mud and over 1,000 people were killed.

The Philippines is situated on the "Ring of Fire," a line of seismic faults in the Pacific Ocean that is prone to earthquakes and volcanic activity.WASHINGTON - U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is claiming credit for beginning the end of what President Donald Trump has termed American Carnage, a spike in violent crime during 2015 and 2016, the final two years of the Obama administration.

In an opinion piece published Tuesday in USA Today, Sessions pointed to preliminary FBI data showing that violent crime in the United States decreased by 0.9 percent during the first half of last year and that the increase in the murder rate had slowed.

When President Trump was inaugurated, he made the American people a promise: This American carnage stops right here and stops right now, Sessions wrote. It is a promise that he has kept.

FILE - A federal law enforcement vehicle sits in f FILE - A federal law enforcement vehicle sits in front of the United State Courthouse in Baltimore. FILE - A federal law enforcement vehicle sits in front of the United State Courthouse in Baltimore.

?Too soon to know

But criminologists say its too early to read anything into the reported six-month decline in crime and that there is little evidence to support Sessions claim that Trump administration policies contributed to it.

Its obviously positive if violent crime goes down, but I think drawing conclusions about annual trends or a leveling out based on six months of data is premature, said New Orleans-based crime analyst Jeff Asher. Im not sure the data shows anything has changed.

The attorney general attributed the decline in part to increased federal prosecution of all manner of violent criminals: gang members, human traffickers and firearms violators.

Behind decline

But Thomas Abt, a former federal prosecutor now a senior fellow at Harvard Law School and Kennedy School of Government, noted that the decline came before Trump announced his first wave of U.S. attorneys in June.

Its simply not honest to say that aggressive federal prosecution was responsible for the crime decline when the federal prosecutors that Trump nominated werent even in office at the time, Abt said.

What is more, he said, about 90 percent of criminal prosecutions in the United States are handled by local and state courts, leaving the federal government with a limited role in crime fighting.

The argument that Sessions seems to be making, which is that what we do with our 10 percent is having a big impact on the 90 percent, is a little hard to believe, Abt said.

FILE - the FBI's J. Edgar Hoover headquarter build FILE - The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover headquarter building in Washington. FILE - The FBI's J. Edgar Hoover headquarter building in Washington.

?Slowdown in murder rate

According to the FBI data, the number of murders rose by 1.5 percent during the first six months of last year, compared with an increase of 5.2 percent during the same period in 2016, a slowdown Sessions highlighted as an achievement.

Asher dismissed the change as insignificant.

Im not sure the data shows anything has changed, Asher said. He added that the figures still leave the countrys murder rate about 20 percent higher than it was in 2014.

The Justice Department did not respond to a request for comment.

Through much of the past year, Sessions has frequently cited FBI data on increases in violent crime in 2015 and 2016 to warn about a festering crime epidemic and to push his tough-on-crime agenda.

In February, he set up a task force on violent crime reduction and public safety. In March, he directed federal prosecutors to prioritize targeting violent criminals. And in May, he ordered U.S. attorneys to pursue the most serious, readily provable offense with the lengthiest sentences in all criminal cases.

Citing an 11 percent increase in the murder rate in 2015, Sessions told a group of law enforcement officers in August that violent crime is back with a vengeance.

Fluctuation in data

But crime data fluctuate from year to year, and Abt said it is more helpful to look at three- to five-year increments of data for evidence of a trend.

Its premature to celebrate, Abt said. What happens month to month or year to year can change.

Despite the upticks in 2015 and 2016, crime in the United States remains well below its peak in the early 1990s.

In 1991, there were 758 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 residents. In 2016, the violent crime rate stood at 386 incidents per 100,000 residents.

Criminologists attribute the decline to a variety of factors, from improved policing to community engagement to increased incarceration.WASHINGTON - The new head of South Africa's ruling ANC party is attempting to shift political power away from President Jacob Zuma - but he must move carefully to avoid triggering a backlash among Zuma's supporters and destabilizing South Africa's government, according to analysts.

Cyril Ramaphosa was elected head of the ANC in December, replacing Zuma. The change followed years of corruption allegations against Zuma and accusations that Zuma allowed the powerful Gupta family to have undue influence in his administration, including the choosing of certain ministers.

On January 8, Ramaphosa laid out a vision for the ANC that focuses on implementing reforms, improving the party's accountability and eliminating the "state capture" that critics said happened under Zuma's watch.

On the same day, Zuma announced the creation of a commission of inquiry into the "state capture" allegations.

Paul Nantulya, a researcher for the National Defense Universitys Africa Center for Strategic Studies in Washington, D.C., has worked closely with ANC officials and supporters and is familiar with the party's practices. He thinks the commission was the idea of the ANCs new leaders and Zuma had no choice but announce it.

Last December, the new National Executive Committee (NEC) affirmed the longstanding policy that the ANC, not the state president, is the center of power, meaning Zuma must take instructions from Ramaphosa, Nantulya recently told VOA Afrique.

Ramaphosa is clearly broadening his support on the basis of his anti-corruption program, says Bart Luirink, a former correspondent for Dutch media in Johannesburg. He told VOA that Zuma may have to resign.

The appointment of the Commission of Inquiry may have bought Zuma some time, but chances of him completing his presidential term in mid-2019 look increasingly bleak he said. Ramaphosa appears to be attempting to isolate Zuma, setting him up to eventually resign, Luirink said.

Supporters of the ANC wave a flag during the party FILE - Supporters of the ANC wave a flag during the party's 106th anniversary celebrations, in East London, South Africa, Jan. 13, 2018. Analysts say Cyril Ramaphosa, in his efforts to sideline Jacob Zuma, must be careful not to wreak too much dissension in the party ahead of next year's general elections. FILE - Supporters of the ANC wave a flag during the party's 106th anniversary celebrations, in East London, South Africa, Jan. 13, 2018. Analysts say Cyril Ramaphosa, in his efforts to sideline Jacob Zuma, must be careful not to wreak too much dissension in the party ahead of next year's general elections.

Two centers of power

The two centers of power, with Ramaphosa as party leader, and Zuma as state president, have raised concerns that crucial government operations could be paralyzed and the agenda of renewal and accountability spelled out in the January 8 statement could be stymied.

According to the polls, Zuma is widely unpopular. In September, a poll of South Africans in metropolitan areas found that only 18 percent feel Zuma is doing a good job.

However, the president still has support of key players in the government and private business.

Ramaphosa might risk losing this support if he makes his desire to remove Zuma too obvious, said Luirink. Although Zumas power is slipping, he still commands support in at least half of the party executive, and parts of intelligence, the security sector, some state-owned enterprises and in the cabinet, a recall appears riskier than a voluntary resignation.

Ramaphosa also must be careful not to wreak too much dissension in the party ahead of next year's general elections. The ANC has held national power since the end of apartheid in 1994, but its share of support has slipped in recent polls and the opposition Democratic Alliance now controls of the country's major cities.

According to Luirink, The ANC has the ability to renew itself and attract some of its lost support, but it all depends on how well the new leadership executes its new program of ending state capture, creating jobs, and closing the gap between the rich and the poor.

Not all of South Africa's institutions have been "captured" under Zuma, adds Nantulya. The institutions that were either co-opted or severely eroded were in the criminal justice system, parts of the police and intelligence, and state-owned enterprises. The judiciary and the institutions supporting democracy, such as the Public Protector, remained resilient," he said.

The balance of power is still evolving but Ramaphosa has clearly stamped his authority and will continue to work assiduously to turn things around. It has become increasingly clear that the ANCs electoral fortunes, perhaps even its survival, will largely depend on how well it makes a clean break from the negative trajectory of corruption, influence peddling, and state capture, Nantulya said.A fire, described as South Korea's deadliest in about a decade, raced through a hospital Friday, leaving at least 37 people dead. The death toll, revised from an earlier figure of 41, is expected to rise. Three of the dead are medical staff, according to officials, who also say many of the dead suffered smoke inhalation.

At least 140 people were injured, some critically, when the blaze broke out in the emergency room of Sejong Hospital in the southeastern city of Miryang. Officials say the six-story hospital was not equipped with a sprinkler system as it was not required under current law.

People look at a list of casualties near a burnt h People look at a list of casualties near a burnt hospital in Miryang, South Korea, Jan. 26, 2018. People look at a list of casualties near a burnt hospital in Miryang, South Korea, Jan. 26, 2018.

News reports say around 200 patients were inside the building and a nearby nursing home at the time, but that all 94 elderly patients in the nursing ward were evacuated safely.

Video and photos taken at the scene showed thick, dark smoke engulfing the hospital as several fire trucks surrounded the structure. Firefighters climbed ladders to get to upper floors to reach some patients, carrying some on their backs, while other patients used escape slides to flee the blaze. A city official told the Reuters news agency many patients "walked through fire and smoke" to get out of the burning hospital. It took firefighters about three hours to extinguish the flames.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting of his top aides, urging them to provide necessary medical equipment to the people who were rescued.

South Korea Fire FILE - Firefighters rescue a patient from a burnt hospital in Miryang, South Korea, Jan. 26, 2018. FILE - Firefighters rescue a patient from a burnt hospital in Miryang, South Korea, Jan. 26, 2018.

A presidential spokesman said Moon expressed his "regret and sadness" about the fire.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said that "in a rare show of unity," opposition and ruling senior officials went to Miryang to offer their condolences to the victims and their families.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

In late December, 29 people lost their lives in a fire that tore through an eight-story building in the South Korean city of Jecheon. It was the country's deadliest blaze in the past decade before Friday's hospital blaze.

The hospital fire comes as South Korea prepares to host the Winter Olympics next month in the city of Pyeongchang.Telar Ring Deng, South Sudan's ambassador to Russia, tendered his resignation Thursday in a letter to President Salva Kiir.

In an exclusive interview with VOA confirmed that he'd quit his job. "The letter is authentic. I read it and I signed it myself," he said.

Deng was appointed head of mission in Russia in 2014 after the South Sudan National Legislative Assembly rejected his first appointment, as minister for justice.

Deng declined to give reasons for his decision to leave his Moscow post. He said he would like to work toward peace in South Sudan as a private citizen.

"The subject matter is that I have resigned as ambassador representing South Sudan in Moscow. I still remain an ambassador, and I will go to the headquarters [in South Sudan]," he said.

South Sudan in Focus obtained a copy of a letter dated January 25 from South Sudan's Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol, recalling Deng to report to Juba within 72 hours for "consultations."

Deng said he resigned before receiving the letter.

Not related

"To be recalled to go to the headquarters [Juba] for consultations is not a sufficient reason for one to resign. In actual fact, I have been speculating to resign for a long time. So the two are not interelated,'' he said.

In June last year, South Sudan recalled its top diplomats from seven countries, but said the recalls had nothing to do with the country's economic crisis. The crisis, sparked by four years of civil war, has left South Sudan's government strapped for cash, and most of the country's envoys around the world have not received salaries for up to one year.

Deng said he had not been paid for many months. "We have not been paid for 10 months, but that is not the reason for my resignation," he said.

Deng has been Kiir's right-hand man since the country separated from Sudan in 2011. Kiir appointed Deng as his legal adviser in 2012.

"I will not turn my back to my country, I will utilize talents in other areas as a private citizen. I will work towards peace for our people. Our people have suffered for the last four years,'' Deng said.

He rejected rumors that he was joining the various rebel groups that have been battling the Kiir government since 2013. He called the president his "good friend'' and said he would continue to maintain that relationship.

"I did not discuss with him my decision to resign, but we will still be friends," Deng said. "We have been friends for a long time, since 1984.The fact that I pulled out as an ambassador to Russia does not destroy our relationship."

Private contributions

Deng said he would not join the various groups gathering in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for South Sudan peace negotiations. He said he would lobby for peace in his capacity as a private citizen.

"If I have contributions for the next round of talks, I will give them as a private citizen," he said.

Deng is the second top South Sudanese envoy to resign since the country gained independence. In June 2014, Francis Nazario resigned as South Sudan's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, citing a failure by the Kiir government to amicably resolve the country's ongoing conflict.

A South Sudanese diplomat said Wednesday that his country's embassy in London had been closed because of a failure to pay the rent since August. VOA confirmed that South Sudan's embassy was closed Tuesday.

But a spokesman for South Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted his government had not received official notice from its landlord in London.A year ago, President Donald Trump issued an executive order restricting travel by citizens of a handful of predominantly Muslim countries. With one of his first acts in office, the president set in motion what would be the first of three attempts to ban some travelers  including refugees  from the United States.

The so-called travel ban spent most of last year in and out of courts where its legality was called into question by immigration advocates who say the ban amounts to a Muslim ban. It still faces the ultimate challenge in the Supreme Court. But in the meantime the nations highest court allowed the full ban to go into effect in early December.

Supporters of the travel order see this in a positive light. The presidents stated purpose in the first paragraph of that first executive order was to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States. Government lawyers have heatedly defended that policy in the months since.

On the anniversary of the first travel ban order, VOA took a look back at the impact it has had on some who hoped to come to the U.S., and those already here.

Click on the images below to read the stories.

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.Roman Catholic liturgical services are open to all in this chapel of the De la Salle Christian Brothers at 4401 Redwood Road, Napa. Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11 a.m.

NAPA COMMUNITY SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH:

There is a story that we will be looking at this week that invites us to consider responding to Gods invitation right now and wholeheartedly instead to putting it off. We invite you to join us on Sabbath, Jan. 27 to hear Executive Pastor Glenn Gibsons sermon, Act Now. napacomm.com, 1105 G Street, 252-2444.

NAPA METHODIST CHURCH:

We are a progressive and reconciling church, where everyone is welcome. Choose from two Sunday morning services: a 9:30 a.m. Sanctuary service and an 11 a.m. modern-style Fusion Worship service held in the Asbury Room. Childrens Worship and Nursery are available during both services. Childrens Carol Choir meets between services from 10:30 to 11 a.m. 6th to 8th Grade Sunday School meets at 11 a.m. Silent Meditation is Mondays at 5:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary. 625 Randolph Street. 253-1411, napamethodist.org.

NAPA-SONOMA FRIENDS MEETING (QUAKERS):Last year it was tight-gripped hand-wrestling between Donald Trump and Frances Emmanuel Macron that attracted media attention. Neither male leader seemed to want to be the first to let go during their first face-to-face meeting in July, resulting in what was dubbed the never-ending handshake.



On Thursday, it was the U.S. leaders prolonged Davos handshake with Britains Theresa May that excited fevered media speculation with the British press seeing it as an expression of how the recently troubled special relationship between Britain and the United States is back on track.

The Trump-May handshake was analyzed by the European media almost as much as the grab-and-pull power pump between Trump and Macron that lasted 30-seconds and came across to some as a tussle between Alpha males. The warm handshake between the U.S. and British leaders, according to commentators, reinforced the friendly words between the two, who talked about how the two countries are joined at the hip and even the shoulder.

Tabloid newspapers in London plastered photographs of the handshake on their front-pages.

The Daily Express blazoned the question: Has May tamed Trump? And the newspaper quoted a body-language expert who commented that Trump arrived for the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland, like a posturing prizefighter entering the ring but during his press conference with May he stopped showboating and looked truly respectful.

She added that he used direct eye contact when he remarked at the news conference to May rather romantically that I will always be there for you - you know that' and he produced the most normal handshake of his presidency so far.

Britains Sky News also turned to a body-language expert to interpret the first meeting between the two leaders since their public clash over the presidents re-tweeting in November of a British far-right anti-Muslim campaigner, which earned a rebuke from May.

A love-in, pronounced the broadcasters satisfied Cordelia Lynch.



Handshake analysis



Why is a handshake so important? Transatlantic ties have taken on even greater importance for Britain as it struggles to shape a post-Brexit future. A trade deal with the United States could help offset the costs of leaving the European Union, Britains biggest trading partner, and Mays aides say a stronger alliance with America is critical to making a success of Brexit.

Hence the relief of both British officials and the countrys media at the public displays of affection between May and Trump in Davos only weeks after the U.S. leader canceled a planned trip to London next month for the official opening of a new U.S. embassy building in the British capital.

That cancellation followed a series of clashes between the pair including over Iran and intelligence leaks. The handshake was seized by the British as a public prize  an affirmation of sincerity.

But should a handshake be laden with so much importance?

Body-language has long been seen as an important element in diplomacy. Communication is to diplomacy as blood is to the human body, academics Christer Jo?nsson and Martin Hall noted in a study emphasizing that non-verbal language is as important as what is spoken during diplomatic encounters.

Trump Handshake President Donald Trump shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron. President Donald Trump shakes hands with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Body language



In 2014, USA Today revealed that the Pentagon had established a research team to study the body movements of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other world leaders in order to better understand them, assess their sincerity and to predict their possible future actions.

According to an official with the Office of Net Assessment (ONA), the goal is to learn about the physical movements of national leaders and determine if these can be used to gain insight about a leaders' attitudes, mindset, etc. ONA does not make policy recommendations, so we cannot assert with any certainty how the studies have been used by policy-makers.

Frances Macron certainly vested a lot in his handshake with Trump, admitting on French television that he viewed it as a moment of truth.

European officials and the continents media appear obsessed by Trumps body language  more than with any other recent U.S. leader.

Some commentators say thats because Trumps body language appears to be more distinct and unpredictable than his predecessors. Others suggest it is because they are still trying to take the measure of a politician, who has upended U.S. politics and foreign policy and defied expectations and norms since he entered the race for the White House and pulled off an upset win. His governing style has been as unusual as his campaigning tactics.

A former Trump aide, Sam Nunberg, argued last year that in fact Trump invites the speculation and knows what hes doing with body language. I just think the president is very cognizant of the optics of what it looks like at these multi-lateral meetings with world leaders, he told the Huffington Post website. There is nobody who is a better showman, he added.WHITE HOUSE - In a strong defense of his "America First" policies, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday told a gathering of global business and political luminaries that the world would benefit from U.S. economic power and invited them to embrace his growth-oriented philosophy.

"When the United States grows, so does the world," he said in a 15-minute speech to the closing session of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"America is open for business and we are competitive once again," he said.

As he has done throughout his political career, Trump made no apology for imposing reciprocal tariffs and tearing up trade deals and other international agreements that he sees as slowing economic growth.

WATCH: Trump Warns Rivals About Trade Practices in Davos Speech

"We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others. We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal," he said. "Because, in the end, unfair trade undermines us all."

The "America First" philosophy provoked criticism among many at Davos who advocate a coordinated global economic strategy. Without naming the United States, Brazilian President Michel Temer used his Davos address Wednesday to express opposition to what he saw as anti-free-trade rhetoric coming from world capitals.

WATCH: Trump Says America First Does Not Mean America Alone

"We know all too well that we live in a world where isolation trends are gaining ground. However, we also know that protectionism is not a solution," Temer said.

His sentiments were echoed by other Davos speakers, including the leaders of India, Italy and Canada.

But in his remarks Friday, Trump stood his ground, saying Washington would "no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices, including massive intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies and pervasive state-led economic planning."

Without naming offending countries, he pledged to fight what he called "predatory behaviors" that distort global markets and harm businesses and workers.

Economists from both the left and the right had harsh words for Trump's tilt toward protectionism.

David Williams, president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, a nonpartisan group in Washington that studies governments effects on the economy, said Trump's moves to cut taxes while imposing tariffs send a contradictory message to America's trading partners.

FILE - President Donald Trump displays the $1.5 tr FILE - President Donald Trump displays the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul package he had just signed, Friday, Dec. 22, 2017. FILE - President Donald Trump displays the $1.5 trillion tax overhaul package he had just signed, Friday, Dec. 22, 2017.

"The tax cut is a signal that the country is open for business, but tariffs show we're closed for business, so the man is giving mixed signals to the world," Williams said.

Veronique de Rugy, a fellow at the Mercatus Institute, a free-markets-oriented research group in Washington affiliated with George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, called Trump's policies of reciprocity "misguided."

"There's no denying that foreign companies subsidize heavily their companies, but so do we, and we shouldn't be so worried about this because they're hurting their own economies by doing this," de Rugy told VOA. "We shouldn't be following them."

In his speech, Trump also appealed to other countries to participate more fully with the United States on shared security goals, including defeating Islamic State militants, applying maximum pressure to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, and combating terrorism in all its forms.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley FILE - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks to reporters, Jan. 2, 2018, at U.N. headquarters. She said the "civilized world" must remain vigilant against North Korean weapons development. "We will never accept a nuclear North Korea." FILE - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks to reporters, Jan. 2, 2018, at U.N. headquarters. She said the "civilized world" must remain vigilant against North Korean weapons development. "We will never accept a nuclear North Korea."

"My administration is proud to have led historic efforts at the United Nations Security Council and all around the world to unite all civilized nations in our campaign of maximum pressure to denuke the Korean Peninsula," Trump said. "We continue to call on partners to confront Iran's support for terrorists and block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon."

In a brief question-and-answer session after his speech, Trump took aim at one of his favorite targets, the media. "It wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be," he said, drawing boos and scattered applause from the audience.

Trump also criticized the opposition Democratic Party, claiming its regulation-oriented policies would have stunted economic growth.

"Had the opposing party to me won  some of whom you backed, some of the people in the room  instead of being up almost 50 percent, the stock market  would've been down close to 50 percent," Trump said. "They were going to put on massive new regulations."

Capacity crowd

Some Davos elites were reported to have planned to boycott Trump's speech, but journalists attending the forum said no absence was noticeable. Pool reports said the hall was filled to capacity by the time Trump took the stage.

Reporters in the room, however, noted several pointed rebukes to Trump's policies in the hall. As the stage was being set for his speech, a large screen behind the podium showed a video that included clips of the anti-Trump Women's March and scenes related to climate change. At one point, the narrator talked about the importance of "not building walls."

Many Davos attendees and observers described the president's economic stance as both chauvinist and protectionist. British scholar H.A. Hellyer, a fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London and at the Atlantic Council in Washington, said Trump's braggadocio does not play well in much of the world.

"If he were a little more slick about it, he'd probably have a lot more play within a place like Davos, but he doesn't. I'm not sure he got much there, and I'm not sure how much Davos got out of him either," Hellyer said.DAVOS, SWITZERLAND - President Donald Trump met with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, calling him a friend in the aftermath of Trumps controversial comments about African countries.



The leaders met Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Kagame is beginning a one-year term as head of the African Union, a 55-member continental body.



Trump recently drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations with a vulgarity in discussing immigration, according to those at the meeting. The president has denied using that language, but others present say he did.



Kagame says he and Trump had good discussions on economic and trade issues. He says the African Union is looking forward to working with the United States.

It was an honor to meet with Republic of Rwanda President Paul Kagame this morning in Davos, Switzerland. Many great discussions! #WEF18 pic.twitter.com/SaPzwVhDiB  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2018

Trump began his day at the World Economic Forum talking about the tremendous crowd.

He says the gathering has a crowd like theyve never had before. Trump is attending the forum for the first time.



The president spoke to reporters briefly as he arrived at the annual gathering of financial and political leaders.



Trump addresses the summit later Friday. He predicted his message will be very well received and that he will note that the U.S. is doing fantastically well  better than weve done in decades.



The president is also expected to tout recent tax cuts and efforts to slash regulations.

Trump will argue that its a good time for businesses to invest in the United States.



Trump is a critic of multinational trade deals. But hell stress his commitment to free markets under what he sees as fair terms. Hell also call for international cooperation to take on issues like the threat posed by the Islamic State group and North Koreas nuclear arsenal.



Officials say the speech will project a vision of free nations cooperating on shared goals.

WHITE HOUSE - U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out talks with Afghanistans Taliban, vowing to finish them in the wake of a wave of terrorist attacks in Kabul that killed hundreds of people and wounded hundreds more.



Meeting a delegation of United Nations Security Council ambassadors at the White House Monday, Trump said he would raise the issue of what more we can do to defeat the insurgent group.

Theres no talking to the Taliban, he said, seemingly putting an end to hopes of a diplomatic solution to Afghanistans long-running domestic conflict.



Theyre killing people left and right. Innocent people being killed left and right, Trump said to the visiting diplomats. Bombing, killing all over Afghanistan. So we dont want to talk with the Taliban. There may be a time but its going to be a long time.

WATCH: US-Afghan relations

?Trump last year reversed the Obama-era drawdown of the American presence in Afghanistan, sending additional U.S. troops to the Central Asian nation and ordering increased military assistance to Afghan forces.

Trump did not specify what he has in mind, but suggested that a stronger military response is imminent.

What nobody else has been able to finish were going to be able to do it, he said.



Behind closed doors, the president also spoke to the Security Council delegation about ramping up pressure on Tehran in return for staying in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which he has described as horrible.



Earlier this month, Trump agreed to extend the nuclear deal negotiated to by his predecessor Barack Obama, but said he would terminate it unless Congress and European allies agree to strengthen it by May.

This is a last chance, Trump said. Either fix the deals disastrous flaws, or the United States will withdraw.



Trumps ultimatum is part of a larger U.S. strategy of imposing consequences against Tehran for its other negative behavior in the region, including supporting groups like the Houthis and Hezbollah in Lebanon.



Washingtons U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused Tehran in December of hiding behind the nuclear deal, saying these are the things they are doing while we are all looking the other way.

FILE - U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley wal FILE - U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley walks in front of allegedly recovered segments of an Iranian rocket during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Dec. 14, 2017, in Washington. FILE - U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley walks in front of allegedly recovered segments of an Iranian rocket during a press briefing at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, Dec. 14, 2017, in Washington.

Experts say finding a way to avoid a U.S. pullout from the deal is focusing minds on Capitol Hill and in foreign capitals, as well as in Tehran.



If Americas European allies do not work with the United States, President Trump has made it emphatically clear that he is going to walk away from the deal about 100 days from now, said Nile Gardiner, of the Heritage Foundation in Washington. I have no doubt he will walk away from the deal unless it is significantly strengthened.



Matthew Bey, an analyst at the geopolitical research firm Stratfor in Austin, Texas says it is going to be difficult to find a way to amend the Iran nuclear deal that is satisfactory to all parties, including the government in Tehran.

How they are going to figure that out remains to be seen, he told VOA.



Bey said, however, that there are indications Trumps threat is being taken seriously.

The Europeans are interested, and while Iran has publicly denied any interest in negotiating anything, there have been enough leaks and signs to suggest that at least underneath the table, (Foreign Minister) Javad Zarif and the Europeans are talking, he said.



Bey said a deal might involve a voluntary agreement by Tehran not to conduct long distance ballistic missile tests.

I think theres actually some dialogue going on from the Iranian perspective that leads me to believe theres ground to be made, and that, despite all the challenges its might somehow actually survive, he said.



The Security Council was shown an exhibit of what have been identified as large pieces of Iranian short-range missiles believed to have been fired at Saudi Arabias capital, Riyadh, by Houthi rebels from Yemen. Haley first showed the missile parts at a December news conference, calling them undeniable evidence that Iran was illegally arming the Houthis.

American officials have indicated they plan to hold Iran accountable at the United Nations for violations of an international arms embargo on the Yemeni rebels.The United States has slapped sanctions on six Taliban and Haqqani network militants as it again demands more help from Pakistan to disrupt terrorist financing.

The six include a former high-ranking official of Afghanistan's former Taliban government.

"This action supports the president's South Asia strategy by disrupting these terrorist organizations and publicly exposing individuals who facilitate their activities," Sigal Mandelker, undersecretary of the Treasury for terrorism and financial intelligence, said Thursday.

All six have been involved in attacking U.S.-led coalition forces, smuggling and financing terrorists.

All property they have in the United States is frozen, and Americans are barred from doing business with them.

All six live in Afghanistan. They include Abdul Samad Sani, who has been Taliban deputy finance minister and was also Afghanistan's Central Bank governor when the Taliban ruled the country.

"The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist financing," Mandelker said.

The United States has suspended security assistance to the Pakistani military until it takes what the State Department calls "decisive action" against the Taliban and Haqqani network.

President Donald Trump infuriated Pakistan when he said it had played U.S. leaders for "fools" by accepting billions of dollars in aid while giving safe haven to terrorists.HANOI - Defense Secretary Jim Mattis praised the expected visit of a U.S. aircraft carrier to Vietnam, as he wrapped up a visit to Hanoi Thursday.

We thank you for the increasing partnership, with our carrier coming into Danang here in March, Mattis told Vietnams Communist Party chief, Nguyen Phu Trong.

The carrier visit, the first of its kind to a Vietnamese port, would be a tangible sign of expanding military ties between the former war-time enemies.

Pentagon officials stress that Vietnams prime minister, its official head of state, has the final sign-off on a U.S. carrier visit.

Its not final, but it all looked very encouraging, Mattis later told reporters.

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis leans in to list U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis leans in to listen to Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong at the party's headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 25, 2018. U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis leans in to listen to Vietnamese Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong at the party's headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan. 25, 2018.

The U.S. has moved closer to Vietnam, especially as Hanoi has become more willing to stand up to Chinas disputed territorial claims in the South China Sea.

We think its in Americas best interest to see a strong and prosperous and independent Vietnam, and we intend to be a partner as we go forward, Mattis said.

Healing a troubled past

Mattis visit comes days ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, one of the largest campaigns of the U.S.-Vietnam war and a reminder of the countries troubled history.

Were still working on removing, remediating the effects of the war, Mattis acknowledged. We respect the past, but it was definitely a forward-looking (visit).

In his public comments throughout the visit, Mattis emphasized areas of agreement.

But reminders of political differences were never far away in a country led by a single-party, Communist government.

U.S. Secretary of Def Jim Mattis, alongside Vietna U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, alongside Vietnamese defense minister Ngo Xuan Lich, reviews rows of soldiers in front of Hanoi's defense ministry, Jan. 25, 2018. U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis, alongside Vietnamese defense minister Ngo Xuan Lich, reviews rows of soldiers in front of Hanoi's defense ministry, Jan. 25, 2018.

When Mattis reviewed honor guard troops at the Vietnamese defense ministry, he did so in front of buildings decorated with hammers and sickles.

When he gave joint statements with Vietnamese leaders, he spoke under the gaze of towering, bronze statues of Ho Chi Minh, Vietnams war-time leader.

While such imagery may have been inevitable in a Communist-led country, it was especially notable given Mattis repeated focus on common ground.

We are like-minded partners, Mattis told Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen. So we do not have to search hard for areas of common agreement.

On the plane ride out of Hanoi, Mattis referenced the shared values of both countries.

South China Sea

Those values, he noted, include support for freedom of navigation and the rule of law in the South China Sea.

Beijing claims nearly the entire South China Sea, ignoring the claims of many of its smaller neighbors.

Since Vietnam has a policy of no alliances, U.S. officials are cautious about the pace of improving relations. But Mattis said ties are close now, and getting closer.

The U.S. recently transferred a Hamilton-class cutter to Vietnams Coast Guard. That ship, the largest ship in the countrys coast guard or navy, was the first U.S. transfer of lethal military equipment to Vietnam.

In 2016, then-President Barack Obama lifted a decades-old embargo on U.S. weapons sales to Vietnam. The U.S. currently has 24 active foreign military sales with Vietnam, valued around $70 million, according to U.S. officials.

An expanded relationship with Southeast Asian allies could play a role in the Pentagons new defense strategy, which attempts to refocus U.S. attention on a geopolitical rivalry with China and Russia.

Vietnam has an increasing capability to stand up to China and offer an increasingly credible deterrent, said Carl Thayer, emeritus professor with Australias University of New South Wales-Canberra.

In the event of a minor flare-up, China cant just expect to walk away and bloody Vietnams nose without ... suffering some damage to itself, Thayer said.WASHINGTON/JUBA - The South Sudan government has reacted angrily to remarks made by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, in which she called the government an unfit partner to the U.N.

A South Sudanese Foreign Ministry official said Friday that Haley's remarks threaten to undermine relations between the U.S. and South Sudan.

Haley did not mince words about President Salva Kiir's government as she addressed the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday.

The government of South Sudan is increasingly proving itself to be an unfit partner for this council and any country seeking peace and security for the people of South Sudan. The United States will never give up on its efforts but if there is to be true peace in South Sudan, its leaders must step up and make a true commitment to end this conflict once and for all, said Haley.

Haley also accused President Kiir of promoting three generals who she said led the slaughter of innocent South Sudanese women, children, and elderly people  the same generals who were sanctioned by the Security Council in 2015.

Haley said the Security Council must do more, such as imposing an arms embargo on South Sudan to slow the flow of arms and ammunitions entering into the country.

President of South Sudan Salva Kiir speaks on the President of South Sudan Salva Kiir speaks on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of his country's independence at the presidential palace in Juba, July 9, 2017. President of South Sudan Salva Kiir speaks on the occasion of the sixth anniversary of his country's independence at the presidential palace in Juba, July 9, 2017.

Baak Valentino Wol, Undersecretary of South Sudan's Foreign Affairs Ministry, criticized Haleys remarks.

Ambassador Nikki made many undue defamatory and inflammatory remarks on the situation in South Sudan including her uncalled for arms embargo. Ambassador Nikkis remarks do not serve well the good relations which the people and the government of South Sudan always wish to exist between the two people and governments, Wol told reporters at a news conference in Juba on Friday.

Wol said his ministry summoned the U.S. Charge d'Affairs Michael Murrow to clarify Haleys remarks.

I cannot get up in the morning and insult the president of another country or say something bad about the government of another country and hope that such statements will foster peace and good relations between nations; it doesnt. That is why we called the representative of the U.S. administration to tell him that we are not happy, Wol added.

South Sudans civil war, now in its fifth year, has displaced some four million people and created a humanitarian crisis in the worlds youngest country.

Recently displaced families who arrived five days Recently displaced families who arrived five days before claiming that government troops attacked their towns, shelter in a run-down school in Akobo, near the Ethiopian border, in South Sudan, Jan. 19, 2018. Recently displaced families who arrived five days before claiming that government troops attacked their towns, shelter in a run-down school in Akobo, near the Ethiopian border, in South Sudan, Jan. 19, 2018.

AU and IGAD contribute to impunity'

Meanwhile, the Washington-based Enough Project said inaction from the African Union and the East Africa bloc IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development) has contributed to prolonging the conflict in South Sudan. Deputy policy director Brian Adeba said empty threats have helped create an atmosphere of impunity in the conflict.

The African Union doesnt seem to be keen on following through on the threats that they have made. And that actually contributes to creating impunity among the spoilers. They know they can get away with it. They know they can violate any cessation of hostilities or any ceasefire and get away with it because no one is going to hold them accountable, Adeba told VOA's South Sudan in Focus.

Between IGAD and the African Union, 20 statements have been released since December 2013, condemning the violence and promising to hold perpetrators accountable. In past statements, both the AU and IGAD have threatened asset freezes, visa bans and arms embargoes on those responsible for prolonging the conflict.

Festus Mogae addresses the 62nd session of the Uni Festus Mogae addresses the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2007. Festus Mogae addresses the 62nd session of the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 26, 2007.

Festus Mogae, chairman of the Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission, the body that monitors South Sudan's 2015 peace agreement, has also repeatedly called for measures such as an arms embargo and travel bans. This week, Mogae told the U.N. Security Council it must consider other options.

It is now time to revisit the range of practical measures that can be applied in earnest to those who refuse to take this process seriously and make clear to all consent that the world will not tolerate any further disruption to our efforts to deliver peace, said Mogae.

A UN-backed arms embargo could stem the flow of weapons to South Sudan but Adeba argues that move relies too heavily on the African Union.

If the African Union is opposed to an arms embargo it cannot happen at the Security Council, the Security Council members tend to follow the cue of the African Union. What we have seen in the past is that member countries of the African Union on the Security Council have been very reluctant to support an arms embargo, Adeba told VOA.

Peace talks set for February 6

Adeba said the next round of talks to revitalize the 2015 peace agreement cannot be business as usual. New talks are scheduled to open in Addis Ababa on Feb. 6.

Haley called on IGAD to ensure that the parties find the political will to compromise on longer-term security and governance arrangements. If they dont, Haley said, the Security Council should work with the region to find a new path to peace.The U.S. Treasury has announced new sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian citizens involved in the Russian annexation of Crimea, barring them from doing business with Americans and freezing any assets they hold under U.S. jurisdiction.

"The U.S. government is committed to maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to targeting those who attempt to undermine the Minsk agreement," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Friday, referring to the agreement under which Russia and Ukraine are obligated to support a cease-fire, withdraw heavy weapons, and support electoral reform.

The new sanctions target several Russian officials, including deputy energy ministers Andrei Cherezov, who is already under European Union sanctions for his role in transferring energy turbines to Crimea, and Evgenia Grabchak. Also listed is Sergei Topor-Gilk, director general of Technopromexport, a Moscow-based engineering firm that builds hydropower, geo-thermal and diesel power plants, power lines and electricity substations in Russia and abroad.

Schoolchildren watch as servicemen carry a flag of FILE - Schoolchildren watch as servicemen carry a flag of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed separatist Donetsk republic, at a ceremony on the first day of school in Donetsk, Ukraine, Sept. 1, 2017. FILE - Schoolchildren watch as servicemen carry a flag of the Russia-backed self-proclaimed separatist Donetsk republic, at a ceremony on the first day of school in Donetsk, Ukraine, Sept. 1, 2017.

Eleven of the other people targeted are Ukrainian separatists holding government titles in the separatist areas that have proclaimed themselves Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.

In addition to the individuals, the new sanctions target nine Russian companies involved with building infrastructure in the separatist-controlled areas of Crimea. The list also includes the foreign trade association Technopromexport, Power Machines, 12 subsidiaries of Surgutneftegaz, and Doncoaltrade, which is registered in Poland.

The United States and European Union say the separatists in Crimea are directly backed by Russian forces. They accuse Russia of sending personnel and weapons, funding, and supplies to Crimean separatists.

Russia announced in 2014 that it was annexing Crimea and denied accusations that it was arming and supporting separatist fighters there.

The U.S. Commerce Department announced Thursday that Russian company Abtronix had also been included on a separate sanctions lists. U.S. property and assets of Abtronix's general director, Timofey Telegin, will be seized, and Telegin with be banned from entering the United States.

Treasury is expected to submit the list to Congress by January 29.Those tanks require expensive repairs that should be paid for by the same customers who use them, Belt said. By charging everyone the same rate, the city is unfairly forcing regular ratepayers to subsidize customers who are served by more expensive infrastructure, he said.

I believe that the city could, if it wanted to, justify out-of-city costs to the people who live out of city, just as Napa has done and just as Yountville has done, Belt said.

Galbraith said the citys hands are tied by a 2016 legal ruling involving the city of San Juan Capistrano, which found that water rates must be strictly tied to the actual cost of providing service. The expensive studies and record-keeping that would be required to justify higher rates for outlying customers wouldnt be worth the small amount of additional money the city might be able to collect, he said.

Although he doesnt like the San Juan Capistrano ruling, The law is the law and we have to live under it, Galbraith said.STATE DEPARTMENT - The United States strongly rejects the call by Venezuela's Constituent Assembly for snap presidential elections before April 30.

State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert reaffirmed the U.S. position on Thursday, saying, "This vote would be neither free nor fair. It would only deepen, not help resolve, national tensions. It would not reflect the will of the Venezuelan people, and would be seen as undemocratic and illegitimate in the eyes of the international community. We call on the Maduro regime to respect the human rights of all of its citizens, and to return to democratic constitutional order."

The announcement comes as representatives of both the Venezuelan government and the opposition have been negotiating under international auspices in the Dominican Republic, to try to agree on a framework for fair elections.

No agreement has been reached in those talks, as a senior State Department official explained to reporters:

"The decision by the illegitimate Constituent Assembly to convene snap elections, even as negotiations between the opposition and the majority regime are under way, undermines those talks, undermines the ability for the Venezuelan people themselves to meaningfully participate in addressing the multiple crises that have been caused by the Maduro regime."

Maduro targets new six-year term

Asked if further sanctions against Venezuela are being considered, a senior State Department official said they are always under consideration. With Venezuela now set to hold a new presidential election by April 30, President Nicolas Maduro is likely to attempt to win a new six-year term over divided opposition.

Maduro told his supporters at a rally: "It's the right decision. Imperialism and the right were plotting to take over the economy."

The Constituent Assembly unanimously approved the new election Tuesday as the ruling Socialist Party attempts to consolidate its power, even as Venezuela's economic crisis worsens.

Under Maduro, the country's money has become nearly worthless and prices for consumer products have soared. There are widespread food and medicine shortages, with many Venezuelans left malnourished.

U.S. focused on Venezuela people

Asked by VOA if the U.S. and the international community are planning what to do if the Venezuelan economy collapses, a senior State Department official said the U.S. is most focused on the plight of the Venezuelan people.

"We have consistently called for the government to allow international humanitarian assistance to be able to enter Venezuela. We continue to prepare to provide that kind of humanitarian assistance directly to the Venezuelan people to alleviate the suffering that they are enduring under the Maduro regime's plans."

Venezuela has refused to acknowledge the hunger and malnutrition problem, and has refused all international humanitarian assistance. But a majority of the country's 30 million people say they are skipping meals due to a lack of food, and some 500,000 people have left the country over the past two years.The first four months of a U.S. refugee program wholly determined by the Trump administration have led to a dramatic decline in Muslim refugees coming to the United States, and a significant shift in where refugees are coming from, according to a VOA review of official data.

From Oct. 1, 2017 to Jan. 25, 2018, - the start of the first full fiscal year under President Donald Trump - 13 percent of refugees who came to the U.S. were Muslim, compared to 35 percent during the first nine months of Trump's first year in office, when the parameters of the program had been set by President Barack Obama's administration.

During this period, six predominantly Muslim countries showed the greatest decrease in the share of total arrivals: Iraqis, for example, who comprised about 10 percent of new refugees from January to September, dropped to 1 percent; Syrians went from 8 percent to less than 1 percent; and Somalis from 10 percent to 2 percent.

Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan also saw declines.

One year, three orders

On Jan. 27, 2017, a Friday afternoon and a week into his tenure, the newly-elected President Trump issued an executive order restricting travel. With one of his first acts in office, he set in motion what would be the first of three attempts to ban travelers from some countries to the United States - including refugees.

And no program was curtailed as swiftly - and dramatically - under Trump as U.S. refugee admissions. The rationale put forward in his travel order was, in part, one of pausing the refugee program to develop more screening measures to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States.

In the last year, refugee arrivals plummeted to nearly record lows, as the administration implemented the lowest ceilings for refugee admissions ever. The infrastructure of the program, in place since 1980, took hit after hit. Senior refugee staff members in Washington left their posts. The agencies that help resettle refugees slashed positions in the U.S. and abroad to cut costs, and are being required by the U.S. State Department to collectively close 50 offices around the country.

Initially, Trump framed the pause on all refugee arrivals as a temporary measure to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States. But admissions never came to a full stop for very long, after lawsuits challenged the legality of Trumps January, then March, executive orders banning refugees and some travelers.

People gather to protest President Trump's new tra FILE - People gather to protest President Trump's new travel ban order in Lafayette Park outside the White House, March 6, 2017. FILE - People gather to protest President Trump's new travel ban order in Lafayette Park outside the White House, March 6, 2017.

Another order in October tightened requirements on refugees from 11 countries, with experts and officials saying the changes could add months, if not years, to the process, effectively banning them from coming into the United States.

Officials did not name the countries, but media reports identified them as the same whose nationals already undergo higher-level screening known as Security Advisory Opinions.

Few refugees from those countries have come since October.

Egypt: 0

Iran: 29

Iraq: 79

Libya: 0

Mali: 0

North Korea: 0

Somalia: 130

South Sudan: 11

Sudan: 38

Syria: 33

Yemen: 0

"The safety and security of the American people is paramount," a State Department spokesperson wrote to VOA when confronted with the numbers. The spokesperson added that additional vetting procedures announced in October, allow the U.S. "to more thoroughly and safely process applicants."

Drop in refugees recent

During the first nine months of the Trump administration, even though the volume of refugees started to decline, the religious profile remained roughly on par with recent years: from Fiscal Year 2002 through Fiscal Year 2016, which spanned the presidencies of George W. Bush and Obama, Christians accounted for about for 46% of total refugee arrivals; Muslims for 32%, and other or no religions for 22%.

Although Christian arrivals slowly inched upwards in early 2017, overall, 35 percent of the 23,699 arrivals from January to September were Muslim, 52 percent were Christian, and 12 percent were other religions - namely Buddhist and Hindu - or no religion.

It was not until the start of the new fiscal year in October, when the administration was no longer finishing out a fiscal year started by Obama and had full control over refugee decision-making that the decrease began in earnest.

The number of refugees entering the U.S. fluctuates from week to week, no matter which party is in power. Throughout the last decade, weekly arrivals were generally in the thousands. In 2017, that slowed. The last month shows the contrast: from Dec. 25, 2017, to Jan. 25, 2018, even considering a normal drop in arrivals because of the Christmas and New Years holidays in the U.S., 929 refugees arrived - an 81 percent decrease over the same period a year ago.

At the current arrival rate, the U.S. - long a worldwide leader in refugee resettlement - will fall short of even the halfway mark for the so-called 2018 ceiling of 45,000 on refugee admissions for this fiscal year.

Buddhist Bhutan surges; Muslim countries drop

Beyond the significantly lower volume of arrivals, U.S. State Department data shows that - while the administration has refuted it was denying entry to the U.S. on the basis of religion - fewer Muslims are coming as refugees. Several lawsuits allege that decisions by Trump and his cabinet discriminate on the basis of religion, and opponents of the new policies have labeled them a Muslim ban. The Supreme Court will consider this argument in April.

During the same period that Muslim refugee arrivals dropped, the biggest increases were from non-Muslim majority countries - and no country saw a bigger surge in its share of nationals coming to the U.S. as refugees than majority-Buddhist Bhutan, which went from 8 percent of the arrivals total, to 27 percent. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, and Russia saw smaller increases.

The United States largely accepts refugees referred through the United Nations. There is, in theory, no prioritization for admissions based on religion, although the majority of admissions have been Christian.

With about eight months remaining in the fiscal year, and because the refugee program is so heavily controlled by the executive branch, the president could make dramatic changes. Obamas administration pushed to resettle more Syrian refugees in the last two years of his presidency, for example, spiking arrivals as more Syrians fled the peak of Islamic State violence and civil war.

But for now the current administrations decisions on the refugee program trend in the direction of a 2015 Trump campaign platform: a "total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States."The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) says there has been a 400 percent increase in the number of reported corruption cases, including a complaint over former First Lady Grace Mugabes PhD Degree awarded by the University of Zimbabwe, filed by local people since December last year.

ZACC member, Goodson Nguni, told VOA Studio 7 that there is no time frame in which they will start working on Mrs. Mugabes case, which is placed 218th in a list of hundreds of complaints filed by various people.

Nguni said some lecturers at the University of Zimbabwe filed the complaint against Mrs. Mugabe, who fell from grace after the Zimbabwe Defence Forces teamed up with then fired Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa and toppled her husband, Robert Mugabe.

The University of Zimbabwe has just released Mrs. Mugabes thesis titled Changing social structure and functions of the family: The case of childrens homes in Zimbabwe.

The thesis bears the name of G. Ntombizodwa Marufu (Grace Ntombizodwa Mafuru). Indications are that she changed her surname soon after marrying the President Mugabe in 1996.

She was awarded the PhD in 2014 and was capped by Mr. Mugabe in a move that triggered demonstrations by students who demanded to know details of her study program, claiming that the doctorate was fake.

Mrs. Mugabe has not yet responded to these claims.

Former secretary general of the Zimbabwe National Students Union, Makomborero Haruzivishe, urged ZACC to thoroughly investigate the manner in which the doctorate was awarded, claiming that Mrs. Mugabes degree has tarnished the image of the University of Zimbabwe.

Several commentators also noted that the University of Zimbabwe needs to tackle this issue in order to clear its name. Students and lecturers claim that university standards have gone down due to the awarding of the PhD.

Mrs. Mugabe was not available for comment.South African Police Minister Fikile Mbalula says Operation Fiela, which is targeting criminals, has been launched to clean up cities and town of marauding gangs that are terrorizing people in broad daylight. Some undocumented Zimbabweans say they are being targeted by the police, army and others.The URL has been copied to your clipboard

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Some Zimbabweans staged a protest Thursday outside a police station in Bulawayo claiming that police are failing to arrest well-known criminals. They claimed that they are arrested all the time for engaging in informal trading, which police view as criminal activities. (Bathule Masuku)This content is expired!

Unfortunely this content is expired and cannot be viewed anymore; if You are the owner of this content please login to our Website, go to our access panel and enable this content again.Holocaust victims remembered in Rome 73 years after liberation of Auschwitz.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27 January is being marked in Rome with around 100 memorial events until 31 January.

In addition to being 73 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, 2018 also marks the 80th anniversary of Italy's racial laws, promulgated by the fascist regime to enforce racial discrimination, mainly against Italy's Jews.

In recent days the city began the process of renaming Rome streets called after the signatories of the racial laws, which were endorsed by ten scientists and contributed ultimately to the deportation of Italian Jews. Rome mayor Virginia Raggi says she hopes the streets will be renamed by the end of this year, stating: Rome condemns the racial laws, and our city is proudly anti-fascist.

The Settimana della Memoria events are based mainly at the Casa della Memoria e della Storia, in Trastevere, which presents a free programme of films, documentaries, exhibitions, interviews, lectures, readings and book presentations.

Established in 2005 by the United Nations to commemorate the day in 1945 that the survivors of Auschwitz were liberated by the Russian army, the initiative honours the memory of the millions of Jews  but also homosexuals, Romany people and others  who suffered persecution, deportation, imprisonment and genocide.

Each January since 2010 Rome has installed a number of brass cobblestone-sized memorials commemorating victims of the Holocaust. Known as stolpersteine in German, or literally translated stumbling stones, the memorials are the work of Berlin artist Gunter Demnig.

The plaques are installed outside the last chosen place of residence of victims of the Holocaust, detailing their first and last names, date of birth, date and place of deportation, and date of death in a Nazi extermination camp.

On 9 January this year Demnig installed 11 new memorial stones: eight in the suburbs and three in the centre. Two were placed on Via della Reginella 27, in memory of Virginia Piazza and Pacifico Di Consiglio, and the third on Via dei Delfini 14, in memory of Ester Mieli.

There are now 276 such memorials around Rome. See related article.Rome's bi-annual fashion week celebrates 20 years.

Alta Roma, Romes bi-annual fashion week Alta Roma, showcases the best in Italian and international fashion as well as being an important platform for younger stylists.

This year Alta Roma celebrates its 20th anniversary and takes place from 25-28 January in several locations including MAXXI Museo Nazionale delle Arte del XXI secolo, the nearby Guido Reni District, and the Galleria Nazionale.23 Jan-28 Feb. With the subheading Collage contro il terrore 1978-1983, this exhibition of works by Georges de Canino marks the 80th anniversary of Italy's racial laws, promulgated by the fascist regime to enforce racial discrimination, mainly against Italy's Jews. Based in Rome since the early 1970s, de Canino is known for his works which preserve memory and reject fascism. The exhibition comprises some 40 large-scale collages of photographs and documents from original fascist propaganda magazines.After the contentious, sometimes raucous first debate of this years primary election season, it became clear that issues like offshore oil drilling, affordable housing, President Trumps tax changes, immigration and border control would likely not be the central themes of the campaign to succeed Jerry Brown as governor.

The Democrats who dominate California politics essentially agree on all those.

That left single-payer health care as the likely theme for contention. Its an issue gaining prominence every day as Trump systematically hacks away at the Affordable Care Act (also known as either Obamacare or the ACA) and its links to Medicaid, known here as Medi-Cal.

The emphasis on single-payer is just fine with Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the former San Francisco mayor and early frontrunner in this race.

Newsom may be best known for his pioneering 2004 order that saw his city begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, a practice that courts shut down months after it began but still set a pattern for the rest of America.

Yet, in an interview earlier in the campaign, Newsom made clear that while he thinks what he did for gay couples was a major achievement, he considers what he did with health care just as important.28 Jan-25 March. The Jewish Museum of Rome marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day by displaying the original 1949 sketch by Mirko Basaldella for the internal monument-gate at the Fosse Ardeatine, where 335 innocent people were killed by Nazi forces in 1944. Basaldella's large-scale pencil sketch on paper features a dense web of entangled lines, a tense evocation of the Fosse Ardeatine atrocity which is remembered each year on 23 March.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.Now we are losing more of our history at the Napa Valley Expo. We lost local food concessions at the fair; we lost the destruction derby, the rodeo, the earthquake-damaged grandstands (which were safe enough to be sold to another California fairgrounds) and now on the chopping block is a 60-year-old Napa club, which has been 47 years at the fairgrounds, the Napa Valley Historic Model Railroad.

All because we have an appointed board like the old '70s city council that think they know what Napa should look like.

Really, I go to "destination" cities to see their local flavor, not Every Street USA. The visionaries have destroyed our city not only for us but for the people who come here to see the Napa experience they can not get at home. There has to be a medium/compromise where we can become a tourist trap and save the "real" history of our region.

The river is underutilized, Copia should have been the North Bay version of the Food Network, the Wine Train should have been allowed to Calistoga (as it was for 100 years). And if we are calling ourselves a tree city, we should promote saving trees. And as in the past, if we want people to afford housing here maybe we should have put some effort into high paying jobs like the ones of the past which allowed people to afford Napa homes (which were higher than the surrounding areas also in the past).How long have you been searching for a buyer? We havent been searching, they just appeared, Mather said. We have people who walk down this road and some of them own wineries and some of them own grapes and some have stopped in and asked if wed be willing to sell.

On the anniversary of the day that his great-grandfather bought the land, Mather was reflective of the work he and his wife have done in the past 23 years since Mather inherited the property in 1995.

Im really happy that we brought the winery back. Its an interesting part of the history of St. Helena and I think the town and appellation of St. Helena deserves to know what it is, Mather said. Our family has contributed something to St. Helena and I think I have, to a certain degree, too.

Mather said the vineyard and winery are located in a cultural center of Napa Valley, with ETS labs, the Napa Valley Vintners offices and the St. Helena Public Library nearby. This is an area where winemakers are constantly running into each other, and when they do, they share information. Isnt that great?

I think we have contributed to the Napa Valley in some kind of way and I feel good about what weve done, Mather said.

Fulton Mathers historyJoel Peterson of Ravenswood noted that Zinfandel is like a road sign in all directions. There are no benchmarks. But, there are more than 300 producers dedicated to Zinfandel. They are reestablishing the baseline and moving to terroir-driven wines. Joe Sheble, winemaker at Renwood Winery, agreed that we are shedding the notion that Zinfandel has to be a big monster wine. It can be a world-class wine with an elegant style without bastardizing the fruit.

Zinfandel is a chameleon variety. It can range from light and elegant to big, rich and fat. But when it is made well, you will find notes ranging from red fruit (raspberry, cherry, pomegranate) to blue fruit (blueberry, boysenberry), white, green or black pepper and spice (cinnamon and clove). From Sonoma Valley, Russian River and Dry Creek Valley, to Napa, Amador County and Yolo County to Paso Robles to Lodi, balanced Zinfandel is being made and expressing where it is from.

There were hundreds of wines to taste and so many that I enjoyed, but here are some of the standouts:We can verify that the domain is for sale over the phone, help you with the purchase process, and answer any questions.Emory University is ranked 7th on Forbes magazines list of Americas Best Employers for Diversity. Emory was the top ranked employer in Georgia and second only to Harvard University (No. 5) among universities.

Other organizations in the top 10 included Northern Trust, Smithsonian Institution, Levy, Inuit and Principal Financial Group.

Forbes worked with research firm Statista to compile the list of 250 of the best employers for diversity in America. Statista surveyed 30,000 U.S. employees in August 2017 to inform the list, asking questions about diversity, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age and disability. Responses among underrepresented ethnic minorities, women and people aged 50 and older received greater weight in the ranking.

Other factors included the gender split of companies management teams and boards, and whether a company proactively communicates about diversity. Only companies with 1,000 or more workers were eligible to qualify for the list.Human remains have been found beneath a building on the University of Manitoba medical campus, but police said there is no sign of foul play.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/1/2018 (1322 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Human remains have been found beneath a building on the University of Manitoba medical campus, but police said there is no sign of foul play.

The bones appear to be fragments of a human rib. They were found beneath the basement floor of a Bannatyne Avenue parkade that was a morgue and anatomy labs many decades ago.

"Three bone fragments that appear to be part of a rib  no skull," U of M executive director of public affairs John Danakas said of the discovery.

Danakas said there are additional fragments, which might be from an animal.

The bone fragments were found during plumbing work being conducted beneath the parkade near Tecumseh Street on the faculty of health sciences campus.

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"It hasn't been a morgue for at least half a century," Danakas said.

Danakas said regulations regarding disposals were quite different when the anatomy labs and morgue were operating.

"Given disposal protocols were different in the past, the discovery is not unexpected. All proper current protocols are being followed, which includes informing WPS. No foul play is suspected," Danakas said.

"Digging can continue as planned in all areas with the understanding that if any additional bones are found, that we have to go through the same protocol."

Winnipeg Const. Robert Carver said police are aware of the discovery, but it does not appear to be criminal matter. He added police would not release further information.

nick.martin@freepress.mb.caA former truck driver who fled to South America after he caused a fatal highway crash has been found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Hey there, time traveller!

This article was published 25/1/2018 (1322 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A former truck driver who fled to South America after he caused a fatal highway crash has been found not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder.

Provincial court Judge Catherine Carlson ruled Thursday that Randolf Enns, 37, is not criminally responsible for the crash because the psychosis he suffered at the time meant he couldn't understand what he was doing or that it was wrong.

The semi truck Enns was driving on July 22, 2013, crossed the centre line of the Trans-Canada highway near Headingley and collided head-on with Derek Bossuyt's pickup truck. The 21-year-old man was killed, and his family has had to wait nearly five years to find out what would happen to the man who caused his death.

"The court understands that this decision may be a difficult one for the family and friends of Mr. Bossuyt. Mr. Enns' actions caused Mr. Bossuyt's death. Mr. Enns is not being acquitted," Carlson said in her decision.

"By its decision, the court is recognizing that individuals who commit offences due to mental illness are not legally responsible for their actions, a principle Parliament has enshrined in Canadian criminal law, but balances against that principle the requirements that such individuals obtain treatment from mental health professionals, as required, so as to protect the public against further harm."

A forensic psychiatrist who assessed Enns last year testified in court that Enns was likely having schizophrenia-related psychosis at the time of the crash, and that it was "highly likely" the psychosis meant he couldn't understand what he was doing was wrong -- the legal test for a finding of not-criminally responsible. Dr. Eric Johnson also told the court that while it was possible Enns drove his truck across the highway's centre line because of his psychosis, it was also possible he did it for some other reason. Witnesses at the scene of the crash reported Enns was speaking gibberish, talking about Satan and God, and seemed delusional.

Within 45 days, Enns will have to appear before Manitoba's Mental Health Review Board for a decision on his future treatment. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2008, but he didn't consistently take medication for the illness and over the years he was hospitalized because of it.

Although he was found not criminally responsible for dangerous driving and resisting arrest on the night of the crash, he didn't use his mental health as a defence for fleeing to Paraguay. He skipped his preliminary hearing in October, 2014, and incurred criminal charges for failing to appear in court and breaching his bail order by not living at his home in B.C. For those charges, he was sentenced Thursday to a total six-month sentence, which he's already served.

Apart from those breach charges, he has no criminal record.

Enns has been in jail since Nov. 11, 2016, when he returned to Canada from Paraguay, where he'd spent the previous two years. He later told a psychiatrist one of the reasons he went to Paraguay was to visit a sick relative, who died while he was there. He knew a Canada-wide warrant had been issued for his arrest but made comments indicating he would deal with the criminal charges against him when he was ready, Crown attorney Manoja Moorthy told court.

Meanwhile, Bossuyt's family has felt "stuck," without any closure in the case, and "have not been properly able to grieve," Moorthy said.

Bossuyt's mother, Karen Goodale, walked out of the courtroom as Enns started to apologize.

"I would like to extend my condolences to the family," he said, later disputing the Crown's statement about the victim's family's five-year wait for closure since Bossuyt's death in July 2013. It wasn't five years, Enns told the judge, because he was in Paraguay in October 2014 and flew back to Canada in November 2016.

Goodale declined to speak to reporters outside court. Her father, Dennis Goodale, said the family is disappointed but not necessarily surprised by the court's decision, which for them doesn't bring a clear ending.

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Enns' wife, who was also present in court, declined to comment.

Defence lawyer Laura Robinson requested the NCR assessment for Enns early last year after he returned to Canada. She told court Thursday Enns knew he would be arrested and held in jail upon his return, and decided to come back and face the charges.

Judge Carlson acknowledged Enns had left the victim's family "in limbo" for a long time.

"If you'd stayed in Paraguay, you may never have been brought back and the matter may never have been dealt with," she told him.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @thatkatiemayOTTAWA  The Pallister government is considering giving Manitoba First Nations and Metis a bigger say in child welfare, amid cross-country calls for more autonomy and better data collection.

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This article was published 26/1/2018 (1322 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The Pallister government is considering giving Manitoba First Nations and Metis a bigger say in child welfare, amid cross-country calls for more autonomy and better data collection.

Thursday kicked off a landmark Ottawa summit aimed at curbing the rising number of Indigenous kids apprehended by Child and Family Services (CFS), a trend particularly acute in Manitoba.

Fred Chartrand / The Canadian Press Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott introduced a six-point plan to help Indigenous youth in care at the CFS summit in Ottawa Thursday.

Federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott laid out six commitments, from implementing growing demands from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal ruling on a discriminatory CFS funding gap, to a focus on family reunification instead of apprehending children.

Philpott has promised more federal funds in this springs budget, but wouldnt commit to a ballpark number by the summits end today.

She said a large focus will be steering CFS systems away from a current incentive to apprehend children, because agencies get more stable funding for putting children into foster care than doing preventive work to keep families together.

Multiple First Nations CFS agencies in Manitoba raised that issue in a report leaked last week, in which they estimated a $104-million gap between what federal and provincial funding flows to agencies each year, and how much they need to fulfil their legislated duties.

On Thursday, Philpott pledged to "draw down jurisdiction in the area of child and family services" through possible federal legislation.

Manitoba already has a semi-devolved system, where First Nations and Metis governments administer their own CFS agencies, but report to the province and follow provincial rules.

Manitoba Metis Federation president David Chartrand addressed the roughly 300 delegates, on behalf of the Metis National Council. He believes his impoverished parents had only luck to prevent their children from being apprehended in the Sixties Scoop.

Chartrand said Metis and First Nations agencies need to control CFS policies around when to take children out of homes and how to spend money, instead of letting provinces make those decisions.

He also said Ottawa will have to provide funding to Metis children in care; it currently funds only First Nations and Inuit. "They put us in that mess; they better help us damn well get out of that mess."

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) has been particularly vigilant about getting more First Nations control, saying they can administer culturally appropriate prevention programming by further loosening the provinces control over CFS authorities.

In an interview on the sidelines of the summit, provincial Families Minister Scott Fielding said Manitoba and Ottawa seem largely on the same page.

"We want to engage on the self-governance piece; we want to work with the federal government on that," he said.

"If you just have politicians from Ottawa and bureaucrats from Ottawa dictating what should happen in Manitoba in terms of child welfare, without talking to Indigenous leadership and the provincial government, it's not going to be successful."

The province is reviewing its CFS laws, and plans to modify them before Ottawa tables its own legislation, because that will likely take months to work through Parliament.

"We think the system is in crisis; were going to take some action," Fielding said.

He said those laws could mean more flexible funding, to alleviate a lack of proper housing, electricity or food, instead of having CFS agents take children away from lower-risk families.

"There's not enough common sense in some of the rigid rules that are in place," Fielding said, adding that CFS agents have "large discretion  too broad, I would say"  over when to take a child into state care.

The province is proposing "subsidized guardianship," which would expand some of the funding provided to foster parents to those caring for children on a temporary basis.

Fielding has said that would help family members who cant afford to care for a loved one, but AMC Grand Chief Arlen Dumas says such a change would need to be strictly worded to prevent it from leading to even more First Nations kids ending up in homes disconnected from their culture.

"I had given him opportunities, and it didn't seem as if our commentary and our constructive advice was being listened to," said Dumas, who added Fielding reached out this week "like an olive branch" to mend ties.

Dumas said AMC would ideally help reform the CFS system in lockstep with the province, if Manitoba grants more Indigenous input.

But he said if they reach an impasse, First Nations will instead consider a bilateral relationship with Ottawa. Dumas and Philpott signed a memorandum of understanding last month on CFS, but its not publicly known what commitments it included.

Cindy Blackstock, a prominent activist who led the tribunal case, says calls for more autonomy date back to 1967 reports.

"What we need to see is these multiple solutions, dating back decades, actually pressed into action," she said, citing Manitobas 2014 Phoenix Sinclair inquiry as an example. "We owe it to the kids to implement them."

Grand Chief Sheila North, who represents northern Manitoba reserves, said she was hoping Philpott would explicitly use the word "autonomy," and will be watching for a specific pledge to devolve more powers.

"The current system, as it is, works for the government, but it doesn't work for our children and families," North said, adding that this would involve traditional family structures.

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"If we don't, then we're just talking about propping up a system that is geared towards breaking down our families, and our nations, ultimately."

In a previous interview, Grand Chief Jerry Daniels, who represents southern Manitoba reserves, said reserves that have turned around an uptick in child apprehensions have all focused on using grandmothers and local traditions to keep families together. "The most effective solutions come from the community."

As for what a federal CFS law could look like, Philpott noted that national legislation in the United States has helped establish Native American "tribal courts" that help make culturally relevant decisions about child apprehensions and reunification.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission on residential schools called for federal legislation to compel provincial standards on Indigenous children in CFS care. But some CFS agents say theyre worried a federal law on top of provincial ones could further complicate a labyrinthine bureaucracy.

The summit continues today.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.caOTTAWA  The Metis National Council will host a conference on how child-welfare systems serve Metis families this March in Winnipeg.

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This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA  The Metis National Council will host a conference on how child-welfare systems serve Metis families this March in Winnipeg.

David Chartrand, president of the Manitoba Metis Federation, was to announce the conference on Friday at a broader, ongoing "emergency meeting" in Ottawa, looking at the national over-representation of First Nations, Inuk and Metis people in Child and Family Services (CFS) systems throughout the country.

"Were calling a conference of the Metis Nation to deal with this," Chartrand said Friday on the sidelines of the meeting. "Were going to hear peoples stories so we can better create policy."

He said the ongoing Ottawa summit has gone well, with major Manitoba groups finding consensus.

"The momentum must maintain itself. Too many of these meetings Ive been at you get home and everything just gets forgotten, or goes on the shelf."

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The conference in Winnipeg will take place March 26-28. Chartrand expects 200 to 300 people to attend, including experts from as far away as New Zealand, mothers who lost their children at birth and Metis people who grew up with mixed experiences in the system.

"Were going to try to have the best, most inclusive assembly," he said, adding that there would be an effort to include stories of LGBTTQ* people who had difficulties with their foster families.

Chartrand said Manitoba is the sole province with Metis-led agencies, something hed like to see further bolstered at home and emulated in other provinces.

Chartrand said hell borrow money if needed. "Were scrambling to get some budgets in place from our own Metis Nation. Well be asking Canada to support this; well be asking the provinces to support this. Without either government, were moving ahead with it. Its coming. Its going to happen."

He expects federal Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott and provincial Families Minister Scott Fielding to attend.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.caTwo of the newest additions to the polar bear family at Assiniboine Park Zoo have been named.

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This article was published 26/1/2018 (1321 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two of the newest additions to the polar bear family at Assiniboine Park Zoo have been named.

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Following a public voting period that wrapped up on Jan. 25, the zoo announced the two new bears have been named Willow and Baffin.

The names for both cubs were submitted by the polar bear zookeeper team at the zoo and chosen for their relevance to Arctic geography, officials say. About 5,000 votes were cast for each cub in less than three days.

The unrelated female and male cubs were transported to the Leatherdale International Polar Bear Conservation Centre from Churchill in December 2017. According to the zoo, the bears were identified by Manitoba Sustainable Development in separate circumstances as being candidates for transfer to the conservation centre.

The cubs made their public debut Friday morning and will remain on exhibit in the conservation centre in the indoor and outdoor holding enclosure going forward.

The Zoo is now home to 11 polar bears. Seven of the polar bears currently reside in the Journey to Churchill exhibit.

The Zoo is open daily from 9 am to 4 p.m.On Tuesday, some 94 workers at the Bay Valley Foods in Pecatonica, Illinois, 15 miles west of Rockford, began the ninth week of their strike against the food distributing company. Striking outside of the Bay Valley Foods plant for nearly 24 hours a day for the past 75 days, the workers have tenaciously withstood the bitter cold of the Midwests ongoing winter.

Teamsters Local 754 called the strike on November 12 after negotiations, which began in May, failed to produce an agreement they could get rank-and-file workers to accept. Workers are striking to oppose increases in health care costs, win improved pension funding and block Bay Valley Foods from moving the plant to Iowa, according the union.

Union and Bay Valley Foods representatives have met with federal mediators several times since the strike began but, according to media reports, both sides cannot reach an agreement on health care costs.

Bay Valley Foods, which produces private label foods and food service goods, is a subsidiary of TreeHouse Foods, a multinational food processing company, ranked 427 on the Fortune 500 list in 2017. In 2014, it brought in $2.9 billion of revenue. Notably, from 2005 to 2007 former first lady Michelle Obama served on the board of directors.

According to Indeed.com, a machine operator for Bay Valley Foods makes $13.28 an hour, a senior machine operator makes $12.83 an hour and an assembler makes $11.18.

Ben, one of the striking workers, told the World Socialist Web Site workers had walked out because Treehouse Foods has gutted our current contract and wants to implement measures that would in essence break the union. He said workers are demanding an increase in wages, job preservation, and an increase in our pension contribution from Treehouse Foods.

Ben added, Treehouse Foods has a philosophy of arrogance and power. They have hired non-union temp workers to do our jobs and at a great expense a security firm to patrol, harass and attempt to intimidate us during this long strike.

When asked about unifying the working class in a common struggle against the exploitation of workers around the world by the corporations, he said, I think unifying the working class is a more productive approach to opposing the corporate war against workers. All unions should be fighting the battle for better wages and benefits.

A genuine fight by workers would receive popular support around the Rockford area, where thousands of workers, including Fiat Chrysler workers at the Belvidere plant, are anxious to recoup lost wages and benefits, handed over by the Teamsters, the UAW and other unions. Once a major hub of machine tools, farm machinery, furniture and fastener manufacturing, surrounding Winnebago County now has an official poverty rate of 15.9 percent, with 25 percent of young people under the age of 18 living below the poverty line.

This regression is the product of decades of collusion by the pro-capitalist and nationalist unions in the name of making US corporations more competitive and profitable, while politically subordinating workers to the corporate-controlled Democrats. The Teamsters are now praising the American First nationalism of Trump, even as he hands over trillions in tax cuts to big business.

If the Bay Valley Foods strike is not to be defeated, like so many struggles before it, rank-and-file workers must take the conduct of the struggle into their own hands. Rank-and-file strike committees should be elected to establish lines of communication, including through social media, with workers and young people to mobilize the broadest support for this fight.

Workers must be warned, however, that the Teamsters are colluding with the federal mediators and the company to impose yet another concession contract. Teamsters Local 754 principal officer Chuck Murdoch told a local news outlet, These members have been making sacrifices for the past eight years. Their last contract took away any matching into their 401k, so theyre fed up and theyre out here, unfortunately, fighting for their rights.

These givebacks did not fall from the sky, they were imposed by the Teamsters, which are trying to the same thing again. We gave the company an offer they couldve accepted back in September, Murdoch acknowledged. It was a reasonable offer. They rejected it. They chose to go down this road, knowing wed go on strike. But theyve been jamming contracts down these guys throats for eight years, and theyre not going to let it happen anymore.

This makes it clear that it is only the opposition of the rank-and-file workers that has prevented the Teamsters from signing another miserable deal. This opposition must now be broadened.About 200 service and maintenance workers returned to their jobs at Fijis main airport in Nadi on Monday after a judge ordered an end to their month-long lockout. The workers had been suspended without pay since December 16, when they attended a meeting called by the Federated Airlines Staff Association (FASA) to discuss a range of grievances, including an 11-year pay freeze and allegations of sexual harassment.

The employer, Air Terminal Services (ATS), declared the meeting an illegal strike and would only allow the workers, a third of the workforce, to return if they signed a letter admitting guilt. Airport operations were maintained with 150 scab workers employed on three-month contracts. Up to 300 workers picketed the company headquarters throughout the Christmas period calling for an end to the lockout.

The court said on Saturday that ATS did not follow due process, giving the company 48 hours to allow the workers to return to their jobs. The judge also ordered that all pay and entitlements owed be restored. The highly unusual order no doubt reflects fears in ruling circles, including in the trade unions, that the dispute was threatening to provoke a broader rebellion among working people, over low wages and dire social conditions.

Thousands of Fijians turned out on January 13 to demonstrate their support for the locked-out workers. Local media reported that about 3,000 people marched through Nadi, but Radio New Zealand added that another 5,000 joined the rally at the end of the march. RNZ Pacific correspondent Sally Round said it was the biggest demonstration she had seen in Fiji, with crowds of workers in uniform, families with children, elderly people and human rights groups carrying banners, singing and chanting.

Addressing the rally, Felix Anthony, national secretary of Fijis Trades Union Congress (TUC), issued a demagogic threat that the TUC would shut this country down if we have to, and foreshadowed another march in the capital, Suva, on February 24. The unions were, however, more than ready to enter the Employment Relations Tribunal following a move initiated by the ATS, to negotiate a return to work.

The courts findings are highly conditional. Magistrate Andrew See warned that the actions of both parties had not been completely exemplary. He said the workers actions in walking off the job suggested that prima facie unlawful industrial action had been taken, but management made the situation worse by suspending workers without pay and without following established procedures.

In response, ATS issued a statement declaring the decision does not prevent any disciplinary measures from being taken against the workers for abandoning their positions and engaging in an unlawful walkout. The management is considering additional legal steps. It also said it would be making other changes to security to prevent any further economic sabotage from taking place.

The unions will be deeply complicit in any measures taken against the workforce. Following the courts ruling, FASA national secretary Vilikesa Naulumatua immediately declared that no decision could now be made by management without the workers participation.

ATS was established in 1980 with a 51 percent shareholding by the government, and 49 percent held by the workforce in the Air Terminal Services Employee Trust (ATSET), which workers can join on payment of $F2,500 ($US1,250).

FASA facilitated the charade of workers involvement in the company. The ATS Board of Directors consists of seven members: four government representatives and three so-called workers directors elected via ATSET. The company boasts extensive worker participation, with worker representatives elected onto nine separate management committees.

Given the complete integration of the union with the companys ownership and management structure, it is simply not credible that it represents the interests of the workers, any more than unions elsewhere in the world. FASA is directly responsible for the oppressive conditions facing the airport workers.

TUC chief Anthony earlier told the Fiji Times the December 16 meeting was not a work stoppage or strike but a shareholders meeting, called because the union was frustrated with the way the company was being run and costing them money. Anthony claimed the workers dont have a say at board level despite owning 49 percent of shares.

Whatever FASAs reasons for initiating the stoppage, the response of the workers and their supporters is another indication of the growing determination of the working class internationally to defend their jobs, wages and conditions as the New Year begins.

Workers were willing to defy the authoritarian and repressive Fijian government. Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama denounced the workers, saying the law was clear on industrial disputes and workers did not follow the process, which requires a secret ballot, when they walked off the job. Ominously the Chief of Staff of Fijis Military Forces, Colonel Ratu Jone Kalouniwai, demanded the workers return to work.

The Fijian regime has its roots in the 2006 coup led by the former military strongman Bainimarama. The election in September 2014, closely monitored by the military and carried out with anti-democratic intimidation of political opponents, was won by Bainimaramas Fiji First Party. The military dominate the government and state apparatus.

Conditions of strict press censorship, military provocations and severe restrictions on opposition political parties remain in place. Entrenched anti-democratic measures, including suppression of the media, are directed against the working class and rural poor, and aimed at intimidating and silencing any opposition.

The gulf between rich and poor is widening. Since the first military coup in 1987, poverty and inequality have continued to increase. In 2016, 45 percent of Fijis 900,000 population was estimated to be living below the national poverty line. According to recent economic surveys, over 50 percent live on less than $F25 a week and cannot meet their basic needs. In July last year, the government raised the minimum wage by 36 cents an hour to $2.68. According to the TUC, it would need to be $4 an hour to reach the poverty line.

More than 140,000 people live in more than 200 shanty towns, many of which exist on the outskirts of Fijis luxurious tourist resorts. Approximately 40 percent of Fijian children experience malnourishment. A study published in 2015 revealed that diabetes-related limb amputations were being conducted by the public health system at the rate of more than 700 a year.Country

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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For the first time since leaving for the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas nearly four months ago, Jovanna Calzadillas is going home.

The Arizona mother of two, 30, was shot in the head on Oct. 1 when gunman Stephen Paddock opened fired on the outdoor concert from his hotel room at the Mandalay Bay Resort. Fifty-eight people were killed and more than 500 were injured in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. Although doctors initially told Jovannas husband Frank that she was unlikely to survive after a bullet that went through her brain, Jovanna made what doctors are calling a miraculous recovery and is scheduled to leave the hospital Thursday.

On Oct. 1, a part of me changed that night. Even though I will not be the same old Jovanna, I will come back stronger, said Jovanna at a news conference at the Barrow Neurological Institute Wednesday, according to Arizonas 3TV/CBS 5. We will not let people like him win. We will not live in fear.

Jovanna Calzadillas

Despite the initial grim prognosis from the team at University Medical Center in Las Vegas, Frank dreamed that his wife visited him with a positive sign.

She hugged me and kissed me and she said, Everything is going to be OK, and she walked away, Frank, a police officer, said. And I called her mom and said, Were keeping Jovanna alive. Shes going to be alright.'

Jovanna was transported by air to Phoenix on Oct. 19 to be closer to home, and doctors have been thrilled with the steps forward she has taken.

Her progress from the day I first met her is nothing short of miraculous, Dr. Lindley Bliss said at the press conference.

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Las Vegas shooting

Although she was in a wheelchair for Wednesdays press conference, Jovanna is learning how to walk again and making advancements in her speech, despite the language center of her brain being injured.

Story continues

She will continue her recovery in out-patient therapy.

Jovanna said her family, including her 11 and 3-year-old children, inspire her to keep going.

I will not quit on them and I will not quit on myself, she said. I feel strong and positive, plus I get to boss my husband around.

A GoFundMe page set up to help the family with expenses has raised nearly $90,000.Casino maven Steve Wynn has been accused of dozens of acts of sexual misconduct  including forcing one employee to have sex  according to a new report from the Wall Street Journal.

A manicurist told the WSJ that in 2005 shortly after the opening of his namesake casino, Wynn pressured her to take her clothes off and have sex, despite insisting otherwise and telling him that she was married. The woman filed a human resources complaint and was later paid a $7.5 million settlement, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The payment was pointed to in a lawsuit from Wynns ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, and admitted by Wynns attorney. Wynn Resorts, in a statement to the WSJ, said she is trying to tarnish the reputation of Mr. Wynn in an attempt to pressure a revised divorce settlement.

Also Read: Anne Heche Suggests Harvey Weinstein Fired Her From Miramax Film After She Refused Sexual Contact

Wynn told the WSJ that the idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous.

The report outlines several claims of inappropriate behavior from Wynn, stretching across decades. One former massage therapist said Wynn would take off his towel and instruct her to massage his penis to climax. She felt she had no choice but to agree, since Wynn was her boss. At later appointments, he asked her to perform oral sex, but she refused, according to the report.

Another worker said Wynn made similar inappropriate massage requests, but eventually relented after being told it made the woman uncomfortable.

Also Read: James Franco Accuser Calls Star 'Exploitative' But 'Absolutely Not a Harvey Weinstein'

Other ex-employees said Wynn would walk around in extremely short shorts without underwear, and would often sit in a position where his genitals were exposed. Another employee said Wynn spent weeks pursuing her  at one point asking so when are you going to come into my office and f me? In one instance, Wynn grabbed her and tried to kiss her, but she slipped out, according to the report.

Story continues

Wynn is known as one of the leading builders in Las Vegas. The 75-year-old was involved in numerous projects, including the Bellagio, Mirage, and Treasure Island casinos. His 12 percent stake in Wynn Resorts is worth more than $2 billion. But the companys stock is taking a beating on Friday, falling 7 percent to about $186 per share after the report was published.

Read the full WSJ report here.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Harvey Weinstein Dictated Emails While Naked, Ex-Assistant Says in Lawsuit

Harvey Weinstein Won't Be in Credits for Paramount Network's 'Yellowstone,' 'Waco'

Paul Sorvino on Harvey Weinstein: 'I Will Kill the Motherfer' (Video)An Indiana mother admitted in court last Friday to fatally stabbing her two children because she feared her husband would take them away after he filed for divorce, PEOPLE confirms.

Brandi Worley, 31, of Darlington, pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 19, court records show.

Worley murdered her son, Tyler Worley, 7, and her daughter, Charlee Worley, 3, in the early morning hours of Nov. 17, 2016.

Brandi Worley

In a chilling 911 call at about 4:35 a.m. that morning, she told the dispatcher in a monotone voice, I just stabbed myself and killed my two children, WTTV reported.

Theres blood everywhere, she said during the call.

When the dispatcher asked her what caused her to do this, she replied, My husband wanted a divorce and wanted to take my kids.

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Jason Worley, her husband and the father of her children, was home when police arrived, but was asleep in the basement, unaware of what happened, Sheriff Mark A. Casteel of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office said at the time.

The Montgomery County clerks office confirmed to PEOPLE that Jason Worley filed for divorce on Nov. 16, 2016.

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Worley was taken to the hospital with self-inflicted injuries to her neck, Casteel said.

She seemed matter-of-fact and not remorseful, the sheriff said.

Brandi Worley

Worley had initially pleaded not guilty, the Indy Star reported.

She had previously planned to plead insanity in the deaths of the children, according to the outlet.

Jason Worley was in court on Friday when Brandi Worley pleaded guilty.

She appeared to be just as unremorseful as she did in the 911 call, he told the Indy Star. She spoke in a very matter-of-fact manner when describing her crime. It was heart-wrenching to hear her speak as she did.

He added: All I want and have ever wanted was to have her out of sight and mind so that I may move forward from this horror.

Calls to Worleys attorney for comment were not immediately returned.Vanity Fair has digitally removed James Franco from the cover of its annual Hollywood issue in the wake of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Franco was photographed by Annie Leibovitz for the cover and was set to appear opposite the likes of Michael B. Jordan, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Claire Foy, and Michael Shannon, but the publication decided to remove him.

Read More:Oscars 2018: James Franco Shut Out of Best Actor Race Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

Franco was accused of sexual misconduct by five women in a report from The Los Angeles Times published on January 11. Four of the accusers were Francos former acting students who say Franco created an environment on sets in which women faced sexually inappropriate and exploitative behavior. Franco has not commented publicly on the allegations outside of appearances on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and Late Night With Seth Meyers. He called the allegations not accurate.

Franco was widely considered to be a lock for a Best Actor Oscar nominations after earning a Golden Globe win and a Screen Actors Guild nomination in the same category. The Los Angeles Times published its report a day before Oscar nomination ballots were due. Franco was shut out of the Oscars when nominations were announced January 23.

We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him, a Vanity Fair spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter. The cover had already been assembled, so Franco was photoshopped out.

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Oscars 2018: James Franco Shut Out of Best Actor Race Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations

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James Franco Attends SAG Awards Amid Sexual Harassment AllegationsJames Franco was removed from the cover of the annual Vanity Fair Hollywood issue, following the allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that while he sat for photos with Annie Liebovitz, who shoots the cover every year, and was interviewed for the accompanying piece, he was later removed from the cover digitally.

Vanity Fair has since confirmed the move.

We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him, said a spokesperson for the magazine.

Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks, Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, Jessica Chastain, Claire Foy, Michael Shannon, Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Vanity Fairs outgoing editor-in-chief Graydon Carter and Robert De Niro all feature on this years Hollywood issue cover.

But its said to be a highly unusual move to have one of its cover stars removed so close to the issues publication.

Franco is facing accusations from five women of sexual impropriety, following a report in the Los Angeles Times.

Four of the women attended his film school, and another Franco mentored.

He addressed the claims during an appearance on The Late Show earlier this month, telling Stephen Colbert: Look, in my life I pride myself on taking responsibility for things that I have done.

I have to do that to maintain my well being. The things that I heard that were on Twitter are not accurate. But 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 shut them down in any way.

If I have done something wrong, he added, I will fix it  I have to.

Two of the women, Violet Paley and Sarah Tither-Kaplan, appeared on Good Morning America this week, and said that Franco is yet to apologise to them.

Read more

Walking Dead mid-season premiere will be extra long

Protests erupt over Bollywood movie

Morgan Freeman tells of audience member at SAG Awards



An F-35 stealth fighter has arrived at an airbase in Misawa in Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan. It is the first of 10 F-35s that will be deployed at the base.

The aircraft flew into the Misawa Air Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force on Friday morning from the Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan.

The pilot was given flowers in a welcome ceremony attended by about 400 people, including Commander Kenichi Samejima.

The commander said in a speech that the F-35 stealth fighters will greatly contribute to ensuring peace and safety amid the increasingly severe security environment.

He added that the personnel at the base will swiftly and steadily establish a system for operating the aircraft.

Japan's Defense Ministry plans to deploy 9 more F-35s at Misawa in the fiscal year that starts in April. They are among 42 F-35s that will be deployed in Japan as the country's next-generation mainstay fighter.

The F-35 was jointly developed by the United States and 8 other countries. Its stealth capabilities make it difficult to detect by radar.

The ministry plans to equip the aircraft with Norwegian-made long-range Joint Strike Missiles. With a range of 500 kilometers, the missiles will enable Japan to target enemy bases.A North Carolina woman was sentenced to life in prison without parole for killing her estranged husbands co-worker in a jealous rage because she mistakenly thought the woman was having an affair with him, PEOPLE confirms.

On Wednesday, Marlene Johnson, 66, collapsed after a jury in Rowan County found her guilty of first-degree murder in the 2013 stabbing death of Shirley Pierce, 62, local station WSOC-TV reports.

Johnson maintained her innocence even after the guilty verdict was read.

I disagree with the jurys decision, she said in court, according to local station WBTV.

I am innocent. I was never there. I would never hurt anybody. I would not have killed Shirley Pierce.

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Judge Stuart Albright responded by saying that DNA evidence found at the scene squarely contradicts everything that you just said, the Salisbury Post reports.

After handing down her life sentence without parole, the judge then said to her, Maam, you will die in prison. That is my order.

Johnson reportedly killed Pierce because she mistakenly believed she was having an affair with her estranged husband, Ervin Johnson, the Post and WBTV report.

Now retired, Ervin Johnson was the chief financial officer and president of Tuscarora Yarns in Mount Pleasant, the Post reports.

 For more compelling true crime coverage, follow our Crime magazineon Flipboard.

Pierce was the executive administrative assistant to Martin Foil, the companys chief executive officer, according to the Post.

Shirley Pierce

Johnson had harassed and stalked Pierce before the murder, according to trial testimony, the Post reports.

Before she died, Pierce had obtained multiple restraining orders against Johnson, the Post reports. Investigators who searched Johnsons home and vehicle found surveillance photos of Pierce at her home and at work.

Story continues

On July 23, 2013, Pierces fiance, Chuck Reeves, found her stabbed to death inside her home. She had been stabbed once in the neck, which severed her jugular vein and carotid artery, the Post reports.

In court, Pierces only daughter, Tracy Pierce Brown, stood before the judge and talked about the impact her mothers death had on her.

She was everything to me, Brown said, the Post reports.

Calls to Johnsons attorney for comment were not immediately returned and it is not clear if she intends to appeal.Prince Harry has returned to the place where he has said, I feel more like myself than anywhere in the world.

The royal groom-to-be, 33, is traveling in Africa without fiancee Meghan Markle and will head to Botswana early next week.

He is there for a private working trip, says a palace source, seeing organizations working in conservation, particularly those affecting wildlife, across the region. Harry started with a visit on Monday to Chobe Game Lodge, Kasane, where he met Tshekedi Khama, the minister for environment and natural resources, conservation and tourism. Nothing else is being released about his time there at the moment.

During what the source says is a short trip, the prince is believed to be spending time with two associations in Africa that he supports. He is patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana and president of African Parks.

Harry, who has regularly visited the continent since his teens, took Meghan there in August to celebrate her 36th birthday. He also sourced the central diamond in her engagement ring in Botswana.

He also took part in some elephant conservation there in 2016.

Next week, Meghan and Harry are set to step out at the honors evening for the Endeavour Fund, which Harry backs.Trump lashes out at journalists at Davos: "It wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be." pic.twitter.com/XT94Ksghtx  Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) January 26, 2018

President Donald Trump was booed by some attendees during his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday after blasting the press for its unfair coverage of him.

As a businessman, I was always treated really well by the press. The numbers speak and things happen but Ive always really had very good press, said Trump, during an interview with forum founder Klaus Schwab. It wasnt until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be.

The line was met with some applause but also a fair amount of hissing and booing by the assembled plutocrats.

Also Read: Trump Apologizes for Retweeting UK Anti-Muslim Videos, Tells Piers Morgan He 'Loves Britain'

Trump also remarked  facetiously  how he didnt understand why the press had always been drawn to him.

Ive always seemed to get, for whatever reason a disproportionate amount of press or media, throughout my whole life, he said to audience laughter. Somebody will explain someday why, but Ive always gotten a lot.

The moment came after the president delivered a clean speech to the forum where he told the crowd that America first did not mean America alone and urged them to invest in their own people.

Also Read: Trump Blasts CNN's 'Crazy Jim Acosta' in Shutdown Victory Dance

The nations greatness is more than the sum of its production and a nations greatness is the sum of its citizens, the values, pride, love, devotion and character of the people who call that nation home, he said.

Related stories from TheWrap:

Sean Hannity Mocked For Dismissing Latest Trump-Mueller Story

Joe Scarborough Can't Decide Whether Trump Has 'Dementia' or Is Just a 'Liar'

Trump Apologizes for Retweeting UK Anti-Muslim Videos, Tells Piers Morgan He 'Loves Britain'

Porn Star Stormy Daniels to Appear on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live' to Talk TrumpWhen Joel Taylor, star of the former Discovery Series show Storm Chasers, died this week at the age of 38, he was allegedly chasing not a tornado, but a high.

I wish I could have just one more chase, his friend and former Storm Chasers co-star Reed Timmer wrote on Facebook. He was such a great friend to so many he will leave behind such a huge void His legacy will certainly chase on forever.

Taylor was reportedly on a Caribbean cruise with gay-party cruise company Atlantis at the time of his death, the cause of which has not yet been determined. But he had reportedly consumed party drugs, including GHB, a downer sometimes referred to as the date rape drug, according to TMZ, which noted, Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, It appears the death could be an overdose and Joel Taylor was consuming controlled substances. A passenger who interacted with Joel tells TMZ that Joel had consumed enough GHB on the dance floor Tuesday that he was rendered unconscious and taken off the dance floor by 2 people and back to his room.

An Atlantis spokesperson referred Yahoo Lifestyle to Royal Caribbean, which operates the cruise ship, but noted, We were saddened to learn of the death of Mr. Taylor this week as he was a loyal guest and member of our community. His loss will be felt by many who had the pleasure of knowing him.

In a statement to People, Royal Caribbean Cruises manager of global corporate communications said, As is our standard procedure, law enforcement was notified and responded to the ship when it arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday, January 23. We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the 38-year-old male guest from the United States who died while onboard Harmony of the Seas. A member of our Care Team is providing support and assistance to his family.

While an official cause of death has not been determined and an autopsy has yet to be performed, just the possibility of GHB playing a role was troubling for many familiar with both the drug and Atlantis cruises, according to a growing number of tweets.

Story continues

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GHB  which stands for gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid and is commonly just called G  began as a sleep aid, was sold over the counter for a brief time as a workout enhancer, and is now a Schedule 1 narcotic sometimes used to treat narcolepsy.

It rose to prominence on the gay dance-party circuit in the mid-1990s, and began raising red flags after young men began slipping into comas and dying at prominent fundraising parties, particularly at New York gay party mecca the Fire Island Pines. The drug remained popular in many party circles, though  giving the user a euphoric feeling thats similar to that of alcohol, but with no hangover  and now it appears to be having a resurgence, according to Joseph Palamar, an epidemiologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Healths Department of Population Health.

GHB was very popular in both the hetero and gay nightclubs scenes in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It acquired quite a stigma resulting from overdose and death and largely lost popularity, but GHB is supposedly making a bit of a comeback in the gay club scene, Palamar, who has written about and studied the drug extensively, tells Yahoo Lifestyle.

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Taken in the form of a clear liquid thats mixed, a drop at a time, into bottles of water, the recreational dosing of GHB is hard to control.

As Palamar explains, It typically only takes a few drops of GHB to get someone high. Its very potent, so its very easy to take too much  and when you take too much, you can pass out, and very quickly. Someone can be dancing and talking to you and 10 seconds later they are on the ground unconscious.

Even experienced users, he says, can have trouble accurately measuring their doses and expect to pass out unintentionally from time to time. Palamar adds, Some users take a second dose too soon after the first dose and think that like alcohol, the second dose will just make them a little more tipsy, but that second dose hits users much harder than the first dose. GHB on the street is unregulated, so users rarely know the true potency (or what is actually in the drug).

Many times, a GHB user who passes out or falls out will wake up after minutes or hours, feeling refreshed.

This is the case more often than not when someone falls unconscious. GHB is supposed to make you sleep, and thats exactly what it does, Palamar says. But falling into this short coma can be especially dangerous in an uncontrolled environment, he says, noting, If someone passes out, they can injure themselves and fall asleep in a position that cuts off their airway. Or someone can take way too much and seriously compromise their breathing. This is most likely when GHB is combined with alcohol.

The whole process has become even more complicated in recent years, as chemical analogs of GHB  including one called GBL  have come into use, explains Jim (who asked that his real name not be used), a paramedic with 20 years of experience treating and monitoring drug-using partiers as a volunteer with a gay medical group dedicated to harm reduction on the dance floor.

GBL breaks into two atoms of GHB, so youre taking something twice as strong, and it also takes longer to kick in, so you might take more too soon, he tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Because theyre both clear liquids, though, you can never be certain which one youre taking. And everything becomes more complicated when youre mixing other things in, which is especially going to be the situation at a party, he said.

In any event, Jim adds, people dont really die from GHB directly, but rather because it has put you in such a deep sleep state that you do not wake up, even if you vomit or choke, which can lead to death by aspiration. When we monitor them at an event, he explains, we are mainly looking to see if their vitals are stable and that their airway is okay.

Palamar addresses the question that many people might have about Taylors alleged situation and others that are similar: A normal person would think, why not call the hospital? But assuming this guys friends knew [what had happened], they likely thought hed sleep it off. People dont usually call for help  one, because they dont want to get in trouble, but two, because they usually wake up.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

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Cecile Richards, the president and the public face of Planned Parenthood, is leaving the company after more than a decade, and the internet is shook.

On Wednesday, BuzzFeed broke the story after speaking to two anonymous sources, who said that Richards had shared her plans with some members of Planned Parenthoods board of directors. Theres no word on where the 60-year-old is heading, but shell likely be promoting her upcoming memoir, Make Trouble, to be published in April.

Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood, is stepping down. (Photo: Getty Images)

On Friday, Planned Parenthood sent a statement confirming the news. Today, Planned Parenthood announced that after 12 years of service to the organization, Cecile Richards has informed the Planned Parenthood Federation Board of Directors that she will be stepping down as president in 2018, they said.

While Richards has not said specifically what she will do after Planned Parenthood, she did say that she would stay dedicated to women and progressive politics. Every day we see the incredible power that grassroots voices can have  there has never been a better moment to be an activist. You can bet Ill be marching right alongside them, continuing to travel around the country advocating for the basic rights and health care that all people deserve. Ive been an activist my entire life  and that wont stop any time soon, she said in a statement.

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People on social media feel all sorts of ways about her departure and already the rumor mill is churning with the story that she might run for office (even after she told the New York Times that she is not thinking of running for anything.).

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Earlier this week, Richards made headlines at the Womens March rally in Las Vegas with a buzzed-about speech. All across the country, the Womens March inspired doctors and teachers and mothers to become activists and organizers and, yes, candidates for office, she said. And from Virginia to Alabama and to last week in Wisconsin, women have beaten the odds to elect our own to office.  Women of color, transgender women, rural and urban women.

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These victories were led and made possible by women of color, Richards said, adding, So, white women, listen up. Weve got to do better.  It is not up to women of color to save this country from itself. Thats on all of us. Thats on all of us.

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Planned Parenthood was also thrust into the spotlight during the 2016 presidential election, endorsing Hillary Clinton and launching an initiative to Pink Out the Vote with the help of thousands of volunteers.

Donald Trump has made this election about how we treat women in this country, and that spells bad news for a number of the Republican Senate candidates who are now stuck defending their years-long records of attacking womens health and rights, Deirdre Schifeling, executive director of Planned Parenthood Votes said in a memo. Were the ones whose health and rights are at stake in this election, and we will be the reason that we elect Hillary Clinton to the White House.

After President Trump was elected, Planned Parenthood also received nearly $100K in donations from Mike Pence in a jab to the vice presidents antiabortion views.

And in March, the nonprofit was the subject of a firestorm involving two antiabortion activists who were charged with 15 felonies after editing videos shot undercover at Planned Parenthoods California locations that depicted the organization as secretly selling fetal tissue. Investigations into the allegations have come up empty. According to NPR, state investigations have yet to find any evidence that Planned Parenthood was selling or profiting off fetal tissue.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.Its been a sobering week of victim testimonies in the sentencing hearing of ex-USA Gymnastics and Michigan State doctor Larry Nassar, where over 150 girls and women  most of them gymnasts  shared their stories of sexual abuse at their team doctors hands. After seven days of victim statements, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina has sentenced Nassar to a 40 to 175 years in prison.

It is my honor and privilege to sentence you. You do not deserve to walk outside a prison ever again, she said. You have done nothing to control those urges, and anywhere you walk, destruction will occur to those most vulnerable.

She added: I just signed your death warrant.

54-year-old Nassar, who last week begged to be spared from listening to his victims statements, told the women that their words have had a significant emotional impact on him.

I will carry your words with me for the rest of my days, said Nassar, who had pled guilty to 10 counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct last November. He also, confoundingly, argued that he had been a good doctor.

Citing his letter asking not to hear the victim statements, Aquilina called Nassar out on his moment of apparent denial: You are guilty, arent you? Nassar considered the question before responding that he would stand by his guilty plea. Aquilina, however, made her position clear.

You have not yet owned what you did, she said. You still think somehow you are right, that you are a doctor, that you dont have to listen, and that you did treatment? I wouldnt send my dogs to you, sir.

Prosecutor Angela Povilaitis called Nassar possibly the most prolific serial child sex abuser in history.

To each survivor: thank you. Thank you for coming forward, for trusting us, for doing what is so hard and difficult, Povilaitis said.

What is obvious is that a strong group of determined women can, in fact, change the world  and will, she said.

Story continues

(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty)

You Might Also LikeBlack and white image of gymnasts with the text "We were ultimately strong enough to take you down. Not one by one, but by an army of survivors. "

Editors Note: If youve experienced sexual abuse or assault, the following post could be potentially triggering. You can contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

On Wednesday, Larry Nassar, a former USA gymnastics doctor, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison, after sexually assaulting more than 156 gymnasts and other athletes over the course of 25 years.

Justice requires action and a voice, and that is what happened here in this court, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina said, noting the bravery of those who shared their stories during the trial.

Sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again, she added. I just signed your death warrant. I find that you dont get it. You are a danger. I believe in rehabilitation I dont believe that is possible for you.

Last week, Nassar wrote a six-page letter to Aquilina, stating he couldnt mentally handle four days of listening to victim-impact statements.

Aquilina denied Nassars request, referring to the letter in court as mumbo jumbo.

Related: Kate Middleton's 'Mentally Healthy Schools' Will Provide Free Mental Health Resources to Schools

You may find it harsh that you are here, listening, but nothing is as harsh as what your victims endured for thousands of hours at your hands collectively. You spent thousands of hours perpetrating criminal sexual conduct on minors. Spending four or five days listening to them is significantly minor considering the hours of pleasure youve had at their expense and ruining their lives. None of this should come as a surprise to you.

It took seven days to get through the victim-impact statements  169 statements were presented, 156 read by survivors, themselves.

We were ultimately strong enough to take you down, survivor Kaylee Lorincz said on Wednesday. Not one by one, but by an army of survivors. We are Jane Does no more.

Story continues

Prior to sentencing, Nassar pleaded guilty to 10 counts of criminal sexual conduct in Michigan and had been sentenced to 60 years in prison for federal child pornography charges. Aquilinas sentencing applies to seven of the 10 charges. Sentencing for the remaining charges will be decided following Wednesdays trial.

Related: 21 Things People Don't Realize You're Doing Because You Had an Emotionally Abusive Mother

Sexual abuse is so much more than a disturbing physical act, Kyle Stephens, the first survivor to give a statement, said last week. It changes the trajectory of a victims life, and that is something that nobody has the right to do.

If you or a loved one is affected by sexual abuse or assault and need help, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to be connected with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.

Read more stories like this on The Mighty:

Why Aziz Ansari's Actions Were Sexual Assault  Not Just a 'Bad Date'

Facebook Says Its Update Will Make It 'Better' for Your Mental Health. Here's What You Should Know.

The Powerful Meaning Behind Last Night's 'Grey's Anatomy' Episode Title

Larry Nassar Claims Listening to Victim Impact Statements Is 'Mentally' Too HardPhoto credit: Getty

From Good Housekeeping

"I love a great love story," Meghan Markle told Vanity Fair last October, and did she find one. The fairytale engagement of the American actress and the British prince has swept the world by storm, with a romance so sweet it belongs in a Lifetime movie.

With the couple's upcoming wedding only months away, here's the comprehensive timeline of their whirlwind relationship, with plenty of sweet surprises along the way.

How they met

Blind dates don't often result in instant connections, but an expert set-up left Harry knowing she was the one "the very first time we met." The mystery matchmaker behind the pairing has stirred a lot of speculation, with E! News claiming that royal friend Violet von Westenholz introduced the duo. Other theories point to British fashion designer Misha Nonoo, a close friend of Meghan's for years.

Whoever it was knew what they were doing. Meghan said that she "didn't know much about him" going into the date, but asked if he was nice. "If he wasn't kind, it just didn't seem like it would make sense," she said in a BBC interview. The pair met for drinks in July 2016 and immediately knew they wanted to see each other again. "Very quickly into that we said, 'Well what are we doing tomorrow?'" Meghan remembered.

A trip to Africa

Only two dates in, Prince Harry took a big risk just a few weeks later: "I managed to persuade her to come and join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars," he told BBC.

The move paid off. "We were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other," he explained. The trip still has a lot of meaning to their relationship too. The central stone in Meghan's engagement ring actually came from Botswana instead of the royals' collection of gems .

The rumors start

After almost six months of blissful privacy, tabloids caught wind of the budding royal romance in the fall. The Sunday Express published a story on October 31, 2016, claiming Harry was "besotted" with the Suits actress. It didn't take long for more people to connect the dots. Hello! noted that the pair sported matching bracelets while others synced up Meghan's international Instagrams with Harry's busy travel schedule.

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Harry defends his girlfriend

Despite the wonderful news about a smitten Harry, the ensuing viral firestorm wasn't all too kind. The harassment of Meghan and her family got so bad that the first public confirmation of their relationship came as a a heartbreaking statement from Kensington Palace, highlighting the "outright sexism and racism" behind the abuse.

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"Prince Harry is worried about Ms. Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her," the November 8, 2016, memo read. "He knows that it is unusual to issue a statement like this, but hopes that fair-minded people will understand why he has felt it necessary to speak publically."

While many thought Meghan's career prepared her for this type of scrutiny, she later revealed that the attention totally shocked her. "I've never been part of tabloid culture. I've never been in pop culture to that degree and and lived a relatively quiet life," she told BBC. "We were just hit so hard at the beginning with a lot of mistruths that I made the choice to not read anything, positive or negative .... instead we focused all of our energies just on nurturing our relationship."

A public outing

With their relationship finally official, the couple stepped out in London together in late December on a low-key trip to pick out a Christmas tree before catching a West End show. The first published pictures of them together showed a couple totally in love - especially considering Prince Harry had just made a 1,700-mile detour to visit Meghan in Toronto. It was also around this time that Meghan started wearing gold initial necklace with the letters M and H on it.

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While they didn't spend Christmas together, the two reportedly celebrated New Year in London before jetting off to Norway on a romantic trip to see the Northern Lights.

Meghan meets the family

Meeting a significant other's family is always a little stressful, but Meghan took it all in stride, with Prince William and Prince Charles apparently the first to break the ice. After a rumored introduction to the Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte in January 2017, Us Weekly reported "Meghan's so happy she's getting to know more of Harry's nearest and dearest."

Shortening the distance

The beginning of 2017 saw more chances for the two to get together. Besides Meghan's frequent stays at Nottingham Cottage in Kensington Palace, the pair also met up Jamaica in March. Meghan came as Harry's plus one at the wedding of his childhood friend, with People reporting that the couple seemed "very much in love."

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By May, Harry and Meghan appeared at their first public event together. The Los Angeles native cheered on her beau at a charity polo match, and they were later caught kissing by a photographer.

The prince also proved his total devotion to Meghan when he personally drove 100 miles to pick up her up for for Pippa Middleton's wedding reception. Now that's love.

Back to Botswana

With Meghan shuttering her lifestyle blog The Tig, things were clearly getting serious. The couple went all out with celebrating their first anniversary (and Meghan's 36th birthday), returning to Botswana on another getaway. The trip included a stay at a gorgeous wildlife habitat, plus a visit to Victoria Falls. Basically, it was insanely romantic.

Meghan opens up

The actress finally revealed some information about her newfound love in her Vanity Fair interview, but refrained from going into too much detail. "We're a couple. We're in love," she stated. "I'm sure there will be a time when we will have to come forward and present ourselves and have stories to tell, but I hope what people will understand is that this is our time."

Photo credit: Getty

Another public appearance shortly followed the profile in September, with the couple having a blast at the Invictus Games in Toronto. Meghan's mom, Doria Ragland, also attended the event, giving the prince a rumored opportunity to ask permission to propose.

The couple also cleared the final hurdle to their engagement that fall, receiving the Queen's permission to marry. Meghan met the monarch the same month at Balmoral Castle for the royal stamp of approval. It probably helped that the corgis took to her "straight away," Harry marveled.

Happily engaged

With their families on board and the potential of a exciting new life together, Prince Harry officially popped the question in early November on a quiet night in Nottingham Cottage. The pair was apparently cooking up some roasted chicken together (kudos to Ina Garten!) when the royal got down on one knee.

Photo credit: Getty

"It was just an amazing surprise," Meghan said during their BBC interview. "It was so sweet and natural and very romantic."

Besides the diamond from Botswana, Harry had incorporated two more stones from his mother's jewelry collection to design the perfect ring. Their engagement photo call at Kensington Palace revealed a couple totally in love and ready to get married after about 15 months together.

"The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was sort of confirmation to me that all of the stars were aligned, everything was just perfect," Harry said. "[There] was this beautiful woman, who just sort of literally tripped and fell into my life [and] I fell into her life."

A new life together

As the couple plans their May wedding, Meghan is going through the (many!) steps of becoming a bonafide royal. She announced her departure from Suits, closed her personal social media accounts, and learned the etiquette expected of a future duchess.

The couple has already gone on multiple public engagements together, and it's official that the world can't get enough of them. Their upcoming wedding will be no exception.Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - Ebola, zika, SARS: a century after the "Spanish flu" killed 50 million people, humanity now risks a new wave of deadly diseases, and in today's globalised world another such pandemic may be unavoidable, experts warned at the Davos summit this week.

"Pandemics are becoming a real threat to humanity," Elhadj As Sy, secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, told AFP at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort.

One Davos discussion titled "Are We Ready For the Next Pandemic?" was joined by experts including Sylvie Briand, a specialist in infectious diseases at the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"We know that it is coming, but we have no way of stopping it," she said.

This year marks the centenary of the worst epidemic in history: the so-called Spanish flu -- an outbreak that experts say was actually imported to Europe by troops from the United States coming to fight in World War One.

Across the world, the disease killed more people in two years than the four years of fighting had.

Richard Hatchett, director of the public-private Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), said India lost five percent of its population in 1918 -- the only time in the country's history that its population declined.

A century on, a new flu virus is the risk that most worries experts.

"The flu is a respiratory virus that is easily transmitted and people can be contagious even before they show symptoms, so it is not easy to control," said Briand.

Its numerous forms are also able to "marry" one another or bond with viruses from birds or pigs in potentially deadly new combinations.

- Still vulnerable -

Despite the development of anti-viral drugs, antibiotics and the first vaccines, two other flu pandemics erupted after the Spanish flu, in 1957 and 1968 -- killing millions.

More recent epidemics have reminded the world that it is still vulnerable to outbreaks.

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The SARS respiratory virus killed some 770 people in 2003.

"These past three years, there has been Ebola in West Africa, zika in South America and more recently a plague epidemic in Madagascar" last year, said Sy.

Ebola haemorraghic fever killed 11,000 in West Africa in 2014 and 2015. The disease also spread around the world after international travellers were infected.

"Humanity is more vulnerable in the face of epidemics because we are much more connected and we travel around much more quickly than before," said Briand. "When we travel, the viruses travel with us."

Hatchett warned that disease specialists are still dealing with the consequences of zika, a mosquito-borne disease which causes birth defects.

The outbreak in Latin America in 2015 took scientists by surprise.

- Preparing for catastrophe -

Experts also warned of the economic impact of outbreaks.

In 2015 hundreds of cases of the MERS respiratory syndrome cost South Korea 10 billion dollars, Hatchett said.

Billionaire philanthropist and Microsoft founder Bill Gates estimated in February 2017 that preparing to respond to a global pandemic would cost $3.4 billion a year.

The potential cost of one if the world is unprepared could be $570 billion, he said.

Gates is one of the main backers of the CEPI, which has overall funding of $700 million and was launched at last year's Davos summit.

The CEPI is seeking to develop treatments for three viruses for which there is currently none: MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), Lassa fever which is endemic in West Africa, and Nipah in Malaysia and Bangladesh.

"At the WHO, we are trying to prepare for a catastrophe, hoping to reduce the impact as much as possible," said Briand.

Developing a vaccine against a new virus, however, is dangerous and can take up to six months, the WHO says.

It costs up to $200 million, says Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

That is not a big motivation for pharmaceutical laboratories, Hatchett said.

"There is no commercial market for these products until there is an epidemic and then everyone wants the vaccine that doesn't exist."As the world eagerly awaits the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, Yahoo Style has decided to prepare for the moment by taking a look at past royal wedding dresses truly fit for a princess or queen. Many are replete with tons of lace and embellishments, best paired with tiaras and a sea of wide-eyed onlookers.

From the dresses of Kate Middleton to Princess Hajah of Brunei, courtesy of designers from Christian Dior to Valentino, we have rounded up a dozen of the best royal wedding dresses ever in the video above. Were sure Markle will make the list after her big day, but until then, maybe this can inspire her.A pair of monkeys in China is being regarded as a scientific milestone after becoming the first primates to be successfully cloned.

Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai announced their results Wednesday. They were able to create the genetic duplicates through the same procedure that produced Dolly the sheep in 1996.

The baby monkeys, born within the past eight months, are named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua.

Dr. Muming Poo, director of the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said cloning, combined with a gene editing technique, could produce monkeys replicating genetic defects in people.

Since primates are more like humans than any other lab animals, monkeys can then be used for studies and testing that may be more relevant to people.

In the first footage shown of Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, the two monkeys appear to be having fun playing around with toys in their incubator.

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Related Articles:Miryang (South Korea) (AFP) - A huge fire tore through a South Korean hospital on Friday killing at least 37 people, the government said, in the country's worst blaze for a decade.

Around 130 others were hurt in the fire, which comes just weeks before thousands of athletes and foreign visitors are expected in the country for the Winter Olympics.

While South Korea has risen to become the world's 11th-largest economy, some of its infrastructure was built rapidly and it has a history of preventable disasters.

It was the country's second major blaze in a month, and officials admitted there was no sprinkler system installed at the hospital.

Videos posted on social media showed a patient hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter above the hospital in Miryang, in the far south, and another crawling out of a window to climb down a ladder.

The death toll rose rapidly throughout the morning as some of those initially pulled from the blaze succumbed to their injuries. At one point the presidential Blue House put it at 41, before authorities lowered it to 37, blaming double-counting.

Three of the dead were medical staff, officials said.

"Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room," said fire chief Choi Man-Woo.

The six-storey structure housed a nursing home as well as the Sejong Hospital, and around 200 people were inside when the fire broke out according to police.

All the dead were in the hospital, Choi said.

Video footage and pictures showed the building engulfed by thick, dark smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks.

Survivors were brought out wrapped in blankets, and firefighters picked their way through the blackened shell of the building after the blaze was extinguished.

Jang Yeong-Jae, a surviving patient, said he was on the second floor when nurses screamed "Fire!" in the hallway and urged people to leave through the emergency exits.

"But when I opened the exit door, the whole stairway was filled with dark smoke and I couldn't see a thing," he told Seoul's major daily JoongAng Ilbo.

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"Everybody was running around in panic, falling over and screaming as smoke filled the rooms," he was quoted as saying. Jang tore open window screens and escaped on a ladder erected by firefighters.

"There were so many aged patients on other floors... I wonder if they escaped safely," JoongAng quoted Jang's wife as saying.

Witnesses described frantic efforts by medical staff to evacuate patients, many of them elderly or immobile.

"Nurses were running around barefoot shouting 'Fire! Everyone get out!' without even knowing their shoes had come off, while tearfully saying some of their colleagues were still inside," said one witness who only revealed her surname, Chung.

"It was so horrifying... I saw bodies of elderly ladies lying on the floor because there were not enough blankets left to cover them," Chung told AFP.

- Short-circuits suspected -

Hospital director Son Gyeong-Cheol admitted there was no sprinkler system in the building.

None had been required under fire prevention laws, he told journalists, but the hospital had been planning to install them in the coming week to comply with new regulations coming into force in June.

"There were two heating-cooling air conditioners in the emergency room and the fire started in that area," he said. "We suspect electrical short-circuits."

Miryang Fire Station chief Choi Man-Woo apologised for "failing to rescue each and every one" of the patients caught in the fire.

"When our fast reaction squad arrived at the scene, the building was already engulfed in thick smoke and flames and they were unable to make their way into it," Choi said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In called an emergency meeting with advisers, and demanded an immediate probe into the cause of the blaze.

Pope Francis said he was "deeply saddened" by the deaths and injuries from the fire, in a condolence message to South Korea, which has a fast-growing Catholic community.

The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon -- a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Friday's fire is South Korea's worst since 2008, when a blaze at a warehouse in the city of Icheon killed 40 workers.

The worst fire ever in modern South Korea was an arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu in 2003 that left 192 people dead and nearly 150 injured.(Photo: Nikita Richards)

WASHINGTON  If theres one area where President Donald Trump has been effective, its at inspiring women to run for office to fight against everything he represents.

A staggering number of first-time female candidates has emerged over the past year. More than 26,000 women have reached out to EMILYs List, an organization that recruits and trains pro-choice Democratic women, about launching a campaign. Just 920 female potential candidates contacted the group in 2015 and 2016 combined. Run for Something, which trains young Democrats to run for local and state seats, has recruited 15,000 people since its launch in late 2016. The vast majority of them are female.

HuffPost met several women last year who were either thinking about running or who did run for the first time, and we got to thinking: What happened to them? Did they follow through with it? Did they win? If they lost, what are they doing now?

We tracked down six of these women from around the country to see where they landed and what their plans are for 2018. Theyve taken different paths, but all said they are committed to pushing back on Trumps rhetoric and polices however they can.

Nikita Richards of Bloomington, Illinois

Nikita Richards. (Photo: Nikita Richards)

Nikita Richards was one of a few dozen attendees of Build the Bench, an all-day boot camp last February designed to train Democrats on how to run for local office. Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.) organized the event, which offered nuts-and-bolts details on how to run a successful campaign. By the end of it, the 35-year-old single mom was raring to go.

I was scared, Richards said at the time. Now Im ready.

A year later, Richards is a candidate for McLean County Clerk in Illinois. She doesnt have a primary challenger, but shes going up against a Republican in November who has held the seat for two terms. If Richards wins, she will be the first African-American elected to the position and the first Democrat in 40 years.

Richards said shes been focused on talking to people about what a clerk actually does and raising concerns with the current clerks plan to remove three polling places and consolidate them. Those stations are based in largely minority and low-income neighborhoods that dont run along bus lines, she said, so removing them would make it difficult for people there to vote. Richards successfully fought to keep one of those polling places where it is, but two were removed and consolidations are moving forward.

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Ultimately, its a voter suppression technique, she said. Im having people question the clerks claims that this isnt happening.

Kelly Gonez of Los Angeles, California

Kelly Gonez. (Photo: Kelly Gonez campaign)

The day after Trump became president, students in Kelly Gonezs seventh-grade science class told her they felt scared. Gonez, 29, had just started teaching at a Los Angeles school after serving as an education policy advisor in the Obama administration. She worried that Trump was planning to undo the policy work shed done to protect kids like her students, some of whom had undocumented family members.

She decided to run for a board seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District.

I looked at the country, in terms of who is running for office, and reflected on my experience in D.C. and thought, Why not me? Gonez said in May.

She won. In the months since then, Gonez, who lives with her husband in Sylmar, said its been infuriating to see Trump ramp up immigration enforcement efforts in her community, where students have been missing school because they have family members who are undocumented and afraid to drive them there. Gonez said she is determined to proactively fight Trumps policies in her school district, versus being reactive.

We launched a campaign, We Are One, highlighting that our schools are safe places and providing immigration resources to families, she said. I also have students who are [undocumented] who tell me they are worried about going to college. Were partnering with advocacy organizations so undocumented students can have careers.

All of this, Gonez added, is very personal to me.

Alyse Galvin of Anchorage, Alaska

Alyse Galvin. (Photo: Alyse Galvin)

HuffPost crashed a lunch Alyse Galvin was having with her kids at a cafe in Anchorage in September. Galvin, an undeclared voter, shared her thoughts on Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) for a story we did and talked about leading a letter-writing campaign to urge the senator to oppose Education Secretary Betsy DeVos confirmation.

Galvin, 52, was clearly engaged in policy matters at the time  shes a co-founder of a public education advocacy group  but she didnt say anything about a potential run for office. But lo and behold, she just announced shes running for Congress as an independent against Rep. Don Young (R). Shes got a campaign up and running, shes got consultants in Alaska and in Washington, D.C., and she has raised $70,000 in six days.

It was not on my radar that day, I can tell you that, Galvin, a mom of four, said of her political plans during our last meeting. I am not a politician. But Ive run into so many Alaskans who are feeling like Washington is not connected to what the people are hoping for from their leaders. So I decided to step up.

It wont be an easy race for Galvin. Young has held this seat since 1973, and two Democrats are running. But shes inspired by the people she talks to who are frustrated with Trump and desperate for civil discourse and positive leadership in politics, which, unlike Young, she thinks she can bring.

Trump has let a lot of people down, she said. We have a citizen government, true, but a citizen government needs to be respectable.

Shanna Shipman of Peoria, Illinois

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Shanna Shipman. (Photo: Shanna Shipman)

Shanna Shipman also participated in Build the Bench in February, despite being unsure of how she could manage a potential campaign while raising four kids and working full time. The 38-year-old single mom figured she might not run for office right away, but she wanted to be prepared for when she did.

I look at my 14-year-old, who knows that Ive been upset about how certain things are happening, and I would like, rather than her impression be that mom is complaining  that moms acting. You know? she said at the time.

These days, Shipman has been relishing her time with her family and still thinks about running for office. But the timing just isnt right.

I am not quite there yet, but increasingly feel that I will run in some capacity. I love my life. I savor my time with my family ... and I value my privacy, she said. Eventually, I think I will sacrifice some of that for an opportunity to represent some of those who dont feel represented. That is an honor I could never take lightly.

Despite staying out of the races, Shipman said the line between her efforts to be a good parent and stay active in civic matters is blurring. Trumps presidency has been horrifying, she said, in part because of his completely base rhetoric that insults people near and dear to me. The reason shes not running for office now could very well be the reason she ends up doing it later: her kids.

My political involvement is growing as my children grow older, Shipman said. Ultimately, the need to create positive conditions for my and all children ... that is the point of it all.

Haley Stevens of Rochester Hills, Michigan

Haley Stevens. (Photo: Haley Stevens campaign)

Haley Stevens, 34, jumped into her race against Rep. Dave Trott (R-Mich.) last spring. Thats early in the campaign season, but Stevens had personal reasons: She led Obamas task force that oversaw the 2009 financial bailout of the auto industry, and was preoccupied by the thought of Trumps budget cuts destroying her states innovation economy. She said Trott wasnt doing anything about it, so she decided to take him on.

The guy Im looking to run against  hes putting forward legislation to make it easier to collect on debts. Are you kidding me? Stevens, who lives in Rochester Hills, said in May. You can bring together people in really amazing ways. Im a doer; we can do big things.

Since then, Trott has announced hes not running again and six other GOP candidates have jumped into the race. Its a Republican-leaning district, but Stevens says Democrats have the momentum in this election cycle and the fact that Trott dropped out shows he didnt want to go up against her.

You have an incumbent who looked at me as a competitive challenger, she said. I was meeting with coalitions of people in the district and there was this palpable energy and excitement. I kept hearing, I cant wait to volunteer on your campaign in 2018.

If she wins, Stevens said one of her priorities will be holding the president accountable when he tries to undermine institutions of government, particularly the Constitution, or when he is flat-out racist. She criticized Trott last summer for staying quiet about Trumps both sides response to white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Were going to continue to do that, she said. I tell everyone Im campaigning on a return to common sense in the nations capital.

Hannah Risheq of Chantilly, Virginia

Hannah Risheq. (Photo: Hannah Risheq)

When Hannah Risheq was a kid, the Ku Klux Klan burned down her parents restaurant near Asheboro, North Carolina. When the Risheqs opened a new one in Greensboro, customers stopped coming after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks because they knew her dad was Muslim. They lost friends, closed the restaurant and eventually moved to Chantilly, Virginia, where, at last, they felt welcomed as a multicultural, multi-religious household. (Risheqs mom is Jewish.)

So when Trump became president, Risheq worried that his divisive rhetoric would erode the goodwill in her town. She decided last March, at the age of 25, that the best way to protect her community was to represent it. She announced a bid for a state House seat against Republican Rep. James LeMunyon, who had held the seat since 2009.

I want to make sure that everyone, especially children of nontraditional backgrounds or identities, feels comfortable and accepted being who they are, Risheq said at the time. Im running because I want to give a voice to everyone.

A year later, shes not in the Virginia House  she lost in the primary  but says shes proud of what her campaign accomplished. She has since gotten married, adopted a dog named Snowy and became a health care analyst at a D.C. consulting firm. Shes also been doing a lot of yoga to cope with the never-ending news alerts from our ridiculously unqualified and delusional president/his administration. Namaste!

Risheq isnt done with politics, either. She joined Emerge Virginia, which recruits and trains Democratic women to run for office, and is sorting out her next steps in public service. She continues to advocate for Medicaid expansion in the state.

If we would just do this one thing and expand coverage, 400,000 low-income adults in Virginia would be able to access health care, Risheq said. Its just the right thing to do and Im going to continue to fight for it.

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Donald Trumps Presidency Has Inspired 11,000 Women To Run For Office

What Its Like To Be A Woman Running For Local Office In Trumps America

Trump's Election Inspired An Army Of Women To Run For Office. Meet 8 Of Them.

Also on HuffPost

Women march on International Women's Day in New York City on March 7, 2017.

A woman has milk poured in her eyes after she was sprayed with a chemical irritant as fights broke out between Trump supporters and anti-Trump protesters in Berkeley, California, on April 15, 2017.

Demonstrators participate in the #MeToo Survivors' March outside the CNN building on Nov. 12, 2017, in Los Angeles.

A woman is arrested during a confrontation on Washington Street following the "Boston Free Speech" rally and counterprotest on Aug. 19, 2017.

Women activists from Mexico and the United States braid their hair together in a silent demonstration against the immigration policies of President Donald Trump, on the Santa Fe international bridge that connects Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, and El Paso, Texas, on Jan. 20, 2017.

Demonstrators dressed as characters from the Hulu show "The Handmaid's Tale," based on the Margaret Atwood novel of the same name, walk past signage for Trump Plaza during a protest in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Nov. 11, 2017.

U.S. Capitol Police remove a woman from a protest in front of the office of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Capitol Hill, June 22, 2017.

A woman receives first aid after a car plowed into a crowd of anti-racist demonstrators, killing Heather Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal, in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017.

Marchers walk during the Black Brilliance Collective: March and Gathering on Aug. 19, 2017, in Pittsburgh.

Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Hollywood, Los Angeles, on Nov. 12, 2017.

Hoshneara Begum, a Bangladeshi-American woman, wears an American flag hijab as she marches with hundreds of others to protest Trump's travel ban in Washington, D.C., Oct, 18, 2017.

Two women with placards sit on a park bench as demonstrators with Casa in Action and Service Employee International Union 32BJ march in protest of Trump's immigration policies in Washington, D.C., May 1, 2017.

A woman protests in front of the National Rifle Association headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia, July 14, 2017.

Vanessa Chairee cries as women call up toward immigrants detained at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan Detention Center during the International Women's Day March and Rally on March 5, 2017, in Los Angeles.

Women dressed as characters from "The Handmaid's Tale" protest at the exit gate after a campaign rally for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore in Midland City, Alabama, Dec. 11, 2017.

Thousands of people march through Washington to the White House protesting the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline with members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe on March 10, 2017.

Protesters participate in a May Day march in Los Angeles, May 1, 2017. Thousands of Americans took to the streets in major U.S. cities to join demonstrations for the rights of workers, women and immigrants.

Mary Arevalo, 29, participates in the International Women's Day "A Day Without a Woman" anti-Trump protest in Los Angeles, March 8, 2017.

Women's March participant Suzanne Damas of Brooklyn, New York, wears a simple sticker on her forehead to let people know what she thinks of Trump.

A girl reacts to hateful speech from street preachers at the #ResistMarch during the 47th annual LA Pride Festival on June 11, 2017, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles and West Hollywood, California.

People participate in a Women's March to protest Trump in New York City, Jan. 21, 2017.

Kandy Freeman takes part in a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Trump Tower in New York City, Jan. 14, 2017.

A woman cries during the Women's March in San Francisco on Jan. 21, 2017, after Trump's presidential inauguration.

A woman shouts slogans against Trump as activists take part in a Tax Day protest on April 15, 2017, in New York City.

A woman is arrested during a pro-immigration rally outside Trump Tower on Aug. 15, 2017, in New York City.

A woman reads messages on paper cones with electric candles in them at the Washington Monument during a protest against Trump in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 3, 2017.

Demonstrators hug during protests on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, 2017.

Demonstrators protest for higher wages and better working conditions on the 49th anniversary of the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 2017, in Chicago.

A woman makes a peace sign before a line of police preparing to advance upon demonstrators after a Trump rally at the Phoenix Convention Center on Aug. 22, 2017, in Phoenix.

Victims of sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual abuse and their supporters protest during a #MeToo march in Los Angeles on Nov. 12, 2017.

A woman with a slogan written on her back is seen during an International Women's Strike Rally on March 8, 2017, in New York City.

A woman watches as law enforcement officers secure an area during a protest action following a "not guilty" verdict for former police Officer Jason Stockley on Sept. 15, 2017, in St. Louis. Stockley was charged with first-degree murder last year in the 2011 shooting death of motorist Anthony Lamar Smith.

A woman and her children join hundreds of protesters gathering at Lincoln Park to take part in a march for racial justice in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 30, 2017.

A woman holds signs during the People's Climate March on April 29, 2017, in Chicago.

A U.S. Capitol Police officer carries a woman's cane after arresting her for protesting against the Republican health care repeal and replace legislation outside the offices of Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on July 19, 2017, in Washington, D.C.



Warning: The following photo contains nudity.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Waiting until youre older to have kids doesnt necessarily mean youll have fewer kids, according to new data by Pew Research Center. Overall, more women are becoming mothers, and having more children than they were a decade ago. In fact, 86% of women in their early 40s are mothers, up from 80% in 2006  and family size is ticking up as women today are having 2.07 children, compared to 1.86 in 2006.

Women no longer need to sacrifice having a family for having a career, says Robyn DeLuca, a research professor at SUNY Stony Brook and executive director of the WISE Program (Women in Science and Engineering).

While fewer women under the age of 20 are having children, there are more older, educated women becoming mothers. In fact, the biggest increase in motherhood was seen in educated women in their early 40s with a Ph.D, jumping 25 percentage points in 20 years, from 65% in 1994 to 80% in 2014.

This is great for women. It shows that we are establishing ourselves in our careers and still having a family, says DeLuca. More women that ever are having it all  and theyre doing it well.

To discuss the trends behind the numbers, Yahoo Finance invited DeLuca to our New York City studios.

YF: Why are more educated women finding it possible to have children than they were 20 years ago?

DeLuca: One piece of it is that more never-married women are having children. Perhaps marriage has become a less important institution and the U.S. is becoming more like Europe, or possibly these never-married women are having babies by themselves and making it work with the help of family and friends. Both possibilities suggest that people are thinking differently about how to have a family.

Another possibility has to do with changes in expectations for men. We expect men to participate in the raising of their children. If a guy says something like Oh I dont change diapers, we think hes a jerk. So thats become part of normal culture and I think educated women sense this and think: If I do this, Im not going to be left holding the diaper bag on my own.

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One of the most powerful men in the U.S., Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, accepted that position only on the condition that he would be able to spend time with his family. He not only demanded it, he demanded it publicly. This is the modern model of the high-achieving man  that he is professionally successful but is also actively involved with parenting his children.

YF: You say its possible to have it all. What are some practical steps for working women and men to create balance between work and family?

DeLuca: First, we need to address that phrase having it all. The best goal is to get yourself in a situation where theres good support and good flexibility. The first step for women, I think, is to make sure they bring their A game. Be really good at what you do, be a valued employee, because I think women who make a big contribution at work are more likely to have management be more accommodating for them.

Also, something that I suggest to professional women and men  it shakes them up a little bit when I suggest this  is to consider reducing their standards at home and at work. At work reducing your effort to 90% because that is barely perceptible to anyone around you. [To] your boss, your colleagues, youre still putting out really high-quality work, but to you, you feel the reduced stress just easing up that little bit. And then the same thing at home: dont be too upset if your house is a little dirty. Dont be too upset if your kids need a haircut for another week; these are not big life-changing problems.

YF: Do you think its harmful for women to try to have it all?

DeLuca: I think it is, for several reasons. When psychologists look at the kind of coping women do with multiple roles, the women who do try to do everything work at the highest level  make homemade cupcakes for their kids birthday parties  they are the most burnt out, more likely to be depressed, more likely to have anxiety and health problems. So I think women should see that that is not a model they should try to follow. They are not going to be happy people if they do.

YF: You say that women who do have multiple roles are physically and emotionally healthier, but then if you dont feel supported and youre on the brink of burnout, how do you get back to a place where youre thriving again?

DeLuca: Be clear what you expect of yourself, but also help others have reasonable expectations of you. Figure out what it is you expect of yourself. And see if thats matching up with reality. The idea of becoming a manager at work may really match up with your goals and what you think of for yourself, but the daily reality may not be exactly what you want.

Galvanize all of the support that you can to recruit family members if youve got your parents around  if theyre grandparents  they are the a fantastic resource. The love that flows out of them is so fabulous.

And one of the good pieces of advice that I want to give women has to do with planning: choose your mate wisely. Choose someone who is going to be a team player, not someone whos going to help out sometimes. That is going to go such a long way in having someone who supports your goals in really tangible ways. That in your everyday life he or she wants to make it happen for you whether its your work situation, whether its your activities in your community, or in the way that youre raising your children.

In terms of how you balance your life: you need to re-evaluate it every few months because things can come up. We need to be cognizant that times change, we change as people, our work situation changes, and God knows children change.

Jeanie is a senior producer and reporter at Yahoo Finance. Reach out by email jeaniea@oath.com; follow her on Twitter @jeanie531.

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4 tough but essential money questions all couples should discuss before tying the knotJoel Taylor, who starred in the Discovery Channel show Storm Chasers, has died after he reportedly suffered a drug overdose during a cruise Tuesday.

The 38-year-old was found unresponsive in his cabin Tuesday on a Royal Caribbean ship, reports said.

Passengers on the Harmony of the Seas claimed they witnessed Taylor taking drugs, including ecstasy and cocaine, on the ship, the New York Daily News reported.

Another passenger said Taylor was knocked unconscious after consuming a large quantity of GHB, an anti-sleep medication used to treat narcolepsy, on the dance floor, the paper reported.

I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend, Taylor's Storm Chasers co-star, Reed Timmer, tweeted Tuesday. We lost a legend.

This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it.

The Harmony of the Seas set sail on Jan. 20 and was set to return to Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Saturday morning, but police arrived on the scene when the ship docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

A representative with Royal Caribbean did not confirm Taylors identity, but did send sympathies to the family of the victim.

We extend our most sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the 38-year-old male guest from the United States who died while onboard Harmony of the Seas, Owen Torres told InsideEdition.com

Taylor, who studied meteorology at the University of Oklahoma, joined Storm Chasers in 2008 as part of a team that included Timmer, his college buddy. Both had appeared on the website TornadoVideos.net.

Taylor was followed on the show until its 2012 cancellation.

Team Western Oklahoma Chaser, a group Taylor was a part of, also posted about his death.

He didnt chase for the glory he chased because he had a true passion for storms," the group said. "In the last few years hed load up with his dad and go chase and not even take a camera. Our hearts are hurting for his mom Tracy and dad Jimmy along with his brother and sister and their children. Please know you are in our prayers. RIP Joel.

Story continues

Taylor was born in Elk City, Okla., and was living in Norman.

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Related Articles:After playing young noble-turned-assassin Arya Stark in Game of Thrones for the past eight years, Maisie Williams is getting ready to start a new chapter of her career. But according to Williams, the potential for new opportunities has made her more aware of a major problem facing women in Hollywood.

In an interview with the Irish Times that was published on Tuesday, the 20-year spoke about how female stereotyping has begun to affect her view of the acting world.

Its only now Im starting to realize the characters that are available to me because of the way I look and the characters that arent available to me, she said. Its a very shallow industry. And I dont look like someone who is cast in roles that are, well, sexualised.

Williams went on to explain that she feels the beauty standards of Hollywood are too restrictive.

Dont get me wrong. Im completely in awe of Hollywoods leading ladies. I love looking at those totally jaw-droppingly beautiful women, she said. But I think its sad that you only get to see one type of beautiful on screen.Davos (Switzerland) (AFP) - A fawning female admirer grabbed Donald Trump's autograph while others longed to pelt him with fruit as the US president Thursday strode enthusiastically into the Davos economic forum.

Trump smiled and waved as hundreds of onlookers at the elite gathering lined the lobby and a high staircase of the conference venue in the Swiss resort to get a glimpse of him.

Some muttered disapprovingly about him even as they got out their phones to take pictures, torn between fascination and revulsion at the man who has vowed to tear down their globalist world.

"Can we throw things?" asked one bystander, a middle-aged American woman in a purple jacket, peering from the staircase at the crowds awaiting Trump's arrival.

"I've an apple in my bag," said another woman.

"No," replied the first, walking away. "He doesn't even merit that."

- God's gift? -

On the front line of the welcoming committee, however, was one devoted fan.

Deborah O'Hara Rusckowski, 58, held out a book for him to sign called "God and Donald Trump", a study on whether supernatural intervention brought the US leader to power.

"Yes, president," shouted Rusckowski, an American who serves as a permanent observer to the United Nations for the conservative Catholic movement the Order of Malta, before Trump approached and signed her book.

"He was very, very hospitable and personal. He just said 'Yes, I'll sign that for you'," she told AFP afterwards.

"I like him. I like what he stands for. I think we needed it after eight years of what we had (before Trump) that did nothing but hurt us."

- Dinner with Trump -

Swiss protesters hung a giant banner on a nearby mountain reading "Trump not welcome".

In a statement, the progressive campaign group that hung the banner, Campax, said it hoped the US leader would see it as he flew by in his helicopter.

Story continues

It said 17,000 people had signed a petition against Trump's visit to Switzerland, protesting what it said were his racist and sexist views and "misanthropic" policies.

At the summit, delegates were waiting nervously to hear what Trump will say during his address to the forum on Friday.

He was scheduled to dine with European company executives on Thursday evening in the posh Swiss ski resort.

But some business leaders "are leaving" already, a top European diplomat who asked not to be named told AFP.

"So many we speak to say they don't want to be here for the speech."

By attending the annual Davos meeting, Trump came face to face with the liberal economic elites whom he insulted during his election campaign.

But on arrival he was all smiles.

"It's very exciting to be here, we're very happy to be here. The United States is doing very well," he told the crowd, before disappearing upstairs for talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May and others.

"This will be a very exciting two days."By Christine Kim MIRYANG, South Korea (Reuters) - Once famous for an award-winning film of the same name, the South Korean city of Miryang became a scene of horror on Friday as flames and toxic smoke swept through a hospital, killing at least 37 people and injuring more than 140. South Korea's deadliest fire in almost a decade followed one last month that killed 29 people, reviving concern over safety standards, as the hospital director said current law did not require the building to have a sprinkler system. "So many lives were sacrificed and the people of our city, as well as those throughout the country, have fallen into deep grief," the city's mayor, Park Il-ho, told reporters, appearing visibly distressed. Many patients "walked though fire and smoke" to escape from the Sejong Hospital as the main exit was on the first floor, which was ablaze, a city official told Reuters. Those on upper floors used ladders and plastic escape slides to flee, while firefighters carried some who could not walk. "I saw the elderly patients scrambling out through the windows and had to help," said Woo Young-min, 25, as he stood in his pyjamas outside the hospital. The presidential Blue House initially said the number of dead was at least 41, but deferred to a toll of 37 from the fire chief of Miryang, which is about 270 km (170 miles) southeast of Seoul, the capital, and home to about 108,000 people. Fire officials posted a list of at least 26 victims outside the hospital, their ages ranging from 34 to 96 years, with at least a score over 70. Families crowded round a handwritten list of names and hospital rooms that officials had scrawled on a wall at a nearby funeral home. The fire broke out around 7.30 a.m. (2230 GMT) at the rear of the emergency room on the hospital's first floor, fire official Choi Man-woo told a televised news briefing. The street outside the hospital featured in the 2007 South Korean drama "Miryang," or "Secret Sunshine," which garnered awards at Cannes and other film festivals. But on Friday, witnesses described scenes of chaos in the sub-freezing temperatures, as nearby residents rushed to take portable hotpacks to shivering victims. Woo said he was walking home after working a graveyard shift when he saw the fire and patients trying to escape the blaze. "The firefighters were shouting at us not to go inside the building, so I stayed and helped others bring the patients down the slides." Television broadcast images of black smoke billowing from the windows and entrance of the hospital as flames flickered. At least 177 patients - most of them elderly - were at the hospital and an adjacent nursing home when the fire broke out, hospital director Song Byeong-cheol told reporters. Song said three of the nine hospital staff on duty at the time died, including at least one doctor, a nurse, and a nurse's aide, all killed on the second floor. Most of those who died were on the first and second floors, said Choi, but added that there were no deaths from burns. Seven people were critically injured, while 126 had less serious wounds, officials told a Friday evening briefing. The injured were treated at 14 regional hospitals. By Friday afternoon, police had cordoned off the burnt-out hospital, as forensic investigators combed the smoke-blackened building. Charred debris and shattered glass littered the ground outside. NO SPRINKLER SYSTEM Asias fourth-largest economy, with one of the world's fastest ageing populations, South Korea has faced criticism in recent years over inadequate safety standards. Song said the six-storey hospital did not have a sprinkler system and was not large enough to require one under the law. The nursing home annexe, where no patients died, is covered by a new law, however, and Song said the hospital had planned to begin installing a sprinkler system there next week. Health Minister Park Neung-hoo said the government would consider changing the law. Interior ministry guidelines published in December 2016 suggest sprinklers for all buildings of six or more storeys. Officials said they were still investigating the cause of the fire, but were looking at a possible short circuit in the emergency room's heating and cooling system. "According to an initial eyewitness, fire broke out where there are two air-conditioning and heating devices in the emergency room," Song said. "Others said an electric spark occurred on the ceiling of the emergency room and then fire spread quickly." The hospital had regular safety inspections and was built to government standards, with fire exits and extinguishers, many of which were used during the fire, he added. President Moon Jae-in held an emergency meeting with top aides and urged "all necessary measures" to help survivors. Interior Minister Kim Boo-kyum, who visited Miryang to apologise for the fire, promised government help for victims, Yonhap news agency said. In December, 29 people were killed in a blaze at an eight-storey fitness centre in Jecheon City, most of them women trapped in a sauna by toxic fumes. The event fed anger over reports of shoddy construction, among other shortcomings. In 2014, a fire at a rural hospital killed 21 people, while a 2008 warehouse fire outside Seoul killed 40. (Reporting by Christine Kim; Additional reporting Yuna Park, Dahee Kim and Hyonhee Shin; Writing by Josh Smith; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore and Clarence Fernandez)By Sharon Bernstein

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - California Governor Jerry Brown on Thursday delivered his 16th and final State of the State address, jabbing at U.S. President Donald Trump while noting his own success rebuilding the budget, boosting education and fighting climate change.

Spry and vigorous, three months short of his 80th birthday, the Democrat promised to use his final year in office to continue advancing policies that have positioned the state as a counterweight to the populist conservatism of Trump and the Republican-dominated U.S. Congress.

"Our world, our way of life, our system of governance - all are at immediate and genuine risk," Brown told state lawmakers, referring to Trump's environmental policies, his rhetoric over North Korea's nuclear programme and other issues.

A lawyer and former seminarian, Brown criticized Trump and Republican climate sceptics for limiting U.S. involvement in efforts to combat climate change.

"Despite what is widely believed by some people in Washington, the science of climate change is not in doubt," Brown said. "All nations agree except one, and that is solely because of one man, our President."

Brown has taken the helm of the state four times in his long career, once during the tumultuous 1970s and more recently for two terms beginning in 2011. In between, he served as Attorney General and mayor of Oakland.

Californias fiscal position has improved dramatically since 2011, when the state suffered a $27 billion budget gap. By contrast, during Brown's final budget address earlier this month, he proposed to add more than $5 billion to the state's rainy day fund to better prepare for a future economic downturn.

Brown said California "has led the way" in strides to fight climate change, such as passing new appliance standards, incentives for fuel-efficient vehicles, and the country's only functioning cap-and-trade market.

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He made it clear he did not plan to spend his last year as a lame duck, instead promising to set up a task force to find ways to avoid and recover from wildfires that have devastated the state, and continue building controversial projects like a high speed rail line through the state's Central Valley breadbasket.

Republican assemblyman Brian Dahle said he was pleased the governor had balanced the budget but opposed the high speed rail project and a recent increase in gasoline taxes. He said the state was too expensive, and the budget only improved because of higher taxes.

(Additional reporting by Robin Respaut in San Francisco; Editing by Andrew Hay)Ottawa (AFP) - The deaths of Canadian pharmaceutical tycoon Barry Sherman and his wife were "targeted" homicides, Toronto police ruled Friday after a six-week investigation.

No suspects have yet been identified.

The 75-year-old chairman of Apotex and his 70-year-old wife Honey were found dead in their Toronto home on December 15. Apotex is the largest maker of generic drugs in Canada, and the Shermans' fortune was estimated at Can$4.7 billion (US$3.8 billion).

"We have sufficient evidence to describe this as a double homicide investigation, and that both Honey and Barry Sherman were, in fact, targeted," Susan Gomes, a Toronto police homicide detective leading the investigation, told reporters.

Gomes confirmed the couple were last seen alive or heard from the evening of December 13, two days before their bodies were discovered.

She said there were no signs of forced entry at their home, where they were found in a basement pool area, "hanging by belts from a poolside railing in a semi-seated position on the pool deck."

"They were wearing their clothing," she added.

Gomes declined to discuss suspects, except to say: "We have an extensive list of people that we're looking forward to speaking to" about the case.

The investigation so far has included sweeps of two homes owned by the Shermans, as well as Barry's workplace at Apotex.

Police also compiled 127 witness statements, canvassed the couple's neighborhood for clues and collected some 2,000 hours of surveillance video from homes and businesses in the area.

"We certainly believe that we've captured images of people that were in the neighborhood" on the night of the killings, Gomes commented.

- Family investigation -

Authorities had initially suggested the deaths were caused by double suicide or murder-suicide, calling them "suspicious" after an autopsy concluded the couple died from "ligature neck compression," or strangulation from tying or binding.

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But the Shermans' children strongly refuted that early conclusion, and hired a lawyer and private investigators to review the evidence.

A separate autopsy was also performed by a forensic pathologist on December 20, just before the couple's funeral.

The pathologist and private detectives found markings on the victims' wrists indicating that their hands had been tied with cords or plastic zip ties, according to the Toronto Star.

When the bodies were found, the wrists were untied, without rope or cords nearby, the newspaper said. Furthermore, toxicology tests on the bodies showed no signs either victim had been drugged.

Sources close to the family probe used words like "professional," "contract killing" and "staged homicide" to describe the couple's death, the Star said.

The Sherman family acknowledged the police's double homicide determination, saying: "This conclusion was expressed by the family from the outset and is consistent with the findings of the independent autopsy and investigation."

Sherman founded Apotex in 1974, and over the following decades became known as a ruthless and litigious businessman who shunned the limelight while revolutionizing the drug industry in Canada.

Today, the company employs more than 11,000 people and sells 300 generic drugs in 120 countries.The Trump administration has said it would like to see 3% sustained GDP growth.

Billionaire private equity chief David Rubenstein, cofounder of The Carlyle Group, thinks thats a lofty target.

First though, I want to point out that my projections of GDP growth are invariably wrong. So I would say that 3% growth is a challenging number to reach for an economy thats roughly $20 trillion, Rubenstein said in an interview with Yahoo Finances Andy Serwer at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Obviously, I, as an American citizen, as an investor, would be thrilled if it happened, and I hope it does. But we dont know how to project 10 years into the future, its very difficult. The budgets of the United States are 10-year projections now. And really, projecting more than one or two years in advance is difficult. So if they can do 3%, I think its great, and the tax cut will help them get there, but I just dont know if its possible to get there for 10 years in a row.

Yahoo Finances Andy Serwer sits down with the co-founder of The Carlyle Group, David Rubenstein, live at WEF meeting in Davos Switzerland to discuss macroeconomic issues and how they may impact markets.

In Davos, theres been a great deal of optimism in the business community as the U.S. stock market has continued to reach new highs on the heels of tax reform.

Rubenstein thinks the party could continue thanks to the tax cuts, but at some point soon, there will be a recession.

Weve had economic growth uninterrupted since June of 2009 when the recession ended. So now, you know, were going to be 9 1/2, 10 years. So maybe theres a new economic norm and maybe people can go 10, 15 years without a recession, Rubenstein said. But theres no history of going 100 years or 25 years without a recession. So I suspect well have a recession sometime soon. But it could be pushed out now by two or three years. I think the tax cut probably will push it out for another year or so.

On Friday, U.S. GDP for the fourth-quarter came in at 2.6%, lighter than the 3% forecast. Speaking with Yahoo Finances editor-in-chief Andy Serwer, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin brushed off concerns about the results.

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In regards to GDP, what weve said consistently is were focused on 3% or higher sustained GDP. So any one quarter, theres going to be movements up and down any one quarter. Were not particularly concerned, Mnuchin said.



Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter.BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Defence Ministry said on Thursday that China has again been invited to attend a major U.S.-hosted naval drill this year, even as tensions simmer between the two countries over the disputed South China Sea. Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told a monthly news briefing that it had received an invite to the exercise and had sent a team to discuss initial arrangements with the United States. He did not elaborate. The Rim of the Pacific exercise, known as RIMPAC, is billed as the world's largest international maritime exercise, held every two years in Hawaii in June and July, and China has attended previously. Pentagon officials have long complained that China has not been candid enough about its rapid military build-up, whereas Chinese officials have accused Washington of viewing their country in suspicious, "Cold War" terms. China decried last week's freedom of navigation operation by a U.S. warship in the South China Sea as an infringement of its sovereignty. But the two countries also share a common interest in maintaining regional stability, and both have in recent years made efforts to counter mistrust, including holding humanitarian relief drills and setting up a military hotline to reduce the risk of miscalculations. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)Trump

South Korea has stepped up Asian opposition to the Trump Administration's steep tariffs on imported washing machines and solar panels, filing a complaint Thursday to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Claiming that the U.S. is inconsistent with WTO safeguards, according to Reuters, South Korea joined China in raising concerns over a move that is expected to hit their markets particularly hard.

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Following the Trump administration's announcement of its first significant trade actions of 2018 Monday, South Korean giant LG Electronics warned retailers to expect a price hike of about 50 dollars on some washing machines.

China who is the worlds biggest producer of solar panelsand a nation that exported 21 million washing machines worth almost $3 billion in 2017has called the tariffs an abuse.

"With regard to the wrong measures taken by the United States, China will work with other WTO members to resolutely defend our legitimate interests," the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said on Monday.

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While China is expected to follow South Koreas suit in a WTO appeal, U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said Wednesday further protectionist policies should be expected, likely adding more steam to global trade wars already playing out.

The Trump administration on Monday said the 20 percent tariff would apply to the first 1.2 million washing machines imported in the first year.

The tariffs would then level off by two percent for the next three years. All subsequent imports of finished washers would have a 50 percent tariff that trickles down to 40 percent at the end of the same time period, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

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Story continues

Solar China

STR/AFP/Getty Images

Foreign solar panels will face an initial tariff of 30 percent. The percentage will shrink each year, eventually reaching 15 percent after four years.

The latest crackdown by the Trump administration represents a demonstration, according to his administration, of the president's America First campaign promise.

"The President's action makes clear again that the Trump Administration will always defend American workers, farmers, ranchers, and businesses in this regard," top trade official Robert Lighthizer said Monday.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekFrench President Emanuel Macron has poked fun at Donald Trumps refusal to accept climate change science, by joking to delegates at Davos they had not this year invited anyone who was skeptical about global warming.

Mr Macron, who last month hosted world leaders in Paris to press ahead with their commitments under the Paris Accord, commented to attendees about the heavy snowfall in Davos.

When you arrive here and see the snow, it could be hard to believe in global warming, Mr Macron said to a audience full of business leaders and politicians.

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Obviously you [didnt] invite anyone skeptical about global warming this year.

Mr Trump has repeatedly rejected climate science and told people be believes much of it is a hoax. Despite intense lobbying from international leaders such as Mr Macron, Mr Trump withdrew the US from the accord, putting the US and Syria in a group of two nations who did not support it.

Mr Macron has continued to lobby the US and persuade Mr Trump to re-enter the accord. He will have further opportunity to do so when he visits the US; the White House confirmed on Wednesday that Mr Macron would be the guest of honour at Mr Trumps first state dinner at the White House. No date was announced.

Last summer, Mr Trump and the First Lady, Melania Trump, were Mr Macrons guests in Paris for Bastille Day celebrations.

According to USA Today, Mr Macron also told delegates a stronger Europe was needed to avoid problems with people who feel they have been forgotten and left behind.

He called on world leaders to act in a multilateral way when confronting challenges from nations including North Korea and Iran, and when fighting extremist groups to avoid fracturing of the region. The Trump administration has threatened to withdraw from an international accord with Iran that freezes its nuclear weapons program

Weve got not only to win the war against terrorism but weve got to create conditions for durable peace, said the French leader.

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni echoed Mr Macrons sentiments, calling for a stronger Europe, and for a rejection of Mr Trumps America First economic and trade policy.

We cannot end up in a world with a cosmopolitan digital elite and an army of discontented workers, said Mr Gentiloni said. Our history and roots are not synonymous with protectionism.

The US has yet to respond to Mr Macrons joke. Mr Trump is due to make his Davos address on Friday.DJI is the 800-pound gorilla of the drone world. At this point, every time the Chinese company introduces a new drone, its basically cannibalizing sales of its own existing products.

Never will that become more true than next week, when its new Mavic Air drone is unveiled. Far smaller than the older Mavic Pro, the Air folds up small enough to fit into a coat pocket  its most important feature by far.

But the Mavic Air is less expensive, too ($800 including remote controller), yet still does 4K video capture from a camera thats on a 3-axis gimbal that reduces camera shake and provides super-stable video. And the Air has sensors on the back so that it can avoid collisions, either forward or backward.

You can control the Air with hand motions, just as you can the $400, non-folding, equally small DJI Spark. In fact, you can use even more motions.

On the Spark, those use the force hand gestures were iffy. No matter how spastically you waved your hands, the drone sat motionless. When I review the new Air next week, Ill see if DJI has managed to improve that feature.

In the meantime, on paper, anyway, the Mavic Air is one juicy semi-pro drone indeed!



David Pogue, tech columnist for Yahoo Finance, welcomes non-toxic comments in the Comments below. On the web, hes davidpogue.com. On Twitter, hes @pogue. On email, hes poguester@yahoo.com. You can sign up to get his stuff by email, here.

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Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedInDonald Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Davos - REUTERS

Donald Trump has accused the Palestinians of "disrespecting" the US in a blow to the administration's attempt to broker peace in the region.

Palestinian officials refused to meet with Mr Trump's vice president, Mike Pence, following a row over the US' controversial recognition of Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

During a warm meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Trump said he would be withholding hundreds of millions of dollars in aid from the Palestinians until they agree to US-brokered peace talks.

"They disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them," the US president said.

"We give them hundreds of millions," Mr Trump added.

"That money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace."

US President Donald Trump speaks with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Credit: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, echoed Mr Trump's comments, saying the US will not "chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace".

Haley accused the veteran president of lacking the courage needed for a peace deal. "To get historic results, we need courageous leaders," she said.

The UN ambassador went on to unfavourably compare Mr Abbas to Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and King Hussein of Jordan, who negotiated treaties with Israel.

But her comments were mocked by spectators, who highlighted that Mr Sadat had been assassinated by Islamic militants, in large part due to his agreement with Israel.

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The Palestinians have claimed the US can no longer be considered a neutral broker of peace talks in the region.

President Mahmoud Abbas has said the Palestinian Authority would not meet with the US administration until it withdrew its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Hanan Ashrawi, another senior Palestinian official, said: "not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect; it is a sign of self-respect."

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Palestinians see at least the east of the city as the capital of their future state, and the announcement set off street protests and diplomatic fury.

Diplomatic positions on Jerusalem

However, sitting alongside Mr Netanyahu in Davos, Mr Trump said: "Israel has always supported the United States so what I did with Jerusalem was my honour."

Last week the Trump administration announced it is withholding more than half the funding that the US provides to a United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees.

Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman, said the US would withhold $65 million from the UN Relief and Works Agency for future consideration.

Meanwhile a new poll has found Mr Trump's recognition of Jerusalem led to a spike in Palestinian support for "armed struggle".

Jerusalem - Israel

Nearly twice as many Palestinians said they supported "armed struggle" against Israel compared with an identical survey six months previously, while there was also a fall in support for the two-state solution, the joint Israeli and Palestinian poll found.

The poll of 1,270 Palestinians across east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza was conducted in the days after Mr Trump's December 6 declaration that he would move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognise the city as Israel's capital.

The same poll in June found 21 percent support for armed struggle, while 45 percent backed a peace agreement.Mr Trump created new headlines before leaving for Switzerland: Getty

A White House reporter with an LGBT news organisation has said he was omitted from a press gaggle with the President at which he was a designated pool journalist, and has questioned whether it was the result of discrimination.

Chris Johnson, the chief political & White House reporter for the Washington Blade, has written to White House press secretary Sarah Sanders asking for an explanation as to why he was not included.

Mr Johnson, 35, who has been covering the White House since the start of the administration of Barack Obama, was the designated print pool reporter on Wednesday. Yet on Wednesday evening, when Donald Trump decided to hold an impromptu press gaggle before he left for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Mr Johnson was not included.

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For those seeking a pool report on the POTUS gaggle, your print pooler wasn't among those invited to the chat, he wrote in one dispatch, which are circulated to hundreds of news outlets around the country and internationally.

Your pooler has registered a complaint with the press office and apologises for not being able to provide a transcript.

Mr Johnson's dispatch made clear he had not attended the press gaggle

Mr Johnson told The Independent he did not know if he had been excluded because of the organisation he worked for, though he said that he and several African American reporters were not invited to last years White House holiday party.

They have a history of excluding LGBT people in general - such as transgender with the military issue and some of the recent Department of Justice measures about religious exemptions, he said.

He added: I would like to think the White House would recognise me as not just an LGBT reporter, but the print pooler when thats my duty because on those days Im responsible for obtaining and disseminating information to all media outlets.

My exclusion from the Trump gaggle may have just been disorganisation on their part, but their habit of excluding me did make wonder if they left me out over some kind of anti-LGBT bias.

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Mr Trumps gaggle was certainly newsworthy.

He told reporters he was happy to meet with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller and speak to him under oath as he continues his investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 election.

He also said he envisaged a path for young immigrants to the US, known as Dreamers, to morph into citizens.

Over a period of 10 to 12 years, somebody does a great job, they work hard - that gives incentive to do a great job, Mr Trump said.

Whatever theyre doing, if they do a great job, I think its a nice thing to have the incentive of, after a period of years, being able to become a citizen.

Mr Johnson said he had subsequently been told by a White House official the event was was intended as a small group briefing with the White House Chief of Staff that evolved into Presidential gaggle when Mr Trump unexpectedly showed up. The White House official said it was never intended for pool distribution and it has nothing to do with the Washington Blade being an LGBT publication, he said.

The White House did not immediately respond to enquiries for comment.

Last October, Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a wide-ranging directive that many believed undercut federal protections for LGBT people, telling agencies to do as much as possible to accommodate those who claimed their religious freedoms were being violated.

The directive lifted a burden from religious objectors to prove their beliefs about marriage or other topics are sincerely held. As a result, a claim of a violation of religious freedom is enough to override many anti-discrimination protections for LGBT people and women.

This is putting the world on notice - you better take these claims seriously, Robin Fretwell Wilson, a professor of law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, told the Associated Press. This is a signal to the rest of these agencies to rethink the protections they have put in place on sexual orientation and gender identity.Donald Trump has moved to dispel reports of a rift with Theresa May claiming it is a false rumour.

The US President met the Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, for the first time since Mrs May rebuked him for retweeting far-right Britain First videos.

Reports of tension between the White House and Downing Street grew still further after Mr Trump pulled out of opening the new US Embassy in London.

But Mr Trump told Mrs May that we love your country" and that he wanted to correct what he described as a "false rumour" of a trans-Atlantic spat.

Earlier on Thursday Mrs May had insisted that the relationship between the UK and America was as strong as it ever has been.

Theresa May and Donald Trump meet in DavosCredit: Nicholas Kamm/AFP

Mr Trump went further when the pair met as he said the two nations are joined at the hip" in terms of the commitment to military cooperation.

"There's nothing that would happen to you (where) we wouldn't be there to fight for you, he said.

You know that."

Shaking hands with Mrs May before the cameras at the Swiss ski resort, Mr Trump said that they would "talk about" his mooted state visit to the UK.

But neither he nor the Prime Minister gave any clue when it might take place.

Mr Trump and Mrs May engaged in an extraordinary public row in November last year after the Prime Minister said the US President had been wrong to share a number of anti-Muslim videos with his millions of followers on Twitter.

Mr Trump hit back and said Mrs May should not focus on him but on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom.

Donald Trump's first 100 days: in pictures

Meanwhile, Mr Trump confirmed earlier this month that he would not travel to the UK to open the new American embassy in February, blaming the decision to relocate the building to an "off location" south of the River Thames.

However, critics speculated that Mr Trump had decided not to come to the UK because of the likelihood that his visit would be greeted with large scale protests.

The Government has been under intense pressure to cancel a proposed state visit for Mr Trump.Almost every American voter believes the president should be a good role model, but a clear majority also thinks Donald Trump is neither a good role model nor a moral leader, and most are embarrassed to call him commander in chief, a new poll found.

Despite 90 percent of voters saying the president should be a positive influence on children, only 29 percent say he is while 67 percent say he is not, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released on Thursday. The majority of voters across nearly every categorygender, education, age and racial groupdeem Trump a bad role model. The one notable exception, the poll found, was Republicans. Seven out of 10 Republicans, 72 percent, say Trump is a good influence on children.

Those numbers are similar when asked if Trump provides the nation with "moral leadership," with 63 percent of respondents saying he does not, compared to 33 percent who said he does. On this question Republicans were again the only group to support the president, and by an overwhelming margin: eighty percent approving of his moral leadership to 16 percent who disapproved. Non-college educated white voters were split, 47 to 47. Every other demographic the poll recorded said the president failed to show such leadership.

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Almost twice as many voters said they were embarrassed of the president than said they were proud of him, the poll found.

"Only 27 percent of American voters say they are proud to have Donald Trump as president, while 53 percent say they are embarrasseda 2-1 negative," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, in a statement on the survey.

RTX4JWXW

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

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For President Donald Trump, its a troubling trifecta: Stagnant approval numbers, low grades on most character traits and the reality that if parents are looking for someone their kids should emulate, that person is not residing at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Malloy said.

The latest poll also marks one continuous year of negative approval scores, with the latest survey showing 58 percent of voters disapprove of his job performance versus 36 who approve of it. It also marks seven consecutive months with approval numbers below 40 percent.

The latest poll wasn't all bad for Trump. His base remains heavily in his corner, the poll found. Among Republicans, 86 percent approve of his performance while just 9 percent disapprove. White voters without college degrees still favor Trump, but by a much smaller margin: 50-42. White men are split, with 49 percent disapproving of him and 47 percent approving.

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Asked about character traits, Trump's numbers are negative almost across the board. Six out of 10, 60 percent, say he is not honest, while 35 percent say he is. Nearly the same numbers, 59-38, say he doesn't have good leadership skills. Fifty-seven percent of respondents say he doesn't care about average Americans while 40 percent say he does. Asked if Trump was level-headed, 61 percent said he wasn't, compared to 36 who said he was. Sixty-one percent also said he doesn't share their values; 34 percent said he did.

However, the majority of respondents, 45-40, said he was intelligent and an even higher percentage, 61-36, said he was a strong person.

The survey was conducted from January 19 to 23. Pollsters interviewed 1,245 voters nationwide, and the survey has 3.3 percent margin of error.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek(DAVOS, Switzerland)  President Donald Trump said Friday that U.S. economic growth promoted by his policies would help the world, seeking to square his America First agenda with globalism.

When the United States grows, so does the world, Trump said in a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the United States has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives.

Trump is the first U.S. president to visit the conference in 18 years, and he made his governments presence felt with a large delegation of Cabinet secretaries and top White House aides.

He plans to return home soon after his plenary address, where he faces a number of domestic challenges  difficult negotiations with Congress on an immigration overhaul and damaging new reports that he sought last year to fire the special counsel investigating his presidential campaigns ties to the Russian government.

As he does regularly, Trump claimed credit for the run-up in stocks and economic growth that has occurred in his first year in office. In the last year, the Standard & Poors 500 Index has surged about 25 percent and data scheduled for release on Friday is set to show the economy probably ended last year with the longest stretch of 3 percent-or-better growth since 2005.

After years of stagnation the United States is once again experiencing strong economic growth, Trump said. Consumer confidence, business confidence and manufacturing confidence are the highest they have ever been in many decades.

The International Monetary Fund this week acknowledged Trumps recent tax cuts were a reason it had lifted its forecast for U.S. economic growth this year to 2.7 percent. Still, it warned the short-term effect would wear off by 2022 as budget deficits materialized and individual tax cuts expired.

Story continues

Davos Whirlwind

The president will be in Davos for less than 36 hours. He met with the leaders of the U.K., Israel, Rwanda and Switzerland. He delivered a short speech at a private reception that some people in attendance described as awkward. He hosted a dinner for European corporate executives, which the White House allowed reporters to observe for about 20 minutes as Trump encouraged the business leaders to describe their U.S. investment plans.

Like all nations represented at this forum, America hopes for a future in which everyone can prosper, and every child can grow up free from violence, poverty, and fear, Trump said. The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.

The presence of the nationalist American leader divided participants at Davos, which is in part a celebration of globalism by the worlds financial and government elite.

Wall Street figures and business executives embraced Trump, who late last year signed into law a drastic reduction of the U.S. corporate income tax rate. He has also embarked on an effort to reduce regulations that he considers burdensome to companies.

What Im bulled up about is that policy makers are making good policy decisions in the U.S., JPMorgan Chase & Co. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon told Bloomberg.

Protectionist Concerns

Trump invited business leaders in the audience to invest in the U.S.

There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States, he said. America is open for business and we are competitive once again.

Others signaled concern with Trumps protectionist instincts, which were underscored at the start of the week when his government slapped tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines. European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel promoted multilateralism from the Davos stage; neither of them intersected with Trump at the conference.

Several Davos attendees expressed unease with Trumps foreign policy and his crackdown on undocumented immigrants. Microsoft Corp. co-founder Bill Gates told Bloomberg that in the balance of hard power versus soft power, the U.S. uniquely has a ratio emphasizing hard power and Id hate to see it go even further.

Billionaire investor George Soros was more explicit, saying Trump is risking a nuclear war with North Korea and that he poses a danger to the world.

Part of that is I think the sense that the U.S. is less welcoming today, Marriott International Inc. President and CEO Arne Sorenson said. Words around immigration, or words around some of these other issues, can be interpreted in the rest of the world as words of welcome or relatively less welcome.Nokia (News - Alert) and Japans biggest mobile operator, NTT DOCOMO, have signed an agreement supplying 5G baseband products to be deployed in a 5G mobile network. The mobile network is aimed for commercial service by 2020.

NTT (News - Alert) DOCOMOs mobile customers will experience high speed, superior capacity, and ultra-low latency thanks to Nokias 5G support. Nokia will help ease NTT into higher speeds from 4G/ LTE (News - Alert) as the two have had a long-term service relationship. The two have collaborated from 3G to 4G as well as trials during the latest evolution in LTE speed.

Hiroshi Nakamura, Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer, NTT DOCOMO noted, "We have been collaborating with partners such as Nokia on various 5G technology and use case trials since 2014. With this agreement with Nokia, we are now proceeding to the next step to launch 5G mobile services by 2020, and accelerate co-creation of new services and businesses with vertical industry partners."

Last week, ZTE CEO Lixin Cheng announced that the Chinese smartphone producers hoped to release the first 5G smartphone in the United States by the end of this year, early 2019. AT&T (News - Alert) also shared plans for 5G phone services in about a dozen cities. Right now, it is a race to see who can get to 5G the fastest with Nokia and NTT published the first stage of testing Q4 2017.

Nokia technology is 3 GPP-compliant with over 50 customer trials occurring globally. Between 2019 and 2020, 5G is expected to launch commercially from the company while working closely with chipset and device developers.

Are you ready for 5G?

Edited by Maurice NagleCould this be it? Might the American Century actually clock out at just 72 years, from 1945 to 2017? No longer than Louis XIV ruled France? Only 36 months more than the Soviet Union lasted, after all that bother? The question sounds preposterous.

For one, there is the unrivaled U.S. military. For another, there is the U.S. economy, still larger than any other. But then theres the U.S. President, who in the name of making the country great again has renounced the global architecture that the U.S. designed, championed and dominated for generations. Its the very international system that did so much to cement American greatness in the first place. Pulling out of it wont be easykind of like playing Jenga wearing mittensif its possible at all. But Donald Trump has gone about trying with brio.

To recap, the U.S. emerged from the devastation of World War II as the most powerful nation on the planet. In his last months in office, Franklin D. Roosevelt midwifed international institutions that gave every nation a stake in keeping peaceful and stable a world that had America at its center. Not by chance were the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund all located in the U.S. Nor was it coincidental that, for the next 70 years, U.S. Presidents articulated foreign policies that summoned the world to Americas side.

It was a matter of championing goalsfreedom and free markets, progress and human rightsthat Americans thought of as American values, but that even authoritarian regimes like the Soviet Union felt obliged to at least nominally embrace in treaties and proclamations such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. And if they carried the tinny echo of boilerplate inside the General Assembly, it was quite something to hear them quoted by a schoolteacher under the thumb of a warlord in Congo, or a Kurdish peasant in Turkeys militarized southeast.

All that began changing a year ago. In his America first Inaugural Address and in every major speech since, Trump has cast the world largely made by the U.S. as its greatest enemy: a brutal zone of ungrateful allies, terrorists disguised as immigrants and East Asians eating our lunch. Americas 45th President may go down as the first to embrace fear itself. But at the start of his second year in office, Trump still is not one to shy from a confrontation. With the federal government back open for business, he steered, like St. George toward the dragons cave, to Davos, Switzerland, and the annual gathering of the World Economic Forum.

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Its the crowd Trump referred to during his campaign as the global power structure that is responsible for the economic decisions that have robbed our working class, stripped our country of its wealth and put that money into the pockets of a handful of large corporations and political entities.

What exactly is Davos? There has never been a photograph that shows the place clearly, which is actually fitting, inasmuch as the ski resort is synonymous with the faceless forces that steer life on earth. Globalism takes in the world all at onceone market, one ecology, one shared responsibility. And its rise has coincided with amazing progress: in 1981, 44% of the worlds population was living in extreme poverty. Today its 10%.

The gains, however, have not been uniform. The British charity Oxfam calculates that 4 out of 5 dollars generated in 2017 went to the worlds wealthiest 1%, a topic that will be addressed, as it is nearly every year, in breakout sessions. Davos, it has been said, is where billionaires go to talk to millionaires about the problems of the working class.

Which means Trump should be right at home. He won the presidency by flamboyantly exploiting the chasm between the supremely assured global elite (including the Clinton Foundation) and the deep unease of U.S. workers who have lived with stagnant wages during the four decades that Davos has existed. The loss of factory jobs to low-wage countries cast the matter in patriotic terms. At the bedrock of our politics, Trump said in his Inaugural, will be a total allegiance to the United States of America.

The problem is what to do about it in a world the U.S. not only built but built to last. Globalisms core is the capitalist system that prevailed in the Cold War by bankrupting the Soviets, and then coaxed Communist China to transform itself into something new: a market-based economy topped by an authoritarian order. A year ago it was Chinese President Xi Jinping who made a star turn at Davos, delivering a robust defense of open trade with the zeal of a convert. The global economy is the big ocean you cannot escape from, Xi said, adding, of China, We have learned how to swim.

The speech teed up what turned out to be a breakout year for the only country positioned to assume world leadership. Ten months later, Xi announced that China would move to center stage in the world, its path cleared by none other than the new U.S. President. Over the course of 2017, Trump demeaned NATO, pulled out of the Paris accord on climate change and traveled to China to congratulate Xi on besting the U.S. in trade. I give China great credit, he said.

Trumps admiration for China dovetails with his rejection of the traditional American approach to the world. The famously transactional author of The Art of the Deal likes the way China does business one country at a time. Focusing on bilateral negotiations rather than multilateral negotiations is Trumps stated preference. Its how Beijing went about assembling the trillion dollars in deals that together are called the New Silk Road, a series of bargains with smaller, less-than-democratic Central Asian countries, powered by loans that China offers on its terms. Beijings goal is not only railroads and ports; it also wants to bind developing countries to its authoritarian system. China is assembling an illiberal version of the international system that the U.S. built seven decades ago.

It makes sensefor Beijing. Chinas strategy to the world is they want everything to be bilateral negotiation, because, except for the United States, China is stronger than any other country, notes Jon B. Alterman, senior vice president at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The U.S. strategy has been to push for multilateral negotiations, because we have robust allies. China doesnt have any real allies.

Its not only confusing for the U.S. to reject the multilateral world that it made. According to Alterman, it may well be impossible. The U.S. cant be an island, he says. We have the most powerful economy in the world. We are more networked into the rest of the world than any other country. We are the reference point for the world. And I dont think that goes away. What goes away is other peoples willingness to help maintain the system.

At least until Trump depleted the State Department, the potency of that system was always most evident abroad. In nearly any capital, the most important foreign diplomat was the U.S. ambassador, and many missions include an Information Resource center. Theyre basically libraries open to locals that served, in the pre-Internet days, as a kind of Christian Science Reading Room for democracy, stocking U.S. newspapers and periodicals that showcased a free press, while offering credible reads not often available in less free societies.

The centers remain open from Minsk to Rabat, but their mission is now challenged by Trumps ceaseless assaults on the news media, which comfort despots rather than the people suffering under them. Trumps cudgel of fake news has been used to justify crackdowns on journalists in the Philippines, Russia, China, Venezuela, Turkey and other countries. In 2017, the Trump Administration made explicitin both words and actionsits intention to cast off principles that have guided U.S. policy and formed the basis for American leadership over the past seven decades, the watchdog Freedom House declared in its latest survey of the state of democracy in the world, which has been in decline for a dozen years.

In many ways, the real turning point came at the U.N. in September, when Trump staked out for the U.S. the low ground traditionally claimed by authoritarian regimes: the primacy of sovereignty, which translates as mind your own business. He used the word 21 times in a 41-minute speech, with scant mention of the ideals that made the light showing from the U.S. a beacon, as opposed to a campfire.

Thus did the worlds oldest democracy yield back to Europe at least rhetorical defense of the Enlightenment on which the U.S. was founded, including the 18th century notions that inspired first the Declaration of Independence and then the Constitution: tolerance, liberty, progress and, not least, reason. There does not appear to be much of that in Trumps effort to withdraw from the world.

Rather than a strategic retreat, it has the feel of a sullen withholding from a world moving so quickly, its already looking for leadership elsewhere.The world is the closest it's been to total annihilation since the early days of the Cold War, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warned Thursday.The group of scientists, analysts and researchers moved the hands on the Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to midnight on Thursday, largely because of growing risks from the North Korean nuclear crisis and climate change.The decline of U.S. diplomacy under the Trump administration and threats to democracy from online misinformation campaigns also convinced the experts to move the time line forward.The Bulletin, which has tracked the risk of nuclear apocalypse since 1947, says the world is now just two minutes from the symbolic hour of global destruction. That is the shortest window since 1953, the year the Soviet Union first tested hydrogen bombs."In 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change, making the world security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago  and as dangerous as it has been since World War II," the Bulletin said in a statement.The Bulletin's science and security board consults with its board of sponsors, which includes 15 Nobel laureates, each year to decide whether to adjust the clock or leave it unchanged. It has issued a new warning in each of the last four years, moving the hands forward three times during that period. In its latest update, the boards highlighted continuing tension between the United States and Russia, China's muscular posturing in the South China Sea, India and Pakistan's atomic arms race, and President Donald Trump 's threat to scrap the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Last year, the Bulletin also moved the clock forward 30 seconds. It noted the "rise in strident nationalism worldwide in 2016" and specifically called out then President-elect Trump. It also noted his "disturbing comments" about nuclear weapons and his history of casting doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change. Trump singled out for criticismThe Bulletin on Thursday once again directed specific barbs at Trump. The statement criticized the president for a "downward spiral of nuclear rhetoric" he engaged in with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un , failing to offer a credible alternative to the Iran nuclear deal and staffing his administration with climate change deniers. "In the past year, U.S. allies have needed reassurance about American intentions more than ever," the members of the boards said."Instead, they have been forced to negotiate a thicket of conflicting policy statements from a U.S. administration weakened in its cadre of foreign policy professionals, suffering from turnover in senior leadership, led by an undisciplined and disruptive president, and unable to develop, coordinate, and clearly communicate a coherent nuclear policy."The White House did not immediately return a request for comment.World 'lucky' to avoid catastrophe The latest Doomsday Clock warning echoed a report by risk consultancy Eurasia Group earlier this month, which said 2018 could see a disastrous geopolitical event that rivals the 2008 financial crisis. That report said Trump has stoked divisions among citizens and unraveled the global order, contributing to a state of "geopolitical depression." Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said the world has been lucky to avoid catastrophe, pointing to recent false alarms about missile strikes in Hawaii and Japan."A security based on luck is reckless and foolish; it's exactly what the nuclear states have now. 122 nations voted for the nuclear ban Treaty and other nations need to join the process so we can stop flirting with our own destruction and destroy the Doomsday Clock once and for all," she said in a statement.The Bulletin offered several steps to wind back the Doomsday Clock, including nuclear negotiations between the United States and Russia, engagement with North Korea by a host of nations and greater efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.WATCH: These fallout shelters won't save you if there's a nuclear attack The world is the closest it's been to total annihilation since the early days of the Cold War, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warned Thursday. The group of scientists, analysts and researchers moved the hands on the Doomsday Clock 30 seconds closer to midnight on Thursday, largely because of growing risks from the North Korean nuclear crisis and climate change. The decline of U.S. diplomacy under the Trump administration and threats to democracy from online misinformation campaigns also convinced the experts to move the time line forward. The Bulletin, which has tracked the risk of nuclear apocalypse since 1947, says the world is now just two minutes from the symbolic hour of global destruction. That is the shortest window since 1953, the year the Soviet Union first tested hydrogen bombs. "In 2017, world leaders failed to respond effectively to the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change, making the world security situation more dangerous than it was a year ago  and as dangerous as it has been since World War II," the Bulletin said in a statement. The Bulletin's science and security board consults with its board of sponsors, which includes 15 Nobel laureates, each year to decide whether to adjust the clock or leave it unchanged. It has issued a new warning in each of the last four years, moving the hands forward three times during that period. In its latest update, the boards highlighted continuing tension between the United States and Russia, China's muscular posturing in the South China Sea, India and Pakistan's atomic arms race, and President Donald Trump 's threat to scrap the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Last year, the Bulletin also moved the clock forward 30 seconds. It noted the "rise in strident nationalism worldwide in 2016" and specifically called out then President-elect Trump. It also noted his "disturbing comments" about nuclear weapons and his history of casting doubt on the scientific consensus on climate change. Trump singled out for criticism The Bulletin on Thursday once again directed specific barbs at Trump. The statement criticized the president for a "downward spiral of nuclear rhetoric" he engaged in with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un , failing to offer a credible alternative to the Iran nuclear deal and staffing his administration with climate change deniers. "In the past year, U.S. allies have needed reassurance about American intentions more than ever," the members of the boards said. "Instead, they have been forced to negotiate a thicket of conflicting policy statements from a U.S. administration weakened in its cadre of foreign policy professionals, suffering from turnover in senior leadership, led by an undisciplined and disruptive president, and unable to develop, coordinate, and clearly communicate a coherent nuclear policy." The White House did not immediately return a request for comment. World 'lucky' to avoid catastrophe The latest Doomsday Clock warning echoed a report by risk consultancy Eurasia Group earlier this month, which said 2018 could see a disastrous geopolitical event that rivals the 2008 financial crisis. That report said Trump has stoked divisions among citizens and unraveled the global order, contributing to a state of "geopolitical depression." Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winning International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said the world has been lucky to avoid catastrophe, pointing to recent false alarms about missile strikes in Hawaii and Japan. "A security based on luck is reckless and foolish; it's exactly what the nuclear states have now. 122 nations voted for the nuclear ban Treaty and other nations need to join the process so we can stop flirting with our own destruction and destroy the Doomsday Clock once and for all," she said in a statement. The Bulletin offered several steps to wind back the Doomsday Clock, including nuclear negotiations between the United States and Russia, engagement with North Korea by a host of nations and greater efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. WATCH: These fallout shelters won't save you if there's a nuclear attack



More From CNBC

WASHINGTON  In a speech to a liberal health policy conference on Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) proposed new rules to force private insurers to be more responsive to Americans health care needs.

Warren spoke at the annual gathering of the consumer advocacy group Families USA. She emphasized that she wholeheartedly supports efforts to expand public health insurance programs, including a single-payer bill introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) that would expand Medicare to the entire population.

But in the meantime, Warren said, the federal government needs to impose new standards on private insurers to build on the accomplishments of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as Obamacare.

Private insurance companies are failing the American people. We all know it, Warren said. And whatever public alternatives you support, there is no reason on earth for us to continue allowing the health care of the American people to be held hostage by an industry that both attacks any new health care proposals and, at the same time, refuses to do any better.

Warrens speech laid out a three-part plan to rein in insurance companies: Crack down on the practice of shifting costs onto consumers; force private insurers to provide coverage as affordable as Medicare and Medicaid; and call their bluff if they resist complying with the first two planks.

For the first component, Warren would forbid insurance practices that she dubbed cheat[ing] people, including drawing narrow boundaries for the network of health care providers they cover and rescinding coverage of certain drugs in the middle of the year.

In the second part, Warren would subject private insurers to stricter cost and quality guidelines in order to achieve parity with Medicare and Medicaid. The senator noted that Medicare and Medicaid provide better value to consumers, covering 84 cents for every dollar of health costs, compared to private exchange plans, which tend to cover 60 to 70 cents for every dollar of costs.

Story continues

The third plank, which is effectively Warrens enforcement mechanism, is likely the most innovative idea.

Borrowing from a model already in place in New York, Warren proposes requiring private insurers that bid on Medicare Advantage or Medicaid contracts to participate in the ACA exchanges.

Private insurers have frequently lost money on their ACA exchange plans, but theyve profited handsomely from their participation in Medicaid and Medicare Advantage.

If they want to bid on the really juicy federal health care contracts, they should have to offer a basic private insurance plan for individuals as well, even if those exchange plans arent quite as juicy for their investors, Warren said. And if some insurance companies really, truly arent willing to provide high-quality, affordable coverage in exchange for billions of dollars in federal subsidies and access to Medicare and Medicaid  if they really, truly want to pick up their toys and go home because their bazillion-dollar profits arent high enough  then I say good riddance.

The Families USA conference is frequently the site of important policy announcements by likely presidential contenders. Then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) used his 2007 speech to the group to present his vision for universal health care.

Warren is considered a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has a three-part plan to rein in insurance companies. (Photo: Aaron P. Bernstein/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

Defending the ACA was a priority of progressive lawmakers and activists for much of 2017. Their efforts succeeded in scuttling several Republican attempts to repeal the laws essential components.

But President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have continued to undermine the ACAs protections, most recently by using their tax legislation to end the individual insurance mandate. And even before the latest sabotage efforts, the landmark health care law had still left 28 million Americans uninsured and millions more underinsured.

So the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and the potential presidential candidates who claim its mantle have now set their sights on more ambitious reform ideas that they could implement if the party retakes the White House in 2020. These lawmakers and activists maintain that the ACAs biggest vulnerabilities are rooted in its relatively conservative attempt to achieve universal coverage within the bounds of the private insurance system.

Sanders, whose 2016 presidential bid vaulted single-payer into the political mainstream, held a live digital town hall about Medicare for all on Tuesday that drew more than 1 million viewers in real time.

Warren, a battle-scarred Wall Street foe widely considered the most progressive sitting senator after Sanders, is evidently trying to make her own mark on health care policy.

Her speech to Families USA highlighted her own rhetorical style and policy emphases. She began with a deeply personal anecdote  the kind Sanders tends to eschew  about how, when she was a child, her family was permanently set back financially because of expenses related to her fathers heart attack.

As a former law professor whose research found that medical bills were a leading cause of household bankruptcies, Warren is more interested in the details of technocratic fixes to the ACA than are many Medicare-for-all warriors like Sanders. On Thursday, she rattled off statistic after statistic demonstrating the success of the Massachusetts health model, such as the fact that it has the second-lowest premiums in the ACA market of any state in the country.

Warrens rhetorical balance is likely to please some of the influential policy wonks and liberal leaders uncomfortable with what they see as Medicare-for-all advocates vagueness about how to achieve their dream system.

At the same time, Warren, like her more populist counterparts, makes clear that she views the profit motive itself as the greatest obstacle to universal coverage.

Why cant middle class families get good coverage at an affordable price? Warren asked on Thursday.

The reason is straightforward: profits, she concluded. A private insurance company maximizes its profits by bringing in the most money possible from customers and paying out the least money possible for their health care.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.A controversial new Bollywood movie is causing security concerns in India as it opens in theaters across the country on Thursday.

Padmaavat has all the hallmarks of what might have been a universally celebrated Bollywood epic  a critically acclaimed director, an estimated $30 million production budget, A-list actors dressed in lavish finery, elaborate dance and action sequences, and a love story to tie it all together.

Yet in the months before its opening, the film provoked street protestors to burn effigies of director Sanjay Leela Bhansali and prompted a showdown in Indias Supreme Court over whether state governments can ban the movie. Hundreds of women have threatened to commit suicide, and in some states, theater companies scrapped plans to screen the movie for fear of violence.

Watch the trailer for Padmaavat below.

Padmaavat is a dramatic retelling of the story of the Hindu queen Padmavati, wife of the king Ratan Sen, from the Rajput warrior clan. According to tradition, Padmavati was so beautiful that a Muslim ruler, Alauddin Khilji, waged battle against Sens entire kingdom in order to capture her. But Padmavati commits suicide by self-immolation before the ruler could claim her.

Some Hindu groups in India, particularly those linked to the Rajput clan, are outraged at how they believe Padmavati is portrayed in the new film. The protestors, led by the group Shri Rajput Karni Sena, claim the director distorted history and disrespected their legendary queen by portraying Padmavati in an intimate romantic scene with the Muslim ruler. The producers deny that such a scene is part of the film, the BBC reports. Several reviewers who viewed the movie have confirmed this.

The protestors have also complained that the movie cheapens the heroic acts of Padmavati, played by the popular Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone visits a temple before the release of her upcoming film "Padmaavat" in Mumbai, India Jan. 23, 2018. (Photo: Danish Siddiqui / Reuters)

The uproar puzzles some onlookers. Many protestors have yet to see the film and are basing their fury on hearsay, The New York Times reports. In addition, scholars of Indian history actually are uncertain whether the queen was a real historical figure.

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The Muslim ruler Alauddin Khilji and his Hindu opponent Ratan Sen are real figures from 14th-century India. Padmavatis story was immortalized two centuries later, in an epic poem by the mystic Malik Muhammad Jayasi. The filmmakers have said the movie is inspired by that poem.

A scene from "Padmaavat." (Photo: Viacom18 Motion Pictures YouTube)

Bollywood films that illustrate historical encounters between Muslims and Hindus, Indias majority religion, are often controversial, Reuters reports. And, as Hindu nationalism rises in the country, the film has become a symbol of growing cultural tensions.

Bollywood is a soft target that generates instant publicity for groups or individuals attacking it, said Anjum Rajabali, an Indian screenwriter. The protests around Padmaavat have helped further the myth of Hindu sentiments under siege, Rajabali wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times in December.

Even a fictional queen and a Muslim king have become tools to garner Hindu votes, Rajabali wrote. Fabricating a hostile other helps retain power. The methodology has been transparent  generate fear and hatred, and use those to legitimate violence.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

Indian protesters take part in a demonstration against Bollywood film 'Padmaavat' in Sikar, on January 25, 2018. Thousands of police in riot gear guarded cinemas across India on Thursday, amid threats of violence by Hindu hardliners opposed to the release of a movie about a legendary Hindu queen and a Muslim king. (Photo: - via Getty Images)

Padmaavat was the subject of protests months before the film was released. Last January, Bhansali was reportedly assaulted on set by a mob of protestors. And in March, Indian media reported that the movies sets were vandalized and set on fire, causing extensive damage to costumes. Last year, a leader from Indias ruling Bharatiya Janata Party called for the beheading of the films lead actress and the director.

Four Indian states, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, imposed bans on the film. Indias Supreme Court stepped in earlier this month to overturn the bans and clear the way for Padmavaats release across the country.

A bus conductor stands inside a bus that was set on fire near the village of Bhondsi in Gurgaon, allegedly by activists of Karni Sena, who were protesting against the release of film "Padmaavat." (Photo: Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

The protests picked up steam this week, ahead of the movies opening.

In a letter to India Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a group of Rajput women in Rajasthan expressed willingness to commit suicide over the film. Police in the area told Times Now News that they believe the threats were hollow.

On Wednesday, a mob of protestors threw rocks at a school bus on the outskirts of Delhi.

As the movie debuted on Thursday, protestors vandalized shops in the state of Rajasthan and waved swords and burned tires in Bihar to show their displeasure, Reuters reports.

If you have freedom of writers, freedom of expression, we too have freedom of protest, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, head of the Shri Rajput Karni Sena, told Reuters.

Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi addresses a press conference about the release of "Padmaavat," in Jaipur, Rajasthan, India, on Jan. 24. (Photo: NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Rituparna Chatterjee, an editor at HuffPost India, pointed out the irony of the protests.

The local groups fighting relentlessly for days now to defend a possibly fictional queens honor, have had no qualm in issuing threats to the woman who plays the titular role, Chatterjee wrote in a blog.

Chatterjee also saw the Karni Senas protests as signs that the group is seeking greater political clout and wants to become Indias next foot soldiers of nationalism.

The Sena has been desperately looking for a cause, apart from Rajput rights, to make their agitations mainstream.

Also on HuffPost

"Krishna Steals the Clothing of the Gopis (Cow Maidens)." Attributed to the artist known as the Early Master at the Court of Mandi. Probably an illustrated folio from a dispersed Bhagavata Purana (The Ancient Story of God) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Mandi, ca. 1640. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; red border with white and black inner rules; painting 11 7/8 x 8 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015.

"A Krishna and the Gopas (Cow Herders) Enter the Forest," Possibly by Kota Master. Rajasthan, kingdom of Kota, ca. 1720, Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; red border with black-lined gold inner rule; painting 10 1/2 x 7 3/4 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015.

"Krishna and the Gopas (Cowherders) Huddle in the Rain." Attributed to the artist known as the Master of the Swirling Skies (active second quarter of 18th century) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Jammu, ca. 172550. Opaque watercolor and silver (now tarnished) on paper; modern border; painting 8 3/8 x 5 7/8 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015

Ladies on a Terrace. Painted by the artist Ruknuddin (active ca. 1650ca. 1697) Rajasthan, kingdom of Bikaner, dated 1675 Opaque watercolor, black ink, and gold on paper; wide light brown border with variously colored inner rules; painting 7 5/8 x 5 5/16 in. (19.4 x 13.5 cm), Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015

"A Nobleman and His Devoted Wife Seated in the Forest; Two Female Musicians Attend." Illustrated folio probably from an unidentified nayaka-

nayika (hero-heroine) series Punjab Hills, kingdom of Basohli, ca. 1685. Opaque watercolor, gold, and applied beetle-wing cases on paper; wide red border with black, silver (now tarnished), and striated white inner rules; black outer rule (missing right corner of folio replaced); painting 6 11/16 x 11 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015.

"The Lovers Radha and Krishna in a Palm Grove." Illustrated folio from the dispersed "Second" or "Tehri Garhwal" Gita Govinda (Song of the Cowherds) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Kangra or Guler, ca. 177580. Opaque watercolor and gold on paper; red border decorated with gold arabesque, with black inner rules; painting 6 x 9 7/8 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015

"The Village Beauty." Probably painted by the artist Fattu (active ca. 17701820) Illustrated folio from the dispersed "Kangra Bihari" Sat Sai (Seven Hundred Verses) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Kangra, ca. 1785. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper; narrow yellow and white borders with black inner rules; dark blue spandrels decorated with gold arabesque; painting 7 3/8 x 5 3/16 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015.

Blindmans Buff: The Demon Pralambha Carries Balarama on His Shoulder. Illustrated folio from the dispersed "Isarda" Bhagavata Purana (The Ancient Story of God) North India, probably Delhi-Agra region, ca. 156065. Opaque watercolor on paper; yellow and pink border with variously colored rules; Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections.

"Hide-and-Seek: Krishna Playing a Game with the Gopas (Cowherds)" Ascribed to the artist Manaku (ca. 1700ca. 1760) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Guler, ca. 175055. Opaque watercolor, ink, and gold on paper; narrow dark blue border (probably trimmed); painting 9 5/8 x 6. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015.

"Krishna Swallows the Forest Fire." Attributed to the Master at the Court of Mankot (active ca. 16901730). Illustrated folio from the dispersed Upright Bhagavata Purana (The Ancient Story of God) Punjab Hills, kingdom of Mankot, early 18th century. Opaque watercolor, gold, and silver (now tarnished) on paper; wide red border with white and black inner rules; painting 9 x 6 3/16 in. Promised Gift of the Kronos Collections, 2015

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.): In the hot seat again. (Photo: Reuters)

A watchdog group has filed a new ethics complaint against House Intelligence Committee Chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), alleging he leaked confidential information.

The complaint, filed by the Campaign for Accountability, which describes itself as a non-profit, nonpartisan watchdog organization on its website, calls on the Office of Congressional Ethics to investigate whether Nunes or committee staff leaked closed-door testimony of the head of the company that produced the bombshell dossier of Russian information on Donald Trump.

Parts of the confidential testimony apparently were selectively leaked to discredit Fusion GPS and to retaliate against Fusion for its role in investigating Trump and his campaigns ties to Russia, according to the complaint. It alleges the leak further aimed to deter the firm from engaging in any continued investigation.

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This month, a transcript of the entire testimony of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson with the Senate Judiciary Committee was released by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), the top Democrat on the panel, at Simpsons request.

The House Intelligence Committee later released its full transcript of Simpsons testimony as well.

Simpson believed the transcripts would provide a more accurate picture of what he said, rather than selectively leaked bits to put the company in a bad light. The full transcripts included information about Trumps possible Russian connections.

The Campaign for Accountability complaint also says Nunes or his staff improperly obtained information about the identity of Fusions bank from the Senate Judiciary Committee. Nunes subsequently issued a subpoena for bank records without anyones approval  and likely leaked the banks identity to the press, the complaint says. Nunes recused himself from the House Russian probe in April after officials revealed he was under investigation for possible leaks.

Nunes went after the banks records in an attempt to identify who had hired Fusion for the dossier, the complaint says. Fusion GPS was paid during the GOP primaries by the conservative website Washington Free Beacon. Once Trump won the primary, the research was funded by Hillary Clintons campaign and the Democratic National Committee.

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Nunes office didnt immediately respond to the complaint.

Nunes has been embroiled in controversy over a secret memo he reportedly orchestrated that alleges the FBI abused its surveillance powers investigating the Trump campaigns involvement in Russian election interference.

Last month, the House Ethics Committee cleared Nunes of an earlier complaint alleging he had disclosed classified information.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Sydney (AFP) - After years of futile efforts, a fresh hunt for MH370 has set off for the remote Indian Ocean -- and the top Australian scientist who helped pinpoint the new search zone is hopeful the missing jet can be found within weeks.

Armed with oceanographic analyses and a high-tech search vessel, the latest search for the Boeing 777, which vanished in March 2014 carrying 239 people, kicked off on Monday run by private exploration firm Ocean Infinity, in the hope of solving one of aviation's most enduring mysteries.

An earlier Australia-led search -- the largest-ever in aviation history -- scoured 120,000 square kilometres (46,000 square miles) far off the island continent's west coast for 28 months but found no trace of the aircraft, and the hunt was suspended last January.

"We're hopeful that they (Ocean Infinity) could find the aircraft within the first month of the search," oceanographer David Griffin of CSIRO, Australia's leading national agency for scientific research, told AFP.

"Malaysia has given them three months to complete the search. So we're into the first week now. We could hear something from them in the next couple of weeks," said Griffin, who met with the Ocean Infinity team in London last month.

- No find, no fee -

Ocean Infinity has a huge incentive to find the plane. As part of the deal, the private team will only be paid if they find the jet or its black boxes, with up to US$70 million on offer if they are successful.

The search relies on a multitude of evidence and analysis that has allowed scientists over the past four years to zero in on likely crash sites.

The new findings also allowed Griffin and his team of experts to identify a specific starting point for the search ship Seabed Constructor some 2,000 kilometres west-southwest of Perth in Western Australia.

The remote site is just north of the former search zone and near the "seventh arc", a long stretch of water where the plane was calculated to have emitted a final satellite "handshake".

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A 25,000-square-kilometre zone north of the previous probe area was first identified by experts in late 2016, and the team worked to reduce it further.

They used drift modelling to analyse where three confirmed MH370 fragments found on western Indian Ocean shores between 2015-16 may have originated.

But the light-bulb moment came when they realised the absence of debris washing up in Western Australia was also a key clue, Griffin said.

Only a Malaysia Airlines towelette was found on Australia's west coast in July 2014, but authorities said then it could not be conclusively linked to MH370.

"It's fairly specific advice about where the plane crashed (as) there aren't many places along that arc which are consistent with the absence of debris on the Australian coast," Griffin told AFP.

Ruling out areas north and south along or near the seventh arc that were already searched, they analysed the middle band of latitudes and found only 35 degrees south had a current flow that was to the west towards Africa.

The refined search zone also fitted in with four French satellite images taken two weeks after the crash that showed at least 70 identifiable objects floating close by.

Although analyses of the satellite imagery did not conclusively identify the objects as coming from MH370, Griffin said it showed an unusually high number of large pieces of floating debris.

"We saw all these large white objects, some of them 60 square metres... right at the location where you would expect them to be if the aircraft had crashed at 35.6S 92.8E," he said.

- High-tech hunt -

The satellite analysis fuelled calls from grieving relatives for a new search, with the Malaysian government eventually commissioning Ocean Infinity.

Hopes that the new mission might finally find the wreckage have also been raised by the high-tech tools being used.

Seabed Constructor carries eight autonomous drones equipped with sonar and cameras that can operate in depths of up to 6,000 metres (20,000 feet).

They are "free flying" vehicles, allowing them to move deeper and collect higher quality data than the tethered drones used in the earlier search. This means the priority search areas are likely to be scoured and the data collected much faster.

But Griffin warned that even if the new search area contains the final resting place of MH370, the most visible parts of the wreckage such as the engines could be in areas that are difficult to see or embedded deep in the ocean floor.

Australia's former transport minister Darren Chester, who was in charge during the previous hunt, likewise cautioned that the difficult underwater conditions in treacherous waters could throw up challenges.

"I'm hopeful for a successful search in the weeks and months ahead but lets not pretend it's going to be easy," he told Sky News Australia.Fox News host Sean Hannity made a painful u-turn on his show about whether Donald Trump tried to fired Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged ties between Russia and the Trump campaign.

Mr Hannity, one of Mr Trumps most loyal supporters, first suggested that a story reporting that the President attempted to ax Mr Mueller was false. But minutes later, he reversed his claim.

At this hour the New York Times is trying to distract you, Mr Hannity said on his programme, referring to the newspapers report on Thursday saying that Mr Trump ordered White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mr Mueller last summer.

They say Trump tried to fire Mueller, but our sources arent confirming that, Mr Hannity added.

Seeming to take a page out of the Presidents book, the news host then cast doubt on the credibility of the newspaper.

And how many times has the New York Times and others gotten it wrong? he said. Mr Trump has often labelled news coverage that he doesnt like as fake news.

Minutes later on his programme, Mr Hannity changed his tune and seemed to confirm the Times report.

All right, so we have sources tonight just confirming to Ed Henry that, maybe, yeah, Donald Trump wanted to fire the special counsel for conflict. Does he not have the right to raise those questions? he asked.

You know, well deal with this tomorrow, Mr Hannity added before quickly pivoting to a different topic.

Reports have been swirling for months about whether Mr Trump would fire Mr Mueller, who is looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government.

Mr Trump has repeatedly insisted there was no collusion.The gypsies were coming, and Fox Newss Tucker Carlson was going to do something about it. Actually, the gypsiesRoma, as the nomadic European people are knownhad already come: Forty of them had settled in a small Pennsylvania town named California, and Carlson had taken it onto himself to expose what he saw as their manifold depredations, lest their invasion grow into something grander, more malign.

Carlson focused, in particular, on reports of Roma defecating outdoors. That seems to me a hostile act, the Fox News host concluded. While some longtime residents of California did bristle at their unexpected Roma neighbors, whod been resettled by the federal government, others welcomed the newcomers. Carlson hyped the fears of the former while hardly mentioning the hospitality of the latter.

Integration is not going well, Carlson declared grimly.

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This is a conclusion he has frequently come to in recent months. From his prime time perch at Fox News, Carlson has become the network's staunchest defender of President Donald Trumps anti-immigration policies. For having assumed that role, he has also become a favorite target of liberals, who worry that Carlsons fear-mongering about immigration has tipped into xenophobia. Why white supremacists love Tucker Carlson, ran one headline on the liberal news site Vox last summer.

The most recent outcry over Carlsons shift to the right came in mid-January, after a segment in which he interviewed Mark Steyn, a conservative pundit who is a frequent guest. As they discussed immigration, Steyn said, The white supremacists are American citizens. The illegal immigrants are people who shouldn't be here. He added, a little later: The Democrats are getting very close to saying that foreigners are God's apology for Americans.

Thats exactly right, Carlson said.

Dismay at this exchange was widespread among liberals, reflecting a curious opinion of Carlson: that hes smarter than Sean Hannity, more influential than Laura Ingraham. Because he was once on CNN and on MSNBC, theres an expectation that Carlson is a conservative who will articulate sophisticated truths, raising the level of discourse on a network where blustery denunciation is the norm.

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When that expectation is confounded, outrage explodes, as it did after the Steyn exchange.

The unrepentant racism of Tucker Carlson Tonight, read a headline on ThinkProgress, a liberal website.

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Tuckers been one of the more aggressive at putting forward what a lot of people have seen as a pretty blatantly white nationalist view of what immigration should be like, MSNBCs Joy Reid said. As this is not exactly a time of pacific cheek-turning, Carlson answered on his show: Reid's entire public career has been built on race-baiting. Try to watch her show for 20 minutes and see for yourself.

Even some conservatives have become uneasy with Carlson's strident rhetoric. Bill Kristol, who once employed Carlson at the Weekly Standard, spoke harshly of his former protege on CNBC earlier this week. "It is close now to racism," he said of Tucker Carlson Tonight. "I mean, I dont know if its racism exactlybut ethno-nationalism of some kind, lets call it."

Carlson responded to my questions about his views on immigration through a statement relayed by a Fox News publicist. Im not even sure what white nationalism is, but Im pretty sure Im against it, that statement said. But your question isnt serious. Its an attempt to shout down legitimate questions about the effect of our immigration policies on America. Tough luck. Were going to keep asking them.

Carlson took over the 9 p.m. slot in early 2017 (he has since moved to 8 p.m.). The onetime establishment conservative is now a vociferous Trump supporter, and national identity is of particular concern to both. For Carlson, as for Trump, there is virtually no issue more salient than immigration, Kelefa Sanneh wrote of Carlson in a recent New Yorker profile. Carlsons views on immigration, however, can lapse into a broader defense of white identity that can be those discomfiting to those who value multiethnic multiculturalism.

For example, after white nationalists descended on Charlottesville, Virginia, last summer, causing violence that left three dead, Carlson defended their original reason for converging on the college town, which was to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Watch out, Abraham Lincoln, youre next, he said. This echoed Trumps sentiments on Charlottesville. Like the presidents initial reaction to the violence, he seemed to excuse, at least in part, the torch-carrying mob of racists.

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Several weeks after that, Carlson lambasted the creator and star of the HBO series Insecure, Issa Rae, for saying she was rooting for all African-American nominees to win at the Emmy Awards. This was, Carlson said, open race hostility that had been sanctioned by liberals. I think looking at the world like that gets you to civil war, he said. More recently, he defended the Its Okay to Be White campaign, which originated in far-right segments of the internet.

Carlson was raised in relative affluence in Southern California and went to a prestigious boarding school in Rhode Island. A graduate of Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticutlong regarded as a patrician redoubthe has been a member of the political establishment for decades. Nevertheless, he appears to have quicklyand completelygrasped how much influence Trump would exert on the media, conservative media in particular. Instead of speaking truth to power, as have Fox News hosts like Shepard Smith and Chris Wallace, Carlson has cast himself as Trumps blocking back. As Stephen Rodrick wrote in a recent GQ profile, Carlson, more than anyone else at the network, has proved adept at papering over the crisis brought on the Republican Party by Trumps presidency, mostly by deflecting blame onto the left.

He does so with an acute understanding of the liberal media. That adds a measure of sophistication to his critiques, even if those are, ultimately, an expression of straightforward racial grievance. Earlier this month, for example, he criticized the internet outlets BuzzFeed and The Root as trafficking in anti-white sentiment: Now some smug private-school kid from Brooklyn is lecturing you about how you are the problem, because the color of your skin, and the privilege it conveys. How much of that are you going to take before you explode at the unfairness of it all?

And though criticism of social justice college protests is a feature of virtually every Fox News program, Carlsonwho famously used to wear a bowtieapproaches the matter less like a Bible Belt conservative than a disapproving professor who is too old to care about silly outrages. (Carlson is 48.)

Carlson does, occasionally, make feints at moderation. Last summer, HuffPosts Pablo Manriquez challenged Carlson to a debate on immigration. Carlson agreed and invited Manriquez on his show. We had a gentlemens exchange on the issue, Manriquez later wrote. Some #MAGA viewers on Twitter were surprised that a primetime debate on immigration could also be an honest, respectful conversation.

Not infrequently one hears, in media and politics circles, that Carlson is putting on an act, one that doesn't truly reflect his convictions. That would suggest masterful calculation on his partand even more masterful mimicry of an establishment Republican moving ever further to the right.

To some, it doesnt matter whether Carlson is acting or not. What Tucker Carlson actually thinks is irrelevant to the wildly damaging, bigoted, and, frankly, anti-journalistic content he spews every night at 8 p.m., says Teen Vogue writer Lauren Duca, who famously clashed with Carlson. He promotes the rhetoric of a white nationalist, and should be regarded as such.

Certainly, white nationalists are happy to claim Carlson as one of their own. Carlson is a one man gas chamber who gasses Jews and feminists on a nightly basis. He is literally and figuratively Hitler, wrote a contributor to the neo-Nazi news outlet InfoStormer. Andrew Anglin, who founded the Daily Stormer, a more prominent and influential neo-Nazi site, agrees.

Tucker Carlson is literally our greatest ally, he said recently. I don't believe that he doesn't hate the Jews.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekMost years, the late-January gathering of the worlds political, business and financial heavyweights in Davos is dominated by an event or individual. In early 2002, it was 9/11 and terrorism. Last year, it was the coming-out party for Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, who despite his authoritarian, mercantilist ways, spoke the language of globalization in a bid to supplant the U.S. around the world. This year, President Trump was determined to be the story of Davos 2018. The worlds most prominent populist and his globalist hosts have plenty at stake in whether they can find common groundwe all do. But it will take a big dose of realism on both sides to avoid making things worse.

The Davos crowd sees globalization as a good thing, in no small part because it has been very good to them. With few exceptions, they are highly educated, wealthy, successful and mobile. Their world has been defined much more by opportunity than by threat. But now comes Trump, the veritable Antichrist for much of what they hold sacred. He rejects free trade, opposes immigration, turns back refugees, denies climate change, denounces the Iran nuclear deal, attacks the media and courts, embraces autocrats, demeans women and speaks in a coded language that resonates with racists and ultranationalists.

From his gilded perches up and down the East Coast of the U.S., the 45th President, apostle of America first, sees globalization as bad for domestic prosperity and security and a direct threat to Washingtons sovereignty. He genuinely believes that the costs of U.S. leadership far outweigh the benefits.

As he made the pilgrimage to the Alps, Trump, buoyed by a robust economy and soaring stock market, had two options for how to bridge this ideological divide. He and the many Cabinet members in his retinue could reach out to the skeptics to try to convince them that American foreign policy under this President is, as was said about Wagners music, not as bad as it sounds, and is more in line with their thinking than they realized. Or Trump could try to win them over, making the case for trade that is narrowly balanced rather than free, calling out China, Russia, North Korea and Iran by name, criticizing Americas allies in Europe and Asia for free-riding on U.S. armed forces, and defending the unilateral American recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital. He could ignore the importance of human rights and freedom and emphasize security over all else when it comes to immigration.

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The truth is, neither option has much of a chance of working: the distance between Trump and the globalists is too great. Instead, both sides need to be more realistic. The Davos men and women need to open their minds to the idea that some of what Trump has to say may be right. They need to pay attention to the many people around the world who rightly fear globalization and modernity. Trump is wrong to paint trade and immigration as the culprits, but millions of jobs will disappear in the coming years thanks to new technologies, from robotics to driverless vehicles to artificial intelligence. What new jobs these advances create will require new skills and the training and education to perform them. The Davos globalists may well have to pay higher taxes to help fund needed retraining, transitional economic assistance and better public education. The stakes are high: the populism that, for the moment, is in modest retreat will return with a vengeance if large numbers of people around the world are left behind.

Elites need to get real about how to fix the world. The U.N. will, at best, play the most limited of roles given the revival of great power rivalry and the emergence of dangerous regional states and subnational entities like ISIS. No matter how frequently the phrase international community is mentioned, the reality is that there is little. There is, as well, a need to shift the balance of authority within the E.U. away from Brussels toward member countries so as to give governments greater control over their borders, tighten enforcement of trade pacts, increase spending on defense and do more to meet the existing North Korean nuclear threat and the potential one from Iran.

For his part, Trump needs to understand that globalization is, in many dimensions, not a choice but a reality. The U.S. can, at a significant cost, close its borders to people and trade. But it cannot wall off the country from computer viruses, biological viruses or greenhouse gases and the effects of climate change. Nor can the country be made invulnerable to missiles or terrorists. No one expects Donald Trump to depart Davos a card-carrying globalist, but it would serve him well to return home recognizing that making America great again requires that the world not come apart. That can only be avoided if the U.S. shapes the world in partnership with others.

Haass is the president of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of A World in DisarrayAll consumers are anxiously awaiting the speedier and more efficient upgrade from the current 4G. 5G is expected to come to the United States by late 2018/early 2019, according to Chinese smartphone producer ZTE. Other companies have also said that 5G testing is underway for 2018 so it is a race to see which one will make it to the finish line first.

Overseas, Nokia announced a partnership with NTT (News - Alert) DoCoMO, a Japanese telecom firm to bring 5G to the firms Wi-Fi radio stations. The goal is to achieve 5G by the 2020 Olympics, to be held in Tokyo from July 24-August 9, 2020.

Collectively weve labored arduous in latest months to begin preparations for NTT DOCOMOs eventual launch of its operational 5G service by 2020, which weve now set in movement by this very thrilling announcement right now, stated Nokias (News - Alert) Marc Rouanne.

Both Nokia and DoCoMo have had a long-term working relationship, with Nokia being the latters primary 3G and 4G supplier. The two started gathering 5G ideas in 2014 looking at the consumer benefits, one on the table is the possibility of self-driving vehicles.

5G will also generate an enormous amount of revenue while creating jobs to make this functionality a reality. By 2020, the 5G infrastructure market will be roughly worth $2.86 billion. The market is anticipated to reach $33.72 billion by 2026 with a CAGR of 50.9 percent within the 2020-2026 timeframe.

The terms and financials of the Nokia/DoCoMo agreement have yet to be disclosed but we can see 5G just in the horizon.

Edited by Maurice NagleRepublicans who claimed to have seen messages that prove that there is a secret society operating within the FBI have refused to release the content of the texts.

House Representative John Ratcliffe told Fox News on Tuesday that in the immediate aftermath of the 2016 election, there may have been a secret society of folks within the Department of Justice and the FBI that were working to prevent Donald Trump from becoming president.

Rep. Trey Gowdy then cited controversial texts exchanged between senior FBI agent Peter Strzok and lawyer Lisa Page that he said raised questions about whether there was a secret society inside the agency.

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01_25_RonJohnson

James Lawler Duggan/Reuters

Senator Ron Johnson also appeared on Fox News and said an informant told him about a group at the FBI that were holding secret meetings off site and that the text messages corroborated the possibility of collusion inside the highest levels of American law enforcement.

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Gowdys office declined to release a copy of the text message when asked by Newsweek Wednesday. As of now, we have not and will not be releasing any of the text messages in our possession, his spokeswoman said. Ratcliffes office did not respond for a request for the messages. A spokeswoman for Johnson said Ill be in touch if I can provide any more information.

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The relationship between Strzok and Page came to light last month after The New York Times revealed Strzok was removed from special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation last summer after sending a series of texts disparaging Trump to Page in the lead up to the 2016 election.

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Trump and Republicans have said that the messages show there is bias inside the agency connected to the ongoing investigation by Mueller which is probing whether the Trump campaign aided Russia in interfering in the 2016 election. Trump has called the investigation a politically motivated witch hunt.

But a copy of the messages obtained by ABC News late Wednesday has called into question the claims.

Are you even going to give out your calendars? Seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society," Page wrote to Strzok in the message.

ABC News said the message isnt tied to those that come before or after it in the documents, making it difficult to understand its context.

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On Wednesday Johnson, who is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, told CNN that while he did not know what the text meant, the messages raise an awful lot of questions; it is my responsibility to try and get answers.

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Last Friday the Department of Justice sent Johnson's committee a letter with 384 pages attached containing more than a thousand unreleased text messages between Strzok and Page.

We have no comment beyond the transmittal letter we sent to congressional committees on Friday, a Justice Department spokeswoman told Newsweek when asked to share the messages with the public.

Some Republicans have called the integrity of Muellers investigation into question, likening it to a coup d'etat late last year. The FBI has also come under scrutiny. Trump said last month that the agencys reputation is in tatters, partly due to the text message scandal.

On Wednesday Trump said that while he will give an interview to Mueller, the public should be more concerned about text messages sent between Strzok and Page between December 2016 and May 2017 werent saved properly on government computers because of a technical glitch.

Johnson told CNN Wednesday that focus of his committee should now turn to the Clinton email scandal.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekThe trial of Larry Nassar has ended, but the conversation about sexual assault and accountability continues on  in part thanks to the outspoken Olympic gold-medalist Aly Raisman.

In Lansing, Michigan, under the gavel of Judge Rosemarie Aquilina, the sexual abuser received a 40- to 175-year sentence on Wednesday. The punishment was given after more than 150 women and girls, some of them Olympians like Raisman, told their stories of abuse during his multi-day sentencing hearing. The former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor had pled guilty to 10 counts of criminal sexual assault in two Michigan counties. This sentencing covers seven of the 10 counts, with another sentencing for the remaining counts expected later this month.

Raisman recognized her fellow survivors in a powerful way on Thursday: a full-page ad in the Detroit Free Press thanking the women and girls by name (and by number, for those who did not want to go public).

SEE ALSO: Aly Raisman: The more we talk about sexual assault and 'uncomfortable issues,' the better

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In addition to the list of names, Raisman penned a statement thanking everyone  including her "fellow survivors" and Judge Aquilina  for listening. She also thanked law enforcement for their diligence, members of the media for reporting, and family and friends for their support.

"There are going to be good days and there are going to be tough days, but continue to take strength in the impact your courageous voice has had upon each of us, but also for all the other girls, boys, women and men out there who remain in the shadows but maybe now they can see a pathway towards the light," she wrote in a statement shared to her social media accounts.

You can read Raisman's full statement following the trial below:

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Detroit Free Press gave the survivors a similar honor. The newspaper's cover on Thursday listed their names and a note that read, "These women bravely came forward with their heartbreaking statements, making sure no one would forget what the monstrous doctor who worked at Michigan State University and for USA Gymnastics did to them."

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Nassar additionally received a 60-year sentence on child pornography charges in December.

Correction: This post has been updated to clarify the sentencing proceedings around Larry Nassar.Hilaria Baldwin shared a super-sexy pregnancy photo. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pregnant Hilaria Baldwin says shes completely at peace with gaining weight while sharing a revealing selfie.

On Friday, the yoga instructor and wife of Alec Baldwin Instagrammed the mirror snap of herself wearing a bra and a robe, writing in the caption, 6 months with Baldwinito #4! I have to remind myself every day how working out and eating well while pregnant will mean that I will have an easier pregnancy, delivery, and recovery. I let myself slow down, but try to do an activity almost every day where I keep my circulation going, maintain flexibility, and tone muscles.

The 34-year-old wrote, Im also completely at peace with the fact that I WILL gain weight, cellulite WILL happen, my body NEEDS fat and rest in order to grow a healthy baby. Through 4 pregnancies, I have found balance and calm  embracing natural changes in my body, yet taking care of myself in a way where these changes are temporary, and once the baby is out, I will find my non pregnant self again. Please talk to me and to each other about your experiences with this, questions, and advice  no negativitythis is a namaste place.

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To eradicate concerns that the photo was doctored, Hilaria added, In full disclosure, there is no filter, but I did brighten up the image a bit since the bathroom in this hotel doesnt have strong light.

Hilaria and Alec, who are expecting a baby boy, are parents of three children, Carmen Gabriele, 4-and-a-half, Rafael Thomas, 2-and-a-half, and Leonardo Angel Charles 1. I never knew how many kids I wanted to have, Hilaria told PEOPLE in November. I didnt know how much Id like it. And I really, really like it.

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But Hilaria has taken heat for sharing sexy selfies and aspirational yoga shots while pregnant, which some have likened to body-and-mom shaming. In 2016, one day after giving birth to her third child, she posed for a photo in her bra and underwear, writing, It always makes me a bit nervous to do something like this, but I feel that in the age of such strong body shaming, I want to do all that I can to normalize a real body and promote healthy self-esteem. along with a vow to get back in shape.

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Some were offended by the suggestion that Hilaria needed to shape up, especially so soon after delivery. Nervous about what?? wrote an Instagram commenter. You were perfect before, during and youre perfect now lol youre slim and you dont represent other women at all.

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Hilaria has also been slammed for having a large family and in November, she addressed her critics on Instagram, writing, I have read a few comments about why we like having so many children that made me laughsome say it must be a religious thingits not. Some say its because I want all of Alecs moneybabies are expensive, so I dont see how that makes any sense. Plus, like any married couple, its all ours. After nearly 7 years together, 5 plus years of marriage, and almost 4 kids: arent we over that yet???

She continued, Here is why we like having babies: they are simply so lovely and bring so much joy. Plus, I feel like we need to populate this world with a whole next generation of really good people. My little Baldwinitos are such good souls and I hope they continue to grow and make this world a better place.

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Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.Jandairis (Syria) (AFP) - His house was damaged by Turkish bombardment and most neighbours have fled, but elderly Abu Jiwan says he refuses to abandon his northern Syrian hometown as long as he's still breathing.

With a traditional red-and-white Kurdish shawl wrapped around his head, the 70-year-old gestured towards his home in the town of Jandairis, freshly hit by Turkish shelling.

"I won't leave Jandairis as long as I'm alive," he said in Kurdish.

"Where would I go? There are no roads. We don't have diesel or a car. Where can we go when all the roads around us are cut?"

Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels are waging an offensive against Afrin, an enclave in northern Syria controlled by Kurdish militia.

For nearly a week, Turkey has launched air strikes, rockets and artillery fire at Afrin in a bid to oust the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG).

Jandairis, a town in the district's southwestern corner, has been heavily targeted by Turkish air strikes and rockets as it sits close to the border and near a front line with pro-Ankara rebels.

Bombing on Wednesday battered Jandairis, leaving Abu Jiwan's home and his farming tractor in ruins.

"God help us. God be kind to us," he said, shaking his head.

- 'We are all with you' -

Rubble is piled up in many of Jandairis's streets and the town's petrol station has been bombed out of service.

The United Nations said it has received reports that around 5,000 people have been displaced by the ongoing offensive, mostly within the enclave.

Most of Jandairis's residents have sought refuge elsewhere, but those that could not find a way out are taking cover from Turkish bombing however they can.

A journalist contributing to AFP saw more than two dozen people, including children, waiting out the shelling in a dimly lit cellar.

The steady boom of artillery shook the town.

The entrance to Jandairis is marked with posters of Abdullah Ocalan, the jailed leader of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).

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Ankara says the YPG is the Syrian branch of the PKK, which has waged a three-decade insurgency inside Turkey.

The Turkish army and allied Syrian fighters have kept up their assault despite global calls to de-escalate -- and Syrian Kurds have dug in their heels.

The yellow-and-green flags of the YPG are now hung all over the central town of Afrin and surrounding villages.

"We are all with you!" read banners in support of the Kurdish force.

- 'We won't leave' -

Kurdish officials have accused Turkey of trying to depopulate the Afrin region with a fierce bombing campaign.

"We can hold our heads up high. We're never going to leave," said a grocer in Jandairis who declined to give his name.

The man in his 40s accused Erdogan of targeting civilians in Afrin.

"He said he wouldn't target civilians, and today he targets them out of weakness," he said.

"I hope he knows that as long as we're alive, this land is ours. We won't leave. We're staying."

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, Turkish and allied rebel fire has killed 30 civilians in Afrin, with YPG fire killing two civilians in a nearby zone.

The Turkish army insists that everything is being done to prevent civilian casualties.

"In the planning and execution of the operation only terrorists and their shelters, positions and weapons are being targeted. Every caution and sensitivity is being shown to prevent harm to civilian and innocent people," it said.

On Tuesday, Syrian Kurdish leaders called on civilians across Afrin to take up arms to defend the enclave against Turkey's "Olive Branch" operation.

"We'll fight, and we won't ever leave Jandairis. We are righteous, and we have a cause," said Jano, a lawyer in a black suit and green shirt.

He snapped photos of his destroyed neighbourhood on his smart phone.

"No force will be able to kick us off our land."By Chris Kenning

CHICAGO (Reuters) - An Illinois judge on Thursday denied a Chicago-area transgender student's demand to use the girls' locker room at a local high school without being restricted to a private changing area inside the locker room.

Cook County Judge Thomas Allen rejected Palatine High School student Nova Maday's request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed unrestricted use, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois, which sued in November on Maday's behalf.

The case marked the latest legal clash over the use of school bathrooms and facilities by transgender students in the United States, which has sparked battles in North Carolina, Kentucky and elsewhere.

Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 requires transgender students to use a private changing area inside the locker rooms of their preferred gender. The judge ruled that a preliminary injunction was not warranted as the case proceeds.

I am disappointed with the decision today," Maday said in a statement. "All I want is to be accepted by my school for who I am  a girl  and be able to take gym and use the locker room to change clothes like the other girls in my class.

Superintendent Daniel Cates said in a statement to Reuters that the ruling upheld a balance between supporting students and privacy rights.

"We are committed to providing supportive access to our school locker rooms, access that respects and balances the identity and privacy rights of all of the nearly 12,000 teenagers in our high schools," he said. "Our practices welcome transgender teens into the locker room of their identity with an agreement that they change or shower in the locker room privacy stalls."

John Knight, LGBTQ & HIV Project Director of the ACLU of Illinois, said it amounted to discrimination and the group was deciding how to move forward.

The conservative legal groups Alliance Defending Freedom and Thomas More Society, which intervened in the lawsuit, said in a statement the decision ensures student privacy.

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Schools should never be forced to give male students unrestricted access to areas where girls are changing clothes. Claiming a female gender identity doesnt change that, Thomas More attorney Thomas Brejcha said.

The issue has played out most prominently in North Carolina, which was mired in controversy and litigation after Republican lawmakers enacted a since-rescinded law in 2016 that restricted bathroom choice in state-run buildings to the sex on people's birth certificates rather than their gender identity.

(Reporting by Chris Kenning; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)Billionaire hedge fund manager and leader of the "Need to Impeach" campaign to impeach President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would not donate any money to the three main campaign arms of the Democratic Party following the decision by Senate Democrats to compromise on a deal to reopen the government.

Steyer told Fortune magazine that he would not be giving any money to the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

"I dont have a litmus test on any one thing, but I do have a litmus test for elected officials standing on principle and doing the right thing, looked at holistically," he said in the interview. "And I want to say that after the DACA vote I have decided not to give anything to the national party committees."

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Steyer runs his political operations through NextGen America, which "acts politically to prevent climate disaster, promote prosperity, and protect the fundamental rights of every American," according to the organization's website.

The billionaire has been the mastermind behind a television ad campaign imploring Americans to sign a petition calling on members of Congress to impeach the president. The online petition has more than 4 million signatures thus far.

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According to Fortune, Steyer has contributed more than $400,000 to the three Democratic organizations since 2015 and gave money as recently as September 2017. Earlier this month, Steyer ruled out a 2018 run for both governor and senator in his home state of California, but told The Washington Post that he planned to spend $30 million in 2018 to create NextGen Rising, a campaign to turn out millennial voters.

In his Wednesday interview, Steyer said that the work his organization is doing is more reliable than what party leaders might do with his donations.

Story continues

"At this point what weve seen from the party committees is we are at a point where we can definitely stand up for what we think is right more directly by the programs that were doing," he said.

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Steyer's decision serves as part of a larger backlash Democrats are facing this week after agreeing to reopen the government Monday without a deal to extend DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which allows undocumented immigrants brought to America as children to register with the government and remain in the country.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell promised that legislation would be considered in the Senate, but did not commit to passing anything. Similarly, House Republicans have remained steadfast in their commitment to more conservative immigration legislation focused on border security.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekBAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi authorities on Thursday took into custody a former trade minister convicted in absentia for corruption cases, following his extradition from Lebanon, Iraq's corruption watchdog said in a statement. Trade Minister Abdul Falah al-Sudany resigned in 2009 and fled the country in connection with graft allegations involving Iraq's food rations program, one of the world's biggest. Iraq's Integrity Commission on Thursday evening issued a statement confirming the return of al-Sudany after reaching a deal with the Lebanese authorities late last year allowing the extradition of the ex-trade minister. "Former trade minister Abdul Falah al-Sudany is now in the integrity commission custody," the statement said. The corruption watchdog said Interpol contributed to the arrest of al-Sudany after reaching Beirut in September 2017. Al-Sudany is wanted for at least nine corruption cases and received eight imprisonment sentences in absentia for graft charges related to food import violations, the corruption watchdog said in the statement. Iraq is one of the world's biggest importers of wheat and rice. Several Trade Ministry officials have faced corruption allegations in the past. The ministry buys hundreds of thousands of tonnes a year of sugar, lentils, grains and other food and basic household goods to supply a national ration program. (Reporting by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Leslie Adler)A story in The New York Times details former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's (right) decades-long attempt to assassinate PLO leader Yasir Arafat (left). (Photo: Handout . / Reuters)

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon was so intent on assassinating Palestinian Liberation Organization chairman Yasser Arafat in the 1980s that he considered downing commercial passenger planes, according to a New York Times Magazine article published Tuesday.

Writer Ronen Bergman detailed years of Israeli attempts to kill Arafat  none successful. The PLO leader evaded bombings and military operations  either through clandestine means or because the Israeli military called the attempts off, citing the possibility of heavy civilian casualties. Arafat finally died in 2004 at age 75.

The attempts to kill him often verged on the cinematic, according to the Times.

In one instance, Bergman reports that Sharon ordered Israeli agents to plant a massive set of bombs under a VIP area at a stadium in Beirut, where the PLO was set to hold a celebration. The explosives were in place, and with the push of one button, they would achieve the destruction of the entire Palestinian leadership.

But the plan was called off after senior officials voiced their concerns to then-Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin.

In another instance, Sharon considered downing commercial flights that Arafat was scheduled to be aboard, according to the article, citing three Israeli officers familiar with the planning:

When Mossad reported that Arafat was flying more commercial flights, with the PLO often buying the entire first-class or business-class cabin for him and his aides, Sharon decided that such flights would be legitimate targets. The plane would have to be shot down over the open sea, far from the coast, so that it would take investigators a long time to find the wreckage and establish whether it had been hit by a missile or had crashed because of engine failure. Deep water would be preferable, to make recovery even more difficult.

In 1982, Sharon, then defense minister, ordered a military operation to shoot down an aircraft he believed Arafat was aboard. The air force, acting on information from the Mossad intelligence service, hesitated and soon realized the plane was not carrying Arafat, but his younger brother, Fathi. The passengers also included 30 injured Palestinian children.

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Since World War II, Israel has used assassination and targeted-killing more than any other country in the West, in many cases endangering the lives of civilians, Bergman wrote. He also said he discovered a long history of profound  and often rancorous  internal debates over how the state should be preserved.

Can a nation use the methods of terrorism? Can it harm innocent civilians in the process? What are the costs? Where is the line?

Read the entire New York Times Magazine article here.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Italian Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan said on Thursday he hoped the European Central Bank would not ask banks to tackle their existing bad loans too quickly, as such a move would be counterproductive.

"If this is done too quickly, if this is done too aggressively, this will be counterproductive and will make banks not more healthy but less healthy," Padoan told Reuters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The ECB aims to publish by March a draft of new measures targeting a huge pile of unpaid loans weighing down euro zone banks and causing particular headaches in Italy, home to a quarter of the currency bloc's soured debt.

Padoan said he hoped the regulator's next moves will take into account "the impact on market climate, so that there is no counterproductive reaction from the market side".

(Reporting by Silvia Aloisi, writing by Isla Binnie)Rumor has it that Nokia (News - Alert) this fall will unveil a new smartphone with a five lens camera, fingerprint scanner, and top-end chip. This news was reportedly leaked on Chinese social network Baidu.

Said device, called the Nokia 10, is expected to be introduced at Septembers IFA 2018. IFA is a consumer electronics event that will take place later this year in Berlin.

The report linked to the above suggests the upcoming Nokia 10 device will feature a circular camera array at the rear. It says there is also a fingerprint scanner onboard. Additionally, the phone is powered by the new Snapdragon 845 processor; its top-end chip was created with 7nm manufacturing.

Nokia, which years ago became known as a mobile phone innovator with fun and brightly colored devices, recently has made another strong push in the cell phone category.

The company announced the global launch of a collection of Android (News - Alert) Phones at Mobile World Congress last year. A year ago this month, it introduced the Nokia 6 in China with India is important to that strategy.

That makes sense as India has a population of around 1,338,854,896. That represents about 17.86 percent of the people on this planet making India No. 2 in the world in terms of population, second only to China.

Twenty-five years ago, India opened itself to globalization and market forces. Today, according to the International Monetary Fund, India is the worlds fastest growing large economy. Maharashtra (a state in the western part of India) alone, were it a country, would be the seventeenth largest one in the world in terms of population, just behind Germany.

But, its not just the population that makes India an important market. Its also the fact that the forces powering its growth are pretty unshakable, says Noshir Kaka, a senior partner in McKinseys Mumbai office. Those forces include urbanization, a rising middle class, and increasing consumer spending, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.

Edited by Mandi NowitzFirst daughter Ivanka Trump has billed herself as an advocate in the White House for womens rights. But the first daughter, who owns her namesake brand but no longer closely manages it, did not speak out when three men with New York nonprofit China Labor Watch were arrested while investigating low wages, forced overtime, and physical and verbal abuse at Chinese factories producing shoes for her company.

Related: Ivanka Trump should know better: Watchdog demands investigation on first daughter wearing her companys clothes

The men were accused of using secret recording devices illegally and jailed, leaving the wife of one of them, Deng Guilian, with no choice but to work an overnight shift at a karaoke parlor that gave her only three days off a month to see her two young children, the Associated Press reported on Thursday.

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They seem accustomed to not having their mom, Deng said of her 7-year-old daughter and 4-year-old son.

Trumps company did not respond to a request for comment from Newsweek.

As a public figure, she has the ability and resources to not only work on labor conditions at her own brands factories, but also to help improve labor conditions of the global supply chain as a whole, China Labor Watch founder Li Qiang said of Trump. However, she did not use her influence to do these things.

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Trumps silence around the factory workers and the women and children affected contradicts her commitment to improving the lives of countless women and girls, as detailed in her best-selling book Women Who Work.

When I think about the opportunities Arabella will have available to her in the United States, Trump wrote, referring to her daughter, compared with some of the six hundred million girls growing up in developing countries, Im even more inspired to make a difference.

Story continues

Trump recently drew criticism for deleting Entrepreneur & advocate for the education and empowerment of women & girls from her Twitter profile and replacing it with Advisor to POTUS on job creation + economic empowerment, workforce development & entrepreneurship.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekFormer U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry speaks at Chatham House: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry has reportedly said he believes President Donald Trump will not make it another year in office.

Mr Kerry recently met with Hussein Agha, a close associate of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, according to the Jerusalem Post. During the meeting, the former US diplomat reportedly asked Mr Agha to tell the Palestinian leader to hold on and be strong, and not yield to [Mr Trumps] demands.

Mr Trump, he said, would not be in office for long.

The visit came just weeks after Mr Trump officially recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel  a break with longstanding US foreign policy that sparked protests across the Arab world. Mr Kerry reportedly told Mr Agha that the President alone  not his administration or his country  was responsible for the situation.

Mr Kerry also reportedly offered his help in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, suggesting that the Palestinian leader submit his own peace plan for consideration.

He also surprised Mr Agha, the Post reported, by saying he was seriously considering running for president in 2020. Mr Kerry was the Democratic nominee for president in 2004, and lost to George W Bush. The politician told MSNBC in September he had no plans of running for president.

Mr Kerry has been critical of Mr Trump in the past, criticising his decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord and his failure to fill key State Department positions. He made a similar prediction about the length of the Trump administration last year, at the World Economic Forum in Geneva.

We will have done great injury to ourselves, he said of the effects of the Trump administration, which was days away from being sworn in at the time. And it will hurt for the endurance of a year, two years, whatever, while the [Trump] administration is there.

The former Secretary has also been critical of Israel in the past. Shortly before leaving office last year, he gave a notably tough speech on Israel, in which he the called the countrys settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem a threat to peace in the region.

Story continues

The Trump administration has taken a much more outwardly friendly approach to Israel than the Obama administration, under which Mr Kerry served.

After Mr Kerrys speech denouncing the settlements, Mr Trump tweeted: We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!BEIRUT (Reuters) - Kurdish authorities in Syria's Afrin district called on Thursday for Bashar al-Assad's government to send troops to help defend them from a six-day-old Turkish assault, turning for help to the very government from which they have sought autonomy. The statement posted on the website of the Afrin authorities underscores the increasingly complex theater of war in northern Syria, where Turkey's fight against a Kurdish militia threatens to scramble alliances in a seven-year-old conflict. "We call on the Syrian state to carry out its sovereign obligations towards Afrin and protect its borders with Turkey from attacks of the Turkish occupier ... and deploy its Syrian armed forces to secure the borders of the Afrin area," the statement said. The Turkish air and ground offensive to crush Kurdish YPG fighters in the Afrin district of northern Syria has opened a new front in a civil war which has seen shifting alliances between factions on the ground and their foreign sponsors. The United States has relied on the YPG as a vital ground component of its war against Islamic State, and has backed the group in other Kurdish-run regions in northern Syria along the border with Turkey. U.S. special forces troops are on the ground in areas held by the YPG and its allies, although not in Afrin. U.S. support for the YPG has infuriated Washington's NATO ally Turkey, which sees the YPG as a terrorist group and has vowed to crush it. Kurdish efforts to build their own administration there have also alarmed Damascus, which rejects the idea of autonomy from the central state, and has threatened to crush what Assad called "traitors" to Syria. Turkey, long one of Assad's main opponents, has meanwhile suggested it agreed its assault on Afrin with Russia, the main foreign military backer of Assad. (Reporting By Angus McDowall; Editing by Peter Graff)Bashar al-Assad asked to protect borders with Turkey from attack

A Turkish military vehicle heads towards Syrias Afrin region. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Kurdish militias fighting against Turkey in the Syrian enclave of Afrin have called on the government of Bashar al-Assad to intervene and protect the areas borders.

The latest development, nearly a week into Turkeys military offensive, could undermine Kurdish aspirations for self-governance and, if heeded, could set the stage for a direct military confrontation between Ankara and Damascus.

It could also create an open alliance between the US-backed Kurdish forces and a government that Washington had sought to unseat for years.

While we insist that we will continue to defend Afrin against rabid external attacks and will confront the Turkish attempts at occupying Afrin, we invite the Syrian state to carry out its sovereign duties towards Afrin and to protect its borders with Turkey from attack, the autonomous authority governing Afrin said in a statement on Thursday.

Ankara launched a military offensive into Afrin spearheaded by its Syrian rebel allies on Saturday in order to oust the Peoples Protection Units (YPG) from the Kurdish enclave, which borders Turkey.

The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan has seethed over the support of the US-led coalition against Isis for the YPG, which led the ground campaign to drive Islamic State from northern Syria.

Turkey considers the YPG and its affiliates as the Syrian wing of the Kurdistan Workers party (PKK), a designated terrorist group that has fought a decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state.

The Afrin offensive was launched after the US announced it wanted to build a 30,000 strong border guard to patrol Syrias frontiers that would include members of the YPG, a prospect that Turkey considers a major national security threat.

A Turkish foreign ministry official declined to comment on the YPG announcement  or on whether Turkey would fight Syrian government forces if they intervened in Afrin. The Syrian government did not comment, but has condemned Turkeys intervention as a violation of sovereignty.

Story continues

The Afrin statement is another twist to the Syrian crisis. The YPG and its political arm have long sought to establish an autonomous, self-governing canton in northern Syria, so its calls for a direct intervention by Assads government is a setback for those aspirations.

The YPG had often publicly positioned itself as anti-Assad, pointing to the rampant discrimination and abuses against the Syrian Kurds by the state, which had long denied them identity papers and other rights. But the militia and its political arms have been accused of cooperating closely with the regime.

The call is also an indication of the Kurdish militias anger that the US and Russia have been unable to deter Turkey.

The US, which has directly armed the YPG and provided the air cover for the ground operations in Raqqa, has done little apart from urging Turkey to exercise self-restraint in an effort to repair damaged relations with Ankara.

Moscow, which has occasionally cooperated with the Kurds and often insists that they should have a seat at the table in peace negotiations, allowed Ankara to use the airspace above Afrin to conduct the campaign.

It is unclear if the Syrian government will answer Kurdish calls for an intervention, and whether Turkey would halt its operation if that happened or engage in direct hostilities with the regime.

However, such a development could lead to a broader crisis that would endanger peace talks and draw in Assads allies, Russia and Iran.After months of hiding out, Kylie Jenner has been spotted out in public for the first time since September.

TMZ published exclusive photos and video of the 20-year-old reality TV star on Thursday, clad in all-black, walking around a construction site in Hidden Hills, California. Kris Jenner and Jordyn Woods joined Jenner on the excursion.

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Jenner has yet to officially confirm her pregnancy, though multiple outlets announced that she was pregnant in September and due sometime in February.

Jenners boyfriend, rapper Travis Scott, reportedly told friends theyre expecting a girl, according to TMZ.

Despite her hesitation to comment on the matter, Jenner did break her silence on certain rumors by shutting down the Daily Mail. The reality star accused the outlet of digitally altering photos of her baby bump.

First of all if youre going to photoshop my photos blogs/paps!! Check for the crooked lines in the background, Jenner tweeted. 2nd photo is clearly altered.

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The beauty mogul has been staying out of the public eye. Though she rarely posts as frequently on social media, the 20-year-old occasionally posts a photo of herself in baggy clothing or a shot of her face.

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(Kylie Jenner Snapchat)

Jenner recently made waves for her appearance in new Calvin Klein ads she shot with sisters Khloe, Kim, Kourtney and Kendall.

While most of the family posed in their underwear, Jenner covered up her stomach with help from a blanket, a sweatsuit and some carefully placed poses.

(Calvin Klein)

(Calvin Klein)

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

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Watch Entertainment Tonight on Yahoo View.Beirut (AFP) - Lebanese authorities on Friday said Israel was involved in a car bomb blast that targeted an official of the Palestinian movement Hamas in southern Lebanon earlier this month.

Mohammad Hamdan was wounded when a bomb placed in his car detonated in the southern port city of Sidon on January 14.

Hamdan did not appear to have a public or political role in Hamas, but according to a Palestinian security source, he was a member of the organisation's security structure.

On Friday, the press office of Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnuq said one of the perpetrators had been coordinating with Israel.

In a statement distributed to reporters, it said investigators were able to arrest "one of the main perpetrators of the crime, who confessed to being tasked by Israeli intelligence".

The statement did not specify the suspect's nationality, but said investigators seized "very advanced communications mechanisms from his home, and correspondence between him and his handlers."

Hamas also accused Israel of involvement in the attack against Hamdan.

The Palestinian Islamist group 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.

In 2010, Lebanon sentenced a former security officer to death for collaborating with Israel to assassinate two Islamic Jihad leaders in Sidon.(Reuters) - Lyft is investigating allegations that its employees misused customer information, the U.S. ride-hailing firm said on Thursday. A current or former Lyft employee alleged in an anonymous online post that Lyft employees had tracked rides taken by their romantic partners and pulled information about celebrities such as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to tech news site The Information. (http://bit.ly/2EaIcvJ) "The specific allegations in this post would be a violation of Lyft's policies and a cause for termination," the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters. Customer data could be accessed only by teams that require it to do their jobs, Lyft added. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)A former teen model says magician David Copperfield drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was 17 years old three decades ago.

Brittney Lewis told The Wrap that she met Copperfield in 1988 at the Look of the Year modeling contest in Atami, Japan. Copperfield was serving as a judge and after the competition Lewis alleges that the magician invited her to one of his shows in California. According to Lewis, who was living in Utah, he got permission from her grandmother who was assured that the teen would be accompanied at all times and would be staying in a separate hotel room than his.

When Lewis met Copperfield in California, she said he took her shopping, enthusiastically introduced her to his team and at one point tried to hold her hand. She said she made it clear to the then 32-year-old that she wasnt interested in a romantic relationship.

Lewis said that after the show, she was at a bar with Copperfield and he poured something into her drink. When she asked what he was doing, he told the teen that he was just sharing with her.

Lewis admits that the rest of the night was a blur, but said she remembered Copperfield lying on top of her, kissing her and taking off her clothes.

He was kissing my face and then I remember him starting to go down on my body with his face, she told the Wrap. And then, as soon as he started going down, I just completely blacked out.

Lewis said that the next morning, he wanted me to know that nothing happened because I was underage.

He said: I didnt enter you, she added.

Lewis told The Wrap that Copperfield made her write a letter that morning saying she was OK.

My therapist later told me that he made me write a contract to keep me quiet, she said.

The Wrap reported that representatives for Copperfield did not respond to its request for comment on Tuesday. But on Wednesday, Copperfield posted a statement to Twitter in which he expressed support for the #MeToo movement calling attention to sexual abuses while also cautioning against a rush to judgment.

Story continues

He made a vague reference to Lewis accusations, and went into detail about a previous sexual assault claim made by a different woman against him.

But imagine what its like, believing in the movement, and having also been falsely accused publicly in the past. To have your life and your familys life turned upside down, he wrote.

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Former beauty queen Lacey Carroll accused Copperfield of sexual assault on a private island in 2007. The FBI investigated the claim and even raided Copperfields Las Vegas warehouse. The case was eventually closed, however, without charges.

Carroll was later charged with making false sexual assault claims against another man.

Copperfield noted this prior accusation in his statement on Twitter.

Ive lived with years of news reports about me being accused of fabricated, heinous acts, with few telling the story of the accuser getting arrested, and my innocence, he wrote.

He added: So while I weather another storm, I want the movement to continue to flourish. Always listen, and consider everything carefully, but please for everyones sake dont rush to judgment.

David Copperfield (Photo: Danny Moloshok / Reuters)

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has said men like Donald Trump should think about their daughters and mothers when considering how to treat women.

The 20-year-old human rights activist appeared at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where she addressed the issue of the issues of womens and girls rights.

Asked whether she had a message for men who were like the US President, Ms Yousafzai said: I just get so disappointed to see that people are at these high positions  they talk against women, they do not accept women as equal, and they harass women.

She said such behaviour was shocking and she hoped women stand up and speak out against it.

And I hope that people who are involved in such shameful things think about their own daughters, their own mothers and their own close female relatives.

Just imagine for a second ... can they let it happen to their daughters, to their sisters, to their mothers? I dont think that they would accept that.

The US President has been publicly accused of making unwanted sexual advances to 20 women, including kissing them on the lips and grabbing their breasts.

The Presidents spokeswoman Sarah Sanders has said all his accusers were lying. The US President has also suggested some of the women accusing him were not attractive enough for him to want to sexually assault.

Mr Trump has also come under fire for comparing females to pigs and dogs and for saying women who have abortions should be punished.This fantastic lunar occasion includes the second full moon of the month, otherwise called a Blue Moon. Many scientists are also looking forward to this event, although they will use this opportunity to study the moon's surface during the lunar eclipse.

Astronomers and sky-watchers in particular are eagerly awaiting the night of January 31 when they will be able to observe an uncommon, yet spectacular celestial event in the night sky, which is dubbed a super blue blood moon.

New Yorkers, you're actually going to want to wake up early on Wednesday, January 31 in order to catch the super blue blood moon at 6:48 a.m. EST, which is when the moon will enter the shadow of the Earth and take on this copper color. People in Hawaii, Alaska and on the West Coast will have the best chance to view the eclipse in its entirety, weather permitting. Areas on either side of this shadow are a bit darkened, where some sunlight is bent around the Earth's atmosphere. And how can it be a blue moon if it's also a blood moon and looks red?

If you live in the Central time zone, viewing will be better, since the action begins when the moon is higher in the western sky, Johnston said. At the time of the lunar eclipse, the temperature on the moon varies much faster.

To see the phenomenon, you need to be on the night side of the Earth; in Asia, Australia, the Pacific and North America.

If that crossing corresponds to a full moon, the moon will pass into the Earth's shadow, resulting in.

Resident should set their alarms to 5:52 a.m., MST, on January 31 if they want view a total lunar eclipse. The moon is fully in Earth's shadow. For example, if an eclipse takes place shortly after a volcanic eruption, the particles in the atmosphere will make the moon look darker than usual.

The duration of the lunar eclipse will be three hours, 18 minutes. The moon will appear to be a red color around 6:15 a.m. CT, and the view will remain until 7 a.m. CT when the sun rises, according to NASA. "However, one should be very careful as deep inner fears will surface during an eclipse", Roopesh R., Specialist in Spiritual Subjects, answered on being asked about the effects of the total lunar eclipse according to Western Astrology.

When is the next lunar eclipse?(DENVER)  A sheriffs deputy was shot to death during a confrontation north of Denver and one suspect has been taken into custody and a manhunt is on for two others, authorities said.

A spokeswoman for the Adams County Sheriffs Office said deputies were called to an assault in progress Wednesday night and saw one of the suspects run behind a house. That suspect pulled a handgun and shot the deputy in the chest before fleeing, she said. He was taken into custody a short time later.

Investigators set a large perimeter in their search for two other suspects, who remain on the loose.

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Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper released a statement Wednesday night saying he was deeply saddened to learn of the deputys death.

The deputys name and age have not been released, and the spokeswoman did not release any other information about what led to the shooting in a residential area about 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of downtown Denver.

The Denver Post reports that a hearse carrying the deputys body left the garage at the Denver Health medical center around 12:30 a.m. MST on Thursday escorted by a solemn procession of police cars. The procession included officers from federal, state and local agencies.

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The shooting happened less than a month after 29-year-old Douglas County sheriffs deputy Zackari Parrish was fatally shot and four other officers were injured in an ambush in suburban Denver.Democrats in Massachusetts are pushing their state to become the first so-called sanctuary from marijuana prosecution as Attorney General Jeff Sessions pushes a crackdown on the legalized drug.

Legislation proposed in the Massachusetts House of Representatives would prohibit state and local police from contributing resources to marijuana-related investigations, said Massachusetts Representative David Rogers. He told Newsweek that the bill is in response to Sessions's recent shift in an Obama-era policy that said The Justice Department would not interfere with marijuana businesses and use in states where it was allowed.

"The changed policy roiled the waters in these places where marijuana is legal," Rogers said. "If the FBI or federal cops or the U.S. attorney want to pursue these cases perhaps thats their prerogative, but they will get no help at all from state or local police."

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Rogers filed the bill, called the "Refusal of Compliance Act" alongside Democrat Representative Mike Connolly on January 19. The legislation is in early stages and still needs approval from Democrat-led committees as well as the Massachusetts Senate. If it is eventually approved, it would make Massachusetts the first state to be a sanctuary state for immigrants and marijuana.

There are nine states that have legalized recreational marijuana, but none have passed protections that would ban local law enforcement from assisting in federal intervention.

Related: Recreational Marijuana Is Legal in These States

12518_Jeff_Sessions

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The U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Andrew Lelling was appointed by President Donald Trump. He has said his office will prioritize the region's opioid crisis over federal marijuana enforcement but acknowledges that the industry could face scrutiny due to its "unambiguously illegal" status at the federal level, according to The Boston Herald.

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If you run into something thats a priority for my office and the state and local police dont want to be involvedsay, immigration or marijuanaI cant tell them what to do," Lelling said. "I can ask for their help. But at the end of the day, if they dont want to give it, then well have to be on our own."

The two largest cities in MassachusettsBoston and Worcesterhave already refused to favor Sessions's federal law over the state and local laws. Rogers said it is important to codify those cities' policy position to protect the other 349 cities and towns that have not committed to refusing assistance if The Justice Department decides to intervene in the state.

"Im an open-minded person. If local law enforcement has concerns and wants to be able to cooperate in certain isolated incidents, Im open to that conversation," Rogers said. "But our largest cities have already said no to cooperation."

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Related: Marijuana Legalization 2018: Which States Might Consider Cannabis Laws This Year?

If the law passes in the Democrat-controlled Legislature, it would need approval from Republican Governor Charlie Baker. The GOP official said in January that he opposed Sessions's choice to reverse protections for states that have legalized marijuana, but has not indicated support for shielding the state from federal involvement.

"The administration believes this is the wrong decision and will review any potential impacts from any policy changes by the local U.S. Attorney's Office," his office told local news source MassLive.com.

Massachusetts legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 through a citizen-led ballot initiative and will begin selling it in July 2018. Adults who are at least 21 years old are allowed to possess up to one ounce of marijuana outside the home and up to ten ounces in their residence.

The concept of a sanctuary state emerged from an Oregon immigration policy that limited in how much law enforcement agencies could communicate with federal immigration agents, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement. After Oregon's policy was approved in 1987, it received little attention until states like California began considering versions of their own.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekBy Brendan Pierson

(Reuters) - A lawsuit challenging the U.S. federal government's approval of work requirements for Medicaid recipients in Kentucky could rein in the power of the Trump administration to reshape the health insurance program for the poor, legal experts said.

The proposed class action, filed on Wednesday in federal court in Washington by 15 Kentucky Medicaid recipients, says the administration's approval of the requirements has "effectively rewritten" the federal Medicaid statute in violation of the law.

The statute allows states to implement pilot programs that further the objectives of Medicaid, the government healthcare program for the poor and disabled. But some experts said making recipients work or get job training does not advance Medicaid's goal of providing insurance to those who cannot afford it.

"There is, in contrast, good evidence that such requirements add enrollment hurdles that cause people to lose eligibility," said Allison Hoffman, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School who specializes in healthcare issues.

A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees Medicaid, declined to comment on the lawsuit.

If the court strikes down Kentucky's work requirements, it could be a major setback for the Trump administration's efforts to reshape Medicaid.

Republicans last year had included a cut in funding for Medicaid as part of the healthcare legislation that sought to repeal Obamacare, but they failed to get enough votes. The administration is now emphasizing rule changes to cut back on spending on people covered by government healthcare programs as President Donald Trump keeps an eye on conservative voters who put him in office.

Medicaid spending in 2016 was $565.5 billion, according to the most recent figures available from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

At least nine other states, mostly Republican-led, have proposed changes to Medicaid similar to Kentucky's: Arizona, Arkansas, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah and Wisconsin. None of these state have received federal approval.

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The Medicaid statute allows the Department of Health and Human Services to grant waivers to states so they can experiment with pilot or "demonstration" programs that depart from the statute. HHS must find such programs "likely to assist in promoting the objectives" of Medicaid.

CMS, a division of HHS, on Jan. 11 issued guidance inviting states to design and propose test programs that impose work or job training requirements on Medicaid recipients. States must propose such changes through waivers and obtain federal approval.

In issuing the guidance, CMS head Seema Verma said people who participate in "activities that increase their education and training" have a better quality of life and improved health outcomes.

Kentucky's waiver, which was granted on Jan. 12, requires able-bodied adult Medicaid recipients, with some exceptions, to participate in at least 80 hours per month of "employment activities," including jobs training, education and community service. It also imposes new premiums on recipients and locks them out of the program for six months if they fail to pay.

The Kentucky Medicaid recipients who brought Wednesday's lawsuit said the waiver, expected to take effect in July, was an "abuse of discretion" by HHS.

Sara Rosenbaum, a professor of health law and policy at George Washington University, said they had a strong case.

"The question is whether the demonstration is so unsupported by the evidence and veers so far from the federal Medicaid law that as a substantive matter it doesnt fit under" the waiver program, Rosenbaum said.

The plaintiffs' legal argument rests largely on the federal Administrative Procedure Act (APA), which allows courts to review agency decisions. Under the law, courts generally defer to agencies, striking down a decision only if it is "arbitrary and capricious."

At least one federal appeals court has struck down a Medicaid waiver under the APA. In 2011, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals invalidated a waiver that would have authorized co-pays for Medicaid patients in Arizona.

Rosenbaum noted that courts have been willing to block other Trump policies under the APA, including requirements that employer-provided health insurance cover birth control.

But James Blumstein, a professor of constitutional law and health law at Vanderbilt University Law School, said he was skeptical that the plaintiffs in the Kentucky case would prevail. He said HHS has broad authority to determine what was likely to advance Medicaid's objectives.

Blumstein said the administration could argue that it sees the Medicaid program as part of a "comprehensive welfare approach," with the goal of achieving good outcomes that could include pushing recipients to work and move to private insurance.

"The idea that this is somehow antithetical to the Medicaid objectives is just contrary to history," he said.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Leslie Adler)Merkel called for Europe to take its destiny in its own hands with a more active and ambitious foreign policy - AP

Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron set out their vision for Europe as a counterweight to the values of Donald Trumps America at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday.

In her most pointed attack on President Trumps policies yet, Mrs Merkel told an audience of global business leaders gathered at the Swiss resort that protectionism is not the answer and that judging people according to stereotypes is the very basis of populism.

She called for Europe to take its destiny in its own hands with a more active and ambitious foreign policy.

President Macron called for the European Union to reform itself this year and come up with a 10-year strategic plan to compete with China and America.

He called on the EUs 27 countries not to hold back the most ambitious member states from moving forward.

What the Davos elite really gets up to

France is back at the core of Europe, Mr Macron said, as he trumpeted the liberal reforms he has enacted in the past eight months.

Mrs Merkel struck a more sombre note, invoking the spectre of two world wars. The world leaders of a century ago had sleepwalked into the First World War, she said.

The generation born after the Second World War must prove it has learned the lessons of history.

We see national chauvinism and populism on rise. In many countries there is a populist atmosphere. In all countries there are doubts about whether globalisation will carry everyone with it.

Motoring picture of the day, January 25, 2018  Trump lands at Davos

But she insisted the answer did not lie in nationalism or isolation. Multilateralism is time-consuming. But it's worth it, she said. If we rely on the quick fix of the national solution, then others will respond with their own national solutions.

President Trump had not yet arrived in Davos, and Mrs Merkel did not refer to him by name, but there was no mistaking the target of many of her remarks.

If we believe things are not fair, we have to seek multilateral answers, not pursue a unilateral protectionist course where we isolate ourselves, she said, just days after the Trump administration imposed punitive America First tariffs on imports.

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Davos 2018 | Who's in Team Trump?

She called for Europe to be more proactive in promoting its values and interests. Europe hasnt been very active in its foreign policy, she said. We need to take more responsibility. We need to take out destiny in our own hands.

She regretted Britains decision to leave the EU, she said, but at least it had given Europe the courage to move forwards.

She took a hard line on Brexit, reiterating her insistence the UK must accept freedom of movement if it wants access to the single market. Its in their hands how close they want the partnership to be. We are prepared to be open-minded.

It was an uncharacteristically powerful speech, and Mrs Merkel appeared to be trying to take back her mantle as Europes leader, which has slipped in recent months.

Macron joined Merkel in promoting European values Credit: Jason Alden/ Bloomberg

President Macron may be the darling of this years World Economic Forum, but for once he had to play second fiddle.

Taking the podium after Mrs Merkel, he leapt to the defence of global free trade ahead of President Trumps arrival. In terms of trade we're moving towards greater protectionism . . . we're undoing what globalisation has been able to achieve, he said.

However, after extolling his drive to foster risk-taking at home, he warned of the perils of Darwinian globalisation. He slammed a race to the bottom among states and companies who acted like illegal stowaways when it came to paying tax or respecting international rules.

Speaking in French and English, he said their inability to agree on a global compact was threatening to create a fragmented world and the rise of nationalism.

Davos World Economic Forum 2018

Digital giants, he said, were in the process of destroying millions of jobs with artificial intelligence but failed to pay taxes in France to fund the education of the future workforce, whereas home-grown start-ups do.

If those who destroy the jobs don't help - as to finance the re-training of people - how am I going to explain this to the working and middle classes?

Mr Trump was not due to arrive in Davos until Thursday. Mr Macron joked about the heavy snowfall at the Swiss resort, saying it might lead some people to question climate change.

Fortunately you didn't invite anybody sceptical of global warming this year, he said.By Colin Packham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Another 58 asylum-seekers held in an Australian-run detention center on Papua New Guinea (PNG) will leave on Tuesday for resettlement in the United States under a controversial refugee swap deal, a source familiar with the plan told Reuters. The asylum-seekers are the third and largest group to be given U.S. resettlement, ending a three-month hiatus in a transfer program that had been described by U.S. President Donald Trump as a "dumb" deal. Holding asylum-seekers in offshore camps, which have been strongly criticized by the United Nations and human rights groups, is part of a hardline immigration policy that has bipartisan political support in Australia. Australia agreed on the deal with Trump's predecessor Barack Obama late in 2016, under which up to 1,250 refugees held in the Australian camps will be offered residency. It remains unclear exactly how many will resettled. In return, Australia agreed to resettle several dozen Central American refugees. "U.S. resettlements have begun again," said a source involved in the transfers, who declined to be identified because he is not authorized to talk to the media. "While the (plane) wheels are not up yet, the men will depart today," he said. The men departing from PNG's remote Manus Island are largely from countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar. Trump has said he will honor the deal despite his early misgivings. The deal is designed, in part, to help Australia empty its controversial offshore detention centers, where nearly 2,000 men, women and children are held. The second of the offshore detention camps is on the tiny South Pacific island of Nauru. A second source said the transfers of about 130 men and women from Nauru would begin within weeks. Representatives for Peter Dutton, Australia's minister for home affairs that is responsible for immigration policy, did not respond immediately to questions. Most of those held in the camps traveled on boats from transit countries in Southeast Asia, many after paying people smugglers. Asylum-seekers intercepted at sea trying to reach Australia are sent to the offshore camps and told they will never be settled in Australia. (Reporting by Colin Packham; Editing by Paul Tait)The NAACP is suing the Trump administration, accusing Homeland Security of discriminating against Haitis mostly black nationals in violation of the Constitutions equal protection guarantee.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Maryland, seeks to overturn the Department of Homeland Securitys November decision to cancel Temporary Protected Status for Haitians next year. TPS protects undocumented immigrants from deportation and allows them to work here legally because conditions in their home country are too dire to send them back.

The lawsuit, like other court challenges against Trump immigration policies, uses President Donald Trumps own reported words against him, including recent comments to senators during an immigration negotiation deriding Haiti, El Salvador and some African nations as shithole countries. At the same meeting, Trump reportedly asked: Why do we need more Haitians?

Haitian immigrants mark Martin Luther King Day by attending a rally to protest against President Donald Trump's immigration policies on Jan. 15, 2018 in Times Square, New York City. (Photo: Andrew Lichtenstein via Getty Images)

The complaint, filed by one of the countrys most prestigious civil rights groups, also cites a December New York Times report that Trump said Haitians all have AIDS.

In stark contrast, the President stated that immigrants from countries like Norway were more desirable and should be admitted, the complaint says. It adds: President Trump has made clear that he wishes to reduce the number of immigrants of color to the United States.

Haiti was granted TPS in 2010 after an earthquake that left hundreds of thousands of people dead and devastated the countrys already weak infrastructure. More than 1 million Haitians were left homeless in the immediate aftermath.

But DHS Acting Secretary Elaine Duke announced the cancellation of TPS for roughly 60,000 Haitians on Nov. 20, writing in a press statement that that a department review found those extraordinary but temporary conditions caused by the 2010 earthquake no longer exist.

With this administration, you have to be skeptical of every decision they make  especially decisions affecting people of color, Raymond Audain, lead counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the NAACP, told HuffPost. Audain, himself Haitian-American, called Trumps reported comments appalling.

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The lawsuit alleges Homeland Security violated the Fifth Amendments equal protection and due process guarantees, and departed from its normal procedure in reviewing Haitis inclusion in the TPS program.

Then-Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly asked his staff to review the criminal histories of thousands of Haitians with TPS ahead of the decision to boot them from the program, the lawsuit says. The NAACPs membership includes Haitians who hold TPS.

The Administrations efforts to gather this data on Haitian TPS recipients trades on false anti-Black stereotypes about criminality and exploitation of public benefits, and suggests the effort to manufacture a public safety rationale for the planned rescission, the lawsuit says.

While previous decisions to extend TPS for Haitians had been published in the Federal Register within days of their announcement, it took DHS two months to publish its rationale for the cancellation. Dukes decision didnt acknowledge ongoing problems that had led previous administrations to extend TPS for Haiti, including gender-based violence or lingering damage from Hurricane Matthew.

Kelly cited both issues in May, when he extended TPS for six months.

Instead, DHSs true motive for terminating TPS for Haitians reflects racial discrimination, the lawsuit says.

The complaint also cites Trumps negative comments about Mexicans, Central Americans, U.S. Hispanics, Africans and Arabs.

DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit.

Some of Trumps harshest immigration policies have been halted or delayed by federal judges. The administration faces lawsuits challenging his restrictions on visitors from some Muslim-majority countries, and his abrupt decision to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA  the program that provides deportation relief and work authorization to undocumented immigrants who arrived as children.

Those lawsuits, like the one filed Wednesday, typically accuse Trump of discrimination. While the White House has vast power under U.S. law to change immigration policy, those changes could be invalidated if courts find the actions intend to discriminate on the basis of race, nationality or religion.

Trump may see more legal challenges to his immigration measures in the future. Some immigration lawyers told HuffPost immediately after Trumps reported shithole comment that challenges to the cancellation of TPS for El Salvador and other countries the president slurred were likely.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Haley at UN

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Thursday issued a scathing attack on Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, charging that he lacks courage and the will to seek peace in the Middle East.

We will not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace, Haley said in a fiery speech at a U.N. Security Council meeting.

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This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday lambasted Abbas, saying he disrespected the U.S. after snubbing Vice President Mike Pence during his trip to the Middle East last week.

Trump

NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Trump has threatened to halt aid to its refugee agency if the Palestinians do not engage in peace talks.

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The United States stands as the largest donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), contributing around a third of its budget, or about over $365 million last year.

That money is on the table, and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace, Trump said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday.

Pressure has increased on both sides as Trump in December recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, announcing also his intent to relocate the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv and setting off a flurry of widespread condemnations.

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Palestinians see East Jerusalem as the capital of their future state and have said the move would upend any future peace talks in the Middle East.

Reversing decades of long-standing U.S. policy, Trumps recent moves have been repeatedly rejected by Abbas, who called them a slap in the face to his country.

Criticizing Abbas for a recent speech he gave to the Palestinian Central Council that attacked Trump, Haley said he insulted the American president and rejected the role of the U.S. in peace talks.

During the speech, Abbas angrily said the landmark Oslo Accordsframework for Israel and Palestinian relations was dead while repeatedly calling out Trumpand at one point declaring: Shame on you. When did we reject the talks? Where is the negotiation that we rejected?

While reaffirming the support of the U.S. for the potential of two states, if agreed to by both Israel and Palestinians, Haley pointed out that recent actions by Abbas have shown otherwise.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from Newsweek"But he talks to Africans frankly", Museveni said, "In the world, you can not survive if you are weak".

What Museveni seems to understand that most others are missing, willfully in many cases, is that anything Trump did say was an off-the-cuff private remark and not intended for public consumption.

He said: "Donald Trump speaks to Africans frankly".

"I love Trump because he tells Africans frankly", President Yoweri Museveni said Tuesday, shortly after the USA ambassador apologized for Trump's recent reference to African nations as "s--hole countries". "Africans need to solve their problems", he wrote. "Mr. Trump. I love Trump", he said.

It's from this interval Museveni commended President Trump for being frank and telling Africa that they are a weak continent, "Africa needs to solve their own problems; you can not survive when you are weak", he reiterated.

"It is the fault of the Africans that they are weak".

Despite a storm of devastating criticism of Trump allegedly calling a number of African lands "shithole", still there is at least one Trump admirer, most surprisingly, in the leadership of one of these countries.

"Africa is 12 times the size of India with a lot of resources and with a growing population".

"Autonomy for EALA is vital and Parliament of Uganda is so keen to see it fully operationalized", she said, and urged EALA members to look beyond their national shoulders and to fully focus on its regional agenda.

Unlike Museveni, some African presidents have condemned the alleged vulgar remark. "We will not accept such insults, even from a leader of a friendly country, no matter how powerful". Opposition activists have accused him of rigging polls.Nikki Haley address a UN Security Council meeting: AP

The US's ambassador to the United Nations has harshly reprimanded Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, claiming he "indulges in outrageous and discredited conspiracy" that show he lacks the courage and the will to strive for a lasting peace deal with Israel.

Speaking at a UN Security Council meeting, Nikki Haley also suggested Mr Abbas had insulted President Donald Trump in a speech before the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) Central Council earlier in January.

In his speech, President Abbas declared the landmark Oslo Peace Accords dead, Ms Haley said, referring to the set of 1993 agreements between Israel and the PLO that marked the start of a peace process aimed at achieving a peace treaty.

Ms Haley continued: He rejected any American role in peace talks. He insulted the American president. He called for suspending recognition of Israel. He invoked an ugly and fictional past, reaching back to the 17th Century, to paint Israel as a colonialist project engineered by European powers.

A speech that indulges in outrageous and discredited conspiracy theories is not the speech of a person with the courage and the will to seek peace, she added.

Ms Haleys words underscore the heightened tensions between the US and Palestinians. Their relationship took a turn for the worse when Mr Trump last month formally recognised Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and said the US embassy would be moved to the holy city.

The status of Jerusalem has long been a source of controversy in the Middle East.

Israelis consider the city to be their eternal capital, while Palestinians have long wished to establish east Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Mr Abbas has repeatedly railed against Mr Trumps decision regarding the city, saying that it disqualifies the US from being able to broker peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians.

On Thursday at Davos, Mr Trump questioned whether peace negotiations with Israel would ever resume, blaming the Palestinians.

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Echoing remarks by Ms Haley, the President said Palestinians had disrespected the US in the wake of his decision on Jerusalem.

The President also threatened to cut even more aid to the Palestinians if they do not come to the negotiating table. The US already announced earlier this month that it would withhold $65m in aid to the UN agency that serves Palestinian refugees, meaning aid to the organisation would be cut by almost half.BEIJING (Reuters) - A unit of China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on Friday issued a blue alert for sea ice in a key port area in the north of the country, potentially disrupting commodities shipments, as temperatures in the region plummet. Sea ice in the Liaodong Bay, the northern arm of China's Bohai Sea, now extends 67 nautical miles (124 km) from the shoreline, the North China Sea Marine Forecasting Center said in an 0700 GMT alert. Ice also extends 18 nautical miles out in the northern part of the Yellow Sea, the Center said. A blue alert, called when the sea ice stretches out more than 60 nautical miles, is the lowest tier on China's four-colour alert system for severe weather, with red being the highest. Footage broadcast by state television CCTV on Friday showed ice-breakers working in Liaodong Bay. The SOA earlier Friday said sea ice in the area it was monitoring covered around 23,482 sq km (9,066 sq miles), based on satellite images taken on Jan. 24. It added that investigative teams had been sent to the regional port cities of Panjin, Jinzhou, Yingkou and Dalian to assess any possible damage. Dalian port is a key inlet for China's imports of coal, coking coal, iron ore and alumina. "In the next three days, the icy conditions in Bohai Bay and the northern Yellow Sea will develop significantly," the SOA said, warning of colder weather and big waves much further south near Hainan island, the Taiwan Strait, and the coasts of Fujian and Zhejiang. (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Christian Schmollinger)By Gina Cherelus

(Reuters) - The colorful beaded necklaces that are a signature of New Orleans' annual Mardi Gras celebration have left the city known as "The Big Easy" with a big mess.

New Orleans city officials said on Thursday that more than 46 tons - or 93,000 pounds - of Carnival beads were among 7.2 million pounds of trash pulled from clogged catch basins along a five-block stretch of a downtown parade route, the Times-Picayune newspaper reported.

"Once you hear a number like that, there's no going back," Dani Galloway, interim director of the city's Department of Public Works, said during a news conference on Thursday. "So we've got to do better."

A representative from the city's public works department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.

The removal was part of a four-month project in response to heavy flooding in the city in August, the newspaper reported. The effectiveness of the citys drainage systems came under fire after an Aug. 5 storm dumped up to 6 inches (15 cm) of rain, causing street flooding and underpasses to fill up.

The clean-up effort between late September and late January cleared about 15,000 of the city's estimated 68,000 storm drains, the newspaper reported. The Mardi Gras beads were found along the St. Charles Avenue parade route.

Mardi Gras is celebrated on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, which is the beginning of Lent, a period of reflection and abstinence on the Catholic calendar.

By tradition, Mardi Gras, which is French for "Fat Tuesday," is a day that calls for excessive partying in preparation for the somber season of sacrifice to follow.

Mardi Gras falls on Feb. 13 this year.

Partygoers are known to wear and toss beads - known as "throws" in New Orleans - from the streets and balconies in the French Quarter, Bourbon Street and other areas where partiers jostle through crowds.

At the news conference, Galloway asked residents to help clear catch basins and said the department was considering preventative methods, such as temporarily installing "gutter buddies" to keep the carnival beads from rolling down the drain.

(Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; editing by Colleen Jenkins and G Crosse)After months of speculation about whether or not President Donald Trump might be tempted to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, the New York Times reports that Trump actually did order Mueller fired last June  only to back down after top White House lawyer Donald McGahn threatened to quit.

Trump has dismissed the report as fake news. His critics have seized on it, with Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner saying that such an action would be crossing a red line. And while that may be the case as far as modern political norms are concerned, Trump technically does have the power to have a special counsel like Mueller fired  and the reason goes back to the Constitution.

Katy Harriger, a professor at Wake Forest University and author of The Special Prosecutor in American Politics, says thats because of the complicated history of the job Mueller holds. The job has gone through many permutations over the many years since it was first used in response to the Whiskey Ring scandal of the 1870s, but its important to note that the theoretical underpinnings of the Presidents power over such a position go back to the beginning. In Article II [of the Constitution] it does say that he has to take care that the laws are faithfully executed  thats the source of his enforcement power, Harriger says. The courts said a long time ago that officers who are executing that power on behalf of the president have to be removable by him.

The way the rules are currently written, the special counsel reports directly to the person who appointed him, Harriger says  in Muellers case, thats Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. But again, Rosensteins power can, ultimately, be traced back up to the President. As a result, just as was the case with Richard Nixons infamous Saturday Night Massacre, a historical episode that has been oft-invoked in recent months, Trump could ask the people below him to fire the person he wants fired, and if the person in the middle objects, he or she can resign or be fired until someone in the chain of command obeys. (Plus, Harriger notes, that procedure is a matter of convention rather than constitutional requirement, so the President could choose to defy convention and do the firing himself, though doing so might provoke litigation.)

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Still, even if someone else pulls the trigger, its the Presidents authority behind that decision.

For a while, however, things were different.

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In the wake of Watergate and 1973s Saturday Night Massacre, Congress took steps to stop future Presidents from going after people who were appointed to investigate them. In direct response to the Saturday Night Massacre, Harriger says, the Ethics in Government Act changed the way that system worked. (Not that Watergate was the first time someone in Muellers place has been driven out. But, when a special investigator was fired in the other noteworthy episode, amid a tax scandal in the Truman administration, outrage was muted because Truman was not personally implicated in any wrongdoing, and the prosecutor was widely seen as having overstepped the bounds of his job.)

The law gave a panel of judges the power to pick a special prosecutor at the request of the Attorney General, and set out exactly how he or she could be fired: The special prosecutor could be removed from office, other than by impeachment and conviction, only by the personal action of the Attorney General and only for extraordinary impropriety, physical disability, mental incapacity, or any other condition that substantially impairs the performance of such special prosecutors duties. In addition, there were specific procedures set out for reports on and review of such a removal.

But when the law expired in the 1990s, it was not renewed.

Harriger traces that decision to a late-Clinton-era perception that the mechanism for investigating the President had been used unwisely. In its place, internal Justice Department regulations were set up to pick independent counsels.

In one sense, Harriger says, her research has shown that the new system insulates the investigator from party politics  it is harder to dismiss a finding of wrongdoing if the investigation is being overseen by someone working for the same Executive Branch that is being investigated. On the other hand, it also means the authority to dismiss such investigators for a wider variety of reasons returned more fully to the Justice Department, and hence, through the chain of command, to the President.

When the statute existed it was a limitation on the presidents power to control that person and the Supreme Court upheld that as within Congress authority, but in this case we dont have anything Congress has written. Now its just internal regulations, Harriger says. If the statute had been around now, it would be different situation today.This train conductors personal photos may have gotten her fired. (Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Katelnikoff)

Social media guidelines are often integrated into corporate contracts, with appropriate use outlined according to each companys standards. But the recent firing of Canadian Pacific Railway train conductor Stephanie Katelnikoff over her personal social-media postings is raising red flags.

Leading up to her dismissal (her second from this company, but more on that later) in November, the 28-year-old from Calgary, Canada, had been the subject of an internal investigation, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. According to the CBC, the company looked through her social media accounts to find violations of its code of ethics. But Katelnikoff claims these violations were not properly explained to her.

They seemed to have an issue with a selfie I took proclaiming my love for my job. They seemed to have an issue with a news photo I had shared of a derailment I was a part of. And they seemed to have an issue with pictures that were taken before I even worked at the railroad, she explains. They made a general statement  inappropriate social media content  when dismissing me. That sentence didnt come with any elaboration.

Within an evidence package obtained by the CBC, Canadian Pacific Railway highlighted a number of Katelnikoffs personal posts  one of which depicted the conductor posing on train tracks (above), and others that included both positive and critical sentiments about her employer. Though a majority of the posts were from the employees modeling gigs, Canadian Pacific noted in a statement released to Yahoo Lifestyle that those modeling shots had nothing to do with the firing.

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Railway safety is a top priority at CP, the company wrote. Ms. Katelnikoffs termination related to her decision to post photos of herself in unsafe situations on railway property and equipment, committing railway safety violations, along with disparaging remarks regarding the company. Her termination was not about her posting of personal photos or information per se that were not related in some way to railway safety and CP.

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But why were those shots included in the evidence file, and why, according to both Katelnikoffs account and records obtained by the CBC, was the issue of safety left out from records and from the actual firing? The former conductor notes, however, that the ambiguity from CP Rail around her layoff is not surprising, based on the mixed messages she claims she received as an employee.

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In December 2014, for example, the train conductor had been fired immediately following her second trip ever operating a train. Thats when she made headlines for being let go following a derailment that she says wasnt her fault. Documents soon revealed, in fact, that she hadnt received the proper training before being allowed to conduct a train on her own.

In a statement provided at the time to CBC, CP spokesman Jeremy Barry said Katelnikoff was not dismissed for one single issue, she was dismissed because of a number of events over her six-month probationary period. And although the statement is quite ambiguous, Katelnikoff believes a sexual harassment complaint she had submitted beforehand had played a big part in her dismissal.

I was fired in 2014 for malicious and discriminatory reasons, Katelnikoff states, in part because I filed a sexual harassment complaint when somebody threatened to break into my house and rifle through my panties.

A 14-month arbitration process revealed that CP Rails alleged reasons behind Katelnikoffs firing appear to be a camouflage of the companys actual reasons that are discriminatory and in bad faith. She returned to the company but still felt she was being discriminated against.

My return was rocky, and I feel that I have been treated poorly since the day I came back, she explains. Not a week went by without some sort of issue. But the company has a long history of treating people poorly, so I cant say I was surprised.

Meanwhile, other people have been sharing their own stories of sexism and employee mistreatment by CP Rail on Katelnikoffs personal Facebook page.

Overall, their attitude is still sexist, backwards, and non-employee, noted one commenter. It is all about them.

Since her dismissal nearly three months ago, Katelnikoff has not received her requested back pay. She has since revised her request, asking instead that the company simply pitch in and help with her charitable work.

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As drought continues and water levels plummet in Cape Town's dams, residents are facing a slew of new emergency measures.

Messages of conservation have fallen on deaf ears, the city said, necessitating a crackdown on usage.

"We have reached a point of no return. Despite our urging for months, 60 percent of Capetonians are callously using more than 87 litres per day," Mayor Patricia de Lille said.

This week, the government is set to vote on the introduction of a punitive tariff, which will charge residents using above 6,000 liters per month exponentially higher rates for their water.



south africa cape town dam

Water continues to recede at South Africa's Theewaterskloof dam. (Instagram photo/Zan3_pharmer)

As of Feb. 1, usage will be restricted to 50 liters per person per day to make up for months of overuse.

Though desalination plants are set to go online in February and drilling into the aquifer will also take place, officials say the additional resources are too little too late.

"The people who are still wasting water seem to believe that Day Zero just can't happen or that the city's seven augmentation projects - set to produce around 200 million litres per day - will be enough to save us," de Lille said.

"This is not the case and, while our water augmentation programme will make Cape Town more water resilient in the future, it was never going to be enough to stop Day Zero," she said.

The city has announced water collection points, which will become the only way to obtain water for personal use if dam levels continue to drop.

Taps will be shut off and residents will be able to retrieve 25 liters per person each day from one of 200 collection points across the city.

With Cape Town boasting a population of 4 million, many residents say it's not a practical solution.

Residents have accused the government of insufficient planning and water mismanagement among other things, but experts say this situation was largely unpredictable and not one officials at a city level would typically plan for.

Story continues

"Whilst the city may have been a bit slow to enforce stronger restrictions once the severity of the drought became obvious, I don't think they had any way of predicting just how bad it was," Kristy Carden, researcher for the University of Cape Town's Urban Water Management Research Unit, told AccuWeather.

"Climate scientists have suggested that the cumulative effect of the three below-average rainfall years equates to something approaching a once-in-1,000-years drought occurrence, not something that would be planned for at city level," Carden said.

With the rainy season still months away, it's likely the situation will worsen before it gets better.

"The dry season typically continues into early April, so the likelihood for significant rainfall the next two months is low," AccuWeather Meteorologist Eric Leister said.Rep. Joseph Kennedy III (D-Mass.) has been picked to respond to President Donald Trumps State of the Union address next week.

The 37-year-old three-term congressman will appear on national TV following Trumps speech on Jan. 30 to present the Democratic Partys response, according to The Boston Globe.

The latest generation of the Kennedy political dynasty from Massachusetts is expected to appeal to working- and middle-class voters, who the Democrats will likely say have been abandoned by the president, despite Trumps campaign pledges.

Kennedy, of Brookline, will appear as a blast from the Democratic Party past, but also as a fresh face on a national platform that could have the power to galvanize voters. Hes the great-nephew of JFK and the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, grandson of the late U.S. Attorney General Bobby Kennedy, and son of former Congressman Joseph Kennedy.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hailed Kennedy as a relentless fighter for working Americans. While Trump has consistently broken his promises to the middle class, Congressman Kennedy profoundly understands the challenges facing hard-working men and women across the country, she said in a statement announcing Kennedys selection.

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Democrat Elizabeth Guzman, the first Hispanic female immigrant elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, will follow Kennedys response with a speech in Spanish.

Kennedys profile has been rising since Trumps election, particularly in his defense of immigrant and LGBTQ rights, as well as the Affordable Care Act.

After Kennedy ripped Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for calling the death of Obamacare an act of mercy, Kennedy characterized it as an act of malice. Howard Dean, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee gushed: This is a Kennedy who could be president, the Globe noted.

Kennedy will be the first Massachusetts politician to deliver the response since 1985, when then-House Speaker Thomas (Tip) ONeill joined Bill Clinton (who was Arkansas governor at the time) and then-Florida Gov. Bob Graham. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) responded in 1982.

Story continues

Trump may announce his immigration plan during the speech, and is expected to unveil a $1.7 trillion infrastructure package, according to The Hill.

Also on HuffPost

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.President Donald Trump has called Steve Wynn, seen here in March 2016, a "great friend." (Photo: Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn has been accused of a decades-long pattern of sexual harassment and abuse toward workers at his casinos, according to an investigation by The Wall Street Journal.

Dozens of current and former employees at Wynns gambling establishments told the Journal they had experienced or witnessed chronic abuse by the billionaire, who was named finance chairman for the Republican National Convention last year.

The allegations range from lewd comments and inappropriate touching to soliciting sex acts from women who worked as manicurists and massage therapists at Wynns Las Vegas casinos.

One former employee at Wynn Las Vegas said the mogul pressured her into having unwanted sex with him after she gave him a manicure in 2005. Wynn later agreed to pay the woman a $7.5 million settlement after she filed a report.

The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, Wynn said in a statement shared with HuffPost. We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation.

Wynn, who turns 76 on Saturday, went on to blame the allegations on his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, who is suing him to lift restrictions preventing her from selling her stock in Wynn Resorts Limited.

At one time a rival of fellow casino businessman Donald Trump, Wynn was appointed to head the RNCs finance committee in January 2017. He has supported both the Democratic and Republican parties with financial contributions over the years. But Wynn threw his support behind the latter during the 2016 election cycle, donating some $833,000 to Republican joint fundraising, according to Forbes.

The RNC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the allegations against Wynn. A spokesperson for Wynn Resorts declined to comment on whether the businessman intends to step down from his role with the RNC.

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In a statement to HuffPost, the Wynn Resorts representative said the company is committed to operating with the highest ethical standards and maintaining a safe and respectful culture.

The spokesperson also noted that the company requires employees to receive annual anti-harassment training, and that it offers a hotline for employees to submit harassment claims anonymously. Since the inception of the company, not one complaint was made to that hotline regarding Mr. Wynn, the representative said.

Current and former employees who spoke with the Journal said they were nervous about coming forward due to Wynns influence in the casino industry. Wynn is worth over $3.5 billion, by Forbes estimate. He owns two sprawling Las Vegas casinos  the Wynn and Encore resorts  as well as two other complexes in Macau. Another $2.4 billion Wynn casino is in construction in the Boston area.

His power and influence, like those of other prominent men who have been accused of recurrent sexual abuse, may have led him to feel invincible in his own domain.

Current and former employees told the Journal that Wynn would frequently walk around in short shorts with no underwear, exposing his genitals when he sat to receive a pedicure. He would proposition female employees in his private office and even allegedly asked a former executive to get him the phone numbers of casino cocktail waitresses.

Everybody was petrified, said Jorgen Nielsen, a former artistic director at the resorts on-site salon, who told the Journal that female employees would hide in bathrooms and back closets when they heard Wynn was approaching.

One former employee who Wynn allegedly harassed told the Journal she tried to laugh off his advances.

I would say, Oh Mr. Wynn, she recounted. I was just trying to get on with my job.

This article has been updated with remarks from a Wynn Resorts representative.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Burmese officials and security forces stood near the barbed wire fence at the transition camp, but Rohingya in Bangladesh said they have seen no major preparation for refugees to return safely to their destroyed homes in Rakhine state in western Burma.

A Rohingya refugee carries firewood past the vehicle of visiting Unicef bigwig Justin Forsyth at Balukhali refugee camp 50 kilometres from Cox's Bazar on Wednesday.

In an interview given with Aljazeera, refugee Abdul Faiz, who now lives in a Bangladeshi camp, said he and his family did not wish to return to return to Myanmar.

Under the agreement, Myanmar was due to start receiving Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh at two reception centers and a temporary camp near Maungdaw, northern Rakhine State, starting on January 23 and continuing over the next two years.

On Monday, Richardson met with Myanmar's de-facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss both the detained journalists as well as the plan to repatriate hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees who had fled the country a year ago following a military crackdown. "I spoke to one young woman who had been on the phone to her aunt in Rakhine in Myanmar".

Richardson also accused Suu Kyi of a "furious response" to his calls to help free two Reuters journalists arrested while reporting on the Rakhine crisis.

Julhas Alam is an Associated Press writer.

"And they were attacking villages even today".

It is thought they had been reporting on atrocities committed by security forces in Rakhine. But Bangladesh said it needs more time to prepare for the transfer.

"In the advisory board's initial meeting with (Suu Kyi), I was taken aback by the vigor with which the media, the United Nations, human rights groups, and in general the global community were disparaged".

One of the key members of the worldwide advisory panel to Aung San Suu Kyi has resigned in spectacular fashion.

"In order for the repatriation to be (done) right, to be sustainable, actually viable. you need to really address a number of issues that for the time being we have heard nothing about", UNHCR head Filippo Grandi said in Geneva, noting that issues like citizenship had not been addressed.

More than 650,000 refugees, mostly children and women, have fled Myanmar since August 25, 2017 when Myanmar forces launched a bloody crackdown.

He said Bangladesh was working towards signing a memorandum of understanding with UNHCR for the repatriation and it could take "at least two months" to start the return.

The Rohingya, described by the United Nations as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012.

One of these, he added, is citizenship papers for refugees who were forced from their homes and lack proper documentation to prove their residency.

There was no sign, however, of any of the almost 700,000 Rohingya chased away by Myanmar security forces.

"Implementing a returns arrangement finalized last week in its current form would put the safety and rights of more than 650,000 Rohingya who fled a brutal military crackdown previous year in serious jeopardy", Voice of America reported the UK-based human rights group as saying. They are widely dismissed as having migrated illegally from Bangladesh and are denied some of the most basic rights, including the freedom of movement.Special counsel Robert Mueller may soon interview President Donald Trump as part of an ongoing FBI investigation, setting up a risky situation for the White House.

As Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election has moved forward, experts say its become increasingly likely that hell seek to question Trump next.

For his part, Trump said earlier this week that he would love to talk with Mueller, though the White House has not previously confirmed that he would be willing to speak with Muellers investigation.

Im looking forward to it, actually, Trump said.

Even if White House lawyers have reservations about an interview with Mueller, who previously ran the FBI for a dozen years, it might be in the presidents best interest to agree anyway, experts said. Thats because Mueller has the power to compel Trump to talk by subpoenaing him for grand jury testimony. And it helps Trump to agree to an interview instead because he can have his lawyer present, as opposed to appearing before a grand jury, where his lawyers would not be allowed.

So if youre Trumps legal team, you cooperate and you sit in for the interview and you show that youre cooperating, explains Solomon Wisenberg, who was deputy independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation and conducted grand jury questioning of President Bill Clinton.

One risk for Trump is the focus of Muellers questioning. Some have speculated that Mueller is interested in Trumps controversial firing of former FBI Director James Comey for possible obstruction of justice charges. The New York Times first reported that Attorney General Jeff Sessions was interviewed by Muellers team last week.

As Muellers office continues its investigation and interviews more of the presidents associates, certainly Mueller would be derelict in his duty if he didnt interview Trump at some point, says Wisenberg.

But for all their eagerness to cooperate with the Mueller investigation, Trump and his lawyers will also have to be careful of certain mistakes people have made in the past in special counsel interviews.

Story continues

What any decent lawyer wants to do in this situation is to avoid two things, says Wisenberg. One, you want to avoid an admission of some fact that could help Mueller make a case. And number two, you want to avoid a false exculpatory statement, because the false statement to a federal investigator is a crime in and of itself.

The second pitfall has already claimed victims in Muellers investigation: hes brought charges against four of Trumps former aides, all of which include charges of lying to the authorities. And two of the aides  Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos  pleaded guilty to making false statements during the course of this Russia investigation.

President Bill Clinton provides another cautionary tale for any president facing a special counsel interview. In 1998, Clinton denied under oath during an independent counsel investigation that he had sexual relations with a White House intern. The independent counsel accused him of perjury and obstruction of justice, which led to his impeachment.

Clinton isnt the only other president to have answered sworn questions of this nature: with the exception of Barack Obama, every president since Richard Nixon has been involved in a federal criminal investigation while in office, Politico reports. Ronald Reagan answered questions under oath on multiple occasions during the Iran-Contra investigation, for example, and George W. Bush was interviewed by the special counsel in 2004, not under oath, during the probe about the leaking of CIA Operative Valerie Plame Wilsons identity.

Trump is no stranger to giving testimony; he has been deposed numerous times over the course of his business career. And theres much we dont know about the exact circumstances about how an interview as part of Muellers investigation would be conducted: whether or not it would be under oath, for example, or whether it would be recorded for a transcript or video. (Even if Trump is not under oath during the interview, it would still be a crime to lie to investigators.)

Thats the most important lesson to take from Clintons experience, Wisenberg says: Dont lie.London (AFP) - Britain's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has accused Russia of spying on its critical infrastructure as part of possible plans to create "total chaos" in the country that could "cause thousands and thousands of deaths".

In unusually alarmist words from a senior minister Williamson told the Daily Telegraph that, in its research on UK power supply connections with Europe, Moscow appeared intent on sowing "panic" and hurting Britain.

"What they are looking at doing is they are going to be thinking 'how can we just cause so much pain to Britain?'" he said in comments published Thursday night.

"Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country."

Williamson, who only became defence chief in November after predecessor Michael Fallon resigned over allegations of misconduct, gave the interview at the outset of a new five-month defence review.

He is reportedly pressuring finance minister Philip Hammond to allocate more money to defence and scrap further cuts to Britain's strained armed forces.

In the interview the minister said Russia acts in a way "that any other nation would see as completely unacceptable".

"Why would they keep photographing and looking at power stations, why are they looking at the interconnectors that bring so much electricity and so much energy into our country," he questioned in the paper.

"They are looking at these things because they are saying these are the ways that we can hurt Britain."

Earlier this week Fallon joined calls from the head of the army for more British military spending, amid warnings the country may struggle to match Russian battlefield capabilities.

Meanwhile the head of the National Cyber Security Centre said the country will likely face a major cyber-attack within two years.

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Ciaran Martin told the Guardian it was inevitable a hostile actor would launch an online attack aimed at crippling Britain's critical infrastructure, such as energy supplies, and it was lucky not to have fallen victim to such a strike already.

Williamson, who is tipped as a possible future ruling Conservative party leader, described his scenario planning as "the real threat that I believe the country is facing at the moment."

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said it had nothing further to add to his remarks.

The Russian Embassy in London could not be reached for comment Thursday.Qatars diplomat in Moscow has said his country was in serious talks to purchase an advanced Russian anti-aircraft missile system also sought by a number of other regional powers, some of which were at odds with one another.

Qatari envoy Fahad bin Mohammed al-Attiyah told Russia state media Thursday that the tiny oil-rich monarchy was already in advanced negotiations over air-defense systems and capabilities for our land forces as well. The S-400 Triumf has been considered one of the most effective surface-to-air missile systems in the world, and Qatars interest in it signaled only the latest attempt by a Middle Eastern country to procure the anti-aircraft platform and shore up ties with Moscow.

Related: Russia sells military weapons to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, both former foes in Syria

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This paves the way for cooperation between Russia and Qatar in defense, in sales of military hardware, training of officers and soldiers, maintenance, and of course intelligence cooperation, Attiyah told the Tass Russian News Agency.

RussiaS400missile

Russian Ministry of Defense

Qatars latest push, for which Attiyah said Doha had already signed a technical cooperation agreement with Moscow, came months after its neighboring rival expressed interest in buying the S-400. During the first-ever visit by a Saudi Arabian monarch to Russia, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in October and reportedly opened preliminary talks for Riyadh to buy the anti-aircraft system.

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Qatar and Saudi Arabia, two neighboring conservative Sunni Muslim monarchies heavily reliant on oil and gas and closely allied to the U.S., shared a common goal of funding insurgencies to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in an uprising that has shaken his country for nearly seven years. Ideological differences, however, have long divided the two Gulf Arab countries and, as the Syrian opposition grew increasingly Islamist and began to lose out to a resurgent Syrian military backed by Russia and Iran, Qatar and Saudi Arabia turned on one another.

Last June, Saudi Arabia teamed up with Bahrain, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates to announce a full blockade and boycott of Qatar. Saudi Arabia accused Qatar of funding terrorism across the Middle East and maintaining ties to revolutionary Shiite Muslim foe Iran. Both the U.S. and Russia have largely stayed out of the crisis, but a third international power did step in: Turkey.

In addition to hosting the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East, Qatar also hosted Turkeys only official foreign military base. As Saudi turned up the heat on Qatar, Turkey increased its support for its main ally on the Arabian Peninsula. Like Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Turkey remained supportive of elements of the embattled Syrian opposition.

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Reuters

Turkey has increasingly worked with Assad allies Russia and Iran to end the conflict, however, and also entered into talks to buy the S-400 last October. Turkey officially signed a deal, potentially worth up to $2.5 billion, on Tuesday, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. Turkey has since strained foreign relations once again by launching a massive operation against U.S.-backed Kurdish forces that have also been endorsed by Russia in northern Syria.

As Russia showcased the missile system to potential foreign customers abroad, it also deployed it in Syria. The S-400 guarded sensitive Russian military sites such as the air base at Hmeymim and naval facility at Tartus. The deployment has rattled countries still seeking to unseat Assad, who has also announced his intention to buy the S-400 for his own armed forces, which were now in control of most of the country after declaring defeat over the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in the east and launching a renewed attack on the final rebel-held bastion of Idlib, in the northwest.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekFox News host Sean Hannity was almost immediately forced to roll back Thursday his criticism of a bombshell report that indicated President Donald Trump tried to fire the special counsel investigating Russian election interference.

Hannity, a long-time Trump champion whos often interviewed and praised the president, initially said The New York Times was trying to distract readers with its report on Trump ordering the Special Counsel Robert Muellers firing in June before White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit if the dismissal was carried out.

At this hour, The New York Times is trying to distract you, Hannity said. They have a story that Trump wanted Mueller fired sometime last June and our sources and Ive checked in with many of themtheyve not confirmed that tonight.

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Moments later, the clip below shows Hannity walking back after Fox News confirmed The Times account.

So we have sources tonight just confirming to Ed Henry that yeah, maybe, Donald Trump wanted to fire the special counsel for a conflict. Does he not have the right to raise those questions? Hannity said before flipping over to high-speed car crash in Arizona.

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Indeed, Foxs report indicated that two former White House officials, then-chief of staff Reince Priebus and chief political strategist Steve Bannon, thought Trump would fire Mueller and both were very worried about the possible ramifications.

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"They said, 'This is going to blow up,'" an unnamed source told Fox.

Source tells me Priebus & Bannon believed President was going to fire #Mueller and worried about fallout but obviously in end he did not do it, Henry tweeted Thursday night during Hannitys broadcast.

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Despite backing down on the air, Hannity stood by his defense of the president not dismissing Mueller after his program as well.

Story continues

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Liberal media sheep shocked @realDonaldTrump thought about firing Corrupt Mueller and his liberal team of Hillary lovers, which HE DID NOT DO! They have NO CLUE about whats coming. Tick tock, tick tock....Stay tuned Irredeemable deplorables. Best Sean, Hannity tweeted.

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The president called the allegation fake news when questioned by reporters Friday while attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Hannity has on several occasions accused the FBI and Justice Department of trying to undermine Trumps presidency, suggesting bias perpetrated by a deep state within the government.

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekKathmandu (AFP) - American journalist Elizabeth Hawley, whose 50 years chronicling summits and tragedies in the Himalayas earned her the moniker "the Sherlock Holmes of the mountaineering world", died Friday aged 94.

Hawley built a reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on Himalayan mountaineering after moving to Nepal in 1959 as a journalist, where she continued to live up to her death.

"She had a very peaceful death," doctor Prativa Pandey, who looked after Hawley at the end of her life, told AFP.

She passed away at a hospital in Nepal's capital Kathmandu in the early hours of Friday, a week after falling ill with a lung infection. She later likely suffered a stroke, Pandey said.

Hawley founded the Himalayan Database, a meticulous archive of all mountaineering expeditions in Nepal that she managed until five years ago.

Known for ferreting out the truth from climbers claiming to set new records, her word on summits in the fabled mountains was considered final, though she never climbed any peaks herself.

Every climbing season Hawley -- behind the wheel of her 1965 sky-blue VW Beetle -- would drive to mountaineers' hotels in Kathmandu to grill them before and after their expeditions.

"I guess I am quite forceful, I come to the point and if someone thinks they can evade my questions, they can think again," she told AFP in a 2014 interview.

- 'Oracle of Himalayan climbing' -

Billi Bierling, a journalist and climber who took over managing the Himalayan Database in recent years, remembered Hawley as a stickler for accuracy who would keep calling a source until she was satisfied she had the answer.

"The mountaineering world today has lost of its most important pillars. Even though Liz Hawley was never a climber, she never wore crampons, she was interested in the people," Bierling said.

Tributes for Hawley poured in from mountaineers around the world.

"Kathmandu will be a lesser place without her and her original VW beetle," wrote 12-time Everest summiteer Kenton Cool on Twitter, describing her as the "Oracle of Himalayan climbing".

Story continues

Elizabeth Ann Hawley was born on November 9, 1923 to a Chicago-based chartered accountant and a suffragist.

She attended university in Michigan and promptly moved to Manhattan after graduation in 1946, landing a job as a researcher with Fortune magazine.

The job bored her and she took off to see the world in 1957, finally ending up in Nepal in February 1959, then a Hindu kingdom which had only recently opened its gates to foreign visitors.

Hawley eventually became a correspondent for the Reuters news agency in Nepal and landed her first major scoop during the 1963 US expedition to Everest.

The American military attache offered her access to secret radio communication between Everest base camp and the embassy, enabling her to be the first to file when they reached the summit.

In 2014, Nepal named a 6,182-metre (20,328-foot) mountain in her honour: Peak Hawley in the country's northwest.

"I retire when I die. It might be the same thing," Hawley said in her book "The Nepal Scene", a collection of monthly dispatches she wrote until 2007.Representative Joseph P. Kennedy, III speaks during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 25 July 2016: REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Democrats have chosen Congressman Joseph Kennedy III as the person to respond to US President Donald Trumps State of the Union speech next week.

Mr Kennedy, from Massachusetts, is the grandson of late Senator Robert F Kennedy and great-nephew of late President John F Kennedy.

He told the Boston Globe: From healthcare to economic justice to civil rights, the Democratic agenda stands in powerful contrast to President Trumps broken promises to American families.

Mr Trumps speech will be his first in front of the full Congress about the status of his policies since he has taken office and his plan for the coming year.

It is expected that he will unveil his immigration plan and possibly $1.7 trillion infrastructure plan either during the speech or in the days following.

Recently, the Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme which allowed those brought to the US illegally as minors to stay, study, and work in the US, was under hot debate as Republicans and Democrats negotiated a deal to reopen the government after a three-day shutdown.

The resolution only keeps the federal government open until 8 February, by which time another deal will have to be hashed out.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said Mr Kennedy is a relentless fighter for working Americans.

While President Trump has consistently broken his promises to the middle class, Congressman Kennedy profoundly understands the challenges facing hard-working men and women across the country, Ms Pelosi said in a statement.

It is customary for the opposition party to respond after the President gives the annual State of the Union.

The response speech made headlines when Senator Marco Rubio awkwardly reached for a water bottle in the middle of his response to former President Barack Obama. He later tweeted a picture of the water bottle to make light of the moment.

Democrats also said the first Hispanic female immigrant to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates Elizabeth Guzman will be delivering the oppositions Spanish-language response.If a picture is worth a thousand words, whats the going price for a knowing smirk?

Thats the response porn actress Stormy Daniels gave to Inside Edition when reporter Jim Moret asked her point-blank whether she had a sexual affair with President Donald Trump.

Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford) has stayed out of the public eye since allegations broke in The Wall Street Journal that a lawyer for Trump paid her $130,000 in hush money before the 2016 presidential election to prevent her from revealing an alleged affair. Trump and the White House denied that he had any relationship with Daniels.

In advance clips for Thursdays Inside Edition, it appears she wont be answering the question thats on everyones mind: Did she indeed have an affair with Trump?

Stormy Daniels on "Inside Edition." (Photo: Inside Edition)

The alleged affair reportedly took place in the summer of 2006, a year after Trump married his third wife, Melania Trump, and just months after she gave birth to their son, Barron Trump.

Some are speculating that the reports of the affair between Trump and Daniels contributed to Melanias decision to not accompany her husband to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week.

Daniels, so far, is not talking Trump. She did, however, reveal to Moret how it felt to be portrayed on Saturday Night Live by Cecily Strong: Terrifying!

Because I love SNL, she explained. And I have a little crush on him  on Colin [Jost]  so if he said something mean, Id feel bad.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Police were called to a Taco Bell in Spartanburg, South Carolina on Monday after an employee beaned his boss with a flying burrito.

The man was allegedly upset about his work schedule and was arguing with several co-workers, according to WYFF. What may have sent him over the edge, though, was when his supervisor told him to stop being a crybaby about having to work the morning shift.

Instead of sulking over the slight, the employee opted to think outside the bun and chucked a cheese-filled burrito at his bosss head. A police report says the supervisor had turned away when melted cheese splattered on the employees arm and side and made a mess in the kitchen. No word on whether the projectile was a Burrito Supreme, Seven-Layer Burrito, or standard issue Bean Burrito and if there were any injuries.

Instead of sparking an Animal House style food fight, throwing the burrito was just the start of the employees reaction. According to police reports, he took off his headset, broke it on his knee, and stormed out of the Taco Bell, most likely dreaming to live mas, like the chains slogan.

Its unclear whether the employee made a run for the border, but so far no arrests have been made, however police are investigating the incident.

This is not the first time that a sandwich has been used as a weapon. Back in 2012, a Nebraska man was arrested for assaulting his wife with a sandwich.Taryn Manning on the SAG Awards red carpet. (Photo: Getty Images)

While we were thrilled that Taryn Manning wore a gorgeous $200 gown to the SAG Awards last week, she, apparently, was not. The Orange Is the New Black star was reportedly in the dark when it came to the price of her black dress. And when she found out about its relative affordability, she wasnt happy.

When a TMZ reporter stopped Manning to say he thought it was so cool that she wore such an inexpensive dress to the awards show, she replied, No its not. Its wack that the stylist didnt tell me that, and then attempted to save herself by saying, But now everybody else can afford it, so thats whats cool about it.

But then she dug herself in even deeper. It still sucks for me, she said. Because I want to be in a superstar gown, you know? Instead, Manning was stuck with a stunning, high-low ballgown by Adrianna Papell, which is available at Macys and Bloomingdales for just $199. Tough life.

The dress in question. (Photo: Courtesy of Macys)

Manning, who always seemed so down-to-earth, then went on to suggest she get a cut of the designers profits after getting so much media attention for wearing the gown on the red carpet. The designer got a lot of press; she should pay me a lot of money, she said. Were pretty sure thats not how it works. In fact, were certain.

In recent years, public figures have warmed up to the idea of wearing affordable clothes. Kate Middleton swears by Topshop, Zara, Asos, and J.Crew. Meghan Markle wears Aritzia. Selena Gomez supports Forever 21. Beyonce has worn pieces from TopShop. Even Olivia Palermo, the queen of all things unattainable, has been seen in affordable brands like Banana Republic.

This change has made traditionally aspirational fashion actually attainable and affordable. Fans love it because who doesnt want to shop like a celebrity? And brands love it because of the recognition, attention, and sales. And as long as they look and feel good, usually the stars are thrilled to be making their bubble a bit more inclusive and relatable. So Mannings mindset is a bit of a step back  especially because money does not a superstar make.

Story continues

Although I can understand Taryns initial reaction, she should be happy with the attention, stylist to the stars Kelly Johnson told Yahoo Lifestyle when asked for her expert opinion. She looked gorgeous, and the styling was beautiful. Adrianna Papell, while affordable, is an amazing brand that provides a fabulous selection of styles and shapes for every woman.

Now Manning, it seems, agrees, jumping on Instagram to apologize soon after the story broke.

I first want to say Im sorry for the comments I made while being bombarded by paparazzi about my stylist and my dress, Manning captioned a photo of herself in the gown. Lets be clear, I loved my @adriannapapell dress and Im friends with my stylist @chaunielle_brown, she gushed. But styling should be a collaboration between the artist, stylist and the designer. I was completely caught off guard when all of the press about my dress was about the cost, which I knew nothing about, and I felt used for someone elses gain. There was nothing out there about why I was there in the first place.

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She went on to say she is a huge supporter of affordable fashion. I would have loved to embrace that my dress was affordable at SAG, especially since so much about fashion is unattainable, but I wasnt given that chance. While she admits that she, like every artist, dreams of wearing couture on a red carpet, she was happy to be the proof that there is more to feeling confident, beautiful and happy on the inside than just a price tag.

Adrianna Papells president and CEO, Jaynee Berkman, had similar sentiments. We were thrilled  and remain so  to see Taryn Manning in our gown at the SAG Awards, she told the Daily Mail. She looked incredible! Our brands mission is to make every moment, and every woman, feel special and our price-points, size range, and attention to fit reflects this goal. No matter the occasion, it is a tremendous honor to dress every woman that chooses our designs for her red carpet moment, she said.

Its perfectly acceptable for stars to take the affordable route now and then, confirmed Johnson, whose client Catherine Zeta Jones is a fan of affordable brand Milly. More often than not, we see stars wearing looks that are entirely unattainable for the general public, so its great when a star wears something in a moderate price range.

She then defended Mannings stylist. As stylists, its our job to make sure our clients look and feel confident in what they are wearing. So I say, if the dress looks amazing on someone, and they feel great, the price shouldnt matter!

How does she incorporate inexpensive items into her clients wardrobes? Well, we all love couture, but at the end of the day if there is an affordable option that we love, I would choose that over something more expensive that didnt look as good.

She loves C/Meo Collective from Australia, noting, My clients Lauren Ash and Tamera Mowry have worn them, and their price points range from $100 to 300. Mowry is also a fan of Zara. Johnson also often turns to Vince Camuto for shoes and clutches, Henri Bendel for jewelry, and Aldo for evening shoes.

So, fashion and affordability can coexist.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.



Chicago (AFP) - The tax-cutting Republican governor of Kansas, whose policies were opposed even by members of his own party, resigned Thursday to become President Donald Trump's ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.

Sam Brownback sent a letter saying he would step down as chief executive of the Midwestern state on January 31 to take up the job within the Trump administration.

Donald Trump nominated Brownback for the State department position in July. The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed the nomination on a narrow 50-49 vote.

Brownback leaves office with a tarnished record, as a governor who put his faith in the power of tax cuts to solve economic woes, but achieved questionable results.

"It has been a great honor to serve Kansans as their Governor since 2011," Brownback wrote in his resignation letter. "Wherever my new duties may take me, my Kansas values and experience will always travel with me."

Brownback, a social conservative, was once hailed as a rising Republican star whose beliefs in the power of massive tax cuts to stimulate the economy were put into practice in Kansas.

"Sam Brownback came into office with a landslide victory and with great plans for using Kansas as a small government success story to help him run for president," political science professor Burdett Loomis of The University of Kansas told AFP.

But Brownback leaves office with a tarnished reputation.

- 'Least successful governor' -

He enacted massive tax cuts -- including slashing taxes on small businesses from seven percent to zero -- and staked his political future on the success of such measures.

"One of the express reasons for passing the policy was to keep up with neighboring states" that were also cutting taxes, said economist Kenneth Kriz of Wichita State University

But instead, Kansas fell further behind. The tax cuts led to government budget deficits and funding reductions for essential services, as well as what his critics argue has been underwhelming economic growth.

Story continues

"We've had economic stagnation for the last couple of years," Kriz told AFP. "We're not keeping up nationally or regionally."

Many critics pointed to Brownback's experiment as a cautionary example when the Republicans in the US Congress passed a $1.5 trillion nationwide tax cut in late 2017.

The political backlash in Kansas was so severe that members of Brownback's own party in the state legislature last year voted against him to overturn the tax cuts.

He became one of the most unpopular governors in the country, polling only slightly higher than the scandal-plagued former New Jersey governor Chris Christie.

"Overall, he will be regarded as perhaps the least successful governor in the modern era of Kansas politics," Loomis said. "For the past year (Brownback) sought an exit via a Trump appointment."

On the national stage, Democratic US Senators opposed Brownback's nomination over his gay rights record. In 2015, he rescinded discrimination protections in Kansas for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender state workers.

Vice President Mike Pence had to cast tie-breaking votes Wednesday to confirm Brownback's nomination.Erdogan has called on Trump to stop support of Kurdish armed groups in Syria, said the Turkish administration.

US President Donald Trump has urged his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to tread cautiously in the ongoing military campaign against YPG Kurdish fighters to avoid the risk of a face-off with US forces stationed in the region.

At least 27 civilians have been killed in the fighting in Afrin, mainly in Turkish airstrikes, according to the Observatory. In the war, the USA provided air cover to YPG-led troops, while the Syrian army and Russian Federation avoided directly clashing with them.

"That is why we as the caretaker government agree that we will. postpone any consultations on critical projects until the formation of a new government", Gabriel said in a statement.

"Turkish Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told CNN Tuesday that "(Turkey) had to take (military) action to protect our border".

"We do not discuss future military actions or plans".

Up to 2,000 U.S. forces are stationed in the area, along with more than 10,000 SDF members.

Dana White, chief spokeswoman for the Pentagon, said she is aware of news reports that Turkey has asked the USA military to leave Manbij, but is not aware of any direct conversations about it.

He added that it "is not helpful to have these operations go on".

In the YPG-controlled area on the other bank of the Euphrates but still exposed to the long Turkish frontier, fighters are increasingly bitter about the U.S. role.

A senior United States official, speaking earlier, said Washington is concerned that Turkey's military offensive against Afrin could distract from the fight against IS and be exploited by extremists to re-supply or create safe havens.

This follows suggestions that Kurdish YPG - People's Protection Units - convoys had previously been deployed from Manbij to Afrin.

Erdogan last week accused the Trump administration of breaking a reported promise to cease support of Kurdish fighters upon the defeat of ISIS, after the USA -led coalition announced it would continue working with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces on stabilization missions.

Turkey's military intervention in the Syrian border town of Afrin against Kurdish militants is a grim reminder of the complexities of the seven-year-long Syrian civil war.

Turkey launched the offensive on January 20 to drive out Syrian Kurdish fighters it regards as a security threat due to their affiliation with outlawed Kurdish rebels in Turkey.

U.S. military personnel are deployed in Manbij, situated about 100 km east of Afrin.

Syrian Kurdish authorities have repeatedly called on the United States to swiftly enforce a no-fly zone to put an end to any further Turkish airstrikes.

"We're going to have to see how this develops on the ground". Erdogan said the operation would allow Syrian refugees to return home.

"We have to focus as allies on the mission at hand, and that's defeating ISIS", White said.

"President Trump relayed concerns that escalating violence in Afrin, Syria, risks undercutting our shared goals in Syria", the readout said.

"Any reasonable person could suspect there's pressure rising for that, and we'll watch that closely and that is a risky thing, and we need to keep our focus on why we're there, which is the defeat of ISIS", he said.

"We will continue to talk to Turkey".The top news for last week included Apples AAPL decision to pay off its U.S. taxes, International Business Machines IBM return to revenue growth, a positive view of Facebooks FB newsfeed change and iPhone X estimate declines. Here are the details-

Apple Cash Repatriation

Apple has made headlines by announcing that it will pay all of the $38 billion it owes the government in taxes on its overseas cash hoard of $252 billion. While the new tax law makes it mandatory for companies to pay up the taxes due on money earned overseas, it also lowers the tax rate from 35% to 15.5% on cash and 8% on less liquid assets, thus making it easier to pay up.

Not that the major technology companies that are stashing billions abroad are hard up for cash, but this arrangement makes it infinitely more palatable. Read more: Apples Cash Repatriation Is A Big Win For Trump

IBM Sees Revenue Growth

IBMs fourth-quarter 2017 revenues grew 3.5% year over year, after 22 quarters of decline. EPS grew 3.4%. Both revenue and earnings were ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimates. Strategic imperatives continued to drive the results, with cloud growing 27% in constant currency, security 127% off a small base and analytics 6%. Management has been talking about a turnaround in IBMs fortunes for several years, but that date seemed to stretch out like a mirage until this time.

The results were particularly encouraging because the growth was primarily in emerging areas with some parts of the traditional businesses also keeping pace. Read the full story here: IBM Earnings & Revenues Beat Estimates in Q4, Rise Y/Y

Facebook Algorithm Changes May Not Be That Bad

Facebooks news feed algorithm  which will prioritize friend content over public content from businesses and brands  could affect ad revenue. Thats because the company itself admitted that the move would lower engagement by some measures. But ultimately, Zuckerberg feels that Facebooks uniqueness is in the social element, so personal or even public posts that encourage social interaction is what will keep the platform unique.

Story continues

At the same time, a reduction in the number of posts from businesses and publications will mean that there will be a reduction in the number of ads, which could increase competition for those ads and thus drive up ad prices. William Blair analyst Ralph Schackart, based on conversations with a large digital ad buyer and a third-party direct response buyer quotes them to say that ad prices could increase by 25% and the reduced clutter could mean that the number of relevant, meaningful ads remains the same.

Analyst Lowers iPhone X Estimates

Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities has dramatically reduced his iPhone X estimates citing weak demand in China. He now expects Apple to ship just 62 million devices over its lifetime compared to around 80 million estimated earlier. It seems that Chinese customers are continuing to opt for older and cheaper iPhones, according to Cowen & Co. via Bloomberg, so the $999 iPhone X doesnt appear to have lived up to its hype and customer expectations.

Ticker Price Change Last Week Price Change Last 6 Months AAPL +0.8% +16.3% FB +1.1% +11.4% GOOGL +1.2% +16.4% MSFT +0.4% +24.3% INTC +3.7% +32.3% CSCO +1.0% +30.6% AMZN -0.8% +27.5%

Other Stories-

Corporate

Apples Everyone Can Code Initiative Finds Takers in Europe: Apple has announced that 70 European colleges and universities in n the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Luxembourg, Poland and Portugal have added its App Development with Swift program to their curricula, so students can learn to code for Apples ecosystem. The program was developed by Apple engineers to train students from different disciplines and backgrounds to learn coding. P

opular apps like Airbnb, KAYAK, TripAdvisor, Venmo and Yelp are created with Apples intuitive programming language called Swift. According to the companys press release, the app economy has generated 1.36 million jobs in Europe with Apple paying out around $18 billion to developers since the launch of the App Store in the region.

Buses for Tech Workers Attacked: The rise of the technology industry in California must have once caused locals to rejoice as it increased business. But in recent years, resentment has been growing as high-paid tech workers have caused housing costs to skyrocket and traffic congestion to increase manifold. This is the primary reason being attributed to the recent vandalism of Apple and Alphabet GOOGL buses by unidentified persons using unidentified weapons that could be pellet guns, rocks, or somethings else.

The good news is that no one was hurt, the bad news is that no one seems to know anything about it, including whether the attackers were inside or outside the buses and there are no comments from the two companies either. But Apple has rerouted some buses as a precautionary measure. All the acrimony notwithstanding, tech workers have moved the courts against their employers because apparently no-poach agreements between the companies were containing wage increases and limiting opportunities for them.

Facebook Gets New Board Member: Facebook is adding African American Kenneth Chenault to its board as the debate around diversity in Silicon Valley continues to simmer. Chenault will join after retiring from his position as CEO of American Express and in the words of Facebooks Zuckerberg, has: unique expertise in areas I believe Facebook needs to learn and improve  customer service, direct commerce and building a trusted brand. Chenault has the ivy league stamp by virtue of his training in Harvard and serves on the boards of IBM, Procter & Gamble, the Harvard Corporation and many nonprofit organizations.

Facebook Loses China Executive: Wang Li Moser, who took on the impossible task of convincing the Chinese government on Facebooks behalf that the social network wouldnt be a disruptive as the government believed, has resigned. Probably because theres no evidence to support this belief, she put in her papers at the end of December, after three long years at the job. This is a big loss for Facebook and not unexpected, but doesnt necessarily indicate that it doesnt have other plans for China. The government blocks not just Facebook, but all other foreign social networks like Twitter, Snapchat etc. Local companies like WeChat however are very popular and widely used.

Amazon Seeks HIPAA Executive: Amazon AMZN has a new job listing that is calling for a professional who can "own and operate" the security and compliance aspects of a new initiative, particularly with respect to health privacy regulations known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The posting seems to indicate that Amazon intends to work with outside partners that manage personal health information. Candidates that can serve in a consultative capacity for all health-care regulatory issues will be more welcome.

Amazon Studios Changing Strategy: Studios, Amazons streaming film and television division, is planning on going after bigger movies costing $50 million or so instead of independent movies in the $5-6 million range as it has been focusing on to date. Of course Amazon wont exit that end of the spectrum completely, but it will reduce its budget for those movies. Amazon typically bids for the indies at the Sundance Film Festival.

Jason Ropell, Amazon Studios worldwide film head has said, We are not abandoning the indie space, we are increasing the potential size of the audience for our films; that in some cases involves higher budgets, but in others not. It's about the potential for the film not the costour roots are in independent/prestige film and we intend to continue in that space using it as a springboard to expansion and scale. Amazon Studios is seeing a change at the helm after the departure of head Roy Price on sexual harassment charges. COO Albert Cheng is filling in until a replacement is found.

Legal/Regulatory

Slowing iPhone Problem Continues: South Korean advocacy group, Citizens United for Consumer Sovereign, has filed a criminal complaint accusing Apple of slowing down iPhones to save batteries without warning or notice and with the intention of inducing users to upgrade to newer and more expensive devices. Similar is the case in Italy where the countrys antitrust body opened a formal investigation into what it calls the iPhone 'performance-gate.' The Italian authorities suspect both Apple and Samsung of resorting to these measures. Meanwhile in the U.S. and Canada, Apples discounted battery replacement is speeding up some iPhone 6 devices, according to media reports.

Facebook Acts on Child Sex Video Sharing: Over 1,000 Facebook users sharing sexually explicit content involving two 15-year-olds have been pulled up by Danish authorities. They came to know of the incident after Facebook notified U.S. authorities who passed on the information to their Danish counterparts. The Danish authorities have said that the sharing may be regarded as child pornography with consequences that include fines, imprisonment, omission from some jobs such as child care or teaching and difficulty in obtaining U.S. visas.

The crackdown on child sex videos has strengthened after some young women turned vocal about how it destroyed their lives. This is also a good move by Facebook because it puts the onus on the government for determining fault and also sets an example for people that could have a desirable ripple effect.

UK Brings Open Banking: The UK is bringing an Open Banking law that corresponds with the EUs Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2). The law will force banks to share customer data when authorized by the customer, so it becomes easier to compare and switch between banks and also help third-party fintech companies to get into the space. This is also good news for companies like Amazon, Google and Facebook, which have been easing into the space with their wallets and payments systems.

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), HSBC, Barclays, Santander UK, Bank of Ireland and Nationwide Building Society are stalling however, saying that they could lose 6-10% of their revenues, so the change should be gradual. Besides, not all of the banks have the required technology in place to give effect to the change.

Alibabas Taobao Back on U.S. Blacklist: The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has adjudged that Alibaba BABA hasnt taken adequate measures to address the concerns of the full range of U.S. businesses that continue to find infringing versions of their products for sale on Taobao.com. As a result, many small and medium enterprises continue to be affected. Moreover, Alibabas report merely mentioned the progress it had made in checking counterfeits and didnt mention the full scope of the problem that continues to exist.

Alibaba has said that the now easier IP protection programs had led to an 11% increase in registries and a 25% drop in takedown requests as infringing listings were removed in many cases even before they reached its marketplaces. Alibaba Group President Michael Evans said in a statement: "In light of all this, it's clear that no matter how much action we take and progress we make, the USTR is not actually interested in seeing tangible results." He also said that the company "went above and beyond each specific concern raised by the USTR last year."

A spokesperson said by email that "as a result of the rise of trade protectionism, Alibaba has been turned into a scapegoat by the USTR to win points in a highly-politicized environment and their actions should be recognized for what they are. The USTRs actions made it clear that the Notorious Markets List, which only targets non-US marketplaces, is not about intellectual property protection, but just another instrument to achieve the US Governments geopolitical objective."

Products/Technology

WhatsApp for Business: Facebook is rolling out business accounts for WhatsApp that will allow companies and brands to facilitate interactions with their customers. At some future date, Facebook will charge businesses for the service and might lump it together with other services as well. Facebook spent $19 billion to buy WhatsApp and did away with the nominal annual fee the company charged users. Today, while user accounts have swelled, monetization remains a big question. So this could be how it finally monetizes the service.

Google AI Tools for Business: Google has released additional machine learning as a service (MLaaS) tools for businesses. The companys Cloud AutoML service simplifies the complicated functions within deep neural networks. Moreover, its technology facilitates the creation of deep learning models using the customers own data with interactive dashboards that track the development process. So after feeding your own data (pictures) into the system, you can sit back and wait for Google to label them (or label them yourself, if preferred) for the system to recognize. There are also security tools like the G Suite Security Center that studies the existing security system and suggests changes if required. Googles service is only for enterprise customers.

Google Changes YouTube Rules: Google is making additional changes to its YouTube rules to pacify advertisers that have complained about their messages getting pasted next to content they didnt support. The first of these changes, reported some days back, makes sense: Google will arrange for manual vetting of every single video that gets to be inside its premium bundle called Google Preferred and advertisers will pay more for placement on Google Preferred.

The second is a bit of a head scratcher: Google will remove advertising from a "significant" number of YouTube channels, 99% of which generated less than $100 from ads in the last year. So if the sites arent generating much ad revenue, it must mean that fewer ads are shown on those pages, so advertisers would normally be less interested in what Google does with them.

And that isnt all. Google has also changed the rules for commercial channels in favor of larger players. Starting Feb. 20, video makers will need to ensure that not less than 1,000 users watch a total of at least 4,000 hours of their clips within the preceding 12 months if they want to host ads and share in revenue from them. Last April, Google determined that 10,000 followers with no viewing time standard was sufficient.

Collaborations & M&A

Apple-Tencent: Apple and Tencent have come to an understanding about tip or donation style payments made by users to content creators. Apple initially disabled the service and later allowed it on an in-app purchase basis, which meant that Apple had to be paid a 30% share of the money. Tencent disabled the service thereafter and promised users it would soon be back once Apple understood the Chinese-style feature.

Now, users are required to send the money directly to content creators rather than to their public accounts without going through WeChat. Apples rules dont allow app developers and owners to charge for a service unless Apple gets its share. Thats what all the excitement is about.

Google Invests in Indonesian Ride Hailing Co: Google, Singapore investor Temasek, China's Meituan-Dianping and possibly also Samsung Venture Investment are part of a funding round to raise $1.2 billion for Indonesian ride hailing company Go-Jek. The company doubles as a delivery service for pretty much everything, including meals, groceries, cleaners, masseuses and hairdressers across Jakarta. The funding will help the company compete more effectively with larger ride hailing companies like Grab and Uber. Existing investors in Go-Jek include Chinese technology giants Tencent and JD.com. Go-Jek is on its way to taking share from the leading players through discounts and promos, so it has been looking for investors with more resources. Both its rivals have support from Japans Softbank.

Amazon AWS Wins Comcast: Comcast CMCSA, which has already used AWS compute, storage, and analytics services, has selected it as its preferred public cloud infrastructure provider. This means that it will now transfer more vital data to Amazons servers and also build applications to process that data. This is a big win for AWS given Comcasts size and customer breadth. AWS leader Mike Clayville attributed the win to its agility and flexibility.

Some Numbers

Some Companies Reporting This Week: Netflix, Intel, Western Digital, F5 Networks, Xilinx, Avnet, Texas Instruments, Lam Research, Teradyne, Maxim, KLA-Tencor, Trimble Navigation.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Republican chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee said on Thursday he wanted to release the transcripts of interviews the committee has done about a meeting at Trump Tower central to investigations of Russia and the 2016 U.S. election.

Among the interviews conducted behind closed doors, the Judiciary panel has interviewed Republican President Donald Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who attended the June 2016 meeting, along with Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and others.

"Let's get them out there for everyone to see," Senator Chuck Grassley said during a meeting of the committee, one of three congressional panels conducting investigations, as is Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

Trump Jr. had told investigators he had set up the meeting because Veselnitskaya might have had damaging information about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, his father's opponent.

Grassley's statement came amid increasing partisan rancor in Congress over the investigations of the intelligence community's finding that Russia sought to interfere in the 2016 election to boost Trump, and whether Trump associates colluded with Moscow.

Russia denies trying to influence the election. Trump dismisses any talk of collusion.

The Judiciary Committee's ranking Democrat, Senator Dianne Feinstein, angered Grassley this month by releasing the transcript of the panel's interview with Glenn Simpson, a co-founder of Fusion GPS, which researched Trump's ties to Russia and produced a dossier denounced by the White House.

Feinstein commented on Thursday that she agreed that committee transcripts should be released to Mueller, and to the public if it does not interfere with the investigation.

"I hope this means Chairman Grassley will move forward with public hearings for Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner, which we agreed to pursue last year," she said in an emailed statement.

Story continues

'SPOOKED'

Grassley said on Thursday Feinstein's action "spooked" other potential witnesses, including Trump's son-in-law and close adviser, Jared Kushner.

"As a result, it looks like our chances of getting a voluntary interview with Mr. Kushner have been shot," Grassley said.

Feinstein disagreed. "I certainly haven't heard that," she told reporters at the Senate, explaining that Simpson's associates had asked her to release that transcript to counteract what they considered misleading reporting.

According to a person familiar with the exchange, Kushner's legal team did not decline an appearance with Senate Judiciary but asked for guidance on when committee members are allowed to disclose information.

A Grassley spokesman did not immediately respond when asked for comment.

Attorneys for Kushner did not immediately respond to request for comment. A lawyer for Trump Jr. declined comment.

Grassley said he felt his committee's investigation of the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, attended by Russians and close Trump associates, was complete, so it was time to start releasing the transcripts.

"That can hopefully be done through agreement with the Ranking Member, but if not, possibly through a committee vote. Id like to work on getting that done as soon as possible," Grassley said.

Democrats and Republicans have also been arguing this week over a memorandum commissioned by House of Representatives Republicans that Republicans say illustrates anti-Trump bias at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Democrats, in turn, accuse Republicans of conducting a smear campaign intended to protect Trump by discrediting Mueller's investigation.

"What began as an attempt to discredit the investigator has now devolved into delusional, self-serving paranoia," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.

(Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York and Blake Brittain in Washington; editing by Susan Thomas and David Gregorio)

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Davos Economic Forum attendees booed President Donald Trump at an appearance on Friday in which he criticized the media as fake.

Trump told world political and business leaders at the annual gathering in Switzerland that as a businessman, he received positive media coverage, but once he launched his presidential campaign in 2015, he realized that reporters were nasty and fake, eliciting boos from people in the audience.

It wasnt until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be  as the cameras start going off in the back, Trump said. The president frequently makes the false claim that television cameras dont air his anti-media remarks.

Some reporters at the forum said some of booing came from foreign journalists.

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Audience members also booed World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab when he introduced Trump by saying that your strong leadership is open to misconceptions and biased interpretations.

Several delegates from Africa had planned to protest Trumps speech, in response to the presidents reported reference to Haiti and African countries as shithole countries during a meeting with congressional leaders this month. It was unclear if that protest occurred, as some attendees needed to leave the speech before its conclusion.

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Earlier in the day, Trump met with Rwanda President Paul Kagame, the head of the African Union, which criticized Trumps racist remarks.

According to reporters, Trump ignored questions about whether the two leaders discussed his comments.

Trump also dismissed reports in The New York Times and other outlets that he ordered the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller last summer, calling the reports fake news.

Typical New York Times. Fake stories, Trump said.

The Washington Post, Politico, and Trump-friendly Fox News also reported the Mueller firing story.

Also on HuffPost

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Story continues

US President Donald Trump waits ahead a working session on the first day of the G20 summit in Hamburg, northern Germany, on July 7, 2017

Tourists walk past a graffiti by street artist Lushsux, depicting US President Donald Trump kissing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu drawn on the controversial Israeli separation barrier separating the West Bank town of Bethlehem from Jerusalem, on October 29, 2017.

A man takes a picture of a mural by English street artist Bambi depicting British Prime Minister Theresa May dancing with US President Donald Trump in London on February 22, 2017.

A man takes pictures of a graffiti of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in Barcelona on June 7, 2016.

A mural of U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin 'shotgunning' a marijuana joint is seen on March 17, 2017 in Vilnius, Lithuania.

A visitor looks at a painting representing US President Donald Trump (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin made by Nepalese artist Sunil Sidgel at the India Art Fair in New Delhi on January 2, 2017.

A collage shows Pope Francis kissing US President Donald Trump with a caption by Italian artist TvBoy reading in English and Italian 'The Good forgives the Evil' in tiny letters along Francis belt, on May 11, 2017 near Castel Sant'Angelo in central Rome.

Mural depicting US President Donald Trump is seen on a wall as part of Mural Festival in the village of Staro Zhelezare, Bulgaria, Wednesday 26 July 2017.

View of a graffiti painted against US President Donald Trump in Mexico City on June 27, 2017.

This photo taken on December 24, 2016 shows a giant chicken sculpture outside a shopping mall in Taiyuan, north China's Shanxi province. A Chinese shopping mall is ringing in the year of the cock with a giant sculpture of a chicken that looks like US president-elect Donald Trump.

Picture of a graffiti against US Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump painted by an unknown artist on the embankment of the Bravo River on the border with the United States, in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua State, Mexico, on June 28, 2016.

Detail of the mural paint made by Mexican artist Luis Sotelo called 'We are migrants not criminals' (Somos migrantes no delincuentes) in Tonatico, Mexico, on 25 June 2016. The mural is part of the cultural movement 'Stop Trump'.

A man cycles past graffiti condemning US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on a street in Surabaya, Indonesia's east Java on October 17, 2016.

A man photographs a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016.

A mural lampooning US President Donald Trump in Dublin's Temple Bar by artist ADW.

A mural of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump is painted on April 14, 2017 in Belgrade, Serbia. The text reads 'Kosovo is Serbia'.

A woman runs along a towpath near graffiti depicting U.S. President Donald Trump on a canal bridge in east London, Britain, February 18, 2017.

A Donald Trump mural covers a building in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, Florida, on October 27, 2016.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was prepared to back a deal that would provide a pathway to citizenship to America's so-called "Dreamer" immigrants over a period of 10 to 12 years.

The latest approach by the White House suggests a key development in negotiations over some 700,000 immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children, and face deportation as early as March.

"We are going to morph into it," Trump told reporters about the citizenship provision. "It's going to happen, at some point in the future, over a period of 10 to 12 years."

In exchange, Trump said he is seeking $25 billion to build a border wall, one of the main pledges of his 2016 presidential campaign, plus an additional $5 billion in other border security measures including electronic surveillance and extra border agents.

US lawmakers have struggled for months to negotiate a compromise over the status of the dreamers. An impasse over the issue, a source of bitter partisan tension in Washington, recently shut down the government for three days.

"Tell them not to be concerned" as the March 5 deadline approaches, Trump said of the Dreamers. "It's up to the Democrats, but they should not be worried."

In reaching a deal to resume federal operations, the Senate's Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Congress would aim to negotiate an immigration agreement by February 8, and if a deal is not struck by then, the issue would be taken up in debate on the Senate floor.

Although Trump did not provide full details on the pathway to citizenship, his comments are perhaps the most telling sign that a broader deal might be within reach.

They came just hours after the White House announced it will release a "legislative framework" for immigration reform on Monday that it said is acceptable to both Democrats and Republicans.

"After decades of inaction by Congress, it's time we work together to solve this issue once and for all," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told journalists.

Story continues

"The White House will release a legislative framework on Monday that represents a compromise that members of both parties can support," which is based on "dozens" of meetings with Republican and Democratic leadership and legislators, she said.

- 'Moral obligation' -

The plan would fulfill "four agreed-upon pillars" of immigration reform, she added: border security including the all funding, curbing extended family reunification known as "chain migration," cancelling the green-card visa lottery, and providing a permanent solution on DACA.

The first three pillars are largely Republican priorities, while the last -- fixing the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program -- is a cause championed by the Democrats.

DACA, which was instituted by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama in 2012, protects the Dreamers from deportation.

Trump said in September he was scrapping DACA, throwing the future of those it covers into doubt, but delayed enforcement to give Congress until March to craft a lasting solution.

Democrats unsuccessfully sought to tie a solution to the DACA issue to a stop-gap measure to fund the federal government, but Republicans rejected the effort, leading to a shutdown from Saturday to Monday.

Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican pointman on the immigration negotiations, hailed Trump's comments as a major breakthrough.

"With this strong statement by President Trump, I have never felt better about our chances of finding a solution on immigration," Graham said in a statement.

Trump's "support for a pathway to citizenship will help us get strong border security measures as we work to modernize a broken immigration system."

Trump's remarks signified key movement in a debate that appeared to stall Tuesday after Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer withdrew an offer to fund the president's border wall.

"Cryin' Chuck Schumer fully understands, especially after his humiliating defeat, that if there is no Wall, there is no DACA," Trump tweeted late Tuesday.

Exactly how a pathway to citizenship will sit with conservative Republicans remains unclear. Several have opposed the process as "amnesty" for undocumented immigrants.

In a speech to colleagues, Democrat Schumer said it was "our moral obligation" to protect dreamers, and that the Senate was in the spotlight over crafting a deal by February 8.

"If we don't solve this problem in 14 days, the Republicans are going to have to explain to dreamers what their plan is to prevent them from being deported," Schumer said.

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Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View.The bill would include billions in funding to build Mr Trump's promised border wall: Reuters

The White House has presented an immigration reform plan to Congress that would include a pathway to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million Dreamers in exchange for a dramatic increase in restrictions for immigration in the future and $25 billion to fund his long promised border wall.

A senior White House official reportedly outlined one-page framework to Republican staffers on Capitol Hill. That official called the new plan a compromise position that we believe will get 60 votes in the Senate and was also a framework that ultimately will lead to passage of a law, according to multiple reports.

The framework also reportedly eliminates the visa lottery for immigrants, and would cut migration into the US for extended family members of individuals already in the country. Those would mark a substantial shift in Americas existing policies. Only immediate relatives of new citizens could be sponsored.

The inclusion of a path to citizenship for so many immigrants who came here illegally when they were young could be the biggest obstacle to the White House's efforts to pass such a deal.

Just hours before the Trump administration reportedly announced their plans to Republicans in Congress, a top Senator signalled that any path to citizenship for any immigrants in the US would make a deal dead on arrival.

"I do not belive we should be granting a path to citizenship to anybody here illegally," Mr Cruz told reporters Thursday. "Doing so is inconsistent with the promises we made to the men and women who elected us."

Mr Cruz then twisted the knife, comparing President Donald Trump's recent openness to granting a pathway to citizenship to former President Barack Obama.

"For some reason that to me is utterly inexplicable, we see Republicans falling all over themselves to gallop to the left of Obama in a way that is contrary to the promises made to the voters who elected us," Mr Cruz continued.

Conservative news outlets have railed against the President on the issue as well, yielding rare critical headlines criticising Mr Trump in outlets that generally sing his praises.

Story continues

Mr Trump announced last year that he was ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, which provided opportunity for immigrants who came to the US when they were young to register with the federal government for work permits and to go to school. That decision left nearly 800,000 young people who had participated in the programme with uncertain futures, and wondering whether the US would actually send them back to their home countries.

Those protections are set to expire March 5 unless Congress is able to find a solution, which has so far proven elusive. At least two high profile efforts to ramp up pressure in Congress have failed, both of which were tied to government funding. One of those efforts, just last week, led to a three day government shutdown.President offers plan in exchange for border wall investment and crackdown on other undocumented people, among other measures

Dreamers react as they meet with relatives during a meeting on the US-Mexico border. Photograph: Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

Donald Trump proposed legislation that would provide a pathway to citizenship for roughly 1.8 million young, undocumented immigrants in exchange for a significant investment in a border wall, a crackdown on undocumented people and sweeping changes to family-based migration policies.

The presidents new framework was outlined by the White House on Thursday amid anticipation on Capitol Hill, as immigration advocates braced themselves for potentially radical demands from the president in return for support for the so-called Dreamers.



According to the memo provided by the White House, Trumps proposal would not only grant a conditional pathway to citizenship for the 700,000 Dreamers, who gained temporary legal status under an Obama-era program and whose fate has been hotly debated for months, but also a much broader group of those who were brought to the US illegally as children. Under the plan, the immigrants could become citizens over a 10 to 12 year period if they met certain requirements and maintained good standing with the law.



(August 16, 2015)

Upon announcing his presidential bid Donald Trump makes hardline immigration reform central to his campaign and pledges to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca).

I will immediately terminate President Obamas illegal executive order on immigration, he says.

(December 7, 2016)

Weeks after winning the White House, President-elect Trump appears to soften his stance on Dreamers. Despite offering no specific policy he promises to work something out.

On a humanitarian basis its a very tough situation. he tells Time magazine.

(February 16, 2017)

Trump acknowledges the fraught road to a solution, describing Daca as a very difficult thing for me as I love these kids.

I have to deal with a lot of politicians, Trump says. And I have to convince them that what Im saying is right.

Story continues

(February 5, 2017)

Trump abruptly announces he will end Daca, phasing out applications for renewal by March 2018. The president insists the decision provides a window of opportunity for Congress to finally act.

(September 14, 2017)

Following talks with Democrats, Trump hints a deal may be close, but suggests it wouldnt include a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers.

Were not looking at citizenship. Were not looking at amnesty, Trump tells reporters.

(January 9, 2018)

Trump promises to take the heat for a bipartisan Daca bill being brokered by senators. But within days he revokes his support, calling the bipartisan plan a big step backwards. The US government shuts down after negotiations over the budget and a Dreamers solution collapse.

(January 24, 2018)

With the government reopened with a temporary bill, Trump tells reporters he is now open to a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers over a period of 10-12 years if the individual does a great job, they work hard.

The Trump administration is demanding a $25bn trust fund to construct a wall along the US-Mexico border and upgrade security at ports of entry and exit along the countrys northern and southern borders.



The proposal places significant restrictions on family-based migration, limiting the family members on whose behalf US citizens could petition to spouses and children, ending categories for siblings and parents. It also calls for the elimination of the state departments diversity visa lottery, which helps citizens of countries with historically low rates of immigration to come to the US.

Lawmakers have spent weeks in complex negotiations on immigration that prompted a shutdown of the federal government earlier this week.

Democrats and immigrants advocates immediately rejected the plan, arguing that it represented an attempt by the administration to seal the countrys borders, while immigration hardliners excoriated Trump for embracing amnesty.

Time to burn your #MAGA hats, tweeted David Kirkorian, executive director of the conservative Center for Immigration Studies and a prominent anti-immigrant voice.

Senator Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois who has been at the center of the bipartisan negotiations over an immigration plan, accused the administration of holding Dreamers hostage in a crusade to tear families apart and waste billions of American tax dollars on an ineffective wall.

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said in a joint statement: The White House is using Dreamers to mask their underlying xenophobic, isolationist, and un-American policies.

And representative Luis Gutierrez of Illinois said: $25 billion as ransom for freeing Dreamers recipients doesnt pass the laugh test. It would be far cheaper to erect a 50-foot concrete statue of a middle finger and point it towards Latin America.

A handful of conservative Republican senators announced their support for the bill. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas who supports vastly reducing legal immigration, called the plan generous and humane and said it should serve as the basis for bipartisan legislation in Congress.

The news came one day after Trump said he would support an immigration plan that would enable Dreamers to morph into American citizens over a period of 10 to 12 years, though at that point it was widely understood he was referring only to the 700,000 whose futures he has put in the balance.

Whatever theyre doing, if they do a great job, I think its a nice thing to have the incentive of, after a period of years, being able to become a citizen, Trump said on Wednesday.

The presidents comments were treated with cautious optimism by some lawmakers and wariness from others, as his views on immigration have whipsawed.

Lawmakers have spent weeks in complex negotiations on immigration that prompted a shutdown of the federal government earlier this week.

I have never felt better about our chances of finding a solution on immigration, Lindsey Graham, a leading sponsor of legislation granting legal status to Dreamers, said Wednesday.

Last September, Trump announced plans to rescind an Obama-era program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (Daca), which enabled qualifying young, undocumented immigrants to obtain temporary legal status to work or study in the US and be temporarily protected from deportation.

Trump gave Congress a deadline of 5 March to replace Daca through legislation and has called for any package to also include strict border security measures and reforms to other immigration programs.





Senator Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican, said: I think it would be a serious mistake for Congress to pass legislation that granted amnesty and a path to citizenship for those here illegally ... Its not honoring the promises we made to the voters.



Some staunch conservatives suggested there was a distinction, however, between Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants.

The people who are in the Daca program were brought here as minors, through no fault of their own, before the age of accountability, Cotton told reporters.



Cotton wants to do away with a lottery program that allocates visas to immigrants from underrepresented countries.

That program was the source of Trumps controversial suggestion in a private meeting earlier this month that the US should not accept immigrants from parts of Africa and South America, which he referred to as shithole countries.

Trump and Stephen Miller think they can exploit the desperation of Dreamers  whose lives were upended by ending Daca  to enact their nativist wishlist, said Frank Sharry, the founder and executive director of Americas Voice, a progressive immigration advocacy group. Were not going to roll over.

President Donald Trump attempted to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel overseeing the FBIs investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, in June, The New York Times reported Thursday. The Washington Post and Fox News later confirmed the report.

According to the report, the president decided against it after White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to resign over the planned firing. McGahn believed that firing Mueller would only add to speculation over whether the president had obstructed justice by attempting to interfere with the probe.

Mueller, according to the Times, found out about the attempt to fire him in recent months.

Trump dismissed the report to a group of reporters on Monday, referring to the article as fake news. Typical New York Times.

The White House didnt immediately return HuffPosts request for comment.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is leading its own probe on Russian interference, responded to the Times report in a statement Thursday evening.

Ive said it before, and I am saying it again: firing the Special Counsel is a red line that the President cannot cross. Any attempt to remove the Special Counsel, pardon key witnesses, or otherwise interfere in the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power, and all members of Congress, from both parties, have a responsibility to our Constitution and to our country to make that clear immediately, Warner said.

Trump has previously denied that he plans to remove Mueller from the investigation, but said in December he has an absolute right to control the Department of Justice.

Top Republicans have also downplayed reports that Trump was considering firing Mueller.

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller in May, after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey while the agency was investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

A career prosecutor and former FBI director, Mueller was tasked with investigating possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, as well as any matters that directly arise from that investigation.

Story continues

In the past months, Muellers investigators have reportedly zeroed in on the question of whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice by firing Comey. Trump later admitted during an interview with NBC News that the Russia investigation was a factor in that decision.

In recent weeks, Muellers investigative team has interviewed Comey, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and CIA Director Mike Pompeo, and is looking to interview Trump about Comey and former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Trump said on Wednesday he was looking forward to speaking with Mueller, and wanted to do it as soon as possible. Trumps White House attorney, Ty Cobb, later tried to downplay the gravity of the presidents off-the-cuff comments, noting that the president was speaking hurriedly before a planned trip.

He remains committed to continued complete cooperation with the [special counsel] and is looking forward to speaking with Mr. Mueller, Cobb said.

Trump is currently in Davos, Switzerland, where he will address the World Economic Forum on Friday.

This story has been updated with a statement from Sen. Mark Warner.

(Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM via Getty Images)

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.London (AFP) - US President Donald Trump agreed with Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday that he would make his long-planned trip to Britain later this year, her office said.

The two leaders, who met at the World Economic Forum in Davos, asked officials "to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the president to the UK later this year", a Downing Street spokesman said.

May proposed that Trump make a state visit to Britain a year ago, but there was speculation it would be cancelled because of strong public and political opposition to the president in Britain.

A senior British government source was unable to say whether Trump would receive the prestigious welcome initially offered, or whether his appearance would be scaled down to a working visit.

A state visit includes full British pomp: staying with Queen Elizabeth II, a ceremonial welcome, set-piece speeches and lavish banquets.

The visit was likely in the "second half" of the year, the source said, but stressed that the leaders had not discussed venues or details.

In its readout of the meeting, the White House said the pair discussed plans for "a working visit to London in the coming months".

It added that they "affirmed the 'special relationship' between the two countries is stronger than ever."

Trump had been expected to travel to London earlier this month for the grand opening of a new, state-of-the-art US embassy here.

But he cancelled the trip, voicing displeasure at the cost and the location of the new building.

His move followed a Twitter spat between May and Trump over his retweeting of British far-right propaganda as well as warnings of mass protests.

The source said Trump's retweets were not discussed at their 40-minute meeting in the Swiss ski resort.

Instead, they discussed Iran, Syria, Brexit, future trade ties and jobs in Northern Ireland.

- More formal atmosphere -

May was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at the White House following his inauguration in January 2017, where they were pictured holding hands.

Story continues

The atmosphere was more formal on Thursday, the source said, although the president greeted May at the entrance to the meeting room, and they ended by shaking hands.

Following May's invitation last year, nearly 1.9 million people signed a petition opposing a Trump state visit, claiming it would embarrass the monarch.

Jo Swinson, deputy leader of Britain's Liberal Democrats, the fourth-biggest party in parliament, said: "Trump is a dangerous, misogynistic racist and is deserving of the protests he will undoubtedly face."90-year-old grandma, Priscilla Sitienei, who hails from Eldoret, Uasin Gishu county, has not given up on education, as she has enrolled in a primary school in Kenya.Priscilla chose to attend school simply because she had an eagerness to read the Bible and learn how to send an SMS on her phone, Tuko.co.ke states.

The relentless grandmother is enrolled at Vision preparatory and she is schoolmate with seven of her grandchildren.

Priscilla affectionately referred to as Gogo, which is the grandmother in Kalenjin, dedicated much of her life to raising her children and was a midwife for 65 years.

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She grew up under colonial rule and did not get the opportunity to go to school, so she took to education at her old age in a bid to empower herself.



Priscilla never shies away from learning and shares classes with children young enough to be her great-grandchildren.

Her attitude is admirable and proves to many in our society that its never too late to learn and accomplish your dreams, a teacher in her school said.Donald Trump has adopted a bullish stance at Davos, insisting to the international community that his so-called America First strategy does not mean the US is seeking isolation, but also insisting that it will no longer be the victim of predatory trade practices by states such as China.

The first US President to address delegates for two decades, told delegates to the World Economic Forum that America First does not mean America alone.

The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America, Mr Trump said.

But turning to trade, in a little disguised reference to China, he said: The US will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices including massive intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies and pervasive state-led economic planning.

These and other predatory behaviours are distorting the global markets and harming businesses and workers not just in the US but around the globe.

Earlier this week the US imposed tariffs on Chinese-made solar panels and washing machines, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing.

Speaking as he sought to brush off reports that he had last summer sought to fire Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller  fake news, Mr Trump told reporters when asked about the latest revelations in the New York Times  the President said that confidence was at an all time high. He claimed that since he entered the White House, the country had added 2.4m jobs.

America is open for business and were competitive once again, he told business leaders and world leaders.

Mr Trump claimed that his rolling back of environmental regulations imposed by his predecessor, Barack Obama, had helped boost businesses. Regulation is stealth tax, he said.

I promised to eliminate two unnecessary regulations for every new regulation.

But while Mr Trumps address sought to make the correct noises in a hall full of delegates and leaders strongly committed to free trade and globalisation, his most important audience was not the conference hall in the Swiss town of Davos, but back in the US, where his speech would have been watched closely by his supporters and the Republican Party.

Story continues

He said that at the leader of the US he would always put America first, as other world leaders would naturally prioritise the interests of their countries. But America First does not mean America alone, he said.

Mr Trump stressed that the people who deserved the credit for Americas strong economic performance were the American people. Its not enough to invest in our economy, we have to invest in our people, he said. Only then can we have a bright future that is shared by everyone.

Later in a Q&A session with Klaus Schwab, the President of the World Economic Forum, Mr Trump said that his experience as a businessman had helped him when he entered the White House. He said that previously, US presidents had been politicians or else former soldiers.

Ive always liked doing business and Ive always like making money, he said.

When he was taking questions after his address, he was booed by the crowd for attacking the media.

As a businessman I was always treated really well by the press and it wasnt until I became a politician that I realised how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be, he said.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump is ready to sign on to a plan that would open a path to citizenship for as many as 1.8 million "Dreamers," who were brought illegally to the United States as children, senior White House officials said on Thursday.

Trump's plan, which the White House hopes the Senate will vote on in early February, would require Congress to set up a $25 billion "trust fund" to build a wall on the southern border with Mexico, and invest in better protections at the northern border with Canada.

It would also require Congress to limit family sponsorship of immigrants to spouses and minor children, end a visa lottery system for certain countries, and spend additional money on border guards and immigration judges - among other measures - the officials told reporters in a briefing.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton; Editing by Peter Cooney)

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Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View.Palestinian leader snubbed vice-president over Jerusalem move

Not meeting your oppressor  is a sign of self-respect  official

Davos World Economic Summit 2018  live updates

Donald Trump meets Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos. Israel has always supported the United States so what I did with Jerusalem was my honour, said Trump. Photograph: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

Donald Trump threatened to cut aid to the Palestinian Authority on Thursday, saying that Palestinians had disrespected Vice-President Mike Pence on his visit to the region.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, Trump told reporters: Respect has to be shown to the US or were just not going any further.

After Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israels capital, close allies in Europe and the Middle East denounced the decision as a provocation to unrest and a major setback to peace talks.

Not long afterward, the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, declined to meet with Pence on a recent visit to Israel.



Earlier this month, Abbas called recognition of Jerusalem the slap of the century, and said that Palestinians could no longer trust the US as an honest broker in the talks.

The two main Palestinian parties  the Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas and the Islamist militant group Hamas  have run separate governments in the West Bank and Gaza respectively since 2007.

The situation emerged after Hamas defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections in 2006. Fatah refused to recognise the result, leading to a near-civil war that saw Hamas push Fatah out of Gaza.

Numerous attempts at reconciliation have ensued but the latest effort looks the most serious yet. The issue of who controls the borders and runs government ministries is a key test, not least in loosening the Israeli blockade on Gaza, imposed after Hamas took control.



Responsibility for land border crossings  in a coastal strip without a commercial sea port or airport  is crucial, as Palestinians and goods can only cross by these checkpoints. Both Egypt and Israel will want to ensure that no arms reach Hamas and other groups.

We will not accept for the US to be a mediator, because after what they have done to us, he said.

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On Thursday, sitting next to Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump alluded to the snub of Pence. They disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice-president to see them.



He added that the US may withhold hundreds of millions in aid money for Palestinians if they did not return to peace talks. That money is on the table and that moneys not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace, he said.

The Trump administration has already moved to freeze some $60m for Palestinian refugees, to release on condition of a United Nations re-examination of programs. Trump has charged his son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, with leading peace talks, yet on Thursday he said the subject of aid funding was new: This was never brought up by other negotiators but its brought up by me.

He added: That money is on the table because why should we do that, as a country, if theyre doing nothing for us?

The White House has argued that it has taken the debate over Israels capital off the table for negotiations, but on Thursday Trump insisted Israel will pay for that concession.

He also defended his controversial decision, saying: Israel has always supported the United States so what I did with Jerusalem was my honour.

A spokesman for Abbas said the Palestinians would not meet with the US administration until it withdrew its recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

If the American administration will not go back on their decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, it will remain outside the [negotiation] table, Nabil Abu Rudeina said.

Another senior Palestinian official, Hanan Ashrawi, told AFP that not meeting your oppressor is not a sign of disrespect, it is a sign of self-respect.

Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, responded to Abbas speech in a Thursday meeting of the UN security council. A speech that indulges in outrageous and discredited conspiracy theories is not the speech of a person with the courage and the will to seek peace, she said.

The Trump administration, she added, would not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace.Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump has said he "would love" to be interviewed under oath in special prosecutor Robert Mueller's probe into possible collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

But such a meeting, which could happen within weeks, is fraught with risks for the US president.

- Mueller's broad mandate -

Mueller, 73, is a methodical former FBI director with a strong image of probity and political independence. On May 17, 2017, he was assigned a broad brief to investigate anything linked to Russian meddling during the election.

His team of top-notch lawyers and investigators are expert in everything from corruption and money laundering to flipping mafia witnesses to Supreme Court legal showdowns.

Their focus is two-fold:

-- Did the Trump campaign collude with Russia's efforts to influence the election, which included leaking hacked Democrat files and communications and an extensive misinformation campaign?

-- Did Trump try to illegally obstruct the collusion investigation, via public comments and the firing of FBI director James Comey in early 2017?

- How close is he to Trump? -

Mueller's team has spent the past eight months interviewing members of Trump's campaign and White House staff, his family, and former government officials.

Interviewees include Comey, former acting attorney general Sally Yates, current Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, and White House communications director Hope Hicks -- one of Trump's closest aides.

The result, so far, has been four indictments and two guilty pleas. On October 30 Mueller unveiled charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Richard Gates, for money-laundering and related financial crimes that occurred before Trump ran for election.

The same day he extracted a guilty plea for lying, and a pledge to cooperate, from George Papadopoulos, a campaign aide who had tried to arrange a meeting between candidate Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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On December 2, former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn, who had multiple communications and meetings with Russian figures, pleaded guilty to a single charge of lying to investigators. Flynn, a right-hand man of the new president until he was forced to resign after 24 days on the job, is now assumed to be cooperating with the investigation.

- The risks of testifying -

The timing and parameters of Trump's engagement with Mueller aren't set yet. It could involve providing written answers to written questions, or a face-to-face interview, or a mix of the two.

Lawyers on both sides are negotiating the issue, which from the White House view, involves protecting the president's executive privilege -- which can set limits on how much and in what context the US leader can be forced to disclose information.

Still, Trump faces huge risks. He likely does not know the full extent of what others from the campaign have told Mueller, and any discrepancy could expose him to accusations of lying -- the charge that led to president Bill Clinton's 1998 impeachment.

Mueller will want to ask what Trump knew about a June 2016 meeting between top campaign staff and family members and a Russian lawyer offering dirt on election rival Hillary Clinton. He will want to know if Trump knew about Papadopoulos's Russian contacts. And also about the campaign's contacts with WikiLeaks, which published emails damaging to Clinton.

Trump risks exacerbating matters with his uncensored comments in public and on Twitter, which his staff and lawyers have not always been able to control.

Critics say his numerous unscripted remarks about the investigation, how he handled Comey's firing, and attacks on the FBI, have already shown ample evidence of obstruction, the charge that forced president Richard Nixon to resign in the Watergate scandal.

- Damned either way: Mueller's challenge -

An interview with Trump does not necessarily signal the end of the probe. Knowledge of contacts with Russians is not collusion. And Twitter rants about the investigations are not, by themselves, evidence of obstruction.

If Mueller ultimately does not find collusion or obstruction charges against Trump, Democrats will cry foul, pointing to the Comey firing as obvious evidence.

But Mueller has a very high evidentiary bar to top if he is to recommend impeachment charges to the US Congress. Congress, meanwhile, is dominated by Republicans who are working hard to prove that Mueller's team and the FBI are full of Trump-hating Democrats. If that charge sticks, it could weaken the impact of Mueller's conclusions.Members of Free Syrian Army (FSA), backed by Turkish Army, patrol in Azez region of Aleppo, Syria within the

Turkeys military operation to sweep Kurdish militants from its southern borders could soon be expanded as far east as Iraq, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.

Mr Erdogan vowed to "clean up" the Syrian city of Manbij, north-east of Aleppo, and continue pushing east in a move which could draw US troops into the intensifying conflict.

"We will rid Manbij of terrorists, as it was promised to us, and our battles will continue until no terrorist is left until our border with Iraq," Mr Erdogan said on Friday.

US soldiers are currently stationed in Manbij alongside members of the YPG, a Syrian Kurdish militia. An expansion of Turkeys ground and aerial assault on the YPG to Manbij could result in conflict with US troops.

Mr Erdogans announcement brings Turkey and its NATO ally the US uncomfortably close to a military confrontation inside Syria, where the US supports the YPG and has given it a central role in a new 30,000-strong border protection force.

Members of Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army police forces secure the road as they escort a convoy near Azaz, Syria January 26 Credit: UMIT BEKTAS/REUTERS

Turkey views the YPG as a terrorist group with close links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party. Mr Erdogan has sworn to destroy the group and the army of terror he accuses the US of engineering inside Syria.

While diplomatic relations between the US and Turkey have been markedly chilly since the July 2015 coup attempt, the past weeks have seen a dramatic unravelling in ties between the two countries.

A member of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) takes part in a demonstration alongside Syrian-Kurds in the town of Amuda, some 30 kilometres west of Qamishli, a Kurdish-majority city in northeastern Hasakeh province, against a military operation by the Turkish army against the Kurdish YPG forces in Syria's Afrin, on January 21 Credit: AFP

The issue of the YPG has emerged as a particular wedge, with neither country apparently willing to back down from its position.

On Thursday, after a telephone call with US President Donald Trump, Mr Erdogan accused the White House of falsifying information in its readout of the conversation. Mr Erdogan denied he had been rebuked over his actions in Syria and claimed Mr Trump had promised to cease support for the YPG.

Turkeys push into Syria was long telegraphed by Ankara, as has been the possibility for its expansion.

Despite this, Ankara has suggested a willingness to work alongside Washington, should the two agree on common goals. Turkish officials have mentioned a US proposal for a 30 km (19 mile) "safe zone" along its border, but say trust between two countries must be re-established first.Samuel Ramani

Security, Middle East

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of Victory Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, Turkey August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Turkeys current stabilization role is upheld by selective tactical partnerships with regional actors possessing similar geopolitical objectives.

How Turkey's Geopolitical Ambitions Could Change the Middle East

On December 26, 2017, Turkey expanded its military presence in Qatar by deploying hundreds of Joint Force Command troops to its military installation in Doha. This troop deployment gained significant media attention, as it came just one day after the release of a report revealing that the Turkish military intervened on Qatars behalf to prevent Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from launching a coup against Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in June.

The Turkish governments decision to flex its military muscles on Qatars behalf underscores a major shift in Ankaras Middle East strategy. Since the July 2016 coup detat attempt, Turkey has transformed itself from being a destabilizing revolutionary actor to the Middle Easts strongest supporter of state stability. In recent months, Turkey has underscored its commitment to preserving state stability in the Arab world, by supporting the reunification of Syria under a strong central government and vociferously backing Libyas UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA).

Turkeys adoption of a pro-stability agenda in the Arab world can be explained by Ankaras heightened concerns about internal unrest after Erdogans authority was challenged by the July 2016 coup attempt. As Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan believed the coup attempt was orchestrated by rogue military units inspired by Islamist cleric Fethullah Gulen and facilitated by external forces, Turkey has sought to undercut nationalist insurgency movements and counter destabilizing foreign involvement in regional conflicts. This strategy aims to prevent Turkish-style coup attempts from occurring in other parts of the Middle East, and recreate the network of stable nation-states that preserved collective security in the Arab world prior to the 2003 Iraq War.

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In order to consolidate its position as the Middle Easts leading guarantor of collective security, Turkey has refined its approach to inter-state diplomacy and showcased its formidable coercive capacity to the international community. In contrast to the unwieldy balancing act that upheld Erdogans pre-Arab Spring zero problems with neighbours approach, Turkeys current stabilization role is upheld by selective tactical partnerships with regional actors possessing similar geopolitical objectives. These partnerships have expanded Turkeys network of allies in the Arab world and ameliorated the reputational damage caused by Erdogans incoherent responses to the Arab Spring.

The deterrent effect provided by Turkeys formidable military resources, which include the second largest standing army in NATO, has also strengthened Ankaras ability to act as a regional stabilizer. Countries seeking to counter Turkish objectives have often been forced to shelve their plans as they fear an aggressive retaliation from Turkey which could be detrimental to their security and regional power projection ambitions.

Turkeys commitment to strengthening fragile states in the Arab world is exemplified by its expanded diplomatic and military involvement in Syria. Even though Turkey provided vital material support for Sunni rebel groups seeking to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the first years of the conflict, and continues to view Assad as an illegitimate leader, Ankaras current policy preference is for the reunification of Syria as a stable centralized state.

Although Erdogan recently described Assad as a terrorist who has no place at the bargaining table, Turkeys unofficial Syria strategy views the political ambitions of Kurdish nationalist groups, like the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Democratic Union Party (PYD) as the biggest impediments to stability in Syria. The Turkish government believes the formal establishment of two centers of power in Syria, one in Damascus led by Assad and one in Rojava led by Kurdish nationalist factions, could trigger a wave of partitions that undercut the territorial integrity of Middle East states, and destabilize eastern Turkey by empowering the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).

In Turkeys view, the preservation of a unitary state in Syria will avoid these pitfalls and facilitate the re-establishment of a politically stable Syrian nation-state. A unitary state structure would have a legal framework that ensures an eventual regime change in Syria produces an opposition government that exercises political power over the entire country. This outcome would be highly beneficial for Turkeys geopolitical interests, as it would allow Syria to potentially become a Turkish ally if Assad were to fall from power.

To ensure a peace settlement that preserves Syrias unitary state structure, Turkey has forged partnerships with regional stakeholders aimed at restricting the political influence of Kurdish nationalist groups. These efforts have also resulted in Turkey improving its relations with Iran and Russia. Turkey has signed landmark deals with Iran on border security, counterterrorism and intelligence sharing, which ensure that both countries can coordinate military efforts against Kurdish militant groups. The Turkish military has also collaborated with Russia by launching joint airstrikes in Sunni opposition strongholds of northern Syria. This cooperation has not yet caused Russia to abandon its support for a federal state in Syria, but has contributed to the weakening of Moscows links with the SDF and Russias willingness to facilitate Turkish military operations in the Kurdish city of Afrin.

The coercive dimension of Turkeys stabilization role has also been on display in Syria as Ankara demonstrated its willingness to militarily intervene in the Syrian conflict during the August 2016March 2017 Operation Euphrates Shield anti-ISIS campaign. President Donald Trumps November statement calling for the end of Washingtons military assistance to the PYD can be regarded as a means of appeasing Turkey and preventing Ankara from launching an impulsive military campaign against the pro-U.S. SDF. This policy shift suggests that Erdogan has successfully converted his unpredictability from a major liability to a source of leverage and fostered respect for Turkeys military capabilities in both the West and the Arab world.

Turkeys support for the GNA in Libya mirrors its actions in Syria. Since Turkey announced its decision to reestablish diplomatic relations with Libya in June 2016, the Turkish government has worked assiduously to unite Libya under the leadership of the Tripoli-based GNA government and undermine the power of militia groups in eastern Libya. Turkey has also stridently opposed interventions by regional powers, like Egypt and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who support the federalization of Libya and seek to strengthen the influence of Tobruk-based military chief Khalifa Haftar.

Much like in Syria, Turkey has used its efforts to strengthen state institutions in Libya to expand and deepen its network of allies within the Arab League. Turkeys principal ally in this endeavor is Qatar. The Turkish governments expression of solidarity with Doha in the Gulf crisis aims to demonstrate that the Turkey-Qatar alliance against the UAE can extend beyond the GCC context. Turkey has also courted Sudan, as Khartoum shares Ankaras concerns about the destabilizing impact of the Libyan militarys illegal arms sales.

The coercive dimension of Turkeys campaign to support Libyan sovereignty is weaker than in Syria, as Turkeys willingness to use military power on Tripolis behalf remains unclear. Haftars forces have historically viewed the risk of a Turkish military intervention in Libya as negligible, and this opinion was strengthened further by Turkeys muted reaction to the Libyan militarys May 2015 shelling of a Turkish ship bound for Tobruk.

Despite this precedent, Haftar has become more cautious about provoking Turkey in recent months, as Ankara has deployed military resources to African countries, like Somalia and Sudan, and escalated tensions with Egypt over President Abdel Fattah el-Sisis endorsement of the 2016 Turkish coup attempt. This ensures that Turkey is able to protect Libyas sovereignty with little risk of military backlash. Therefore, international supporters of Haftar, like Russia have expanded their diplomatic engagement with Tripoli in part to avoid antagonizing Turkey.

Even though Erdogans unpredictable conduct has been regarded as a source of instability in the Middle East, Turkeys postcoup foreign policy towards its neighbors has focused chiefly on protecting state sovereignty in the Arab world and reviving the pre-2003 stable unitary state system. If Turkey succeeds in protecting the sovereignty of Syria, Libya and Qatar, then its status as a guarantor of collective security in the Middle East will increase substantially, strengthening Ankaras range of diplomatic allies and Erdogans prestige as a global statesman.

Samuel Ramani is a DPhil candidate in International Relations at St. Antonys College, University of Oxford. He is also a journalist who contributes regularly to the Washington Post and The Diplomat. He can be followed on Twitter at @samramani2 and on Facebook at Samuel Ramani.

Image: Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attends a ceremony marking the 95th anniversary of Victory Day at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara, Turkey August 30, 2017. REUTERS/Umit Bektas

Read full articleThe U.S. is set to send an aircraft carrier to Vietnam in March, Defense Secretary James Mattis said Thursday, a move that could draw ire from Beijing.

This development came as Mattis visited Vietnam Thursday and met with Nguyen Phu Trong, the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam. "Thank you for the increasing partnership, with our aircraft carrier coming into Danang here in March," Mattis said at the time.

Though the plan to send the aircraft carrier is not set in stone, a spokesman for the U.S. military said it's expected to be approved, Reuters reported. The proposed visit would occur at the port of Danang and would make the largest presence of U.S. troops in Vietnam since the Vietnam War ended in 1975.

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The aircraft carrier's visit could spur complaints from China, which frequently decries U.S. military buildup in the region. On Monday, China condemned the U.S. after the U.S. Navy sailed a guided-missile destroyerthe USS Hoppernear the disputed Huangyan Island without Beijing's permission. The vessel came within around 12 miles of the island, also known as Scarborough Shoal.

The state-run newspaper People's Daily decried the move and accused Washington of militarizing the South China Sea in a commentary.

Don't miss: NASA GOLD Successfully Reaches Orbit After Fears of Lost Contact

Against this backdrop of peace and cooperation, a U.S. ship wantonly provoking trouble is single-minded to the point of recklessness, the paper said.

If the relevant party once more makes trouble out of nothing and causes tensions, then it will only cause China to reach this conclusion: in order to earnestly protect peace in the South China Sea, China must strengthen and speed up the building of its abilities there, it added.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military has made similar complaints about China. Last week, U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Harry Harris characterized China as a "disruptive transitional force in the Indo-Pacific" following meetings in New Delhi with Japanese and Indian military leaders.

Story continues

This article was first written by Newsweek

More from NewsweekLONDON (Reuters) - Britain's defence minister warned that Russia was looking to damage the British economy by attacking its infrastructure, a move he said could cause "thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths", The Telegraph newspaper reported.

Relations between Russia and Britain are strained. Prime Minister Theresa May last year accused Moscow of military aggression and in December, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said there was evidence showing Russian meddling in Western elections.

Britain has also scrambled jets in recent months to intercept Russian jets near the United Kingdom's airspace.

"The plan for the Russians wont be for landing craft to appear in the South Bay in Scarborough, and off Brighton Beach," defence minister Gavin Williamson, tipped as a possible successor to May, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

"What they are looking at doing is they are going to be thinking 'How can we just cause so much pain to Britain?'. Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country."

The Kremlin, which under Vladimir Putin has clawed back some of the global influence lost when the Soviet Union collapsed, has denied meddling in elections in the West. It says anti-Russian hysteria is sweeping through the United States and Europe.

Williamson said Russia was look at ways to attack Britain.

"Why would they keep photographing and looking at power stations, why are they looking at the interconnectors that bring so much electricity and so much energy into our country," he was quoted as saying.

"If you could imagine the domestic and industrial chaos that this would actually cause. What they would do is cause the chaos and then step back."

"This is the real threat that I believe the country is facing at the moment," he said.

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The Russian Defence Ministry said on Friday that Williamson's comments showed he had lost his understanding of what was reasonable, RIA news agency reported.

"It is likely he has lost his grasp on reason," RIA quoted ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Stephen Addison)Tripoli (AFP) - The United Nations demanded Thursday the immediate surrender of a Benghazi commander wanted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges after evidence emerged suggesting he had carried out new summary executions in Libya.

Mahmoud al-Werfalli commands the Al-Saiqa Brigade based in Libya's second city and is loyal to military strongman Khalifa Haftar whose forces dominate the east of the North African country.

When the ICC issued a warrant for Werfalli's arrest last August over summary executions in which at least 33 people were killed in 2016 and 2017, Haftar's forces insisted he was in their custody and would face a military trial.

But video and photographs posted on social networks on Wednesday appeared to show him personally putting bullets to the heads of 10 prisoners at the site of deadly twin bombings in Benghazi the previous day.

Witnesses said that Werfalli had carried out the public executions of the suspected jihadists in revenge for the Tuesday attack, which killed at least 37 people outside a mosque in the heart of the city.

In the video, a uniformed officer, said to be Werfalli, is seen making the blindfolded suspects in blue prison uniform kneel in front of him before shooting them one after the other.

Their bodies are then thrown on the back of a pickup truck to applause from the crowd.

In a statement, the UN Support Mission in Libya said it was "alarmed by reports of brutal and outrageous summary executions in Benghazi".

"UN demands the handing over of Mahmoud al-Werfalli immediately to the ICC in The Hague as it documented at least five similar cases, in 2017 alone, carried out or ordered by Werfalli," the mission said on Twitter.

The latest executions came as UN envoy Ghassan Salame was in eastern Libya for talks with Haftar as part of his efforts to end the political chaos that has gripped the country since longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

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A UN-backed unity government based in the capital Tripoli has struggled to assert its authority outside western Libya. Haftar supports a rival administration based in the east.

Salame presented a plan to the UN Security Council in September to hold fresh parliamentary and presidential elections later this year, but analysts are sceptical they will take place.

Clashes between rival militias are common, with fighting at Tripoli's airport last week leaving 20 dead and forcing the cancellation of all flights for five days.Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday hailed the Canadian government for donating a bio-safety laboratory estimated at $3.25 million (about N951.3million) to the state government.

The governor said the gesture deserved commendation.

Ambode spoke at Epe when he hosted the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr Christopher Thornley.

The governor also praised the Canadian government for partnering the state government in capacity building, especially after the historic victory against Ebola outbreak in the state in 2014.

He said: On behalf of the people of Lagos State, we like to say a big thank you to the Canadian government for being a very good partner to the cause of the state. People might not know, but we need to say this clearly. Even though we came out of the Ebola crisis, ever since that success story, the Canadian government has partnered Lagos State to donate to us a new laboratory that deals with bio-safety and issues that relate to bio-healthcare.

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In another few weeks, the Canadian government will be shipping in some equipment for the laboratory at the cost of over 3.25 million Canadian dollars.

That laboratory will be situated at the General Hospital on the Mainland. It is part of the capacity-building that the Canadian government is implementing to partner with us. We are very appreciative of this.

Thornley, who was accompanied by the Deputy High Commissioner in charge of Canadian Embassy in Lagos, Mr James Chrisoff, said the visit was to strengthen the relationship between the Canadian government and Lagos State, especially to dialogue on a working relationship in key areas.

He hailed Ambode for the infrastructure his administration had put in place at Epe and other parts of the state.United Nations (United States) (AFP) - US Ambassador Nikki Haley took direct aim at Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, telling the United Nations Security Council that he lacked the courage needed for a peace deal.

Haley spoke soon after President Donald Trump insisted that Palestinians had "disrespected" the United States and issued a new threat to cut aid during a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Davos, Switzerland.

The United States remains "deeply committed" to an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal, Haley said, "but we will not chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace."

"To get historic results, we need courageous leaders," she said.

The US ambassador, who has strongly defended Israel at the United Nations, said Abbas had "insulted" Trump and called for suspending recognition of Israel after the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

She was referring to a speech Abbas gave on January 14 to the Palestinian leadership in which Abbas reportedly mocked Trump and thundered "Damn your Money!" in response to US threats to cut off funding.

Abbas also cancelled a planned meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence to protest the US decision on Jerusalem, which the Palestinians view as the capital of their future state.

- No disrespect -

Addressing the council, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the search for peace had been Abbas' "life's work" and suggested attacks on the Palestinian leader were a form of "demonization."

Mansour said the Palestinian rejection of the US decision on Jerusalem "is not intended as 'disrespect'" but rather a "position rooted in full respect for the law, for the principles of justice and equity."

The Security Council was meeting to discuss Israeli-Palestinian tensions for the first time since the General Assembly voted 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, to reject the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital.

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The US move broke with decades of international consensus that the city's status should be settled as part of a two-state peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians.

The meeting also followed a US decision to freeze more than $100 million in funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), a move criticized by European governments.

French Ambassador Francois Delattre said he was "very worried" by the impact of the funding cut on the agency's work with more than five million refugees in the Palestinian territories and in the region.

"The weaker UNRWA becomes, the more terrorist groups will be able to use refugee camps as their recruitment pool," Delattre warned.

The United States is withholding $65 million in funding for the UNRWA budget and a separate $45 million contribution to a food aid appeal for the West Bank and Gaza.The Russophobia wasnt even like this during the Cold War, said Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov: Reuters

The US Justice Department ratcheted up pressure on Russia on Friday, issuing sanctions to approximately 40 companies and individuals it says were involved in the Ukraine conflict. The list includes bureaucrats, a deputy minister and leading businessmen.

The press release announcing the new measures came just as the US Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker was holding talks with Russian counterpart, presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, in Dubai. It is unlikely to have improved the chances of their success.

Even before todays development, it was expected there would be a further digging in on the Russian side. In an extended interview with the Kommersant newspaper on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the West had been infected by unprecedented Russophobia, making negotiations impossible. It wasnt even like this during the Cold War, he said.

Todays announcement placed sanctions on leading Russian enterprises that it says were involved in infrastructure projects in Crimea. The former deputy energy minister Andrey Cherezev is also targeted. The Treasury Department said that 11 of the people in the list are Ukrainian citizens, and include officials of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. Russia formally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 following a disputed referendum.

On Monday, the US Treasury is set to follow up sanctions with its long-awaited Kremlin report. This document is set to name and shame businessmen who make up Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle. Sanctions will not necessarily follow inclusion in the list, but reputational damage is likely.

The imminent delivery of Javelin anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian army also upped the stakes ahead of todays talks.

Alexei Chesnakov, an expert in close contact with the Russian point man Vladislav Surkov, told the Independent that a breakthrough was not imminent. It is impossible to have a negotiation with someone who is always looking to worsen your position.

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Special Representative Volker explained the delivery of anti-tank weapons as a response to Russias inflexibility. There has been no movement by Russia towards actually ending the conflict in Ukraine, he said.

The appointment of Mr Volker as US Special Representative to Ukraine in July was seen by some as a new beginning. The former ambassador to NATO was always considered a Russia hawk, but he was well-respected in Moscow. There had been a six-month absence of the US from foreign policy, and many hoped his knowledge and optimistic can-do approach could, perhaps, force progress.

Volkers strong rhetoric has certainly made him a popular figure in Kiev. Oleksii Makeiv, political director at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, told The Independent that Ukraine was very happy with the Special Representatives efforts to coordinate his positions. He talked with President Poroshenko before the Dubai meeting, and he will meet with him afterward, the diplomat said. The Russians thought they could drive a wedge between us and the West, but Mr Volker has shown that will not happen.

But with high trust comes problems, says the Ukrainian Rada Deputy Oleksiy Ryabchyn. The political elite all adore what he says, but he has raised expectation so high that the reality is likely to disappoint.

For now, the reality remains a war on the edge of Europe that refuses to go away. Regular losses on both sides continue to add to the estimated 9,940 plus who have lost their lives over the four-year conflict.

According to Igor Sutyagin, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI an international defence and security think tank based in London, the sides have now reached a military parity of sorts. After several bloody defeats, the Ukrainian army has built up a fighting resistance. A major offensive by either side is now likely to prove costly. Dr Sutyagin estimates the number of Ukrainian forces in the conflict zone at 40-50,000  compared with 30,000 in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine. A further 30-40,000 troops are located on Russian territory the other side of the Ukrainian border.

Fighting once again draws on the full range of lethal weaponry. It includes the howitzers, tanks and rocket launchers that were supposed to have been withdrawn under the Minsk Peace Accords signed in February 2015. The heaviest of the equipment was once hidden from view, but no one is bothering with the pretence anymore.

Ukraine tried to withdraw weapons at first, says Dr Sutyagin. But it had to be realistic. Unilateral disarmament is not popular in eastern Ukraine.

For now, Mr Volker remains the most optimistic man in the room. This week, he suggested the full list of Minsk commitments could be met within 12 months. Including as it does ceasefires, safety guarantees, controversial legislation in Ukraine, elections and the return of control of the eastern border from Russian-backed forces, that seems a tall order.

Even if you take into account all the technical elements of the agreements, you are looking at a minimum of two and a half or three years, says Mr Chesnakov. And that doesnt include the politics. Volker always underestimates the political issues  even though Moscow keeps telling him about them.Antakya (Turkey) (AFP) - President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday vowed Turkey's campaign against a Kurdish militia in northern Syria would press on for as long as required, after telephone talks with Donald Trump failed to douse soaring tensions with Washington.

The six-day campaign against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) has seen Washington's fellow NATO member Ankara attacking a US-allied force, even raising fears of military confrontation between two alliance powers.

After the Turkish and US presidents spoke late on Wednesday, the White House said Trump had urged Turkey "to de-escalate, limit its military actions", expressing concern that the assault could harm the fight against jihadists.

But a Turkish official said the US statement did "not accurately reflect the content" of the call.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu even suggested that the US statement had been concocted in advance of the talks.

On his first visit to troops in the southern Turkish border region of Hatay since the campaign began, Erdogan emphasised that operation Olive Branch "will continue until the result is reached".

Turkey launched an offensive against the YPG militia on Saturday in their enclave of Afrin, supporting Syrian rebels with air strikes and ground troops.

The local authority in Afrin on Thursday called on Syria to intervene to stop Turkish warplanes flying overheard.

Damascus should "say that it will not allow Turkish planes to fly in Syrian airspace," said Othman Al-Sheikh Issa, co-chair of Afrin's executive council.

- 'Continue east of the Euphrates' -

Ankara views the YPG as a terror group linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) inside Turkey, which is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies.

But the YPG is still working closely with Washington against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria.

Quoted by the presidency, Erdogan said that once the "cleansing of terrorists" is completed in Afrin, the area will be handed back to its "principal residents".

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"Turkey does not have its eye on another country's territory," he was quoted as saying.

Further raising the stakes, Ankara has also floated an operation on Manbij, a YPG-held town to the east where there is a US military presence, and even to areas east of the Euphrates up to the Iraqi border.

"The second phase will be Manbij and after that, the east of the Euphrates," Erdogan's senior adviser Ilnur Cevik said.

With Europe also concerned, Germany has asked for talks at NATO over the campaign and also put a temporary halt on arms deals with Turkey, Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Turkey had a right to defend itself but emphasised "this has to be done in a proportionate and measured way".

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim hit out at the US, saying "the country we call an 'ally' in NATO is in cahoots with terror organisations".

Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that if the US wanted to "avoid a confrontation with Turkey -- which neither they nor Turkey want -- the way to this is clear: they must cut support given to terrorists".

- 'Risks giving life to IS' -

The US envoy to the coalition against IS, Brett McGurk, said on Twitter the "prolonged operation risks giving life to ISIS (IS) as it's on verge of defeat".

Washington has more than 2,000 special forces and support troops inside Syria, mainly east of the Euphrates in an area also controlled by the YPG but separate from Afrin, which is west of the river.

A Pentagon spokesman said US and Turkish military commanders had in the past years discussed the possibility of creating a "secure zone" along the border with Syria, but no decision was made.

An AFP correspondent saw tanks on the Turkish side of the border and soldiers ready to go into Syria amid tight security. Turkish artillery fire pounded the Afrin region, state-run news agency Anadolu said.

A Turk and a Syrian were killed Wednesday by YPG rocket fire on Kilis, its governor said. The YPG has denied shelling Turkish border towns like Kilis.

Hundreds attended their funeral on Thursday.

Three Turkish soldiers have been killed since the start of the offensive, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said 52 Ankara-backed Syrian rebels and 47 US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and YPG fighters had been killed.

The SDF is an umbrella grouping composed mainly of YPG.

The Turkish military said at least 306 "terror organisation members were neutralised" but it was not possible to verify this.

The Observatory has said at least 30 civilians have been killed but Ankara strongly rejects such claims, saying it is doing everything to avoid civilian casualties.Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey Mock Photoshop Error in Vanity Fair Hollywood Issue

Another year, another chance for Vanity Fair to celebrate the rich diversity of the film industry with their Hollywood issue. Unfortunately, in 2018, they dropped the ball again  a disappointing, if unsurprising move from the prestige magazine.

The cover, as is customary, was lensed by Annie Leibovitz in her signature charismatic style. It features 12 actors and actresses (plus a cameo by outgoing editor-in-chief Graydon Carter), all of whom have received significant press for their work throughout the past year. Legacy stars like Tom Hanks and Robert DeNiro stand alongside newcomers like Gat Gadot and Claire Foy. Seven of the 12 cover stars are women, which successfully represents a majority  though it should be noted that Census-wise, women are in the majority in the United States. Its a clear nod to the #MeToo and Times Up movements, the latter of which was spearheaded by cover stars Reese Witherspoon and Jessica Chastain.

Thats where the progress ends. When examining racial diversity, only three of the stars on the cover are black: Oprah Winfrey, Michael B. Jordan, and Zendaya. None are Latinx or Asian, despite a huge year (and upcoming 2018) for actors in all of those groups.

Kelly Marie Tran, who played Rose Tico in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, was the undeniable breakout star of the film. Asian representation in film will also receive a huge, necessary boost in summer 2018 when the film adaptation of Crazy Rich Asians premieres. Lead star Constance Wu explains that Crazy Rich Asians is very special in that it is, I believe, the first American studio movie to star all Asians that is set entirely in a contemporary setting.

Coco, the latest animated Pixar-Disney offering, is a story about the Mexican traditions of the Day of the Dead. The film was lauded by the Atlantic as Pixars best movie in years and was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2018 Oscars. It features an all-Latinx voice cast, and was co-directed by Adrian Molina, a Mexican-American. Not surprisingly, the hit film also grossed more than $600 million worldwide.

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2017 in particular was a boon for black Hollywood. Moonlight, Barry Jenkinss desperately rapturous coming-of-age film about a queer black man, won Best Picture at the Academy Awards (despite an embarrassing presentation mix-up that arguably overshadowed the films historic win). Girls Trip, a summer comedy featuring an ensemble cast of Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Tiffany Haddish, was a box-office smash success. As Complex noted, it is the first movie to make over $100 million that was written, directed, and produced by black people with an all-black leading cast. Haddishs breakout performance in particular made her a possible Oscar contender; critic Ira Madison III of the Daily Beast wrote that we need to look at how the media drives awards consideration and the kind of actresses we laud as important, in advocating for Haddish to be taken seriously.

At the 2018 Oscars, black Hollywood is getting the accolades it deserves. This year, Jordan Peeles incisive debut Get Out, a horror film that he jokingly referred to as a documentary, was nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor for Daniel Kaluuya, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Director for Peele. Mudbound also earned Oscar noms for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress and Best Original Song, both for Mary J. Blige. The Academy ostensibly took the criticism of #OscarsSoWhite seriously, though hashtag creator April Reign told the Los Angeles Times that shes encouraged by the incremental progress every year but there is still so much work to be done.

In addition, the upcoming film adaptation of Black Panther is one of the most anticipated films of the year. It is projected to smash the $100 million-mark on its Presidents Day debut weekend; fans excitedly pre-ordered tickets in record-breaking numbers and the trailers have inspired memes and jokes on social media.

The film industry is slowly making strides towards diversity, and moviegoers are rewarding these approaches with their dollars. So why is Vanity Fair so far behind?

The lack of diversity on Vanity Fairs Hollywood issue is nothing new. In 2015, Buzzfeed wrote up an damning timeline of the magazines persistent failure to include actors of color. The 2015 issue only featured two actors of colors (Oscar Isaac and Daniel Oyelowo), and no actresses of color. The 2010 issue cover stunningly featured all-white actresses; 2012 saw another round of actresses, again, only two of the women were of color (Paula Patton and Adepero Oduye).

2014 was the best year for diversity on the Hollywood issue: six actors of color graced the magazine cover. Last years cover was also diverse, featuring four actresses of color out of 11.

So why then, in 2018, did Vanity Fair take a step back? Their decision to only include three actors of color, zero of whom are Latinx or Asian, is awesomely tone-deaf in a year when diversity has been a huge conversation in Hollywood. The #MeToo movement has swept through Hollywood and our culture at large, prompting conversations about how to keep women safe and amplify the voices of survivors of color. Actresses like Viola Davis and America Ferrera have even taken the lead in the Times Up initiative, which established a legal fund to assist low-income victims of sexual harassment and assault, many of whom are women of color  an infinitely more crucial topic of conversation than Oscars buzz.

Even if Vanity Fair chose to boost the visibility of actors who are exclusively award season fodder this year (which they obviously didnt, because Gal Gadot, as beloved as she is, is not winning an Academy Award for Wonder Woman), they could have included any number of actors of color. Mary J. Blige? Daniel Kaluuya? Venturing outside of film, there is Sterling K. Brown, who took home a Golden Globe and a SAG award this year for Best Actor for his portrayal of Randall Pearson on NBCs This Is Us, the first black actor to win either of those awards, let alone both.

Vietnamese actress Hong Chau was nominated for a Golden Globe in a best supporting role but missed out on an Oscar nod  and there were no other Asian or Latinx nominated for any other major awards this year. Given this glaring oversight, Vanity Fair could have chosen to correct this imbalance by featuring actors who will make waves in 2018: for example, Awkwafina, who will star in both Oceans 8 and Crazy Rich Asians, or Tessa Thompson, who will appear in three films this year: Sorry To Bother You, Avengers: Infinity War, and Annihilation, or Gina Rodriguez, already a TV star in Jane the Virgin, and racking up major movie credits too.

Instead, Vanity Fair delivered more of the same. If the Hollywood issue insists on treating diversity as an afterthought, perhaps moviegoers should offer them the same treatment with our dollars at the newsstand. After all, diverse movies shattered box-office records in 2017, and that trend is only poised to grow. Vanity Fair should take note: diversity sells, and inclusion is a winning business and social strategy. When people feel represented, they respond with their money.

Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day.



MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Members of Venezuela's leftist government and opposition leaders will meet next week for another round of talks in the Dominican Republic, the Dominican foreign ministry announced on Thursday. The government and the opposition have tried for years to reach an agreement to ease the deep political and economic crisis in the oil-rich country. The parties had been due to meet for another round of talks in the Dominican Republic on Jan. 19, but the opposition withdrew after allegations by the government, which it denied, that it had provided information leading to the death of a rogue former policeman and six other anti-government militants. The talks scheduled for Jan. 28 and 29 will be directed by Dominican President Danilo Medina, and officials from Chile, Nicaragua and Bolivia will also participate. But expectations for a deal remain low among Venezuelans. The decision by the pro-government legislative superbody on Tuesday to hold presidential elections by April 30 upset the talks, opposition leader Luis Florido told Reuters. "It didn't end, but it's in intensive therapy," Florido said of the negotiations. (Reporting by Jorge Pineda in Santo Domingo, Julia Love in Mexico City and Andreina Aponte in Caracas; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam has arrested a former chairman of state-owned Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (SBIC) for alleged abuse of power, police said on Friday, as the Southeast Asian nation cracks down on graft. A spate of high-profile arrests has shed light on graft, mismanagement and nepotism in state firms at a time of accelerating privatization, while spotlighting the ascendancy of a more conservative faction in the ruling Communist Party. Nguyen Ngoc Su of SBIC, formerly known as debt-laden and troubled Vinashin, "abused his rank and position", Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website. Su was accused of using Vinashin's deposit in domestic lender Ocean Bank to make profits for some individuals at the shipping firm, police said. Lending violations at Ocean Bank have sent dozens of people to jail and handed a death sentence to its former chief executive Nguyen Xuan Son - the first time in years that such a senior former official received the death penalty. Son was also a former chairman of state energy group PetroVietnam, where Su was served as a vice chief executive. A Hanoi court this week jailed a former politburo member for 13 years for violating state rules and sentenced another high-profile energy official to life in prison. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by James Pearson and Clarence Fernandez)The idea that Syrias civil war is winding down has been repeated so often in recent months as to become a cliche. It has never been entirely true.

U.S. officials recently confirmed Washingtons intention to indefinitely retain effective ownership of around 28 percent of Syrian territory, in partnership with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces. But those plans are increasingly in conflict with the other major international players in the war-torn country. That includes Americas erstwhile ally, Turkey, which recently launched Operation Olive Branch, an incursion into the Kurdish-held Afrin canton in Syrias northwest. Meanwhile, President Bashar al-Assads regime is assaulting mainly Sunni Arab rebels to the south, and completing its conquest of the Abu Duhur airbase in the northern Idlib Province.

All this bloodshed doesnt just spoil Washingtons plans  it also calls into question whether the participants in the Syrian war are anywhere close, to quote another cliche, to bleeding themselves out. Even if the dynamics driving the overlapping conflicts of Syrias war are drawing to a close, they arent generating a peaceful and orderly future for long-suffering Syrians. Rather, new conflicts are emerging fully formed from the wombs of the old.

Since mid-2014, there have been two parallel wars taking place on Syrian soil. The original war is the fight between the Sunni Arab rebels and the Bashar al-Assad regime, which is centered on the more densely populated area of western Syria. The second war is the contest between the Islamic State and the U.S.-led global coalition assembled against it.

Both these wars are indeed close to conclusion. The former war was decided in Assads favor on Sept. 30, 2015  the day that Russian aircraft appeared over the skies of Syria. The rebellion, lacking any but the most rudimentary anti-aircraft capacity, has found itself helpless against the combination of Russian air power and Iran-supported and supplied manpower.

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The regimes survival, therefore, is no longer in doubt. But it is a different entity to the one that launched the war against anti-Assad protesters in the summer of 2011. Seven years later, the regime in Damascus is no longer about to dictate events in Syria as it once did, and instead it must defer to the wishes of those powers that ensured its survival.

The events of recent days in Afrin offer an instructive example. Assad himself expressed his adamant opposition to the Turkish incursion, saying that [t]he brutal Turkish aggression on the Syrian town of Afrin cannot be separated from the Turkish regimes policy from the first day of Syrias crisis, which was essentially built on supporting terrorism and terrorist organizations.

Faisal Mekdad, the regimes deputy foreign minister, told reporters in Damascus that Syrias forces were ready to destroy Turkish air targets in the skies of the Syrian Arab Republic.

But Assads Russian patrons evidently took a different view of the Turkish operation. Russian military personnel in the Kurdish enclave were withdrawn prior to the commencement of the Turkish operation. Turkish aircraft currently being used to bomb Kurdish positions in the Afrin region could not have crossed the border without Russian permission, given the presence of two Russian S-400 air defense batteries guaranteeing that Moscow can rid Syrias skies of any unwanted presence. Assads government was required by the actual decision-makers to tolerate this situation  and true to form, it has not followed through on its threat to shoot down Turkish jets.

Similarly, recent events demonstrate the extent to which the rebellion is no longer essentially a Syrian phenomenon. The rebels taking part in the Afrin operation against Kurdish forces are effectively military contractors working on behalf of Turkish interests. These northern rebel groups  such as Faylaq al-Sham, Nour al-Din al-Zenki, and the Levant Front  have played this essentially subaltern, proxy role since the summer of 2016, when it became clear there was no longer any possibility of a strategic rebel victory over Assad.

Rebel factions are mainly now fighting for survival. Those based in Turkey or close to the border have no option but to serve as proxies for Ankaras ambitions. (Even the al Qaeda-associated Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which now dominates Idlib province, has a curious relationship of soft coordination with Turkey made necessary by the groups desire not to face Russian airpower.) The rebels farther south play a similar role for their Jordanian, American, or Israeli patrons.

The war against the Islamic States pseudo-caliphate is also close to its end. The organization has not been entirely destroyed  it retains areas of control in the deserts of Deir Ezzor and is still capable of sudden counterattacks  but it has lost the vast majority of its territory. It is clear that the Islamic State is set to once again become a mobile, brutal Sunni Arab insurgent organization, similar to the form it took prior to the declaration of the caliphate in June 2014.

So what do these developments mean for the likely direction of events in the next period in Syria?

There are three main players in Syria today: the regime-Iran-Russian bloc, which controls over half of the countrys territory and the majority of its population; the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which controls the oil-rich area of southern Deir Ezzor and much of the countrys best agricultural land; and the alliance between Turkey (and to a smaller degree Qatar) and the Sunni Islamist and jihadi rebels of northwest Syria. But these broad camps are not closed structures: Different members maintain their own relations with specific elements of the rival camp. Thus, Turkey and the United States are ostensible NATO allies, though the United States is directly opposed to some of the jihadi rebel groups with whom Turkey cooperates.

If President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent statements suggesting a Turkish intent to attack the city of Manbij are serious, this would set Ankara on a collision course with U.S. interests. The Kurds maintain relations with Russia and the Assad regime, although their de facto autonomous area is mainly guaranteed by the United States.

Israel is aligned with the United States, but it relies on its functioning relationship with Russia to ensure its ability to act against regime and Iran-associated targets in southern Syria, which are themselves aligned with Russia, and so on.

The new contests in Syria derive not from internal Syrian dynamics, but from the rival interests of outside powers pursued over the ruins of Syria: Turks against Kurds, Israel against Iran and its proxies, the United States against Iran, and now, potentially, Ankara against Washington. These external forces are all determined to gain advantage over one another in Syria. And so, even as Syrias two longstanding conflicts wind down, war and strife are not departing the area. Welcome to Syria 2.0.America, a fully functioning solid gold toilet, by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan - AFP

A White House request to loan a Vincent Van Gogh painting was reportedly rejected by an art gallery who offered another artwork instead  a golden toilet.

The Washington Post has reported that it was hoped the 19th century Van Gogh would hang in the private quarters of Donald Trump and his wife Melania.

However Nancy Spector, chief curator at the Guggenheim  the New York museum which housed the work  was said to have rejected the request and made a counter-offer.

Ms Spector proposed to loan an 18-karat solid gold toilet, which was fully functioning, to the White House in an email seen by The Washington Post.

It was available should the President and First Lady have any interest in installing it in the White House, Ms Spector reportedly wrote.

She said the artist would like to offer it to the White House for a long-term loan, adding: It is, of course, extremely valuable and somewhat fragile, but we would provide all the instructions for its installation and care.

Landscape with Snow, by Vincent van Gogh, 1888, Credit: Peter Barritt / Alamy Stock Photo

The work of art, entitled America, was created by Maurizio Cattelan, an Italian contemporary artist, and was recently on display in the museum. It has been described by critics as a satire of modern-day excess.

The work is a far cry from Van Goghs Landscape with Snow painting initially requested, which dates from 1888 and shows a man in a black hat walking his dog.

Asked to explain the work and why he offered it to Mr Trump, Mr Cattelan told The Washington Post: Its a very delicate subject.

Donald Trump, the US president Credit: AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

He reportedly added: Whats the point of our life? Everything seems absurd until we die and then it makes sense.

Previously, Mr Cattelan has descried the golden toilet as a one-percent art for the ninety-nine percent.

Whatever you eat, a two-hundred-dollar lunch or a two-dollar hot dog, the results are the same, toilet-wise, he reportedly added.

The Washington Post reported that Sara Eaton, a Guggenheim spokeswoman, confirmed the email was sent on September 15 last year to Donna Hayashi Smith of the White Houses Office of the Curator.

The White House and Guggenheim have been approached for comment.Alumni of the U.S. government sponsored Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program on Thursday concluded a four-day workshop for primary school English Language teachers.

The workshop tagged: A Communicative Approach to English Language Instruction, was held at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State (January 17-18) and Abraham Adesanya College of Education, Oyo Town, Oyo State (January 24-25).

The FLTA Alumni under the aegis of Fulbright Language Scholars Association of Nigeria received a public diplomacy grant from the United States Consulate General in Lagos to train 200 teachers drawn from public and private schools in the two states.

Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General, Ms. Darcy Zotter, explained that workshop was aimed at providing the participants with new ideas and 21st century skills needed to teach English Language in elementary schools.

U.S. Government exchange alumni have been at the forefront of promoting access to qualitative education, good governance and civic engagement throughout Nigeria.

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They have strong ties to their communities and with the support of the U.S. Mission, create and execute projects to address specific needs, including basic education.

Our support for this project demonstrates U.S. governments continuing commitment to the education sector and English teaching and learning in Nigeria, Public Affairs Officer Darcy Zotter said.

General Secretary, Fulbright Language Scholars Association, Ms. Oladoyin Abiona, said the alumni group hopes to build a professional network of elementary English Language teachers for knowledge sharing. Our overall objective is to facilitate the advancement of education in Nigeria, she added.

The Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program is a nine-month non-degree study that provides young teachers of English as a Foreign Language the opportunity to refine their teaching skills and broaden their knowledge of American cultures and customs. FLTA Fellows in turn serve as teaching assistants/teachers of their native language in an American university.Immigration advocates gather for a rally on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018. Democrats and Republicans are relaunching the search for an immigration deal, fueled by fresh promises for a Senate vote, new concessions and goodwill after the agreement to reopen the federal government. (Photo: Andrew Harnik/AP)

WASHINGTON  The White House framework for immigration legislation released on Thursday night  which includes a pathway to citizenship for about 1.8 million young undocumented immigrants along with strict measures to curb other migrants and secure the border  has drawn criticism from leading figures on all sides of the debate.

The administrations proposal came less than a week after the government shut down over the issue, with Democrats saying they would not sign off on a funding bill that did not include measures to address the expiring DACA program, which shielded about 800,000 undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. President Trumps package includes a DACA fix for a total population of approximately 1.8 million individuals, extending the protections to the original beneficiaries of the program as well as others who would be eligible but had not applied. But the administrations framework also includes measures that Democrats strongly oppose, including eliminating the diversity visa lottery and limiting family unification visas to spouses and minor children only rather than extended family members.

Top Democrats blasted the proposal. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the framework represented a 50 percent cut to legal immigration. She described it as anti-immigrant and an act of staggering cowardice. Pelosi noted the proposal came on the heels of Trumps decision to end Temporary Protected Status programs for Central Americans and Haitians fleeing difficult conditions in their countries, and she described the combined effect as a cruel agenda.

They are part of the Trump administrations unmistakable campaign to make America white again, Pelosi said.

Pelosi accused Trump of using DACA recipients as a hostage in order to enact the other elements of a hateful agenda.

Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made a similar argument on Twitter Friday morning.

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While @realDonaldTrump finally acknowledged that the Dreamers should be allowed to stay here and become citizens, he uses them as a tool to tear apart our legal immigration system and adopt the wish list that anti-immigration hardliners have advocated for for years, Schumer wrote.

Slideshow: Activists protest against the Trump administrations immigration policies >>>

While Democrats described the proposal as something of a Trojan horse with the DACA fix carrying a slew of anti-immigrant measures, conservatives who have been among the staunchest opponents of illegal immigration also were upset with the plan. NumbersUSA, a lobbying organization that advocates reductions in both legal and illegal immigration, issued a statement Thursday night announcing opposition to the framework. NumbersUSA president Roy Beck described it as mass amnesty for undocumented immigrants due to the DACA protections. Beck also criticized the plan to curb extended family immigration as insufficient.

Under the White House framework, young-adult illegal border crossers and visa overstayers would get immediate benefits, including, most importantly, the right to compete with Americans in the permanent job market. But vulnerable American workers would get little or no relief from the competition of chain migration for 15 to 20 years. Even if new applications for chain migration categories are stopped immediately, the framework would allow chain migration to continue for decades by allowing all of the four million foreigners in the waiting list to continue coming, Beck said.

Breitbart, the conservative website that previously employed key Trump administration advisers and is often identified as a voice of his base, was similarly critical of the DACA protections. The site featured a banner headline blasting Trump as Amnesty Don.

Along with the DACA fix and cuts to other legal immigration programs, Trumps immigration framework contains a $25 billion trust fund for the border wall system and other border security measures. The proposal called for appropriating additional funds to make new hires at the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. According to the framework, the additional staff and security measures would help ensure the prompt removal of illegal border-crossers regardless of country of origin and deter visa overstays with efficient removal.

The framework did draw support from Republicans on Capitol Hill  and from Trumps own Cabinet. Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton, who is known as a hard-liner on immigration, issued a statement Thursday night lauding it as generous and humane, while also being responsible.

It protects those eligible for DACA, who are here through no fault of their own. But it also will prevent us from ending up back here in five years by securing the border and putting an end to extended-family chain migration. The presidents willingness to grandfather everyone in the current immigrant backlog also shows hes serious about reaching a bipartisan solution, Cotton said.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell sent out a statement of his own describing the framework as guidance on what is necessary for the president to sign a bill into law and expressing hope that members on both sides of the aisle will look to this framework as they debate on the issue.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen also praised the plan in a statement, saying it included measures her staff has requested to address border security issues.

The Department of Homeland Security fully supports the presidents security-focused immigration framework, including funding for the border wall system, the ability to quickly remove those who break our immigration laws and reforms to our immigration system, Nielsen said, adding, This is what DHS frontline personnel have asked for to secure our borders and maintain the integrity of our immigration system. I thank the president for his leadership on this important issue and look forward to continuing my efforts on the Hill to pass these important reforms.

Read more from Yahoo News:Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markles engagement was announced, the nation has been in a state of anticipation. Rumours have circulated around almost every aspect of their wedding and relationship and numerous questions have been asked. Who will design the wedding dress? Will Prince William be best man?

But the question on everyones lips is: what will the couples new titles be post-nuptials?

Traditionally, Queen Elizabeth II grants every royal union a set of new monikers and it is widely believed that Her Majesty will bestow the couple the sparkly new titles of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

However those arent the only titles the pair will receive. Theyll also be given a set of Scottish titles.

When Kate Middleton and Prince William wed back in April 2011, the couple were granted the titles of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. But they were also honoured with separate Scottish monikers, the Earl and Countess of Strathearn.

While Prince Andrew was given the title of Earl of Inverness on his wedding day and Prince Charles is known as the Duke of Rothesay in Scotland.

On their wedding day, Kate Middleton and Prince William became the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Earl and Countess of Strathearn [Photo: Getty]

According to several reports, it is likely that Harry and Meghan will take on the title of the Earl and Countess of Ross.

Co-editor of Peerage and Baronetage, Wendy Bosberry-Scott told The Press and Journal, The Scottish title Prince Harry receives is likely to be an earldom but there are very few clues here.

She continued: One potential candidate is Ross, but this was last held by Charles I  who was executed in 1649  so it may well be considered unlucky. Dumbarton is another possibility but, at this point, it is merely speculation and many factors will have to be considered before a suitable title is chosen.

And one of the most quintessential factors that Her Majesty must take into account, is the fact that Prince Harrys new moniker needs to be in fitting with other members of the familys rank. For instance, his title cannot be more highly regarded than his brother, Prince Williams.

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Paul Petrie of McBookie.com told Royal Central: This might seem like a bit of royal pass-the-parcel but actually a lot of thought and research goes into bestowing a title.

He continued, There is history and prestige behind each one and the Queen will be advised on what is the best fit for the couple and no doubt have her own ideas too.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markles new titles will be announced on their wedding day by Her Majesty so well just have to wait and see.





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Read more from Yahoo Style UK:

From Charles and Diana to Eugenie and Jack: A brief history of royal engagements

Are Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moving to the Cotswolds?

Jack Brooksbank proposed to Princess Eugenie without an engagement ringBy Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York and Minnesota have filed a lawsuit seeking to block the Trump administration from cutting off federal funding for state programs that provide healthcare to hundreds of thousands of low-income people. The lawsuit, filed on Friday in Manhattan federal court, seeks to restore more than $1 billion in funding for state health programs created under the Affordable Care Act, former President Barack Obama's signature domestic policy achievement, a statement from New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said. New York and Minnesota are the only states that operate so-called Basic Health Programs, a type of health insurance plan for low-income residents authorized by the law, according to Schneiderman's statement. In December, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) told both states it would cut off some of the federal funding for the programs because Congress had not appropriated money for them, according to the lawsuit. Schneiderman said the cut amounted to about 25 percent of the funding for New York's Basic Health Program. About 800,000 people in both states are covered by the programs, according to the lawsuit. A spokesman for HHS could not immediately be reached for comment. (Corrects Basic Health Plan to Basic Health Program in paragraphs 3 and 4.) (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama, Susan Thomas and Frances Kerry)Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe's leading university has published the thesis submitted by former first lady Grace Mugabe, who was controversially awarded a doctorate which is now the subject of a fraud investigation.

Grace, whose apparent desire to succeed her 93-year-old husband prompted last year's army takeover that eventually saw Robert Mugabe resign, was awarded a PhD by the University of Zimbabwe in 2014 after just months of study.

Doctorates typically require several years of full-time research and writing.

"We saw the thesis on the website (late Wednesday)... the question is why it took four years to publish," said Ashley Munetsi, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Students' Union.

Zimbabwean anti-corruption investigators said last month they are probing whether Grace fraudulently obtained the degree.

"This is an obvious cover-up and we are not going to rest until the matter is settled. We are calling on the vice-chancellor to account for the degree," said Munetsi.

"If it's found out that the degree was fraudulently awarded, it should be revoked to protect the integrity of the university."

AFP has seen a copy of the 226-page doctoral thesis, titled "The Changing Social Structure and Functions of the Family".

- 'My brain child' -

The work, submitted under Grace's maiden name, was dedicated to "the President of Zimbabwe Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe because of his dedication and commitment to the well-being of Zimbabweans".

In the 80,000-word submission, Grace goes into detail about a children's home that bears her name.

"The home was my brain child. The main objective was to provide care for the abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable children," she wrote.

Robert Mugabe resigned as president on November 21, a few days after the military took control of the country.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as president days later and both Robert and Grace have kept low profiles since their spectacular reversal of fortune.

During the height of the upheaval, students at UZ boycotted their end of term exams to call for Grace to be stripped of her PhD and Robert to be stripped of the presidency.

Grace was routinely accused of extravagant spending on luxury clothes and international travel, and of involvement in corrupt land deals. She is popularly known as "Gucci Grace", "The First Shopper" or even "DisGrace".By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE (Reuters) - The University of Zimbabwe has published former First Lady Grace Mugabe's PhD thesis after an anti-corruption watchdog said it was investigating whether the wife of ousted President Robert Mugabe was wrongly awarded a doctorate three years ago. Grace graduated in 2014, the same year she launched her career in the ruling ZANU-PF party, a power push that led ultimately to November's de facto coup by political rivals worried she was set to take over from her husband. In contravention of its normal practice, the university did not publish her 226-page thesis, entitled "The changing social structure and functions of the family: The case of children's homes in Zimbabwe", until this week, when it was released on its website (http://ir.uz.ac.zw/handle/10646/3463). It was not clear why Grace, who runs a children's home near her family dairy farm outside Harare, used her second name and maiden surname - Ntombizodwa G. Marufu - for the paper. University of Zimbabwe vice chancellor Levi Nyagura did not respond to calls for comment. There had been widespread speculation that Grace had been fraudulently awarded the doctorate, which was dedicated to her husband "because of his dedication and commitment to the well-being of the people of Zimbabwe". But Grace, who was lauded as "learned mother of the nation" by adulating followers, defended her academic record, telling a ZANU-PF rally in September that she had earned her PhD when her detractors thought otherwise. In its abstract, Grace acknowledged that one weakness of her research was that "some interviewees tended to tell me what they thought I wanted to hear". Goodson Nguni, lead investigator at the Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission, could not be reached for comment on whether the anti-graft agency would continue with its probe. New President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made fighting corruption a top priority. Mnangagwa, 75, told the World Economic Forum in Davos this week Mugabe and his wife Grace had not been granted immunity from prosecution. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Ed Cropley and Ralph Boulton)Six months have passed since the shooting incident at the Israeli embassy compound in Amman, yet no one in the Israeli publicas well as on the Jordanian streetknows what really happened there.

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Three people arrived at the rented apartment: Mohammed Jawawdeh, 17, who came to install furniture at the flat; the landlord, Dr. Bashar Hamarneh, an orthopedist; and Ziv Moyal, the security guard. The bullets fired from Moyals personal weapon killed the two citizens. The boy likely tried to stab Moyal once he discovered that he was Israeli, and the doctor got caught in the middle while trying to calm the situation down.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and King Abdullah. One reconciliation, two different versions (Photo: AFP)

When Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is familiar with the circumstances of the incident, announces that both sides are now drawing their conclusions, he is likely referring to the failures too: The Israeli guard could have prevented the incident had he got another Israeli to escort him to the apartment, and Netanyahu could have avoided the unnecessary reception he held at his bureau for the security guard and the Israeli ambassador, which ruined her career and got on the Jordanian kings nerves.

Jordan isnt Turkey, and King Abdullah isnt President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Jordan is the back gate of the State of Israel, which was familiar with the sensitivities and pressures even before the peace agreement. One could say both sides learned how to steal a lot of bad horses together and knew how to put out fires in fascinating places. Israel has a lot of respect for the kingdoms security apparatuses, and vice versa. When needed, the gate opens and the convoy enters.

For half a year, Israel kept running after the intelligence apparatuses in Amman in an effort to end the affair. King Abdullah referred to the two citizens killed in the embassy incident as my sons, after Prime Minister Netanyahu failed to pick up the phone and call him. Had Netanyahu called, the problem wouldnt have been dragged on for so long.

The street increased its pressure. The parliament called for a cancellation of the peace agreementthey hate Israel there anywayand the Jordanians adopted the Marmara precedent and presented four conditions for ending the affair: A public apology, compensation payment to the victims families, prosecution of the guard and a replacement of ambassador whose career was finished during a live broadcast.

Netanyahu's meeting with the security guard and the Israeli ambassador, which ruined her career and got on the Jordanian kings nerves (Photo: Haim Zach/GPO)

After seeing the eagerness in Jerusalem, they added the name of judge Raed Zeiter, who was shot to death by an Israeli security guard at the Allenby Bridge border crossing in March 2014. Israel didnt reveal the circumstances of that incident either. Israel may be right, but its also possible that the guard should have exercised restraint instead of shooting. Whoever was in charge of the negotiations made it clear from the very first moment, however, that there was no chance an Israeli guard would be prosecuted.

The deal, which was reached two months ago and was suspended following US President Donald Trumps Jerusalem announcement, was nearly ruined over the weekend. Media Affairs Minister Mohammad al-Momani was enlisted to prove that Jordan had made Netanyahu fold: Israel expressed its deep regret and apologized, the three victims relatives announced in front of the cameras that we got what we deserved, and Jordan deleted Ambassador Einat Shlain and revealed an Israeli commitment to pursue the legal proceedings against security guard Moyal.

The next day, the Prime Ministers Office insisted on releasing a different version, which only mentioned the understandings that had led to the end of the two affairs. Israel stressed the importance of the strategic ties, without a word of apology, regret or a commitment to pay compensation.

Protest outside Israeli Embassy building in Amman

The Jordanian fury chased Netanyahu all the way to India. He was forced to convene the Israeli reporters and present a refurbished version: Israel is expressing regret (but isnt apologizing), Israel will pay ($5 million) to the Jordanian government (which will transfer the money to the killed citizens families), and Israel will keep investigating the circumstances of the embassy shooting incident. At the same time, a tender has been issued for the position of Israels next ambassador in Amman.

At the end of the day, both sides have been scarred by this affair. No matter who becomes the next ambassador, he will receive a gloomy reception. The apparatuses here and there will operate over his head, and the street will stick to its hostility. It doesnt take an expert to guess what will happen when the Israeli ambassador tries to pave his way through Ammans political circles.

The only solution can be found in the economic cooperation. Up until now, Israel has been perceived in Jordan as the rich, arrogant neighbor. The late King Hussein used to complain that the amount of paperwork from the Israeli proposals for businesses initiatives was enough to build separation walls. The Israelis come to plant dreams, pose for photographs in the palace, and fade away.

Whoever says the strategic ties with Jordan are important must create an economic department at the embassy, equip the next ambassador with plans and open Israel up to Jordans business community. With a lot of patience and creative thought, it will work.The Iranian defense minister, General Amir Hatami, said in an interview that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had agreed that the army and Revolutionary Guards must start privatizing their businesses and assets.

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This statement, worded in dry bureaucratic language, contains a major drama. This drama is only in its initial stages, and the real tests for its implementation are difficult and still far away, but this statement in itself points to a possible deep change in the Iranian leaderships most senior ranks.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Took the conservatives' side (Photo: EPA)

The Islamic Republic of Iran believes in duplications. Each important institution or role has two versions, two people or two bodies performing it. There is a supreme leader and there is a president; there is the house of parliamentelected in the pollsand there is a higher house, which is actually in charge. The duplications are an expression of a world view that sees the best solution for political problems as one based on mediation.

When two sides clash, which is what happens by definition in cases of duplication, a third side will come along and mediate a solution based on a compromise. Such a solution will always be better than a zero-sum game, in which one side stands to gain everything and the other side stands to lose everything.

Supreme leader Ali Khamenei (Photo: Reuters)

This approach stems from the logic of a religious community, the logic which guided the Islamic Republics founders. In such a community, there are always radicals and moderates, and the relations between them cant end with an absolute victory of one side over the other. Mediation is the most important tool in an Orthodox communal society, which can only tolerate a change that is organic, slow and ongoing.

From a national body to a self-serving body

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards, which were established shortly after the Islamic Republic in 1980, were supposed to be part of this balance. The professional Iranian army was supposed to represent the pure interests of routine security. The Revolutionary Guards, meanwhile, were in charge of keeping the revolutionand the revolutionary leadershipalive. The Revolutionary Guards senior command is appointed by and directly connected to senior politicians in Iran.

Reality was different. After a decade of struggles, the Islamic Republic of Iran turned to entrenchment and expansion. Once the need to win an existential war no longer united the different voices, tensions were created between those who sought to continue the battle and resistance and those who wanted to lower the fortified walls.

The Revolutionary Guards, a body which was created to defend the Islamic revolution, found it easy to identify with the conservative and reclusive side. The Revolutionary Guards took a stand in the dispute. They were no longer a national body, but a self-serving body.

The Revolutionary Guards side, the conservative side, gained huge operational power. One of the things the conservatives took over were the countrys financial activity centers.

The Iranian economy is complicated and complex. It lacks transparency and is largely made up of partly private funds controlled by senior religious clerics and their associates. The Revolutionary Guards joined the party through their conservative patrons and quickly became the countrys strongest financial organization. They run the countrys largest construction and infrastructure companies and are involved in a wide variety of governmental corporations, factories and foundations. In addition, the Revolutionary Guards operate large parts of Irans black economyfrom smuggling to inflated contracts for the execution of public work.

Rouhanis war on the Revolutionary Guards

The Revolutionary Guards strength served as an ongoing indication that the religious logic guiding the Islamic Republics founders was growing weaker. The corruption and aggression bothered many citizens, who wished to change the Iranian regime from the inside without bringing it down. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was elected in 2013 on the platform of a determined internal struggle for improvement and moderation.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani with the Revolutionary Guards commanders (Photo: EPA)

The economic reforms proposed by Rouhani were aimed at restoring transparency and supervision to the Iranian economy and eliminating the black economy that was promoted and symbolized by the Revolutionary Guards. Rouhani has been fighting the Guards financial power with all his might, but up until now the supreme leader avoided speaking publicly in favor of reducing the Guards power. The defense ministers comment on a privatization of the Guards assets and businesses reflects a possible deep and significant change.

Anti-Regime protest. The corruption and aggression bothered many citizens, who wished to change the Iranian regime from the inside (Photo: AFP)

Such a privatization will provide the Iranian middle class with financial power and political influence, giving it the option to purchase businesses and assets. The middle class clearly supports President Rouhani and his moderate orthodoxy.

The protests that rocked Iran in recent weeks were against the corruption of the regime, but were mainly directed at the Revolutionary Guards and the religious clerics who support them. The leaders willingness to consider changing the current situation and reducing the Guards power indicates he is beginning to understand that the internal battle in Iran has been decided. The Islamic Republic will have no right to exist if it ignores the middle class desires and aspirations, and especially the desire for welfare, development and a focus on internally improving the situation in Iran.A popular Israeli leader is greeted with hugs at the World Economic Forum in Davos , as he runs from one meeting to another with the worlds important leaders and stars in cocktail parties with the rich and famous. Sounds familiar? Of course.

This time, however, it isnt former President Shimon Peres, who was a frequent guest of the international forum, but rather the person who replaced him as the Israeli sensation there: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The problem is the message he is bringing to these meetings (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

A moment before leaving for Davos, Netanyahu boasted that he was going to meet with more than 10 world leaders. Granted, he has a lot to be proud of: Not everyone gets to meet the German chancellor, the French president andof coursethe American president. The problem is the message he is carrying with him there. Because ironically, and even absurdly, the man who slammed Peres for years for being out of touch with reality seems to be suffering now from the exact same disease.

The purpose of his participation in the forum is clear: I will advance the standing of Israel which has already taken shape as a global technological power, Netanyahu promised (alongside his plan to try, once again, to change the nuclear agreement). To take advantage of the Israeli startup nations technological reputation to tighten diplomatic ties, just like he did in his recent (successful) visits to India and China. He believes that marketing Israeli knowledge in the war on terror and innovation could yield diplomatic achievements and divert attention from the stalemate with the Palestinians, or even get the world to forget about it.

Netanyahu with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (Photo: Amos Ben Gershom, GPO)

But by doing so, Netanyahu is demonstrating the same naivete of which he often accuses his left-wing rivals. Because just like Peres spoke about a new Middle East while the old Middle East was on fireand Netanyahu didnt hesitate to tease him about it in the last electionsthe prime minister is talking about economic opportunities while the entire world is insisting on solving political problems.

As the painful condemnation of US President Donald Trumps Jerusalem announcement at the UN General Assembly proved, there is hardly any influential country willing to recognize the Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. And with all due respect to world powers like Honduras, Togo and Micronesia, which supported us, Narendra Modis hugs and handshakes with Vladimir Putin didnt help: At the moment of truth, India, Russia and China voted against Israel.

The late President Peres at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2014 (Photo: Reuters)

And what about the United States? Well, dont let the vice presidents fair hair and white smile blind you: Mike Pence is the old America. Surveys measuring the American public opinion on Israel in recent years have revealed two consistent findings, yet people here only like to talk about one of them.

The first finding is that more Americans support Israel than the Palestinians. Thats nice. The problem is with the second finding. A breakdown of that support reveals a troubling phenomenon: Under the age of 50, the support drops; under the age of 30, it plummets. This is something every Israeli should lose sleep over. Because even if Trump keeps tolerating Israels control of the Palestinians, his successors likely wont.

Just like the territories for peace policy didnt yield the result Israel wanted as part of the Oslo Agreements, Netanyahu's policy to advance territories for businessin other words, to try to legitimize the occupation in exchange for commerce with Israelwill lead to failure. As far as the international community is concerned, the economic channel isnt an alternative to the diplomatic channel. And no matter how high he climbs up the Alps, Netanyahu wont be able to escape this reality.The House of Representatives adhoc panel on Thursday, issue an arrest warrant against Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom Nigeria.

The chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Abu (APC, Niger) said during the panels sitting in Abuja that Adenugas action was an affront to the legislature.

He also said that records before the panel showed that Glo owes the Federal Government over N16.7 billion.

Consequently, he asked both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to go after the Glo chief for holding Nigerias money.

A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organization and then it wont come, then were going nowhere. Some people feel theyre too big; that theyre above the law. Im making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.

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The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, hes a billionaire, but that doesnt mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere, he said.

A member of the panel, Rep Bede Eke (PDP, Imo), said: Its not about being a billionaire. Nobody is above the law. Even me sitting here as a lawmaker, I must respect the law. We can also summon the president of Nigeria to this place. I think appropriate action should be taken against the man. I will support any action that this committee will take against him.

Thus, another member of the panel, Abdulrahman Shuaibu (APC, Adamawa) moved that the panel should approach the House to issue an arrest warrant against Adenuga, which all the panel members agreed to.UNITED NATIONS - The United States will not "chase after a Palestinian leadership that lacks what is needed to achieve peace," US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said on Thursday.

During a United Nations Security Council meeting on the Middle East, Haley criticized a Jan. 14 speech by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at a meeting of the Palestinian Central Council in Ramallah.

"A speech that indulges in outrageous and discredited conspiracy theories is not the speech of a person with the courage and the will to seek peace," Haley said.Just like in the final haunting scene of Schindler's List, a group of Holocaust survivors who owe their lives to the German industrialist, and their descendants, paid a visit to the gravesite of Oskar Schindler Thursday in preparation for International Holocaust Remembrance Day this coming Saturday.

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The scene shown in the movie was filmed 25 years ago and the number of survivors is decreasing each year, but the families keep the memory alive and continue to pay respect to the man to whom they owe their lives.

Oskar Schindler , who saved the lives of 1,200 Polish Jews and was recognized as a Righteous Gentile by Yad Vashem, is buried on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Dozens of survivors, together with rabbis, representatives of the Vatican and of the Franciscan Order of Jerusalem visited the site Thursday.

Schindler gravd (Photo: Eli Mandelbaum)

Visitors placed small stones on Schindler's grave in the Catholic-Franciscan cemetery and recited prayers for his soul. Afterwards, they held a small ceremony in the nearby Chamber of the Holocaust museum where they dedicated a plaque to Schindler.

The event was initiated by Limmud FSU (former Soviet Union), an organization dedicated to revitalizing and restoring Jewish identity and learning; the Claims Conference against Germany (for Holocaust restitution); the March of the Living and the Chamber of the Holocaust museum on Mount Zion.

"This event is especially emotional for me," said Bronia Shkolnik, 86, a Holocaust survivor, during the candle lighting ceremony. "To be here, in the State of Israel, and pay tribute to those who saved so many livesit cannot be taken for granted."

Lily Heber, Director of the Organization for Survivors of Cracow, grew up in the shadow of the Holocaust. Her father, Yaakov Lazar was saved by Schindler. She stressed that Schindler also saved the thousands of descendents of those 1,200 Jews he saved and that we must remember the heroes who risked their lives to save Jews.

Lazar was born in Austria-Hungary and was transported to the Cracow Ghetto with his family in 1941. With the liquidation of the ghetto, he was transferred to the Plaszow camp where he was lucky enough to find work at Schindler's factory, together with two siblings, that saved his life.

Rabbi Yitzhak Goldstein, Rabbi of Mount Zion and Director of The Chamber of the Holocaust read the El Malei Rachamim (Oh God full of mercy) prayer and laid flowers on the grave. "If not for him those Jews would have been killed. His soul is very special," said Goldstein.

When Schindler passed away in 1974, he was buried, as per his request, in the Catholic cemetery on Mount Zion next to the country's first Holocaust museum. The cemetery became a pilgrimage point for the survivors who decorated the walls of the museum with plaques commemorating their communities destroyed by the Nazis. The ashes of 250,000 victims were also brought there from 20 different concentration camps.

Father Alberto, the representative of the Franciscan Order told Ynet the group "wants to remember the Christians who understood the importance of rescuing Jews and overturning history."

Chaim Chesler, the founder of Limmud FSU said: "(Schindler) was the biggest rescuer of Jews. The goal of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is that we do not forget the non-Jews who saved Jews."Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Thursday meeting with the US president on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos were exceptional, according to the Israeli premier, with Donald Trump showing strong support for Jerusalems efforts to thwart Iranian threats.

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He dealt not only with the peace process, but everything that is taking place in our region, including the nuclear deal with Iran, said Netanyahu, whose long-standing concerns over the regimes nuclear ambitions align with Trumps.

PM Netanyahu and President Trump in Davos

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The two allies discussed at length Tehrans plans to develop precision missiles both in Lebanon and Syria, and to entrench its military forces in the latter, which Israel says are intended to be used as a launchpad for implementing a war on its territory.



According to Netanyahu, Trump demonstrated sympathy for Israels policy to counter Iranian aggression.

I left there with a feeling that we have extremely strong support for our policies against Iranian entrenchment in Syria and its attempts to produce precision missiles, Netanyahu said. I think President Trump fully understands these positions, and I think he giving unwavering support to Israel."

During a joint press conference held with Netanyahu, Trump openly stated his disdain for what he said was the Palestinian refusal to return to the negotiation table with Israel and their increased intransigence since he announced his recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital.

PM Netanyahu and President Trump in Davos (Photo: AP)

Echoing the presidents remarks, Netanyahu later said that the Palestinians are searching for excuses to avoid a sincere conversation to discuss genuine peace. Genuine peace is something I think you are familiar with. It includes not only the security issues that will remain in our hands, but also the recognition of a Jewish state, Netanyahu said.

This recognition is the root of the conflict. These are the positions that I have clearly presented. I say categoricallywe are ready for peace negotiations, I dont see the Palestinians responding to this, he added.

Addressing European leaders at the forum, Netanyahu said he was unconcerned about the fate of the Iranian nuclear deal which was led by former US president Barack Obama and signed in 2015, but was determined to prevent nuclear weapons being developed by the Iranians.

PM Netanyahu address European officials (Photo: Reuters)

I dont particularly care if they fix the deal, or if they cancel the deal, or nix it, the important thing for me is the prevent Iran from getting a nuclear arsenal because Iran not only spreads terror world wide, Iran openly says its going to use those weapon, and every weapon they have, to annihilate Israel. Were not going to let that happen, he stated.

He also suggested a "new model" for peace with the Palestinians that would allow them to govern themselves but maintain Israeli control over security but declined to endorse a "two-state solution."

Later on Thursday, Netanyahu met with Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis and then with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to discuss ways to increase cooperation with Israel in various areas. He briefed them on the challenges and opportunities in the Middle East and invited them to visit Israel.

He also met with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, with the two agreeing to move forward on the sale of Israeli F-16s to Croatia according to the terms of the tender.

"This development is a further expression of the deep times between the two countries. The two leaders agreed to expand economic, security, water, agricultural, academic and tourism cooperation," read a statement by the Prime Minister's Office.Turkey's health minister said on Friday that 14 Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels were killed and another 130 people were wounded following Turkey's incursion into Syria's Afrin region.

Speaking to reporters after visiting wounded soldiers in hospitals, Ahmet Demircan said three Turkish soldiers and 11 fighters from Turkey-backed FSA factions have been killed so far in clashes in northern Syria.

He said 130 people had been brought to Turkish hospitals and that 82 of them had been released after receiving treatment. None of the wounded were in critical condition, he said, adding that additional medical personnel were sent to the area.

On Saturday, Turkey launched an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia, which it views as a security threat, in Syria's Afrin, opening a new front in the multi-sided Syrian civil war and further straining ties with its NATO ally Washington.

Dozens of combatants and more than two dozen civilians have been killed so far in the offensive, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, has said.

The Turkish military said in a statement on Friday it had killed at least 343 militants in northern Syria since the operation started.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) however, a YPG-dominated umbrella group backed by the United States in the fight against Islamic State, has previously said that Turkey was exaggerating the number of the dead.Kasanash Yashna, who made her way from Ethiopia to Israel when she was a teenager, and has yet to be granted Israeli citizenship, is terrified about what her future has in store for her after learning that she would be included in Israels mass deportation policy of African migrants.

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Born in the northern Ethiopian city of of Gonder, Kasanash was horrified when she was informed by Israeli authorities that the wave of deportation set to sweep thousands of illegal migrants out of country would take her with it.

At the beginning of January, Israel notified thousands of Africans who entered the country illegally that they have three months to leave or face incarceration.

The Population and Immigration Authority called on migrants from Sudan and Eritrea to leave "to their country or to a third country," meaning Rwanda or Uganda. Those who leave by the end of March will be given $3,500, along with airfare and other incentives.

No stranger to hardship and overcoming challenges, Kasanash is nevertheless worried Israel is about to force her to leave for a country where she will be forced to contend with more tribulations and more encroachments on her right.

Kasanash Yashna (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

I met for the first time the parents of my future husband when I was six, Kasanash said, when they opened a school in the village I asked to study. My father told me that I cant because Im engaged.

Determined to learn, Kasanash began her own private study. When my father found out he got really angry. I escaped to my grandparents because I was sick of being beaten and I met my aunt there. We traveled together to Khartoum, Sudan, she explained.

But life with her aunt in Sudan was not much better than in her village. I would serve in her house. One day she decided to escape. We got to the desert and she sold me to Bedouin. From Sudan to Egypt, they raped one of the travelers before my very eyes, she recalled.

In February 2008, when she was 14, the terrorizing journey ended and Kasanash arrived in Israel where she enrolled in studies at the Kadoorie Youth Village and completed her matriculation exams.

Today, she is a student of fashion design at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem.

In November last year, she was notified by the Population and Immigration Authority that she had 14 days to leave Israel.

Protest against deportation (Photo: Ido Erez)

I felt like my whole life was collapsing. I feel Israeli despite the fact that sometimes I am made to not feel that way, she said.

Nine years ago, Kasanash applied for asylum in Israel but has never received a final answer.

If they expel me, it is a death sentence for me. It will feel as though I am being sold again to another state. I ask the State of Israel: Give me the right to live like a normal person, she said in an impassioned and desperate plea.

Roi Bar Illan, the manager of the Kadoorie Youth Village in the Lower Galilee describe her case as heartbreaking, adding that as an educator in Israel I feel a moral obligation to turn to the decision makers to get the decree rescinded.

Despite Kasanash story, the Population and Immigration Authority insists that she was given every opportunity to settle the status of her pending asylum application.

This is a an Ethiopian subject who requested asylum. She was invited for an interview to deal with the request last July but she didnt show up, a statement read.

Despite attempts made to reach her she didnt come and therefore her case was closed. Therefore, she was informed a month ago that she had to leave Israel.

Some Israelis have backed the government's policy to rid the country of illegal migrants. Moreover, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that the deportations will only apply to illegal economic migrants and genuine asylum seekers fleeing persecution will be considered separately, but a sense of uneasiness has nudged activists into action.

In addition to protests against the policy, some activists are considering adopting a new strategy that would involve marrying them to block the government from carrying out the program.

Earlier this week, thirty-six Holocaust survivors penned an open letter to Netanyahu in which they urged him to abort the planned expulsion to Rwanda.President Donald Trump on Friday dismissed as "fake news" a New York Times report that he ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller last June, but backed down after White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to resign.

The newspaper reported Thursday that Trump demanded Mueller's firing just weeks after the special counsel was first appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

Trump pushed back against the report, without addressing the specific allegation, as he arrived Friday at the site of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories," Trump told reporters.An undercover expose of Polish neo-Nazis celebrating Adolf Hitler in a nighttime forest ceremony has sparked widespread revulsion in Poland, a country where Adolf Hitler's regime murdered millions Jews, other minorities and political opponents in concentration camps, ghettos and in the bombing of cities.

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Leaders have condemned the extremists and launched an investigation that has already led to the detention of six people and to the confiscation of fascist paraphernalia and ammunition.

There is widespread disbelief that young Poles, whose own ancestors were among the victims of World War II, could celebrate Hitler, who believed that Poles and other Slavs were "Untermenschen," or subhuman, and committed mass exterminations or forced many into performing labor for Nazi Germany.

Far-right nationalists burn flares in Warsaw on Polands Independence Day (Photo: AP)

The debate was sparked by a report broadcast Saturday by private news station TVN24 that showed members of a Polish neo-Nazi group called "Pride and Modernity" celebrating the 128th anniversary of Hitler's birth in a forest at night last spring.

Using hidden cameras, TVN24 captured footage of them preparing for the ceremony by dressing in SS and Wehrmacht uniforms and nailing swastikas to trees.

Mostly young men, they raised a toast to Hitler, whose photo hung also from a tree, praising him and making the stiff-armed "Sieg Heil" salute as a large wooden swastika burned. The ceremony even included a birthday cake decorated with a swastika.

The ceremony took place only 33 miles (53 kilometers) from Auschwitz, where Nazi Germany killed more than a million people, among them Poles. On Saturday a ceremony will be held at the former death camp to mark the 73rd anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops.

The denunciations from leaders came swiftly.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said propagating fascism tramples "the memory of our ancestors and their heroic fight for a Poland that is just and free from hatred."

This week he also called for tougher action against them.

"Organizations that are using symbols and concepts that glorify and tolerate German Nazism or other totalitarianisms should be outlawed," Morawiecki said.

National-Radical Camp, march in Warsaw (Photo: AP)

President Andrzej Duda, asked about the matter while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said such behavior "must be eradicated with all of our might."

"There is no place in Poland for the glorification of Adolf Hitler, on whose orders 6 million Polish citizens were murdered," Duda said.

Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski also strongly condemned the extremists, telling lawmakers in parliament on Thursday that "you have to be a complete idiot to dress up in an SS man's uniform and eat a waffle cake with a swastika in the forest. We will crack down on this!"

But he also faced criticism for seeming to portray them as a marginal phenomenon, even though many other observers have long been warning of a rise in far-right extremism in the country.

"In Poland such toads have to hide in the woods, but in Germany they walk through the center of Berlin," Brudzinski told lawmakers.

Some members of the opposition Civic Platform described his words as a disgrace.A politician in the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, known for its anti-Muslim rhetoric, has resigned from its board and converted to Islam, the party said on Wednesday.

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But while Arthur Wagner quit his AfD leadership post in the eastern state of Brandenburg, he remained a member of the party, which says Islam is incompatible with Germanys constitution and wants a ban on minarets and the face-covering burqa.

The AfD became Germanys third largest party in parliament after last Septembers general election

Arthur Wagner

Earlier this month, an AfD lawmaker caused a furor after accusing police of appeasing the barbaric, Muslim, rapist hordes of men by tweeting in Arabic.

The party said it stood for the constitutional right of religious freedom, regardless of Wagners conversion.

Mr. Wagner could also choose another religion, Daniel Friese, a spokesman of the party, told Berliner Zeitung, noting that Wagner had resigned from the board two weeks ago.

Mr. Wagner resigned on January 11 from the state board on his own volition. Only afterwards was it known that he had converted to Islam, Friese told Reuters.

Wagner declined to comment on his conversion. He does not want to speak with the press. He believes it is a private affair, the party spokesman said.DAVOS, Switzerland  President Donald Trump is showcasing the American economy in his address in Davos, telling financial leaders, "America is the place to do business."

Trump is using his speech to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to outline his work to overhaul the US tax system and slash regulations.

He says his work is beginning to pay dividends. He's pointing to 2.4 million jobs created since his 2016 election and noting that companies like Apple are planning to invest billions in the US.

Trump says he's making progress on giving Americans the dream of a "great job, a safe home" and a "better life" for their children.BEIRUT  A Syrian opposition spokesman says the opposition and government have signed a cease-fire agreement over the fighting in the suburbs of Damascus.

Ahmad Ramadan says the agreement was signed Friday, on the second and last day of a UN-mediated round of peace talks in Vienna.

The opposition-held eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus has seen more than two months of heavy fighting since rebels tried to break a strict government blockade that has depleted food and medical supplies for nearly 400,000 people trapped inside.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says at least 286 civilians in eastern Ghouta and Damascus have been killed in shelling and airstrikes in the last month because of the fighting.According to multiple reports, the notorious leader of a kidnapping syndicate in Kagarko-Jere axis of Kaduna state has been arrested. The man identified Yau Ahmadu aka Dogo Russia is said to be responsible for killing 2 policemen and abduction of 2 Americans and 2 Canadians last week was arrested by DCP Abba Kyari.

Combined teams of Intelligence Response Team IRT, Counter Terrorism Unit CTU and Kaduna Police Command all deployed by Inspector general of police; Ibrahim K Idris rescued the 3 white men and one white woman (2 American and 2 Canadian Citizens) who were abducted by unknown gunmen.

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The four expatriates were abducted along Kwoi-Jere road in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State on Tuesday. Two Nigerian policemen were killed by the gunmen in the course of the abduction.MOSCOW  Russia has no obligation to carry out sanctions set by the United States, including those on North Korea, RIA news agency quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov as saying on Friday.

"We will carry out only sanctions which are adopted by the UN Security Council. We don't recognize one-sided American sanctions, we have no international obligations to comply with them," RIA quoted Morgulov as saying.

Morgulov also said Russia would not expel North Korean citizens who are subject to US sanctions, and the US special representative for North Korea had been invited to visit Moscow, RIA reported.Heavy rainfall hit Israel from north to south Friday, flooding streamsand catching both drivers and hikers unawares. 14 people were rescued Friday night from the lower Galilee's Chilazon Stream, including several people rescued from jeeps marooned mid-stream and eight others stuck on an island in the middle of the brook.

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Magen David Adom said three of those rescued from the stream required medical attention due to mild hypothermia, two of which were airlifted by military helicopter to Rambam Hospital in Haifa and another by ambulance to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya.





A jeep submerged in Chilazon Stream (Photo: Adi Segal)

A statement by the police said a team from the Western Galilee-Carmel rescue unit assisted in extracting at least 20 people in distress after their vehicles were carried away by streams, while also assisting in extricating seven vehicles.

(Photo: Police Spokesmanship Unit)

Israel Air Force helicopters were also roused to assist in the Chilazon River rescue operations.

Jeeps submerged in Chilazon Stream (:  )

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Three additional people marooned on the Jordan River, just north of Arik Bridge, also needed rescuing. A short while later another vehicles, containing three men in their forties, was reported stuck in the river after attempting to cross it. All six were successfully rescued by emergency services.

Earlier Friday, a father and his son were rescued from their car in the Kziv Stream, after it was swept away by the rapids. The father said he always went on trips in the region and usually crossed the stream without issues.

(Photo: Northern District Firefighting and Rescue Services Spokesmanship)

Dozens of firefighters took part in Friday's rescue operations. Fireman Officer Shachar Tzairi, commander of the Central Galilee Fire Station, sought to remind the public that it was "strictly prohibited to cross streams and bodies of water on foot or aboard vehicles in unauthorized places, especially on days of heavy rainfall and rapidly rising water levels."

(Photo: Coastal District Firefighting and Rescue Services Spokesmanship)

Not only the wide outdoors were affected by inclement weather, however, as cities were also hard hit by massive amounts of precipitation.

The collapsed wall in Tamra

In the northern city of Tamra, for instance, a concrete wall collapsed on top of three vehicles, but miraculously no one was harmed. In Tel Aviv, meanwhile, a tree fell over on two vehicles, also damaging an electric pole.

The uprooted tree in Tel Aviv (Photo: Amir David)

In Hadera, a street was flooded and residences lost power due to short circuits on the electrical grid.

Heavy flooding in Hadera (:   )

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In the afternoon and early evening, snowfall continued in the northern Golan Heights and Safed, where internal roads were blocked for a short while. Crews from the municipality and the IDF opened the routes for traffic and said they will continue doing so until the snow stopped.

In the northern Golan Heights snow reached 10cm by the afternoon, whereas in Safed 5cm of snow were measured in the city's more elevated neighborhoods. On Mount Hermon, 48cm of snow were measured on the lower part of the site.

The Israel Water Authority said that due to increased flow in the country's streams, the Kinneret's level rose two more centerimeters since Friday morning, and five and a half centirmeters total since rains started.

The level was measured at -214.10 below sea levelwhich is still 1.1 meters below the red line.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to be called in to testify on the submarine affair for the very first time, and may even be questioned under caution on the matter later on, Amnon Abramovich reported on Channel 2 News Friday evening.

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Netanyahu's two close associatesattorneys David Shimron and Yitzhak Molchohave already been questioned by police.

The submarine affair relates to the procurement of vessels and patrol ships for Israel's Navy from the Germany-based ThyssenKrupp company.

PM Netanyahu is expected to testify on submarine affair (Photo: AFP)

A comment released on behalf of Prime Minister Netanyahu said, "Time and time again forced attempts are made to tie the prime minister to the submarine and boats affair, all while the Justice Ministry had already made clear the prime minister was not suspected of anything.

"We have heard many prophecies and speculation on 'what may be' through the years, but only one thing remains an absolute certainty: there will be nothing, because there was nothing."

Ynet first reported six weeks ago police estimates that the prime minister will invariably be brought in on the affair, commonly referred to as Case 3000, or at the very least called to provide testimony on it.

"There are still unresolved questions to answer on this affair," law enforcement officials said then.

Netanyahu's confidants Molcho (L) and Shimron have already testified on the affair, and may be indicted for their part (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg, Yariv Katz)

A little more than a week ago, meanwhile, police reported sufficient evidence was uncovered to recommend indictment against attorneys Shimron and Molcho, as well as against former Netanyahu chief of staff David Sharan , former Navy commander Vice Admiral Eliezer Marom and former National Security Council deputy chief Avriel Bar-Yosef

The police did qualify its statement at the time, saying the investigation was still ongoing and that the investigating unit had not yet reached the summary phase.This week in Washington, I focused on something we dont think much about: our food. The vastness of our land, our ingenuity, our technological prowess allows our nation to provide the most abundant, low-cost, nutritious, and diverse array of foods in the world. As we near the July 4th holidWe have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription.LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)  The Nebraska Supreme Court has ruled that a Guatemalan mother who fled her home country and Nebraska to escape abusive men can keep her children.Since it joined the African Union a year ago, Morocco has been working closely with African states to address the continents pressing issues, notably migration, sustainable development and peace and security. The next African summit, the 30th, scheduled on January 28-29, will see Morocco present a new Agenda on Migration in Africa along with the Kingdoms admission to AUs most important body, the Peace and Security Council.

An Agenda for Migration in Africa

By giving the example domestically, Morocco took leadership in the continent on addressing the issue of migration. Morocco has thus spearheaded initiatives aiming at reaching a paradigm change in how migration is tackled on the continent. The guiding line is to depart from the security approach in addressing migration issues in favor of a humanistic approach focusing on opportunities and common management.

In his quality as leader in charge of preparing the African Agenda on Migration, King Mohammed VI, has already briefed AUs leaders on the broad lines of the new agenda in a preliminary note to the 29th summit. The new agenda will involve four levels of action: national, regional, continental and international.

The adoption of the new African migration agenda, which will have a binding character on AU member states, will be a boost for Morocco which took the co-presidency, with Germany, of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, to be held in Marrakech in December 2018. The event will be dedicated to elaborating the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular migration.

Towards an Increased Contribution to Peace & Security in Africa

The 30th African Summit will also mark Moroccos accession to the AUs supreme decision making body on peace and security issues, the Peace and Security Council.

Moroccos ambition to be member of the most important body within the African Union was expressed by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during talks recently in Rabat with South African peer Maite Nkoana-Mashabane.

The Peace and Security Council is the AUs standing decision-making body responsible for the maintenance of continental peace and security. The councils 15 members are elected by the AU Executive Council on regional basis (three from Central Africa; three from East Africa; two from North Africa; three from Southern Africa; and four from West Africa).

The decision by Morocco to join the council is boosted on the ground by an active engagement in favor of peacekeeping efforts in the continent.

The Council, chaired by Algerias pro-separatist Ismail Chergui, has been long used by the Polisario-proponents to take decisions detrimental to Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara.

Moroccos presence within such a body will therefore act as a bulwark against the instrumentalization of the AU for separatist purposes as it will give the North African Kingdom a platform to make its voice heard.

AUs Reform

The next summit will also see Rwandas President Paul Kagame succeed to his Guinean peer Alpha Conde as Chairman of the pan-African organization. Kagame will use his presidency to forge ahead with the recommendations that he submitted in a report at the 29th summit containing recommendations for guaranteeing the future of the African Union.

In this respect, Morocco, alongside Rwanda, advocates a transformative vision of the African Union that entails a reform of the pan-African organization.

King Mohammed VI, in one of his speeches on Africa, has described the reform as a flagship project, expressing willingness to support this upgrading of the African Union.

Our institutional family must aim for greater efficiency and a streamlining of the pan-African organization in order to be in step with the expectations of African populations, the King had said in a speech to the African Union leaders. For the emergence of a New Africa, he had emphasized the urgent character of such a reform in order to address the enormous stakes involved and the immense challenges to which our continent must rise.To keep the momentum in its African policy, Morocco has set up a department at the foreign affairs ministry fully dedicated to African Affairs.

The recent government reshuffle approved by King Mohammed VI unveiled the name of Mohcine Jazouli, a businessman with strategic insight, as the official tasked with following up all projects pertaining to Moroccos cooperation with Africa.

The creation of such a portfolio is more than a symbol. It is a decision that shows the paramount importance of Africa in Moroccos foreign policy.

The setting up of such a structure was announced in October by King Mohammed VI at a speech at the opening of the Parliament. It comes at a context where Morocco continues to strengthen its foothold in the continent since its triumphal return to the African Union in its 28th Summit in January 2017.

At 49, Jazouli is a leading Moroccan investor in Africa with solid experience in doing business in the continent. He is founder and CEO of the Valyans consultancy, a company that rose to prominence in Morocco, contributing largely to the elaboration to key sector-based flagship projects including the Kingdoms industrialization plan and the Green Morocco Plan in agriculture as well as Moroccos fisheries strategy, Halieutis.

Jazouli will have a busy agenda following up the various projects launched by the Sovereign during his multiple African tours. Chief among these projects is Moroccos bid to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Atlantic gas-pipeline to channel Nigerias gas to the Mediterranean via west Africa as well as the construction of two giant fertilizers factories in Nigeria and Ethiopia.

With its return to the Continental organization, Rabat has also gained a venue for sharing its economic, political and security model that breaks away with the dominant ideological rhetoric in the organization in favor of a south-south African cooperation model permeated by solidarity and co-development.Morocco was elected to the African Unions Peace and Security Council, a body entrusted with conflict prevention, conflict management and resolution, and peacekeeping in Africa.

The election of Morocco to this supreme decision-making body on peace and security issues, where the Kingdom is set to play a major role, took place in Addis Ababa Friday, at the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the Pan-African Organization.

Morocco, the unique candidate from the North-African region, was elected to the Peace & Security Council (PSC) for a renewable two-year term (2018-2020) by 39 votes. The minimum of votes required is 36.

Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita who is taking part in the meetings preceding the 30th AU Summit (January 28-29) described Moroccos election to the PSC as an acknowledgment of the very constructive role and solidarity-based actions carried out in the continent, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in terms of peace, security and human development.

This election is another token of the AU member States support to and confidence in the Monarch, the Foreign Minister said in a statement to the media after the election process.

He revealed that some countries tried to hamper the Kingdoms election to this strategic body of the AU, but their attempts failed, while Moroccos credibility and the Kings commendable actions prevailed. He pointed out that integrating the CPS has been one of the objectives sought by Morocco after it returned to the AU in January 2017.

Since its creation in 2003, the Council has been chaired by an Algerian and was often prompted by this chairmanship to act against Moroccos supreme interests, particularly when it comes to its Western Sahara provinces.

In this connection, Nasser Bourita said Moroccos presence within the council would therefore make it possible to block all the manoeuvers and to counter the strategies that have manipulated the PSC for years to serve some specific agendas.

The Foreign Minister also underlined that the kingdoms unique experience in the continent, primarily in the field of conflict prevention and crisis management and its participation in several peacekeeping operations will be additional assets for the CPS work.

He noted that the current exhibition, organized by the Department of Military History of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), on the sidelines of the 30th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, perfectly illustrates this peacekeeping vocation of the Kingdom.

Other African officials attending the AU meetings stressed that Morocco has an important role to play in strengthening peace and stability in Africa, given the vast experience it acquired in these areas as well as in matters of economic, social and human development.

In this vein, Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama hailed Moroccos ceaseless and commendable efforts in the areas of peace and security on the continent, while his Tanzanian peer, Augustine Mahiga stressed that Morocco has an important role to play in the CPS.

The presence of Morocco in this Council will provide the kingdom with a better opportunity to strengthen its valuable contribution to peace and security in the continent, said Augustine Mahiga, recalling that Morocco has played a key role in peacekeeping in Africa since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (AU predecessor).

We hope that Moroccos entry into the CPS will be an opportunity to redefine and strengthen Moroccos position in the AU, added the Tanzanian Foreign Minister. Morocco has always responded voluntarily and without hesitation to the solidarity calls of his African brothers, she said.

Burundis Foreign Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe also praised Moroccos unwavering commitment to peace and security in Africa, saying the Kingdom is carrying out a stunning action in the continent, underpinned by a humanitarian dimension.

The Kingdoms commitment to humanitarian causes in Africa is highlighted during each of the visits King Mohammed VI pays to African countries, he said.

The Peace and Security Council is the AUs standing decision-making body responsible for the maintenance of continental peace and security. The council 15 members are elected by the AU Executive Council on regional basis (three from Central Africa; three from East Africa; two from North Africa; three from Southern Africa; and four from West Africa). Ten members are elected for a two-year term and five are elected for a three-year term, to ensure continuity in the actions of the CPS.Cool your jet. Photo: Woohae Cho/Getty Images

Air Force One needs two new refrigerators and they wont come cheap.

The Defense Department has awarded a $23,657,671 contract to Boeing in order to design, test, and install new chillers in the customized 747 jumbo jet.

That jumbo price tag is for more than a few Maytags. As Defense One explains, the refrigerators on Air Force One are required to hold enough food  around 3,000 meals in total  to feed passengers and crew for weeks without resupplying, just in case World War III breaks out. And in recent years, some of refrigerators have been failing.

Although serviced on a regular basis, reliability has decreased with failures increasing, especially in hot/humid environments, Air Force spokesman Ann Stefanek told Defense One. The units are unable to effectively support mission requirements for food storage.

The size of the refrigerators is only part of the reason they cost so much. The need to custom build a system unique to Air Force One adds to the price too, as do environmental tests and necessary FAA certification.

President Trump has been fiercely critical of the cost associated with Air Force One in the past, criticizing Boeing in 2016 for doing a little bit of a number on the American taxpayer.Who suddenly likes trade deals? Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP/Getty Images

The globalists are rubbing off on President Trump.

In Davos for the World Economic Forum on Thursday, the protectionist president signaled a willingness to rethink his opposition to NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, two trade pacts that he has loudly opposed both as a candidate and president.

On NAFTA, which the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are currently trying to modernize, Trump told CNBC that theres a good chance the deal is renegotiated. But he also said, I may terminate NAFTA, I may not. Well see what happens.

Still, giving NAFTA a good chance of survival is more optimistic than Trump has previously been about the deal, which he threatened to tear up during the campaign.

On TPP, Trump gave CNBC what he called a big story, saying hes open to a substantially better version of the pact. The deal was terrible, the way it was structured was terrible. If we did a substantially better deal, I would be open to TPP, he said.

As a candidate, Trump said TPP was a disaster pushed by special interests who want to rape our country. Once in office, he pulled the U.S. from the pact on his first Monday on the job. Great thing for the American worker, what we just did, Trump said upon signing an executive order to pull out of the deal.

But Trumps change of heart may be coming too late. The 11 nations that the U.S. left behind when it pulled out of TPP have reached a new deal to replace it. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership is expected to be finalized in early March.There is power in a union. Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The GOP understands how important labor unions are to the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party, historically, has not. If you want a two-sentence explanation for why the Midwest is turning red (and thus, why Donald Trump is president), you could do worse than that.

With its financial contributions and grassroots organizing, the labor movement helped give Democrats full control of the federal government three times in the last four decades. And all three of those times  under Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama  Democrats failed to pass labor law reforms that would to bolster the union cause. In hindsight, its clear that the Democratic Party didnt merely betray organized labor with these failures, but also, itself.

Between 1978 and 2017, the union membership rate in the United States fell by more than half  from 26 to 10.7 percent. Some of this decline probably couldnt have been averted  or, at least, not by changes in labor law alone. The combination of resurgent economies in Europe and Japan, the United States decidedly non-protectionist trade policies, and technological advances in shipping was bound to do a number on American unions. Global competition thinned profit margins for U.S. firms; cutting labor costs was one of the easiest ways to fatten em back up; and breaking unions (through persuasion, intimidation, or relocation) was one of the easiest ways to cut said costs.

Nevertheless, there was lot that Democrats could have done  through labor law reform  to shelter the union movement from these changes, and help it establish a bigger footprint in the service sector. At present, employers are prohibited from firing workers for organizing or threatening to close businesses if workers unionize  but the penalties for such violations are negligible. Further, while they must recognize unions once they are ratified by workers in an election, employers can delay those elections for months or even years  and, even after recognition, face no obligation to reach a contract with their newly unionized workers.

Democrats could have increased the penalties for violating labor law, enabled unions to circumvent the election process if a majority of workers signed union cards (a.k.a. card check), and required employers to enter arbitration with unions if no contract was reached within 120 days of their formation  as Barack Obama promised the labor movement they would, in 2008.

Or, if they were feeling a bit more radical, they could have repealed the part of the Taft-Hartley Act that allows conservatives states to pass right to work laws. Such laws undermine organized labor by allowing workers who join a unionized workplace to enjoy the benefits of a collective bargaining agreement without paying dues to the union that negotiated it. This encourages other workers to skirt their dues, which can then drain a union of the funds it needs to survive.

And that has the effect of draining the Democratic Party of the funds  and grassroots organizing  that it needs to thrive. As Sean McElwee writes for The Nation:

In a new study that will soon be released as a National Bureau of Economic Research working paper, James Feigenbaum of Boston University, Alexander Hertel-Fernandez of Columbia, and Vanessa Williamson of the Brookings Institution examined the long-term political consequences of anti-union legislation by comparing counties straddling a state line where one state is right-to-work and another is not. Their findings should strike terror into the hearts of Democratic Party strategists: Right-to-work laws decreased Democratic presidential vote share by 3.5 percent.

The study found that impacts persist in down-ballot races, and have given Republicans more power in the Senate, House, and governors mansions, as well as in state legislatures. This leads to a vicious cycle wherein the GOP can use that power to further suppress votes, gut union rights, and gerrymander legislaturesin other words, embark on a fundamental retooling of American political mechanics.

The decimation of the blue wall in 2016 may have been driven by Trumps unique candidacy, but right-to-work laws had been weakening the foundation for years. In 2014, Republican Governor Rick Snyders narrow victory against Democratic opponent Mark Schauer may well have gone in a different direction were it not for the states 2012 right-to-work law. Its not impossible to imagine that progressive Senate candidate Russ Feingold would have beaten Tea Partybacked incumbent Ron Johnson in 2016 if only Wisconsin private- and public-sector unions had not been completely gutted. The effect of right-to-work laws, according to this research, are large enough that it could have easily cost Hillary Clinton Wisconsin and Michigantwo states that went right-to-work before the 2016 elections.

These findings will surprise no one in the Republican leadership. Since 2010, six GOP state governments have passed right to work laws. Last year, Kentucky and Missouri joined the club (the latter development will make Senator Claire McCaskills already difficult reelection bid all the more challenging). Republicans prioritized these regressive labor law reforms because they understood how devastating they would be for the unions  and thus, to the Democratic Party. Last year, anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist argued that if right-to-work reforms are enacted in a dozen more states, the modern Democratic Party will cease to be a competitive power in American politics.

This could have been a golden age for American liberalism. The Democratic Party  and the progressive forces within it  have so much going for them. The GOPs economic vision has never been less popular with ordinary Americans, or more irrelevant to their material needs. The U.S. electorate is becoming less white, less racist, and less conservative with each passing year. Social conservatism has never had less appeal for American voters than it does today. The garish spectacle of the Trump-era Republican Party is turning the American suburbs  once a core part of the GOP coalition  purple and blue.

If the Democratic Party wasnt bleeding support from white working-class voters in its old labor strongholds, it would dominate our national politics. Understandably, Democratic partisans often blame their powerlessness on such voters  and the regressive racial views that led them out of Team Blues tent. But as unions have declined across the Midwest, Democrats havent just been losing white, working-class voters to revanchist Republicans  theyve also been losing them to quiet evenings at home. The NBER study cited by McElwee found that right-to-work laws reduce voter turnout in presidential elections by 2 to 3 percent.

Further, the notion that grassroots organizing cannot make a non-woke white man prioritize his class interests over his racial resentments  and thus, that the Democratic Partys refusal to bolster union organizing was irrelevant to its failure to fend off Trump  is unsupportable. In 2008, labor invested a quarter-billion dollars into Barack Obamas election, allocating the bulk of those funds into burnishing the candidates support among union voters in the Midwest. That year, unionized white men backed Obama by an 18 percent margin; while nonunionized ones went for John McCain by 16.

If right-to-work laws alone cost Democrats roughly 3.5 percent of a given states vote share, how many votes has the party lost since 1978 by refusing to prioritize progressive labor reforms?

What kind of country would we live in today, if they hadnt?Of course Marco Rubio isnt supporting a bipartisan immigration proposal. Thats what got him into so much trouble with conservatives in 2013. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call,Inc.

A specter has haunted Senator Marco Rubios political career since 2013: his high-profile membership in the so-called Gang of Eight. The bipartisan group of senators produced a comprehensive immigration reform bill that was rejected by the House almost immediately and was ultimately demonized by conservatives everywhere.

It wasnt the first time Rubio had tried to lead his party out of the wilderness toward an immigration stance that was less repellent to his fellow Latinos. In 2012 he proposed an alternative to the DREAM Act that gave students limited relief without a real path to citizenship. It was widely expected to become a vehicle whereby GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney could mitigate the anti-immigrant image he had projected with his encouragement of self-deportation by the undocumented. But then Barack Obama preempted both Rubios proposal and Romneys planned pivot with the DACA initiative that remains central to the immigration debate to this day.

After that election, the prevailing wisdom in GOP circles  articulated most forcefully in the famous autopsy report the RNC released, examining ways for Republicans to achieve a majority  was that the party needed to embrace comprehensive immigration reform or risk perpetual defeat at the hands of Latino voters. The former tea party darling Rubio seemed the ideal leader for such an effort. But it was all a major miscalculation by the RNC and Rubio alike, as this assessment in late 2015 showed:

[A]s polls have shown, support for an active policy of deportation by law enforcement has steadily gained ground, becoming a clear majority position among self-identified Republicans by mid-2014.

The key thing to realize is that a hard-core pro-deportation position is now a mainstream Republican position, and certainly more popular than amnesty.

Rubio spent a lot of time during his 2016 presidential campaign backtracking from, and all but apologizing for, his earlier support for comprehensive reform. During GOP candidate debates, Rubio tried to pretend that his flip-flop was attributable to the emergence of terrorist activity that made relatively liberal immigration policies problematic. Ted Cruz called him on it instantly:

[R]adical Islamic terrorism was not invented 24 months ago; 24 months ago, we had Al Qaida. We had Boko Haram. We had Hamas. We had Hezbollah. We had Iran putting operatives in South America and Central America. Its the reason why I stood with Jeff Sessions and Steve King and led the fight to stop the Gang of Eight amnesty bill, because it was clear then, like its clear now, that border security is national security.

In the end Rubio  or Lil Marco as he called him  was the perfect foil for Donald Trumps claims that Establishment Republicans couldnt be trusted to defend the borders. But Rubio is only 46, and was just reelected to another term in the Senate. So he has time to keep working on that immigration policy resume to remove the horrid tattoo of the Gang of Eight from his body of work. And he continues doing so today by distancing himself from a similar gang led by Dick Durbin and Lindsey Graham thats struggling to put together an immigration policy deal, as Politico reports:

In an interview, the Cuban-American senator said that with Republicans in full control of Washington, a gang of senators from each party will not dictate Congress solution to protecting hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation.

Three GOP senators said in interviews that the recently-reelected Rubio is privately aligning with a group of immigration hard-liners behind a bill that would cut some legal immigration and further limit refugees. Asked directly, Rubio did not specifically say he would back the measure by Sens. David Perdue (R-Ga.) and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), but said theres a lot of concepts in that bill I could support.

Uh-huh. Rubio isnt going to be outflanked again.

And so, his perpetual drift is a reasonably good barometer for his partys movement on immigration policy, as one of his Florida colleagues indicated:

Hes a bellwether on this issue as to what can happen, what can pass, what cannot, said Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a fellow Republican from South Florida. His voice could either be exceedingly helpful or help kill something. I think he carries that much clout on this issue.

The original meaning of the term bellwether is the leading sheep in a flock, with a bell on its neck. That sounds like Rubio, all right. And it may take an act of God  or of Trump  to change the herds rightward direction.Since achieving marriage rights, theres been a radicalization of the movements ideology and rhetoric. Photo: David McNew/Getty Images

A new report out from GLAAD suggests that there has been something of a retrenchment in comfort with gay equality. The massive gains of the last couple of decades have stalled a little. While the percentage of people who support equality for gays, lesbians, and transgender people remains at a high of 79 percent, more people are expressing some discomfort: In 2014, for example, 27 percent of non-LGBT Americans said they would be very or somewhat uncomfortable looking at a wedding picture on an LGBT co-workers desk. The following year, that figure dipped to 25 percent. Now, it has returned to 27 percent. The survey shows a similar rise in discomfort in several other day-to-day situations.

Lets not get carried away here. But some small stalling in momentum seems clear, across so many areas. The question is, why? The mainstream media has no other explanation than, well, Trump, and a culture more tolerant of intolerance. That may well be part of it. But no one seems to notice the profound shift in the tone and substance of advocacy for gay equality in recent years, and the radicalization of the movements ideology and rhetoric. That is also surely having an impact.

For a couple of decades, many non-leftists, in the wake of the plague, took more control of the messaging of gay rights. We emphasized those things that united gays and straights, and we celebrated institutions of integration  such as marriage rights and open military service. We portrayed ourselves as average citizens seeking merely the same rights and responsibilities as everyone else  Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. We were largely gender-conforming, which is not in any way better than non-gender-conforming, but this helped get the conversation started and sustained. We adopted a much less leftist stance  and few can really dispute that it was one of the most swiftly successful civil-rights movements in history.

But since Obergefell? As many of us saw our goals largely completed and moved on, the far left filled the void. The movement is now rhetorically as much about race and gender as it is about sexual orientation (intersectionality), prefers alternatives to marriage to marriage equality, sees white men as problematic, masculinity as toxic, gender as fluid, and race as fundamental. They have no desire to seem virtually normal; they are contemptuous of respectability politics  which means most politics outside the left. Above all, they have advocated transgenderism, an ideology that goes far beyond recognizing the dignity and humanity and civil equality of trans people into a critique of gender, masculinity, femininity, and heterosexuality. Live and let live became: If you dont believe gender is nonbinary, youre a bigot. I would be shocked if this sudden lurch in the message didnt in some way negatively affect some straight peoples views of gays.

The lefts indifference to religious freedom  see the question of Masterpiece Cakeshop  has also taken a toll. So have the PC bromides of the LGBTQRSTUV reformulation. Its a clearly ideological construct, and so it tends to feed ideological polarization, rather than unwind it. The gay-rights movement achieved its biggest gains when we worked against polarization, reached out across the spectrum, emphasized the human rather than the political, and did the key, hard educational work in our families, schools, churches, and neighborhoods. Too many seem eager to forget those lessons.

The Trump era is, I fear, not just about this hideous embarrassment of a president. Its also fueled by a reaction of many ordinary people to the excesses of the social-justice left  on immigration, race, gender, and sexual orientation. If the gay-rights movement decides to throw in with this new leftism, and abandon the moderation and integrationism of the recent past, they risk turning gay equality from being about a win-win process for gays and straights into a war between LGBT people and the rest. Thats a battle none of us need to fight. Especially after the real war was won.

Logging Out

Is social media on the decline? Heres hoping. A lovely piece in The New Yorker last week by Jia Tolentino lamented the loss of blogging, idiosyncrasy, quirkiness, and intelligence from the web. This set of reflections on the Awl compiled by Max Read in these pages also conveys the essence of the Internet That Nearly Was. Tom Scocca gets the essence of this old era: What the Awl represented to me was the chance to write exactly what I meant to write, for an audience I trusted to read it.

I feel entirely the same way about the blogging golden age. What was precious about it was its simple integrity: A writer gets to explore her craft and develop her own audience. We werent in it for the money or the clicks or the followers. We were in it for the core experience shared between a writer and a reader  and the enormous freedom that removing the editorial gatekeepers unlocked. It was a brief period, but an alive one, and it was largely lost  or abandoned  because of a major failure of nerve on the part of most print media. (Harpers was and is a notable exception.) I was there, for example, at The Atlantic, when it felt it had no choice but to abandon its small group of bloggers and their devoted audiences in favor of a business strategy to maximize page views through social media. I witnessed a great American literary institution a century-and-a-half old feel it necessary to suck up to Facebook and Twitter. I saw when the goal across the media shifted from simply writing what you believed, however idiosyncratically, to writing more and more and more, so that the sheer volume of traffic might save the economics of web journalism. The fire-hydrant stream of content (writing was so passe) was so overwhelming that no single editor could manage it, no group of writers could give it character, and no single reader could even begin to read it all. Maybe the web made this inevitable. But it didnt make the dissipation of so much heritage any less agonizing to watch.

And after a few years of social obsession, online media began to seem all the same: a heaving, pulsating, twitching ocean of hot takes and insta-news in which tribal identity always took precedence over style or elegance or quirkiness or diversity of view. And it didnt really work as a business model anyway. Instead of consolidating their own readerships and loyalty, magazines became dependent on Zuckerberg and Twitter, vulnerable to shifts in the Facebook News Feed, which is now moving away from news. Increasingly and mercifully, writers and editors are discovering that their actual economic value lies not in countless page views, but in a relationship between readers and writers. Subscriptions increasingly matter more than page views with their diminishing ad revenues, which is why the subscriber buoyancy of the Washington Post and the New York Times is so encouraging. Im proud that my own blog, the Dish, never bent the knee to social media, and was eventually proof that the best business model was always reader loyalty and engagement  quality, not quantity. Which is why we were able to develop an online subscription model of 30,000 paid and passionate online subscribers  still more than any other purely online website has acquired two years later.

But theres hope on the horizon again. The sewer of most of Twitter is now so rank that even addicts have begun to realize that they are sinking in oceans of shitholery. Facebook is long overdue for a collapse, and the old institutions are showing signs of developing more character and coherence. Nick Bilton at Vanity Fair cannot wait for FaceTwitterGramChat to peak:

A few years ago, for example, there wasnt a single person I knew who didnt have Facebook on their smartphone. These days, its the opposite. This is largely anecdotal, but almost everyone I know has deleted at least one social app from their devices. And Facebook is almost always the first to go. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and other sneaky privacy-piercing applications are being removed by people who simply feel icky about what these platforms are doing to them, and to society.

The evidence that social media has turned journalism into junk, has promoted addictive addlement in our brains, is wrecking our democracy, and slowly replacing life with pseudo-life is beginning to become unavoidable. And the possibility that the media may recover from its loss of nerve is real.

Readers will reward quality. The editors of our day, if were lucky, will begin to realize that this is the economic future of journalism, and bank on it again. This tide will turn. Drop your Twitter; abandon Facebook; and buy a subscription to a magazine that is trying to save its own soul.

Science, Not Sexism

And so it has come to pass: Students* taking maths and computer science examinations in the summer of 2017 [at Oxford University] were given an extra 15 minutes to complete their papers, after [professors] ruled that female candidates might be more likely to be adversely affected by time pressure. Notice the might. My alma mater was concerned that men were winning twice as many first class degrees as women in the STEM fields and, so they - how else to put this? - changed the rules. When they gave students the extra time, they were able to shift the balance from 2 - 1 to 47 - 39, with men still a plurality of First Class degrees. There are no subjects I know of in which the exam times were lengthened to advantage men.

This is a little odd given the overall advantage that women now hold on campus. Nationally, women now outnumber men in colleges by 45 to 55 percent, and overtook men as long ago as 1978. The Department of Education projects that this imbalance will increase to 42 to 58 percent by 2023, giving women a real edge in the higher-paying workplace. Women now have a lower unemployment rate than men. Unequal pay? Yes, theres a median pay gap of 23 cents between men and women in all jobs. But when you adjust this number to examine whether men are, on average, paid more for exactly the same work as women, it shrinks considerably. Control for the type of jobs (and how well they pay), majors in college, and the length of time in the workforce (not affected by pregnancy and early motherhood), and, as a recent study (by the American Association of University Women, no less) found, the gap becomes around six or seven cents. Thats seven cents too much, but it is still unclear to what extent sexism  although it obviously plays a part  contributes to it, compared with many other factors. If anything, it seems clear that the future for most women in the marketplace is better than for most men. The value of physical labor is fast declining; the demand for jobs that involve interpersonal relationships and college degrees (where women excel) keeps growing. It can get a little difficult to believe in the enduring nature of a crude patriarchy when you look at these data.

Thats why one of the highlights of the web this last week has been an epic interview on British television between the University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson and his interviewer, one Cathy Newman:

As Peterson pointed out facts about gender, making careful distinctions, Newman kept putting obviously misleading words into his mouth, insulted him, tried to marginalize him until it became abundantly apparent that she was not exactly used to being challenged so rigorously on the premises of her worldview. She did not seem ready accept, for example, that its perfectly possible to be an enthusiastic believer in female opportunity and also believe that men and women are inherently, naturally different, in many important ways, and will end up with, on average, different roles in the culture and society. In more progressive countries, as in Scandinavia, there is a greater differentiation between the kinds of jobs and occupations the genders choose. More equality gives you more choice  and gives you more gender difference. It is therefore not an outrage that there are more men working as computer coders than women, and far more women working as nurses than men. It is a function of equality, not inequality, that these differences exist.

The same unwillingness to entertain a complex thought was also revealed in the responses last week to my post on testosterone. Jessica Valenti claimed that I was justifying abuse and harassment on the grounds of testosterone. Of course not. I was describing male behavior as largely driven by testosterone, and therefore inexplicable without it. No one can actually refute this, so they misdirect. Valenti simply ignores hormones entirely. In Slate, Evan Urquhart, a transgender man, has had to grapple with this question. And he describes his transition from estrogen to testosterone as really no big deal. He argues that it only affects superficial physical traits, not behavioral or psychological ones, as if our brains were not part of our bodies, as if testosterone reached the neck and decided, Im done now! But then he offers some caveats. He admits a change in horniness, but it was a change in frequency, not in kind, as well as the fact that testosterone made him less likely to cry, and more likely to be angry or irritable. So apart from making him horny all the time, less weepy, and more aggressive and impatient, it really explains nothing about male behavior!

Is this so outrageous an idea: When one gender feels crazy horny all of the time and the other has a more episodic experience of it, it has relevance to the sexual dynamics between men and women? When you examine animals, you find that testosterone has more power than chromosomes in changing behavior. As I noted two decades ago, species in which the female is typically more aggressive, like hyenas in female-run clans, show higher levels of testosterone among the females than among the males. Female sea snipes, which impregnate the males, and leave them to stay home and rear the young, have higher testosterone levels than their mates. We now know that girl chimps play with dolls, just like human girls. Boys  chimps and humans  mostly dont.

Im not saying that humans are merely animals. Our massive brains make us far more complex. But we are not supernatural. We are not abstract Kantian creatures in theoretical spaces. We are advanced primates on planet Earth, and the more we understand science, the more obvious that becomes. It frustrates me that progressives seem so afraid of this. It seems at times as if those who celebrate diversity are also terrified of it. The idea that men might be profoundly different than women or that the different outcomes between the genders might be caused by something other than the patriarchy are ideas deemed too toxic to consider. Its time they werent.

See you next Friday.

* In the original version of this article, I mistakenly misread the original source and claimed that only female students were given an extra fifteen minutes. I regret the error.Fake news, folks. Fake news. A typical New York Magazine fake news story. Photo: Jason Alden/Bloomberg via Getty Images

He came so close. Donald Trump  self-proclaimed enemy of the globalist elite, leading critic of international trade and shithole countries  almost made it through his appearance at Davos without getting booed or hissed.

The presidents prepared remarks presented a kinder, gentler brand of the America First nationalism than hed ridden to the White House. Trump did not scold Americas fake friends for tricking us into bad trade deals and then laughing all the way to the bank. He didnt abruptly withdraw from any trade deals or international treaties, and improvised no threats of thermonuclear war.

He did promise to put Americas interests above all others. But he presented this commitment to nationalism as a kind of state-level, libertarian utopianism: A planet of narrow-minded nationalist governments wouldnt lead to zero-sum conflict, but rather, to the greatest good for the greatest number.

As president of the United States, I will always put America first. Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first. But America first does not mean America alone, Trump said. When the United States grows, so does the world. American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe, and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the United States has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives.

The audience at the World Economic Forum did not exactly eat this up. According to the Associated Press, the crowd kept quiet, with no pockets of clapping that other leaders might receive. But the president nonetheless received polite applause when his speech ended.

And then, the Q&A began, and Trump went off script. The president focused most of his extemporaneous remarks on a hyperbolic account of his tax reform laws glorious effects. But when forum chairman Klaus Schwab asked Trump how his background as a businessman influenced his approach to governing, the mogul replied, As a businessman I was always treated really well by the press  it wasnt until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be.

Boos and hisses ensued.

Trump lashes out at journalists at Davos: "It wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be." pic.twitter.com/XT94Ksghtx  Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) January 26, 2018

Trumps jab at the press came less than 24 hours after the New York Times revealed that he had attempted to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller last summer  and only reversed course when White House counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit.

Earlier in the day, Trump had dismissed this report in remarks to reporters, saying, Fake news, folks. Fake news. A typical New York Times fake story.

Since the Times published that story, its central claim has been verified by reporters at the Washington Post, Politico, and Fox News.Trump and Morgan, back in less troubling times. Photo: D Dipasupil/WireImage

President Trump strives to be the opposite of his predecessor in every way, so you can be sure that none of his trips abroad will turn into an apology tour  even when he enraged one of our closest allies by doing something that he really should be sorry for.

While in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, President Trump was interviewed by Piers Morgan for Good Morning Britain. In a clip released on Friday morning, Morgan pressed Trump about three videos he retweeted in November that purportedly showed Muslims committing acts of violence. It turned out the videos were posted by Jayda Fransen, leader of the far-right Britain First Party, and elements of the footage were mischaracterized. This sparked a spat between Trump and U.K. prime minister Theresa May when she said Trump was wrong to promote the groups prejudiced rhetoric, and the president lashed out at her on Twitter.

Trump told Morgan he retweeted the videos because hes a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror, and explained that while his retweeting of a far-right extremist group might have caused an uproar in the U.K., it was not a big story where I am.

Trump then tried to shift the focus to his great love of all things British, but Morgan asked if he could get an apology for the retweets, saying I think it would go a long way.

If youre telling me theyre horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologize if youd like me to do that, Trump answered. I know nothing about them.

Morgan asked if Trump would disavow himself of such people. I dont want to be involved with people like that, Trump said. But youre telling me about these people because I know nothing about these people.

Morgan thanked Trump, telling him it means a lot to people in Britain.

This exchange was labeled as an apology to the U.K. by Morgan, Good Morning Britain, and a number of other outlets. Bloomberg tweeted that Trump had offered a rare public apology.

BREAKING NEWS:

President Trump has publicly apologised for retweeting far-right group Britain First.

Says he didn't know who they were. 'I don't want to be involved with these people. If you're telling me they're horrible racist people. I certainly apologise.' pic.twitter.com/S1apSWC7rR  Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 26, 2018

But many people noted that Trump didnt actually say he was sorry; he emphasized that he knew nothing about Britain First when he decided to disperse unverified and inflammatory videos to his millions of Twitter followers, and said he would certainly apologize if it would make Morgan stop pestering him.

Trump on:



David Duke: "I don't know anything abt David Duke. I don't know what you're even talking about w/ white supremacy"



Britain First: "If you're telling me that's a.. horrible racist ppl...I would certainly apologize if you'd like me to do that. I know nothing abt them."  Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) January 26, 2018

To be precise: Trump said he would apologize. He didnt say Im sorry, that was wrong. I highly doubt he will issue a genuine apology. Even if he did, it would come weeks after the retweets. He retweeted fake videos from a neo-fascist 3 times. This isnt remotely sufficient.  Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) January 26, 2018

Everyone mocked Trump for saying he has the best words, but he does know how to get out of an awkward situation without saying anything he doesnt want to.Trump meets with Netanyahu on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos. Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

President Donald Trump on Thursday issued an ultimatum to the Palestinian Authority: Return to the negotiating table with Israel, or say good-bye to tens of millions of dollars in American aid to Palestinian refugees.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, following a meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu (lest anyone remain unsure whose side hes on), Trump lashed out at the Palestinian leadership for having disrespected the U.S. by snubbing Vice-President Mike Pence on his dubiously meaningful trip to the Holy Land last week and said, That money is on the table and that money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace.

Because I can tell you that Israel does want to make peace and theyre going to have to want to make peace too or were going to have nothing to do with them any longer, he added.

Trump said his administration would soon release its plan for a peace deal, which he described as a great proposal for Palestinians that covers a lot of the things we discussed over the years, without giving any further details. Somewhat confusingly, he said his decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem and formally recognize it as Israels capital took [Jerusalem] off the table. We dont have to talk about it anymore.

That statement directly contradicted Trumps previous claims that moving the embassy would not prejudice any final status negotiations over the holy city, which Netanyahu has called the eternal, undivided capital of Israel even as the Palestinians insist on establishing a capital of their own in the eastern part of the city. If Trump thinks the conflict can be resolved without talking about Jerusalem anymore, hes in for a very rude awakening.

Well have to wait for this promised proposal to come out before we know just how Trump plans to make the ultimate deal, but considering that the Middle East portfolio is being managed by his son-in-law, a personal friend of the Netanyahu family who spent nine years at the helm of a foundation that funded the construction of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, dont be surprised if it looks an awful lot like something Netanyahu wrote up himself.

Unfortunately, the best offer Netanyahu wants to make the Palestinians entails no land swaps, no right of return for refugees, no real sovereignty, no capital in Jerusalem, and nothing more than a few disjointed cantons in the parts of the West Bank Israel doesnt want for itself, all under perpetual Israeli military control  something hes flatly described as a state-minus. Pretty much every element of this vision, which demands peace without offering any semblance of justice in return, is a nonstarter for Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

A cynic might say this is by design: a proposal meant to be rejected. Given the mixture of disdain and paranoia with which Netanyahu regards Palestinian national aspirations, a cynic might be right.

In any case, if Trumps idea of a peace plan resembles Netanyahus, its going nowhere fast. Then again, it might be even loonier: One member of Netanyahus cabinet said last year that Trump was interested in a proposal to give the Palestinians a state in Egypts Sinai Peninsula, rather than in historic Palestine itself. Netanyahu allegedly floated this idea to the Obama administration in 2014, though his office denies this.

Since peace talks broke down nearly four years ago, Netanyahu has repeatedly said he is ready to resume negotiations without preconditions  by which he means without holding Israel to any of the paper it has already signed over the past 25 years. When it comes to actually accepting a deal, however, Netanyahu has plenty of preconditions of his own, as Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar explained in Al-Monitor in October:

These conditions include demands that Hamas recognize Israel and desist from terrorism, per the Quartet principles; lay down its arms, sever ties with Iran and hand back the bodies of Israeli soldiers killed in Gaza as well as Israeli civilians held there.  They also included a demand that Abbas government obtain full security control of the Gaza Strip (still under Hamas rule), including its borders, prevent smuggling into the Palestinian enclave and continue foiling Hamas terror activity in the West Bank.

How exactly the Palestinian Authority is supposed to regain security control of Gaza and drive Hamas entirely out of the Palestinian political arena is not clear. Eldar strongly suspects that the impossibility of these tasks is a feature, not a bug, calling them preventive measures to scuttle any U.S. initiative toward peace.

Given that Netanyahu has no interest in offering the Palestinians any deal they could possibly conceive of accepting, and that the Trump administration has so far been extremely solicitous of Israel, its hard not to see Trumps ultimatum as a sign that peace negotiations arent part of the strategy at all.

The threat to withhold aid to UNRWA, the special U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees in the Middle East (which Netanyahu and the Israeli right have long dreamed of dismantling), will put Abbas in a tight spot: If he agrees to restart negotiations, he knows he probably wont be able to say yes to Trumps plan without betraying his constituents, but will also be under extreme pressure not to turn it down and will have no leverage to amend it. Far from persuading the Palestinians to negotiate in good faith, Trump looks more like hes coercing them into capitulating to Israels demands. If Abbas avoids the trap, Trump will cut off aid and Netanyahu will trot out his well-worn lamentation that theres no partner for peace in Ramallah.

Netanyahu, in his own remarks after the Davos meeting, said the U.S. was the only international party that could serve as an honest broker for a Mideast peace deal. In reality, he prefers the Trump administration as a broker precisely because it is so deeply dishonest, entirely partial to one side of the conflict, and willing to foist his unjust solution on the Palestinians as a fait accompli.

Thats not to say Abbas and the rest of the Palestinian gerontocracy are any more capable of making peace than Israels right-wing government. Abbas continues to insist on a two-state solution based on the process begun at Oslo a quarter-century ago, but Netanyahu and his predecessors have spent years disregarding and destroying that process, creating facts on the ground in the West Bank that make a genuine Palestinian state impracticable.

At this point, the best thing that might come from Trumps peace initiative is an undeniable revelation that the peace process is really and truly dead, giving the Palestinians the impetus they need to disband their useless Potemkin government, abandon the two-state solution, and instead demand full integration of the West Bank and Gaza and full rights as citizens of Israel. Perhaps then Netanyahu will realize the price of his intransigence.Presidential advisor Stephen Miller privately laid out the new proposal, which he almost certainly wrote along with John Kelly. Photo: Kevin Dietsch - Pool/Getty Images

In the rapidly moving, sometimes topsy-turvy process of public negotiation over immigration policy, the Trump administration has offered the latest gambit: a deal that would give DACA recipients and some of their Dreamer peers the right to stay in the country and even pursue citizenship  in exchange for pretty much everything conservative immigration restrictionists have even thought about asking for in recent months.

The proposal was supposed to be under wraps (and maybe under development) until Monday, but presidential advisor (and former Michele Bachmann and Jeff Sessions staffer) Stephen Miller conducted a conference call with Republican congressional folk that naturally leaked almost instantly.

According to Miller, the administration is asking for $25 billion in border-wall funding (not coincidentally, thats what Chuck Schumer was offering the president on January 19 in the negotiations aimed at heading off a government shutdown); an end to the diversity visa lottery that provided a way into the country for many people from developing (or to use the presidents term, shithole) countries; a restriction of family-based immigration (the program would be limited to spouses and minor children of people already in the country); and significantly enhanced enforcement resources for non-border activities. This last item, suggesting a plan to step up deportations, was a bit of a nasty surprise for pro-immigration advocates.

There are a few other unusual items in Millers wish list, such as technology and security at the Canadian border, sure to trigger mordant jokes about White Walkers.

If the ask in this proposal is extremely steep, the prize for Democrats is big enough to upset those who cant countenance amnesty of any kind at any price.

On the details of the plan, the Times reports:

[Y]oung immigrants who were brought into the United States as children, would be granted legal status, allowed to work legally, and could become citizens over a 10-to-12 year period if they remain out of trouble with the law.

Officials said that would include about 690,000 people who signed up for protection under an Obama-era program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, but also for another 1.1 million undocumented immigrants who would have qualified for the program but never applied.

Indeed, when Trump himself dropped a big hint yesterday that he was open to ultimate citizenship for Dreamers, Breitbart News put up a headline labeling their hero Amnesty Don for the apostasy, and Ted Cruz blasted the president as well.

Meanwhile, the initial reaction from advocates of immigrants is about what youd expect with a proposal that offers them a choice between protecting Dreamers and protecting every other undocumented immigrant  and millions of future immigrants as well:

We will oppose it. Most if not all Democrats will oppose it. Some Republicans will, too, said Frank Sharry, the executive director of Americas Voice, a pro-immigration group. We are not going to allow Stephen Miller to exploit a crisis that he and his boss created to take a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty and enact his nativist wish list.

Indeed, suspicions arose immediately that Miller and his immediate boss John Kelly were simply trying to sabotage any agreement with a proposal sure to attract opponents from both left and right.

And as always, of course, no one can be entirely sure the deal Miller outlined will be on the table for more than a few hours, given the nature of his boss:

I welcome when he says the right thing. But I know the next day he might be 180 degrees different, said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in an interview. Weve got to get him to sign something right after he says the right thing.

This proposals probably not the going to be the basis for a deal, but it certainly represents the kind of right-leaning offer that may be the best Miller and Kelly are willing to make without coercion.President Trump and his party. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The New York Times reported Thursday night that Donald Trump ordered the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller last year, only to be dissuaded by White House lawyer Don McGahn, who told him such a blatant disregard for the rule of law would have what the Times called a catastrophic effect on Mr. Trumps presidency. That calculation may have been correct as of June 2017. It is probably no longer true. There is every reason to believe that Trumps party would continue to defend him regardless of how much justice he obstructs.

At the time McGahn gave Trump this grave warning, many Republicans not only supported Mueller, but endorsed legislation to protect the special counsels probe in case Trump attempted to fire him. These bipartisan bills seemed to be racing toward passage. But Trump urged Republicans not to pass anything. Soon, the party line was that it simply wasnt necessary to pass a bill to protect Mueller because there was no risk Trump would ever fire him.

I dont hear much pressure to pass anything, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told MSNBCs Hugh Hewitt. Theres been no indication that the president or the White House are not cooperating with the special counsel. Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn scoffed that a Mueller firing was just a hypothetical that, frankly, I dont think its necessary because I dont think its going to happen.

The threat of a Mueller firing is just a scary Democrat hypothetical, so theres no need to pass a bill ensuring it cant happen.

In the intervening months, Republicans have dramatically ramped up their campaign to discredit Mueller as a biased liberal deep-state operative. House Republicans have conducted a counter-investigation that, operating within the closed loop of alternative conservative news, has cultivated an alternate reality in which the real scandal is the crimes being committed by law enforcement against Trump. Republicans have palpably moved from passively supporting Mueller, while dismissing the need to take any concrete steps to protect his work, to actively endorsing smears against him.

To get a sense of how Republicans would process news of a Mueller firing, consider how the Times report has played out on Fox News, the preeminent party organ. The news broke during Sean Hannitys show. Hannity initially dismissed it as more fake news. The New York Times is trying to distract you  how many times has the New York Times and others gotten it wrong?

Sean Hannity: The New York Times is trying to distract you. They say Trump tried to fire Mueller, but our sources arent confirming that!



Sean Hannity, minutes later: Alright, yeah, maybe our sources confirm Trump wanted to fire Mueller. But so what? Thats his right. Anywho... pic.twitter.com/yUIt7Un56d  Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) January 26, 2018

After a commercial break, Hannity returned and conveyed the findings by Fox News reporters, who did indeed confirm the story. Yeah, maybe Donald Trump wanted to fire the special counsel for conflict, said Hannity, shrugging his shoulders. Does he not have the right to raise those questions?

Fox & Friends, ignoring the fact that Fox reporters had confirmed the scoop, sneered at the news. It was merely some new details that may or may not actually be true  do ya even care? Its false! Or maybe its true, but who cares. The line from denying Mueller faces any danger to justifying his firing can be traversed in a matter of seconds.

Fox & Friends on Trump trying to fire Mueller: "Well, the president says it's fake news, that happened last June, it's something we have to tell you about because it's a headline on the NY Times. What do you think about that? Do you even care?" pic.twitter.com/4nPB5sv6Fs  Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) January 26, 2018

Even among party elites, who need more time to process a reversal of the party line and dont take figures like Sean Hannity or Steve Doocy seriously, there is little reason to expect much resistance. The most useful barometer of the party elite is Yuval Levin, who writes for numerous prestigious conservative outlets (itself an indication of his influence) and whose positions tend to occupy the center of conservative-movement thought. Levin, like many Republican intellectuals, disdains Trump as boorish, undisciplined, insufficiently grounded in conservative ideology, and frequently unhelpful to movement objectives. And yet, judged from the standpoint of advancing conservative policy  the only standpoint most conservatives use to assess elected officials  he has always been preferable to the alternative.

Last fall, Levin co-authored a National Review cover story conceding that, yes, Trump inclines to autocratic rhetoric about how only he can solve the countrys problems. He clearly admires foreign strongmen, and so on, but it was Hillary Clinton who truly posed a more concrete and specific threat to the Constitution. It was not that Levin approved of Trumps calling for the imprisonment of his opponents or refusing to accept defeat or urging supporters to commit violence or bringing white supremacists into his coalition. These traits still rendered him less dangerous than a president who would normalize the immigration status of roughly half of the 11 million or so immigrants who reside in the U.S. illegally or require the states to regulate electricity production and consumption to meet a set of arbitrary carbon dioxideemission targets or other ghastly offenses against the republican form of government.

Levins most recent work is a review in The Weekly Standard of How Democracies Die, a book by two Harvard government professors, who explain how democracies backslide into authoritarianism. A central dynamic identified by the book is the choices made by potential governing partners for authoritarian politicians. In countries that have resisted authoritarianism, mainstream party leaders have shunned authoritarian politicians as a threat to the system. In countries where authoritarians have made more headway, they have calculated instead that authoritarians might be useful in advancing their policy goals and decided to ally with them despite any misgivings. The authors call this phenomenon ideological collusion.

Levin, who is a case study in ideological collusion, naturally dismisses the book as hysterical, a rush to apocalyptic fears. While cataloguing the Republican Partys descent into extremism, he argues, the authors overlook the similar flaws of Democratic politicians. They condemn the dangerous rhetoric of Republicans who denounced Barack Obama as illegitimate and a socialist enemy of the Constitution, but commit the same sin themselves by describing Trump as authoritarian. Without a hint of irony, they note that one of the ways the Tea Party movement undermined political norms was that it lodged the accusation that President Obama posed a threat to our democracy, he writes. Presumably this means that if you write an entire book arguing that Donald Trump threatens to bring the death of democracy, you are similarly justifying resistance to his administration by any means necessary.

If you consider Obamas center-left technocracy as dangerous to democracy, or more so, than Trumps belief that law enforcement must be personally loyal to him  as Levin does  then this all makes sense. It is almost unimaginable for Trump to violate governing norms so ruthlessly that the bulk of the party would turn against him irreparably. The level of sophistication of these rationales will differ with Hannitys displays of instinctive canine loyalty defining the bottom of the range, and Levins equivocatory cleverness the top  but the outcome will be the same. Firing Mueller wont be catastrophic. It will simply be another partisan scrum.

Whatever the Russia investigation finds, and whatever Trump does to quash it, or protect himself and his family, or pervert the FBI to rough up his political opponents, the dynamic that has protected him will remain in place. Trump will be popular among the Republican base. Republicans will need their base in order to hold Congress and protect their agenda. The alternative to Trump will always be a party that is left of center. Republicans may genuinely hope Trump does not fire Mueller. They may even wish that he would resign in favor of Mike Pence. But whatever he does, as long as he occupies the presidency, he will be their man.Photo: H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock/Getty Images

So you finally found the bar cart of your dreams, and youve loaded it up with your favorite liquor. While those are two very important steps to curating an at-home bar, to really make your setup recall that of your favorite watering hole, youre going to want to add some barware and cocktail equipment. But that can be an intimidating task, especially if youve had more experience drinking cocktails than making them. The good news is that you dont have to spend a lot of money. Most people in their home bar really dont need that many tools, advises Joaquin Simo, a partner at New York Citys Pouring Ribbons who was named Tales of the Cocktails American Bartender of the Year in 2012. I say you start with the absolute basics and concentrate on the things that you like to use.

If youre in a pinch, Martin Hudak, a bartender at Maybe Sammy, says you can always use tools you may already have on hand: For your shaken cocktails, you can use empty jam jars or a thermos flask. For measuring, spoons and cups, and for stirring, any spoon or back of a wooden ladle. But Stacey Swenson, the head bartender at Dante (which currently holds the No. 1 spot on the Worlds 50 Best Bars list), notes that if youre going to put stuff on display, you might want gear thats both practical and stylish. You want something thats functional and also something thats pretty, she says. If youre putting it on your bar cart, you kind of put on a show for your guests. With the help of Simo, Hudak, Swenson, and 28 other experts, weve put together the below list of essential gear for any cocktail-lovers home bar.

Editors note: If you want to support service industry workers who have been impacted by the coronavirus closures, you can donate to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation, which has set up a COVID-19 Crisis Relief Fund, or One Fair Wage, which has set up an Emergency Coronavirus Tipped and Service Worker Support Fund. Weve also linked to any initiatives the businesses mentioned in this story have set up to support themselves amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Shakers Best overall shaker Cocktail Kingdom Koriko Weighted Shaking Tin Set $17 $17 According to Simo, all shakers technically do the same thing, and there are very cheap and very nice versions, so theres really no superior option when it comes to function. That said, many professional bartenders use Boston-style shakers, which are basically two cups that fit into each other and form a tight seal to keep liquid from splashing all over you. If you want to look like a bartender at Death & Co. or PDT, and you want the same kit, then youre probably going to go metal-on-metal, or tin-on-tin, Simo notes. Six of our experts recommend these weighted tin-on-tin shakers  which come in a range of finishes, including copper and silver  from Cocktail Kingdom, a brand that nearly every bartender we spoke to praised for its durable, well-designed barware. Grand Armys beverage director, Brendan Biggins, and head bartender, Robby Dow, call this the gold standard of shaking tins. Behind the bar, theres almost nothing worse than shaker tins that dont seal well or dont separate easily, explains Krissy Harris, the beverage director and owner of Jungle Bird in Chelsea. The Koriko Weighted Shaking tins seal perfectly every time and easily release, she says. And because theyre weighted, theyre less likely to fall over and spill. $17 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Best shaker for beginners

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Weighted Shaking Tins Set $21 $21 While most bartenders use Cocktail Kingdoms Koriko tins, bartender Tim Cooper, who is also the head of brand advocacy for Fords Gin, says that the Leopold shaker is his favorite. In my experience, the tins are easier to separate than the Korikos and feel a touch lighter, as well, he says. Theyre simply more efficient, adds Cooper, which is why he says this is a great option for the at-home bartender whos not well versed on using shaker tins. $21 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Best shaker with a built-in strainer

Yukiwa Stainless Steel Cobbler Cocktail Shaker $36 $36 For some people, a two-piece setup like the above shakers might be tricky to use comfortably. Say youre a petite female  if you have very small hands, then maybe using a Boston-style shaker may be a little harder, explains Simo. In that case, a cobbler shaker may be the better choice, because its smaller than a Boston-style shaker and thus easier to hold. The other convenient part of a cobbler-style shaker is that the strainer is already built into the lid, so you dont necessarily have to spring for an additional tool. Karen Lin, a certified sommelier, sake expert, and the executive general manager of Tsukimi, suggests this shaker from Japanese barware brand Yukiwa. The steel is very sturdy, and the shape fits perfectly in my hands, she says. It is also designed well so you can take it apart easily to clean. $36 at MTC Kitchen Buy

Mixing glasses Best overall mixing glass Hiware Professional Cocktail Mixing Glass $17 $17 You know how James Bond always ordered his martinis shaken, not stirred? Well, if you were to ignore Mr. Bonds order and make a stirred martini  or any other stirred cocktail, like a Negroni or a Manhattan  youd set aside the shaker to use a mixing beaker instead. A mixing beaker is essentially a large vessel in which you dump your liquors and mix your drink. And though you can purchase handsome crystal ones for hundreds of dollars, both Simo and Swenson agree that theyre kind of superfluous for a basic bar kit. I dont think you should spend any more than $25 on a mixing glass, says Swenson. Harris agrees, saying that since they are the most broken item behind the bar, you should stick to a well-priced option like this mixing glass from Hiware that doesnt have a seam, so its stronger and very attractive. $17 at Amazon Buy $17 at Amazon Buy

Best nontraditional mixing glass

Bodum Replacement Beaker French Press, Replacement 12 Oz Clear Glass $18 $18 One of Simos hacks to getting a glass mixing beaker for not that much money is to use the glass piece from a French press, which is something else you might already own. If you want a dedicated one for your bar cart (that could serve as a backup for your French press), he says you can buy a replacement glass like this one, which has a capacity that is particularly useful if youre making drinks for a lot of people. I generally will take one or two of the big guys with me when Im doing events, because then I can stir up five drinks in one, and its really convenient, Simo explains. $18 at Sur La Table Buy $21 at Amazon Buy

Best pitcher

MyVintageAntique Shop Retro Martini Pitcher $24 now 8% off $22 According to Paul McGee, a co-owner of Lost Lake in Chicago, finding vintage martini pitchers is very easy, and they are perfect for making large batches of cocktails. Plus, theyll look more visually striking on your bar cart. This one is even pretty enough to use as a vase when its not filled with punch. The photo shows the pitcher next to a strainer, but youre only getting the pitcher for the price shown. $22 at Etsy Buy

Bar spoons Best Japanese-style bar spoon Twisted Bar Spoon by Modern Mixologist $20 If youre making a stirred drink, a mixing or bar spoon is also necessary. Three basic styles exist: the American bar spoon has a twisted handle and, usually, a plastic cap on the end, the European bar spoon has a flat muddler/crusher, and the Japanese bar spoon is heavier, with a weighted teardrop shape opposite the bowl, explains Joe Palminteri, the director of food and beverage at Hamilton Hotels Via Sophia and Society. None of our experts recommended specific American-style bar spoons, but Simo told us that one of his favorite Japanese-style spoons is this one made by bartender Tony Abou-Ganims Modern Mixologist brand. Its got a really nice, deep bowl to it, which means youre able to measure a nice, level teaspoon without searching through your drawers, according to him. Simo continues, The little top part of it has a nice little weight to it, but its not too bulky. So it gives you a really nice balance as youre moving the mixing spoon around, making your job a little easier. $20 at Amazon Buy $20 at Amazon Buy

Best European-style bar spoon

Cocktail Kingdom Muddler Barspoon, Silver-Plated $23 $23 Should your at-home bartending require a lot of muddling, Swenson recommends getting a European-style spoon like this, which he says will still allow you to stir while eliminating the need to buy a dedicated muddler. You can actually use the top of the spoon to crush a sugar cube if you wanted to for your old-fashioned. I have one of those, so I dont have to have two tools; Ive got both of them right there. $23 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Strainers Best overall strainer Cocktail Kingdom Buswell 4-Prong Hawthorne Strainer $20 $20 You dont necessarily need a strainer if youre using a cobbler shaker, since its already got a strainer built into the lid. But if youre using a Boston-style shaker, you should get whats called a Hawthorne strainer to make sure the ice you used to chill your drink doesnt end up in your glass and dilute the cocktail. Three experts recommend this one, including Lynnette Marrero, the beverage director of Llama Inn and Llama-San and the co-founder of Speed Rack, who says its her absolute favorite because it is light and easy to clutch and close correctly. If you choose to buy this Hawthorne strainer, Simo also recommends getting the replacement springs that Cocktail Kingdom sells, telling us theyre a good way to give a worn-out strainer a face-lift. Theyre really, really nice and tight, and you can generally slip them into any Hawthorne strainer that you have. $20 at Amazon Buy $14 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Best less expensive strainer

Cocktail Kingdom Julep Strainer $11 $11 A slightly less expensive strainer is this Cocktail Kingdom julep strainer that three of our experts  Woodford Reserve Brand Ambassador Random Ward; Padraig Confrey, the beverage director at Grupo Gitano; and Harris  also recommend. Generally, julep strainers will offer a better fit than Hawthorne strainers if youre using a mixing glass to make your drinks. According to Cohen, a julep strainer can work equally well in the kitchen, because it doubles as an ice scoop if needed, too. $11 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Jiggers Best overall jigger OXO Good Grips Angled Measuring Cup, Mini, Clear $6 A jigger is what you use to measure the liquor into the shaker or mixing glass. A hyperfunctional, albeit nontraditional-looking, option is the mini measuring cup from OXO. I know some bartenders, including the ones at Drink in Boston, one of the best bars in the country, swear by those graduated OXO ones because they love the ability to read them from both the sides and the top, explains Simo. You can measure in tablespoons or ounces or milliliters, and its all on the same jigger. Part-time bartender Jillian Norwick and Ward both love it too and keep the stainless steel version on hand (which looks a little nicer when left out). Noriwck adds that shes in good company: The peeps at Bon Appetit love it. $6 at Amazon Buy $6 at Amazon Buy

Best stepped jigger

Cocktail Kingdom Stepped Copper Jigger $35 $35 This fancy-looking jigger combines the functional appeal of the OXO measuring cup (its basically a cup that grows wider to accommodate different amounts of liquid) with the aesthetic appeal of a classic bar tool. It also makes measuring a snap: This handy measuring tool is super-easy to use and enables the imbiber to essentially build all the ingredients of a drink in one go, says Confrey. $35 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Best traditional jigger





Viking Japanese-Style Jigger $8 $8 If youre going for a more classic look but still want something practical, Simo recommends this double-sided metal jigger that has a one-ounce cup on one side and a two-ounce cup on the other. The one-ounce side on this strainer also has a half- and three-quarter-ounce lines etched into it to make it even more precise. That gives you a lot of wiggle room and will allow you to measure for most basic cocktails, Simo says. From there, you really just have to learn what a quarter-ounce looks like in there, and youre pretty much good to go. $8 at Amazon Buy $8 at Amazon Buy

Best Leopold jigger





Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Jigger $27 $27 Biggens, Dowe, and Swenson prefer a Leopold jigger, which has a unique bell shape (with one bell holding an ounce, and the other two ounces) as well as lines etched on the inside marking both quarter- and half-ounces. Theyre really easy to hold and they have some weight to them, Swenson adds. Somebody whos not really experienced using a jigger is going to be fine with something with a little bit more weight to it. And they look cool. $27 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Glassware Best collins/highball glasses Cocktail Kingdom Buswell Collins Glass, 12-Ounces, Set of 6 $20 Though its easy to want to get a different type of glass for every type of drink you make, thats really unnecessary when youre first starting out. According to Simo, You can make 90 percent of drinks into a good, all-purpose cocktail glass like a rocks or a collins glass. (While this section contains our bartenders favorite glasses, if you want to shop around, you can find most of these styles at various price points in our list of the best drinking glasses.) A collins  or highball  glass is the one that looks like a chimney, and generally youre looking for something thats about 12 ounces, like these collins glasses from bartender-favorite brand Cocktail Kingdom. You dont want a 16-ounce Collins glass because youre going to be hammered after your second Tom Collins, advises Simo. $20 at Cocktail Kingdom Buy

Best rocks glasses





Marquis by Waterford Markham Double Old Fashioned Glasses, Set of 4 $100 now 58% off $42 For a rocks glass, Simo says the ideal size is between eight and ten ounces. Thats enough where you could put a decent-size chunk of ice in there if you like making the fancy ice, he explains. This set of four rocks glasses recommended by Theo Lieberman, the beverage director of 232 Bleecker, is slightly larger at 11 ounces each (more room for fancy ice), and he says theyre durable, machine-washable, and look good to boot. No one likes taking all the time to make a cocktail and then just putting in a boring glass, he says. $42 at Amazon Buy $42 at Amazon Buy

Best coupe glasses

Cocktail Kingdom Leopold Coupe Glass, Set of 6 $40 $40 If youre looking for glassware beyond the basic collins and rocks glasses, Swenson suggests adding some coupe, or bell-shaped, glasses to your setup, because theyre more forgiving than a V-shaped martini glass (which, she adds, are super out of style these days). The curve on a coupe holds the liquid in a little bit more, so if you get jostled, the liquid is more likely to slosh within the glass but stay in the glass, Swenson explains. Theyre sleek, theyre smaller, and they look a lot classier than a martini glass. A coupe glass should be somewhere between six and eight-and-a-half ounces, advises Simo. Nate Fishman, the brand ambassador for Santera Tequila and a bartender at Liquor Lab, likes these six-ounce coupe glasses, telling us that, in his opinion, everything tastes better out of a coupe glass. $40 at Amazon Buy $40 at Amazon Buy

Best less expensive bar-tool set

Victorinox Swiss Classic Paring Knife $7 $12 now 42% off $7 According to cocktail expert and global brand ambassador for Absolut Elyx Gareth Evans, When youre making drinks for friends, remember that the first sip is with the eye, and this is where a good, sharp knife comes in to make sure your garnishes look fresh. He suggests this non-serrated paring knife from Victorinox, which he says is the bartender staple around the world. $7 at Amazon Buy $7 at Amazon Buy

PERLII Ice Cube Trays Large Silicone $14 At home, I just have the two-by-two ice-cube trays, says Swenson. I dont stress with making them perfectly clear, but if you want to take the time to do that, thats totally fine. According to Simo, basically any style of ice-cube tray you have at home will likely yield better ice than youd get at an actual bar. For the most part, you will make better ice in your home freezer using even standard ice molds, he says. Thats because most commercial ice machines produce ice that is designed to stack on each other and take up a lot of room, but has so much surface area that it melts really quickly and dilutes your drink. If youre looking to add a bartender-approved ice tray to your freezer, Lieberman says that these molds are easy to use and clean, and make 2.5x2.5-inch cubes that are great for any cocktail or just whiskey on the rocks. $14 at Amazon Buy $14 at Amazon Buy

Secret Warehouse Skull Ice Cubes $20 $40 now 50% off $20 Those who want ice with a bit of flair should consider these skull-shaped ice cubes that Rob Dietrich, the master distiller at Blackened American Whiskey, uses at home. The large surface melts slow, offering a less diluted beverage, he says. His other tip: Use filtered water when making your ice to get the best taste. $20 at Secret Warehouse Buy

Pulltex Corkscrew, Black $8 now 13% off $7 A good wine key is invaluable, says Simo, though you dont necessarily need to spend much money on one. He recommends getting one with a serrated blade (to take the foil off of the bottle) and coated coil, because itll go into the cork more smoothly. The kind that have the hinged little portion that you can get halfway through the pull and then re-lock it to get the other half in, those are very forgiving because it gives you two different angles at which to get the cork out perfectly vertically, he adds. $7 at Amazon Buy $7 at Amazon Buy

Chefn FreshForce Citrus Juicer $25 now 40% off $15 The only way to get good lemon and lime juice is to take a small, round, fresh green or yellow thing, cut it through the equator, and then put it into a juicer and ream it and use it that day, says Simo. You cant use it the next day. It gets really bitter and oxidized and gross. Thats why he says having a handheld juicer is so important if youre trying to up your home-cocktail game. Ivy Mix  the owner of Leyenda in Brooklyn, a co-founder of the all-female bartending competition Speed Rack, and the author of the forthcoming book Spirits of Latin America  agrees: Having a fantastic juicer on hand is a must. Biggins and Dowe say this handheld juicer is the best of the best, because its efficient, sturdy, and gets the most juice out of your citrus. If you want something more powerful, Brian Evans, the director of bars at Sunday Hospitality, says an easy-to-operate beast like the Breville electric juicer will up your mixology game a notch by allowing you to juice vegetables and fruits, instead of just simple citrus. $15 at Amazon Buy $25 at Bed Bath & Beyond Buy

The Cocktail Codex by Alex Day, Nick Fauchald & David Kaplan $40 now 48% off $21 Just like you keep a coffee table book in the living room and a cookbook in the kitchen, you can display a cocktail book on your bar cart. Evans calls this one of the most invaluable cocktail books ever released, as well as a treasure trove like no other. Cocktail Codex is a James Beard Awardwinning book that lays out a wide spectrum of techniques, flavor pairings, and spirits knowledge that really speak to the professional mixologist as effectively as the casual home bartender, he explains. $21 at Amazon Buy $37 at Bookshop Buy

There are endless books on the subject of cocktails, and I want them all, says Maldonado. She has a rotation of informative and beautiful tomes that she keeps on her own home bar, including Death & Co and The Drunken Botanist as well as Cocktail Codex. Friends love thumbing through them while she entertains, she adds.

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Lawyers Gawaya Tegulle and Eron Kiiza

Two lawyers have threatened legal action against the government and the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi over what they term as illegal detention of a Rwandan businessman Emmanuel Cyemayire.

According to Gawaya Tegulle and Eron Kiiza, Cyemayire was arrested from his house in Mbarara by UPDF soldiers and operatives from the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) on January 4.

The arrest was not only brutal and violent, it was also inhumane, given that his little ones [children] were watching which traumatized them, Tegulle told journalists on Wednesday.

Cyemayire is the latest Rwandan national living in Uganda to be apprehended by the military over charges related to terrorism and espionage. On December 28 last year, 45 Rwandans were charged for terrorism before Mbarara Grade One magistrate Daphine Ayebale who remanded them to Mbarara Central Prison.

The group had spent over two weeks at Nalufenya detention facility in Jinja following their arrest at Kikagati border point in Isingiro district. As the 45 were being arraigned before court, another group of five Rwandan nationals  Freddy Turatsinze, Jessica Muhongerwa, Vanessa Gasaro, Dianne Kamikazi and Herbert Munyangaju  was being deported.

Their colleague Dianne Kamashazi is allegedly still in CMI custody, according to Tegulle.

Given recent trends as narrated by previous inmates of CMI detention centres, which are illegal in the first palce, it is highly unlikely that Cyemayire is calm and relaxed, enjoying extreme hospitality at the hands of CMI operatives, Tegulle said.

Four days after Cyemayires arrest, Tegulle and Kiiza filed a Habeas Corpus application before the civil division of the High court in Kampala to compel CMI, the CDF and the Attorney General to produce Cyemayire in court.

Justice Lydia Mugambe granted their application when she issued a writ of Habeas Corpus requiring the government and UPDF to produce the businessman in court on January 16.

The government and security agencies refused to cooperate even when another writ was issued for the same court the following day [January 17], Tegulle said.

Subsequently, Mugambe declared Cyemayires detention illegal and unconstitutional and, thus, issued a mandatory release order.

Upon establishing that the continued detention of [Cyemayire] by security agencies is illegal and a violation of his right to liberty guaranteed under the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, I hereby direct that the said Cyemayire Emmanuel be released immediately from detention at CMI or wherever else he [is] detained, Mugambes order reads in part.

The order was served to the attorney general and the CDF on January 19 but both, according to Tegulle, ignored it.

Everything that we should have done within the law we have done, I dont know what else they want us to do to secure the release of Cyemayire, Tegulle said.

Under the circumstances, Kiiza said, they are contemplating to move court to hold the CDF, the director general of CMI and the attorney general liable for contempt of court.

They are in clear contempt of court since they disrespected the writ of Habeas Corpus and the mandatory release order which was issued by Justice Mugambe. We are, therefore, going to ask court take action on these government officials, Kiiza said.

Interviewed, UPDF spokesman Brig Richard Karemire said the CDF is wrongly being dragged into the matter.

Let them [Cyemayires lawyers] first study the law establishing the UPDF and know which organ does what, Karemire said.

He declined to say anything in regard to the detained Rwandan nationals.

sadabkk@observer.ugPak-USA diplomatic row over Kurram Agency drone strike

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and US on Thursday once again got engaged in a diplomatic spat over Wednesdays drone strike in Kurram Agency, with both sides rejecting each others claims on the actual target of the attack.



The drone strike on 24 January in Spintal, Hangu district, was on individual target who had morphed into Afghan Refugees and not any organised terrorists sanctuary which have been eliminated, a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Thursday.



Out of total 54 Afghan Refugees Camps/complexes in Pakistan, 43 are in KP with overlap in FATA (complexes in Hangu including where drone struck on 24 Jan 18 shown on map), the statement said. This validates Pakistans stance that left over terrorists easily morph into Afghan Refugees camps/complexes, it maintained. Thus their early and dignified return to Afghanistan is essential. Pakistans brotherly hospitality to peaceful Afghan Refugees must not be exploited by the terrorists, the statement concluded.



Last month, the government had approved only 30-day extension to the stay of around 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Islamabad has now set a deadline of January 31 for all the refugees to return to Afghanistan.



According to the UNHCR statistics, nearly 1.4 million Afghan refugees remain in Pakistan. However, unofficial data suggests that a further 700,000 undocumented refugees could be in the country. At least three people including a Haqqani network commander were killed in a drone strike on a house situated close to the Kurram Agency on Wednesday.



Pakistan was quick to condemn the United States (US) drone strike, admonishing Washington for taking unilateral actions [that] are detrimental to the spirit of cooperation between the two countries in the fight against terrorism. Pakistan condemns drone strike in Kurram Agency carried out by the Resolute Support Mission (RSM) this [Wednesday] morning, which targeted an Afghan refugee camp, it added.



In an unusual reaction, the US embassy in Islamabad rejected the claim that the drone hit an Afghan refugee camp as false.



The claim in a foreign ministry statement that US forces struck an Afghan refugee camp in Kurram Agency is false, Rick Sinelsine, spokesman for the US embassy, said.



A spokesman for the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, added to the confusion by declaring that there were no refugee camps in the tribal areas, and no sign of a camp can be seen in pictures from the site.



However, the Foreign Office (FO) said that Pakistan stood by its initial statement.



At a regular briefing on Thursday, FO spokesman Dr Faisal strongly condemned the drone strike in Kurram Agency and maintained that there has been no understanding with the US allowing action by its forces in Waziristan and Kurram Agency. Pakistan continues to emphasize to the US the importance of sharing actionable intelligence so that appropriate action is taken against terrorists by our own forces within our territory, he said. Such unilateral actions are detrimental to spirit of cooperation between two countries. Cooperation and not confrontation is the only way forward to peace and stability in the region and beyond, the spokesman said.



The spokesman maintained that repatriation of Afghan refugees and an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process was the only way forward for peace in that country as well as the whole region. Afghan government should work on pull factors to encourage repatriation of refugees, he suggested.



The Upper House of parliament also condemned on Thursday the US drone strike in Kurram Agency, saying the attack was a breach of Pakistans sovereignty.The mathematical (and other) thoughts of a (now retired) math teacher,Colombia Hoy



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Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras



La purita verdad



Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia



Mi pobre clase media



Como Chavez nadie



Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear

Programa de la MUD



Asi o mas clarito



Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte?



Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio?



Una verguenza nacional



La luz que nos guia



La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz?



Feudalismo ayer y hoy



Obama, el mentiroso



Curiosa coincidencia



Un mundo de cerdos



No es extrano?



La Marioneta



Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran



MARICORI Y OBAMA



Cuantas muertes este ano?



USA TODAY



USA HOY 6



USA HOY 5



USA HOY 4



USA HOY 3



USA HOY 2



USA HOY (1)



Insaciable



Cronologia de un agresor



Guarimbear en USA



Mexico hoy



Bolivar y Chavez



Primero Amargado



Dios los cria y ellos se juntan



USA hoy (III)



USA hoy (II)



USA hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Mexico hoy



Obama



La verdad sea dicha



Los ricos



Que no nos vea Obama



Pobre Obama



SOS PALESTINA



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Chavez Cuanto te queremos!



Por culpa de Chavez



Cerveza Polar







Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar







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LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares?



























Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano...



Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos:



Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias.



Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera.



No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje.



En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio.



Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida.



Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella.



Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal.



Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista.



Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen.



Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che?



Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio.



Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora.



Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo.



Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo.



Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania.



No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar.



Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga.





Alguna duda?



Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino



Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia.



OZ1



OZ2



OZ3



OZ4



Homenaje a Jason Galarraga



La Victoria de Samotracia



Odalisca



Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008



























La Sierra Nevada de Merida



Nuestro precioso Churum Meru



Homenaje a Picasso



Autoretrato



Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola?

La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.

Mi profesion?

Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.

Sal en la Coca Cola?

A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.

De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:

Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto

Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)

azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)

Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas

Mucha Cafeina

Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio

Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe

Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion

El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.

Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.

Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.

En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).

Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.

La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.

Bebidas Light?

Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el

Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.



Publicado por loretahur



En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur

MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina:

1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias.

2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina.

3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard.

4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos.

5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla.

6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos.

Ahora... sobre la margarina:

1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) .

2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias.

3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno).

4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer.

5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna.

6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo.

7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina.

Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas:

* No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo).

* No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!!



No a la guerra, Si a la Paz



Misterios de la ciencia...



Los costos de la guerra



medicos y capitalismo...



Capitalismo...



medicos (2)



Quien educa a nuestros hijos?



Los Medios...



Sin Palabras...



Chistes feministas

- Cual es el problema, Eva?

- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz...

- Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.

- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...

- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.

- Que es un hombre?

- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.

- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.

- Cual es el truco?.

- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.

- Cual?

- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.





Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas?  Porque todos son unos cerdos

Ellas...



Ellas (2)...



Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1

Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije:

-Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro.

Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria.

Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre?

-Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa!



VENGANZA NUMERO 2

Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris.

A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita:

- Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!!

Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta.

La mujer paso quince dias en Francia.

El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla.

Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es:

- Y amor me trajiste mi francesita??

- Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina.



VENGANZA NUMERO 3

El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion.

- No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo.

- Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz.

Te quiero confesar algo.

- Esta bien, esta bien. Habla!

- He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga.

- Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!!



machismo y cibernetica



Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston.

-Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?.

El simio hace la sena de OK.

-Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide.

-Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!.



.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti.

Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos.

Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco.

Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas



Gol !!!!



Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso!



Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy!

For Immediate Release

Today in Ankara, pro-government groups, including a union of health professionals and a trade union, held a press conference denouncing the Turkish Medical Association (TMA) and calling on the government to file charges against the organization. This follows two days of threats of physical violence to TMA staff, some of them identified as coming from a government-recognized civilian militia group known as Halk Ozel Harekat (HOH). Turkish police have taken three members of the TMA into custody without charge.

The campaign began after the TMA issued a statement on January 24 decrying war as a threat to public health. Subsequently, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a speech calling the TMA terrorist lovers and disparaging its anti-war stance. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), a longtime partner of the TMA, said these threats must stop and called them a blatant attempt to intimidate a credible civil society group. The TMA is an internationally respected organization, and is the Turkish affiliate of the World Medical Association.

It is a bleak commentary on the state of affairs in Turkey that a group of doctors cant make a peaceful statement without being targeted with physical threats and condemned by the head of state, said PHRs director of programs, Dr. Homer Venters. Medical professionals must have the freedom to call out threats to public health without fear of retribution.

This harassment is part of a wider Turkish government crackdown on civil society and political opposition, including against groups of medical professionals. Amidst a deterioration in the rule of law, the government is failing in its obligation to ensure the right to freedom of expression for groups like the TMA, and to prevent incitement to violence by entities like the trade and health professional unions, which are aligned with the political majority opinion supporting the ruling AKP party and President Erdogan. Dr. Serdar Kuni, a member of the Human Rights Foundation of Turkey, was convicted in 2017 for treating alleged members of anti-government Kurdish armed groups, and a leading forensic doctor, Dr. Sebnem Korur Fincanc, was charged with disseminating terrorist propaganda after guest-editing a newspaper critical of the government.

TMA staff reported that they believe their physical safety is compromised.

At no point has the TMA done anything other than advocate for peace and human rights principles, said Christine Mehta, PHR researcher. Crushing dissent  and even public discourse  has become the norm in Turkey, and now this extends to peaceful statements by a respected medical association.

PHR calls on the Turkish police and authorities to immediately release TMA staff held in police custody, uphold the rule of law, assure the safety of our colleagues, and fulfill their human rights obligation to counter incitement to violence and hold those responsible to account.

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here.



Guwahati : At least two people including a minor boy were killed and 25 others including 5 police personnel injured during a clash between protesters and security personnel in Assam's Dima Hasao district on Thursday.





According to the reports, the incident took place at Maibong area in the hill district, where over thousand protesters had blockade railway track protest against alleged inclusion of Dima Hasao district in the proposed Frontier Nagaland.





The situation turned more violent while protesters had damaged railway tracks, railway station and also damaging vehicles of DC and SP of the hill district.





The protesters also pelted stone targeting to security personnel.





Following the protesters act, police resorted baton charge and fired tear gas shells to control the situation.





While a mob trying to attack security personnel, police had opened fire upon the protesters.





In the police firing incident, two people including a minor boy was killed and 20 others injured.





Five police personnel were also injured in the mob attack.





Assam ADGP (SB) Pallav Bhattacharya said that, the situation is still tense and injured persons were rushed to hospital.





Protesters also blockade railway tracks and roads at Haflong, Mahur, Langting area in the district.





Meanwhile, top police officials had rushed to Maibong area.





The social organisations led Dimasa Apex Body, Jadikhe Nisho Hosom had called for a 12-hour bandh in the district protest against inclusion of Dima Hasao district in the proposed Frontier Nagaland.





On the other hand local people claimed that at least four people including a minor boy were killed in police firing.





Meanwhile, the district administration has imposed curfew in the district following the violent incident.





On the other hand, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had asked his two colleague ministers Chandra Mohan Patowary and Parimal Suklabaidya to visit the trouble torn district and to take stock the situation.





Recently, a mob had tried to burn down the office of RSS, parent organization of BJP at Haflong in the district.



(CNN) -

Glenn Selig, spokesman for Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates, was killed in the weekend Kabul hotel attack, according to a statement from spokesperson for The Publicity Agency and Selig Multimedia Inc., his Florida-based companies.





Four Americans were killed in the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, according to the US State Department.





"The United States strongly condemns the attack on January 20 at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. We can confirm that there were four US citizens killed and two injured. We offer our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed and wish for the speedy recovery of those wounded. Out of respect for the families of the deceased, we have no further comment," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement.





"Unfortunately, we have received confirmation Glenn Selig was killed during the attack on the Intercontinental Hotel," the Selig Multimedia representative said in the statement. "Glenn was a tireless professional, loyal friend and pillar of the community, but most importantly he was a loving husband and wonderful father.





"The loss for his family and friends cannot be measured nor conveyed strongly enough, but we thank everyone for the outpouring of support we have received," the statement added. "Moving forward we kindly request privacy and compassion as we process this terrible situation."





Selig's firm's spokesperson added: "Glenn was in Kabul on a potential success story involving Afghanistan and its steps to battle extremism. The focus was highlighting the country's new president and constructing a democracy forum event for Afghani women."



Guwahati: The city based gynecologist Dr Pranjit Barman will conduct the next media OPD clinic at Guwahati Press Club on 27 January 2018, where he will offer free consultations to woman journalists and spouses of other press club members.





The camp, organized under the series of Evening with a Doctor programs will start at 4 pm and conclude by 5 pm. The participants will also get the opportunity to check their weight and blood pressure.





The last evening clinic on 20 January was conducted by Sun Valley Hospital, where Dr Tapan Sarma offered free consultations to the participants. They also got their blood pressure and sugar checked by nurses Limosha Sumi & Hasina Khatun and technician Basu Dev Das in the camp.







Guwahati, January 26 : Congress president Rahul Gandhi will start election campaign by visiting the poll bound state Meghalaya on January 30 next.





He will take part three meetings with the party workers at Tura, Jowai and Shillong.





MP and working president of Meghalaya Congress Vincent Pala said that, Rahul Gandhi will arrive at Guwahati airport and then fly to Tura at around 11-30 am on January 30, where he to take part first meeting with the party workers and supporters.





"The party president will also visit Jowai and the state capital and he will stay night at Shillong and back to Delhi on February 1," Vincent Pala said.





Assembly poll in Meghalaya is scheduled on February 27.





The Congress MP said that, Rahul Gandhi will not address any public rally during his visit to the poll bound state.





Congress is facing major set back earlier this month while its five legislators had resigned from the assembly and joined National People's Party (NPP). Two other legislators also moved to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and newly floated People's Democratic Front (PDF).







Nepali Congress leader Balkrishna Khand





Chitwan, Nepal: Nepali Congress leader Balkrishna Khand has made clear that the Nepali Congress will assist to be formed leftist government by staying in the opposition.





As the party has no people's verdict to form a new government, we will stay in the opposition and lend the constructive support to a new government on the basis of its policies and programs, Khand said.





Nepali Congress leader Khand, who is also known as the nearer of the party president and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, has made the statement while speaking at a press meet organized by the Nepal Press Union, Chitwan chapter on Friday.





The Nepali Congress has no any official plan to form a new government or to join in a new government, Khand said while responding to the query of the media persons.

Khands statement has come at a time when there is also a speculation that Nepali Congress would join in the government in case of the CPN Maoist Center agree to form new government by detaching the relations with the CPN UML.





The party has to be reformed making able to win two third majorities in future election by ending the culture of factionalism, Khand said adding that the existing leadership should be made strong to achieve the goal.



The Times of India

Why only Haj? End subsidies for all pilgrims

January 21, 2018

SA Aiyar in Swaminomics

I welcome the abolition of the government subsidy for Haj pilgrims. The Constitution says the Indian state is secular, and forbids discrimination on religious grounds. So, the state should keep its distance from all religious groups, and not subsidise any.

The Haj subsidy was always a violation of this principle. No wonder the Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that it should be phased out. The BJP has long called the subsidy a case of aminority appeasementa . The Modi government has now decided to abolish it outright.

However, a secular state that bans Haj subsidies should surely ban subsidies for any pilgrims of any religion. Such a non-discriminatory ban would represent secular non-appeasement.

Instead the Modi government itself last year launched the Punyadham Yatra scheme, subsidising transport and accommodation for pilgrims to Puri, Vrindavan, Ajmer Sharif, Mathura and Vaishno Devi. With what face can Modi abolish one pilgrim subsidy (calling it appeasement), but create others (without calling them appeasement too)?

Modi supporters may point out that the list includes a Muslim destination, Ajmer Sharif. So what? Appeasing multiple religious groups is as wrong as subsidising one. Favouring some destinations over others is also discriminatory.

The Modi government is actually a latecomer to the subsidy bandwagon. Many state governments have been giving pilgrim subsidies for years. Madhya Pradesh, an early leader, launched its pilgrim subsidy in 2012, aimed at senior citizens too poor to pay income tax. One lakh seats were available through lottery for visits to selected Hindu shrines plus Ajmer Sharif and Velankanni Church.

The scheme was marketed as secular because it included non-Hindu destinations. But it still left out several religions and pilgrimage centres. Why should the state be picking and choosing among religions or pilgrimage centres? Such selectivity necessarily entails discrimination in favour of some and against others.

The sad fact is that Ajmer is included in the pilgrim list of several governments not out of secular fervour but to avoid accusations of religious discrimination that might attract court sanctions. Is Ajmer more sacred to Muslims than Mecca? Are Muslim pilgrims to Ajmer more deserving than pilgrims to Mecca? Not in any way. And yet the very politicians that condemn the Haj subsidy as aminority appeasementa are cynical enough to include Ajmer in their own pilgrim subsidy list.

The subsidies provided by other states are too numerous to be listed fully. News reports say UP gives no less than Rs 1 lakh per pilgrim for Kailash Mansarovar. In Uttarakhand, the Congress government started the Mere Buzurg Mere Teerth scheme in 2014, which the subsequent BJP government expanded. Gujarat has subsidised Kailash Mansarovar pilgrims since 2001, and (along with several other states) has also been subsidising the Sindhu Yatra (to see the Indus river in Ladakh). Both Congress and BJP governments have introduced pilgrim subsidies in Karnataka, Assam and Rajasthan. Tamil Nadu, ruled by neither Congress nor BJP, has subsidies for Hindu pilgrims to Mansarovar and Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem. The BJP government in Odisha subsidises pilgrims to destinations across India.

In sum, all political parties, Congress and non-Congress, are waist-deep in subsidies for pilgrims of several religions. The subsidies are not a specialty of religion-based parties. They are handed out by many parties calling themselves secular, and even by parties (like DMK and AIADMK) claiming to be rationalist. This is cynical vote-bank politics, exactly what the Haj subsidy was for the Congress.

Such subsidies would be struck down as violative of the Constitution in countries like the US or France. The courts in those countries take care to separate the state from religious activity, even though the US has a strong Christian lobby. In India there is no principled adherence to separation of the state and religion. Even those politicians calling themselves secular fundamentalists have been reluctant to condemn the Haj subsidy, or state pilgrim subsidies.

Now, many people wishing to go on pilgrimages may find it difficult to meet the expense. But a ateerth yatraa is supposed to be difficult. Many rationalists and atheists have no pilgrimage centre. A subsidy for religious pilgrims amounts to discrimination against rationalists and atheists, violating Constitutional guarantees of equality of faiths (yes, atheism too is a faith).

All religions have large, formal institutions with ample coffers. Some Indian temples and wakf boards are enormously rich. Why should these religious bodies not be held responsible to subsidise poor pilgrims of their own community? They already get massive tax breaks. Let these be used to help poor pilgrims.sacw.net - 26 January 2018

What should be the attitude of leadersa visits to places of worship? The matter is very complex in a society like that of India where the hold of religion on the society has been strong and is becoming stronger. In many a Western countries where Christianity is the religion of majority the visits to Churches by most of the people has been declining and one does not hear much about this being a political issue at all. The matter has come to fore once again as Rahul Gandhi (RG), the President of Congress party has been visiting temples with great frequency be it Gujarat or now UP. In Gujarat where the Congress did remarkable showing despite failing to win the majority, many factors must have played the role for its ascendance, the major being the inclusive approach of Congress where the issues of marginalized communities, economically or caste wise, were taken up in forthright manner, as exhibited by allying with leaders like Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakor and Jignesh Mewani. In addition RG sort of went on a spree of visiting temples. This time around the secular writers and intellectuals were not much disturbed by these visits; the people who got disturbed and criticized these visits were primarily from RSS combine, like U P chief minister Yogi Adityanath called it ahypocrisy and shama .

Couple of controversies was associated with his Somanth temple visit; here someone advertised via photo shopped picture that RG signed in a register for non-Hindus while visiting the temple. Later it turned out that there is only one Visitorsa register which he had signed. His partyas spokespersons made it clear that he is a Shiv Bhakt, a janeudhari Hindu (sacred thread wearing). Our Prime Minster disturbed by his visit to Somnath spoke a blatant lie that a

"Today some people are remembering Somnath, I have to ask them - Have you forgotten your history? Your family members, our first Prime Minister, were not happy with the idea of a temple being built there," He stated at a rally. The truth is that Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru both had opposed the renovation of temple at the state expenses and not the temple renovation as such. While RGas visits are coming to the focus now most of the leaders of BJP are very explicit about their visits to holy places and make a great din about it.

When we begin from Nehru, he was an agnostic and very critical of blind faith, a great promoter of scientific temper, a value which finds place in our constitution as well. The major visits to temples by top leaders as such begin with Indira Gandhi in late seventies and early eighties. She probably was shaken by the Ayatollah Khomeini, a cleric coming to power in Iran and the rising influence of RSS here in India. She must have seen that the impact of religion in social life is increasing, and so such visits by her. During the decades of eighties as such religion did not remain a private matter as envisaged by our Constitution; by people like Gandhi and Nehru and a blatant use of religion in political arena began with BJP, dumping its original agenda of Gandhian socialism and picking up Ram Temple as the central political plank. This paid BJP rich electoral dividends in times to come.

The centrality of places of worship in our political space got intensified and the rightward shift of Indian politics, ascendance of religious right in form of BJP-RSS started going up. The attitude of different political formations was diverse. Apart from temple visits, the social aspect of Ramadan, the Iftar was organized by many politicians. Now the competitive religiosity took over by political parties, led by the BJP, for whose leaders carrying religion on their sleeves was most overt. Some religio-social programs like Karva Chauth were overtly celebrated by the likes of Sushma Swaraj, while Lalu Yadav ardently organized the Chat puja. Now these rituals are dime a dozen to be recounted here. In the era where the religion is overtly being used for political agenda, the visits to temples is a sub set of actions, being resorted to by even those who do not primarily indulge in politics in the name of religion. BJP ruled state Governments have gone further with the likes of Yeddyyurappa making huge donations to temples when he was CM and MP Government printing and publishing Hanuman Chailsa through its publications departments.

The need is to distinguish between social aspects of religion and areligion as a cover of political agendaa. The change from the times of Nehru where the practice of secularism by state was regarded as anot secular enougha, we have come to the times where the word secularism is being called as the biggest lie of India by the BJP leaders like Yogi Adityanath. In the campaign, which is picking up in Karnataka as a prelude to Assembly elections, the BJP leadership is presenting Congress as the anti Hindu party. Most of the election campaigns are being taken on the terrain of religion as witnessed in Gujarat, where the famed Vikas, gave way to Mughalia Sultan, Allauddin Khilji and the like. The lip service to the issues of people related to bread, butter shelter education and employment is being aggressively substituted by emotive issues related to religion.

Itas a tragic sign of times where the political terrain has been mixed with religion. Itas a terrible time that leaders of a national party like Congress have to visit the temples to wash off the anti Hindu tag from their foreheads. The temple visits are not soft Hindutva in any way. The popularizer of the word Hindutva, Savarkar himself was an atheist, focusing on politics in the name of Hinduism rather than religiosity. Nehru had said that his biggest challenge is to uphold secular Constitution in a society grip of religiosity, with religiosity dominating the social space today, what would he say?Stephen Popkin, who has 32 years of experience in health-care management, has been selected as the next CEO of Lompoc Valley Medical Center.Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier

Folks from various groups came together on a recent day to build community garden boxes at Rotary Park.The workshop was co-organized by Laos Consulate General in HCMC, the zones management board and HCMC Investment and Trade Promotion Center.



As per report, investors will receive 2-10 years tax exemption from profitable time of their projects, preferential corporate tax of 8-10 percent and personal income tax of 5 percent for domestic and international workers at the zone.

Import of materials for production and export items will be exempt from paying taxes and doing customs procedures. The zone has implemented one door mechanism to do procedures on licensing, tax registration, goods origin certification, labor recruitment, visa application, temporary residence, water and electricity use registration.

Savan Seno special economic zone established in 2003 is the investment, trade and services center of Laos central region, locating in Highway 9 connecting Vietnam, Laos and Thailand; in East-West Economic Corridor and Highway 13 linking with China in the north and Cambodia in the south.

According to the zones management board, the area is less affected by natural disasters with infrastructure advantageous for investment comprising international airport, central bank branch and foreign commercial banks.

Local hotels and restaurants meet standards, hospital and telecom system is modern. Stable and low cost electricity supply creates conditions for investors to implement their projects.

So far, there have been 97 projects invested in Savan Seno with the total capital of US$329.5 million. Vietnamese firm has not invested in the zone, yet.

The 1,000 hectares zone encourages investment in production, services and trade in fields such as food and farm produce processing, wooden and copper product making, auto and motorbike assembly, garment and textile, footwear and handbags.

In services, Savan Seno has been calling for investment in banking, insurance, finance, logistics and distribution, schools, hospitals, amusement, training and workshop centers, hotels, spa, restaurants and tourist centers.

In trade, businesses have been encouraged to invest in tax exemption areas, wholesale, re-export, exhibition and trade centers.

By THUY HAI  Translated by Hai MienThe Ambassador of Japan to Samoa, Shinya Aoki, visited the Samoa Observers headquarters yesterday.

Ambassador Aoki met Editor-in-Chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano and Publisher, Muliaga Jean Malifa, who welcomed him to the Samoa Observer headquarters in Vaitele.

He spoke with Gatoaitele and Muliaga about Japans relationship with Samoa over the years, particularly with the presence of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (J.I.C.A.) who established their presence in Samoa around 1973, working closely with the Peace Corps.

Samoa has received more than 650 volunteers since their first mission and overall receives the second largest amount of development aid in the Pacific Islands through J.I.C.A.

Ambassador Aoki spoke about the importance of embracing the culture and traditions in his role as a diplomat.

Last year he was bestowed the chiefly title of Maugaoleatuolo o Fuifatu.

Im a diplomat and my basic policy is that I should know the people and the culture and the tradition of the country, he said.

Last year in June, I had a Matai title bestowment from Fusi Safotulafai. I showed my wife a picture of the ceremony robe of title bestowment and she was very surprised.

It is very good for me to understand the people and the culture of Samoa. My general impression is that the people of this country are very kind and the country is safe.

Ambassador Aoki presented a gift to the Samoa Observer and also promoted the Osaka  Kansai/Japan Expo to be held in 2025.The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless.



The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well.







By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism.I was surprised when my first column dealing with LGBT history in South Florida last summer became one of the most viewed stories on our website that week.

It was a modest first choice.

That article was about a rest stop that existed in the 1970s in Boca Raton just before the Broward County line. It had become a major gay hangout for hooking up and it became so problematic it is said to be one of the reasons the Dept. of Transportation scrapped plans for 3 other rest stops along I-95 in South Florida. Personally I thought the story was comical, however the story did bring out a lot of interesting memories from some of our readers since I soon received a few emails from some recollecting stories about rest stops in South Florida.

I was then inspired to write about Dr. David Acer, the Treasure Coast area dentist accused in the mid 1980s of transmitting HIV to several of his patients. No medical professional has done this since then and it appeared to me his name should have a bit of vindication which is what I set out to do. All the patients seemingly had other sources for their positive status and there was definitely financial incentive for them to blame Dr. Acer. I dont think we will ever really know what happened but that story I wrote seemed to gain attention. Readers emailed me and I was suprised to learn that it appeared that most people seemed to agree with my thoughts; the CDC had no answers and pinned it on the dead gay guy, it was easy to do since everyone else was doing it and how could he defend himself?

As someone who has grown up in West Palm Beach I am surrounded by the lasting influence that is architect Addison Mizner so you can imagine how exciting it was to research the rumors of him being gay. In the end it proved pretty hard to do, but I did find that just prior to his Palm Beach arrival in the late 1910s he had spent time working in the New York City firm of known gay architect Standford White and his many known gay associates. If Mizner was not gay he would have been the only straight one in this circle of men. In the end I dont think many were surprised Mizner was likely indeed gay.

I watched comments poor in on social media about the murder that started it all. When Eastern Airlines flight attendant William T. Simpson was mysteriously murdered in a storybook incident in a lovers lane area of Miami in 1954, it created wide spread panic when a Miami News reporter focused on Simpsons sexuality rather than the crime. His series of articles following the investigation alarmed Miami residents when they realized for the first time the gay population in Miami was probably in the tens of thousands rather than just a few people as many had amusingly assumed.

I do believe all the big stories are important, Anita Bryants campaign to the rise of human rights groups, AIDS, and gay marriage but sometimes I think its easy for us to forget some of the smaller stories that helped shape our community and that is the goal I set out each time I attempt to write something new.

I noticed one of my columns this year was followed by on the next page long time South Florida LGBT writer Jesse Monteagudos recollection of the Marlin Beach Hotel in Fort Lauderdale. I can only hope my writing has been able to contribute the informative, thought provoking, yet entertaining, nostalgia a story like that one does. Its a new year and I have a lot of great irons in the fire.

Lets keep them coming!First things first. Fatih Akins In The Fade (WB/Magnolia) is not the best foreign language film of 2017. BPM (Beats Per Minute), about the birth of ACT UP in Paris in the late 1980s, deserves that honor. Nevertheless, In The Fade, which is racking up awards, including a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice, award, among others, certainly qualifies as one of the best foreign films of the year.

Separated into three sections  The Family, Justice and The Sea  In The Fade opens on the wedding day of prison inmate Nuri (Numan Acur) and his tattooed bride Katja (Diane Kruger). Fast forward, reformed drug dealer Nuri works as a tax advisor in Hamburg. He and Katja live in a nice house and have a six-year-old son named Rocco (Rafael Santana).

One afternoon, Katja drops Rocco off at Nuris office before meeting her pregnant friend Birgit (Samia Muriel Chancrin) at a Turkish bath for a day of pampering. On the sidewalk outside of the office, the conscientious Katja tells a woman who leaves her bicycle unsecured against a pole to lock it up or it will be stolen. The woman walks away, disregarding the advice.

When Katja returns to Nuris office that evening, the street is blocked off by police cars with their lights flashing. Theres been an explosion and she can see that the damage is near Nuris office. Crossing the barrier on foot, she is chased by police and forced to the ground.

At the police station, she is told that there were fatalities -- a man and a child. Brought home by the police, Katja gives them Nuri and Roccos toothbrushes for DNA samples. She is surrounded by her extended family members when the police return with the DNA results, confirming that the bodies belonged to Rocco and Nuri.

A devastated Katja must deal with the investigation. Because Nuri was Kurdish by birth, although agnostic as Katja insists, questions are raised about him having been politically active. Additionally, his background as a convicted drug dealer raises questions about links to the criminal world. Determined to be a nail bomb attack connected to the bicycle left on the sidewalk, the chief investigator wonders if it could have been a revenge killing by the Turkish, Kurdish or Albanian mafia.

Katja, who provides a description of the woman she saw leave the bicycle, has her own theory. She believes it was the new generation of Nazis, who have been targeting immigrants in Germany. She also shares this information with Danilo (Denis Moschitto), her lawyer and friend, who isnt as sure about that concept as she is.

Katjas situation is further complicated by the lack of emotional support from her mother, who thinks Nuri was up to no good, or Nuris parents who are cruel to her and make unreasonable demands. She begins to numb her pain with cocaine. At the end of her rope, Katja slashes her wrists in the bathtub. As she is about to lose consciousness, she hears an answering machine message left by Danilo, telling her that she was right. It was a married Nazi couple, Edda (Hannah Hilsdorf) and Andre (Ulrich Brandhoff), who have been taken into custody.

In the middle section, In The Fade becomes a courtroom drama. Katja listens stoically to the gory details about the physical injuries that Rocco sustained during the bombing. She is resolute about staying put when the Nazis lawyer tries to have her removed from the courtroom as a prejudiced witness. Therefore, its not all that surprising when she does eventually flip out in the courtroom, attempting to assault Edda. In spite of all the evidence pointing to the guilt of the pair, they are acquitted.

In the third and final section, The Sea, In The Fade shifts gears and becomes a story of retribution. Without giving away too much, Katja tracks down Edda and Andre and devises a revenge plot. The last few minutes are alternately captivating and shocking. In The Fade is undeniably topical in light of the current refugee crisis and changing attitudes towards immigration. The movie is especially notable for Krugers portrayal of Katja. It ranks as the most spellbinding performance of her career. Rating: B+A television actor died on a Royal Caribbean cruise this week, multiple news organizations report.

Joel Taylor, who appeared on the Discovery Channel program Storm Chasers, was pronounced dead by the U.S. Coast Guard in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He was 38.

RIP my best friend and storm chasing partner, Joel Taylor. I am shocked and absolutely devastated by the loss of my incredible, caring friend. We chased so many intense storms, and I wish we could have just one more storm chase. Ill miss you forever Joel. We lost a legend, tweeted Storm Chasers star Reed Timmer on Jan. 23.

Storm Chasers  filmed primarily in a section of the central United States known as tornado alley  ran for five seasons (2007-2012) on the Discovery Channel.

Rumors as to the cause of Taylors death are swirling with Fox News sourcing a TMZ account that Taylor died of a drug overdose.

Ellen Kennedy, Assistant Division Director of Communications for Business Development at Port Everglades, called the story an unfortunate incident at sea. Kennedy said the incident occurred in federal waters and it was up to the FBI to determine if an investigation is warranted.

The Harmony of the Seas anchors in Port Everglades weekly for cruises into the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and various other international ports of call. It is an 18-deck ocean liner, the largest of Royal Caribbeans fleet. It arrived in Port Everglades from Barcelona, Spain in October 2016.

Its recent excursion to Puerto Rico was chartered by California based Atlantis Events, Inc. Atlantis is a company specializing in gay resorts.

They are a very large charter Kennedy said. And they are popular with gay travelers. Their guests stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, shop.they are good for the economy.Chrissy Chambers, one half of the YouTube singing channel BriaandChrissy, won a case against her ex-boyfriend after he submitted explicit videos of her to the internet.

The YouTuber sued for breach of confidence, misuse of private information and harassment at the High Court in London, according to PinkNews. The court awarded her substantial damages as a result of the ruling.

After winning her case, Chambers proposed to her YouTube partner Bria Kam.

I could not be more elated to announce that I won my revenge porn case and also asked the mostCoffee Design is proudly sponsored by Savor Brands , your boost in coffeedence through maximizing designs in packaging, sustainability and tech.

Who doesn't enjoy a refresh every now and then? A remodel, an upgrade, a new hair colorthere's something magical about shaking things up. At ninety-four years old, Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. decided to do just that with their line of coffee offerings. Each selection has a distinct design, created in-house. We asked Mark VanTongeren, head of Business Development, to tell us more.

Tell us a little bit about your company.

Ferris Coffee & Nut Co. is a family-owned and operated specialty roaster that produces coffee, nuts, and trail mixes with care and quality at every stage. Located in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1924, our organization has witnessed many changes to the region, the industry, and to customer preferences and needsthis has ultimately lead to our own significant organizational and cultural change over the past five years. With that said, our mission to build relationships that thrive through our products has endured and allowed us to continue serving our customers. From partnering with producers to ethically sourcing products in a way that values and promotes the growers and farmers, to roasting and serving our products while highlighting quality and care, our holistic approach to business is not transactional, but relational at heart.

As our company has grown and changed over the years, weve had the privilege of serving a wide variety of customers ranging from mom-and-pop coffee shops to national food distributors, churches, workplaces, restaurants, and industry-leading breweries. Every one of our customers is unique, and every customer requires personalized service.

This personalized approach requires much more than simply producing and delivering a great product: we specialize in state-of-the-art coffee education, equipment service and repair, and business consulting services to provide our customers with the support they need to be successful.

Each package has its own distinct design. Whats the process of deciding what'll go on each offering?

Our process always starts by meeting with our Director of Coffee, Sam Mirto, to hear his stories from his sourcing trips. He tells us about the people behind the coffee, the farms and mills he visited, and oftentimes small details he experienced that might not be directly related to the coffee, but are still worth sharinglike the time when he could hear wild baboons howling right outside of his cabin at night. Through learning about his unique experiences and perspective, it drives and inspires the design decisions behind each coffee identity. Take Ethiopia YirgZ, for examplea coffee that is hand-sorted three times with great detail. The fingerprint pattern was created to reflect that, but also to feel like a topographical map, that represents the high altitude at which this coffee is grown. The colors in this label are inspired by the Ethiopian flag, but softened and subdued. It is important to us that the design reflects our direct interactions with these people and places, because thats what makes each coffee and relationship unique to Ferris.

Who designs the labels?

Our in-house design teamUrsula, Lisa, and Kacie. Once the three of us have met with Sam to hear and document his personal experiences, well usually each pick one coffee (or more, depending on how many new offerings are coming in) and start creating the artwork, based off of our collective notes about whichever coffee we chose.

Why are aesthetics important?

There were no visual elements differentiating the nuances of each coffee in our previously designed system, let alone the stories behind them. As we coffee people all know, no two coffees are alike, so grouping them together into categories in that way can only say so much. Each coffee has its own personality and we feel strongly compelled to communicate them to our customers through our packaging. As our coffee program continues to grow, we identified this as a great solution looking forward. By using the bag itself as the vehicle, the star of the show becomes the unique labels and the coffee inside. Storytelling is a focus of ours and finding ways to communicate these stories with our customers is always on our minds- Consciously or subconsciously.

Where is it currently available?

Select grocery and specialty stores, our wholesale partners, in our own shops, and on our website.

Company: Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.

Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan

Country: United States

Design Date: August 2017

Designer: Ferris Coffee & Nut Co.

Zachary Carlsen is a co-founder and editor at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Zachary Carlsen on Sprudge.While its never a good idea to attack a law enforcement officer, sometimes things tend to get out of hand. To this end, we are here to bring you the story of a New Hampshire resident who lost a biting contest to a police dog. These incredible events took place a few days ago, during a police action.

Police Dog Attacked by New Hampshire Suspect

According to the New Hampshire authorities, several police officers were summed to a trailer park by a 911 caller who reported hearing gunshots. After combing the area, the authorities identified and discovered four suspects, each of them with active arrest warrants.

Three of the suspects were taken into custody without any opposition, while the fourth one barricaded himself in the trailer, refusing to cooperate with the authorities. Forced by the circumstances, the New Hampshire law enforcement officers broke down the trailer door and sent Vela, a police dog with the New Hampshire Canine Troopers, to subdue the uncooperative suspect.

According to the police report, Vela didnt have any trouble finding the individual, as he was hiding under a pile of clothes. When Vela approached the pile, the individual started punching and kicking the police dog.

At one point, the individual started chocking the dog and bit her head several times. Of course, the police dog wasnt about to stand idle after being a challenge to a biting contest, so it bit the suspect back.

While it might sound bizarre, according to the police report, the individual really believed that a quick bit to the head would make the dog go away. Still, the police dog managed to win the contest, and the suspect was taken into custody.

After the shakedown with the suspect, Vela required medical attention. All four individuals were booked into the county jail.

Image source: WikipediaThe state Senate, which in June unanimously approved a bill to allow LA County to give back land to the descendants of the original Black property owners, must vote one more time this week before sending it to Newsom's desk.A Georgia man went to a Waffle House, and desperately wanted a side of barbecue sauce to go along with his meal.

When he didnt get it, he claimed he would be willing to go to jail for some sauce.

One of those things happened!

The Macon Telegraph reports that the man was jailed on a disorderly conduct charge after causing those in the restaurant to fear for their safety.

Three women who work there later told police that the fellow asked for some barbecue sauce. The women, one of whom was named Basil, informed him that they had none. A Bibb County sheriffs report of the episode notes that the man then began screaming obscenities and insulting the workers, trying to create conflict, saying things such as, I wouldnt (expletive) ask you if I didnt know you had it! The man reportedly added: Ill go to (expletive) jail over some barbecue sauce! And he did.

The customer in question, Willie Edward Drake, was found to be uncooperative and disorderly, and was staying at a local hotel before he ventured to Waffle House.

For the record, the Waffle House doesnt stock barbecue sauce  and neither does the jail Drake is being held at.

A Telegraph reporter called the Waffle House to ask if the restaurant does, in fact, have barbecue sauce. It does not. Nor, it appears, does the county jail, where Drake was still being held Thursday evening in lieu of $390 bond. We stay with the basics on condiments, Sheriff David Davis said. Mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise.

Drakes reaction was probably over the top, and arresting him for his outburst is probably also a bit much. I know condiments are important, but sometimes its just better to eat your food plain instead of becoming some sort of condiment pariah.

[Macon Telegraph]British MP launches campaign against India, claims minorities not safe

PTI, London :

One of the first British Muslims to be appointed to the House of Lords on Thursday launched a protest campaign against India, claiming that minorities in the country are not safe.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, raised in South Yorkshire and has regularly made common cause with "Kashmiri Pakistanis", is leading the campaign that will involve five billboard vans traversing the streets of London.

On Friday, a group led by the politician will gather outside the Indian High Commission in London.

"It will be a peaceful demonstration by a small gathering because we cannot have very large numbers outside the High Commission," he said.

The Indian High Commission in London said it has raised its concerns with the UK authorities, but the billboard vans are private vehicles and therefore not directly under state control.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who was in London to attend the Education World Forum earlier this week, dismissed the protest as "fringe elements" keen to foment trouble.

Meanwhile, some pro-India groups have also organised a 'Chalo India House' demonstration in London to "celebrate India's Republic Day by opposing anti-India lobbyists".Sex and the White House: From Bill Clinton to Trump

AFP, Washington :

Two decades ago this week US president Bill Clinton declared that he "did not have sexual relations with that woman."

As it turned out, he did-and he was impeached for lying about his trysts with Monica Lewinsky.

Today, another US president is accused of sexual impropriety-specifically of paying off a porn star one month before the November 2016 election to keep their adulterous liaison quiet.

Such a bombshell allegation would be the kiss of death to most political careers.

But Trump is no normal politician and in his tumultuous administration, "it's not even the biggest story of the week," wrote Aaron Blake in The Washington Post.

Political analysts are scratching their heads to explain why-when it comes to Trump-such a revelation barely elicits a collective shrug.

Clinton, of course, was president at the time and some of his assignations with Lewinsky, a 22-year-old intern, took place in a secluded study by the hallowed Oval Office.

Trump was a private citizen when the 2006 sexual encounter with adult film actress Stormy Daniels was alleged to have taken place.

He was, though, married at the time and his wife, Melania, had given birth to their son less than four months earlier.

Tobe Berkovitz, an associate professor of advertising at Boston University, said Trump displays an uncanny ability to sail past scandals.

"Trump is an anomaly," said Berkovitz, who has served as a political consultant on numerous political campaigns in addition to teaching.

"Look at the litany of other politicians, celebrities and journalists who have just had the trap door open out from under them for behavior that might not be as egregious or as bad as Trump's," Berkovitz told AFP.

The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Trump had paid Daniels $130,000 to keep a lid on their dalliance.

Trump, through his personal lawyer, and Daniels, 38, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, have both denied anything ever went on between them.

But In Touch magazine published a 2011 interview with Daniels last week in which she expounds at length and in detail on their relationship and what she described as their "textbook generic" sex.

The In Touch interview, which had not been published before, was conducted prior to Daniels' alleged signing of a secrecy agreement in October 2016.

G. Terry Madonna, director of the Center for Politics and Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College, said he was a bit surprised at the lack of interest in the Stormy Daniels allegations-particularly during the current "Me Too" moment of reckoning over sexual misconduct.

"This doesn't seem to have taken hold," Madonna said. "You would think this was something that would have gotten a fair amount of attention but no, not at all.

"There's not been an overriding interest in the American media and the voters seem, what's the word, as though they're disinterested."

Madonna and other analysts said this may be partly due to the constant drumbeat of extraordinary headlines coming out of the Trump White House.

"I can't figure out-and I've been doing this for a long time-whether it's because every day there's almost some huge national crisis of one sort or another," Madonna said.

"(Maybe) it's just the fact that it happened in 2006," that Trump was a private citizen and that the sex was-by all accounts-consensual, he said.

In any case, Madonna doesn't think Trump has anything to worry about.

"Believe me, with Trump things can change in a heartbeat, but I don't think this has much legs to derail his presidency at this point," he said.

Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York magazine, attributed the apparent blase reaction by the public and the press to what could be termed Trump "scandal fatigue."



Determination of liability

High Court Division :

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

Syed Refaat Ahmed J

Md Akram Hossain

Chowdhury J

Eastern Cement Industries Ltd ..................... . Petitioner

vs

Customs, Excise and VAT, Appellate Tribunal, Dhaka and another

.......................Respondents

Judgment

June 10th, 2012

Value Added Tax Act (XXII of 1991)

Sections 55 and 37

The process of determination that followed, thereafter, up to the appellate stage is, therefore, wholly confined to ascertaining the justification of imposition of penalty without the benefit, however, of prior substantive adjudgment or determination of any liability justifying the imposition of such penalty. . ..... (8)

PET Industries vs Customs, Exercise, 61 DLR 734; Abdul Motaleb vs Customs, 64 DLR 100 and Hotel Zakaria International (Pvt) Ltd. vs National Board of Revenue (NBR) 30 BLD (2010) 388

M Amin Uddin, with Munshi Moniruzzaman Advocates-For the Petitioner.

Kashefa Hussain, AAG-For the Respondents.

Judgment

Syed Refaat Ahmed J : In this Application under Article 102(2) of the Constitution a Rule Nisi was issued calling upon the Respondents to show cause as to why the Order dated 22-11-2006 passed by the Respondent No.1 in Nothi No. CEVT/CASE (VAT)-89/2005 (Annexure 'H') affirming the Order dated 5-12-2004 passed by the Respondent No.2 under Order No. 220/Musak/ Appeal/2004 (Annexure-'E') by which the Order dated 11-9-2003 passed by the Respondent No.4 under Order No. 16/Musak/ 2003 (Annexure-'e') was affirmed should not be declared to have been passed without lawful authority and is of no legal effect and / or such other or further order or orders passed as to this Court may seem fit and proper.

2. The Petitioner, a VAT registered entity, is engaged in the business of manufacturing cement. On 17-5-2003 the Respondent No.4, Deputy Commissioner issued a notice alerting the Petitioner to the fact that concerned Customs, Excise and VAT functionaries upon an inspection of a truck transporting the Petitioner's manufactured products and scrutiny and inspection of the Petitioner's factory and relevant documents found therein detected a short adjustment of Taka 4,83,878 in the Petitioner's Current Account Register in apparent violation of both the VAT Act, 1991 ("the Act") the VAT Rules, 1991 ("the Rules"). Notably, the said notice is declaratory of an offence, ostensibly proven, of supply of goods on the basis of untrue statement in Chalan, which by reference to specific provisions of both the Act and the Rules were declared to be punishable under Section 37(2) (ka) (kha) of the Act. The Petitioner having replied to the said notice the Respondent No.4 proceeded, thereafter, to consider the said response arriving at a . determination reflected in the Order dated 11-9-2003. The Petitioner was asked, thereby, to adjust the Current Account Register to the amount of Taka 4,83,878 and subjected to penalty of Taka 5,00,000 under Section 37(2) of the Act. That led the Petitioner, upon deposit of the requisite 10% of the above determined amount, to file an appeal before the Respondent No.2, Commissioner of Customs (Appeal). The Respondent No.2, Commissioner having affirmed the earlier demand and imposition of penalty, the Petitioner upon deposit of the requisite 15% of the amount so demanded, lodged an appeal before the Respondent No.1, Appellate Tribunal. That appeal came to be dismissed on 22-11-2006 which the Petitioner now contends was an inadequate exercise of jurisdiction by the Appellate Tribunal in that it failed to consider certain fundamental issues of law that are at issue in this Writ Petition. This Court's attention has further been drawn to the fact that even while the Petitioner's appeal was awaiting disposal by the Respondent No.1, Tribunal, the Respondents curiously adjusted the demanded amount of Taka 4,83,878 in the Petitioner's Current Account Register as evident in an order dated 4-5-2005.

3. The learned Advocate for the Petitioner Mr Munshi Moniruzzaman submits that in the facts and circumstances the core issue to the determined by this Court is the legally untenable process initiated by the Respondents upon issuance of the initial notice of 17-5-2003 in a manner wholly discordant with the scheme of the Act. In a nutshell, that scheme is one of imposition of any penalty only upon a prior determination of facts leading to a specific finding on any liability arising under the Act. The Act does not prescribe any mode of imposition of penalty without such prior determination and in this regard it is submitted that the Order of 17-5-2003 issued in ignorance of that fact is to be found to have been issued without lawful authority and to be no legal effect. In this regard it is submitted that provisions of Section 37 of the Act are designated solely for imposition of penalty for offences found to have been committed as specified in that very section itself. However, the fact of the commission of such offence necessarily requires a prior determination and ascertainment of liability through a participatory process as designated by Section 55 of the Act. It is submitted that such prior determination is the necessary prerequisite for conferring jurisdiction upon the Respondents to exercise authority under Section 37 for imposition of penalty. Mr Moniruzzaman, accordingly, submits that in the facts and circumstances the fact of wilful evasion having not been ascertained or determined in pursuance of the prescribed procedure of participatory determination as designated under Section 55 of the Act, the very assumption of authority and jurisdiction under Section 37, therefore, constitutes the arrogation of authority not vested in the concerned Respondents under law. Consequentially, the Orders emanating from such wrongful assumption pf authority are also to be declared as without any legal sanction or consequence. By thatrationale, Mr Moniruzzaman submits any imposition of penalty under Section 37(2) ought to have been preceded in the scheme of the Act by a Section 55(3) determination and demand of which there is found no evidence on record.

4. It is against this backdrop, that this Court is now required to determine the legal sufficiency of the entire process commencing with the issuance of the Order dated 17-5-2003 leading to the ostensible final disposal on appeal of the matter by the Respondent No. l Tribunal on 22-11-2006. Also arising for this Court's consideration is the very act of adjustment of the disputed demanded amount effected on 4-5-2005 even before the Respondent No.1, Tribunal had an opportunity to finally determine on the justifiability of the same.

5. No Affidavit-in-opposition has been filed in this case on behalf of the Respondents.

6. It is noted at the outset that issues concerning the construction of the applicable provisions of the Act and the distinctive features, in particular, of Sections 55 and 37 of the Act as raised in this Applicalion are ones which have been dealt with and decided upon by this very Court in a series of cases that have clearly laid down the sequence of action under the same. The preponderant judicial view in this regard is that it is an absolute requirement of the law that the provisions of Section 55 of the Act are to be complied with to the fullest extent even before any action under Section 37 of the Act can be contemplated. The judicial insistence on such sequential action is predicated upon a strict interpretation and application of these provisions of the Act as highlight the distinctive features of processes initiated under Sections 55 and 37. This Court has repeatedly insisted in that regard on the prior exhaustion of a process initiated under Section 55 strictly in accordance with the prescriptions laid down in that section. This Court has previously underscored the functional distinction between the two sections and, therefore, their spheres of operation. This Court has, accordingly, emphasized upon the fundamental objective of the Section 55 provisions being to ensure a due realization upon determination of shortfall in payment and those in Section 37 to identify specific offences and the sanctions that attach to the same. This Court in that regard has held that see Lion 55 is to be accorded primacy for determination and realization of any amount having previously fallen due. The rationale for that conclusion is provided thus in PET Industries vs Customs, Exercise reported in 61 DLR (2009) 734 at paragraph 13 and 14 at page 736.

"If the entire provision of Section 55 is considered then it would be clear that Section 55 empowers the concerned VAT authority to take steps for realization of unpaid or less paid Vat or tax upon first issue of a notice asking to show cause and then, upon hearing, within 90 days to make a final demand in respect of any Vat or tax unpaid, evaded or less paid.

On the other hand, Section 37 of the said Act defines various offences and punishments for such offence. Before any final demand could be made under Section 55(3), none of the provisions of Section 37 could be resorted to. It is needless to say as the fiscal law demands strict interpretation so equally demands for strict application by an authority authorized to apply. The VAT Act is a comprehensive tax law. It has defined the tax to be paid as VAT on the specified sales and/ or services. Similarly, it has laid down elaborate procedure for realization of the tax and punishment for any violation or omission. The concerned authority is therefore, duty bound to follow the procedure as laid down in the Act for each and every action. The Act does not empower any of the authorities created to become zealot to overpower and/or overawe any tax payer. Invoking and'/ or resorting to Section 37 while issuing a notice under Section 55(1) of the VAT Act' therefore, could not be said to have been issued bonafide for the simple reason that at the time of issue of the notice, the authority concerned had not yet arrived at as to any evasion of VAT by the petitioner."

7. Significantly, the interpretation above makes it absolutely necessary for the invocation first of a Section 55 process entailing the act of final determination through a participatory exercise under Section 55(3) on the basis of a reply or objection submitted further to a Section 55(1) notice. The ratio in the PET Industries Case is found by this Court to be pervasive of the ratio decidendi in a series of other decisions, most notably, Abdul Motaleb vs Customs reported in 64 DLR (2012), 100 as well as in Hotel Zakaria International (Pvt) Ltd. vs National

Board of Revenue (NBR) reported in 30 BLD (2010), 388. This Court has repeatedly emphasized on such exhaustion of the Section 55 process in its entirety culminating in a final determination before the VAT Authority Can proceed under Section 37. Such insistence is premised on the legal impossibility of any attempt at even raising the spectre of punishment under Section 37 of the Act before any decision could be arrived at finally and conclusively under Section 55(3) as to' the true extent, if at all, of the shortfall of the payment of any tax or arrears in taxes and the extent and nature of the concomitant liability stemming from such circumstances.

8. The above construction of law applied to the facts and circumstances highlights the fact that the very initiation of the process of holding the Petitioner accountable under law and as initiated on 17-5-2003 was legally an unsound and untenable one. If at all, on that date the Respondents pertinently may have issued a show cause notice under Section 55(1) specifying prima facie reasons for any demand but significantly giving the Petitioner an opportunity to explain its position in response. Upon a clear reading of that Order of 17-5-2003 it is evident to this Court that such stage of a prior substantive determination was wholly skipped in preference to requiring the Petitioner prematurely instead to defend itself against the threatened imposition of penalty under Section 37(2). The process of determination that followed, thereafter, up to the appellate stage is, therefore, wholly confined to ascertaining the justification of imposition of penalty without the benefit, however, of prior substantive adjudgment or determination of any liability justifying the imposition of such penalty.

9. It is in that context that this Court has considered the sufficiency of the Orders both of the Respondent No.2, Commissioner of Customs (Appeal) and of the Respondent No.1, Tribunal. There is noted in both instances a glaring failure to consider the proper application of the law in the facts. This Court finds that the Respondent No.1, Tribunal, in particular, as the ultimate forum sitting in final determination of facts and ascertaining the relevaut law applicable to the same wholly ignored the fact that nothing short of a prior compliance of Section 55 of the Act shall enable the VAT Authority to proceed to penalize under Section 37. In this regard, this Court holds that it was incumbent upon the Respondent No.1,

Tribunal to appreciate that liability has to be fixed first under Section 55 before imposition of penalty under Section 37 and that the Petitioner's case was marked by the absence of such prior essential determination. It is found that had the Tribunal properly applied its judicial mind it would readily deduce that the Petitioner, if at all, could initially submit to a Section 55 process leading to final determination under Section 55(3) after proper and due opportunity given it to be heard. Upon a clear reading of the impugned appellate Order it is evident to this Court that the Tribunal failed to do so. The Tribunal instead found on a wilful attempt on the Petitioner's part to hade tax liability and, thereby, affirmed the previous Order of the Respondent No.2, Commissioner. It is by reason of the above, this Court finds on the inadequacy of the Appellate Tribunal's determination process and, thereby, on the illegality and ineffectiveness of the determination of liability as well as the imposition of penalty as above noted. It follows that, the Tribunal's Order dated 22-11-2006 along with the earlier Orders of the Respondent No.2, Commissioner (Appeal) dated 5-12-2004 and the Order of the Respondent No.4, Deputy Commissioner dated 11-9-2003 and the notice dated 17-5-2003 are all found to have been issued without any lawful authority and to be of no legal effect. All impugned Orders having, therefore, been so quashed by this Judgment and Order it is also directed that the Petitioner shall be entitled to a refund in entirety of all deposits made in fulfillment of the prerequisites for filing the appeals both before the Respondent No.2, Commissioner (Appeal) and the Respondent No.1 Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal.

10. Furthermore, this Court having thus found against the validity of any purported determination of a case of willful evasion against the Petitioner, the claim to the allegedly evaded VAT being Taka 4,83,878, which the Respondents have otherwise by their Order of 4-5-2005 seemingly peremptorily adjusted in the Petitioner's Current Account Register, is also found to be shorn of any legal basis. In such circumstances, such amount shall necessarily require a readjustment in the Petitioner's favour in a manner that an equivalent amount shall now have to be credited in the Petitioner's Current Account Register. The rationale here is one of restitution in integrum, i.e., placing the aggrieved Petitioner in the situation as by law ought to have been allowed to operate and prevail to its benefit at the material time had no prejudice been sustained by the Petitioner by the wrongful action of the Respondents on 4-5-2005. The Petitioner by dint of this Order shall, thereby, be restored to its original and uninjured state and position as if the adjustment Order of 4-5-2005 had never been made.

11. Given these facts and circumstances and this Court's understanding that the entire process of initiation and determination of the Petitioner's liability commencing with the notice of 17-5-2003 and culminating in the impugned Appellate Order of 22-11-2006 has been in violation or in avoidance of the prescription of the relevant provisions of' the law, this Court is, however, also of the view that there is nothing in the facts and circumstances to deter the Respondents to initiate a due and proper determination process under Section 55(1) of the Act. Should the Respondents find themselves in a position to so proceed as per the requirements in Section 55, they may so proceed as per the law subject, however, to making all the refunds and the readjustment as above directed forthwith and positively prior to he issuance of any notice under Section 55(1) to the Petitioner.

12. In light of the above, this Court finds merit in the Application and substance in the Rule issued and declares the impugned Order he Appellate Tribunal, the earlier Orders of the Respondent Nos. 2 and 4 and the initial notice of 17-5-2003 to have been issued without lawful authority and to be of no legal effect.

13. In the result, the Rule is made absolute subject to the observations and specific directions made hereinabove..

14. There is no Order as to costs.

Let the Records as earlier called for be sent down to the Respondent No.1, Customs, Excise and VAT Appellate Tribunal forthwith.Competent court's order needed to prevent one from leaving country

High Court Division :

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

Syed Md Dastagir Husain J

Md Ataur Rahman Khan J

Tajul Islam (Md)...........Petitioner

vs

Bangladesh, represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs and others. Respondents

Judgment

April 3rd 2017

Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972 Article 36

In absence of any custodial order passed by a competent Court of law, no request can be lawfully made to the immigration authorities to prevent a citizen from leaving the country, if any such request is made or entertained by the immigration authorities, the same would have the effect of undermining the Rule of law and violating citizen's constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights. . ..... (5)

Md Tajul Islam Advocate in person.

Amit Talukder, DAG-For the Respondents.

Judgment

Syed Md Dastagir Husain J : Rule was issued calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why the respondents should not be directed to allow the petitioner to leave and reenter Bangladesh as when necessary. Pending hearing of the Rule the respondents were directed to allow the petitioner to go abroad for medical treatment at Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand without any hindrance or disturbance provided there is no restriction from any Court of law against the petitioner to leave Bangladesh. Meanwhile the petitioner has also by filing application for a supplementary Rule wherein Rule was issued calling upon the respondents to show cause as to why the respondents shall not be directed to remove all restrictions/obstructions as contained in the data base maintained by the respondents, the petitioner from freely leaving re-entering Bangladesh.

2. The short fact relevant for disposal of this, case, is that the petitioner is a peace-loving citizen of Bangladesh and a lawyer by profession, practicing Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh since 1999. The petitioner is also founder, Secretary General of National Forum for Protection of Human Rights (NFPHR), a non-registered Human Rights Organization working for protection of Human Rights of the People in Bangladesh. He is also a member of the International Jurist Union (IJU) a worldwide organization of the lawyers and jurists of Bangladesh and he worked as a leading defense counsel in the International Crimes Tribunal, Bangladesh. The petitioner are being prevented by the respondents from leaving Bangladesh without any justification or explanation. No reasons have been offered by the respondents or any Immigration Official either at the time of refusal or any time thereafter. The petitioner has in all material times been in possession of all relevant and valid travel documents (including a valid Bangladesh Passport, a valid visa and a ticket), the respondents have unlawfully prevented him from leaving the country. In preventing the petitioner from leaving Bangladesh the respondents acted in violation of the Bangladesh Passport Order, 1973. Moreover, the petitioner have no criminal proceeding pending before any other Court against him where he is wanted nor are there any allegations of commission of criminal offences. Thereby it is violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 27, 31 and 36 of the Constitution.' The petitioner regularly travels abroad for the purpose of discharge of professional responsibilities, tourism as well as for medical treatment. On 18-5-2016, the petitioner was denied permission to leave Bangladesh for the very first time by the respondents though he was in possession of all the travels documents. The petitioner while arrived at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Kurmitola, Dhaka at 11-00 pm on 17-5-2016 and went to Qatar Airways counter for check in, at this stage, one of the staff member of the Qatar Airways informed him that they are unable to issue a Boarding Pass in favour of the petitioner as they have been asked by immigration authorities not to issue the same in favour of the petitioner. Thereafter in June 2016, the respondents allowed the petitioner to leave Bangladesh to go to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Umrah. The petitioner left Bangladesh on 23-6-2016 and returned to Bangladesh after completion of Umrah on 5-7-2016. The petitioner now has been advised by his doctors to go abroad for better medical consultation, diagnosis and treatment and then the petitioner made appointments with consultants at Bumrungrad International Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand on 26-8-2016. The petitioner purchased a Biman Bangladesh' ticket to leave Bangladesh on 25-8-2016 along with a return ticket for his scheduled return on 30-8-2016. All the petitioner's travel documents (including Bangladesh Passport) were valid, lawful and in order as per schedule of the flight to leave Dhaka for Bangkok at 12-05 pm on 25-8-2016. The petitioner arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Kurmitola, Dhaka in time and he completed the formalities at the Biman Bangladesh counter. While a Boarding Pass was issued by the staff of Biman Bangladesh Airlines and he proceeded to the Immigration Desk of the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, the petitioner handed over his Bangladesh Passport No.BH0053606 and a duly completed Immigration Card to the Immigration officer. While the Immigration Officer was scrutinizing the Bangladesh Passport and visa of the petitioner, the respondent No.5 (Officer-in-Charge Immigration Police, Special Branch, Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Kurmitola, Dhaka) arrived at the Immigration Desk. The respondent No.5 took the Bangladesh Passport of the petitioner and informed him that he had instructions from higher authorities to prevent him from leaving Bangladesh and accordingly, he took away the petitioner's boarding pass from him. No explanation or reason whatsoever was given for preventing the petitioner from leaving Bangladesh. Later. the petitioner found out that the immigration authorities had affixed a departure seal in his passport although he was not allowed to cross the Immigration Desk. The respondents had allowed the petitioner to leave Bangladesh but on most occasions, they have kept the petitioner waiting for hours at the Airport.

Although the respondents have allowed the petitioner to leave Bangladesh on a number occasions, this invariably depends on the whims and caprice of the respondents. Therefore, the instant writ petition directing the respondents to allow him to go abroad. The petitioner has every apprehension that he will face restriction at the Airport when he tries to go abroad and as such the instant application as the respondents have prevented the petitioner from leaving Bangladesh. It is violation of the order and also Rules guaranteed under Article 36 of the Constitution. The petitioner finding no other alternative remedy preferred this application and obtained the present Rule.

3. Mr Muhammad Tajul Islam, the petitioner himself has appeared and submits that the action of the respondents in refusing to allow the petitioner to leave the country is arbitrary and without jurisdiction. No reasons has ever been assigned for the restriction from going abroad despite his passport has neither been impounded nor seized. Moreover the petitioner submits that he has fundamental rights to leave and re-enter the country subject to reasonable restriction as imposed by law. However the petitioner has been prevented from leaving Bangladesh in violation of the provision of the taw and also a restriction on the fundamental rights as guaranteed under Article 36 of the Constitution must be strictly construed. The petitioner being in lawful possession of a Bangladesh Passport (bearing No. BH0053606) which has been issued in accordance with the Passport Order, 1973 and the said passport being valid, the petitioner is entitled to leave and re-enter Bangladesh and moreover no criminal case is pending against him nor there is any allegation of any offence. Therefore the respondents deliberately violated the fundamental rights in restricting a persons from going abroad is an abuse of the process of law. Thus being the guardian of the Constitution this Court can condone all such restriction or preventing him to go abroad and re-entering. Therefore it requires interference by this Court. The supplementary Rule as has been issued that restriction as was created by the respondent No. 5 recorded a General dairy being ALT GD No.969 dated 19-2-2017 be withdrawn because the petitioner has the every right to leave and re-entering to Bangladesh without any hindrance or disturbance.

4. On the other hand the learned Assistant Attorney General by filing affidavit in opposition on behalf of the respondent No.1 submits that although upon the request one of authorities of Bangladesh, the immigration authority prevented the petitioner from going abroad, but subsequently he was allowed to travel abroad. Further he submits that this practice is maintained out of co-ordination among different organization and agencies of the Government. But the petitioner was not prevented to leave the country and thus the petitioner traveled abroad later on. He further submits that if the petitioner is not reported to be an accused in any pending case and if there is no requisition from any competent authority there is no reasonable ground for imposing embargo but in this particular case there was no restriction upon the petitioner from going abroad and re-entering into Bangladesh. The learned Assistant Attorney General further submits that already there are some restriction/ obstructions as contained in data base preventing the petitioner from going abroad and re-entering on which supple-mentary Rule has been issued. In this context the learned Assistant Attorney General on behalf of the respondent No.1 submitted that there is no restriction or any hindrance in respect of the. petitioner in leaving and re-entering. Therefore the Rule is to be discharged.

5. Heard the learned Advocates, as it appears the petitioner though have valid Passport, ticket, visa but he was prevented from leaving Bangladesh by the immigration authority. Thereby, it has impounded the fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 36 of the Constitution. Further in absence of any custodial order passed by a competent Court of law, no request can be lawfully made to the immigration authorities to prevent citizen from leaving the country, if any such request is made or entertained by the immigration authorities, the same would have the effect of undermining the Rule of law and violating a citizen's constitutionally guaranteed Fundamental Rights. He has no criminal case nor any offence has been shown nor there is any record of offence committed by the petitioner, simply he. was traveling abroad. Therefore such restriction or embargo is illegal and unconstitutional if any request is made from any other authorities preventing a citizen going abroad without assigning any reason that would be violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. For restricting a person from going abroad there must be specific allegation for which an order from acompetent Court is required but without any such restriction embargo upon the traveling the petitioner will be an abuse of the process of law. The petitioner is the citizen of this country, is entitled to leave, re-enter Bangladesh without any hindrance or disturbance and without any valid reason imposition of such restrictions is a violation of fundamental tights guaranteed under the constitution. Under such circumstances the respondents are directed to remove all restrictions/ obstructions as contained in the data base maintained by the respondents and allow the petitioner from freely leaving and reentering Bangladesh without any hindrance and obstruction.Mithila to host Berey Uthar Golpo in radio

Sheikh Arif Bulbon :

Popular model and actress Mithila has been working at Brac International for many days. Now she has been working as Head of its Early Childhood Development programme. Basically she is works with children. She has intention to make documentary for them. Right now she has decided to host a programme titled Berey Uthar Golpo at Radio Swadhin.

Under Mithila's hosting this two-hour long programme will be broadcasted in the radio station from March. The persons who are expert with child related issues will be present the programme.

While talking in this regard Mithila told this correspondent, I had a plan to make such a programme for the children. It was my dream. I am grateful to Brac and Radio Swadhin to extend their hands in this regard. I believe it will become a successful show for them.

Meanwhile, Mithila for the first time acted in a short film titled Mukhomukhi in Kolkata under Partho Sens direction. After taking its shooting for two days at a time she has returned to Dhaka from Kolkata Monday evening. Son of Sabsyasachi Chakraborty, Gaurav acted against her in this film.

Earlier I got chance to act in short film but did not. I have liked story of Mukhomukhi. I have liked Parthodas direction. I enjoyed a lot. I am very much optimistic about this movie. After staying here for few days I will have to go to Africa for one month for an official visit.MPO- listed school teachers continue hunger strike for 12th day on Thursday despite illness of many for demanding nationalization of their institutions.No special move to reduce backlog

Gulam Rabbani :

More than 33 lakh 9 thousand and 789 cases are now pending with the lower and higher judiciary of the country. Among them, 4 lakh 93 thousand and 315 cases are with the Supreme Court and 28 lakh 16 thousand and 474 cases are with the trial courts, a statistics of the Law Ministry said.

There is no special initiative to reduce case backlog though the number of the cases became double in last 10 years. In 2007, the year of separation of the judiciary from the executive, the number was 15 lakh 70 thousand, sources said.

Now one lakh 4 thousand and 481 civil cases, 3 lakh 2 thousand and 893 criminal cases and 85 thousand and 941 writs are pending with both the divisions of the Supreme Court, as well as 12 lakh 79 thousand and 107 civil cases and 15 lakh 37 thousand and 367 criminal cases are pending with the trial courts across the country, according to the statistics.

Senior lawyers of the Supreme Court said that pending situation of large number of cases means the litigants are suffering a lot to get justice. It is increasing the cost of the managing a case. In many cases, litigants are facing harassment and they are depriving of the justice.

The case disposal situation of Bangladesh reminds us the term "justice delayed is justice denied". And at the same time, judges are also facing toughness to bear this mountainous burden.

Senior lawyers suggested that some special initiatives should be taken to dispose these cases. They asked for amendment the law formulated during the British period. Former Law Minister Barrister Shafique Ahmed said, "Population is increasing. So, it is urgent to dispose civil cases by Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and courts should not frequently adjourn cases for any reason." Shafique Ahmed said also, "Ordinary criminal cases may also be disposed by the ADR system. Great Britain follows the system in ordinary criminal cases." Advocate Khandker Mahbub Hossain, former President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said, "The case ratio is increasing with the increase of the population, but number of courts and the judges are not increasing with the same tune. So, we should create sufficient courts and appoint judges." "Police take long time to investigate cases. They should finish investigation within the given time. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system can be more effective and speedy," he said. Now 83 judges are performing in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court. They are dealing in 4 lakh 76 thousand cases. On average, one judge has to see more than 5 thousand 700 cases.

Apart from this, only one bench, comprising five judges, is working in the Appellate Division though two benches were formed in the past. This one bench sees more than 16 thousand cases.

Judges were recruited for the High Court Division on February 9 in 2015 for the last time. Ten judges were appointed that day as the additional judge and eight of them were appointed as permanent judges last year. Some of the judges of the High Court Division have died by this time and some have gone to retirement. As the Chief Justice resigned his post and judges retired, one bench is conducting cases in the Appellate Division. So, it is clearly seen that the Supreme Court is facing judge crisis. But the Law Minister recently said that some judges might be recruited in both the divisions of the Supreme Court in this month or in the first week of the next month.

According to a statistics, 107 judges work for every 10 lakh people in the United States of America, 75 judges in Canada, 51 in Britain, 41 in Australia and 18 in India. But in Bangladesh only 10 judges work for every 10 lakh people. The lawyers said, it is not possible to reduce the case ratio with small number of judges. In 2015, the Law Commission suggested to recruit 2 thousand and 400 new judges. But that recommendation went unheeded.Woman run over by muggers' car in city

bdnews24.com :

A woman was killed in Dhaka after being run over by the car carrying the muggers who tried to snatch her purse.

The incident was reported Friday morning from the capital's Dhanmondi, said police.

The victim, Helena Begum was an employee of a hospital in the city's Green Road, said Inspector Md Parvez Islam.

According to him, Helena Begum arrived Dhaka with her husband Monirul



Islam on Friday after spending a vacation in Barisal.

The couple took a bus from Sadarghat and got off at the stoppage near Dhanmondi Road 7.

As soon as the they were crossing the road, the muggers' car approached and snatched Begum's purse, said the police officer citing the victim's husband.

"Helena fell on the ground when her purse was snatched and the car ran over her," said Inspector Parvez adding she died immediately. He said, they have launched an investigation into the matter.

Last month, a 5-month-old infant died after falling from a moving rickshaw in Dhaka's Doyaganj when muggers attempted to snatch the mother's purse.Banks operating profit beats expectations, hits all-time high

Kazi Zahidul Hasan :

All commercial banks operating in Bangladesh booked Tk 26,581 crore operating profit last year, helped by higher credit growth to private sector and lower costs on deposits.

Of the total amount, private banks made Tk 20,370 crore profit, public banks Tk 3,737 crore and foreign banks Tk 2,474 crore, according to Bangladesh Bank.

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) earned the highest operating profit of Tk 2,482 among the banks last year followed by National Bank Limited (NBL) Tk 1,216 crore, Southeast Bank Tk 906 crore, BRAC Bank Tk 900 crore, UCBL Tk 801, EBL Tk 759 crore, DBBL Tk 750 crore and Mercantile Bank Tk 711 crore.

Among the public banks, Sonali made Tk 1,100 operating profit, Janata Tk 1,000, Agrani Tk 950 crore, Rupali Tk 537 crore, BDBL Tk 108 crore and BASIC Bank Tk 42 crore.

Standard Chartered Bank made the highest operating profit of Tk1,485 crore among the foreign banks followed by HSBC Tk 583 crore, State Bank of India Tk 160 crore, Citibank N.A Tk 109 crore, Woori Bank Tk 93 crore, Bank Al-Falah Limited Tk 42 crore and Habib Bank Limited Tk 2 crore.



The operating profit of problem-ridden Farmers Bank slumped to Tk 26 crore in 2017 from Tk 92 crore profit a year earlier. "Banks profit soars last year on higher interest earnings, trade finance, capital market investment and business diversification," senior banker Nurul Amin told The New Nation yesterday. He said many banks diversified their business last year amid falling lending rates, which also helped them to book a good profit.

Nurul Amin pointed out that banking sector has been able to maintain a surplus liquidity last year. The situation helped lowering operating cost of banks on deposit purpose and thereby led to a positive impact on their profits. Banks made Tk 21,567 crore operating profit in 2016 and Tk 21,683 crore in 2015. "Operating profit of most banks soared last year due mainly to boosting private sector credit that helped banks to earn remarkable amount from interest income. Besides, banks have made good earnings from export and import trade that also grew last year," former Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Dr Khandaker Ibrahim Khaled told The New Nation on Friday.

Private sector credit growth stood at over 18 percent during the July-December period of the last year beating the target of 16.2 percent set by the central bank for the period.

Dr Khandoker Ibrahim Khaled said, the profit was higher than his expectation as nothing was going right in banking sector with many banks were ailing. "Lending growth helped to increase interest income of most banks and thereby they made profit beating expectation. The final profit figures will come down when they meet regulatory requirements and tax obligations," he added.Huge forex goes out per year

Reza Mahmud :

More people are now shopping abroad spending huge foreign currency and causing massive capital flight out of the country, experts say.

"If you go to neighboring India any time you will find lot of Bangladeshi nationals visiting big cities for treatment and business purposes. As per some estimates around 1,50,000 Bangladeshi nationals take treatment and such other medical services in India every year," said Columnist Rezanur Rahman.

Around 12,00,000 Bangladeshi nationals travel to India every year. However the total numbers of Bangladeshi tourists to India was the highest at 13.70 lakhs in 2016 -- by far the largest and the figure even outnumber US visitors to India on that year.

They spend huge foreign currency for shopping although the same products are available in Dhaka at lower price.Traders take them through informal channels although these are available in abundant quantity in Dhaka and some other major cities.

The single most reason for visit is however medical treatment. According to Indian Directorate

General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S) 1,65,000 Bangladeshi have taken medical services in India in 2015-16 fiscal year.

The data shows that India earned over US$ 350 million from Bangladeshi people for medical tourism. Indian official data also shows that Bangladeshi tourists are now highest in India as foreign tourists.

Many also visit USA, UK, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Middle East for different purposes but India alone is the single largest destination of people from Bangladesh. They also make shopping in other countries which are mainly luxurious products and cost too much in Bangladesh.

Sources said, most people carry excess foreign currency without disclosure or get from third sources while visiting India and other countries and it partly explains why so much capital flight is taking from the country depriving Bangladesh economy and the higher potentials of its growth.

Experts said the Bangladeshi travelers usually buy clothing, cosmetics and ornaments and lot more.

"Almost all of those items of equivalent quality and standard are now also available in Bangladesh. But people are buying at several times higher prices from India. Even the quality of medical treatment in Bangladesh is not less now but there is a kind of physiological impulsion that force many to go to India for treatment," Rezanur Rahman said.

He said our health services should be more impressive and behaviour of physicians needs to be more amicable to stop our patients to go to India and seek treatment here.

He also stressed the need to creating the mindset to buy more home made products instead of foreign items. Billal Hossain, a businessman at Gazi Bhaban shopping plaza in the city also made similar remarks on the issue.

As an example, he said, "Any one can buy a toilet soap of certain company at Tk 100 in Dhaka but the same product costs over Tk 200 in India. But Bangladeshi travelers are needlessly buying those products at the cost of national interests."

Shafiul Islam (Mahiuddin) President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) told The New Nation, "There is no statistics how many people are visiting abroad annually and how much foreign currency they are spending in shopping in countries like India.

We can say many people are going to India and other countries for different purposes every day. They are regularly buying products and services. We are living in an open market economy and it is not possible to control such travel and spending."

He also said, "Some Bangladesh made products are also sweeping Indian markets. Many Bangladeshi brands are also popular in many places in India, he said laying emphasis on producing quality products and services to make greater access to Indian market and at other places all over the world."

Duterte tells Suu Kyi rights activists are "just a noisy bunch"

Combination of Reuters file photos show Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Reuters :

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, heavily criticised abroad for failing to stand up for largely stateless Rohingya Muslims, that she shouldn't bother about rights activists as they are "just a noisy bunch". Duterte said he made the remarks in a speech at the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi where Duterte and Suu Kyi are attending a



summit of Southeast Asian countries. "We were talking about our country, the interest of our country ... and I said 'do not mind the human rights' (activists), they are just a noisy bunch actually," Duterte said. Suu Kyi is facing international criticism for failing to address the plight of the Rohingya, more than 655,500 of whom have fled to Bangladesh to escape a crackdown by the Myanmar military. Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations described Myanmar's crackdown as ethnic cleansing, which Myanmar denies. "I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle of being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this is now the ruckus, she is heavily criticised," Duterte said in his speech.

Human rights groups have also strongly criticised Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign during which more than 3,900 suspected drug users and peddlers have been killed in what the police called self-defence after armed suspects resisted arrest.

Critics dispute that and say executions are taking place with zero accountability, allegations the police reject.

Don`t blame tax-dodgers, collect the ill-gotten money

MORE than a hundred bank documents were forged by at least 20 importers to evade tax, causing a loss of over Tk 50 crore to the state exchequer. This has been unearthed by officials of the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate and the Chittagong Customs House. The importers tampered with Letters of Credit (LCs) and changed the names, quantities and prices of goods to dodge tax, said several officials at the Directorate that launched a probe into the matter in November last year, as per a report of a local daily.

Assistant Commissioner of the Directorate Tareque Mahmood said in the report that they found out at least 20 firms had doctored about a hundred bank documents to evade tax in recent times. And the amount of dodged tax was more than Tk 50 crore. On information, Directorate officials seized a consignment of Bangladesh Science House (BSH), a company based in the capital's Mohakhali, in mid-December last year. The BSH imported a reconditioned Toyota car from a Japanese company, Rama DBK Limited. The LC issued by the First Security Islami Bank Limited (FSIBL) against the consignment showed the invoice value at $47,400 (around Tk 39 lakh).

According to the tariff rules, the tax on import of such vehicles is 366.06 percent. This means the total tax against the invoice value was Tk 1.43 crore. But a tampered LC was submitted to the customs authorities, lowering the invoice value to $27,400 (about Tk 22.75 lakh). This helped the company dodge tax of around Tk 60 lakh by paying Tk 83 lakh in tax. Directorate officials filed a case with the customs house against the importer and the C&F agents on December 3. The case is yet to be disposed of.

The assessment value of imported goods is determined through documents issued by the banks concerned, and Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) agents are responsible for releasing goods from the customs. With the help of a section of C&F agents, the importers altered the prices and descriptions of the goods in the documents to lower the assessment value, said some officials at the customs house. As per the Customs Act 1969, the authorities can confiscate goods and cancel the licences of the importers and the C&F agents involved in such forgery. However, this Act is hardly enforced as the authorities only put forward monetary fines.

When corruption is the way of the government, tax-dodging is inevitable. Besides, people do not pay tax for maintaining an elephantine government, but for services. The people are not getting services for which they pay taxes.



Niazul's gun found in flowerpot of a Church

risingbd.com :

Narayanganj police have recovered the pistol licenced to Niazul Islam which he lost ten days ago during a fierce clash between followers of Narayanganj Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy and Awami League lawmaker Shamim Osman.

Police recovered the pistol from a flowerpot in front of Church of Saint Paul on the city's Bangabandhu Road around 2:00am on Friday.

Niazul Islam, a close aide of Shamim Osman, was one among the persons who brandished guns during an attack on Ivy and her supporters on January 16.

Nizaul's brother Ripon Khan filed a general diary (GD) on January 17 claiming that the gun was lost during the clash.

Md Sharfuddin, additional superintendent of police (ASP) in Narayanganj, said the pistol was recovered with 10 rounds of bullets from a flowerpot in front of Church of Saint Paul on the city's Bangabandhu Road around 2:00am.A close look at economic indicators

Editorial Desk :

A close look on last year's major economic indicators points to a disturbing trend. The disturbing trend in the performances of some major economic indicators for Bangladesh in 2017 has led economists to ask a very important question: Is the scale of money siphoning on the rise? As corruption is going on such a vast scale under the protection of the government, the plunderers naturally do not feel safe to keep the ill-gotten money in the country. They are powerful people

and have no difficulty in transferring the money abroad. Even if they are caught when out of power they have nothing to lose, because the money is not their earned money.

The question becomes even more pertinent after the name of prominent businessmen and politicians emerged in the Paradise Papers - the second-largest leak of documents pertaining to tax avoidance. However, the point is now - there should be exclusive and detailed investigations about who are transferring money and by which means. Undeniably, by now the whole financial and banking sector have been riddled with corruption and that's why money laundering or illegal outflow of cash is on the rise. Even if the culprits had invested their black money at home it would have made some sense had the money made here also stayed here but the situation is more than just alarming.

The entire banking and financial chain have gone into the hands of a corrupt syndicate - which is strong enough to bankrupt the country. The country's account deficit amounted to $7,655 million in the first nine months of 2017 calendar year, resulting in a wide trade gap. Export earnings experienced very slow growth, while imports went up by more than 30%.Moreover- registration for a second home in Malaysia and many other countries has also increased during this time frame. Even though, we don't have specific data or statistical details but it is easily understandable that since the crooked money is not safe so it had to be transferred abroad.

However, the draining-off money is primarily happening in four forms -- over and under invoicing, over and under shipment, multiple invoices, and falsely declared goods and services. According to the country's one of the major think-tanks 88% of illicit financial flows from Bangladesh in the last 10 years took place through trade mispricing. Moreover, a recent trend called 'Digital Hundi' that uses the mobile banking network is being used to launder money. A significant number of overseas workers have confessed that they are more interested in remitting the money through Digital Hundi - it is basically money laundering in a different form.

The million dollar question, however, what has the government done to address the loopholes?

It has done almost nothing at all. The government will not survive if it tries to fight big corruption. The government secures support through corruption.

Preventing money laundering is one of the major challenges for Bangladesh, which has an underground economy. A sense of security in terms of law and order and an investment-friendly climate can prevent the outward flow of money from Bangladesh. The wealthy are scared of keeping their money in Bangladesh and believe that their money will be safer abroad, leading to the increasing outflow.

The political necessity to fight corruption is completely missing. The progress stories are mostly lies. It has to be like this when the government depends entirely on police power and corruption.

The Undead Archives

I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily!

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Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Yes, the decision belongs on the local level

No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks

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View Results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.Jordan's Safwa Islamic Bank said it has signed a co-operation agreement with Middle East Payment Services (MEPS), a leading, innovative payment services provider in the Middle East, to issue Mastercard prepaid cards for its clientele.

As per the deal, all of Safwa Islamic Banks clients will be able to obtain Mastercard prepaid cards from any of its locations spread across Jordan, said the statement from the bank.



These internationally and locally-recognized cards will enable users to make secure internet purchases and to utilize ATMs and point-of-sale (POS) devices, it stated.



The agreement was recently signed at the Banks headquarters in Al Abdali in the presence of the Banks representatives, Rami Al Khayyat, Deputy CEO and Chief of Corporate Banking and Ibrahim Samha, Deputy CEO and Chief of Finance and Corporate Strategies, in addition to Walid Al Nasser, MEPS CEO, as well as Mastercard representatives, Basel Eltell, General Manager for Saudi Arabia and the Levant, and Mohammed Qadadeh, Jordan Country Manager.



These cards can be easily recharged through online banking and mobile phones. On its part, MEPS will be handling the operation and management of the cards, in addition to providing other pioneering solutions to Safwa Islamic Bank.



Addressing the gathering, Safwa Islamic Banks joint-deputy CEOs, Rami Al Khayyat and Ibrahim Samha, said, We at Safwa Islamic Bank work diligently to meet the primary needs of our clients. On that note, Mastercard prepaid cards are one of the most important services required by all age groups in our community.



MEPS chief executive Walid Al Nasser said the company strives to provide innovative and secure solutions and services to meet the ever-changing needs of its clients.



"We are pleased to be working with Safwa Islamic Bank, supporting its endeavors to offer its clientele the invaluable services afforded by the Mastercard prepaid cards," he noted.



Furthermore, the technologies we offer, coupled with our diverse partnerships and the expertise of our team, contribute to strengthening the Company's local and regional profile, in addition to solidifying its commitment to best practices, unparalleled service delivery and innovative technological solutions, he added.-TradeArabia News ServiceThe UAE Ministry of Economy has issued a statement on the announcement of the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) that the deadline for the registration of exporters of materials and products that have chemical components to the EU in accordance with REACH (European Regulation on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals) is on May 31.



Exporters of non-registered products of more than one ton per year will not be able to send their products to the EU after that date, the ministry said in a statement.



The move comes as part of the ministrys efforts to enhance the level of awareness among the UAEs private sector on the latest policies, legislation and administrative and regulatory procedures adopted by various countries worldwide, especially the UAEs trade partners.



The ministry stated that as per ECHA regulation, non-EU companies cannot register directly with Reach but only through the importers of their products in the EU.



The European importer thus needs detailed information on the composition and proportions of chemicals in the concerned products. A non-EU company can appoint a representative based in the EU to apply for registration on its behalf.



Reach was approved in 2006 and introduced in 2007. According to ECHA, it aims to regulate the handling of chemicals, and to place the responsibility for the safety of chemicals on manufacturers, promote health and environmental safety standards and to reduce the impact of chemicals on humans.

It also raises the competitiveness of European products by adopting high safety standards for chemical content.-TradeArabia News ServiceOracle has announced the opening of a first-of-its-kind Innovation Hub in Dubai to drive the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) across the UAE.

As the nation celebrates the centennial of the birth of late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan with the Year of Zayed initiative, Oracle has named the new facility, Zayed Innovation Hub to honour the progressive vision of the UAEs Founding Father, said a Wam news agency report.

"The Zayed Innovation Hub represents a milestone in the artificial intelligence space, not only in the UAE but also in the region and to position the UAE as a global leader in AI," said Omar bin Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, who opened the hub yesterday (January 21).

Arun Khehar, Senior Vice President  Business Applications, ECEMEA at Oracle, explained how the Zayed Innovation Hub will serve as "the ultimate platform" for driving awareness, experimentation and implementation of AI in the UAE.

"The success of strategic government initiatives like Smart Dubai and Expo 2020 is underpinned with emerging digital technologies like artificial intelligence driving the creation of an automated infrastructure for the realisation of these projects," he said.

Abdul Rahman Al Thehaiban, Senior Vice President  Technology, Middle East and Africa, Oracle added: "Making artificial intelligence easy to adopt is critical, and a key challenge for organisations is that they cant afford to wait. The Zayed Innovation Hub will aim to address this challenge by engaging with key UAE audiences by raising their awareness levels, helping drive an innovative approach and also supporting the skills development of next generation of Emirati leaders.More than $15 billion worth of projects and funding were announced at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and its co-located events, the International Water Summit and EcoWaste Exhibition, which took place during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2018 last week, hosted by Masdar.

The deals, which combined a number of local, regional and international agreements, strengthen the UAEs position for advancing renewable energy and clean technology.

With WFES entering its 11th year, the event established a new direction for the energy ecosystem, bringing together global innovators, industry leaders and policymakers to shape the transformation of the industry.

Over the four days, 850 exhibiting companies from 40 countries welcomed more than 33,000 attendees. More than 100 start-ups participated in WFES 2018, where over 10,000 pre-arranged business meetings were held. Exhibiting companies and a total of 18 national pavilions showcased some of the worlds latest and most advanced technologies, which are expected to play an integral part in the future of the energy industry.

Naji El Haddad, group event director for the Middle East at Reed Exhibitions, said: As a business-first event that provides a global platform for all those involved in the energy sector, the World Future Energy Summit 2018 has proven one of the most successful editions to date. The figures speak for themselves and have exceeded all expectations.

These business successes were bolstered by new additions, including the Climate Innovations Exchange, pairing cleantech innovators with international investors. Our new Dialogue Hall that hosted the conferences also brought a cutting-edge and engaging platform for speakers and delegates, El Haddad added.

During the four-day World Future Energy Summit, the International Solar Alliance hosted its first-ever gathering in Abu Dhabi, and signed a letter of intent with Yes Bank for its first financing commitment of up to $5 billion by 2030. The organisation also signed nine solar projects across five ISA member countries, including UAE, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, India and Spain.

Saudi Arabia announced its intention to launch up to $7 billion worth of renewable energy projects in 2018, as part of the countrys plan to have 9.5 gigawatts (GW) of solar and wind capacity installed by 2023. The majority of the funding is expected to be spent on solar plants, with four (GW) of solar energy projects to be contracted throughout the year.

Held in the Dialogue Hall at Adnec, the WFES conference hosted high-level speakers, including local ministers and foreign dignitaries, such as Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Turki Al Shehri, Head of the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (Repdo) at the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources (MEIM) in Saudi Arabia. A range of experts presented at the new Dialogue Hall, including Tarik Hamame, an advisor at the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (Masen), and technology futurist Ian Khan.

International Water Summit

The sixth edition of the International Water Summit, held in strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (Adwea), saw the announcement of two landmark water-related projects. Firstly, Adwea announced the completion of a $435 million strategic desalinated water reserve in the capital. Constructed in the Liwa region, the megaproject will house 26 billion litres and is the worlds largest manmade water reserve.

On day two, Adwea announced a $1.2 billion project to build the worlds largest reverse osmosis water desalination plant in Abu Dhabi, with operations set to begin in October 2021. The greenfield reverse osmosis seawater desalination plant will have a capacity of 200 million imperial gallons of water per day, and will be located at the Taweelah power and water complex, approximately 45 kilometres north of the capital.

EcoWASTE Exhibition

Abu Dhabis Centre of Waste Management (CWM) - Tadweer announced five contracts totaling $45 million of investment in waste management projects during the EcoWaste Exhibition. The contracts, signed with a range of local and international private companies, are set to expand environmental waste solutions throughout the emirate, as well as generate significant job opportunities.

Contractors that signed with CWM Tadweer include Green Energy Solutions & Sustainability, which will implement the Middle Easts first Landfill Gas to Energy project that will produce around 5 megawatts of energy by September 2018.

Meanwhile, Masdar and Beeah announced financing commitments that had been secured for the Sharjah Multi-Fuel Waste-to-Energy Facility. The facility comes as part of the Emirates Waste to Energy Company  a joint venture between Masdar and Beeah  and will have the capacity to treat 300,000 tonnes of waste and a power capacity of 30 MW.

The World Future Energy Summit will return in 2019 from January 14 to January 17. - TradeArabia News ServiceDubai Airports has announced that on January 25, DXBs Terminal 3 arrivals area will be the stage for a dazzling exclusive performance from the cast of Evita as part of the musicDXB programme.



Singing Dont Cry for Me Argentina and High Flying Adored, the two cast leads as their characters Eva Peron and Che, will take to the stage from 1:30pm in a free performance open to all  passengers, residents and visitors. The musicDXB stage will be situated between entrances three and four of DXB Terminal 3 arrivals and easily accessible from the passenger meeting area, taxi drop off or direct from the metro.



We are really excited to be welcoming such an iconic musical to our musicDXB stage for this intimate performance. We have seen some incredible performances in the past couple of years, to the delight of our passengers in departures, but this time we made the decision to open it up to everyone to enjoy, whether travelling through DXB or not, and bring the stage to arrivals. So, if you are in the area, or want something different to do in your lunch break, I would highly recommend you come and join us, said Helen Mellor-Mitchell, Dubai Airports vice president brand engagement and communications.



Telling the story of Eva Peron, First Lady to Argentine president Juan Peron who dedicated her life to charity, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rices Evita is one of the most successful West End and Broadway shows to ever grace the stage and is at the spectacular Dubai Opera from January 22 to February 3.



Launched in November 2015, Dubai Airports #musicDXB initiative offers a platform to regional and international stars, as well as emerging artists, both physically  via live performances in the airport, and virtually  via Dubai Internationals social media channels, with a reach of over three million. - TradeArabia News Service

Gender Nation is a bi-weekly column by Gwendolyn Ann Smith, the founder of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, reviewing news affecting the trans, intersex, and genderqueer community.

Justice Served for Davia Spain

San Francisco will not be filing charges against Davia Spain, a trans woman who was arrested on the 19th of January for domestic violence, battery, and burglary. The case led to an online petition signed by nearly 2000 people calling for her release, as well as a gathering at San Franciscos Hall of Justice on Bryant Street, demanding her release.

Spain is a 23-year-old filmmaker and performance artist who works at the San Francisco LGBT Center as part of their Trans Employment Program. She is a native of the Bay Area and has been involved in the local community for some time.

The SF LGBT Center issued a statement of support for Spain, saying, Davia Spain is a valued employee of the Center. We know that people of color and trans folks are often targeted for violence in prisons and the criminal justice system. They further urged people to sign the petition demanding her release.

Friends of Spain say that she was not the aggressor, and was defending herself during a confrontation over an alleged sexual assault against Spain. Witnesses on scene gave conflicting reports to police, and both Spain and the unidentified victim had minor injuries.

After her arrest, Spain was placed in a holding area for men but was moved to an area specifically for transgender women. This is a common issue for incarcerated trans women, and often a situation that leads to unsafe conditions for transgender people held behind bars.

It is also common for transgender prisoners, particularly trans women of color, to be assaulted in prison. In a joint report from the Task Force and the National Center for Transgender Equality, titled Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, it was noted that 38% of black trans women faced sexual assault while in jail. Denial of health care also figured high, with 16% being regularly denied such care.

Issues surrounding transgender incarceration are heating up, too, with struggles brewing over religious and moral objections to transgender women in womens prisons.

After a preliminary investigation, San Francisco Public Defender Jess Adachi was confident that the case was one of self-defense, and the District Attorneys office was inclined to agree. Alex Bastian, speaking for the DAs office, stated, We make charging decisions based on the law and this case will not be charged.

What does "transphobia" mean to you? As with "hydro phobic " substances, the phobia refers to the strong rejection of trans people, causes, & concerns.

As with "claustro phobic " people, the phobia refers to the strong fear of trans people, causes, & concerns.

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Submit articles for publication on the TransAdvocate here.By Shafeeq Hudawi, TwoCircles.net

Malappuram might be thousands of miles away from Cairo, but that has never deterred the exchange of ideas and scholars. And Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri, a 60-year-old resident of the Malabar district is the latest addition to the list of Indian Muslims who have made it big in the world of Islamic education. A few days ago, Adrisseri became the first Indian to be selected to the 21-member apex body of Cairo-based League of Islamic Universities (LIU) as its first executive member. The functionaries were impressed with the integrated education model of which Faizy is an untiring advocate. It is an apt reward for Adrisseri, who started almost four decades ago in much simpler surroundings.

Brought up in a clerical family, Adrisseri dropped out of school in the first standard and pursued traditional Islamic education in various mosques for eight years. But it never stopped him from dreaming and materialising others dreams. I was not aware of the formal education, Faizy reminisces.

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After spending eight years in Dars, the traditional teaching centres attached to mosques, he joined Jamia Nooriya Arabic College at Pattikkad in his home district Malappuram in 1977 for a two-year course in religious studies. An ardent reader, Malayalam books, and periodicals helped him determine his inadequacies as a school drop out.

The success story, scripted by Adrissery, dates back to 1993 when he joined Markazu Tharbiyyathul Islamiyya at Valanchery in Malappuram district. Markaz is one of the Islamic institutions where the integrated education model combine was introduced. It combined traditional Islamic studies with modern education.

Adrisseri along with his colleagues Kunjamu Faizy and C K Mohammed Darimi brought in a new age in Islamic education in Kerala by trying a hand with the integrated education system. I felt like I was bestowed a golden opportunity to materialise my dreams when I was appointed as a teacher in Markaz. I had determined that religious scholars needed to be cognizant of the changes in the world and they should tap the potential of various knowledge, he said.

By 2000, Coordination of Islamic Colleges (CIC) came into existence as a running body of around ten colleges. After completing ten year-long courses in CIC run colleges, students are given post graduation in Islamic studies along with a UGC approved degree. Postgraduates from these colleges are called Wafy. As per the CIC, more than 5,500 students are now pursuing higher secondary, degree and pg courses in these colleges.

Adrisseris efforts as the coordinator of the Coordination of Islamic Colleges (CIC) shaped a new model of education, which is now followed by several Islamic arts colleges in Kerala and Karnataka. Under Hakeem Faizy, CIC is materialising an educational revolution among the Muslim community, especially in Muslim womens education. Now, its all set to spread its wings to more areas in Kerala and other states. Currently, Adrisseri oversees 69 institutions including 24 womens colleges.

Adrisseri believes that integrated education has ensured more acceptance among Islamic scholars in the Muslim community and the general public. It has helped them to act in accordance with the evolving time, he says.

It was a milestone when the first womens college was started in 2008 at Valanchery. Presently, more than 1,300 girl students are studying in 24 colleges across Kerala. Graduates from womens colleges are known as Wafiyyas.

Diversification has driven success in these colleges. And both Wafies and Wafiyyas are active in various activities ranging from teaching to community empowerment activities, Adrisseri says, adding that the model is only likely to spread in the coming days. Wafies are now pursuing their higher studies in various Indian and foreign universities including International Islamic University of Malaysia and Cairo University.

While it comes to Wafiyyas, CIC is now concentrating on bringing out more teachers. We need more womens colleges and scholars to run them. Later, we will channelise these women scholars, Adrisseri adds. Wafiyyas are now part of CIC as coordinators of various colleges and CIC has Wafiyyas as teachers in more than 80% of the total teaching posts in womens colleges.

The present number of Wafiyya colleges, according to Adrisseri, is inadequate to meet the present requirements of the Muslim community in the state. In the present academic year, only around 450 girl students are admitted even though more than 1000 students attended the entrance examination, he says.

However, after getting elected to the supreme body of the LIU, Adrisseri is now eying on developing ties between Indian universities and Islamic universities across the globe. Interexchange programme can help universities reform themselves and they will also lend students community a lot of opportunities to explore their knowledge. My prime stress will be on introducing interexchange programmes and cooperation of universities, he says.

Adrisseri was recommended to the apex body after LIU Foreign Affairs Desk director Valeed Abdul Munim along with LIU deputy secretary general Nabeel Samaloothi and its Medical Fiqh Science director Ishaq Abdul Aal visited various CIC colleges.

The CIC has been a member of LIU since 2014 and has received several accolades for its integrated education system. CIC also has academic tie-ups with University of Cairo, Al Azhar University and Academy of Arab Languages.

Adrisseri will leave for Egypt in April last week to attend LIUs general body and executive board meeting along with an international seminar. The programme will be held in Alexandria. And while he might be located in a completely different surrounding, this Malappuram resident is only likely to continue putting all his efforts into the integrated model of education.The questions your dentist could be asking you at your annual examination may soon be getting a lot more complicated. Other than your tooth brushing, chewing and flossing habits, you could now be asked about your details of your sex life. Don't be alarmed  these questions can save your life. Your dentist may ask you about your oral sex habits which could be critical to the prevention of oropharyngeal, throat, tonsils and tongue cancers.

Frank discussions with patients

A recent study in the Journal of the American Dental Association found that many dentists were not having frank discussions with their patients concerning the risk of cancer caused by the papillomavirus (Hpv) that is spread through oral sex.

While most dentists did screen for oropharyngeal cancer, many did not discuss the risk factors. The study also found that by the time most dentists spoke to patients about cancer they already had it or symptoms of it. This meant that patients were not benefiting from information that would help them to understand risks and the prevention of these cancers. These types of discussions may be uncomfortable for both the patient and dentist but could save lives.

The growth of oropharyngeal cancer

Oropharyngeal cancer cases have grown significantly in the last two decades. A study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that there was a 50% increase in HPV related oropharyngeal cancers between 2000 and 2012.

While doctors and researchers were aware that specific strains of the HPV cause cervical cancer, latest data shows that one-third of such cancers in Canada can be found in the throat and mouth and are linked largely to sexual contact. This type of cancer is also on the rise in countries like the US and UK but are most common in Hungary and France.

Mandatory screenings

In light of the rise in of HPV related Oral Cancers, some experts are calling for dentists and dental hygienists to conduct regular screenings as part of a patient's regular examination. In addition to a physical exam of the throat, neck and related soft tissue, they should also ask questions about tobacco, alcohol, sexual partners and practices.

This could be the difference between life and death for many people and is the best line of defense. Dental professionals play an important role in educating their patients about the related risks factors and how they can best prevent this deadly cancer.Two months ago, terrorists committed the worst terrorist attack in Egypts modern history by detonating a bomb inside a crowded mosque in the Sinai Peninsula and then sprayed gunfire on worshipers as they fled, killing 305.

The attack was a shocking catastrophe, not only because of the brutality and the high death toll but also because of the ambiguous twist in the Islamic State (ISIS) Ideology by attacking a Sunni mosque for the first time.

Rapidly, the reason was clarified. The Radwa mosque that was under attack is a Sufi mosque.

Why Sufism?

Although a lot of people misconceptualise Sufism as an Islamic organisation or ideology with a religious political perspective simply as Muslim Brotherhood and Salafism, however, Sufism is much deeper.

It is a form of Islamic philosophy based on mysticism that emphasises introspection and spiritual closeness with God.

Separately to Salafists, Sufis believe in inner peace more than the outer look, focus more on the core of self-discipline than reforming the society and its members. Both groups believe in Jihad as a core of belonging and an aim to achieve. however, Sufism does not delineate Jihad by fighting others and building the right Muslim society on the rubble of western civilisation, but by fighting and struggling with the inner-self and purifying it from the debauchery and blasphemy.

Attacking Muslims with similar faith school (Sunni) while praying is not an accessible matter to be justified ideologically by ISIS leaders.

ISIS is representing itself as the chosen army

#ISIS and other radicalised groups visualising of other Islamic groups and movements are always full of misperceptions. As the main identity of ISIS is representing itself as the chosen army to establish the caliphate and lead Muslims to the end times, it always highlights itself as the only representative Islamic group by questioning other groups religio-political legitimacy and launching fierce rhetorical campaigns against them.

ISIS considers all Muslims even Al-Qaeda and salifies (the mother sources of radicalisation) who dont authorise and pledge it as the true and the only true leader as apostates who should be executed without mercy.

Moreover, Sufism is mostly defined like Shiaas (another Islamic branch) as infidels, lost their way and faith by their transgression devotional Sufi practices such as the act of grouping Remembrance (Zikr) and glorifying of their saints and visiting tombs.

Therefore, according to the radicalised ISIS ideology, they deserve to die even while praying in their mosques.

Who are they really are:

Although #Sufis are often censured for approaching non-Muslim devotional practice close to ignorance, but not only is Sufism is a 1000 year spiritual dimension of Islam that created the core of Islamic philosophy and raised a religious campaign to think, meditate and debate, but also an artistic perspective that shaped the nature of Arabic and Iranian literature, discourse, and poem.

Sufism is a mirror to reflect the heart of Islam beyond Doctrines and ritual. It is the perception of building the right human interconnected with morals and ethics.

While all Muslims believe that they are on the pathway to Allah to achieve paradise, Sufis also believe that it is possible to draw closer to God and to more fully embrace the divine presence in this life.

Their core of believing rise from the loving of God to seek his forgiveness, aid, and support.

The chief aim of all Sufis is to seek the pleasing of God by working to restore within themselves far away from others. They believe that enhancing and reforming humanity begins with reforming yourself and your spirit. furthermore, Sufism neglects hate, hostility, and animosity by raising love, peace, and tolerance.

Only diamond can cut Diamond

It is believed that facing radicalisation and terrorism begins by separating between fighting terrorists and terrorism. The solution is not with armed disputes but with declaring war on radicalisation and this would not happen without a method of purifying Islamic misconceptions.

Thus, Sufism is a long part of Islamic legacy that has survived in peoples hearts for centuries more than any other Islamic philosophy dimension. To cut diamonds we need diamonds, Jihadi Salafism is partly new and weakly fundamentalised.

if we really need to conquer radicalised minds we need to begin with their hearts by a religious philosophy that carries the real foundation of every spiritual belief, and a way of purifying the heart from gross manners. Or as Ibn Rumi, a famous Sufi sage says, When someone beats a rug, the blows are not against the rug, but against the dust in it.US President Donald Trump put his state visit to the UK in jeopardy when he hit back against British Prime Minister Theresa May for criticising him for retweeting posts by the anti-Muslim hate group Britain First (whose name happens to echo the Presidents America First! campaign slogan). Now, hes saying that he might finally be ready to apologise for it.

During an interview with uber-conservative ITV star Piers Morgan, Trump admitted that before retweeting the posts, he knew nothing about the Britain First hate group. But still, he went and shared three of their posts on his much-followed social media in November, spreading the hate.

The President told Morgan that if he can verify that the Britain First people are horrible, racist people, then he would certainly apologise for sharing their posts, but added, if youd like me to do that, suggesting that maybe hes not so keen to say hes sorry for the posts.

Trump does not regret the retweets

Trump said that he does not regret retweeting the Britain First posts, rationalising that he did it because he is a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror. Right. He again insisted that before the retweets, he knew nothing at all about the hate group, but that didnt stop him from defending doing it when Theresa May, who does know a lot about the group, criticised him for it, calling it the wrong thing to do.According to a new report from the New York Times, last June, US President Donald Trump called for the firing of Robert Mueller III, the FBI investigator who has been probing him for the possible collusion between his Presidential campaign back in 2016 and the Russian government. However, he backed off when a White House counsel threatened to quit over the potential firing.

Mueller firing would echo Comey firing

If Trump fired Mueller for investigating him, it would echo when he fired James Comey, the Director of the CIA, for the same exact reason.

The Comey firing is most peoples speculation as to what will be the Presidents grounds for impeachment, since it technically counts as obstruction of justice, which according to the US Constitution, is one of the things that can get a US President kicked out of the Oval Office.

Another thing that could get Trump impeached, ironically, is if Muellers FBI probe is successful and he discovers that the Presidents campaign and its staff did collude with the Russian government to tweak the outcome of the election. Hes already gotten three staffers to admit to crimes involving Russia and the Trump campaign, so its only a matter of time before The Donald is brought to his knees.It didnt seem like US President Donald Trump would be getting a state visit to the UK after he retweeted some posts and videos from the far-right hate group Britain First. It was pretty much universally decided by the entire United Kingdom, including British Prime Minister Theresa May, that the guy didnt belong here, so the state visit seemed like a moot point. May made it clear that Trumps actions were unacceptable and wouldnt be tolerated in the UK and that was that.

But now, as the two of them have met up in Davos at the World Economic Forum, the tables seem to have turned.

May is being friendly with Trump again and the state visit to the UK is, once again, a topic of discussion. If the visit does go through, it will certainly be a controversial one, with some speculating that the protests will rival that which came after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Others are speculating the kind of silence that met the Japanese leader when he visited right after the Second World War.

May extending the state visit invitation back to Trump is a risky move, and one thats sure to cause a lot of upset. The pair of world leaders met for a brief quarter of an hour at the conference in which the President promised that America would forever be there in case it was needed by Britain.

He told May that he and his administration and the American people love your country. Doubts are still being cast that the visit will actually happen, however.

There are still doubts that the state visit will happen

According to sources on Downing Street with contacts in the senior staff of the British government, this proposed visit is expected to take place in the second half of this year, following May and Trumps next public meeting, which will be at the NATO summit that will be taking place in July in Brussels.

However, another source says that the planned visit will be a working visit, which pushes the prospect of the visit further and further into the unforeseeable future, which is leading to speculation that the state visit may never happen at all (again).

The initial state visit invitation was extended to Trump by May just a few days after he was inaugurated into the White House.

Its now been over a year since Trump first took office as the President of the United States and the state visit still has yet to happen. As soon as the Prime Minister and the President traded barbs about the Britain First posts back in November  Trump retweeted institutionalised hatred and then May criticised him for it and then angrily shot back at her that she should focus on her own terrorist problem instead of criticising his  Downing Street postponed the state visit indefinitely. But now, it seems as though its back on.

US Presidents usually have to wait years for state visit invitation

Presidents of the United States generally have to wait a number of years before they get a state visit invitation, but Trump only had to wait a few days  perhaps that was why this downfall began.

Who knows? You jump the gun on The Donald, you regret it later. Thats the lesson we should learn from all this. May had to learn it the hard way. State visits are supposed to include a ceremonious welcoming by the Queen herself, who can legally kill Trump, lets not forget, as well as a carriage ride down the Mall and a Buckingham Palace banquet.

Trump had originally decided he didnt want a state visit. If they dont want me to visit, then I dont want to visit  that was his thinking. But then he decided to find a loophole and come to the UK for a working visit to move the US embassy, criticising Barack Obamas original deal as a peanuts price for an off location, although what he singularly fails to point out is that this deal was initially set up by George W. Bush.Reconciliation through Recognition lecture postponed

Due to unavoidable circumstances, the lecture with Phil Fontaine and Kathleen Mahoney has been postponed and a new date will be announced. Sorry for any inconvenience.



Since Confederation in 1867, Canada has identified and conducted itself as a country of two founding nations, the British and the French, while subordinating the status of Indigenous peoples. A new project is seeking to alter that narrative through official recognition, on the 150th anniversary of the 1867 confederation, of the foundational contributions of Indigenous peoples to the formation of Canada, in addition to the British and the French. By resetting Canadas origin story, future generations will better understand the true nature of the countrys origins, and we will improve the context for discussion and action on commitments already made to reconciliation, building nation-to-nation relationships and rights to self-determination.

About the speakers

Phil Fontaine [BA/81, LLD(Honorary)/10] is a Special Advisor of the Royal Bank of Canada. Mr. Fontaine served as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for an unprecedented three terms. He is a member of the Order of Manitoba and has received a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Equitas Human Rights Education Award, the Distinguished Leadership Award from the University of Ottawa, the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and most recently was appointed to the Order of Canada. Mr. Fontaine also holds eighteen Honorary Doctorates from Canada and the United States.

Professor Kathleen E. Mahoney has a J.D. from the University of British Columbia, an LL.M degree from Cambridge University and a Diploma in International Comparitive Human Rights from the Strasbourg International Human Rights Institute in France. She is a Professor of Law at the University of Calgary and Queen's Counsel. She was the Chief Negotiator for Canada's Aboriginal peoples claim for cultural genocide against Canada, achieving the largest financial settlement in Canadian history for the mass human rights violations against Indigenous peoples of Canada. She was the primary architect of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and led the negotiations for the historic apology from the Canadian Parliament and from Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican. She was co-counsel for Bosnia Herzegovina in their genocide action against Serbia in the International Court of Justice with the result that the definition of genocide in the Genocide Convention was altered to include mass rapes and forced pregnancy as genocide offences. Among her many awards and distinctions, Professor Mahoney is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Queen's Counsel, a Trudeau fellow and a Fullbright and Human Rights fellow (Harvard). She received the Governer General's medal for her contribution to equality in Canada. She has held Visiting Professorships or Fellowships at Harvard University, The University of Chicago, Adelaide University, University of Western Australia, Griffiths University, the National University of Australia and Ulster University.Not even a month into 2018, there are already reports that have gone viral that display blatant racism against people of color. Most of these instances stem as a response to the recent holiday, #Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Some people blame Trump as an enabler to racists, others speculate racism never ended. After all, segregation ended only 54 years ago.

Slavery is obviously a joke

A woman by the name of Heather Wick -Dr. Heather Wick- posted the following Facebook status sometime last week. Evidently not knowing the gravity of her 'humorous' Facebook post, her post went viral quickly.

Soon after, her Facebook profile was deleted, and she received quite a bit of backlash for the senseless post. This very post is an example of the kind of insensitive 'jokes' and negative behavior Trump endorses and enables as President.

Another racist officer?

Police brutality is no secret issue in the United States, and statistics state that black people are 2.5 times more likely to be fatally shot by police. This specific policeman had no problem sharing his bias with a recruit. Assistant Chief Police Todd Shaw reportedly told a Louisville Metro Police recruit that if he caught juveniles smoking marijuana, he should "shoot them if black" through Facebook messages. In another message, Shaw calls Martin Luther King Jr. a "womanizer" and said "because someone shot him, I get a day off with pay each year"

He was reportedly fired from his job as Assistant Police Chief after 30 years of service.

College sorority girl expelled

Apparently, she thought it was okay to publicize how she 'felt about black people' on Instagram.

After expressing and posting her distaste for black people and her regard for Martin Luther King Jr.'s holiday, social media quickly caught wind of it and the post went viral. That same week, she was expelled from the University of Alabama and kicked out of her sorority.

More racism in college

The first day of school, brand new semester, students should be worried about hate posts, all over campus, right? - Wrong.

A black student from the University of South Carolina posted this tweet of a picture of racist flyers on the first day back.

Surveillance footage confirms eyewitness accounts of a white suspect in his early 40s posting the flyers on the African American Studies Program display board.

The school tweeted a message in response to the picture, disapproving the messages on the flyers and publicly announcing an investigation into the offense. The campus also hosted a 'dialogue' on campus to discuss and educate students, faculty, and teachers about the hateful posts.

A returning student worried about books/financial aid, a freshman's first day with a million insecure feelings. This is what we pay for. HATE POST from our fellow classmates (1rst day of Spr2018, 1 day after Martin Luther Kings day). #shameful @UofSC @HarrisPastides @wis10 @WLTX pic.twitter.com/DOFYZ7znAW  With ...Mell (@melliiJ) January 16, 2018

James Earl Ray Day?

A white man recorded and exposed a couple of white supremacists at his workplace.

He claimed they were high ranking officials and was surprised at their rhetoric. In the conversation, the men talked about not celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. day, and referring to it as 'N****r day.' They were also laughing and making the joke that the day should be called 'J.E.R. Day' for James Earl Ray, the man that assassinated Martin Luther King Jr.

The best part of the whole recording? The men claimed that "they weren't racist," saying "that's just what it's called down here."

Delusion at its finest.Theres nothing quite like going for takeout, but it isnt supposed to happen when you are behind bars in a Federal Prison. An inmate of the Beaumont federal prison did just that and was caught as he tried to return with a bag filled with a stash of alcohol, tobacco, and a selection of tasty, home-cooked food. Judging by the collection of goodies pictured above, inmates were planning quite the party.

Authorities alerted to inmates sneaking out of prison

Authorities in Jefferson County were alerted to the fact that inmates were escaping out of the rear of the federal prison.

They were seen to be crossing private ranch land while heading out to collect contraband to take back with them into the prison. Authorities set up a surveillance operation at around 5:45 PM Wednesday (Jan. 24) and watched as a vehicle drove on to the private land, leaving a large duffel bag behind on the ground.

Beaumont inmate nabbed with Brandy, fried chicken charged with escape after running back into the prison https://t.co/w700oflZ0p  bsouthern (@bsouthern) January 26, 2018

Prisoner spotted sneaking out for the food and booze

Police continued their surveillance and around two hours later they spotted an inmate, who turned out to be 25-year-old Joshua Randall Hansen of Dallas. Hansen was seen sprinting across from the rear of the prison and grabbing the duffel bag before attempting to run back into the prison.

However, officers got to him before he managed to safely get back in.

Fugitive inmate busted sneaking back INTO prison... https://t.co/xFebEoFPpN  A Red Pill Report (@ARedPillReport) January 26, 2018

On opening the bag, officers found a real treasure trove, which included a bottle of whiskey, three bottles of brandy, several packages of tobacco, fruit, packaged snacks, and a fair amount of good, home-cooked food.

The food, photographed at the scene by sheriffs officials, included plastic containers of chicken, sausages, vegetables, and rice.

Prisoners regularly sneak out of the prison to collect goodies

It seems this is nothing new, as Deputy Marcus McLellan of the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office told the Beaumont Enterprise that the latest incident is just a small part of a growing problem.

Reportedly inmates are regularly sneaking contraband into the prison. According to McLellan, they walk off the prison grounds to collect the contraband to take it back to their cells and that this has been going on pretty much since Day 1. Authorities are now working to stop the practice.

Poor baby, he just wanted a drink and some good food, at least he was going back in the prison. https://t.co/bhecwLAHh2  joann dykes (@joanndykes) January 26, 2018

Officials booked Hansen, who is currently serving time on narcotics charges, into the Jefferson County Jail, where he now has charges of marijuana possession and escape added to the list. Capt. Crystal Holmes said there is also now a federal hold placed on Hansen.In a bombshell report released by the New York Times on Thursday night, Donald Trump ordered the firing of Russian investigation Special Counsel Robert Mueller last summer, but faced massive backlash from members of his administration. Once the news broke, it didn't take long before critics lashed out.

Trump on Mueller

Once Donald Trump pulled off the upset win over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in November 2016, speculation grew as to why so many experts were wrong in their predictions. Within a few weeks, several well-respect news outlets and government agencies found that Russia hacked into the Democratic National Committee with the goal of helping to elect Trump to office.

As expected, Trump has since denied any wrongdoing.

The West Wing confrontation marks the first time Trump is known to have tried to fire the special counsel https://t.co/TltihjqBZl  The New York Times (@nytimes) January 26, 2018

Following Donald Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was leading the investigation into Russian election interference, former FBI Director Robert Mueller was brought on board as special counsel. Since then, Mueller has indicted various associates of the president, including former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. With pressure mounting, Trump announced on Wednesday night that he would be open to meeting with Mueller at some point in the near future.

Fast forward to present day and the New York Times reported on January 25 that Trump attempted to fire Mueller last June. Trump's decision was met with international opposition and he only backed off his plan after White House counsel Don McGahn warned that he would resign if the president followed through.

Instant reaction

Once the New York Times report broke, Twitter quickly went viral.

"It must be frustrating for a guy that thinks he can get away from anything. When in fact he is learning; a guy in his position w/ all that power. Has found himself with his hands tied behind his back," one tweet read.

This is obscene. Trump has no respect for rule of law. Let the GOP excuses for why this is acceptable begin!!! Trump Ordered Mueller Firing in June, but Top Lawyer Pushed Back https://t.co/tWUDKxS7BY  Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) January 26, 2018

Trumps attempted to obstruct justice so many times Muellers going to have to be careful picking and choosing which ones should serve as the foundation for his case.  Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) January 26, 2018

President Trump trying to fire Robert Mueller in June makes him look sooooo innocent. pic.twitter.com/xGLfQcIvNN  Michael Tannenbaum (@iamTannenbaum) January 26, 2018

"Take it all together: Trump admits he fired FBI Director over Russia.

Trump reportedly ordered firing of Special Counsel Mueller, backing off to avoid a Sat Night Massacre. Trump reportedly ordered firing of Deputy FBI Director, backing off to avoid a Sat Night Massacre,' MSNBC's Ari Melber tweeted. "Trumps attempted to obstruct justice so many times Muellers going to have to be careful picking and choosing which ones should serve as the foundation for his case," Jared Yates of the New York Times posted.

Take it all together:



Trump admits he fired FBI Director over Russia



Trump reportedly ordered firing of Special Counsel Mueller, backing off to avoid a Sat Night Massacre



Trump reportedly ordered firing of Deputy FBI Director, backing off to avoid a Sat Night Massacre  Ari Melber (@AriMelber) January 26, 2018

To recap: Trump asked Comey for loyalty; asked him to drop the Flynn probe; fired Comey; pressured Sessions not to recuse; pressured Sessions to fire McCabe; pressured Coats, Rogers, Pompeo &multiple congressmen to say he wasnt under FBI investigation; and tried to fire Mueller.  Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 26, 2018

It must be frustrating for a guy that thinks he can get away from anything. When in fact he is learning; a guy in his position w/ all that power. Has found himself with his hands tied behind his back.  BL (@bcliddy) January 26, 2018

"Trump asked Comey for loyalty; asked him to drop the Flynn probe; fired Comey; pressured Sessions not to recuse; pressured Sessions to fire McCabe; pressured Coats, Rogers, Pompeo &multiple congressmen to say he wasnt under FBI investigation; and tried to fire Mueller," Natasha Bertrand of The atlantic tweeted out. "President Trump trying to fire Robert Mueller in June makes him look sooooo innocent," another sarcastic tweet read.In a letter Va's Sec Shulkin wrote to US House of Rep's lawmakers, he addressed the inconvenience that current laws caused the administration. He stated that Marijuana, despite being legal in some states is still illegal federally which prevents the VA from conducting 'official' research into the "Wonder Drug." He also testified in front of the veterans' Affairs Committee in the U.S. Senate and told them that since the drug is a Schedule 1, it means, in that classification, none of the drugs have any medical use and creates a number of headaches that the Veterans Administration must defeat in order to retrieve and do any productive research with them.

Veterans backing the cause

Currently, the fight continues in order for the veterans administration to well "be allowed" to conduct research on marijuana. Therefore, there is a lack of information linked directly to veterans as to what marijuana does to their benefit - or rather a lack of official information. At the moment there is hope that proof of improvement in PTSD patients will arise due to the research.

Despite the restriction the VA has federally, this hasn't stopped independent studies from popping up all over the nation.The Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI) in Arizona, did begin studies on how marijuana can help veterans and are hoping that once the study is complete, it will show whether or not it can help veterans suffering from PTSD.

The fact of the matter is Veterans are ready for change. They want healthier more effective medications or rather one safe, working, and in this case hopeful medicine. For example, founder of Veterans Cannabis Project" and Navy Seal veteran, Nick Etten, expressed that both the VA and lawmakers, need to look at the medical marijuana topic as a healthcare policy matter and to get the politics out of it, change the law, to help veterans in need.

There are many veterans like Etten across the nation who would be interested in the new medicinal methods. However, some are simply not conveniently geographically located and the lack of support from their local VA's is becoming more and more of a problem.

A waiting game

There is no clear future of Shulkins request's however, with the addition of more and more veterans to come searching for and open to today's booming "natures way out," I can strongly see changes in the making. Information will be reported as I am updated. Here's to a "higher", "uplifting" future for America and its soldiers.Tuesday, January 23, 2018, was when the Oscar 2018 nominations were announced. Greta Gerwig, director of "Lady Bird" was nominated along with Guillermo Del Toro ("The Shape of Water"), Jordan Peele ("Get Out"), Christopher Nolan ("Dunkirk"), and Paul Thomas Anderson ("Phantom Thread"). You might think there is nothing really special about this nomination. But did you know that there have only been five women who have never been nominated for directing an Oscar movie, including Gerwig?

Let's take a look at these five women and the movies that led them into becoming Oscar nominees.

Lina Wertmuller

Lina Wertmuller was the first woman who received a nomination for best director for "Seven Beauties" in the 49th Academy Awards in 1977. Her film tells a story about an Italian man who deserts the army during World War II and how he struggles to survive in a German prison camp. Flashbacks of his past, living with his seven sisters a.k.a. "Seven Beauties," were presented throughout his journey at the camp. Wertmuller lost the award to John G. Advilsen for his movie, "Rocky."

Jane Campion

Jane Campion got nominated for the 66th Academy Awards in 1994. She directed "The Piano" which follows the story of a mute piano player and her daughter, played by Anna Paquin. Paquin's outstanding performance for this role led her to win the award for best actress.

Unfortunately, Campion lost the category to Steven Spielberg for "Schindler's List."

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola got her nomination for directing "Lost in Translation," a movie about a friendship between a middle-aged American movie star, played by Bill Murray, and a young woman (Scarlett Johansson), who met at a hotel in Tokyo.

Coppola was not the only one who received an Oscar nomination for this movie, the film itself was nominated for best picture. However, neither of them won the award. The 76th Academy Award (2004) best director went to Peter Jackson for "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," and the same movie took home the trophy for best picture.

Kathryn Bigelow

Kathryn Bigelow is the only one among the five who has ever brought home a directing Oscar trophy. She was nominated for the 82nd Academy Award on 2010 and won the award for directing "The Hurt Locker", a movie set in Iraq during wartime. 'Well the time has come,' was uttered by Barbra Streisand when she announced Bigelow as the winner. Bigelow also did not forget to dedicate women who were serving in the army and wished them safe returns in her acceptance speech.

Greta Gerwig

Greta Gerwig received her nomination for this year's Oscar (2018). Her film, "Lady Bird" follows the adventure of the eccentric Christine 'Lady Bird' McPherson from Sacramento and her journey of going out into the world and her relationships with people around her.

Saoirse Ronan who plays Christine, is also nominated for best actress.

Obviously, the results aren't in for this year's Oscars, but we can surely get excited about seeing if Gerwig will take home this year's Best Director award. The 90th Academy Awards ceremony will take place at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California at 5:00 PM PST on Sunday, March 4, 2018.It turns out that Kailyn Lowry of "Teen Mom 2" was supposed to have plastic surgery in Florida, but the reality star ended up backing out about two hours before she was supposed to get it done. It turns out she will be spending her money on something better. She documented her decision on Twitter. Fans love how open Kailyn is about what is going on in her day to day life.

Kailyn shares what happened on Twitter

Kailyn Lowry went to get the surgery done but didn't go through with it. The reality star went to her Twitter to share about deciding to back out at the last second.

She said, "I wont lie to yall, I came to miami for lipo & a boob job. But hours before my surgery I decided I dont want to go through with it." Instead of going through with the surgery, she has big plans for the money. She saved thousands by not doing this surgery, but didn't give fans the exact amount. Fans would love to hear more details about what her made back out of this surgery and decide not to do it at all.

She has had plastic surgery done in the past. Back in 2016, Kailyn got several things done. She does know what she was getting herself into but ended up changing her mind. At the time, she went to Michael Salzhauer, a.k.a. Dr.Miami, and it sounds like that is who she was headed to once again when she changed her mind at the last minute.

The reports the first time were that she got liposuction, a tummy tuck and a butt lift. She was going to do the liposuction once again, but was also going to get a breast job.

Kailyn reveals her plans for the money she saved

Kailyn Lowry was able to save a lot of money by not getting the surgery done and she is going to use it to make herself look better in a different way.

She is actually going to hire a nutritionist and then start working out again. It sounds like this is the best decision for her. Kailyn wants to focus on her health and that will end up lasting more than getting a surgery done. She seems happy with her choice, but you never know what she will decide in the future. Hopefully, Kailyn will continue to show fans how she is doing and document her weight loss and maybe some of the things she learns while going through this with a nutritionist to help her.

Are you surprised to hear that Kailyn Lowry backed out of the plastic surgery? Do you feel like this was the right decision? Sound off in the comments below on your thoughts, and don't miss new episodes of "Teen Mom OG" on Monday nights on MTV. You don't want to miss this drama.Teresa Giudice is dealing with a lot while Joe is behind bars. Radar Online shared that Teresa is allegedly really scared that Joe could get deported when he gets out of prison, but everyone wants to know if she will be going along with him or not. Teresa hasn't opened up yet about what her decision would be.

Details about why Joe could get deported

It turns out that when everything came to light about Joe Giudice's financial fraud, they also found out that he was living in the United States illegally. This means that once Joe gets done with his time in jail they could decide to deport him to Italy.

An insider shared saying, "Teresa is terrified Joe will be deported upon his release in less than two years."

The source went on to explain that because of the felony charges against him, it won't be easy for Joe to win the case. Joe Giudice allegedly knew this when he took his plea deal. Of course, he is sitting in prison now and won't know for a while if he is going to end up being deported or not.

Will she stay behind?

The source explained that Joe is actually terrified that Teresa and the girls won't go with him. Instead, she could end up staying here in the United States if he is deported. Teresa and Joe have gotten used to being apart and she might end up deciding that she can live without him to stay here.

So far, Teresa Giudice hasn't said if she plans to go with him or not. She has said that Italy is pretty, but she hasn't said she would live there. It sounds like she is just going to avoid talking about a decision until she has no choice but to make her mind up about if she wants to go or not. The source said that Teresa hasn't forgiven Joe yet.

The source said, "Teresa and Joes marriage is not as it once was. Theyre both changed people. Both of them have grown so if he must go Teresa doesnt think shes going with him. At least not how she feels today.

Recently on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey," the fans saw Teresa talk about how she wanted an apology from Joe and she finally got it when she went to see him in prison.

It had been over six months since she had seen him when she went. Teresa doesn't seem to be going to see Joe near as often as he went to see her while she was in prison.

Do you think that Teresa Giudice should end up going with Joe if he gets deported? Do you think that he will end up getting sent away? Sound off in the comments below on your thoughts, and don't miss new episodes of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" when they air on Wednesday nights on Bravo.At the beginning of February, the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs will meet in Baku and Yerevan to clarify the positions of the parties on the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. Igor Popov from Russia, Stefan Visconti from France and Andrew Schaefer from the US will hold meetings with the Presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan - Serzh Sargsyan and Ilham Aliyev. Over a week ago, on January 18, a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Edward Nalbandian and Elmar Mammadyarov, was held in Krakov with a mediation of the Minsk Group co-chairs.

As Eurasianet notes in the article Armenia-Azerbaijan: Is Monitoring of Occupied Territories Back on the Table?, the two sides agreed in principle to expand the office of the OSCE's ceasefire monitoring mission, with a view toward finalizing it as soon as possible. The results were modest, as expected, but that there was progress at all has been counted as a good sign that the two sides, for now, prefer talking to fighting. The OSCE mission is tasked with watching over the increasingly shaky cease fire between the two sides.

Armenian forces control Karabakh after winning a war with Azerbaijan in the early 1990s, and Azerbaijan has repeatedly vowed to take it back -- if necessary by force. Cease fire violations have become more common and involve heavier weaponry, far surpassing the small mission's capacity to keep track of what is going on. The proposed expansion of the monitoring mission got the most attention from media after last week's meeting, especially in Armenia, as it appeared to be a concession by Azerbaijan. Baku has generally opposed strengthening monitoring along the line of contact between the two sides, believing it to be a reinforcement of the de facto border of Karabakh, which it considers illegitimate. However, the two sides appear to remain far apart on crucial details. Baku has long been amenable to expanding the number of monitors.

A potentially more significant outcome from the meeting is that the co-chairs of the Minsk Group  representing the United States, France, and Russia  indicated to the Ministers their interest in further discussing the possibility of conducting a follow up to the 2010 assessment mission to the territories affected by the conflict.



This refers to an effort aimed at assessing the state of settlement in the seven territories surrounding Karabakh that Armenian forces occupy as a security buffer. Azerbaijan has long complained that Armenia is settling civilians (including refugees from Syria) in the occupied zone, thereby creating facts on the ground that will make it more difficult for Armenia to hand back the territories to Azerbaijan.

Since 2010, there have been no repeat missions led by the Minsk Group. Azerbaijan is interested, but according to officials, attempts have been blocked by Armenia, wrote Zaur Shiriyev, regional analyst and regular Eurasianet contributor, in a recent article in the journal Security and Human Rights. The numbers of refugees and scale of the settlement remains unclear. This development causes concern, namely that settlements in the occupied territories will become problematic in the event that Azerbaijani IDPs [internally displaced persons] return to the region.

Azerbaijan's push for international monitoring in the occupied territories recently expanded to include UNESCO. Mammadyarov met with officials from UNESCO on January 16 asking them to help investigate because Armenia deliberately destroys cultural monuments in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, he said.

Armenian settlement has been steadily growing in the occupied territories, which if it were better documented could expose Armenia to charges that it is violating international law by settling civilians in a militarily occupied territory.

But Yerevan may still consider such a mission beneficial to them, said Olesya Vartanyan, a South Caucasus analyst at the International Crisis Group. I think some representatives of the Armenian leadership may be interested in showing that the return of the territories would be in any event a complicated task, and can't happen just by withdrawing the Armenian forces, as Azerbaijan says, she told Eurasianet.org.

In any case, the fact that the two sides are talking at all is something that can't be discounted. The negotiations long ago became a parody of themselves because of the two sides' intransigence, Azerbaijani analyst Shahin Rzayev told regional news site Jamnews. But in any case there is a definite plus: as long as the negotiations, or even an imitation of negotiations, continue, the likelihood of a new round of escalation decreases.Last year, Xi Jinping defended globalization and free trade in the first-ever address given by any Chinese president in Davos, and rebuked many of Donald Trumps America First policies without mentioning his name. This year, although Xi is not at the annual gathering of the global elite (while Trump is), China has in fact delivered a much stronger message about global leadership: Its either us or America.

Quartz cites Xinhua and states in its article Chinas message to the world this year couldnt be clearer: Choose between us and America that the worlds political and business leaders should choose from two fundamentally different outlooks for the state of the world: One is Xis shared future vision and the other is Trumps America First policy. The right approach, Xinhua said, is of course Xis. The narrative that China is poised to fill the global leadership vacuum left by the US has grown stronger since Xis Davos debut. But its the first time that Chinese state media has stated outright that the world should choose between China and America to determine the future of globalization. Trumps America First policy has infused anxiety into both allies and the broader world, Xinhua wrote. Although what he is about to say at the globalist brainstorming feast on Friday remains guesswork, few believe this particular pulpit would be able to make him turn his back on the poster boy of a rising isolationist tendency that many fear is fragmenting the world. The article calls on the world to embrace a Xi-style collaborative approach, because of the overarching truth of todays world: The life of different peoples and the interests of different countries have become so closely intertwined that mankind has no future but a shared one.

This years Davos theme is Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World, an idea Xinhua said was developed from Xis catchphrase a community with a shared future for mankind. Thats a term Xis often used since taking office in 2012, and also featured in his Davos speech last year.

The Xinhua commentary was published shortly after Liu He, a top economic advisor and right-hand man to Xi, addressed Davos attendees about Chinas economic policy. In his speech, Liu made lofty rhetorical commitments to the idea of globalization, and credited Xi for such efforts.

Last week, state mouthpiece Peoples Daily published a commentary calling on China to seize the historic opportunity to reshape the world order, as the world has never focused on China so much and needed China so much as it does now.

The latest round of rhetoric comes after Xi declared that China has entered a new era and is moving closer to the worlds center stage, during a Communist Party conclave in October. Xi, the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong, will also preside over series of highly symbolic anniversaries during his second five-year-term that just started. Those include this years 40th anniversary of the implementation of Chinas reform and opening-up policy, and the 70th anniversary of the founding of communist China next year.

Tensions between the US and China are playing out beyond mere rhetoric. The Trump administration announced earlier this week that it would impose a 30% tariff on imported solar panels, a huge blow to China, the worlds largest supplier of the products. China, for its part, passed this week new regulations that would tighten scrutiny over intellectual property (IP) transfers to foreign companies, citing national security as the reason. The Trump White House has accused Beijing of forcing US companies to transfer their IP to China as a cost of doing business there, and launched an investigation into such practices.

The Chinese for quite a little while have been superb at free-trade rhetoric and even more superb at highly protectionist behaviour, said US commerce secretary Wilbur Ross in Davos this week. Every time the US does anything to deal with a problem, we are called protectionist.Few topics are as discussed at Davos as inequality. Business leaders and bankers take a great interest in debating how to ensure that globalization works for the many and not just for the few. This isn't pure altruism, of course: They understand that a populist backlash could be devastating for their businesses too. These conversations too often fail to specify what kind of inequality governments ought to address. Bloomberg reports in its article Europe's Youth Have Good Reason to Be Mad that few mention that global inequality has fallen consistently over the last three decades, thanks to the rise of emerging markets, and China in particular.

A recent study by the World Bank has also shown that twice as many countries saw inequality decrease than increase. These findings mean that we need to be a lot more precise about inequality if we want governments and businesses to take the right kind of action to address it. The International Monetary Fund therefore deserves praise for a study about inequality in Europe which was launched at Davos on Wednesday. Rather than talking about disparities generally, the Fund chose to concentrate this particular report on inequalities between generations. Its hard to see EU countries becoming fairer unless they rebalance their tax spending priorities away from the oldies and toward the young.

The IMF report starts from a stark finding: Income inequality in the EU27 -- usually represented by a measure known as the Gini coefficient -- has remained broadly stable over the last 10 years. In contrast, generational inequality has risen sharply: The share of over-65s and people aged 18 to 24 at risk of poverty was roughly the same in 2005 at around 20 percent. Since then, it has fallen to around 15 percent for the senior, and risen to nearly 25 percent for the young.

This finding shows that the European social safety net has done a very good job at protecting pensioners during the crisis. However, it has failed to support those who went through an era of high unemployment and wage stagnation. As Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director, put it, Without action, a generation may never be able to recover.

The IMF has a long list of measures which could potentially help younger generations. These range from cutting taxes and social security contribution for younger workers, particularly those who earn less, to spending more on education and training. Some of these proposals are also rather ambitious: For example, the IMF says countries could lift wealth taxes. Since the oldies typically hold more assets, which they have accumulated throughout their working lives, this is a way to ensure the tax burden falls more heavily on them, while minimizing the risk of discouraging work. Still, the IMF is less radical than it could be. The report addresses the importance of redirecting social spending towards benefits for those of working age, which can help those who face a spell of unemployment or precarious work. As the report notes, 60 percent of the increase in social spending in the EU since the crisis has been directed at old-age benefits.

However, the IMF falls short of demanding that governments reduce excessive pension benefits, when they are much higher than the contributions a worker has paid in. In her presentation at Davos, Lagarde preferred to talk about the need to make pension systems more sustainable, for example raising the retirement age together with life expectancy. But since governments typically only introduce a pension reform after a long transition period, these changes could end up placing the weight of the adjustment  once again  on todays youth.

Of course, asking pensioners to accept less will not be easy. Across Europe, older voters tend to turn up to the polls in greater numbers than their juniors. And since in several instances, younger voters favor anti-establishment parties such as the Five Star Movement in Italy, mainstream forces may have even fewer incentives to act.

Still, if EU governments are serious about addressing inequality, they must address youth poverty and exclusion. Concentrating on the wrong kind of disparity is like ignoring the issue completely.Syrias field developments have practically changed regional equilibrium, as analysts today report the new regional order in Western Asia. The fact is that the victory of the Syrian army in Aleppo and the positive outlook for the Mosul liberation operation in Iraq today have shaken the terrorists position so that even their supporters do not even have the power to use these terrorists to influence the talks in the region. Eurasia Review reports in its article Iran At Top Of New Regional Order that Saudi Arabia, which has been plunged into the Yemeni war, has witnessed the weakening of ISIS in Syria and Iraq, and has lost its international reputation for the global hatred of terrorists. Qatar is no longer able to play with the Jabhat al-Nusra Front, because even the Western-backed terrorists in Syria are no longer willing to accept this terrorist group as their ally.

The result of such a situation is the holding of an Astana summit without the presence of supporters of terrorism and the Americans limited role. Although these talks continue in Geneva, and perhaps in the coming peace talks, Europeans have a greater role, but at present, the Syrian arena has caused transatlantic players to leave West Asia at least and leave their allies in Leave the Middle East alone.

The West Asia region has seen two different situations in the last half century. The first situation was based on the conflict between regional governments and the role of trans-national powers through the identification of gendarmes for the region. Following the gradual removal of the United Kingdom, the United States was well versed in this model, following the Pahlavi regime as its successor to the region, following this model. But in the second model, which occurred during the Bush period, transatlantic powers like the United States and Britain, with direct military presence, tried to directly determine the order of the region and not use the proxy method. Their excuse for direct involvement was not only the internal conflict in the region, but also the emergence of a self-made phenomenon called terrorism.

But now, considering the important role that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has played in Syria and Iraq, we are witnessing the formation of a third model of regional order. In this model, a regional power like Iran has the potential of restoring stability to other countries involved in the civil war, and diplomatically so powerful that it can capture other regional and transatlantic actors such as Turkey or Russia Accompanied by yourself. In such a situation, the order of the region is determined by a supreme regional power, and other actors must set their own interests based on the ratio of those with the highest power.

Undoubtedly, the powers that had ever gained the benefits of the role of Western powers in the region would not be happy with the new order and seek to tension. However, if the Arab powers, if viewed realistically, will find that approaching Tehran and working with Iran to restore stability to the region and end the ferocious wars in Syria, Iraq and Yemen can be in the interest of all countries. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and other governments that have already paid for the direct US and British military presence in the region should know that if they bring stability to the Middle East through cooperation with Iran, they will incur fewer costs And will no longer need to use their oil dollars for the benefit of Western governments.

The intrinsic order of the West Asian region is a phenomenon that has not been experienced for nearly a century, and maybe recent developments in Syria and Iraq could help it. The global experience has shown that Europeans, through the same model, were able to turn the green continent from a built-up to continental shelf after World War II, and so the fate could be ahead of the Middle East, of course, if the hands behind the curtain And the warlord lobbies allow the establishment of such an order.Russias Luna-25 lander, the countrys first launch of its kind in decades, is planned to take place next year, scientists confirmed after a series of reported delays to the project. Newsweek reports in its article RUSSIA WILL GO TO THE MOON NEXT YEAR WITH FIRST LANDER IN DECADES that the lander is set to be the first of three spacecraft Moscow plans to launch to the Moon. Luna-25 will be tasked with exploring the chemical composition of the Moons surface, set to land somewhere near the lunar south pole.

The lander was initially scheduled for launch at the end of 2018, but the date soon was pushed back to 2019. On Friday, the landers manufacturer rejected reports that the mission has been delayed yet again, assuring that the spacecraft will launch next year.

"As scheduled, the launch of the Luna-25 mission is planned for 2019, aerospace company NPO Lavochkin said in a statement to state news agency Itar-Tass.

After the lander, Russia plans to launch the lunar orbiter Luna-26 in 2021 and the landing station Luna-27 in 2022.

Both of the two preferred spots for the lander to touch ground are near the area the lander aims to study, near the Moons south pole, the Russian Academy of Sciences said.

Potentially operating near the Boguslavsky crater, the lander will probe the Moons regolith, dust and compile a 3D terrain map of the landing site. The last spacecraft of the Luna series was launched in 1976, but interest in the Moon has seen a revival among Russian scientists who aspire to send a first manned mission to earths natural satellite by the early 2030s.

While Moscows diplomatic relations with the West have hit their roughest patch since the end of the Cold War, space exploration remains an area of close cooperation and Russias state space agency Roscosmos has backed plans for an international Moon base. The agency has already signed an agreement to join a NASA-led initiative for the development of a crewed spaceport in the Moons orbit.Since the beginning of the year, the Kurdish issue has become particularly acute, especially due to the US attempts to strengthen its presence in the Middle East through military support for the Kurdish forces in Northern Syria. Washington's actions provoked Ankara to launch a new military operation, the Olive Branch, aiming to destroy the terrorist corridor in Afrin and other areas inhabited mainly by Kurds from Syria and Iraq. Vestnik Kavkaza spoke with the deputy chairman of the Association of Russian diplomats, Andrey Baklanov, about the current development of the Kurdish issue.

- Andrey Glebovich, in your estimation, what are the aspirations and goals of the Kurdish political activists in the Middle East today? Is it possible to say that the Kurds are an inter-state ethnopolitical unity?

- The current situation is specific, because a number of the Kurdish national movement leaders are sure that they have a unique chance to create their own state, and it must be used. They know that their role in defeating the terrorist group of Islamic State condemned by the international community and banned in Russia was very important because they are the most trained military units of the forces that fought against militants in Northern Syria and some other territories. Therefore, they believe that their merits should be duly appreciated by the international community. It should provide favorable conditions for resolving the issue of building their national home - an independent state.

Their moods are reinforced by the fact that all Arab states are weakened now, and Iran is in a difficult situation since the sanctions issue and its joining the international community have not been fully resolved. That is, according to the leaders of the Kurdish national movement, those countries, where there is the Kurdish minority, are weak, and this situation they see as an opportunity to raise more rigidly and definitely the issue of resolving the problem of the national center by creating an independent state.

- How is this new statement of the Kurdish issue assessed in the countries of their residence - Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria?

- The Kurds aspirations are rejected by all those countries that have the Kurdish minority since no one agrees that an independent Kurdish state should be created on its territory and at its expense. Turkey has the toughest position because Kurds make up about 1/5 of the countrys population. Iraq believes that Kurds autonomy is sufficient enough. Iran, in general, opposes this issue, as for Tehran, Kurds are the part of the Iranian people, and they are granted all civil rights. The Syrian leadership, in turn, believes that if the life is built properly and balanced on a democratic basis, then all the nationalities in the country, including Kurds, will feel comfortable. Therefore, when there were probing approaches to the Syrian leadership 2-3 years ago, Damascus opposed granting of the broad autonomy to Kurds inside the state, since it considered that the Kurdish issue, like all other issues - national, ethnic or religious - should be addressed by improving the overall situation in the state.

- What is Iraq and Irans attitude to the Turkish Olive Branch operation in Afrin in this regard?

- In addition to the basic problems that exist, there are the issues related to the military actions and the anti-terrorist component of the solution to the Syrian crisis in recent years. That is, the new problems have been laid upon the old ones. This has created the additional difficulties. When assessing the Olive Branch, it is necessary to take into account Turkey's concern over the security of its borders, and the neighboring countries concerns, and, of course, the need for clear guarantees for the comfortable accommodation of Kurds in their territories. It is still difficult to foresee how to make it happen before an additional research and politicians activity is carried out. They should offer some mechanisms to solve this problem. Of course, at the first stage, it is necessary to ensure that the situation is not fueled by the military actions.

- What are the possible ways out of this situation?

- The Kurdish specificity characteristic of Syria is that in those regions that they consider their own historically, there is no ethnic predominance of Kurds. There is a strip of ethnic groups: in some regions, more Kurds live, in others - more Arabs. And this means that the creation of the Kurdish state will lead to another problem - the issue of the Arab ethnic minorities. That is why the Syrian leadership believes that it is more reasonable to solve this problem thoroughly and democratically in the realities of the 21st century. Thus, despite the emerging opportunities for raising the Kurdish state issue, there are no real conditions for this, while the vigorous advancement of this slogan can lead to the very dangerous regional consequences. It will not be possible to create the Kurdish state, this is absolutely out of the question, so the most reasonable thing is a search for the certain negotiating formats.

Perhaps, it will be possible to invent a certain heuristic way for preserving the territorial integrity of existing states and meeting the needs of Kurds by providing them more significant status. I would cite as an example the Tanzanian variant, where there are two historic parts - Tanganyika with the Swahili African population and Arabic Zanzibar. Zanzibar, which is smaller, joined larger Tanganyika, and Tanzania was created this way. The state exists in this form due to the disproportionately large representation of Zanzibar in the national leadership. Zanzibarians not only solve the main tasks on their island but also work in the central government, foreign institutions and law enforcement agencies, in particular, a representative of Zanzibar is a Secretary-General of the Organization of African Unity. This solution can be an option to the settlement of the Kurdish issue if there is an appropriate preparation.

- Why does the US support Kurds and what countries provide them the largest support?

-I think that the US supports Kurds exclusively for the opportunistic reasons: now Washington has been pushed aside from the solution of the key issues in Syria, its importance has sharply decreased in neighboring Iraq, and their position on Iran looks simply illogical. Due to this, the United States is looking for options and opportunities to join the alignment of forces and become an important actor once again. Initially, they planned to do so on a wider geographical scale, including the territory of most Arab countries, then focused on Iraq and Syria, and now their military activity has declined and covers only a part of the territory of these countries, concentrating on the Kurdish issue. I think it would be better if their influence, due to the viciousness of their politics and the lack of a constructive element, decreases even more, and they move away from solving the problems of Kurds. The US participation in the conflicts of any level, as we all know well, does not lead to anything good, and neither Kurds themselves will benefit from their good offices, nor other nations.

- What is the Russian position on the Kurdish issue?

- Russia occupies a low-key position, it is based on a desire to take into account the legitimate and understandable concerns of all participants of this protracted conflict originated from the colonial system. We do not want to take anybody's side, but we urge all sides to abandon attempts to promote their interests at the expense of others and move from the military confrontation and outbreaks of hostility to finding such a format for negotiations where the voice of each of the participant would be heard on an equal footing. While there are no such formats, they need to be created, otherwise, this problem would not be solved.Turkeys Armed Forces and its ally, the oppositions Free Syrian Army, have killed 343 members of terrorist groups since the start of Turkey's Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin, Turkeys General Staff said in a statement.

"According to sources in the region, at present at least 343 members of terrorist groups have been neutralized during Operation Olive Branch. The operation is carried out as scheduled," the military said.

Last night, 13 warplanes of Turkeys Air Force destroyed 23 terrorist targets, including shelters, ammunition depots and firing points, according to a General Staff statement.Azerbaijans Defense Ministry commented on Armenian reports regarding an armed provocation that allegedly took place, which resulted in losses of Azerbaijani side.

The spokesperson for the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry Vagif Dargahli noted that these reports are groundless. According to him, Armenians are so scared that it seems they imagine Azerbaijani soldiers everywhere.

"Our army monitors any enemy action by strictly observing the ceasefire regime and our units have not suffered any losses," AzerNews cited him as saying.Saudi Arabia proposed to make the deal between OPEC and their non-OPEC allies permanent after the completion of a deal to reduce oil production, Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said.

"At the end of the year, we will understand what needs to be done. But we definitely want to continue cooperation with non-OPEC countries. It is the key thing. Whether it's information exchange and talks about increasing supply and demand, or keeping production levels," al-Falih said.

"We also need to think about how to get out of 2018. And do it gradually, not jerk," the head of Saudi Arabia's Energy Ministry added.

OPEC and 10 non-cartel oil producers reached a deal in December 2016 in Vienna, agreeing to cut oil output by a total of 1.8 million barrels per day in an effort to stabilize global oil prices. On November 30, the major oil exporters have unanimously agreed to extend the agreement on the reduction of oil output by another nine months until December 31, 2018.

A leading analyst of the National Energy Security Fund, a lecturer at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Igor Yushkov, speaking to Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that al-Falih's statement should be viewed as another positive stimulus for the global oil market, but not as a worked out plan for transforming the OPEC + format into a regular mechanism for controlling the global output.

"I think this is one of those positive news events that should be constantly generated by the participants of the deal to make it successful. Traders need such positive news all the time," he explained.

"Russia and other non-OPEC oil producers could be present as observers at the cartel's sessions in Vienna. If the price goes down sharply at some point, it will be possible to quickly sign a new agreement to reduce or regulate output. But we should not expect that there will be further commitments on output volumes, at least from Russia and non-OPEC countries - only the possibility of promptly assuming these obligations in the case of a force majeure situation in the market. The dialogue with OPEC is unlikely to go further consultations format," Igor Yushkov predicts.

The expert drew attention to the fact that in the current form the OPEC + format is based on trust only. "The countries report to their statistical agencies, and other countries trust these official data, since it is actually not beneficial for anyone to raise the issue of real compliance. If someone requires a check, traders will immediately start selling futures. While the special monitoring committee confirms the implementation of the reduction volumes, prices increase," a leading analyst of the National Energy Security Fund said.

The advisor on macroeconomics to the CEO of the 'Opening-Broker' brokerage house, economist Sergey Hestanov, stressed that there are costs and benefits associated with the deal itself. "The main benefit is the price increase. The cost is the increase in the US oil output of more than 1 million barrels per day, which is quite a lot. Naturally, this state of affairs cannot continue indefinitely, sooner or later the deal will be completed. This statement by the Saudi minister is a certain sounding of the market, how it will perceive a possible conclusion of the deal," he said.

At the same time, the expert noted that the mechanisms of control over the oil output in an open market were very effective. "As soon as the deal was signed, oil prices doubled, which is a big figure. In principle, this deal has brought great success. Another thing is that if something gets better in one place, then it deteriorates in the other. Together with a twofold increase, about 1% of the market was lost, since this niche was occupied by representatives of non-OPEC countries," Sergei Hestanov concluded.Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that US President Donald Trumps remark on his readiness to build dialogue with Russia is fully in line with Moscows stance

"This is fully in line with the position that Russian President Vladimir Putin has stated many times," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

Earlier today, Trump said at the World Economic Forum in Davos that he expected to have dialogue with Russia. "We hope so," he said, answering a question on whether he is going to build dialogue with Russia.The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly George Tsereteli will visit Azerbaijan this year, according to a message posted on the OSCE PA Twitter page.

He announced about this when addressing the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna on January 25.

During his visit that will focus on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Tsereteli will be accompanied by the PAs International Secretariat.US President Donald Trump expects to have dialogue with Russia, he said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Answering a TASS reporters question if he is going to build a dialogue with Russia, Trump said: "We hope so."

Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Dvorkovich said earlier that he held a number of short meetings with the US delegation at the forum.Turkey is ready to open another front in northern Syrias Manbij, which is under the control of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG), a source in Turkeys military said, stressing that Manbij is the center of PYD and YPG deployment.

"The Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, successfully continue military operations to liberate Syrias Afrin city," the source said, noting that the measures within Operation Olive Branch will cover not only Afrin.

The Turkish Air Force has recently attacked Manbij as part of Operation Olive Branch, which is under the control of PYD and YPG terrorist organizations.

On January 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria.HA NOI  The Ministry of Industry and Trade has warned that businesses must carefully verify information on their business partners from the US before making deposits and payments or doing business as some cases of fraud have been reported recently.

The Vietnamese trade counselor in Houston, Texas, received several requests from Vienamese firms recently asking for support to tackle fraud they faced in doing business with US firms.

Some Vietnamese firms sent payments to banking accounts US firms provided through emails but then found the accounts were falsified as the email was hacked to appropriate money.

The trade counselor in Houston recommended that Vietnamese firms verify their business partners information carefully, especially when there were any changes in address or banking accounts.

Vietnamese firms should also be wary of working with sketchy companies such as those headquartered in Europe but with banking accounts in the US.

For new business partners, careful verification of information was of critical importance, the ministry said, urging Vietnamese firms to verify information through different channels.

They could contact associations to check the information of their members.

In addition, Vietnamese businesses can contact trade counseling agencies in the US for support.

The Vietnamese trade counselor has three branches in the US, in Washington DC, Houston and San Francisco.

Vietnamese firms were also urged to select safe payment methods.Importted cars on display at Kylin-GX668 JSC's showroom in Ha Noi.  VNA/VNS Photo Tran Viet

HA NOI  The Ministry of Transport issued a circular to guide the implementation of Decree 116 that tightens control over quality, technical safety and environment protection of imported autos.

Circular 03/2018/TT-BGTVT is a legal document under the Governments Decree 116, which came into effect on January 1, 2018. It aims to clarify regulations of the decree, helping importers implement procedures when they import autos to the Vietnamese market.

The circular states that auto importers must obtain a Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) certification issued by authorities in the exporting country. VTA certifications are to show the vehicles standards on quality, technical safety and environment protection. If this cannot be obtained, a separate certificate of quality, technical safety and environment protection of the auto or engine must be provided.

In addition to this, while examining the quality of technical safety and environmental protection, auto importers will have to submit a number of dossiers, such as registration certificate of the imported cars for inspection of technical safety and security and protection of the environment; certified copies of the type of tires, rearview mirrors, front lights and glasses issued by competent agencies or organisations; original certificate of auto quality inspection issued by foreign automakers or automobile-assembling enterprises for each type of car.

Check on every batch of imported auto

As for the examination and testing of imported autos, the circular said each used imported auto must be examined for quality, technical safety and environment protection.

In terms of new cars, the certified bodies will check each batch of imported autos. The model representing each type must be tested on emission standards as well as quality and technical safety. Accordingly, the vehicles are required to meet Euro 4 emission standards (from 2018 to 2021) and Euro 5 standards (from 2022 onwards).

The inspection agency will randomly select one model. If the vehicle is qualified, the inspection agency will issue a certificate of quality for the batch.

Auto recalls

The vehicles will be recalled following announcement by automakers and in accordance with the requirement of inspection bodies.

Within five working days from the date of receipt of the recall notice from the automaker or inspection agency, the importers must notify in writing to its agents that they are not allowed to sell the products that are not yet fixed.

In addition to this, within a period of no more than 10 working days from the date of receipt of the recall notice, the importers must send a written report to the inspection body on the causes of technical errors, fixing measures, number of cars to be recalled and an appropriate recall plan.

The recall campaign will be posted on the websites of businesses and agents on time.

Decree 116 is a supportive measure for domestic companies as it sets up a number of technical barriers to limit the import of cars at a time when the import tax of automobiles from within the ASEAN bloc is zero per cent, which became effective from January 1 this year.

Under the decree, the only problem seems to be the obtaining of VTA certification by authorities in the exporting country.

Auto importers are also concerned about the testing of one model representing an entire batch, which will prove to be costly and time consuming. In the past, only the first shipment of each model would be tested.

A statement of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Viet Nam says one emission test could take two months and cost up to $10,000.

The Vietnamese market of imported autos will be favourable to those businesses who can adapt to this technical barrier.  VNSHA NOI  Honda Vietnam Company Limited (Honda Vietnam) and Hoa Binh Minh Corporation officially opened a dealership in Khai Quang Ward, Vinh Yen City, northern Vinh Phuc Province, on Thursday.

Construction for the new establishment, the Vinh Phuc Honda Automobile Dealership, began in April 2017, over a total area of 7,000 square metres of sleek design with modern equipment for all repair, maintenance and inspection purposes of imported Honda vehicles from Japan and Europe, according to Honda global standard.

The building includes three floors, with a fully furnished automobile showroom, customer lounge, repair area, car wash and a spare parts store.

The new Honda dealership offers after-sales service adhering to international professional standards, by a team of qualified customer consultants and technicians from Honda Vietnam. Vinh Phuc is considered one the countrys largest automobile and motorcycle production centres.

Assembly lines from Honda, Toyota, Piaggio and a number of factories components and accessories manufacturing plants are situated in Vinh Yen City and surrounding areas.

In recent years, the provinces automobile industry has contributed to its impressive development by millions of dollars per year.

Thanks to Vinh Phuc Provinces preferential policies and favourable business conditions, its urban areas are now home to many automobile and motorbike dealership and garages from many world-famous brands.  VNSHA NOI  FPT Software Company signed a contract worth over US$100 million with Innogy SE, a member of European energy company RWE, in Ha Noi on Thursday.

The contract is the biggest ever in 20 years, since Viet Nams largest software business was established in 1999. Innogy SE, which has a network of 23 million clients worldwide, earned 44 billion euro in 2016.

Under the contract, FPT Software will provide solutions based on SAP technology, Internet of Things and digital conversion platforms for Innogy SE in the period 2018-24.

Chairman of FPT Software, Hoang Nam Tien, said that being a long-term partner of the RWF would make a great contribution to the firms revenue in the European market and open up opportunities for accessing the RWEs big customers.

Fabian Andreas, purchasing manager of Innogy SE, said his company was developing very fast so it was necessary to ensure access to knowledge and resources, but above all innovation capacity in the field of information technology to change the markets of power, water and gas.

Previously, FPT bought all the capital of RWE Slovakia IT in 2014 and changed its name to FPT Slovakia. In the same year, it began projects on providing technology services for RWE AG/Innogy SE. So far, these projects have obtained positive results.

FPT Software has been supplying services to about 550 clients globally  75 of which are listed on the Fortune Global 500.  VNSTRA VINH  The southern province of Tra Vinh is calling for investments in 17 aquaculture projects, mainly brackish water shrimp farming, with a total investment of more than VN1.32 trillion (US$58.4 million).

Specifically, from now until 2020, the province is raising funds worth VN767 billion for eight investment projects, including construction of irrigation systems for fishery breeding and farming in Duyen Hai Districts on Xuan and on Chau communes, construction of an irrigation system for industrial shrimp farming in the districts Long Vinh Commune and establishment of a high-tech agricultural zone to develop Tra Vinh shrimp as well as infrastructure facilities, such as rural road systems and electric grids for industrial shrimp farming areas.

In the period of 2020-30, the province will continue calling for investments in nine projects to build irrigation systems serving industrial shrimp farming, intensive shrimp farming and semi-intensive farming in the Can Chong River area in Tieu Can District, and several communes of Duyen Hai, Cau Ngang and Chau Thanh districts.

In order to encourage enterprises to pour money into the project, the province will accelerate administrative reforms to create a favourable investment environment, along with implementing preferential policies in the field of rural agriculture.

At the same time, the province will set up a business support and advisory group to assist investors in investment procedures. Leaders of the provincial Peoples Committee will also intensify their meetings with enterprises to promptly help remove obstacles and address problems for them.

Brackish water shrimp is the main cultivating species of Tra Vinh Province, thanks to its advantage of a 65km-long coastline. Brackish water shrimp farming in the coastal areas of Tra Vinh covers an area of some 24,000ha, with annual output reaching some 37,000 tonnes.

The province is striving to achieve 26,170ha of brackish water shrimp farming by 2020, yielding more than 70,000 tonnes, and by 2030, the area will increase to 28,000ha and produce over 103,000 tonnes each year.  VNSHA NOI  Asia Infonet INC Company, a member of Japans AIN Group, has proposed to build a solar power plant at Becamex-Binh Phuoc Industrial and Urban Complex.

The proposal was made at a meeting between Asia Infonet INCs representatives and officials of the southern province of BinhPhuoc on Thursday.

The project is expected to be built on an area of 54ha, with a capacity of 50MK.

Tsuyoshi Sai, general director of Asia Infonet INC, said the company had experience in solar energy development in Japan and had invested in many projects with a total capacity of up to 400MK.

He hoped to know about the procedures required to carry out the project as soon as possible, particularly legal procedures to connect the plant to the national grid and sell electricity at the industrial park.

Secretary of provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Loi said he appreciated and fully supported the Japanese groups investment in the pioneer project, which would be of great significance to the province. The province will ensure optimal conditions for granting investment license so that the project can come to fruition, he said.

He also asked relevant agencies to help the Japanese investor complete procedures in the first quarter of 2018.

Binh Phuoc Province has huge advantage to foster solar energy projects, with an average of 2,700 sunlit hours a year and the highest solar radiation in the countrys Southeast region. The province prioritises solar energy development and is inviting investment in this sector.  VNSHA NOI  The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has asked agencies to comment on its special project to control companies thought to be likely of polluting the environment - even industries not yet in operation, such as power plants.

Tran Hieu Nhue from the Viet Nam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment said the project was imperative, especially after the massive death of fish in the central provinces in 2016.

"When we clearly name producers at high risk of polluting the environment, it is easier to force them to fix the situation," he said.

au Anh Tuan, director of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industrys legal department, said producers would only be named if the threat was scientifically based.

Tuan added that the assessment should include criteria on how producers had followed regulations on environmental protection in the past.

This will provide motivation for producers to actively obey regulations to avoid being added to the strict-supervision list, he said.

Under the draft project, 28 major producers - even those not yet in operation - have been listed on the special control list.

The producers, stretching from Lao Cai to Tra Vinh Province, include the Lao Cai diammonium phosphate (DAP) No2 Plant under the Viet Nam National Chemical Group (Vinachem); An Hoa Pulp and Paper Mill in Tuyen Quang Province; Nam Son Waste Treatment Complex in Ha Noi; the Taiwanese Hung Nghiep Formosa Ha Tinh Steel Corporation; the Bauxite-Aluminum Tan Rai - Lam ong Complex; the Vinh Tan Power Centre in Binh Thuan Province; the Nhan Co Aluminum Factory in ak Nong Province; the Viet Nam Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited in Hau Giang Province and the Duyen Hai Power Centre in Tra Vinh Province.

Ministerial concern arose after a range of environmental disasters occurred, causing serious damage to the environment. The biggest incident was the mass poisoning of fish off the coast of the central province in April, 2016, Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper reported.

Hoang Van Thuc, deputy head of the Viet Nam Environment Administration, said the ministry had selected 16 types of producers at high risk of polluting the environment.

They encompass metallurgy, thermo-electricity, mining and the processing of metallic minerals using toxic chemicals, paper-pulp production, fabric and yarn dyeing, plating, latex processing, cassava processing, cement production, chemical and pesticide fertiliser production, petrochemical, leather tanning, seafood processing, sugarcane processing, battery manufacture and waste treatment.

Active, strict supervision

After the fish wipe-out in central coastal provinces, the ministry recognises that we must not be in a passive situation again, Thuc said.

According to Thuc, of 28 major producers, several are still on trial operations and some have been under construction.

For example, five factories belonging to Vinh Tan Power Centre in Binh Thuan Province have been placed under strict supervision. Only Vinh Tan 2 Thermal Power Plant is in operartion, the other four plants are still under construction.

In Tra Vinh Province, four factories of the Duyen Hai Power Centre have been listed on the strict-supervision checklist. Only Duyen Hai 1 Thermal Power Plant is in operation, the two others are under construction and another has yet to be buuilt..

The project will be submitted to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for approval after the ministry finishes collecting comments.

Minister Tran Hong Ha said the project would help to shift the mindset of protecting the environment at the end of the wastewater pipe to protecting environment at the beginning of the wastewater pipe.

The idea of producing products first and protecting the environment later should be eradicated, he said.  VNSAustralian Ambassador Craig Chittick shares a message with Viet Nam News readers on the occasion of the National Day of Australia today.

It is a day when Australians come together to celebrate our land and rich culture, our achievements and character, and our democracy and the freedoms we enjoy. It is also a day when we celebrate the diversity of our people. Among them are 300,000 Australians of Vietnamese descent.

This Australia Day, I would therefore like to take the opportunity to reflect on the friendship and links between the people of Australia and Viet Nam .

The Vietnamese who have chosen to make Australia home form an important part of Australia s diverse mix of people. They make important contributions to the rich political, business, cultural and social life in Australia . They have introduced Australians to Vietnamese cuisine. Pho and pho cuon are now among Aussies favourite foods. These Vietnamese-Australians have also made significant contributions politically, culturally and economically. Among them are restauranteur and food writer Luke Nguyen and international fashion designer Betty Tran. Many of these Vietnamese-Australians are now also returning to support Viet Nam s development.

There is a strong culture of education exchange between Australia and Viet Nam . In fact, education was the first area of cooperation between our two countries. In 1975, 19 Vietnamese students travelled to Australia on scholarship to study. Today, this number has grown with around 23,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia last year. Many go on to make significant contributions to the development of Viet Nam . I am proud that this educational exchange is increasingly two-way. More and more Australians are travelling to Viet Nam for study and to undertake internships under the Australian Governments New Colombo Plan. Every one of these students deepens their understanding of their host countrys culture and language. Every student is an important bridge between Australia and Viet Nam .

Australia and Viet Nam also have a rich history of cultural and tourism exchange. Each year thousands of Australians visit Viet Nam . They take away with them not just memories but a deeper appreciation of Viet Nam s spectacular natural beauty, friendly people and many achievements. Earlier this month, I was honoured to hand over nine explanatory introductory panels to the Temple of Literature to educate visitors about this important historic site. That Australia and Viet Nam collaborated on a project at a site of such significance reflects the deep trust and respect between our two countries.

The closeness of our two peoples can be seen at all levels. Late last year Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull travelled to Viet Nam . A highlight for the Prime Ministers visit was the opportunity to meet locals in a Nang and sit down to enjoy an authentic banh mi. This year Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will travel to Australia . During this trip, the two countries will elevate the diplomatic relationship to a Strategic Partnership. This new Partnership reflects the importance of the relationship to both countries and our commitment to deepening co-operation.

These people to people links provide the bedrock of a diplomatic relationship celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. They help us know and understand each other. They build trust and share experience. And they provide the basis for us to work together to achieve security and prosperity for our two countries and the Indo-Pacific region.

The friendship between our two peoples will be a key feature of celebrations to mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year. Highlights for me in the programme of events include the opening of the Cao Lanh Bridge  Australias largest aid project in mainland South East Asia  our Taste of Australia promotion in April, and a series of great Aussie BBQs planned in different provinces around Viet Nam. I look forward to meeting many Vietnamese at these events so we can together celebrate our enduring friendship.Narendra Modi*

Today, 1.25 billion Indians will have the honour to host ten esteemed guests  leaders of ASEAN nations  at Indias Republic Day celebrations in our capital, New Delhi. Yesterday, I had the privilege to host the ASEAN leaders for the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of ASEAN-India Partnership. Their presence with us is an unprecedented gesture of goodwill from ASEAN nations. Responding to this, on a winter morning, India has come out to greet them in a warm embrace of friendship.

This is no ordinary event. It is a historic milestone in a remarkable journey that has brought India and ASEAN in a deepening partnership of great promise for their 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of the human kind.

India-ASEAN partnership may be just 25 years old. But, Indias ties with Southeast Asia stretch back more than two millennia. Forged in peace and friendship, religion and culture, art and commerce, language and literature, these enduring links are now present in every facet of the magnificent diversity of India and Southeast Asia, providing a unique envelope of comfort and familiarity between our people.

More than two decades ago, India opened itself to the world with tectonic changes. And, with instincts honed over centuries of interaction, it turned naturally to the East. Thus began a new journey of Indias reintegration with the East. For India, most of our major partners and markets  from ASEAN and East Asia to North America  lie to the East. And, Southeast Asia and ASEAN, our neighbours by land and sea, have been the springboard of our Look East and, since last three years, the Act East Policy.

Along the way, from dialogue partners, ASEAN and India have become strategic partners. We advance our broad-based partnership through 30 mechanisms. With each ASEAN member, we have growing diplomatic, economic and security partnership. We work together to keep our seas safe and secure. Our trade and investment flows have multiplied several times. ASEAN is Indias fourth largest trading partner; India is ASEANs seventh. Over 20 per cent of Indias outbound investments go to ASEAN. Led by Singapore, ASEAN is Indias leading source of investments. Indias Free Trade Agreements in the region are its oldest and among the most ambitious anywhere. Air links have expanded rapidly and we are extending highways deep into continental Southeast Asia with new urgency and priority. Growing connectivity has reinforced proximity. It has also put India among the fastest growing sources of tourism in Southeast Asia. Over 6 million strong Indian diaspora in the region  rooted in diversity and steeped in dynamism  constitutes an extraordinary human bond between us.

The traditionally close and cordial relations have their historical roots in the common struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh led our peoples in the heroic struggle against colonialism. During the visit of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to India in 2007, we signed the Strategic Partnership agreement. This strategic partnership has grown into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with my visit to Viet Nam in 2016.

Indias relations with Viet Nam are marked by growing economic and commercial engagement. Bilateral trade between India and Viet Nam has increased about 10 fold in 10 years. Defence Co-operation has emerged as a significant pillar of strategic partnership between India and Viet Nam. Science and Technology is another important area of cooperation between India and Viet Nam.

And, India and ASEAN are doing much more. Our partnership in ASEAN-led institutions like East Asia Summit, ADMM+ and ARF are advancing peace and stability in our region. India is also an eager participant in Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, seeking a comprehensive, balanced and fair agreement for all 16 participants.

The strength and resilience of partnerships come not just from arithmetic of numbers, but also from the underpinnings of the relationship. India and ASEAN nations have relations free from contests and claims. We have a common vision for the future, built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement.

ASEAN-India partnership will continue to grow. With the gift of demography, dynamism and demand  and with rapidly maturing economies - India and ASEAN will build a strong economic partnership. Connectivity will increase and trade will expand. In an era of cooperative and competitive federalism in India, our states are also building productive cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. Indias North-East is on a resurgent path. Links with Southeast Asia will accelerate its progress. In turn, a connected North-East will be a bridge to ASEAN-India ties of our dreams.

As Prime Minister, I have attended four annual ASEAN-India Summits and East Asia Summit. These have reinforced my conviction in ASEAN unity, centrality and leadership in shaping the region in this vision.

This is a year of milestones. India turned 70 last year. ASEAN reached the golden milestone of 50 years. We can each look to our future with optimism -and to our partnership with confidence.

At 70, India exudes the spirit, enterprise and energy of its young population. As the fastest growing major economy in the world, India has become the new frontier of global opportunities and an anchor of stability of global economy. With every passing day, it is easier and smoother to do business in India. I hope that ASEAN nations, as our neighbours and friends, will be integral part of New Indias transformation.

We admire ASEANs own progress. Born when Southeast Asia was a theatre of a brutal war and a region of uncertain nations, ASEAN has united 10 countries behind a common purpose and a shared future.

We have the potential to pursue higher ambitions and address the challenges of our times: from infrastructure and urbanisation to resilient agriculture and a healthy planet. We can also use the power of digital technology, innovation and connectivity to transform lives at unprecedented speed and scale.

A future of hope needs solid bedrock of peace. This is an age of change, disruptions and shifts that comes only rarely in history. ASEAN and India have immense opportunities  indeed, enormous responsibility  to chart a steady course through the uncertainty and turbulence of our times to a stable and peaceful future for our region and the world.

Indians have always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Now, as before, the East, or the Indo Pacific Region, will be indispensable to Indias future and our common destiny. ASEAN-India partnership will play a defining role in both. And, in Delhi, ASEAN and India renewed their pledge for the journey ahead.

*Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of IndiaVietnamese enterprises, especially those in private sector, must reform themselves and take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution to develop sustainably while contributing to national growth, said President Tran ai Quang.  VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  Vietnamese enterprises, especially those in private sector, must reform themselves and take advantage of the fourth industrial revolution to develop sustainably while contributing to national growth, said President Tran ai Quang.

He made the call at the launch of the entrepreneurship innovation programme for national sustainable development held by the Viet Nam Private Business Association in Ha Noi yesterday.

The programme is an important move in implementing the Party and States resolution and instructions on developing the private economic sector and promoting the role of local businesspeople in national construction and protection, the President highlighted.

He went on to say that domestic enterprises should apply advanced technology to enhance labour productivity, competitiveness and business management capacity, and take the initiative in joining global value chains and building Vietnamese brands.

The President ordered ministries, agencies and local administrations to enhance communication work to raise public awareness of the Party and States policies to develop the private economic sector.

The State leader lauded the Viet Nam Private Business Associations giant strides in the recent past. It has joined hands with relevant organisations to carry out the Party and States socio-cultural-economic development policies and made significant contributions to alleviating poverty and ensuring social security in the country.

Since the launch of the oi moi (renewal), the Vietnamese economy has been operating under the socialist-oriented market mechanism and the Party and State have encouraged the role of the private sector in the nations development.

Most recently, the 12th Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee adopted a resolution on developing the private economy into an important driving force of the socialist-oriented market economy at its fifth plenary meeting on May 10, 2017.  VNSDeputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue meets Director General of the International Labour Organisation Guy Ryder in in Davos, Switzerland yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hoa

DAVOS  Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue yesterday concluded activities at the 48th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, contributing to improving Viet Nams stature in a global forum and rallying foreign support for the countrys development.

Speaking at a dialogue with global leaders about pooling financial resources for sustainable development, Hue said governments should refine mechanisms, attract private investment in social fields and step up integration and economic connectivity to pool foreign capital for the healthy development of education-training, health care, environment and energy.

According to him, Viet Nam is accelerating private involvement in education, health care and environment.

Meeting President of Guinea Alpha Conde on the sidelines of the WEF meeting, Hue wished that Viet Nam and Guinea will develop their ties.

Conde said the two countries have potential for ties across agriculture and telecommunications and hoped to visit Viet Nam in the near future to expand links.

In a meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Hue lauded her advice about promoting inclusive finance development.

He suggested that the Queen, in her capacity as United Nations Secretary Generals Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development, pool financial and technical resources from the UN and international organisations to assist Viet Nam in inclusive finance development.

During a reception for Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie, Hue asked both sides to maintain the exchange of all-level visits by ministries, agencies, localities and businesses to raise mutual understanding and deepen bilateral relations.

Talking with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom, Hue called for the early signing and ratification of the European UnionViet Nam Free Trade Agreement to enhance bilateral economic-trade ties.

In a conversation with Director General of the International Labour Organisation Guy Ryder, the Vietnamese Deputy PM affirmed that Viet Nam would deliver commitments on social insurance and wage reform once joining FTAs. Ryder vowed to support Viet Nam in the field.

Chief Executive of Unilever Paul Polman expressed his respect for Viet Nams high economic growth. Meanwhile, Chief Executive of the Standard Chartered Bill Winters committed to promoting financial technology development and joining the equitisation of banks in Viet Nam.

A representative of Avaada Company expressed interest in investing in power projects in Viet Nam while Puma Energy Company wished to become a strategic shareholder of energy firms in the country.

In a dialogue with financial and technological enterprises, Hue said Viet Nam is determined to build a disciplined, transparent, action-minded, creative and efficient government.

Viet Nam will deliver commitments with the Word Trade Organisation, facilitate trade in goods in ASEAN, realise signed free trade agreements, as well as accelerate the early ratification of the Viet Nam  EU Free Trade Agreement and the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, he said.

He stated that Viet Nam will create favourable conditions for foreign firms to do long-term business in the country.

Hue also wished that more leading groups would attend the WEF meeting on ASEAN slated for September 2018 in Ha Noi.  VNSMinister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich (L) war keepsakes of US servicemen to US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ha Noi yesterday.  VNA/VNS Photo An ang

HA NOI  Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich held talks with US Secretary of Defence James Mattis, following a welcoming ceremony for the latter in Ha Noi yesterday.



The two leaders reviewed the results of defence co-operation between Viet Nam and the US and agreed on measures to promote ties in the future, based on a memorandum of understanding on defence co-operation signed in 2011, a Joint Vision Statement on defence ties signed in 2015, an action plan for 2018-2020 and agreements reached by their senior leaders.



Both agreed that bilateral defence co-operation has been producing practical outcomes, particularly in searching for missing US servicemen, AO/dioxin decontamination, bomb and mine clearance, rescue and humanitarian aid and UN peacekeeping operations.



The two ministers also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.



The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence applauded the USs co-operation in a project on dioxin remediation at Bien Hoa Airport and its support for Viet Nams participation in UN peacekeeping operations.



The defence ministries of the two nations also asked their senior leaders for permission to allow an US aircraft carrier to visit the central city of a Nang in March this year.



After the talks, Lich handed over war keepsakes of US servicemen to Mattis and introduced an exhibition on the outcomes of bilateral co-operation in addressing post-war consequences and joining UN peacekeeping operations.



Mattis was paying a two-day official visit to Viet Nam, which concluded yesterday. This was the sixth visit to Viet Nam by a US Secretary of Defence since the two countries normalised relations in 1995 and the first by Mattis since he took office in 2017.  VNSGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong (R) receives US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Tri Dung

HA NOI  The United States treasures and wants to enhance its multi-faceted co-operation with Viet Nam, affirmed US Secretary of Defence James Mattis when being received by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Nguyen Phu Trong in Ha Noi yesterday.



Mattis lauded Viet Nams development achievements and the countrys increasing position and role in the region and the world.



He informed his host of effective collaboration in security-defence between the two countries, especially in participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions, military medical training, maritime security in the East Sea and law enforcement at sea.



The Vietnamese Party chief appreciated the outcomes of Mattiss talks with Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, and expressed his satisfaction with developments in the two countries ties.



He affirmed Viet Nams consistent policy of attaching importance to the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, for the long-term interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability and development.



He said the US Secretary of Defences visit will help speed up the implementation of signed agreements.



He suggested both sides continue efforts to address war consequences, including bomb and mine clearance, environmental detoxification and search for soliders listed as missing in action, as well as strengthen mutual trust to further develop bilateral ties.  VNSPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth left) meets Myanmars State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, yesterday in New Delhi.  VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat

NEW DELHI  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday had bilateral meetings with leaders of Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar on the sidelines of the ASEAN  India Commemorative Summit in New Delhi, India.



At Prime Minister Phucs meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong, the two agreed to implement various activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018.



They agreed to consider opening air routes linking Singapore with Viet Nams a Lat and Nha Trang cities, to increase of frequency of existing flights and to push up negotiations on a labour agreement.



PM Phuc told his counterpart that he will attend the 32nd ASEAN Summit to be held in Singapore this year.



While meeting Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Vietnamese leader suggested the two sides organise their joint committee on bilateral co-operations third meeting and the joint cabinet retreat this year.



He repeated his invitation to the Thai PM to attend the sixth Summit of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the GMS Business Forum slated for March in Ha Noi to share views on the regions development.



Meeting Myanmars State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, PM Phuc expressed his hope to soon welcome her to Viet Nam and co-chair the ninth meeting of the joint committee on bilateral co-operation.



Suu Kyi stated that she will convey Phucs invitation to the sixth Summit of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) and the GMS Business Forum to Myanmar leaders.  VNSPresident Tran ai Quang (r) receives US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ha Noi yesterday. VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sang

HA NOI  Viet Nam values its comprehensive relations with the US on the basis of respecting each others independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, President Tran ai Quang told visiting US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Ha Noi yesterday.



Lauding the US ministers official visit, President Quang expressed his belief that the trip will contribute to developing Viet Nam-US relations more practically, in line with their comprehensive partnership for peace, prosperity and the development of each country.



The State leader noted with pleasure that the bilateral defence co-operation efforts have been marked by a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed in 2011, a Joint Vision Statement on defence ties signed in 2015, an action plan for 2018-2020 and agreements reached by senior leaders.



The President affirmed that Viet Nam will fully and effectively co-operate with the US in searching for the remains of American missing-in-action soldiers.



President Quang asked the US to coordinate with Viet Nam in carrying out a dioxin decontamination project at Bien Hoa Airport, to deliver the next Hamilton-class patrol vessel to Viet Nam in 2019 and to support Viet Nam in launching a level-2 field hospital to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan in 2018.



The two sides should work together closely in organising the visit to Viet Nam by a US aircraft carrier in March 2018, while strengthening collaboration in search, rescue and natural disaster response activities, law enforcement at sea, personnel training, military medicine and defence industry ties, he said.



Mattis said that the US attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Viet Nam and will work with Viet Nam in boosting cooperation in all fields.



Holding that the defence cooperation between the two countries is growing effectively, he said that the US is working hard, together with Vietnam, to deal with the legacy of the war, such as through dioxin decontamination and searching for missing US servicemen.



Regarding regional and international matters, the minister affirmed that the US will support Vietnams active role in ASEAN as well as in multilateral forums within the ASEAN framework.



The US will continue backing Viet Nam and regional countries in observing the rights to freedom of navigation and aviation in line with international law for common prosperity, Mattis said.



President Quang said he was delighted at the positive and practical progress of Viet Nam-US relations in all bilateral, regional and international aspects, and welcomed the U.S. commitment to long-term cooperation for peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region.



President Quang suggested the two sides continue consulting and coordinating closely with each other at multilateral forums, especially those chaired by the ASEAN.



The President also praised the US for its effective cooperation and assistance to Viet Nam forces joining UN peacekeeping operations in the past few years, suggesting that the two sides continue working together.  VNSAK LAK  More than 35ha of ready-to-harvest sugarcane was burnt in Ea Sup District, the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen) province of ak Lak, causing severe damage.

Talking with vov.vn online newspaper, Nguyen Bao Loc, deputy general director of ak Lak Sugarcane Joint-Stock Company, on Friday, said the burnt sugarcane area was the material source for his company, adding that the damage of the fire was estimated at some VN2 billion (US$88,000).

Currently, sugarcane growers in the Central Highlands provinces of Gia Lai and ak Lak are entering the peak of the 2017-2018 sugarcane harvesting crop season.

However, at this time, the weather in the Central Highlands region is very dry, so the agricultural department warned farmers to raise vigilance and be careful with fire. Farmers need to push through the crop and harvest time to reach high yields, and sell the crop at the best prices.

Among the sugarcane area burnt, 18ha belonged to a farmer household in Ea Bung Commune, and 17ha to four other households in Ya To Mot Commune.

The sugarcane area was jointly planted by ak Lak Sugarcane Joint-Stock Company with households in the border communes of Ea Sup District.

During the 2017-18 period, the company co-operated with Ea Sup Districts people to grow 7,000ha of sugarcane.

On December 20, 2017, more than 100ha of sugarcane, also the material region of ak Lak Sugarcane Joint-Stock Company in Ea Sup District, was burned completely, with total damage up to VN10 billion.  VNSHOA BINH  Two drug traffickers were sentenced to 20 years imprisonment each for transporting 4,000 tablets of ecstasy from the northern mountainous province of Son La to Ha Noi, Vietnam News Agency reported.

On Thursday, Hoa Binh Province Peoples Court opened the first trial against Tran Van Luan, born in 1991 in Kim ong District, Hung Yen Province, and o The Duy, born in 1988 in Mai Son District, Son La Province.

The accused pleaded guilty at the court on being questioned.

The taxi driver who was aiding them was only given a fine, since he was not directly involved in the act of trafficking. According to the indictment, on July 31, 2017, Luan met Duy in ong Anh District, Ha Noi, and offered him VN5 million (US$230) to buy drugs. Duy agreed.

On August 1, Duy went to Lao Kho Village, Phieng Khoai Commune in Yen Chau District of Son La Province, to buy ecstasy from a Mong ethnic man whose identity could not be ascertained.

He then called another Mong man of Laos nationality and asked Duy to trade a bag of drugs at VN3 million ($130). On August 2, Duy received 20 bags of ecstasy near the Viet Nam-Laos border and waited for Luan to pick him up in Yen Chau District. Luan paid him a total of VN60 million ($2,640) for the drugs. At 6pm the same day, Luan and Duy met in Van Ho District, Son La Province, and took a taxi to Ha Noi. When they arrived at Phong Phu Commune, Tan Lac District in Hoa Binh Province at 1.30pm on August 3, they were stopped by the district police. Luan asked the driver to keep going and threw away the bags of drugs.

But despite their efforts to escape, police caught them with 4,000 tablets of ecstasy weighing 395.89g and other items.  VNSHCM CITY  The UK-based Telegraph newspaper has unveiled a list of the top 10 best train journeys in Asia for international visitors in 2018, and it comes as a great surprise that Viet Nams North-South railway line is on the list.

On the website www.telegraph.co.uk, a tour is recommended on the express train Thong Nhat (Reunification) connecting Ha Noi and HCM City, and running through many Viet Nams famous tourist destinations such as Hue, a Nang and Nha Trang.

According to the UK newspaper, passengers travel on a 1,600-km journey along peaceful landscapes of ancient pagodas, paddy fields and farmers wearing conical hats.

Last year, the UK-based travel site Rough Guides also named the route one of the most scenic in Asia.

Viet Nams railway line boasts a deep-rooted history as the French built the countrys first railway section spanning 70 km from Sai Gon to the Mekong Delta city of My Tho in 1881, marking the birth of the countrys railway system.  VNSPARIS  The French government announced a new approach to cannabis users on Thursday, scrapping potential prison sentences and heavy fines in favour of on-the-spot penalties for smokers in a bid to save police time.

France is one of the biggest consumers of cannabis in Europe, with around 700,000 people estimated to use the drug every day.

An EU report in 2015 on alcohol and drug use among 15- and 16-year-olds showed French teens were among Europes biggest dope smokers.

Yet Frances laws on the drug are among Europes strictest, with those caught smoking a joint facing fines of up to 3,750 euros (US$4,600) and a one-year prison sentence, although in reality most go free with a warning.

"We are going to introduce simplified fines for this offence," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said, confirming a campaign pledge by President Emmanuel Macron.

But he was adamant that Macron would not follow the example of the Netherlands or Spain in tolerating cannabis use by adults, much less legalise it for recreational use like several US states, including California.

"There will be no decriminalisation of cannabis use," Collomb said, warning that repeat offenders or those suspected of dealing could be prosecuted.

Instead, the government is to introduce an on-the-spot fine of between 150 and 200 euros ($180 to $250), as recommended in a parliamentary report.

Decriminalisation of cannabis has been regularly debated in France in recent years, but advocates are accused by opponents of being soft on crime.

Pragmatic choice

During the presidential campaign, three leftist candidates proposed allowing legalising cannabis use among adults -- a call echoed by 150 left-wing politicians, teachers, lawyers, doctors and activists in the port of Marseille, which is plagued by gun violence linked to the trans-Mediterranean cannabis trade.

But police unions have expressed their opposition to any softening of the law, as had the French Observatory for Drugs and Drug Addiction, which warned in an October report that legalising the drug could lead to increased use.

Parliament speaker Francois de Rugy hailed the new policy as "pragmatic".

"In the past, police officers and judges would spend a lot of time on procedures which ended in formal warnings being given, so it didnt serve any purpose," de Rugy said.

In 2015, the last year for which figures were published, 140,000 people were arrested for drug use in France, but only 3,098 were given prison sentences and, of them, only 1,283 spent time behind bars.

So far only one country -- Uruguay -- has completely legalised cannabis for recreational use, with Canada vowing to follow suit this year.

In a 2014 study, the left-leaning French think-tank Terra Nova touted the possible tax gains for France of legalising and regulating cannabis. It estimated the windfall at 2.0 billion euros ($2.5 billion) a year.  AFPBRUSSELS  Turkeys European affairs ministers told the EU on Thursday to side with Ankara in its campaign against a Kurdish militia in northern Syria.

Omer Celik said in an interview after meeting senior European Union officials in Brussels that Turkey was protecting "legitimate security interests" in its fight against the Syrian Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG).

"What we want to hear from our allies and friends is that they should say we are next to Turkey, we are sided with Turkey when it comes to fighting against terrorism and when it comes to (what is) actually happening in Afrin," Celik said.

"We had clearly told our friends and allies they should not support YPG, and we suggested then that we should do this operation together but they did not do so," Celik said.

"Thats why Turkey had to do it, and at the end of the day actually had to launch and implement this operation by itself," Celik said, adding that Turkey was protecting "also the security of Europe."

Celik was meeting EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini, who said on Monday that she was "extremely worried" by the Turkish campaign against the YPG. He also met European Commission vice president Frans Timmermans.

Celik said the campaign was called Operation Olive Branch because "actually we are extending an olive branch to the Syrian people and the people living in Afrin."

The issue has further strained EU-Turkey relations already soured by the stalling of Turkeys over half-century ambition to join the EU following the crackdown that followed the 2016 coup bid aimed at ousting President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Celik also dismissed a call by French President Emmanuel Macron for Turkey to renounce its dream of membership and join a looser "partnership" with the EU.

"I have particularly underlined that we are against the recently emerging suggestions of a privileged partnership. It is not acceptable to suggest, recommend a solution other than full membership, like a privileged partnership with Turkey," he said.

"Those who are criticising Turkey concerning human rights and rule of law should do more than criticising Turkey," he added, saying that the EU should open fresh sections of the accession process dealing with those issues if it wanted to make progress.  AFP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.Jan 26, 2018 | By David

The pioneering work of California 3D printing expert Carbon is something that weve covered on a regular basis. The company introduced a line of 3D printers with its patented Digital Light Synthesis technology a few years ago, and has partnered with Adidas to develop a range of cutting-edge 3D printed sneakers, amongst other groundbreaking projects. Another impressive application of Carbons technology was carried out by Hornet Racing, a student engineering team at the University of California, Sacramento. The team used 3D printing to revolutionize the design of a racing car it was building for a major competition.

The Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) holds a competition between different university teams every year. It has strict guidelines which are intended to encourage creativity, challenging students to come up with innovative ways to tackle design and engineering problems. In 2017, the SAE demanded that all stock throttle bodies in engines must be removed, and replaced with a single throttle for all four cylinders. Additionally, guidelines dictated that a 20 mm diameter restrictor had to be placed behind the single throttle. This performance constraint on Hornet Racings engine reduced its potential airflow and seriously limited its power output.

The vehicle used by Hornet Racing had a Honda CBR600RR series 4-cylinder engine, which usually comes with four individual throttle bodies (one for each cylinder) that are each 44 mm in diameter, and are placed very close to the cylinder head. Competition guidelines demanded a major restructuring of its air intake system, as did the airflow problems that had affected the vehicles performance in previous years. Poor airflow often led to delayed or unpredictable acceleration, which made the drivers job a lot more difficult when trying to control the vehicle.

The team decided to make use of Carbons 3D printing technology in order to improve the design of their engine. Most important was that the shape of the engine intake manifold had to be changed, in order to improve and optimize the flow of air through the engine. Specifically, the teams main goals were to create components that promoted minimal boundary layer formation, to allow for smoother airflow. They also wanted to integrate the fuel injector ports into the base of the intake runners (tubes that connect the plenum with the cylinder heads), in order to achieve minimal flow turbulence. An overall weight reduction, and a simplified assembly process that would leave less margin for error, were also identified as factors that could contribute to improved performance.

The use of Carbons Digital Light Synthesis 3D printing technology meant that the team had a whole new range of possible design geometries available to them. Going through a huge number of different geometric iterations to find the perfect shape would previously have been much too time-consuming, but the whole process was significantly streamlined with a manufacturing process based on direct realization of a 3D digital model. Also, the assembly and production costs for the finished design would have been prohibitively high with the conventional manufacturing processes used, which involved extensive tooling, carbon fiber molds, and welding.

Printed from Carbons proprietary RPU 70 material, Hornet Racings new design for the air intake manifold was a bulb shape, measuring only 7 inches in length. This replaced the previous two-foot long diffuser, and the large plenum which was over a half-gallon in volume. The overall design was inspired by supersonic jet engine shock cones, which are capable of regulating air intake based on their shape. The team combined functionalities of both the diffuser and the plenum in one, by designing a spike-like flow split within the bulb structure.

3D printing also meant that no welding was involved, and the weight of the new air intake component was significantly reduced. The air intake manifold is placed relatively high up in the cars body, which means that its weight has a major effect on the cars roll center and other vehicle dynamics. The 3D printed component weighed 50 percent less than the one used by Hornet Racing in 2016, and it contributed to improved vehicle handling and a better overall driving experience.

With the help of Carbons 3D printing systems and materials, Hornet Racing performed better in the SAE competition than it ever had before. The HR2017 car finished in 16th place overall, out of a total of 80 teams from universities all over the world.

Posted in 3D Printing Application

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Kevin Duong at berfrois:

It is often observed that the French Revolution was a revolution of scientists. Nourished by airy abstractions and heartfelt cries to Jean-Jacques Rousseau, its leaders sought a society grounded, not in God or tradition, but in what Edmund Burke decried as the conquering empire of light and reason. To be sure, if we tallied the professional affiliations of the members of the first National Assembly, we would find it overwhelmingly populated by lawyers. But the revolutions symbols and motifs were not derived from legal practices and traditions, and it was not as men of law that Maximilien Robespierre and Jean-Paul Marat called for the death of their king and the creation of a democratic republic. Rather, they did so as scientistsmiddle class intellectuals who saw in government a field ripe for experimentation, innovation, and improvement.

Nowhere was this as clear as their approach to the will of the people. Of the many puzzles to which revolutionaries applied themselves as scientists, few seemed so pressing and so intractable. It is obvious what a kings will looks like, or so we like to think. Kings are individuals, they have bodies, and they can tell us what to do. However they choose to communicate their will  through voice, a gesture, a written pronouncement  it is relatively clear when such acts belong to them.

more here.Saudi Arabia is using cash recovered from officials and princes arrested in a corruption crackdown to ease the pain of austerity.

The kingdom says it has lost at least $100 billion to corruption, and some of that is now being handed back to the government as part of settlements agreed with suspects.

"We have received some money in the bank," Saudi finance minister Mohammed Al Jadaan told CNNMoney's Richard Quest on Thursday. "But most of the assets are unlikely to be in cash. As you can imagine it is in assets, real estate -- it is going to take some time to be liquidated."

Speaking earlier at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Al Jadaan said some of the cash recovered will be used to fund handouts for the 70% of Saudi nationals who are state employees.

At a cost of about 50 billion riyals ($13 billion), the government earlier this month announced an annual bonus for all state employees, and a monthly allowance of 1,000 riyals ($266) for government employees for a year. There was also a 10% stipend increase for students, a bonus for soldiers and a tax break for first-time home buyers.

Related: 6 ways life in Saudi Arabia will change in 2018

The measures were aimed at easing the pain of austerity designed to reduce Saudi Arabia's budget deficit. They came less than a week after the government introduced a 5% sales tax on most goods, and doubled gas prices.

Saudi Arabia is experiencing rapid change as part of its Vision 2030 to diversify the economy away from oil.

The corruption clampdown is part of that.

In a surprise sweep in November, Saudi authorities arrested dozens of royals, businessmen and senior government officials. Those arrested included billionaire businessman and global investor Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and Saudi media mogul Waleed Al-Ibrahim.

The unorthodox detentions -- the suspects have been confined to the luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh while they negotiate their release -- initially rattled investors.

But the Saudi stock market has since bounced back, and foreign investors are looking for opportunities to take advantage of the opening up of the biggest economy in the Middle East.

Stephen Schwarzman, CEO of Blackstone, said the changes were "astonishingly bold."

"The more change, the more opportunity for something to go wrong. It's important not to overreact when that happens," he said in Davos.

It would take a while for the international investors to commit, he added, but Saudi Arabia was clearly an opportunity "you can't miss."

Al Jadaan said the crackdown would pay dividends in the long term.

"We are creating a level playing field," he told CNNMoney. "Our country's message is very clear that we have zero tolerance to corruption and we want to move ahead and create an investment environment."Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, told a UN Security Council meeting that he was revealing classified information about Iran to convey what he claimed are Iran's plans to dominate Syria, destroy Israel and "terrorize the entire free world."

"Iran is turning the entire country of Syria into the largest military base in the world. In fact, Iran is trying to destabilize all aspects of Syria," Danon said.

Israel's ambassador to the UN warned of Iran's plans in Syria, the region and world Danon claimed there are 82,000 fighters "directly under Iranian authority in Syria"

Danon also criticized the international agreement that eased sanctions on Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, and implied that European nations now doing business with Iran are enabling its aggression.

Iran's goals, Danon said, are, "first, destroy Israel ... second ... destabilize the region." But after that, Danon said, "it is aiming for the entire world. The entire international community should be concerned about Iran." Even though Iran is targeting Israel first, the Israeli envoy said, "it is you who are next."

In a session that was meant to be a discussion of Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, Danon focused exclusively on Iran.

He started in dramatic fashion, telling the Security Council that he would, "share with you classified information that shows the extent of Iran's military build-up in Syria."

There are 82,000 fighters "directly under Iranian authority in Syria," Danon said, including 3,000 members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, 9,000 members of Hezbollah and 10,000 members of "violent Shiia militias recruited from across the Mideast, including Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan," he said.

In addition, Danon said that Iran "directly commands" 60,000 local Syrian fighters.

"These are hard facts that cannot be disrupted. Iran's military is actively training these militant extremists and its using Syria as its strategic base," Danon said.

He added that Iran is "also building missile factories in Syria," and said Israel's attitude toward it's northern border is that "we can no longer distinguish between Iran and Syria."

"The Iranians themselves claim that ISIS in Syria is on the run," Danon said. "So why does Iran keep recruiting these extremists to be killed in the battlefields of Syria? Why is Iran building bases to house these fighters for the long run? The answer is clear: to further destabilize Syria and our region, to further threaten Israel and to further terrorize the entire free world."

Danon also implied that Europe is enabling in Iran's growing military presence by engaging in trade with Tehran, one result of the international nuclear deal reached by the Obama administration and the governments of the United Kingdom, Russia, France, China, Germany and the European Union.

In prepared remarks, Danon said that Iran has only increased its military spending since the pact was signed in 2015.

"In 2014, seventeen percent of Iran's government spending went to its military expenditure," he said. "This past year, in 2017, this number ballooned to twenty-two percent. That's $23 billion spent on missiles, arms and other weapons of war."

He also said that, "Iran has nearly doubled its trade with Europe this year ... this is a mistake."

"While you are making a profit, Iran is building an empire," he said.

European diplomats point out that trade has indeed increased, but from tiny amounts to only slightly larger amounts.At least 30 refugees and migrants drowned off the coast of war-torn Yemen after their boat capsized amid reports of gunfire being using by traffickers, the United Nations said Friday.

The overcrowded boat, which had more than 150 Somalis and Ethiopians on board, left from near the city of Aden on Tuesday headed across the Gulf of Aden toward Djibouti, said the UN's International Organization for Migration, citing survivors.

"The vessel is believed to have been operated by unscrupulous smugglers who were attempting to take refugees and migrants to Djibouti, while also trying to extort more money from these refugees and migrants," an IOM statement said.

"The boat capsized amid reports of gunfire being used against the passengers."

About two-thirds of the passengers were Ethiopian and a third were Somali, the IOM said. It and partner organizations have been helping survivors with food, water and medical help.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, IOM Director William Lacy Swing said the organization was "deeply troubled" by the latest report from Yemen. "As we have been saying for almost five years now, the preservation of human life is our utmost priority everywhere," he said.

According to a report this month by the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, there are currently more than 280,000 refugees and asylum seekers from other countries in Yemen, traditionally a transit hub for people fleeing the Horn of Africa.

Some 5,000 more arrive by sea each month -- unaccompanied children among them -- despite Yemen's prolonged civil war and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions, the UN agency said. While many hope simply to transit through the country, on arrival they face the threat of abduction, extortion, physical abuse and arbitrary detention, the report said.

Some later seek to flee again, putting their lives in the hands of people smugglers.

Lynn Maalouf, director of research for the Middle East at Amnesty International, said refugees and migrants were suffering alongside Yemen's civilian population.

"This heartbreaking tragedy underscores, yet again, just how devastating Yemen's conflict continues to be for civilians," Maalouf said.

"Amid ongoing hostilities and crushing restrictions imposed by the Saudi Arabia-led coalition, many people who came to Yemen to flee conflict and repression elsewhere are now being forced yet again to flee in search of safety. Some are dying in the process."

According to the United Nations, more than 5,500 civilians have been killed in Yemen since March 2015, when a coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched a military campaign against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in the country.

Meanwhile, nearly 2 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen, according to UNICEF, and a staggering 1 million people have been stricken by cholera.Christa McAuliffe never got to realize her dream of teaching from space.

The 37-year-old social studies teacher from Boston was selected above nearly 11,000 educators as the primary candidate for the first Teacher in Space Mission. Her application stated, "I watched the space program being born, and I would like to participate." She was going to film lessons in space that could reach classrooms across the country.

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McAuliffe's hopeful quest to become the first American civilian in space captured the nation, and they all tuned in to watch her reach the stars. The day of the launch, she said, "imagine a history teacher making history."

Her family was in the stands at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, three miles from the launch pad. Her students watched from an auditorium at Concord High School in Concord, New Hampshire. She beamed and waved at the cameras before boarding the shuttle. None of them knew that their last glimpse of her would become a final goodbye.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds after launching on January 28, 1986, taking McAuliffe's life and that of the six astronauts aboard: Commander Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Judith A. Resnik, Ellison S. Onizuka and Ronald E. McNair and Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis.

McAuliffe's lessons have remained untaught and forgotten, until now. Astronauts will film some of her original lessons on the International Space Station, continuing McAuliffe's legacy 32 years after they were initially planned.

It's fitting that the two astronauts, Joe Acaba and Ricky Arnold, are both former educators. Acaba returned a six-month stay on the space station at the end of February, and Arnold launched in March.

Before launching to the station, Arnold filmed a video with NASA about becoming a teacher, and how McAuliffe inspired him to become both an astronaut and a teacher. He had just graduated from college and was working for the Environmental Protection Agency when he saw the Challenger accident unfold on television.

"Having a teacher on board that mission was very personal, everyone knows a teacher," Arnold said. "I thought it sent a pretty powerful message as to what NASA thought of the teaching profession. They recognized then that there were some really talented people working in our nation's public schools. A confluence of events shaped my decision to go into teaching, a really rich and rewarding career. I always wondered what Christa was going to do up on orbit and that mission was unfortunately never completed. But we're going to have the opportunity to bring that mission full circle and we're going to conduct some of Christa's lost lessons. To me, for our nation, it's really important that wasn't lost. I'm hoping we can package up some nice stuff that teachers can use as a resource long after we're home."

Arnold tweeted that he, Acaba and former educator astronauts Barbara Morgan and Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger were honored to help celebrate the legacy of Challenger, and the Teacher in Space Mission. Morgan was McAuliffe's back-up for the Challenger mission. She went on to become the first educator astronaut in 2007.

It's part of NASA's Year of Education on Station and the original lessons, as well as new ones modified for the space station's unique environment features, will be "STEMonstrations."

The lessons will touch on liquids in zero gravity, Newton's laws, effervescence (bubbles or fizz in liquid) and chromatography, or the separation of a mixture. Some of the "STEMonstrations" are already available to watch on NASA's education site. The first of McAuliffe's lessons has been completed and is available.

"Filming Christa McAuliffe's lessons in orbit this year is an incredible way to honor and remember her and the Challenger crew," said Mike Kincaid, associate administrator for NASA's Office of Education. "Developed with such care and expertise by Christa, the value these lessons will have as new tools available for educators to engage and inspire students in science, technology, education and math is what will continue to advance a true legacy of Challenger's mission."

The lesson plans are available through the Challenger Center's website. The Challenger Center, which has 40 learning centers that include simulated environments, was created to honor the Challenger crew and works with students in the US, Canada and the UK to encourage STEM activities.

"It's been 32 years since we lost our beloved Challenger crew. They were modest individuals with a strong passion to explore and inspire," said June Scobee Rodgers, founding chair of the Challenger Center and widow of Challenger commander Dick Scobee. "It brings me great joy to know that their passion to inspire and excite children continues with the students at Challenger Learning Centers around the world."

McAuliffe is known for her saying, "I touch the future. I teach." Thirty-two years later, her lessons can do just that.Some showers are lingering in the mountains early this morning, but most of the wet weather is expected to taper off early today. All areas are expected to be dry by mid to late afternoon. The best chance for lingering showers will mostly be in the form of light mountain snow for both the Sierra, and Northern Mountains. Valley areas are expected to stay dry today, but Redding may get a light showers brushing through the city this morning. Cloudy skies, and cool temperatures are on tap for most of Northern California today. Valley areas are starting out in the high 30's to low 40's, and mountain ares are in the 20's to low 30's early today. Winds are expected to stay light, and high temperatures will end up in the same range as yesterday. Valley areas are projected to top out in the low 50's this afternoon, and mountain areas will end up in the high 30's to mid 40's.

Another chance for showers will return to Northern California late tonight through early Saturday morning. The best chance for showers will be in the Northern Mountains through the early morning hours tomorrow, but some light precipitation could make it down into the Redding area very briefly. Amounts are not expected to be very impressive, and snow levels will be around 1 to 2 thousand feet higher than the last system. Showers will recede to the North tomorrow afternoon.

Dry, mostly sunny, and warmer weather is ahead for your Sunday. Sunny to mostly sunny skies are expected across the board. Valley areas will start out in the mid 30's, but are expected to climb into the mid 60's by Sunday afternoon. The dry and warmer conditions will linger through the start of next week. As of now, no showers are expected from Sunday through Wednesday, and temperatures will stay at or above average through your 7 day forecast.WILLIAMS, Calif. - For the second time in two weeks, a Williams mother had to bury her daughter. On Thursday the community showed up in large numbers to support the family.

We first told you about Karen Garcia when she went missing a day after her younger sister was killed in a head-on crash on I-5 earlier this month.

On Thursday morning, dozens of family members and friends made their way to the Church of the Annunciation to say goodbye to 21-year-old Karen Garcia.

"It actually hit everybody really hard. Williams is a small town, you kind of know everybody and what happened is just really sad and depressing. You can feel it in the air, you can feel it everywhere," said Williams resident Juanita Solis.

During the service, Karen's older sister Ana thanked everyone for their love and support during this difficult time. She said she knows Karen is now in a better place, reunited with her younger sister who was just buried last week after she was killed in a wrong-way crash on I-5.

"I love you so much. You and Jessica. We love you both so much and we'll always keep you both in our thoughts," she said.

Cecilia Navarro is a mom and she said she can't even begin to imagine the heartache they must be feeling.

"To lose a kid, you don't have words. I put myself in her shoes and I'd feel horrible if something like that happened to my daughter," she said.

Many of her co-workers from Granzella's attended the funeral wearing purple scarves to raise awareness on domestic violence, one of those being Andrea Robledo who said she's still in shock.

"You see this in movies, you don't see this anywhere close. So for all this to happen is just unrealistic and it doesn't make sense to me," Robledo said.

Following the service at the church, Garcia was buried at the Williams Cemetary. It was a somber-mood with many offering their condolences to Garcia's family.

They say Karen was a beautiful person and it's hard to believe this is reality.

"Always smiling, always happy. And it's sad, it's just unrealistic. It doesn't make sense and I just can't wrap my head around it," Robledo said.

The search is still on for her suspected killer, her ex-boyfriend Salvador Garcia Junior. Police said he was last seen driving around in a stolen black 2011 Toyota Sienna with California plates 6NY-B823.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Colusa Police Department.Three teenage girls at a high school in Pennsylvania are facing criminal charges after exposing a schoolmate to pineapple juice knowing she was allergic.

Police officials in Butler say two 14 year old girls and a 13 year old devised a plan to give their schoolmate pineapple knowing that she would go into anaphylactic shock if exposed.

Officials say one of the suspects soaked her hand in pineapple juice and made the rounds in the butler intermediate high school lunch room, high-fiving other children, until she got to the 14 year old victim.

Police say what made the act even worse and much more than just a case of bullying, was that everybody knew the girl was allergic to pineapples. Pineapple wasn't even allowed on the school menu.

Officials say the pineapple in question was brought in a bagged lunch.

The victim was rushed to the school nurse following the incident, and then taken to a hospital where she recovered.

The 14 year old girl accused of exposing the girl to the pineapple is charged with aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct.

The other two students were each charged with criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.A super bowl is nothing without great food.

And for those heading to the big game at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis you're in for a treat.

Cammie Williams has more on the exclusive delicacies.

You know the menu will include typical stadium foods like hot dogs, pretzels, there also some state fair classics and foods from award winning restaurants here in the twin cities plus some new dishes.

The new exclusive super bowl dishes took a year for Aramark chefs to put together.

Here are some of the new items:

Espresso ala mode made with French vanilla ice cream, chocolate shavings, mini marshmallows and espresso sauce.

They even have AFC NFC tribute sandwiches. The New England clam roll made with kettle chips crusted fried clams, house tartar sauce, and shredded lettuce, on a griddled roll.

And to rep the Eagles they have the south philly roast pork sandwich made with Italian roast pork, sauteed broccoli rabe, sharp provolone and hoagie roll

If you have a ticket to the big game chief Mehne says give yourself plenty of time to enjoy the food experience too.The dashboard, launched last year, is designed to give investors an insight into the progress governments and industries are making towards meeting the 2C temperature rise target set by the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the transition to a low-carbon economy. On average, the dashboard calculates that the world is on course for a 4.1C temperature rise over pre-industrial levels, unchanged from three months ago. However, the oil and gas industry has made encouraging strides in the three months to 31 December, 2017. Andrew Howard, Head of Sustainable Research, Schroders, said: According to the Climate Progress Dashboards quarterly update, the oil and gas industry could be starting to translate the growing pressure it is facing into a strategic response. Our recent research discussed the challenges facing the industry and the importance of capital discipline as the key driver of future profitability and valuations. There is further to go but the change is encouraging. Time will tell whether discipline holds with rising prices. The main setback over the last quarter reflects slowing climate finance flows. The challenge of encouraging capital into climate solutions on the necessary scale has attracted a lot of attention from policymakers and environmental groups and, while plans are typically ambitious, tangible action remains more elusive. Capital investment in the oil and gas industry dropped off sharply, translating into a projected temperature rise of 3.9C, down from 5.3C. Reflecting that trend, Exxon has announced that it will publish analysis of the impacts of climate change and tougher environmental policies for its business, while Shell has set a goal to halve the carbon intensity of the energy it produces. However, climate finance saw its temperature rise trajectory increase from 3.3C to 4.6C over the latest quarter. Data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance showed that clean energy investment had fallen back to 2010 levels in late-2017, well down from the highs of 2015. The Climate Policy Initiative also released a detailed analysis in October confirming a 12% drop in global investment levels for 2016.





Click here to see the in-depth dashboard update.

Matthew Burrell, Senior Policy Adviser  Defined Contribution at the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association said: The figures reported by TPR in their DC Trust report make for encouraging reading. The 21% year on year increase in funds going into DC schemes shows that automatic enrolment is changing the way in which the nation saves. It is important to build on this success, and ensure that the upcoming increase in contribution rates is well communicated and does not lead to rising opt out rates. The report also demonstrated how integral Master Trusts have become to pension savings in the UK. The fact that the number of people saving into master trusts has reached 10 million is an indication of how fundamental they have been for the success of automatic enrolment. It also shows how important it is for industry and government to work together in order to ensure that these savers are properly protected by a robust and proportionate regulatory framework.

Mark Baker, a pensions Legal Director at international law firm Pinsent Masons said: The figures show why its vital to get the master trust authorisation regime right. The regime is all about giving confidence, showing 10m people with money in master trusts that their pensions are safe.



The big master trusts will be pre-submitting their authorisation forms in 3 months time. Its essential that the Pensions Regulator gives a clear steer on the process. The pension providers need that clarity in order to give full confidence to their members.



The Regulator seems tuned into that. This is a big deal  more savers are now in master trusts than any other form of pension.

Darren Philp, Director of Policy and Market Engagement, The Peoples Pension, said: The positive picture being painted by the Pensions Regulator demonstrates that we are moving in the right direction. The figures show that there are now 12.6 million who will benefit from a level of security in retirement that they might not otherwise have had and that auto-enrolment has got off to a good start. That said there are still fundamental issues to address and neither the Government, Regulator or industry can rest on their laurels. Consolidation is happening. The fall in the number of DC schemes being reported by The Pensions Regulator, suggesting a decline in riskier, sub-standard schemes, shows that the Regulators approach to raising standards is having an impact. But there is still much work to do in order to improve standards of governance and ensure value for money across all DC pensions. Pensions are a long term game. The true success will only be measured several decades from now and there is still much to be done to keep the auto-enrolment train on track. The focus in the short term has to be on the forthcoming contribution rate increases in April, which will tell us a lot about how people will respond in a system based fundamentally on inertia.

In 2017, Airbus' helicopter division safety expert, Erick Perez, led a number of safety initiatives in Latin America, all in an effort to improve helicopter flight safety in the region. Meeting with employees from the manufacturers customer centres, and at operators and authorities offices in Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica, Perez spoke about the critical need for safety in aviation. In 2017, we raised awareness on helicopter flight safety for nearly 2,000 people, explains Perez. Thats roughly the same number of people we saw over the last five years.

The battle to address helicopter aviation safety is at a peak, with airspace busier than ever and the demand for aeronautic solutions growing. Some 85% of helicopter accidents have been shown to be due to operational causes. To address this, Airbus' helicopter division actively works with operators and authorities to reduce accident rates. For the past 11 years, the manufacturer has held safety roadshows in an effort to encourage dialogue around the practical elements of safety in flight operations. In 2017, nearly 100 roadshows were organised worldwide.

In Mexico, Erick Perez went a step further. While the accident rate in Mexico has decreased by 65% in seven years, it remains high in comparison to that of North America and Europe. As co-chairman of the International Helicopter Safety Team (IHST) for Mexico, where Perez represents the industrial side of the table, in 2017 he helped to found its Chilean branch. He supervised the organisation of 13 safety roadshows, carried out surveys with operators to understand their safety expectations, implemented an efficient crisis management system in the event of accidents and coordinated training activities so as to incorporate safety aims. Perez also led safety talks at customer centres in Mexico and Chile, and contributed to translating, proofreading and approving numerous documents in Spanish that promote safety.

Perez is not alone. In India, Rajan Raman, a technical director at Airbus' helicopter division in India, helped organise no fewer than 18 safety roadshows in Nepal and India with operators and authorities. India - where 107 Airbus helicopters fly on behalf of 38 customers  is at the forefront of a host of helicopter flight safety efforts, both by operators and aviation authorities, aimed at addressing the countrys burgeoning aviation industry.

During safety roadshows, participants showed particular interest in the practical application of safety management systems (SMS) during daily maintenance operations and missions. In 2018, Rajan Raman will continue his efforts, with a presentation to the Rotary Wing Society of India (RWSI) and discussions with authorities on the use of single engine aircraft for projects aimed at improving access to mountainous regions.

Two teens are charged with attempted murder after shots were fired on a Birmingham interstate during an apparent case of road rage.

Birmingham police on Friday announced the charges against Erik Perez, 19, and Nyree Bowens, 18. Both are being held in the Jefferson County Jail on $100,000 bond each.

Police on Wednesday said Perez told them he was traveling southbound on I-59/20 in the passing lane when he noticed a vehicle following him too closely. He hit his brakes, and the second vehicle pulled around him, got in front him and then slammed on his brakes.

As the dispute continued, Perez pulled a gun and fired shots, striking the second car in the rear near the license plate. A nearby truck also was struck by a bullet. The driver of the truck gave police his information and went on to make a delivery.

On Friday, police said both suspects opened fire into the unnamed victim's vehicle. After the shooting the victim exited the interstate at the 22nd street exit, and while stopped in traffic, the suspects exited their vehicle and began banging on his window.

The victim called 911, and officers from North Precinct detained the suspects. The occupant of the 18-wheeler declined to prosecute.

Sgt. Bryan Shelton said a handgun, along with Perez's infant child were recovered from the vehicle.

"It's a miracle this didn't end with a death,'' Shelton said. "It's sad the suspect engaged in such reckless behavior with his infant child in the car. Thank God the child wasn't injured!"UPDATE: Doss was in custody late Friday afternoon.

EARLIER STORY: An early-morning shooting in Tuscaloosa left a woman injured, and now a search is underway for her ex-boyfriend.

Tuscaloosa police and Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit investigators responded about 2 a.m. to Sun Valley Apartments on East 26th Avenue, said Capt. Gary Hood. Once on the scene, they learned a 50-year-old woman had been shot inside her apartment.

Witnesses told investigators the woman was standing at the door talking with her ex-boyfriend, 37-year-old Anthony Doss. The victim closed the door on Doss, and he then fired three shots through the closed door, hitting her.

The victim was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center for treatment and is expected to be OK. Doss fled the scene in a green Mercedes with the Alabama license plate number 63HT679.

Hood said an attempted murder warrant has been obtained against Doss. He may be armed with a .45-caliber handgun and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone who sees Doss is cautioned against approaching him and instead asked to call their local law enforcement agency.Sean Delong Wilson, 48, is charged with murder in the death of his 88-year-old grandmother, Doris Gooden, who was found slain and wrapped in bedding inside her Avenue D home on Sept. 6, 2017. (Jefferson County Jail/Carol Robinson)()

The adult grandson of an 88-year-old church deaconess stabbed to death in her Ensley home last year killed her during the theft of her purse, according to newly-released court records.

A Jefferson County grand jury this month indicted 48-year-old Sean Delong Wilson in the Sept. 6 slaying of Doris Gooden. The indictment was issued Jan. 12, and made public Friday.

According to that indictment, Wilson was in the process of stealing his grandmother's purse, as well as its contents, when he stabbed her with a knife and beat her with an unknown object.

Gooden's body was discovered about noon that Wednesday after friends said they had been unable to reach her. Wilson supposedly went looking for her and found her dead and wrapped up in bedding. That's when police were called to the scene.

Doris Gooden

Birmingham police responded to the home in the 3200 block of Avenue D about noon. Peggy Smith, a friend of the victim who attended church with Gooden and has acted somewhat as a caregiver to the victim for a couple of years, provided an account of what happened to AL.com. She said she was unable to reach the Gooden Tuesday by phone, which isn't that unusual. They had a system, Smith said, where if she couldn't reach the victim, she would drive over there and tap on her bedroom window.

Usually, Smith said, Gooden would respond, and Smith would know that all was OK.

After repeated attempts, Smith called the victim's grandson who told her he was at the doctor. He said he and the victim's daughter, who lives in Germany, also had been trying to reach her, but to no avail.

The grandson told Smith Gooden kept the back door unlocked in case he needed to get in the house, so he told Smith she could go inside to search for the victim. Smith said she went to the victim's bedroom and though she didn't turn on any lights, she called out her name. There was no answer. She left, but returned to the home again to check the bathroom in case the victim was in there.

The victim's grandson then told her he would go check. She was on the phone with him when he began yelling that he had found her in the bedroom. The victim was apparently covered by, or wrapped up in, bed sheets.

Gooden had lived in the home for decades. Wilson lived with her for a time, but recently moved to his own apartment nearby, friends and family said. Just last week, Smith said, someone knocked out the victim's window with pick axe but said she didn't call police about the incident.

Court records show Wilson was convicted of first-degree robbery in 1993 and sentenced to 23 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in 2004 to second-degree assault, and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in that case.A 27-year-old Ohio man is now in custody after a bank robbery Friday afternoon in Calera, authorities say.

The man's girlfriend also is charged after the suspect was found hiding in her attic in a Calera subdivision.

The holdup happened about 12:30 p.m. at Central State Bank. The bank is located at 57 Highway 87.

Calera Police Chief Sean Lemley identified the accused robber as Brent Michael Smith. His girlfriend has been identified as Jennifer Lee Hanan, 34.

Lemley said Smith entered the bank and handed the clerk a note demanding money. He was not brandishing any kind of weapon. The teller gave Smith a small amount of cash from her work station and he fled the bank.

Calera police officers set up a perimeter and a short time later the suspect's vehicle was spotted in the Stone Creek subdivision. Officers found Smith hiding in Hanan's attic and he was taken into custody without further incident.

No injuries have been reported.

Robbery charges will be filed against Smith. Hanan faces a charge of obstructing governmental operations.The Trump administration wants to pay for a return to the moon by ending government funding for the International Space Station in 2025, according to reports. A funding shift could begin with the fiscal year 2019 budget the White House will send to Congress in early February.

That budget is reportedly when the White House will formally propose a government-industry initiative to return to the moon. Such a trip will require expensive new landing craft, a lunar orbiter and a lunar habitat.

The Obama administration committed to keeping the orbiting station open until at least 2024, but there have been discussions of occupancy until 2028 or longer. That is complicated by the challenges of getting there. The two companies building rockets to ferry American astronauts to the station now - SpaceX and Boeing - are having challenges with their vehicles that could result in America needing to buy more rides from Russia.

There is a strong Alabama connection to the station. All of the science conducted on station by American astronauts is managed by controllers at Huntsville's Marshall Space Flight Center. That is a major staffing operation involving an around the clock presence seven days a week.

The Trump administration is committed to returning Americans to the moon, and the cost of doing that will strain what has been a basically flat NASA budget. Phasing out the station would save $3 billion dollars a year or more for a moon program.

Ending space station funding won't come without opposition. Commercial companies and universities are using the station for experiments and to develop such space assets as cubesats. And at least one senator, U.S. Bill Nelson (D-Florida) has already promised such a fight.State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, who announced last year plans to run for Congress, announced on Thursday night he is ending that effort.

Holtzclaw, R-Madison, was seeking the Republican nomination in the 5th Congressional District held by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks.

Holtzclaw said he has decided to return to the public sector and would not seek re-election to the state legislature later this year.

Brooks has announced he is seeking a fifth term in Congress and Iraqi War veteran Clayton Hinchman is also running for the GOP nomination. The primary is in June.

Here is the full statement from Holtzclaw:

"After much consideration I have decided to end my campaign for US Congress in the 5th Congressional District.

"Two weeks ago, I began my final legislative session as the State Senator for District 2. At times it has been 'rough and tumble' but in the end it has been a rewarding 8 years serving as a member of the Alabama State Senate. I'm proud to have championed legislation for small businesses, veterans' affairs and to combat driving under the influence, along with numerous issues that constituents brought to my attention. I am proud of the passage of such bills and the positive changes they have brought to the lives of everyday Alabamians.

"Thus, after serving my country for 20 years as a US Marine, my state for 8 years as the Senator for AL District 2, and my city for 2 years as a Madison City Councilman, I am ready to return to the private sector. I am thankful to have had a good run and fought the good fight over 3 decades of public service. I will continue to serve in my role as a State Senator through the end of my term in November of this year. I look forward to spending more time with my family (including my second grandchild born over the holidays), working, and volunteering in my community.

"Finally, I want to extend my thanks to the many supporters for the early efforts in helping with this campaign. I am honored by the support and financial contributions we have received and will be returning contributions in the coming weeks. Thank you for believing in me and providing me the opportunity to represent you in Montgomery since 2010. I encourage everyone to stay informed and engaged with government; from your School Board, City Council all the way to the Oval Office. Your voice matters and communicating with your elected officials is necessary for them to effectively advocate on your behalf."A federal judge has approved an agreement requiring Alabama to provide faster and expanded treatment for people waiting in jail for court-ordered mental health evaluations or treatment to restore competency.

The Department of Mental Health says it has already taken steps to make the improvements.

U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson on Thursday approved a consent decree between the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program and people it represents and Alabama Department of Mental Health Commissioner Lynn Beshear.

The consent decree is intended to resolve a lawsuit filed in 2016. The plaintiffs, represented by ADAP, claimed that the state failed to follow the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment because people were forced to wait up to nine months for evaluation and treatment after orders by a judge.

The state and plaintiffs mediated and came to an agreement last year. The 34-page consent decree approved by Thompson on Thursday spells out the terms of the agreement. (See below).

It says that within 24 months, the state will provide court-ordered mental health evaluation or treatment within 30 days. It also says the state will add 100 forensic hospital and community beds to help ensure the faster treatments and evaluations.

Geron Gadd, legal director of ADAP, said the circumstances affect hundreds of people with mental illness or intellectual disabilities who are waiting for evaluations to determine if they are competent to stand trial or for treatment to restore their competency.

"They are not just sitting in jail, they are in many instances deteriorating while they're sitting there," Gadd said.

Beshear was expecting the judge's approval of the decree and has already taken action to make the improvements, Department of Mental Health spokeswoman Malissa Valdes-Hubert said.

A request to add 24 forensic beds in the next 12 months has already been met by adding 25 beds at Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility. That was done with existing funds. Gov. Kay Ivey's budget request for 2019 includes funding for more additional beds called for by the consent decree.

The consent decree says the parties reached the agreement, in part, to avoid "protracted, costly and uncertain litigation."

This story will be updated.

Mental Health Consent Decree by Mike Cason on ScribdA few miles north from the city of Mobile, in just a few feet of shallow water, large iron pins and rotting wood protrude into the crisp Mobile Delta air. While it's not immediately clear what the structure might be from a boat or the shoreline, it's believed that it could be the lost 160 year-old wreck of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to enter the United States.

History books will tell you that the ship was set alight in order destroy evidence of human trafficking of would-be slaves from Africa. Those people, who came from what is now modern day Togo and Benin on the West Coast of Africa, settled in a small town that is now known as Africatown. Some descendants still live there today.

While confirmation that the ship is in fact the Clotilda still has to be made, the wreck is clearly a significant find. It has garnered international interest and appeared in publications all over the world. But with fame there is also fear. The renewed interest in the Clotilda could see the site disturbed or even destroyed by people trying to get a look at its rich history. And that raises the question of who is responsible for looking after and securing what could be one of the most culturally significant finds in recent U.S. history.



"Federal and state agencies are currently consulting to both determine responsibility and ownership and to provide protection for this cultural resource," said Lisa D. Jones, Executive Director of the Alabama Historical Commission to AL.com. The commission is the official state historic preservation agency whose mission is to protect, preserve, and interpret Alabama's historic places. "Permits to explore and/or excavate shipwrecks and/or archaeological sites in Alabama waters require a permit from the Alabama Historical Commission and many also require a permit from the Corps of Engineers."





"As we move forward, we are excited about the discovery of this cultural resource and determining the validity of this finding," she added.

The Corps of Engineers was unable to give comment on the discovery of the ship.

But any kind of excavation would be delayed until the exact ownership of the vessel is decided upon.



Tim Shusta, an attorney in admiralty and maritime law in Tampa, told AL.com that the state of Alabama would likely have ownership over the wreck and any artifacts that are contained within.

"There's a federal act that gives shipwrecks imbedded in state waters to the state that owns the waters," he said. "So anyone that wanted to perform salvage or recover any artifacts or anything like that would have to get a permit from the state of Alabama. And then, depending on the exact location and because this wreck is mostly buried in the mud, which would involve dredging and digging, permits would be required from the state and federal government through the Army Corp of Engineers because there would be environmental concerns."

The Alabama Code 41-9-249.1., contracts for recovery or salvage of archaeological treasure, etc, states that "the Alabama Historical Commission may enter into contracts with any group or person for the recovery or salvage of archaeological treasure, sunken or abandoned ships and wrecks of the sea, or parts thereof or their contents, which are determined to be located on state-owned lands, or on private land if the written consent of the owner thereof is first obtained."

The code also states that a contract would provide fair compensation to the salvager and the owner of the private land, if that is the case. A large chunk of the Mobile-Tensaw delta is owned by the Forever Wild Land Trust, which is a public-private partnership aimed at preserving the region. However, it's not clear if the shipwreck is located in the areas owned by the trust. The land trust bought around 35,000 acres in 1999 for a little over $19 million, according to state documents. The region is also a designated Natural National Landmark, which is a U.S. State Park program that works with landowners to preserve the natural habitat.

However, there is also a scenario where the ancestors of ship's owners might come forward. "Theoretically the descendants of the ship's owner could lay claim to the ship," said Shusta. "but there would have to be a direct line of title or handing down the property of the particular gentleman that owned the ship. That's not unheard of."

Shusta was involved in a Florida-based case involving treasure on board a Spanish Galleon that was sunk off the coast of Portugal. The ship had Peruvian treasure of which a percentage of was promised to the first governor of Florida by the then King of Spain. A descendant of the governor came forward with what Shusta described as "amazing" historical documents proving that the contract did exist. The claimant wanted a share of the treasure.



"In that particular case the documents didn't make any difference because the courts here in the United States ultimately decided they didn't have jurisdiction over the case, but it was an interesting story that shows how descendants can make claims going back hundreds of years."

But, there is another piece to this complex puzzle. Because the Clotilda was set on fire, in an attempt to hide evidence of illegal slave transportation, it could be argued that the ship was abandoned. There's a law for that.

The Abandoned Shipwrecks Act of 1988 notes that any wreck that lies embedded in a state's submerged lands is property of that state and subject to that state's jurisdiction if the wreck is determined as being abandoned,

So while it's a little too early to determine what entity will take ownership and hopefully preserve the ship's history, the law appears to give jurisdiction to the state.After supporters poor-mouthed its chances, aircraft maker Bombardier celebrated a victory over Boeing in an international trade dispute with ramifications in Alabama.

Boeing had charged that Bombardier had offered its C Series jets to Delta at a price that was artificially low thanks to support from the Canadian government. Boeing won a preliminary victory, when regulators proposed a tariff of nearly 300 percent on any of the jets imported into the U.S.

But on Friday, four commissioners of the U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously voted that Boeing had not been harmed. Bombardier needed at least three votes in its favor to win, while a tie would have gone Boeing's way. So in the days leading up to the vote, some Bombardier supporters said they expected a loss. A CNBC report described the ITC ruling as "a surprise decision."

A representative of Bombardier immediately released a statement proclaiming the decision "a victory forinnovation, competition, and the rule of law" and also "a victory for U.S. airlines and the U.S. traveling public."

According to the CNBC report, Boeing expressed disappointment that the ITC "did not recognize the harm that Boeing has suffered from the billions of dollars in illegal government subsidies that the Department of Commerce found Bombardier received and used to dump aircraft in the U.S. small single-aisle airplane market ... Those violations have harmed the U.S. aerospace industry, and we are feeling the effects of those unfair business practices in the market every day."

In fall 2017, Bombardier and Airbus announced a partnership to build and market the C Series jets, and said their plans included building a new final assembly line in Mobile, Ala., where Airbus already assembles its A320 family. Boeing had characterized that plan as a dodge to get around the tariffs and had questioned whether it ever would be built.

But on Friday, the companies restated their intention. "With this matter behind us, we are moving full speed ahead with finalizing our partnership with Airbus," said the Bombardier statement released after the decision.

On Friday, Bombardier tweeted a photo of Bombardier and Airbus executives meeting in Montreal "to discuss integration planning."

Full speed ahead on the C Series partnership! Senior Leaders from Airbus and Bombardier meeting in Montreal today to discuss integration planning. pic.twitter.com/bwrClKtpwa  Bombardier Inc. (@Bombardier) January 26, 2018

In documents filed during the dispute, Delta said it intended to buy only C Series jets made in the U.S. A recent filing from Bombardier said that while it was waiting on some regulatory approval, its plans for the new Mobile assembly line were fully developed and moving forward as rapidly as possible.Gov. Kay Ivey responded on Friday to the controversy surrounding a sexually suggestive Facebook comment made against her by Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail.

"I've spoken with Mayor Nail, and he has apologized for his inappropriate comments about me posted on social media," she said in an emailed statement to AL.com. "This situation is another reminder of the truth that words matter and that everyone, especially public officials, will be held to a high-standard for our remarks, even those made in jest online. Though I do not condone the mayor's comments, they will not keep me from my continued focus on governing and serving the people of Alabama."

In a letter on Friday, State Sen. Paul Bussman called for Nail to resign from his post.

Nail later deleted his comment and apologized on Facebook. He told AL.com on Friday that he isn't resigning.

"I am sorry," Nail said, adding later that he was "embarrassed" about the comment. "It wasn't meant to be disrespectful."

The photo, which Nail posted on Facebook just after noon on Wednesday, shows the mayor standing next to Ivey in a group shot in the capitol in Montgomery. In the photo, Nail is standing so that his right hand and arm is obscured behind Ivey.

In the comments on the Facebook post, a poster asked, "Where is your right hand"

Nail responds, "She did have a smile on her face, didn't she LOL"

Three commenters responded to Nail's comment with a laughing emoji.

Bussman's one-paragraph letter was sent to Nail, Ivey and members of the media on Friday.

"I read your inappropriate and disrespectful comments regarding Gov. Ivey with tremendous disbelief," Bussman, R-Cullman, said. "Gov. Ivey has been extremely helpful to your city and this county. Making those comments even between old friends is not acceptable. In my opinion you have caused irreparable damage and have severely compromised our ability to work with the state for the betterment of our citizens. I ask you to resign your position as mayor of Hanceville immediately."Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox made official today what he had announced in October, he intends to become the first Democrat elected governor of Alabama in 20 years.

Maddox filed his papers this afternoon and paid the $2,418 qualifying fee at the state Democratic Party headquarters in Montgomery.

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb and James Fields of Cullman are also running for the Democratic nomination.

On the Republican side, Gov. Kay Ivey, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, state Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile and Michael McAllister have qualified. Evangelist Scott Dawson is also running for the GOP nomination.

Maddox, 45, has been Tuscaloosa's mayor since 2005. He spoke with reporters today at Democratic headquarters. He was joined by his wife, Stephanie, daughter, Taylor, 15, and son, Eli, 4.

Voters have not elected a Democratic governor in Alabama since Don Siegelman's win over Fob James in 1998. In fact, Democrats had not won any statewide race in Alabama since 2008 until Doug Jones beat Roy Moore in the special election for the U.S. Senate on Dec. 12.

Maddox said Jones' win was encouraging but said the stakes are even higher in the governor's race.

"I think Doug Jones' race certainly gives all of us Democrats the hope and belief that a successful campaign can be waged," Maddox said. "But in the end, this is about what we're going to bring to Alabama. Because as important as winning that Senate seat was, for Alabama winning this governor's race is more important."

Maddox said there are ample reasons for voters to look to a Democrat to change the direction of the state after years of Republican leadership in the governor's office and a GOP super majority in the Legislature since 2010.

"There's not a function of state government that's not in crisis," Maddox said "Health care, roads and bridges, education. You look across the spectrum and over the last seven years nearly everything that we do in the state of Alabama is failing."

Maddox said he would make rural health care a priority and propose expansion of Medicaid. He said he would propose a lottery. He said he would offer more specifics on the lottery proposal later but said pre-kindergarten would be one priority for the revenue.

Republican governors and legislators have supported expanding Alabama's pre-K expansion the last few years, but Alabama's highly regarded First Class pre-K program is still not available statewide.

Maddox said he's been a Democrat since he was 17 and could have switched parties for political convenience but will not.

"I am proud to be a Democrat," Maddox said. "And I can't wait when I get on the campaign trail to talk about health care. I can't wait to talk about education. I can't wait to talk our roads and bridges. I can't wait to talk about expanding broadband technology throughout Alabama. All of those things we can do as a Democratic Party and not get tied down in left field and right field issues."

Asked how he plans to build name recognition across the state, Maddox said there was no substitute for hard work on the campaign trail.

"And that's what we plan on doing over the next 130 days to the primary and then the 280-plus days that we have to the general election," Maddox said. "We're just going to work hard and make certain that we can touch as many people and talk to as many people and discuss with as many people the issues facing Alabama."

Candidates can continue to qualify with their parties through Feb. 9. The party primaries are June 5.Police say an Louisiana man has been charged in the death of an Alabama Department of Transportation employee.

A Montgomery police Facebook post says the driver, 46-year-old James Overstreet, was charged with murder in a motor vehicle crash resulting in the death of 62-year-old Leo Fournier.

Police charged Overstreet after test results confirmed he was under the influence of an illegal substance at the time of the crash.

Montgomery police and fire medics responded to the 4000 block of Atlanta Highway after three members of an ALDOT survey crew were struck on Oct. 31.

Fournier was taken to a hospital and was later pronounced dead. The other employees sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Overstreet was not injured.

It's unclear if he has a lawyer.Alabama lawmakers could consider everything from syringe exchanges to harsher penalties for drug traffickers as they address a drug epidemic that took more than 5,000 lives in the state between 2006 and 2014.

Members of Gov. Kay Ivey's Opioid Overdose and Addiction Council recently made several recommendations to state leaders seeking ways to curb the number of fatal overdoses. Alabama leads the nation in the number of opioid prescriptions per capita, although that rate has declined in recent years.

The council, which included prosecutors, medical professionals, treatment providers and recovering addicts, proposed increasing penalties for trafficking fentanyl and improving access to naloxone - a drug that can reverse overdoses. Other proposals included improving the database that tracks prescribed opioids and adding addiction training programs in Alabama.

For the last couple of years, prosecutors have been asking for increased penalties for fentanyl trafficking. The drug, which is many times stronger than heroin, is often imported from overseas and mixed with illicit drugs, increasing overdose deaths. However, fentanyl can also be prescribed by doctors and is regulated by the DEA as a legal and controlled substance, which has complicated efforts to create penalties for trafficking.

"The weight threshold for trafficking in opioids is four grams," according to the report. "This amount is unsuitable to successfully address the dangers posed by fentanyl and carfentanil, which are much more potent than other opioids. By way of comparison, a lethal dose of heroin is approximately 30 mg, but a lethal dose of fentanyl is approximately 3 mg."

The report suggests creating separate penalties for trafficking of fentanyl and carfentanil. Dr. Brent Boyett, chief medical officer at Pathway Healthcare, which operates substance abuse clinics across the South, said the council also wants improve access to treatment.

"If there's one thing the war on drugs has taught us, it's that if demand is strong, supply will always find a way," Boyett said.

The council proposed a website to reduce the stigma of substance abuse and education for drug court judges, some of whom don't allow defendants to use methadone or suboxone under the supervision of doctors.

One recommendation includes adding two addiction medicine fellowship programs in Alabama for doctors-in-training. The state currently has none. Boyett said it's important to improve access to substance abuse treatment, including medication such as methadone and suboxone. Channeling substance abusers into treatment can reduce the demand for illicit drugs and the number of fatal overdoses, he said.

Lawmakers have also reintroduced two bills that failed to pass last year that would authorize syringe exchange programs in areas at high risk for HIV and hepatitis C transmission from injection drug use. Syringe exchange programs provide clean needles, health services and information about substance abuse treatment to prevent the spread of disease.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified four rural Alabama counties as prone to potential HIV epidemics among drug users. An 2015 HIV outbreak in Scott County Indiana infected more than 200 people, including many who injected opioids.

Dr. James Galbraith, a professor at UAB School of Medicine, has been tracking rates of hepatitis C infection among patients in the emergency department. He found the liver disease has spread rapidly among young drug users.

He testified in favor of syringe exchange programs earlier this week. The bills would authorize pilot programs in the four counties identified by the CDC - Walker, Winston, Marion and Franklin - to be operated in conjunction with public health departments.

More than 40 states have syringe exchanges, according to the North American Syringe Exchange Network. Some communities remain wary of them, but experts say they don't increase illegal drug use and prevent the spread of disease. Under Alabama law, syringes are classified as drug paraphernalia.H. Brandt Ayers joined Anniston Star employees at a recent chamber of commerce luncheon, a move that drew the ire of the reporter who helped expose the former publisher's practice of spanking female staffers.

Ex-Star reporter Eddie Burkhalter posted an image to social media showing Ayers, 82, sitting in his wheelchair at the Star employee table at the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce annual banquet.

"H. Brandt Ayers, in wheelchair, seated with his wife at The Anniston Star's table...along with current publisher Bob Davis. This is not how a newspaper should handle the sexual assault of female reporters," Burkhalter wrote.

Several former reporters said Ayers spanked them in the 1970s, including one he reportedly assaulted in her apartment on what he said was at the advice of a physician. The allegations against Ayers were first detailed in an article in the Alabama Political Reporter by Burkhalter, a former Star reporter who left the newspaper in November 2017.

Ayers resigned as Chairman of the Board of Consolidated Publishing in January after the reports surfaced. At the time of the resignation, Ayers said in a statement it was of "utmost importance" that "nothing stand in the way of preserving the newspaper as an independently owned publication serving the community."

Ayers, son and grandson of former owners of The Star, owns Consolidated Publishing, the newspaper's parent company, and sat on the company's board of directors. At his resignation, Ayers said he would no longer serve as director, chairman or employee of the company, with his wife, Josephine, replacing him as chairman.

University of Alabama continues program with newspaper

The University of Alabama recently announced it would continue its community journalism program at The Anniston Star, despite the allegations against Ayers.

The university said Ayers did not directly supervise community journalism students and has not play an active role in the newsroom since the beginning of its community journalism program 11 years ago, The Tuscaloosa News reported.

No sexual harassment or assault complaints have been filed by participating students since the program's beginning, the News reported.State Sen. Paul Bussman is calling on Hanceville Mayor Kenneth Nail to resign after the mayor made a sexually suggestive comment on Facebook about a picture he appeared in with Gov. Kay Ivey.

"I read your inappropriate and disrespectful comments regarding Gov. Ivey with tremendous disbelief," Bussman, R-Cullman, stated in the one paragraph letter on Friday. "Gov. Ivey has been extremely helpful to your city and this county. Making those comments even between old friends is not acceptable. In my opinion you have caused irreparable damage and have severely compromised our ability to work with the state for the betterment of our citizens. I ask you to resign your position as mayor of Hanceville immediately."

On Friday, Nail said he had seen the letter from the Cullman senator, but not before the senator sent it to members of the media.

"I will not be resigning," he said, adding that he has reached out to apologize to the governor. He has also apologized on Facebook.

"I am sorry," Nail said, adding later that he was "embarrassed" about the comment. "It wasn't meant to be disrespectful."

The photo, which Nail posted on Facebook just after noon on Wednesday, shows the mayor standing next to Ivey in a group shot in the capitol in Montgomery. In the photo, Nail is standing so that his right hand and arm is obscured behind Ivey.

In the comments on the Facebook post, a poster asked, "Where is your right hand"

Nail responds, "She did have a smile on her face, didn't she LOL"

Three commenters responded to Nail's comment with a laughing emoji.

Nail later deleted the comment.

The mayor apologized on Facebook with this post: "Well Facebook friends it's been a long week. With the injury of our officer and not a lot of sleep not making excuses, I made a remark yesterday about our visit to Montgomery. It was really Two Old Friends with a back-and-forth post. I made a inappropriate comment in reference to the governor. That was not my intent but I do want to apologize for that remark looking back it was a mistake. So if I offended anyone especially our governor I want to apologize. I am human and make mistakes every day but I will try to do better."

Well Facebook friends it's been a long week. With the injury of our officer and not a lot of sleep not making excuses ,... Posted by Kenneth Nail on Thursday, January 25, 2018

In an interview with AL.com on Friday, Nail said he suggested politics may be behind Bussman's letter. He suspects Bussman heard that he is considering a run for his seat.

When asked to respond to Nail's comment his letter being poltically motivated, Bussman told AL.com: "I am not worried about that at all. That is the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard."

Bussman said he spoke to Gov. Ivey about his letter this morning. "What I said to her was between her and I," he said.

AL.com has reached out to Gov. Ivey's office for comment.

Updated at 11:48 a.m. with comments from Sen. Bussman.

State Sen. Paul Bussman calls on Hanceville mayor to resign ScribdAbout 150 people gathered in the cafeteria of Minor Middle School Thursday night to participate in a public hearing with state environmental regulators about the Big Sky Landfill in Adamsville, which has stirred up controversy since it began taking in train loads of biosolids, or sewage sludge, from wastewater treatment plants in New York and New Jersey.

More than 30 residents of western Jefferson County spoke during the hearing on whether the Alabama Department of Environmental Management should renew the five-year general operating permit for the landfill. The hearing lasted about two and a half hours.

Nearly all the residents who spoke were opposed to the landfill's sludge operations, and some offered emotional stories of outdoor activities ruined by offensive smells and infestations of flies that they blame on the sludge.

Many of the complaints involve sewage sludge the residents say spilled from trucks that haul the sludge from the rail yard to the landfill, roughly six miles away.

Landfill personnel have admitted to two such spills, which they blamed on an inexperienced driver and a wetter than average shipment of the biosolids. Residents insist the sludge spills have happened more than twice, and that the smell after one of the spills is severe.

"It's just stifling," long-time resident Lester Jones said during the hearing. "You can't sit on your porch or do any cooking outside. You don't want to cut your grass or do anything like that."

Another resident said there were "many" roadway spills, and that personnel from the landfill used power washers to spray the spilled material off the road and into her yard.

John Foles, pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church in Dora, said his church picnic had to be moved indoors because the flies made it unbearable to be outside.

Walter "Smokey" Parker Jr., teared up as he spoke to the ADEM representatives, asking them to not renew the landfill's permit.

"We are human beings just like you," Parker said. "I've got a smoker, I love to smoke meat. In the summertime, I can't do it because I'll puke from the smell."

And for Brenda Myrick, who lives in unincorporated Jefferson County, words weren't enough. Myrick wanted to show ADEM the impacts of the sludge import, so she brought in a bag of dead flies she said she collected around her house this week, despite the many days of sub-freezing temperatures the area has experienced in recent weeks.

Several residents also voiced concerns over property values in the area, and some said they would simply have to move away if the smells continued like they did in the summer of 2017.

For an area that has waited anxiously for the completion of Interstate 22 to connect it to downtown Birmingham, many now fear that the smells will deter the new growth in the area that was expected after the long-awaited highway was finished.

"For once in my lifetime, our part of the county has a chance to grow," Parker said.

Franklin Duncan of Big Sky Environmental, the company that operates the landfill, spoke early in the hearing about the company's environmental record, and the charitable work it does in the community. Duncan said the landfill has always met the conditions of its permit.

"We are in compliance, we have been in compliance, we will continue to be in compliance with ADEM rules and regulations concerning the landfill," Duncan said.

Mayor Charles Nix of the town of West Jefferson, which has filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the sludge import, asked the representatives of Big Sky, and of the city of Adamsville where the landfill is located, to be good neighbors.

"We're your neighbors," Nix said. "If you could quit dumping on us, we'd very much appreciate it."

Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said the County would continue to fight the sludge import on all fronts.

The county won a significant courtroom victory on Monday, when a federal judge ruled the county could enforce its zoning laws on the rail yard where the sludge arrives. The property was not rezoned before its use changed, and still carried the zoning designation for a pulpwood (timber) yard which officials say is not compatible with its current usage.

It is unclear whether the sludge import will continue at the rail yard in defiance of the zoning ordinance, but as of Thursday afternoon, cargo containers full of the sludge still sat on the rail cars waiting to be transferred to trucks and driven to the landfill.

The hearing was part of the standard procedure for renewing the landfill's operating permit. ADEM will continue to accept written public comments through February 1 and announce a decision on the permit renewal after that date.

ADEM Land Division Chief Stephen Cobb said after the hearing he appreciated the public's participation in the process.

"We know their concerns are heart-felt and we will be taking them into consideration," Cobb said. "It's a part of going through the process and trying to make the best decision."

Cobb stressed earlier in the evening however, that some of the common complaints -- such as the issues related to transporting the waste from the rail yard to the landfill -- would not fall under ADEM's jurisdiction.

The efforts to fight renewal of the permit appear to be an uphill battle.

According to a statement read by ADEM employee Devin Jenkins at the hearing, the department's preliminary finding is that renewal of the permit in its current form "would be in compliance with applicable state and federal solid waste requirements."

Additional written comments can be submitted by email to hearing.officer@adem.alabama.gov until 5 p.m. on Feb. 1.According to court documents the mother of an infant boy found in the trunk of a car last November has been charged with manslaughter.

23-year-old Jalesa Gaines, of McIntosh, was pulled over during a routine traffic stop on Highway 43 in Clarke County on November 14, 2017.

According to Jackson Police Department officers, Gaines was being pulled over for an expired tag. Gaines gave officers a false identity, prompting officers to ask her for consent to search her vehicle.

Inside Gaines' 1998 Honda Accord police found the body of a deceased infant boy, wrapped in a sweater inside of a box. Court documents estimate the child had been born days earlier on November 9.

Immediately following the incident Gaines was charged with abuse of a corpse, no child restraint, giving a false name, operating a vehicle without insurance and driving with an expired tag.

A warrant for arrest signed in Washington County on Tuesday shows a grand jury has decided to charge Gaines with manslaughter in the case.

Details regarding what prompted the new charge are not immediately available. Calls placed to Jackson Police Department have not been returned. The Clarke County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on Gaines' case.The first-ever school split talks in Baldwin County got off to a contentious start Thursday.

At issue during the first several minutes of the meeting was whether the newly formed Gulf Shores city school system needs a superintendent present during negotiations.

"There will be no negotiations right now on our part without a superintendent in place," said Baldwin County school system Superintendent Eddie Tyler.

Countered Gulf Shores school board president Kevin Corcoran: "We want to make sure we don't confuse the issues of skill sets required to handle negotiations of a separation and the skill sets required to run a school system permanently. We think they are different."

Differing views also surfaced on the projected start dates for the new city schools. Gulf Shores officials are pushing to start classes for the 2018-19 year. Baldwin County's school system, the third largest in the state, doubts that such a timetable is doable.

Corcoran said it was "pretty obvious" that the two sides disagree on some issues. All in all, however, he said he was "thrilled" with the outcome of the initial one-hour meeting that occurred in Robertsdale. "We have the same goals in mind," Corcoran said.

A second meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, and will be closed to the public and local media.

Superintendent views

While the two sides said that "talks" would continue, the absence of a Gulf Shores superintendent emerged as a key potential hang-up. Differing views surfaced at the start of the Thursday meeting, and even threatened to derail it.

Said Donald Beebe, an attorney representing the county system: "We are happy to meet. We are happy to discuss the information you need. It's our position that without a superintendent, we cannot enter into meaningful negotiations."

Tyler said that he's concerned about a Gulf Shores superintendent coming into the negotiations as they are ongoing, requesting changes to previously settled matters. He said that a superintendent hiring by Gulf Shores won't be a "long and draw out process."

But Bob Campbell, an attorney for the Gulf Shores system, argued that when Satsuma and Saraland established city school boards, they weren't required to hire superintendents prior to launching breakaway negotiations with the Mobile County schools.

Corcoran said that the Gulf Shores side has a qualified team in place to handle the breakaway talks. For instance, Suzanne Freeman - the Gulf Shores education consultant - has been involved in school splits in Trussville, Pike Road and Pelham, while Campbell has been involved in splits involving Chickasaw, Saraland and Satsuma.

Opening date

Gulf Shores wants the breakaway to be fully accomplished in time for its independent schools to welcome students in fall of this year. Baldwin County school prefers a date of fall 2019.

Corcoran requested the county school system to provide him written details on problems with opening in fall of this year. "If we can understand what the obstacles are to a 2018 start, maybe we can remove them. Speculation is the worst thing that can happen," he said.

Tyler, in talking to the media after the meeting, suggested that one hurdle could be on where to have Orange Beach and Ono Island students attend school in 2018. Orange Beach is getting a new $15 million school, but groundbreaking has yet to occur and the timetable for its opening is 2019.

The county school system isn't interested in busing the Orange Beach students to Foley or elsewhere.

He described rising concerns among Orange Beach parents. "It is an issue on 'Where do my children go?' You talk of anxieties ... They are anxious."

Other issues also need to be negotiated with Gulf Shores, Tyler said.

"There are so many things involved in separating from such a large system," he said. "All the dynamics. There are taxes, which sometimes you want to glaze over; personnel; facilities; debt; special education; transportation; technology. We have a lot to consider that they don't really have to consider."

Tyler said that the matter is "uncharted" waters for Baldwin County. He said, "We want to be as accommodating as we can. ... But this is a first of its kind in Baldwin County and I have to be concerned over how this will affect employees and students not only in the short-term, but the long-term as well."

Corcoran said, however, that plenty of Alabama cities have undertaken splits. "This is an Alabama county school system and an Alabama city attempting to transition away," Corcoran said. "The laws are not different from county to county. We don't think this is uncharted waters at all."As influenza outbreaks continue to spread through the U.S., in what is shaping up to be a record year for the viral infection, the Alabama Department of Public Health is reportedly more flu-related deaths across the state.

A chart designating the number of potential non-pediatric fatal cases of influenza lists a total of 44 cases in total for the state, including 14 in Northern Alabama and 10 in Northeast Alabama. Another eight are reported in the Birmingham area.

One case is listed in the ADPH's Mobile district. There are four other cases for the Southwestern Alabama District, which includes neighboring Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe, Washington and Wilcox counties. The chart

A spokesperson with the ADPH was unable to confirm that the investigation into whether influenza played a direct part in the reported death in the Mobile district had been completed.

This news comes two weeks after Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey issued a State Public Health Emergency in response to rising numbers of outbreaks statewide.

Just days later, the viral infection claimed the life of Alabama third grader Zainab Momin.

Shelby County mother Katherine Acton became the latest casualty to complications of the flu, according to reports from WBMA on Thursday.

The Mobile County Health Department suggested specific precautions for community members avoiding illness during the Mardi Gras, in which many people are interacting in crowds at parades, balls and parties.

Barbara Gibbs, a nurse who oversees the Mobile County Health Department's Infectious Diseases & Outbreaks division, said area hospitals and MCHD health clinics have reported 1,487 positive flu tests this season, according to a MCHD release Friday morning. 1,009 positive tests were recorded for the entire year of 2017. The MCHD notes that the height of flu season typically falls in mid-February.

Gibbs says the infection can be passed by people up to six feet apart from each other.

"Most medical experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs," MCHD officials say. "Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose."

The Alabama Department of Public Health is offering free flu vaccines for children and adults at their statewide Influenza Vaccination Clinics. Information regarding scheduling and locations for immunizations can be found on the ADPH website.

What to do if you have the flu, emergency warning signs: Deaths of 30 children blamed on influenza

Family Health, the primary care division of MCHD, is also offering flu shots to the public.

The clinic locations and hours of operation include:

* Children's Health Center (248 Cox Street, Mobile, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* Citronelle Health Center (19250 North Mobile Street, Citronelle, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)

* Dauphin Island Parkway Health Center (2601 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* Eight Mile Health Center (4009 Saint Stephens Road, Prichard, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* North Mobile Health Center (950 East Coy Smith Highway, Mount Vernon, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* Semmes Health Center (3810 Wulff Road East, Semmes, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* Southwest Mobile Health Center (5580 Inn Road, Tillman's Corner, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

* Women's Health Center (248 Cox Street, Mobile, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays expect Wednesday when it remains open to 6 p.m.)



The Urgent Care facility located at the Maj. Gen. William C. Gorgas Clinic in Downtown Mobile at 251 N. Bayou Street will also offer flu shots during the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. For a map of Family Health clinic locations, please visit http://FamilyHealthAlabama.org.

If a patient has a scheduled medical visit, the flu shot will be included in their visit and there will not be an additional charge to receive the flu shot on that visit.

Patients who do not have a visit with a Family Health provider in the clinic on the same day will pay a nominal administration fee for the flu shot based on their poverty scale: $15 for levels A and B, $16 for levels C and D; $17 for level E; and $18 for levels F and G.Complaints about a politically divisive curriculum taught by a Spanish Fort high school government instructor continued to surface before the Baldwin County School Board on Thursday.

The latest concerns, expressed during the board's monthly meeting in Bay Minette, focused on classroom instruction that allegedly included comparisons of President Barack Obama to Adolf Hitler and criticism about government social welfare programs leading to "the nation's downfall."

Others claimed the AP Government class taught by Gene Ponder involves outdated materials and blogs to back up political claims, and utilizes non-scientific reasoning on issues such as gun control.

"This is not a small group of students misinterpreting or challenging a viewpoint," said Julia Coccaro, the high school student who first raised concerns about Ponder's choice of right-wing authors and celebrities in a summer reading list last year. That same list was pulled by the school system in June.

"The taxpayers of Baldwin County are not paying for their children to be indoctrinated," said Coccaro, who is the chairwoman of the Alabama High School Democrats. "They are paying to be educated and we are not being educated in that classroom."

A host of former educators, parents and concerned citizens also spoke out against Ponder, who attended the meeting but did not speak. Ponder also declined to comment after the meeting was over.

"Unfortunately, our political conversations have gotten course and divisive," said Linda Tom, a Fairhope resident. "There is no room for that inside our classrooms and it should not be allowed inside our classrooms."

Said Sandra Page, a retired Fairhope high school educator: "We are teaching hate in our school systems."

'Cope and address'

Baldwin County School Board members and Superintendent Eddie Tyler also remained quiet during the public commenting session.

And individual school board members also did not address the comments.

Instead, the board spent most of their time praising Tyler for the work he has done in helping Baldwin County schools move beyond a host of hurdles such as building new schools at a time of soaring growth and limited resources.

Tyler's superintendent contract runs until June, but all of the board members said they would like to see him remain with the school system.

Talks are expected to begin about a contract extension for another three years, as well as a pay raise beyond Tyler's current $160,000 annual salary. By comparison, the superintendents at the only two schools systems in Alabama larger than Baldwin County - Mobile County and Jefferson County - pay their superintendents substantially more.

Tyler, after the board meeting, told AL.com that he appreciated the public's comments and concerns about Ponder. Though no one said Ponder by name, Tyler said he felt some of the speakers "engaged in character assassination with no solid justifiable knowledge" to back up their concerns.

"We have to learn to cope and address these issues in a mature and meaningful way and not coming from an angle of 'everyone says your guilty because we say you are,'" Tyler said.

But Tyler said the school system will take some of the public's suggestions "under consideration." Among the recommendations was to have an academic supervisor in place to review lesson plans.

"The lesson plans I examined appear to be totally extracurricular," said Cynthia McMeans, a retired teacher. "No teaching materials based on a legitimate course of study in the social sciences would rely on and include information from websites, blogs, articles and interviews found on conspiracy theories and logical fallacies. None of the lesson plans come from reputable sources."

Ponder did have his defenders. One of them was Eugene Maye of Fairhope, who personally attended one of his classroom sessions.

"I was looking for something to tell me that this teacher was bias and I didn't hear it or see it," said Maye. "We want to believe our kids. But my take from that class is that I didn't see anything wrong."

'Corrective measures'

While Ponder's class drew the most attention, other past divisive issues affecting Baldwin County also come up. Among them included exposing LGBT students to teachers who "espouse homophobia," and a perceived lack of diversity training in the aftermath of a racist and vulgar cell phone video that surfaced from Spanish Fort last year.

Coccaro lumped most of those concerns in a complaint that was filed with the school system last summer.

The complaint included detailed accusations about censorship of the school's yearbook related to a mentioning of a student "coming out of the closet," a driver's education teacher spending an entire class period discussing his religious beliefs, as well as Tyler's past position on the summer reading list.

The school system wrapped up its investigation last month and forwarded at two-page response to Coccaro on Dec. 22. The school system acknowledged to hiring outside investigators including former FBI agents to handle the complaint.

"Although complaints are not routinely handled in this manner, from time to time the board elects to engage outside experts to conduct investigations," Tyler wrote.

Tyler, in the letter, said the school's curriculum department will review and revise summer reading lists and assignments. Ponder, last year, had his controversial summer reading list pulled not because of the content from the right-wing authors on it, but because he did not follow the school's policies.

Tyler also said there will be additional guidance provided to yearbook faculty regarding First Amendment issues. He said the guidance will be applicable county wide.

But Tyler also said that the school system couldn't corroborate Coccaro's other complaints, such as allegations of religious harassment.

Coccaro thanked the school for looking into her complaint, but said she was disappointed that they could not corroborate "every issue." It was her first time before the board since August.

But Coccaro's main problem, on Thursday, was Ponder's class.

"No corrective measures have been made," she said. "If you continue to be complicit in this, I do not believe you are concerned about the education and well-being of the Baldwin County School System. The issue does not end at this board meeting or with my departure from the school system."Besh.jpg

John Besh restaurants in New Orleans fostered culture of sexual harassment, 25 women say. That's one example of sexual harassment in the food industry.

Morgan Driskell

By Morgan Driskell, a graduate of Georgia State University with a BA in Sociology

I wish I had words to truly explain the relief I felt recently throwing away my non-slip shoes as a sign that I am never working in the restaurant industry again. I am a young female who has worked countless jobs in restaurants, retail, and healthcare to support myself the past five years. I have worked in restaurants more, as it allows flexibility with holidays and pay. I first started off working in corporate, full service dining as a server, and as I wanted to escape the harshness and instability of those environments, I found myself drawn to fast casual restaurants that are privately owned.

There is one thing that has persisted in every food job I have worked: sexual harassment. While sexual harassment occurs in a variety of workplaces, the food service industry is notorious for its blatant nature of inappropriate behavior. Now, leadership has control over how this issue is handled, and that has been the only variation I have witnessed. I am writing this opinion piece as an open letter to any person in the Birmingham area that is a manager, shift leader, or has any sort of leadership role in a restaurant.

I have spent the past few months feeling very hopeless as the #MeToo movement has grown, and I draw comparisons to my own life. It is very easy to sit behind a keyboard on social media and chastise the women and men involved in scandals with Harvey Weinstein, Matt Lauer, and the like, but the one thing I feel that we all are missing is these people are not representative of everyday life. Their lives are very far removed from our own, and we do not have control over Hollywood or politics the way we do our own behavior in working environments.

I am guilty of participating in and creating an environment in which sexual harassment is normalized and even seen as funny. I do not find it my responsibility to change the minds, hearts, or behaviors of others. People only change when they themselves want to make a change. I am an example as I have been aware of the dangers that normalizing sexual behavior can lead to and out of selfishness have participated in making others uncomfortable at work.

There is no shame in being wrong, and while we cannot undo anything that is done, we can control how we respond. I in no way want to come off as self-righteous -I just hope that by sharing my perspective it will help to create positive change in my community and ultimately lead to safer working environments.

There are small things we all can do to be sure that we do not remain complacent as awareness for sexual harassment grows and to ensure people who exhibit inappropriate behavior do not move onto to further positions of power. Number one, women are not the only victims. I know several men who have worked in the food industry that have been made uncomfortable by the behavior of both men and women. I am a woman and have made crude "jokes" at the expense of myself and others. As people, we should all take more responsibility in our actions and conversations.

Number two, I do not want to call upon people to stop being patrons of their favorite restaurants, as these food service workers need their jobs. Instead, I hope that this article results in reflection and asking tough questions as a leader, "Is there a problem in my workplace? Have I created an open environment for people to be able to report harassment? How do I respond to these situations? Do I find it funny when people are cat called or spoken to sexually in my restaurant?"

As I mentioned above, leadership has the ability to change the tone of how these situations are handled. I have worked in places where it was never okay for sex to be a topic of conversation. Leadership would fire people on the spot for even the slightest inappropriate comment or touch. Which leads to number three, you have to hire people not solely based on their ability to do the job. My question is this: why would you ever hire someone that you know is not of sound character?

Lastly, I want to point out that even if you are not in a leadership role, everyone is a leader of his or her life. You do have power and more control than you may be aware. Never be ashamed to take a stand or simply leave an environment that makes you uncomfortable. At the end of the day, we are all responsible for what we allow to be acceptable in society, our workplaces, and our individual lives.Geneva, Astana and now Sochi are cities that most Syrians have never visited, but they have each become synonymous with fraught international discussions on the future of our country. The latest addition to the list, Russias coastal Black Sea resort Sochi, adds more complexity to the discussion. Russia has long sought to host aSyrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi to discuss Syrias future constitution. For myself and many other Syrians, an inclusive national dialogue is indeed a crucial transitioning step towards a lasting and justice-based peace agreement. Nevertheless, the January 30 Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi will, in all certainty, fail to meet the aspirations of the Syrian people  and I have three reasons why.

The first is simply that Russia cannot be accepted as an honest broker or neutral convener for discussions pertaining to Syrias future. Russia remains the main military backer of the Syrian regime and while Sochi may boast luxurious Black Sea resorts, many Syrians cannot but experience chills when told they must discuss the future of their country there. How can we expect to feel safe to negotiate freely if we are guests in a country that has given vital support to the Assad regimes brutal onslaught against his own people?

There is not even a pretence of neutrality in Russias attempt to hijack the political process: The preliminary invitations to the Syrian National Dialogue Conference were sent by a Russian Army Lieutenant. The invitation card asked to confirm attendance in Russian or English, not in Arabic or Kurdish, the two main languages spoken in Syria. This hardly gives the impression that Syrians are in control of shaping their countrys future.

Sochi is completely out of sync with multilateral efforts to mediate the crisis which are based in Geneva under UN auspices.

The second reason Sochi is flawed is that it will not be truly inclusive. Not all parts of Syrian society are invited. For example, according to Russia, Kurdish representatives were invited to Sochi on Monday but its not at all clear which Kurdish officials were invited or if they will attend. Denying Kurdish communities participation in shaping Syrias future would mark a continuation of the decades-long injustice and alienation of the Kurdish citizens of Syria, and would undermine the aspirations of every free Syrian working towards a democratic and inclusive transition.

The third reason is that Sochi is completely out of sync with multilateral efforts to mediate the crisis which are based in Geneva under UN auspices. Talks facilitated by the United Nations in Geneva have not borne much fruit, but this is more because of the Syrian governments refusal to negotiate than any systemic problem with the mediation. Moscow has already launched a parallel platform to the UN-led Geneva process in Astana, Kazakhstan, where Iran, Turkey and Russia convened to discussde-escalation and humanitarian access. The failure of this forum is depressingly summed up by Russias active military support to Assads brutal offensive against the veryde-escalation areas it has established in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta.

The Russian line is that Sochi will breathe new life into Geneva. But it is no secret that Russia wants a departure from the UN-led process so that they will have more control over the outcome. By focusing on Syrias constitution before governance issues, Russia is already seeking to manipulate the outcome by putting the cart before the horse. According to UN Resolution 2254, a political transition will be achieved by establishing a credible and inclusive governance and then by developing a new constitution which, in turn, will allow free and fair elections to take place. A departure from this sequence carries grave risks to the credibility and viability of a political transition. Unfortunately, this does not seem to be a concern for Putin, who seems more driven by a desire to tout a Sochi breakthrough to his people leading up to Russian Presidential elections in March.

For all these reasons, I look with great suspicion at the Sochi talks on Sunday and call on the UN and other influential countries  including Russia  to shift the much-needed Syria national dialogue to a neutral location led by the United Nations.

The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance.Campaign groups blame the Saudi crown prince for the deteriorating humanitarian situation in country.

Activists in the UK are calling on British Prime Minister Theresa May to withdraw an invitation to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who is expected to visit within a few weeks.

Groups including the Stop the War coalition, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, and the Arab Human Rights Organisation, published an open letter on Friday accusing the heir to the Saudi throne of overseeing the war on Yemen and deepening a humanitarian crisis there.

[Mohammed bin Salman] is the second most senior member of the Saudi regime, which has one of the worst human rights records in the world, the statement read.





Torture, arbitrary detention, and other appalling abuses are widely documented.

Stephen Bell, one of the activists leading the campaign to stop the visit, told Al Jazeera the UK should not lay out the red carpet for Mohammed Bin Salman, who is known as MBS.

Up to 11 million Yemeni children are at risk either from the war or cholera, famine caused by the blockade of the country and the destruction of infrastructure, he said.

All this means its not suitable to invite someone who holds prime responsibility for the continuation of the war.

Since the Saudi-led military intervention started in Yemen in March 2015, the Arab worlds poorest country has found itself on the brink of a devastating humanitarian crisis, with the UN warning of widespread famine and spread of disease.

More than eight million people do not have adequate access to food and more than a million have contracted cholera.

UK support

British arms companies are some of the biggest suppliers of weapons to Saudi Arabia, and the British government has approved billions of pounds in export licenses over the past three years.

Rights groups have repeatedly condemned the Saudi-lead coalition over civilian casualties in Yemen, but the UK has yet to take any punitive measures against Riyadh.

British officials say they are monitoring the use of UK-manufactured weapons by Saudi Arabia to ensure they are used appropriately.

The conflict between the Saudi coalition and Houthi rebel fighters has left more than 10,000 people dead and devastated much of the countrys infrastructure.In an attempt to quell criticism, the government of Cameroon continues to shut down social media and messaging apps.

For people in the English speaking parts of Cameroon, free speech on the internet has become all but impossible.

Authorities in the countrys Anglophone region have blocked access to social media and messaging apps for almost four months in an ongoing attempt to quell criticism aimed against the government.

It is the second internet shutdown within a year in the West African nation.

Cameroonians have come to expect internet restrictions when they voice their dissent against the government; they have accepted this has become a way of life, Judith Nwana, a US-based Cameroonian human rights activist with a background in telecommunications, told Al Jazeera.

When it first happened, we were all taken unaware because we never imagined that this could happen in Cameroon. Then there was the gradual acceptance that the crisis was threatening the government and we were living in an oppressive regime, she added.

That first shutdown happened in January 2017, after Anglophone teachers, lawyers and students went on strike over alleged bias in favour of Francophones.

The Anglophones claimed they face discrimination and that they were excluded from state jobs as a result of their limited French language skills.

{articleGUID}

The Anglophone regions feel neglected and left out of the national governments agenda, Peter Micek of digital rights organisation Access Now told Al Jazeera.

Then, the government took the extreme measure to shut down the internet completely, he said.

The first shutdown lasted 93 days, from January to April 2017.

It was devastating. People didnt know how to work around it, Judith Nwana said, adding that the whole society was affected; education, money transfers, healthcare and businesses all relied on internet access, which was now shutdown.

Eventually, internet access was restored in April after international pressure from, among others, the United Nations and Pope Francis.

However, in October a second, more targeted shutdown was enacted after renewed protests in the Anglophone areas.

The new blockade took aim at social media and messaging apps. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and WhatsApp were all shut down.

But by this time, many Cameroonians were prepared, using VPN services to circumvent the blockade.

Unfortunately, VPNs are expensive and not everyone can afford one or had budgeted for one. Regardless, businesses, the tech industry, healthcare and education are seriously affected, Nwana said.

One of those affected businesses belongs to Mambe Churchill Nanje, a software engineer and CEO and founder of Njorku, a search engine that allows people all over Africa to look for jobs.

Nanje is based in Silicon Mountain, a tech-hub based and around in the city of Buea, which was hit hard by both shutdowns.

They not only affected me and my business, but the whole of Silicon Mountain, Nanje told Al Jazeera.

It has pushed out a lot of the talent [at Silicon Mountain]. They had to leave because they cant work. They either moved to other parts of Cameroon or out of the country, he said.

Internet refugee camp

As the shutdowns continued, many Cameroonians were forced to travel back and forth to regions with internet access to conduct business or access vital information.

They came together and formed an internet refugee camp along the border with the littoral region, where others could come and get internet access from the neighbouring region, Nwana said.

The first shutdown alone cost the country at least $38m, Nwana added. The effects of the second blockade are not as severe economically, but Nwana emphasised there is more than just monetary loss.

Shutting down social media sites is akin to shutting down the internet. Its how people communicate today. Cases have been recorded of people missing deadlines or scholarships and opportunities when the information is put on social media, she said.

Those in Anglophone Cameroon dont get to see this, which reinforces the feeling of marginalisation and discrimination, Nwana added.

{articleGUID}

Micek echoed Nwanas sentiment, saying the economic effect is big but also not the only thing that is lost because of these shutdowns.

The Silicon Mountain region is a hub of innovation and that has suffered enormously. Besides, the economy is integrated, so getting services from the Silicon Mountain area is gonna be hard, wherever people are in the country, either in the Anglophone or Francophone regions, Micek said.

And this blockade prevents not just Cameroonians but all of us from accessing businesses, personal stories and other rich content from these areas in Cameroon, Micek said.

The whole world suffers because of these shutdowns.Amer Othman Adi to be deported days after agency told him he could stay in the US, in case that spurred outrage in Ohio.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency has denied a stay of deportation to a Palestinian businessman, in a widely reported case that prompted outrage and saw involvement of US Congress members.

On Thursday, ICE said in a press release that Amer Othman Adi, 57, who lives in Youngstown, Ohio, will remain in ICE custody until deportation at an undisclosed time, local media reported.

The decision comes despite a request from the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee to grant him a six-month stay of deportation.





Adi was arrested on January 16 during a check-in at an ICE office in Brooklyn Heights, Ohio. He had been preparing to leave the country on January 7 when, days prior to that date, ICE told him in a phone call that his deportation had been postponed.

When we got that phone call in the morning, it was confusing, it was at the same time exciting. Is there a miracle happening  theyre going to let [him] stay? Adis wife of 30 years, Fidaa Musleh, told Al Jazeera on Wednesday.

We had already sold our home. We gave away all our belongings at that point and we were ready to go.

But when Adi, who has been in the US for 38 years, appeared for what he thought was a routine meeting at a local ICE office, he was taken into custody.

It feels like they deceived us. Why is it? Are [they] trying to make an example out of him? Musleh, a US citizen, said.

Adis lawyer David Leopold called the detention days after calling off Adis self-arranged departure from the country cruel.

This is not about policy. This is not about objectives. This is about cruelty and this is about the dehumanisation and frankly the public humiliation of a pillar of the community, Leopold told Al Jazeera.

Outrageous and inhumane

US Congressman Tim Ryan, a long-time advocate for Adi, was present on the day of his arrest.

This abrupt bait and switch was the most outrageous and inhumane thing I have ever seen in my career, the Democrat representing Ohios 13th Congressional district wrote in Youngstown newspaper The Vindicator.

Two days after Adi was taken into custody, Ryan won support from the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, which unanimously voted in favour of a private bill asking ICE to grant him a six-month stay of deportation so that his case could be reviewed.

But on Thursday ICE released a statement in which it said it had chosen not to grant a stay of removal in his case.

The immigration enforcement agency reiterated its previously stated position that a number of courts had held that Adi does not have a legal basis to remain in the US.

While ICE acknowledges Congress authority to pass legislation providing immigration benefits to non-citizens, alien beneficiaries need not be present in the United States for a private immigration relief bill to be introduced, considered and/or enacted, ICE spokesperson Khaalid Walls said in the statement.

Leopold said that both he and his client were disappointed at ICEs decision not to grant the stay of deportation, the Plain Dealer, a Cleveland-based daily, reported.

Of course hes mostly perplexed at why hes sitting in jail, Leopold told the daily.

One of Adis four daughters accused ICE of cruelty on Thursday.

We were all mentally prepared for him to be gone and then you tell him to wait and stay so you can put him in jail? For what, and you dont want to answer why or for what when he was leaving? Because you have no answers, you have no answers, Lina Adi told local radio station WKSU.

Low-hanging fruit

Arrests by ICE were up in the first year of Donald Trumps presidency. ICE said they had arrested more than 41,000 individuals between January 22 and April 29, 2017  a more than 37 percent increase over the same period in 2016.

Some analysts have claimed that ICE has been going after low-hanging fruit, arresting those who are known to the immigration enforcement agency and attend their check-ins.

In another widely reported case, Polish doctor and green card holder Lukasz Niec, 43, was arrested at home on Tuesday morning, allegedly over two misdemeanor convictions from his teenage years.

Actual deportations were down in 2017 compared with 2016.

Adi has reportedly been on hunger strike since the day of his detention. On Thursday, ICE said that Adi had apparently ended his hunger strike. But The Vindicator quoted Lina Adi a saying that her father had eaten only one teaspoon of food and had since resumed his fast.

Adi, born in Jordan to Palestinian parents, moved to the US when he was 19. He received a green card after marrying his first wife, but was denied a second green card in the 1990s when immigration officials called his first marriage a sham. His first wife signed an affidavit in 2007 stating the opposite.Muslim student groups call for an international body to manage the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.

Depok, Indonesia  Saudi Arabia has politicised access to the Hajj, according to organisers of a Muslim youth conference in Indonesia.

Ziyad Abdul Malik, chairman of the Muslim Students Associations (HMI) branch in South Jakarta, lambasted the kingdom for using the pilgrimage to Mecca, considered Islams holiest city, to impose its policies on other Gulf nations and Muslim-majority countries.

HMI, the largest student group in Indonesia, organised the event  dubbed Islamic Holy Places for All of the Ummah- at the Indonesia University in Depok.

Malik went on to accuse Saudi Arabia of interference in the conference itself. The event was originally slated to take place at the State Islamic University in Jakarta, located in the Indonesian capital, but it was cancelled at the request of the Saudi embassy.

We are students, and students usually discuss many things, he said. Why is this a problem for [Saudi Arabia]?

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Other organisers echoed Maliks criticisms, arguing that Saudi Arabia had let political rows with several countries  Qatar, Syria, Iran and Yemen, among others  influence its Hajj regulations.

Only God has the right

Representatives of Garda Suci Merah Putih (GSMP), another organisation that participated in the conference, argued that Saudi Arabia had violated the conditions of its role as custodian of the Islamic faiths holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

Only God has the right to forbid anyone to go on Hajj, not Saudi Arabia, Mujtahid Hasheem, secretary-general of GSMP, told Al Jazeera.

Hasheem alluded to the example of Syrian pilgrims, who must go through a committee that is controlled by Saudi-backed opposition groups to obtain visas for the religious journey.

Saudi Arabia severed its diplomatic ties with the Syrian government in 2012 owing to the ongoing civil war in that country.

In Yemen, Hasheem noted, Saudi had taken similar measures, politicising Hajj access based on the countrys alliances.

Saudi Arabia has backed the government in Yemen and has led a coalition of Arab-majority countries in war against opposition groups, such as the Houthi rebels.

Hasheem added that restrictions on citizens of Qatar  which has been blockaded by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and others since the summer of 2017  was further evidence of the kingdoms wrongdoing.

The pilgrimage is a religious requirement for all able-bodied Muslims who have the financial means to carry out the journey, according to religious guidelines.

Explaining that Indonesia is the most populous Muslim-majority country in the world, Hasheem argued that Indonesians play an important role in ensuring that Hajj access conforms with religious guidelines.

Officials should urge Saudi Arabia to abandon restrictions on the right to worship, Hasheem said.

In 2017, an estimated 221,000 Indonesians performed Hajj, he said.

Shujaat Ali, general secretary of the Muslim Student Organisation of India, accused Saudi Arabia of destroying famous religious sites, such as the birthplace of the Islamic prophet, Muhammad.

Ali cited statistics from the Washington, DC-based Gulf Institute, which estimates that 95 percent of Meccas famous buildings have been destroyed in the past two decades.

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What are there now? American companies [like] McDonalds, Starbucks, and so on, he said.

The organisers added that they intend to host another international conference in the future to discuss the establishment of an international body to manage Hajj.

We will invite international scholars and ulemas [a body of religious scholars], and we will even invite Saudi Arabia to join, the GSMPs Hasheem added.Last time clock was at two minutes to midnight was in 1953, when US and Soviet Union were testing hydrogen bombs.

The symbolic Doomsday Clock, which represents how close humanity is to destroying the planet, is the nearest it has been to signalling the end of the world since 1953.

The clock was moved forward by 30 seconds on Thursday by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists because of mounting concern over nuclear war and climate change.

The last time the clock was at two minutes to midnight  where midnight represents global catastrophe  was during the Cold War years, when the United States and the Soviet Union were testing hydrogen bombs, 65 years ago.

2017 had proved to be a perilous and chaotic year, said Bulletin President Rachel Bronson.

We saw reckless language in the nuclear realm heat up already dangerous situations and re-learned that minimising evidence-based assessments regarding climate and other global challenges does not lead to better public policies.

The Doomsday Clock now stands at two minutes to midnight. Thanks, Trump.  Stephen King (@StephenKing) January 25, 2018

Major nuclear actors are on the cusp of a new arms race, one that will be very expensive and will increase the likelihood of accidents and misperceptions. Across the globe, nuclear weapons are poised to become more rather than less usable because of nations investments in their nuclear arsenals, Bronson said.

Richard Somerville, a board member at the Bulletin, told Al Jazeera he hopes re-setting the clock will raise awareness of the risks of nuclear warfare and climate change.

One of our main motivations in even having the Doomsday Clock and going through the trouble of setting it every year is to motivate people to be concerned, to learn about these issues, and to make their views and concerns known to their governments, Somerville told Al Jazeera.

I am saddened but not surprised that this year, the #DoomsdayClock has been moved to 2 minutes to midnight, the closest it has ever been set towards global midnight and the first time it has been at that time since 1953 #turnbackthedoomsdayclock  William J. Perry (@SecDef19) January 25, 2018

US-Russian relations have deteriorated. Theres no ongoing high-level talks about nuclear arms control between the US and Russia  the two countries which between them have almost all of nuclear weapons in the world today.

I think its this lack of strong international action that concerns us, and thats very much true in the area of climate change as well, he said.

The Doomsday Clock has indicated how close humanity is to self-destruction since 1947.Two Eritreans, sold as slaves, share harrowing details of their time inside illegal detention centres in Libya.

In recent months, it has been revealed that African migrants and refugees have been sold in open markets as slaves in Libya, and are held against their will in inhumane conditions in exchange for ransom money.

The revelations sent shock waves globally and sparked protests outside Libyan embassies across Africa and Europe.

Libya is a major transit destination for migrants and refugees hoping to reach Europe by sea.

Human trafficking networks have prospered amid lawlessness, created by the warring militias that have been fighting for control of territories since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

According to the International Organization for Migration, there are 700,000  1 million migrants in Libya.

Al Jazeera gained access to two Eritrean men sold multiple times and still trapped in Libya.

Through conversations via a smuggled phone, we managed to communicate with the two Eritreans stuck in Libya. Here is a first-person account of their lives, trapped in a war zone.

Sami, 18, from Mayoma in Eritrea

Sami left Eritrea when he was 15 years old. He travelled to Ethiopia and from there he made it to Sudan.

From Sudan, he was smuggled into Libya via Chad, after paying smugglers $1,500.

We were lied to. They beat us with sticks and a water hose. And they electrocuted us. We told them we had no money, but that did not stop them from beating us. Sami, 18-year-old Eritrean refugee

On the Libyan border, he was caught and told by the Libyans he had been sold by the Chadian smugglers and needed to pay more money. They asked me to pay $6,500 more to proceed further, he said.

We were lied to. They beat us with sticks and a water hose. And they electrocuted us. We told them we had no money, but that did not stop them from beating us.

My mother had to sell our home in Eritrea and other assets we had and was also forced to borrow money from family and friends abroad for my trip.

Physical and mental torture

They then took us to the town of the Libyan Bani Walid, where we were held in an illegal detention centre. They gave us one piece of bread a day.

We endured physical torture but the mental torture was worse. Our captors would systematically choose people unable to pay to set an example.

My friend died in front of me after he was electrocuted. He came with me and we survived the journey through the desert only for him to die as a slave in captivity. Sami, 18-year-old Eritrean refugee

They would hang them upside down and beat them. They would electrocute their nipples and waterboard them. They would pour hot oil on them and burn them. We saw people dying while being tortured.

My friend died in front of me after he was electrocuted. He came with me and we survived the journey through the desert only for him to die as a slave in captivity.

Watching others being tortured made people call anyone they could for them to send money by any means. They made us call while being tortured.

Hundreds of refugees and migrants have died trying to cross the vast desert to reach Europe [Jawahir Hassan Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera]

The first time they tortured me they asked me to pay. I said I dont have the money, my father is dead and I only have my mother. They asked me if I had relatives in Europe, to which I said no.

They were not pleased, so they hanged me upside down and beat me everywhere and electrocuted me. They called my mother while I was being tortured so she could hear my screams.

The detention centre had people from Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Ethiopia, as well as Nigeria and other West African countries.

At night, it used to be worse. The guards would get high on drugs and resort to beating, abuse and torture.

There is no proper registration process for the tens of thousands of refugees arriving in Libya [Courtesy: Sami]

Women and children were kept separate from the men. Many girls and women were raped and had children as a result of it. Our buildings were close to each other so we would hear their screams and cries.

I stayed in detention for nine months. Once my mother secured the money, they let me go.

Upon my release, I boarded a truck with others on the way to the sea. We were stopped by another vehicle after armed men started shooting at our truck.

Our Libyan driver escaped and the men asked us who we were and where we were going. They took us and said we had to pay for our freedom if we wanted to be allowed to go to the sea and travel to Europe.

Sold and resold

They asked us for money in exchange for freedom. When they inquired about my religion I lied to them that I was a Muslim, hoping they would treat me better.

I was lucky because they asked me for less money, which I was able to secure eventually.

I spent two months there, in a town called Az Zawiya.

There were women and children in the same container as the men, children as young as two years, and there were infants born as a result of rape by the Libyan captors. Sami, 18-year-old Eritrean refugee

We were held in an apartment building complex from where we were not allowed to go out.

After paying the ransom, they took me from Az Zawiya to the sea. But we were stopped by Libyan coast guards, who took us to Tripoli.

In Tripoli, they demanded 1,000 euros ($1,225) in order for a person to be released.

Then the coast guards sold us to an Eritrean smuggler who goes by the name Walid. He is notorious and runs a smuggling network with Libyans and others. His real name is Tawalde but the Libyans call him Walid. He is responsible for the torture and killing of many.

We were taken back to Bani Walid.

No money, no food

They kept us in a large, container-like shed. It was really a cramped area with around 320 of us and had one toilet to share. I stayed there for three months.

There were women and children in the same container as the men, children as young as two years, and there were infants born as a result of rape by the Libyan captors.

Walid was stingy with food. He would starve us and say we would receive food if we could transfer money. He would say No money no food, you can die of hunger for all I care.

In order for us to leave we had to pay $2,200. I spent two months there.

Most days we got either no food or one piece of bread so we were hungry all the time.

The whole day and night we would just sleep and lie down without being allowed out and seeing daylight.

The scariest thing was not knowing if you would ever be freed.

When detention centres get too crowded, people are then allegedly sold off like goods in an open market [Courtesy: Sami]

Towards the end of my captivity, a Libyan man came and took me to do farming work in return for food and shelter.

After two days, I managed to escape and found shelter in a mosque. I just started cleaning there. Whenever someone would ask me who I was, I would say I was the cleaner and they would leave me alone.

There I found another Libyan man, who said he would help me get to Tripoli if I paid 750 Libyan dinar.

I told him I had no money. So, instead, he took me to his home, where I had to work for two months before he took me to Tripoli as promised. This was in September 2017.

When I arrived in Tripoli, I registered with UNHCR. I found a job as the caretaker of a mosque, where I can also sleep. This is where I am today.

It's OK if I die in the sea. It's better than the hell I saw in Libya and the hell awaiting me in Eritrea if I return. Yonathan Tekle, 24-year-old Eritrean refugee

I clean the mosque and I close it at night. I help other Eritreans trapped in Tripoli by making them pasta and other simple food and they also stay with me overnight in the mosque.

No one bothers us here and its warm inside.

I left Eritrea in search of freedom and peace. I did not want to live under dictatorship, that is why I left. I knew before leaving Eritrea that the journey would be tough. But I had no idea people would be so cruel and inhumane.

I never thought I would be sold and resold. Looking back now, had I known what was awaiting me, I probably would have stayed back in Eritrea despite the hardships there.

But now I have no choice, I cant go back. My mother is in debt because of me. So, I must continue.

I must help her now. She lost her home because of me. I must pay off her debt.

I want to study psychology to help people with mental illness. My mother suffered from it, and I want to help people like her.

Its OK if I die in the sea. Its better than the hell I saw in Libya and the hell awaiting me in Eritrea if I return. If I make it anywhere in Europe I might have a chance.

*For security reasons, Sami does not want to be identified by photo or with his real name.

Yonathan Tekle, 24

For the past five months, hes being held inside a container illegally in the town of Gharyan, 91km from the capital, Tripoli.

Yonathan was a soldier before deserting and fleeing Eritrea in December 2016.

He had arranged for Sudanese smugglers to take him to Libya  and the journey became more hazardous and expensive than he had ever imagined.

After he crossed the border into Sudan, the smugglers demanded more money than agreed to take him to Khartoum. He had to call home and scramble for money.

Refugees pay thousands of dollars to smugglers in their attempts to find safety [Jawahir Hassan Al-Naimi/Al Jazeera]

They tortured us, beat us and burned us. I called my family and told them we are in hell, we need money or they will not let us go.

They would pour water inside my mouth while beating me. They would stuff cloth into my mouth while beating me with a stick and a whip.

I spent three months held in captivity there until I secured $6,000 through my family, who gathered it from relatives and friends in Eritrea and abroad.

Then the smugglers took me to Khartoum. I worked there as a hotel cleaner. I spent almost six months there before I paid smugglers to take me to Libya. The trip cost me $1,600.

No water, no daylight

When I entered Libya, I was captured by Libyans wearing uniforms. They told me We cant let you travel to the sea to cross over to Europe.

They took me and the group I was travelling with to an area far away from the coast. They handed us over to a group with Sudanese and Eritrean smugglers in charge.

That is when I found out we had been sold.

Our new captors told us we had been sold by the Libyans and we had to pay $5,000.

I have been here for five months now.

We are kept indoors 24/7 with no access to running water or daylight.

The shock, fear, anger and frustration made me bleed when passing urine or stools. Realising I had been sold like a slave was the worst feeling. Yonathan Tekle, 24-year-old Eritrean refugee

I smuggled the phone in here and my family knows I am here, but they are helpless.

For the majority of the people held with me, their families know nothing about them. No one knows if they are dead or alive.

We are scared because we have not seen a single person from the outside since coming here.

We know detainees in other containers have been in touch with Eritrean-Swedish journalist and human rights defender Meron Estefanos.

You are the first one to contact us, we have had no one calling us from the outside.

Uncertain future

Every Sunday, they tell us they will release us within two weeks, but then the time passes and nothing happens. When they first took us, they said we must pay money in order to be freed. But for weeks now they have not asked for money to release us.

They are just keeping us here without any information. We dont know what is going to happen to us.

The container is made of tin. Its really cold right now, you feel it in your bones. We have a blanket each. But with the hunger, you feel the cold even more.

We sleep and wake up in the same place awaiting our fate. We dont know if we will ever make it out.

We have many sick people among us without any access to medicine or doctors. We dont move much because we are so weak and hungry, we just sleep. One Somali man has died

I dont see any positive end to this. We all keep our pain and fears inside and we just sleep.

According to the International Organization for Migration, there are 700,000  1 million migrants in Libya [Courtesy: Sami]

The thought of returning to Eritrea is like returning to another, bigger prison. If I was returned there against my will, I would try to get out again.

The moment I was told by the Sudanese and Eritrean smugglers the Libyans had sold me, my stomach turned inside out.

The shock, fear, anger and frustration made me bleed when passing urine or stools. Realising I had been sold like a slave was the worst feeling.

With additional reporting from Meron Estefanos

Follow @FatmaNaib and @meronina on Twitter.Puigdemonts Together for Catalonia party to file complaint against the move, saying he is a legitimate candidate.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy asked the Constitutional Court to block the nomination of former Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont to resume his post on Friday.

The move comes after the Spanish governments Council of Ministers, headed by Rajoy, announced late Thursday night that it will attempt to block the nomination.

Puigdemont was president of Catalonias regional government until October, when the parliament declared independence from Spain after a disputed October 1 referendum on secession.

Spanish national police were mobilised to stop the vote and carried out a sometimes violent crackdown on voters, which rights groups called excessive force.

After a month of political brinksmanship between Spain and the breakaway region, the central government enacted Article 155 of the Spanish Constitution, allowing it take control of Catalonias government.

Puigdemont and 12 of his ministers were sacked and charged with various crimes. His former vice president, Oriol Junqueras of the Catalan Republican Left, remains in prison.

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Detractors of the Spanish governments actions in Spain and the European Union have called on Spain to return to normalcy and allow Puigdemont to head the government.

Puigdemont fled to Brussels shortly after the former Catalan parliament declared independence.

Spanish Vice President Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said at a news conference that Puigdemont intends to put his own candidacy above the law, but respecting the law is the start of normalcy.

Rajoy called snap regional elections for Catalonia in December after assuming control of the government. The prime minister said new elections would return stability to the region.

Instead, a separatist bloc won an absolute majority.

Roger Torrent, the speaker of the Catalan parliament who announced Puigdemonts nomination on January 22, said the former presidents candidacy meets all the legal requirements and has absolute legitimacy.

Puigdemonts party, Together for Catalonia, has announced it plans to file a criminal complaint against the Spanish governments Council of Ministers.

They allege the Spanish ministers are using intimidation to block a politician from exercising his duties.

Spanish police have reportedly been on high alert on the northern border with France in anticipation of Puigdemont attempting to sneak back into Spain.

The Catalan parliament is set to vote on the Catalan presidency by January 31.Trump spoke about the strength of the US economy at Davos, as protesters and professors disputed his rhetoric.

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that America would come first but would not be alone during a speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

By welcoming foreign investors to continue pouring money into the US, which is open for business under the businessman-turned-president, Trump appeared to soften the populist-isolationist rhetoric for which he is known.

While his remarks may have calmed investors, sections of the Swiss public were still upset. The remarks came amid continuing protests against Trump and world capitalism at several sites in Switzerland.

Wednesday saw roughly 20 demonstrators break through security at the Davos Congress Centre where they held signs reading Wipe out WEF.

In Zurich, demonstrators held signs saying No Trump, no coal, no gas, no fossil fuels as they marched through the citys financial district.

In Geneva, protesters placed a memorial wreathe for Heather Heyer, a counterprotester killed by a white nationalist at a US far-right rally in August, at the entrance of the US diplomatic mission.

Friday remained relatively quiet.

Protester rally against the attendance of Trump at the upcoming Davos World Economic Forum [Philippe Desmazes/AFP]

Trump extolled the strength of the US economy under his presidency. Ive always been very successful at making money, the president claimed, going on to say the stock market was up 50 percent.

If his 2016 presidential opponent Hillary Clinton had won, Wall Street would be down close to 50 percent, Trump said. Removing regulations has been a boon to the US economy, the president continued.

Professor Juan Cole, a visiting professor at Qatar University, told Al Jazeera that a strong stock market doesnt necessarily help the US.

Only 50 percent of the American public has any kind of relationship to the stock market and a lot of that is through pensions, Cole said.

There is also a troubling aspect of the economys strong performance, Cole said. After the economic crash of 2008 and 2009, for the average US citizens there has been a recovery, but its been a weak recovery.

The strength of the stock market in relation shows that US politicians and world politicians havent really changed the rules for the investment world in a way that would prevent another such crash, Cole said.

Furthermore, the regulations Trump has removed mostly deal with the environment, so natural resources will reach new levels of pollution, which will make people sick, Cole said.

For his part, Trump was happy about his performance as the leader of the US government. It was time, for him to be president, Trump claimed.

Citizens of the US are less enthused. The Gallup ratings agency that tracks presidential approval ratings claims pegged support for Trumps job at 36 percent of the country as of January 21, while 59 percent of US voters disapproved.Trump threatens to cut Palestinian aid in Davos

Claiming that the Palestinians had disrespected the US, Donald Trump is threatening more aid cuts to Palestine.Dozens of protesters rallied in Tunis on Friday to demand the government cancel recent austerity measures.

Anti-austerity protests are continuing in Tunisia, as dozens of mainly young people rallied in front of the countrys parliament to reiterate their demand to cancel a contentious budget law.

Activists with the Fech Nestannew (What are we waiting for?) protest movement chanted work, freedom and national dignity, among other slogans, in front of the Tunisian parliament building in the capital, Tunis, on Friday afternoon.

The protesters were held back by state security forces, several of whom were dressed in riot gear, videos shared on the Fech Nestannew Facebook page showed.

Widespread public protests broke out across Tunisia earlier this month after the government unveiled a 2018 budget that increased the price of basic goods, including food and petrol.

The legislation also includes an increase to the value-added tax and cuts to public sector jobs.

Earlier this week, Fech Nestannew organisers said more than 1,000 people had been arrested since the protests began.

Tunisian officials have accused protesters of looting at the anti-austerity rallies, many of which have taken place at night.

But Ayoub Jaouadi, a Fech Nestannew spokesperson, said some of the arrests took place before any acts of vandalism were committed, Tunisian radio station Jawhara FM said.

The group announced the creation of a committee to support activists, local media also reported.

Fech Nestannew organisers have also called on the Tunisian authorities to investigate the death of a protester in Tebourba, a town about 30km from Tunis, during a demonstration there on January 8.

Protests will continue

Youssef Cherif, a Tunisian political analyst, told Al Jazeera the states response to the protests has been quite brutal in terms of the arrests and harassment of demonstrators, when compared with similar protests in the past.

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The Tunisian government has sought to discredit protesters, rather than address the concerns they are raising about the economy, Cherif said.

I think well see a continuation of these protests, he said, because the economic crisis they are tied to doesnt seem [like it will] get solved any time soon.

In response to the protests, the Tunisian government has promised to spend $70.3m to support poor families and provide better healthcare access across the country.

But Tunisias unemployment rate sits at around 15 percent, and it is nearly double that among young people.

Many Tunisians are frustrated that the countrys economy has not improved more than seven years after a popular revolution toppled longtime President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

The protests will continue, Cherif said.

And there is always the fear that the more protests continue, the more the state apparatus leans towards more authoritarian actions in dealing with them.Saudi channel broadcast video of opposition leader Hassan Mushaima as willful testimony, despite his torture.

British media regulator, Ofcom, has fined a Saudi-owned channel 120,000 pounds ($171,000) for broadcasting statements by a Bahraini opposition leader, who is now in prison, that were extracted under torture.

Al Arabiya, which is based in Dubai, featured Hassan Mushaimas statements in a February 2016 programme, which dealt with the Bahraini uprising of 2011 and purported ties between the Bahraini opposition and Iran.

In the clip, Mushaima confesses to wanting to overthrow the Bahraini government and replace it with an Iranian style Islamic government.

The comments were filmed while he was in Bahraini police detention.





In April 2017, Ofcom upheld a complaint by Mushaimas representative, Husain Abdulla, claiming Al Arabiya had treated Mushaima unfairly and infringed his privacy without warrant.

Al Arabiya wrongly presented the confessions as wilful testimony, Ofcom said.

Mushaima, who leads the Haq movement, was sentenced to life by a Bahraini military court for his role in the 2011 protests.

He has maintained that the judgement against him should be overturned as the confessions were obtained under torture.

The Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, which was established by the king of Bahrain, had earlier found that the confessions by Mushaima and other prisoners were made under torture.

Mushaima, the commission said in 2011, was forced to insult his own religion; inappropriately touched while being searched after returning from court or the medical clinic; interrogated two or three times per day; severely beaten during interrogations and burned with cigarettes and choked while being coerced to confess.

He signed false confessions as a result of threats, particularly against his family. One confession stated that he had carried out operations for Hezbollah as well as kidnappings; both statements were false, the commissions report said.

For three weeks he was not allowed to see a doctor regarding his injuries from beatings and burns. When he was finally allowed to have a medical examination, the doctor refused to report his injuries.

Despite this report, Mushaima remains in prison.

In a statement published on Thursday by a Bahraini human rights group, Mushaimas son Ali said: Al Arabiyas deplorable programme shows my father at his most vulnerable and it deeply distressed our whole family.

Ali Mushaima added that the channel had diverged from journalistic ethics and allowed itself to become a propoganda tool.

Thurdays ruling also required Al Arabiya to broadcast Ofcoms judgement and refrain from airing the offending segment again.

Not complying with the ruling could result its UK broadcasting license being revoked.

Al Jazeera was unable to reach Al Arabiya representatives for comment.Couriers are essential workers in the UK, but delivery companies are under fire for not looking out for the safety of their employees.When the knock on her door came, Avnee Mistry was prepared.

Two of the girls from Mistrys Beaty Towers hall, where she was a resident assistant, stood outside under the uorescent lights, hoping someone was on the other side of the door.

There was an incident, one of the girls explained, in shock. Without words, Mistry knew something bad had happened.

The second girl was quiet, letting her friend speak for her. She had been crying.

They wanted to talk, so they chose their RA, someone they felt close to. Going to the police felt scary for the freshmen, and they didnt know what else to do.

You dont want to assume the worst, but its always in the back of your mind as a worry, Mistry, 21, said.

But before they could speak, Mistry had to disclose the limits of her condentiality.

Their next words would have to be reported, Mistry explained.

I can promise you privacy, but I cant promise you condentiality, she said.

As an employee of UF, she had a legal obligation to report to UFs Title IX ofce, the ofce that manages sexual harassment and sexual assault investigations.

When students tell their professors, club advisers, resident assistants or more about a sexual assault that happened to them, that information must be passed forward. Only three resources on campus, the Ofce of Victim Services, the Counseling & Wellness Center and the UF Student Health Care Center, offer complete condentiality.

Students can also seek confidential legal help through Student Legal Services and the Intimate Partner Violence Assistance Clinic, which is based out of the Levin College of Law. Confidentiality is guaranteed based on attorney-client privilege.

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Hailey Brown, a victim advocate with the Ofce of Victim Services, said students may not know what resources are condential and which arent.

If they seek a condential resource rst, they can learn all their options and choose the path that feels most comfortable.

But if they conde in another employee rst, they may be set down one path without realizing it.

Once you tell someone that maybe isnt condential, it kind of spirals out of your hands, she said.

Russell Froman, the director of the Title IX ofce, said they always work with the student to make them as comfortable as they can be.

I make sure they are aware of the situation when we begin, Froman said. Theres no gotchas, theres no surprises.

When the Title IX ofce gets word of an assault, they put together a preliminary report outlining who is involved and the incidents details.

A student doesnt get to choose whether to have the initial report put together if the information is already with the ofce, but they can choose what next steps to take, Froman said.

I think people think they are going to be forced to move forward, which is not the case, he said.

The Title IX ofce will work with the victim to help get them resources like academic accommodations or rooming changes, he said. Theyll also conduct an investigation to send to the Student Conduct Ofce if a victim chooses.

Tanja Philhower, the assistant dean of students, said theres nothing new about people reporting their sexual assaults to people other than the police.

Reporting to law enforcement feels really signicant and really overwhelming, she said.

Philhower, who used to be a victim advocate, said people may worry they would ruin the life of the person who assaulted them by reporting to police, especially if the person was a peer.

She also said people naturally seek out those theyre close with, like RAs and professors, thinking theyre condential.

I think it is difcult to provide that clarity for people about where there are condential resources and where there are not, she said.

Philhower works with the U Matter, We Care team  but she said having a victim of sexual assault email them directly isnt the best option, because they then have to disclose the information, when the victim may not have known all their choices.

Sometimes, its not even the student who sends an email, but a friend or a parent. A report on the student will still have to be  led  even if they didnt know about the email. A well-meaning parent can put the student through a process they didnt expect, Philhower said.

It still can feel really outing and feel re-traumatizing when theres a mandatory report that has to be made, she said.

Brown said more people tend to seek action with UF rather than with law enforcement if they move forward, but theres no one way someone processes sexual assault.

Some seek the law. More seek disciplinary action. And some just dont want to think about it.

But they may not know all of the options, or the best option for them, if they dont go to a group like Victim Services rst.

In 2017, Browns ofce saw 67 people come through to discuss sexual assaults in condence, 60 of them students. From 2014 to 2017, nearly 200 people came to the ofce to discuss sexual assault.

The ofce helps victims with anything they may need  theyll sit with them in court rooms and hospital rooms, answer their late-night calls and tell them whatever they need to know.

You can come here and explore all your options, she said.

The only thing Victim Services passes along are details of an on campus assault, without names or identifying information, to University Police through the Campus Security Authority program.

The Campus Security Authority program was created under the Clery Act, a federally mandated program that requires colleges to report on-campus crimes.

Major Brad Barber from UPD said not all victims, especially with assault, come to the police. Some of UFs 1,400 Campus Security Authorities  people like professors, housing staff, security guards and Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol drivers  pass along information about on-campus crimes so the police have a better count.

Of reported on-campus sexual assaults in 2016, only 10 of a total 23 individuals reported directly to the police. Eleven were passed through Campus Security Authorities.

In 2015, a year with 18 reported on-campus sexual assaults, seven students reported to the police. Barber said Campus Security Authorities encourage victims to go to the police, but its a personal decision.

We have seen a slight increase (in reporting to Campus Security Authorities) over the years, which I think is a direct result of our continuing efforts to assist those in need and provide alternatives to reporting to law enforcement, Barber said.

Rita Lawrence, the Interpersonal Violence Coordinator at GatorWell, said she knows when someone is assaulted, they almost always turn to a friend rst.

Criminal justice numbers are ever only going to catch a small portion of people reporting because most survivors choose not to report to police, she said.

Lawrence encourages people to go to a condential ofce, like Victim Services, rst to learn their options.

Gizem Toska, a licensed psychologist with the Counseling & Wellness Center, said they have emergency walk-in appointments available to students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day. They also screen students paperwork for references to sexual assault and would then call the student right away, she said.

Theyll never push a student to reveal more or do anything they dont want, she said  a benet of being condential.

An assault is a signicant boundary breach, Toska said. So as providers, we will be as sensitive as possible to not do further harm while trying to help.

She said speaking out and leaving that condential space happens at a different pace for everyone. Its okay if youre not ready, and its okay if you are ready, she said.

Staff Writer Meryl Korneld contributed to this report.

Contact Romy Ellenbogen at rellenbogen@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @romyellenbogen.As they finished their plates of vegan pasta and tofu, people of different religions, strangers just hours before, were so immersed in conversation they kept talking as they walked out the door.

About 65 people of at least six religions  from Mormonism to Judaism to Hare Krishna  discussed their differences and similarities over a meal Wednesday night as part of the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations.

The UF Campus Multi-Faith Cooperative hosted the Faith in Diversity Progressive Dinner, said Very Rev. Catherine Dearlove, chair of the cooperative. The 2018 theme was Building a Beloved Community through Advocacy and Justice. The dinner has been continuing on-and-off for more than 10 years.

Kings dream was multifaceted, Dearlove said. But, overall, he wanted humanity to live in harmony.

We can do that by listening to each other at events like this and truly trying to understand our differences and that we can still support each other, she said.

The dinner had four main stops.

It started at UF Hillel when people congregated at 6 p.m. with their religious groups for appetizers. As they munched on vegetables, they wrote answers in marker on the paper tablecloth in response to the questions left there.

What will you do better this year? one asked.

After mingling, they went out the doors and walked about five minutes down University Avenue to University Lutheran Church for salad. While walking, they continued talking and introducing themselves to someone new.

They continued this trend onto St. Augustine Catholic Church for the main entree. Before dessert, they went to the Episcopal Chapel of the Incarnation where a staff member welcomed them to sit on the old-styled pews and take pictures.

Finally, they went to Gator Wesley for chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls and worship.

Rabbi Adam Grossman, CEO of UF Hillel, said this was his fourth year participating in the dinner. Every year, he sees about the same amount of people, but the faces change, which makes each year unique.

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No matter where we come from, no matter our background, no matter how we look on the outside, within each of us is an aspect of God, he said.

Hunter Jacques, a 21-year-old UF visual art studies junior, said hes been on the search his whole life to find the most truth.

He tried several different beliefs, including Buddhism and reincarnation, until he landed on Mormonism. Jacques said he recently officially joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which had several members come to the dinner.

I came here tonight in hopes to see God's plan continue to unveil as all of his children from differing denominations came together under one common goal  to spread the love of Christ, he said.

About 65 people of at least six religions  from Mormonism to Judaism to Hare Krishna  discussed their differences and similarities over a meal Wednesday night as part of the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs Martin Luther King Jr. Celebrations.

City officials hope to create a more equal Gainesville in 2018.

At the State of the City Address held Wednesday afternoon at the Gainesville Police Department, local officials highlighted the accomplishments of the past year and projects of the upcoming year. They hope these projects will make Gainesville a national model of the New American City, a city other cities look to as a model.

To do this, Mayor Lauren Poe said the city will need to not only incorporate technology-driven initiatives and continued development, but also address the racial and socioeconomic disparities in Gainesville.

Not until every one of us is welcomed, not until every one of us has the same opportunity and not until every one of us is able to achieve their full potential, will we rest, Poe said.

He also praised the city for its resiliency in the midst of a tumultuous year. Visits from both Hurricane Irma and Richard Spencer prompted a state of emergency and ultimately demonstrated the strength of the community, he said.

During two of the most stressful and chaotic moments in recent memory, we showed our unity, supported one another and lived our values, Poe said.

Gainesville Regional Utilities manager Edward Bielarski celebrated the citys decision to purchase the Deerhaven Renewable Energy Center. Since the purchase was made Nov. 7, the plant has saved GRU more than $9 million, he said.

GRU is working with the City Commission to help Gainesville look to the future. This will include the installment of smart streetlights that have sensors to adjust the amount of light they emit, which the city estimates will save millions of dollars, said city manager Anthony Lyons. The city also announced it will be deploying four driverless buses in the spring.

Poe acknowledged work the commission needs to do. One of the biggest obstacles to the growth of Gainesville is the glaring inequality that persists throughout the city, he said.

So long as we have not achieved full equality, we have much more work to do, Poe said.

More than 35 percent of African Americans and just over 30 percent of non-white Hispanics live below the poverty line in Alachua County, Poe said.

To combat the racial and economic divide in Gainesville, the commission will be implementing policies to keep young men of color out of the criminal justice system, he said.

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Poe said the commission will work with police to develop a strategy to arrest fewer people.

Tom Mason, 53, tuned into the State of the City Address via Facebook Live. The Gainesville resident was pleased to hear the city was turning its attention to racial and socioeconomic inequality in Gainesville.

I completely agree that that has to be at the top of the list, he said. One of the things I think that we really need to work on is the great divide of the city between the East and the West.

Mason supported the development projects on the east side of Gainesville, such as Depot Park and the Heartwood Community.

The various projects of 2018 are all focused on making Gainesville a citizen-centered city, Poe said.

When I see a complete community, I see a Gainesville where every person, regardless of income, race, ethnicity, gender or geography is able to succeed, he said.

Contact Jessica Giles at jgiles@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @jessica_giles_.

Gainesville City Manager Anthony Lyons speaks during the 2018 State of the City Address on Wednesday at the Gainesville Police Department.For the first time in Gainesville, people feeling sick, tired or dehydrated can buy an IV infusion.

Revival IV Lounge, a business that specializes in providing customers with vitamin-infused IV solutions, opened at 10 a.m. Thursday at 3300 SW Archer Road, Suite 110. Nichole Pogue, the founder and owner, said injections range in price from $85 to $175, depending on the ingredients and are not covered by medical insurance.

Our goal is to make it as relaxing as possible but also get you in and out because we know everyone has a busy life, said Pogue, a 34-year-old nurse anesthetist, nurse practitioner and UF almuna. She graduated with a major in psychology from UF in 2006, she said.

She got the idea for her company in October while traveling to other cities and seeing similar businesses.

The more I researched it, the more I realized that it would benefit the residents of Gainesville, Pogue said.

Though this is the first business of its kind in Gainesville, Pogue said the concept has been around since the 1950s. A doctor named John Myers invented the Myers Cocktail, which Pogue bases her own infusions on, she said.

Pogue said the IVs are given by registered nurses and paramedics, and the lounge is overseen by a physician.

Pogue said that coming from a hospital background has prepared her and her staff to keep the same standards followed in a hospital.

All the vitamins come from an FDA-approved compounding pharmacy, Pogue said.

A customer will walk in, fill out paperwork, have their medical history reviewed, browse the menu of IV infusions and then wait while the chosen infusion is prepared to order. It takes about an hour to administer an infusion to each customer.

Different vitamins can help with different needs, ranging from workout recovery and hangover relief, to immune system and energy boosts, Pogue said. Because the vitamins go straight through the IV and into the bloodstream, customers absorb 100 percent of the vitamins instead of the 30 to 40 percent theyd receive from a pill, she said.

Pogue said people are welcome to come in groups or individually.

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Monika Baldwin, 27, and Robyn Szabo, 39, of Gainesville were Revival IV lounges first two customers. The two friends were excited for the opportunity after they saw the stores opening on social media.

Baldwin said she normally has about four infusions a year at a doctor in Clearwater, Florida, or while shes traveling but may have them more often since she now has this local option.

I havent been sick in four years, Baldwin said.

She said she was starting to feel the signs of a cold, so she ordered the Chicken Noodle Soup infusion in hopes of keeping the streak alive.

Szabo, who owns a whole body cryotherapy business, Gainesville Cryotherapy, was receiving her first IV infusion today, she said.

She said she wanted to learn more about this other health and wellness treatment.

Im really glad Gainesville has this service, because I think weve been lacking in this type of preventative self-care, Szabo said.

Contact Robert Lewis at rlewis@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter at @Lewis__Robert.

Revival IV Lounge is Gainesville's newest health spa that focuses on rejuvenating customers through vitamin-infused IV drips. In addition to these treatments, the lounge also offers a variety of intramuscular shots that aid in boosting energy and promoting weight loss.All Florida schools would be required to display In God We Trust come July if this Florida bill passes.

The House Pre K-12 Innovation subcommittee unanimously backed the bill, HB 839, Tuesday, which would mandate buildings used by a district school board to display the state motto, In God We Trust, in a visible location. It now awaits consideration in the House Education Committee. State Sen. Keith Perry, (R-Alachua), has filed a similar bill in the Senate.

The bills primary sponsor, Rep. Kimberly Daniels (D-Duval County), is a Christian author and founder of Kimberly Daniels Ministries International. During the subcommittees meeting, she said prominently displaying the motto will educate children on the states history.

This motto is inscribed on the walls of this great capitol and inked in our currency, and it should be displayed so that our children will be exposed and educated on this great motto, which is a part of this countrys foundation, she said.

Daniels believes the cost schools will pay for installing the symbol in buildings will be insignificant.

I think the importance of our children knowing the history and being able to see this will far much outweigh whatever small cost there may be, she said.

Alachua County Public Schools spokesperson Jackie Johnson said its too early for the school board to determine how much this bill would cost Alachua County schools. If the bill continues to move through the legislature, the school board would want clarification on how the bill will be implemented, she said.

I think its safe to assume that (the school board) would have some concerns about whether or not its constitutional, she said.

Jennifer Scott, who has six children in ACPS, is torn about the bill. Scott said, as a Christian, it is exciting to see God included in public schools but understands that not everybody has the same beliefs.

There are a lot of people who arent Christians, and I feel like I hate to impose my beliefs on people, she said.

Contact Jessica Giles at jgiles@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @jessica_giles_.

A girl stares out the window of an Alachua County school bus on West University Avenue.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe NowMartin Luther King Jr. didnt only give the I Have a Dream speech.

He preached, prayed and was targeted by the FBI.

Gerald Smith, a University of Kentucky history professor and King scholar, spoke to about 60 people Thursday afternoon in Pugh Hall Ocora about the history of King that was left out in textbooks. He came to honor the 50th anniversary of Kings assassination this year on April 4.

The event was sponsored by the African-American Studies department, with several other UF co-sponsors.

The speech, Rediscovering the Committee Work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., focused on the compassion King had, despite opposition from powerful figures, notably the FBI.

A tape recording meant to blackmail King, using his alleged sexual adultery, along with a letter encouraging King to commit suicide, was sent to his wife, Coretta Scott King, Smith said.

(The Southern Christian Leadership Conference) was aware of the FBI placing recording devices in their hotel rooms, hoping to tarnish Kings image, Smith said.

Smith also emphasized the impact Kings pastoral duties had on his social justice work.

What kind of sermon do you preach to people when theyre faced with that kind of hatred? Smith said.

Sade Richardson, a 20-year-old African American studies junior, said she only knew the basics of King during her history courses in grade school.

I knew he was a pastor, but I didnt know how much that went into his speeches, she said.

Martin Luther King speaks at a Civil Rights March on Washington, DC, on Aug. 28, 1963.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe NowUpdate 1:45 p.m. Friday: This story has been updated to include Challenge Party's video announcement.

A former Student Government Pro Tempore who accused Impact Party of tokenizing minorities wants to be the next Student Body president.

In an announcement to the Alligator on Thursday, Janae Moodie said she is running for Student Body president with a new party, later announced as the Challenge Party on Facebook.

The partys executive ticket will be announced after slating ends on Tuesday The party also intends to begin slating Sunday, said Wayne Selogy, the partys campaign manager.

We encourage students of all backgrounds and any or no affiliations to slate with Janae Moodies party, said Selogy, a UF African American studies senior. Were looking for driven students who want to make a difference.

Friday afternoon, Moodie released a video announcing her candidacy with the Challenge Party. Anthony Rojas is the party president.

Rojas, 22, organized a protest last year to demand Student Body President Smith Meyers resignation after he was arrested for drunkenly knocking over two Harley-Davidson motorcycles in Key West, according to Alligator archives.

Its a sad reality that a lot of students have given up on Student Government, the UF political science and criminology senior, said. Theres real issues that are affecting real students. We want to be that party that says that no matter who you are, your voice will be heard.

Rojas said the party wants to advocate to change parts of Student Government like implementing online voting and incorporating minorities.

We want to see more initiatives to incorporate minority students and we want to get away from this culture, he said. If an issue affects one of us, it affects all of us.

Selogy, 22, said the party is a grassroots movement.

There will be a clear distinction throughout this campaign of Janaes ability to lead, her experience in leadership and her ability to bring issues that candidates have been very afraid to bring up in the past that are necessary to move our university forward, Selogy said.

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Moodie, a UF psychology senior, said she decided to form the party last week after the new party president wrote to her on Facebook.

It was actually because I had overwhelming support from people from both parties asking me to step up, Moodie said. The party president actually reached out to me and told me about a vision he had of serving students and that aligned with what I said in my speech. I felt like that was the answer I was looking for on how to serve the students best.

Moodie served as the Senate President Pro-Tempore since October, but resigned at the first Senate meeting of Spring 2018. According to Alligator archives, Moodie has been a senator since Spring 2015, when she was first elected with Swamp Party.

Moodie said people are excited about the prospects of the party, and so she is.

Transparency is so important to me but also increasing diversity initiatives to make it more representative of the campus demographic, she said.

Contact Christina Morales at cmorales@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @Christina_M18.

Janae MoodieMarijuana wasnt always prohibited. Due to the 1910 Mexican Revolution, many Mexican refugees migrated to the U.S. With an influx of immigrants of a different culture came the rise of xenophobia along the Mexico-U.S. border. According to Eric Schlosser, author of the article Reefer Madness, Texas police officers reported marijuana incited a lust for blood in Mexicans who used the drug that gave them superhuman strength. To further stir fear, rumors began to spread that Mexicans were giving this killer weed to American children.

The origins of the illegalization of marijuana in the U.S. are pages of history some wish to skim over. Nevertheless, today we are left dealing with the consequences of uninformed decisions of those in the past century.

As states began to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in 2013, the Former President Barack Obama administration issued a memo indicating states could pursue their own marijuana laws without much federal intervention. However, Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the memo Jan. 4, which left the governments current stance on marijuana in limbo. Congress responded to Sessions by introducing multiple bills to alleviate the growing confusion over marijuana policies. One proposed bill intends to decriminalize marijuana use and possession on the federal level. Some congressmen also hope to remove marijuana as a Schedule One substance under the Controlled Substance Act, where it currently ranks alongside heroin and above cocaine for potential of abuse.

Public opinion may push Congress to act even further. A recent Gallup poll revealed about 64 percent of the population supports legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Although it seems like the opportune time for Congress to legalize the drug, people should not anticipate the federal government making that decision anytime soon. Instead, Americans must patiently wait for scientific evidence to develop.

The only way to definitively transform public opinion to fact is through the support of scientific evidence. Lack of substantial marijuana research for the past decade stems from the difficulty in studying an illegal substance. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine recently published a 354-page report based on scientific literature surrounding the effects of marijuana. The report stressed the importance for more research to be conducted on the health benefits and risks from marijuana use. Current scientific evidence only supports three benefits: lessened chronic pain, reduced chemotherapy-induced nausea and relief from some symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

More benefits could come, but the government restricts marijuana research. Currently, researchers interested in studying marijuana must be reviewed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

If approved, researchers can then only get marijuana for research under the NIDA Drug Supply Program, which currently has only one facility. Yes, one facility at the University of Mississippi supplies all marijuana researchers with the range of strains and potency they may need. On top of that, cannabinoid products available in state-regulated markets are still unavailable at the federal level.

Research funding for marijuana currently drives the scientific discussion on the drug itself. Most funding comes from agencies looking to study the negative effects of the drug, ignoring other areas of the debate. According to the agency itself, the NIDA, which funded around 60 percent of all cannabinoid research in 2015, only devoted 16.5 percent of annual funding to the therapeutic benefits of cannabinoids.

The Department of Veterans Affairs still refuses to authorize studies on the effects of marijuana on post-traumatic stress disorder, even though it could potentially serve as a viable alternative to prescribing opioids. Different factions of government may be divided on the question of legalizing marijuana, but all should support research to find the ultimate answer of whether it's good or bad for people.

Although many are eager for marijuana to finally become legal, Americans must stay patient. Congress doesnt mind delaying policymaking in many areas. We must support a current delay in deciding on legalization until science can properly promote policymaking.

Joshua Udvary is a UF environmental engineering junior. His column focuses on science.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe NowA Pashtun Village Elder Praises President Trump

Recently, I was speaking with a friend of mine, a committed liberal and an equally committed member of the anti-Trump camp. Despising President Donald Trump is almost a default position in my Chicago-area community; however, my liberal friend has always impressed me as reasonable and well informed. Hence my particular consternation when he, in a most matter-of-fact way, said President Trump is costing us friends and influence around the world, as if it were an accepted truth. This was more annoying than surprising, because ever since Donald Trump took office, the mainstream media and their political allies have been working overtime trying to convince us that the rest of the world has lost respect for the United States, that we have become something of a joke, and that there was a foreign policy "golden age" under President Barack Obama. (Many refer to a Pew Survey but fail to note that it was conducted about a month after Donald Trump's inauguration or other limitations on methodology.) While that might be the case for certain European elites, whose contempt for the United States and our values has never been more than thinly veiled, it has little to do with reality.

Those with a political agenda to delegitimize President Trump and the people who voted for him, reality be damned, might find cold comfort in the myth. But for the people who are putting themselves and their families in danger to fight for their freedom against the same enemies who want to attack us, the only thing farther from the truth than the anti-Trump drumbeat is the belief that Obama's foreign policy brought us friends and allies. I reminded my liberal friend that I see this close up regularly in urban centers and villages throughout South Asia in particular, where almost one out of every four people on the planet lives. North Waziristan is an area of Pakistan that borders Afghanistan and is best known as a haven for Islamist fighters from both sides of the Durand Line, the British-drawn border between the two countries that separated tribes, neighbors, and families. It also is one of the most dangerous places in the world for us and our friends. Despite that, an elder from the village of Shamiri in Tehsil Spinwam defied Islamist threats and took to the airwaves to thank the United States and President Donald Trump for giving hope to millions. Omer Khan Wazir is from a noble Pashtun family, and that is highly significant. The Pashtun are known in the West for their overrepresentation in the Taliban and other South Asian Islamist groups. Most Pashtun, however, favor democratic rule, which they see as squarely in line with traditional Pashtun values. Along with Baloch, Sindhi, and others, they also face massive human rights abuses by Pakistan. In his video, Wazir thanks President Trump for his tough and "widely popular" policy that favors U.S. allies and calls out Pakistan for decades of "lies, deceit, and duplicity in [the] war on terror." He prays that God "bless President Trump" and grant him "a long and successful life and leadership." He also reminds us how successive U.S. governments have given Pakistan billions for its people's welfare and to fight terrorism, and in return, "Pakistan has given us nothing but terrorism." President Trump, he believes, is putting an end to that suicidal policy. He and other Pashtun leaders have said Pakistan's many "fake military operations" that were supposed to target Islamist terrorists in Waziristan and the rest of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were smokescreens for "ethnic cleansing." In reality, they note, "Pakistan's security forces assassinated only pro-U.S. and anti-terrorism voices among the locals" while supporting safe havens for their Taliban allies crossing over from Afghanistan. While previous U.S. administrations ignored Pakistan's "double-game," it appears that President Trump has not. "We, the common people of Waziristan, are neither terrorists nor their supporters[; rather, we are victims of] religious extremism imposed on us by the state of Pakistan," Wazir says, urging the president to bypass the Pakistani government and send "U.S. teams to Waziristan to know about the ground realities, human rights violations, and atrocities by Pakistan's military." Imtiaz Wazir (no relation), a Pashtun activist and journalist in the region, has told me that we should not underestimate the courage shown by Omer Khan Wazir in making the video, as the Pakistani military and its Islamist allies have "slaughtered thousands of thousands among the local tribal elders and youth as they were raising voices against Pakistan's pro-terror and anti-U.S. policies." However, he adds, the people of the region believe that President Trump has provided them and others with a real opportunity to gain their freedom, which makes any risks worth it. Imtiaz Wazir reported that in May and July of 2017, this sense of hope led more than 300 elders and youths representing "all Pashtun tribes living on both sides of the Durand Line" to gather in Jalalabad and Kabul, Afghanistan. They "unanimously called on Pakistan to withdraw its civil and military administration from FATA and shun terror sanctuaries on its soil. [They] urged the U.S. and the rest of the civilized world to establish direct relationship with the people of FATA, instead of blindly depending of its enemy  Pakistan." And they "pledged their full support for the U.S. against Pakistan and terrorism." This sort of open opposition to Pakistan would not have happened during the Obama administration, many have told me. Several colleagues in the region reference the case of Malik Umer Wazir. He repeatedly identified Pakistan's duplicity in the war on terror and urged the Obama administration to take action, but nothing was done, and eventually, Pakistani intelligence agents assassinated him in 2016. At the 2017 gatherings, one young Waziri praised Trump's stance and criticized Obama for his slow reaction to Pakistan's "treachery," especially after it was clear that the government was providing a safe haven for Washington's number-one enemy, Osama bin Laden. Imtiaz told me, "I work with the pro-democracy forces there and can tell you that they are ecstatic about the Trump administration's foreign policy, and especially the president's recent hard-line actions toward Pakistan and its patronization of radical Islamists."The New Occupation of Europe

How exactly did we get here? The United States has been fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq (yes, we still have troops fighting there) for 15-plus years. Those troops are saddled with more rules of engagement than you can shake a stick at (at least they were under Obama; perhaps that has eased somewhat).

For some reason, Hollywood leftists love, or pretend to, "the Greatest Generation." But if you watch either of the excellent HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and The Pacific, you'll see that by today's standards, by which the left judges all history and historical figures (see the desecration of Confederate monuments in the South and the ongoing attempt to denigrate the Founding Fathers, many of whom were, after all, slave-owners), most of the characters in those television series would be tried and convicted as war criminals in some absurd "international court," probably in the Hague. In fact, FDR and his successor, Harry Truman, would, again by the left's standards of today, be branded as two of the biggest war criminals in history, right alongside Hitler  FDR for his campaign of "total war," which included the area bombing of many German cities and the firebombing of most Japanese cities, including the March 12-13 raid on Tokyo, which killed over a hundred thousand people, mostly civilians, and, of course, Truman for unleashing hell on Earth, not once, but twice, in the form of two atomic bombs, the only man so far in history to have ordered the use of nuclear weapons. The irony is that had FDR and Truman fought World War II the way current leaders are forced to fight modern wars, the so-called International Criminal Court would not have been established in the Hague because the Netherlands would probably still be under Nazi occupation, and the Dutch would not have had the chance to atone for colluding with the Nazis and sending almost every single Dutch Jew to his death in the concentration camps. More than twenty thousand Dutchmen did, after all, join the Waffen S.S. Must be something in the water there. To demonstrate how much things have changed in the last seventy years, today, much of Europe, particularly Western Europe, is again under enemy occupation, yet those countries did not fire even a single shot in their own defense (okay, so things have not changed that much in France). Not only has Europe capitulated to this new conqueror, but many countries have made it illegal to even criticize the enemy or to point out that he is, in fact, the enemy. And who, pray tell, is this new enemy? Militant Islam, jihadists, Muslim terrorists, whatever you want to call them  as long as you don't call them that in Western Europe, because you will likely be arrested for it. They are bold in their intentions, marching down the broad boulevards of Europe's capitals, with police protection, bearing signs and banners that say things like "Kill those who insult Islam," "Islam will dominate the world," and "Be prepared for the real Holocaust." They mean it, quite literally, as evidenced by the frequent slaughter of innocent people around the world every single day. And for you apologists and moral equivocators, these acts are not the random violence of lunatics or otherwise mentally deranged individuals; this is a highly organized worldwide campaign with tens of millions of followers, millions of whom not only support the creation of a worldwide caliphate and the imposition of sharia law on the rest of us, but are willing to kill and to die to see it happen. Interestingly enough, while the jihadist marches calling for beheadings and death are accepted as freedom of expression, counter-protesters who call for stricter laws are always branded as racists and Nazis. So my question is, between World War II and now, what the hell happened?In war, a retreating army is loath to leave infrastructure intact and functioning for the use of an advancing enemy. The essential utilities and infrastructure are destroyed during the retreat, forcing the enemy to lose valuable time repairing the damage, giving the retreating force more time to escape.

With the layers of corruption being peeled back from the illegal and unconstitutional collaboration between Deep State federal bureaucrats and a left-wing-driven "shadow government" (which is nothing less than a continuation of the worst elements of the Obama administration) we can expect to see a predictable gambit coming soon from the besieged forces: a scorched-earth retreat.

The evidence of a Deep State mentality among a significant portion of the permanent federal bureaucracy is unarguable. All that remains unclear is to what extent that this mentality is directed and organized by the devotees of the outgoing administration and the leaders of the Democrat shadow government.

The malfeasance of the previous administration and its political allies is also unarguable, with only the full chain of command to be revealed: who knew what, and when, and what actions were undertaken at whose direction, and why.

The information at the heart of the #ReleaseTheMemo initiative (and its supporting documentation) will go a long way toward answering these questions, which will lead to prosecutions, and more revelations as the depth of corruption is brought to light.

Faced with their undoing, the criminals involved have only one defense at hand: they must so destroy the systems and processes by which they are being held to account as to create in the mind of the American people a sense that this is merely another tit-for-tat political squabble and not the most wide-ranging, anti-constitutional, Third World-worthy coup attempt in the history of self-government.

In the coming months, the "empire" will strike back, filing charges of their own through the Mueller investigation and through myriad other yet to be made allegations, which will originate from compromised bureaucrats within the federal agencies themselves.

The resulting investigations (and breathless reporting) will be without merit, but they will serve to generate fog, hopefully convincing the American people that the Trump administration is so corrupt that it is fabricating the information contained in the #ReleaseTheMemo memo to conceal its own wrongdoing.

In other words, the Deep State operatives will accuse the administration of doing exactly what they themselves are doing, and have been since before the election.

The result? Scorched earth, where the American people, regardless of political orientation, no longer trust that any investigation of the government, conducted by the government, can be relied upon, regardless of evidence.

Of course, the Democrats' solution will be to put Democrats back in charge, to return to a time when government worked (for them) and the misuse of prosecutorial and investigatory power was rare and invariably the fault of Republicans. This will be their narrative, and the fake news media will echo it without end.

Congressional Republicans must work in concert with the Trump administration to forestall the use of this tactic. They need to exercise their oversight responsibilities in a serious manner and immediately hold accountable any bureaucrat who participates in the "resistance" mentality of the Deep State.

The best strategy against a scorched-earth retreat is rapid and overwhelming force. Get moving, Republicans! Now, before chaos swamps our government.Democrats lose another big moneybag donor as Tom Steyer exits in a huff

Tom Steyer has had it up to here. Not with us Republicans, it seems, but with his own Democrats, and he now plans to cut off their nose to spite their faces. The leftwing billionaire hedge fund speculator has announced he won't be bankrolling the Democratic National Committee as he has in the past, based on his dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats' refusal to continue the government shutdown and go down with it. He wanted them to just keep it shut, never mind that the public wasn't with him. Get a load of his reasoning as reported by the Washington Examiner: Democratic mega-donor Tom Steyer will halt donations to the national Democratic Party committees after members of the caucus voted to re-open the federal government despite failing to secure an immigration deal for Dreamers.

I dont have a litmus test on any one thing, but I do have a litmus test for elected officials standing on principle and doing the right thing, looked at holistically," Steyer told Fortune in an article published online Thursday. "And I want to say that after the DACA vote, I have decided not to give anything to the national party committees." Standing on principle? On principle? This from the guy who calls for higher taxes yet has tax liens owed to the federal government? He doesn't even pay the taxes he owes and yet wants more of them. Only little people pay taxes, see. It's all part of his general oafishness around public opinion. A rich guy, of course he doesn't care what the public wants, even if they vote. Last year he ran a $20 million television campaign calling for the impeachment of President Trump, which got viewers flipping the channel or turning the sound down across the country. Now he wants Democrats to repeat the act of getting the public to loathe them, by keeping the government shut down. You wonder why the Democrats stray so badly to the left and well, the reality is, it's guys like Steyer who are propelling it. Steyer, according to this press account, has given $400,000 to the Democrats over the years, so he will be missed. What's more, Democrats are still suffering from the loss of Harvey Weinstein to their donor base, so Steyer is another blow to their supposedly inevitable 'wave' election come November at the midterms. It's true, as President Trump showed, that money isn't the only factor in who wins elections, but Democrats believe this so it will be a morale blow if not just a constraint on resources. Already their fundraising is down. Steyer's exit (along with his insults) will make it downer. Maybe Steyer will contribute more to individual candidates he can manipulate like puppets instead of the broader Democratic Party which has to look at the big picture and the broader polls. If so, it could be a poison pill to such candidates' prospects. In any case, Democrats have been fools to allow Steyer to be their Daddy Warbucks. Maybe he's doing them a favor.The last time they moved the hands of the clock - from three minutes to 2.5 -- was in 2017 after several threatening statements toward North Korea by Trump ratcheted up tensions on the Korean peninsula.

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists announced yesterday that they have moved the hands of their "Doomsday Clock" to two minutes to midnight, indicating they believe the threat of nuclear war (and climate change) is more pronounced than at any time since the end of World War II.

The scientists claim that because Trump has left the Paris Climate agreement and has issued bellicose statements against North Korea, the world stands closer to Armegeddon than at any time since the 1940's.

NBC News:

Neither allies nor adversaries have been able to reliably predict U.S. actions of discern between sincere U.S. pronouncements and mere rhetoric, wrote Krauss and Rosner, who sit on the board of Chicago-based Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, which is the science journal that oversees the clock. The failure of Trump and other world leaders to deal with the looming threats of nuclear war and climate change has endangered our very existence, they added. NBC News has reached out to the White House for a rebuttal. Trump has vowed to expand Americas nuclear capabilities and has claimed that global warming is a hoax, never mind that most scientists and departments like NASA and the Pentagon agree it poses a very real threat to America and the world. Last year, the bulletin pushed the clock from three minutes to midnight to two and a half because of destabilizing comments and threats from Americas new commander in chief and Trump's blatant disregard of facts and science. The groups latest warning comes as Trump has been waging a war of words with the leader of North Korea over that countrys ballistic missile and nuclear weapons program. Trumps threats against Pyongyang have not resulted in a temporary freeze on North Koreas development and the communist countrys neighbors are growing increasing nervous, the scientists warned. The nuclear threat is also growing in Europe as U.S. and Russian relations fray and as NATO conducts military exercises along the Russian border while upgrading their nuclear arsenals and eschewing arms control negotiations with Moscow. "And in the Middle East, uncertainty about continued U.S. support for the landmark Iranian nuclear deal adds to a bleak overall picture," the scientists wrote in the Post.

The world is always going to hell in a handbasket, so the "Doomsday Clock" itself is kind of ridiculous. I think we've been at one minute to midnight for more than 60 years and it's not so much because of tensions in the world, as it is the real possibility that someday, someone is going to "push the wrong button" or misinterpret data and unleash an accidental nuclear war.

The threat from accidental war is far more realistic than any planned nuclear exchange between nations. Even the paranoid, closed minded North Koreans realize what a launch of a nuclear weapon against the US would mean. Unless a certified madman gets his finger on the nuclear trigger, the risk of a deliberate nuclear war is minuscule.

The notion that you can "rid the world" of nuclear weapons is dangerous and naive. Too many nations have the ability to build one and even terrorist groups would be able to buy them. The nuclear genie has been out of the bottle for 50 years and it's impossible to put it back.

But as a PR stunt, the clock shows that the scientists surely have it figured out perfectly.So it's time to support my friend George Rodriguez of San Antonio. He will presenting a resolution to the city government declaring the Alamo City as a sanctuary from Roe v Wade.

This is a bit of the resolution that he plans to propose:

We would like to propose that the city of San Antonio declare itself a "sanctuary city" for the unborn citizens who conceived without their consent and by no action or decision of their ownbut who are under the threat of death because of an unjust law that is the result of judicial activism rather than the will of the people.

We should establish this Sanctuary City for the Unborn to help these unborn but living persons realize their potential as citizens.

The city government should ignore and/or minimize cooperation with government programs that seek to kill these unborn citizens.

The city government should encourage the birth and nurturing of young new citizens rather than their annihilation and destruction.

These unborn but living citizens should be able to pursue personal and individual development without the threat of death before they are even born, and be allowed to fully participate in American society as citizens. They should be embraced as part of our community, and we should recognize their capacity to contribute to our economy and society, if they are protected and allowed the right to be born.

Out of concern for these unborn citizens, we should call on local city and county officials to protect these unborn but living citizens by creating a sanctuary city for the unborn.This is a bigger number than Barack Obama ever contemplated. Obama is laughing tonight. I know you will be told that this is the greatest act of genius since man walked on two feet. Ladies and gentlemen, we just gave up half the battlefield! And rather than just beginning this process by standing firm on issues that matter to us and make them make their proposal of how many people should get citizenship, we flop down 1.8 million amnesty, which is a starting point to them now. Why would you add another million who never even applied for DACA, who may have fraudulent or criminal backgrounds?

Just this week, President Trump called for legalizing some 700,000 "DREAMers," but today is a new day, and now Trump is also offering citizenship an additional 1.1 million illegal aliens who never even applied to be "DREAMers" in return for a border wall and an end to chain migration...in 10 years. Mark Levin said that Trump's offer is terrible for the country and an awful bargaining strategy on his radio show last night (largely in the first ten minutes of his show):

Even Obama didn't go beyond DACA and talk about 1.8 million. It's going to be spun as absolute genius. No, it's not; it's absolutely pathetic. They've upped the number from 700,0000 to 1.8 million, and they've gotten nothing for it, absolutely nothing for it. So our starting point is not legalization for 700,000; it's amnesty [citizenship] for 1.8 million.

That's an important point. Obama was talking only about legalization; Trump is talking about citizenship, and for a much higher number.

Levin also points out that while Trump claims he will delay citizenship for illegals for ten to twelve years, Trump will not be president in ten to twelve years, and another president can speed up the process of citizenship for illegals. Furthermore, future presidents or future congresses can stop work on the wall. And the president doesn't even request mandatory E-Verify or an end to birthright citizenship. The only thing we know for sure is that there would be amnesty for millions of illegals, right now.

More:

President Donald Trump's new "framework" amnesty plan would provide citizenship to at least 1.8 million illegals  but would not allow any beneficial reduction in cheap-labor immigration until 2027. ... [T]he lottery program would be ended, but the 50,000 lottery visas per year would be given to other migrants, so doing nothing to reduce the wage-lowering inflow of cheap labor. More importantly, chain[ ]migration would formally end immediately, but everyone on the huge waiting list would be allowed into the United States. That pipeline of pending chain[ ]migration immigrants includes roughly 4 million people  many of whom will depend on taxpayer funds because they are either unskilled or too old to work. That population is enough to keep the chain[ ]migration pipeline open for another ten years, which means [that] the public ... gains a benefit [only] if the alliance of business groups and progressives somehow fails to expand other areas of the immigration system during the next ten years. "Everybody gets in," said Mark Krikorian, director of the Center for Immigration Studies. "It will be eight to 10 years before there's any reduction in immigration numbers." In the 1980s, a similar plan to provide green cards to an estimated population of 400,000 farm[ ]workers eventually provided green cards to 1 million people who claim to be farm[ ]workers, including an Egyptian cabby in New York who used his green card to train overseas for the first bombing attack against the Twin Towers in 1993.

Basically, the deal boils down to massive amnesty now and an end to chain migration and border security years from now, if ever. And if the starting number for amnesty is 1.8 million, plus millions more in chain migration for years to come, you can be sure that the final number will be much, much larger.

I'm still waiting to understand how Trump, who keeps offering concession after concession, who is pushing for amnesty in larger numbers than President Obama's original DACA program, is still a brilliant negotiator.

He's not. He's stabbed his voters in the back. On immigration, Trump is a terrible disappointment.

Ed Straker is the senior writer at Newsmachete.com.The photo, taken in 2005 at a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus, was snapped by reporter Askia Muhammad. Talking Points Memo has the back story:

A long-buried photograph showing a smiling Barack Obama standing with virulent anti-white, anti-Semite Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan has emerged more than 12 years after it was taken.

Reached by TPM on Thursday, Muhammad said a staff member for the CBC contacted him sort of in a panic after he took the photo at a caucus meeting in 2005. TPM has published the photo above with Muhammads permission. I sort of understood what was going on, Muhammad told TPM. I promised and made arrangements to give the picture to Leonard Farrakhan, the ministers son-in-law and chief of staff. Muhammad said he gave away the disk from his camera but copied the photograph from that day onto a file on his computer. Realizing that I had given it up, I mean, it was sort of like a promise to keep the photograph secret, Muhammad said. Muhammad said he did not release his copy of the photograph because he thought it would be perceived as a betrayal of that promise: I was really, I guess, afraid of them.

That's a pretty chilling admission. Muhammad knew full well what the NOI was capable of and was apparently frightened into silence.

Muhammad said he thought the photograph would be damaging politically if it were released and was afraid that someone might break into his apartment looking for it, like that Watergate crap. He said he felt a little bit more at ease after Farrakhan in 2016 claimed that Obama visited his home in Chicago. Muhammad contacted Farrakhan in autumn 2017 with the final manuscript for a self-published book containing the photo. I sent him a copy of the manuscript suggesting that, showing him the picture, and saying to him, if he did not object, I was going to publish it, Muhammad said. He had no objection.

If the picture had been made public before the 2008 election, would it have made a difference? I think 2008 was a Democratic year anyway so Obama would probably have been elected despite the connection to Farrakhan.

But what if the photo had emerged during the primaries? Would it have helped Hillary Clinton? It's impossible to judge but it's interesting speculation.

The photo reminds us just how carefully the Obama team groomed his image to hide his radicalism. We're still waiting for the LA Times to release a video where Obama was said to praise anti-Israel radical Rashid Khalidi, a Palestinian apologist for terrorism. Of course, Obama's ties to the radical preacher Jeremiah Wright are well known, but what has never been understood about Obama were his emotional and political ties to Farrakhan.

Indeed, the Chicago media was reporting on Obama's close friendship with Farrakhan to anyone who would listen. Unfortunately, the national media chose to ignore it. That friendship goes to the heart of the power structure in Chicago and why radical blacks were so important politically to the Chicago Machine.

When Obama first moved to Chicago he was advised to attend Trinity United Church where the pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had attracted the city's black political and social elites. In short, you didn't get anywhere in politics in Chicago unless you paid tribute to Wright. Wright was close to NOI leader Farrakhan and, while details are sketchy, it's entirely possible that it was Wright who first introduced the Obamas to Farrakhan.

Along with other extremists like the Rev. James Meeks, Father Michael Pfleger, and a few other black clergy and secular activists, Obama cultivated these radicals to assist in his political advancement.

As Deb Heine from PJ Media points out, Barack Obama leaned on Farrakhan for friendship and advice:

A former top deputy to the Nation of Islam told Newsmax back in 2008 that Obama and Farrakhan had had an open line between them to discuss policy and strategy for many years. Dr. Vibert White Jr., who spent most of his adult life as a member and ultimately top officer of the Nation of Islam, said, "Obama was 'part of the Chicago scene' where Farrakhan, Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr. and radicals would go to each others events and support each others causes." Obama attended the NOI's Million Man March in Washington, D.C., in October of 1995, an event organized by Louis Farrakhan and his then-pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright. These are mean, cruel times, exemplified by a lock em up, take no prisoners mentality that dominates the Republican-led Congress, Obama said at the time. Historically, African-Americans have turned inward and towards black nationalism whenever they have a sense, as we do now, that the mainstream has rebuffed us, and that white Americans couldn't care less about the profound problems African-Americans are facing," he said. Obama was pictured sharing the podium with members of the New Black Panther Party (including Malik Zulu Shabazz) at a 2007 campaign event in Selma, Alabama.

Obama's ties to radicals have always been dismissed as nothing special. But the coverup of his relationship with the virulent racist and anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan could not have been dismissed as easily and keeping that relationship secret was therefore vital to Obama's presidential prospects in 2008 and his 2012 re-election.Turks react to US support for Kurds in Syria

Operation Olive Branch in northern Syria started five days ago. The Afrin region became a possible hotbed for full-scale conflict between Turkish troops aided by the armed fighters of the Free Syrian Army and the U.S.-backed Kurdish units which had been dominating the area. The operation started with shelling and airstrikes by the Turkish artillery and AF and later grew into a full-blown invasion. According to Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, one of the incentives for Ankara to invade Syria was the possible threat of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), characterized as a terror army, which could initiate an offensive on the territory of Turkey. This army is armed with equipment supplied by Washington, and trained by American military instructors who still may be in the ranks of the SDF.

Recently, there emerged footage showing a downed Turkish helicopter and a damaged tank, both hit with U.S.-made weapons. Obviously, this brought the raised the possibility of a direct confrontation between Ankara and Washington The presidents of the two countries exchanged rather harsh statements regarding the crisis. But what do Turks think about the conflict and U.S. support for the Kurds? As there have been no large-scale polls conducted yet on this topic, a short analysis of online activity may shed the light upon the current trends in Turkish society. Comment sections on news sites contain an outstanding amount of aggressive comments addressed to the United States. For instance, these were written in response to a news piece warning the U.S. to stop supplying Kurdish units: Americans should do the right thing after all the mistakes they have done

If they want to stay alive they should stop the supplies

No matter how many of you there are, come, whats needed will be done. USA, come too Hurriyet readers express the same point of view: Not Turkey nor Syria matter to the US. They only want to secure their profit in the Middle East. Fight against terrorists must continue till none of them lives

If we had an atomic bomb America would have thought a thousand times before saying such things. The US statement is just like Johnsons letter Posts on Twitter mostly represent the same negative attitude towards Washingtons policy. US statements on Afrin come one after the other. As I understood, they said they would stop supporting PYD but they never will! They dress PYD militants as civilians and make it look like Turkey kills civilian population

Here is the two-faced US. Yesterday: - We are against the Afrin operation. Today: If PYD enters Afrin well cut the support. Hey, who are you trying to fool? As for Facebook, one may come across such comments as this: What do you think about US aiding Kurdish terrorists? Washington supports terrorists all over the world!

Our ally USA is not our friend. All ties with Washington must be disrupted.

Such support must be stopped immediately!

I support [it]. PYD/PKK are not terrorists Perhaps this one tops them all: A terrorist state supports terrorists As we can see, many Turks took quite an aggressive stance towards the U.S. because of its Kurdish project. At the same time, there are many who criticize Erdogan for kicking off the Olive Branch military operation and threatening the lives of quite a number of young Turks.The Anglican Communions Director for Women in Church and Society, the Revd Terrie Robinson, argues that men must play as equal a part as women in the fight for gender-justice.

Ive recently been introduced to Maude Royden and wonder how its possible that I have never come across her before. What a fascinating and courageous individual! And how interesting that good people were inclined to hold her back.

I was introduced to Maude by the Bishop of Derby, Alastair Redfern, who spoke about her during his address at the recent Christians Aware Just Empowerment of Women and Men conference in Swanwick, Derbyshire, UK. She was born in 1876 and died in 1956 and was remarkable for her patient but determined persistence in working for womens suffrage (the right to vote in political elections) and for the inclusion of women as equals in the Church. Her passion derived from her Christian faith and biblical understanding of women and men as equally made in the image of God.

Maude became a council member of the Life and Liberty Movement, which was established in 1917 and influenced the shift towards the synodical structure in the Church of England. The council members included the Revd William Temple (later Archbishop of Canterbury) and the Revd Dick Sheppard who led a powerful social ministry at St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London, and whose BBC broadcasts were known worldwide.

On one occasion, the council went into retreat and conference at Cuddesdon Theological College. A rule at the college was that women couldnt stay overnight. The group had a serious discussion about whether Maude should break the rule but, in the end, they decided she should stay in nearby Oxford. It is said that Maude took a taxi to London and sent the bill to the college!

Maude remained friends with the council members and later worked with them.

Bishop Redfern reflected that sometimes the bar to justice and empowerment is good people. Temple and Sheppard were towering figures for social justice but they, too, were no doubt subject to the pressures of systems that seemed sensible at the time. Through her work and campaigning, Maude made a different kind of statement. She rattled bars and chipped away at the status quo.

In 1919, the Vicar of St Botolph Church in London, the Revd Hudson Shaw  who was Maudes long-term friend and later her husband  invited her to preach during the Three Hours Good Friday service. The Bishop of London, Arthur Foley Winnington-Ingram, even though he was in favour of womens franchise, decided that he couldnt give permission for her to speak. So the Vicar closed the church and Maude preached during the three-hour service for Good Friday in a hall. Hundreds of people came.

Maude remained a great friend of the Bishop of London.

At the top of the Christians Aware conference progamme was written, In our world men and women are like the two wings of a bird, if one is unable to function properly the bird is unable to fly and may even perish. Those are wise words. But theres another way that the two-winged bird can serve as a symbol.

There are some notable and encouraging exceptions, but most activism to promote the equal, God-given dignity of women and men, continues to be delivered and given energy by women. A one-winged bird wont work here. Men need to understand their role in this and get involved. If we really want to see the transformation of harmful attitudes and behaviours, there have to be two wings on the bird.

Gender equality  gender-just relationships  require the empowerment of women and the empowerment of men until we reach the point where we are willing and confident enough to make space for each other. In the great dance of life we need to move our feet constantly to make room for the feet of others so that they too can fully participate in Gods good creation.Posted on: January 26, 2018 4:52 PM

A change in the law to allow the names of couples mothers to be included in the official registers of marriages in England and Wales is a step closer after a Church of England bishop successfully steered a Bill through its second reading in the House of Lords  the upper house of the British Parliament. At present, marriage registers include only the name of the couples fathers. The Bishop of St Albans, Alan Smith, described this as a clear and historic injustice and an archaic practice and unchanged since Victorian times, when children were seen as a fathers property and little consideration was given to a mothers role in raising them.

Bishop Alan is one of 26 Church of England bishops in the House of Lords: The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishops of London, Durham and Winchester are the five senior member of the Bishops Benches. The other 21 places are taken by diocesan bishops in order of seniority, with a temporary transitional measure which sees qualifying female bishops placed higher in the succession list. This afternoon, Bishop Alan became the first bishop to steer a Bill  draft legislation  through its second reading stage in more than 30 years. It now progresses to the detailed clause-by-clause committee stage.

The Bill itself is small. It does not stipulate how the change is to be made, but gives the Secretary of State power to make the change through secondary legislation known as Regulations. The Second Church Estates Commissioner, the MP for Meriden Dame Caroline Spelman, is promoting an identical Bill through the House of Commons. That Bill is due to receive its second reading on 23 February. The Second Church Estates Commissioner is a non-governmental position. The post-holder is the link between the House of Commons and the Church of England. To become law, the Bills will need to clear second reading, committee and third reading stage in both Houses of Parliament.

Bishop Alan stressed that the Bill only concerned the registration of marriages, rather than the definition of marriage. The Bill does not propose any changes to marriage ceremonies or the Church of Englands doctrine of marriage, he told Peers during this afternoons debate. These are all far greater questions, but they all fall outside the scope of this quite narrowly focused Bill.

I understand that some Members of this House may have strong feelings on some of the other issues, but respectfully submit that I hope that these concerns will not get in the way of this simple and important change being made, which many people have wanted for such a long time.

He said: As we approach the centenary of the Representation of the People Act, which gave women the right to vote in the UK for the first time, it is only right that we consider how existing legislation excludes, or does not recognise, the contribution made by women. . .

A marriage officially recognises the start of a new family. Including parents names on marriage registers gives children an opportunity to recognise the contribution of their parents in bringing them to that day. It is only right that mothers are recognised in their role just as much as fathers.

Unsurprisingly . . . calls for reform of this system of marriage registration are not new. Indeed, in August 2014, the then Prime Minister David Cameron announced his support for a move to facilitate the inclusion of mothers names on marriage registers, and Members [of Parliament] from all major parties have supported Early Day Motions in favour of the change.

Much to the amusement of the staff in my office, a number of magazines written for what one might call the stylish woman have been interested in, and supportive of, my Bill. However, that should not be surprising. I imagine that many Members of this House who have been married themselves or whose children have married will have been shocked that only the fathers details are recorded. As someone who has performed hundreds of marriages, it seems to me wholly unreasonable that mothers are systematically overlooked on this special occasion.

He said that the Bill was also supported by genealogists, who are anxious for this change to be made because present records present only one half of the family tree.

The Bill was welcomed by the Government. Home Office minister Baroness Williams of Trafford told Peers that, if the Bill became law, the government would aim to implement these reforms as soon as possible.

A date for the Bills committee stage has not yet been published.Posted on: January 26, 2018 3:38 PM

[Episcopal News Service, by David Paulsen] The Revd Aimee Eyer-Delevett and her congregation heard on Wednesday (24 January) that they could return to their church for the first time in two weeks, but they have no expectations of an immediate return to normal life or business as usual at All Saints-by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Montecito, California. Fire and flood have changed everything for this community sandwiched between mountain and ocean on the east side of Santa Barbara.

All Saints and its neighbours have suffered weeks of disaster, from the massive wildfire that threatened in December to the 9 January mudslides that have killed at least 21, with two people still missing. The church and its parish school have been closed since authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation from the neighbourhoods in the path of the mudslides. The church wasnt damaged, but the sprawling debris field left Highway 101 impassable and split the congregation in two, with parishioners on the Santa Barbara side isolated from those in the region to the east and south.

Its been a very difficult time, Eyer-Delevett told Episcopal News Service by cell-phone. The community has suffered a collective trauma, the entire community of Montecito.

Her uprooted congregation has found solace in faith and fellowship. Until they can worship in their own church again, All Saints parishioners are attending services at Episcopal churches in Santa Barbara and Ventura and at home churches outside the evacuation zone. After Highway 101 reopened last Sunday (21 January), all are invited to a Service of Healing and Hope today (Friday) at Trinity Episcopal Church in Santa Barbara.

All Saints clergy and lay leaders, meanwhile, are focused on providing pastoral care to their now scattered members, including to the newest member  a baby boy, born last week to Montecito residents who have been staying with a fellow parishioner in Santa Barbara. Such generosity has been replicated in countless ways across the region since early December, when the Thomas Fire began threatening.

The wildfire grew to become the largest in Californias history, and though Montecito and the Santa Barbara area were largely spared by the fire, the smoke and ash still upended daily life for weeks.

It also forced All Saints to cancel Sunday services on 10 and 17 December. Trinity Episcopal Church in downtown Santa Barbara invited the All Saints congregation to join Trinity for worship on 17 December, but then Trinity had to cancel its service, too, when the downtown church became part of the evacuation zone.

All Saints leaders were able to return to their church on 19 December, just in time to prepare a full complement of Christmas Eve and Christmas services. They turned their focus to clearing ash from church grounds, including facilities used by the Friendship Center, an elder-care day centre that operates on All Saints grounds.

Then, heavy rain began to fall.Posted on: January 25, 2018 2:55 PM

Anglican leaders have taken part in an ecumenical meeting with Irish government ministers to discuss a number of pressing social and ethical matters. The Irish Prime Minister, known as the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, invited senior clergy and lay representatives from the Church of Ireland, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the Methodist Church in Ireland to the bilateral meeting in Dublin, as part of a ChurchState structured dialogue process.

The Anglican Primate of Ireland, Dr Richard Clarke, the Archbishop of Armagh, led the Anglican delegation, which also included the Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Michael Jackson, and two Secretaries of the General Synod: Canon Gillian Wharton and Ken Gibson. They were joined by the Presbyterian Church Moderator, Dr Noble McNeely, the Lay Leader of the Methodist Conference, Dr Fergus OFerrall, and other senior church representatives.

We welcomed the opportunity to meet the Taoiseach and his ministers today as part of the ChurchState dialogue, which we were assured will be a continuing and constructive twoway conversation, Archbishop Richard said after the meeting, speaking on behalf of the three Churches. Our wideranging discussion included many of the most important and pressing social and ethical matters relating to contemporary Irish society.

These included migration, direct provision and overseas aid, the impact of Brexit  Britains decision to leave the European Union  on Ireland and Northern Ireland, abortion and the recognition of the unborn childs life under the Irish constitution, homelessness, social housing and wider economic issues, and education.

The Taoiseachs delegation included a large number of ministers, including those responsible for education, justice, health and foreign affairs.Posted on: January 26, 2018 12:52 PM

Canon Colin Craston, a Second World War naval hero who went on to become one of Englands leading evangelical priests and a past-chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, has died. Colin Craston died peacefully as his home yesterday (Thursday), St Pauls Day. He was 94. He had served his entire ordained ministry, after his curacy, at St Pauls Church in Bolton, Greater Manchester.

Canon Craston was educated at Tyndale Hall in Bristol, earning a BA from Bristol University in 1949 and a Bachelor of Divinity from London University in 1951. In 1992 he was awarded a Lambeth Doctorate in Divinity.

He was ordained deacon in 1951 and priest in 1952, serving his curacy at St Nicholas Church in Durham. In 1954 he became vicar of St Pauls Church in Bolton, which he served for almost 40 years. During that time he also served as priest in charge and then vicar of Emmanuel Church in Bolton, becoming Team Rector of the newly created team ministry in 1986. In 1968 he was made an honorary canon of Manchester Cathedral and he also served as Rural Dean of Bolton. In 1985 he was made one of the Honorary Chaplains to Queen Elizabeth II. He retired in 1992 and retained permission to officiate until his death.

He was elected as the Church of Englands clerical member of the Anglican Consultative Council in 1981, and remained on the ACC for 15 years; serving as vice-chair and then chair of the Council from 1990 to 1996.

Canon Colin Craston will be gratefully missed for his pivotal contributions to the life of the Anglican Communion, the current chair of the ACC, Archbishop Paul Kwong, the Primate of Hong Kong, said. He brought with him many gifts during his fifteen years of service on the Anglican Consultative Council, six of those years as Chairman.

He helped build up the Communion for mission and laid down a strong foundation upon which the future development of the Communion has been possible, Archbishop Paul said.

The secretary general of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon, described Colin Craston as a highly significant figure both in the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.

He said: He served the Anglican Consultative Council with distinction, particularly during his time as chair. His wisdom and insight were widely valued. There will be many people around our global family who will mourn his passing but will remember with warmth just how much his life enriched theirs.

In 2011, Canon Craston was the first clerical member to be admitted to the newly-created Order of William Temple, an honorific of the Diocese of Manchester. Canon Craston was admitted to the Order by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Rowan Williams and John Sentamu, and the Bishop of Manchester, Nigel McCulloch, at a service during the General Synod meeting in York. The honour was given in recognition of his long and distinguished ministry within the Diocese of Manchester, the Church of England, and the Anglican Communion.

He had served as chairman of the Li Tim Oi Foundation, which supports womens ordination to the priesthood worldwide. He put forward arguments for the ordination of women from an evangelical perspective, concluding an article in The Churchman journal with these words: That is why we face now, and not before now, the possibility and rightness of ordination of women. The time is ripe for a development in the man-woman relationship that has been on the cards ever since the cross provided the remedy for mans sinfulness, the healing of his impaired relationships, and the potential for realising wholeness in human personhood. The New Testament has had this timebomb waiting for the kairos one day to be created by the Lord of history.

He published six books: Heaven, Science and the Last Things; Evangelical and Evolving; Debtor to Grace; Biblical Headship and the ordination of Women; Anglicanism and the Universal Church; and Silence of Eternity.

His book Evangelical and Evolving: Following the Gospel in a Changing World was published by Hymns Ancient & Modern in 2006, which was described in the book as a critical time for Anglican evangelicals. It was written at a time when the furore over the appointment of an openly gay bishop and blessings for same sex couples in parts of the Communion, and the move towards the consecration of women bishops in the Church of England, was leading to the establishment of breakaway churches.

In it, he argued that while some conservatives were saying If you don't agree with us, you are not in Communion, most evangelicals were uncomfortable with such extremism. Through its pages, he sought to articulate the views of many open evangelicals about key issues of the moment: interpreting Scripture, authority, belonging to the Church, the ministry, sexuality cohabitation, divorce and remarriage, and more. He argued for biblical humility and compassion as with others we explore theological diversity.

In 2014 he was awarded a medal by the Russian Federation for his work protecting Arctic convoys during the Second World War. Canon Craston had served as a wireless telegraphist on the Royal Navy destroyer HMS Eclipse for a year before being sent ashore in March 1943 having been selected for a commission. The ship sank seven months later in the Aegean Sea near Greece, with the loss of 119 of the 145 crew. My life was absolutely dependent on coming off that ship . . . my friends and colleagues were all on it, he told the Bolton News ahead of the medal ceremony in Manchester Town Hall. Im 91 years old, yet I couldve died aged 20.

He had previously received eight medals for his war service  but the ceremony at Manchester was the first time he received an award in person.

He told the Bolton News: Im very, very pleased to be receiving this medal. Its a great privilege. Ive heard for a long time that the Russians wanted to honour those who served in the convoys and I look forward to being given a medal in person.

I remember my war years well. There were dreadful weather conditions along the way . . . ice, gale storms, you name it. I appreciated the experience. It was very interesting.

After his first wife died, Colin Craston found love again with the Revd Brenda Fullalove. The couple were married at Lambeth Palace in a service presided over by the then-Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey. The Revd Canon Colin Craston leaves behind Brenda, two children and a number of grand-children and great grand-children.(ANSA) - Milan, January 26 - A doctor in the northern Italian city of Cantu has reported that a patient refused to be examined by him because he is black.

"I won't be examined by a negro," the patient said, Dr Andi Nganso wrote on his Facebook page.

The 30-year-old medic, who was born in Cameroon but has lived in Italy for 12 years, managed to joke about the episode of racism.

"I thank you," the out-of-hour duty doctor said. "Now I have a quarter of an hour for a coffee".

He added, however, that he was shocked by the incident.

"Once a girl told me that she was amazed I was nice as her parents said not to speak to black men," Nganso said.

"But this time the patient's reaction knocked me back".

Libya: Italy, France, US and UK condemn summary executions Call for Haftar to hand Captain Warfally over to The Hague

(ANSAmed) - CAIRO, JANUARY 26 - Italy, the US, France, and the UK have asked the commander of Libyan armed forces, general Khalifa Haftar, to conduct an investigation into the summary execution of 10 people this week in Benghazi and to ensure that justice be served against the alleged perpetrator: army captain Mahmoud Al-Warfally, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague for similar crimes. The request was contained in a joint declaration by the embassies of France and Italy and the charged de affaires of the UK and the US in Libya, in which the diplomatic representatives ''strongly condemn'' the summary execution and ''the horrific terrorist attacks'' on Tuesday in Benghazi. The reference implied in the statement, which was posted on the Twitter account of the Italian embassy in Tripoli, is to two car bombs that caused over 30 deaths and led to revenge that Warfalli has been blamed for. Ten people were subjected to summary killings in retaliation for these attacks, the statement noted on the executions attributed to the Libyan National Army (LNA) under Haftar, adding that official information and media reports indicate that LNA commander Mahmoud Mustafa Boussif Al-Warfally was the perpetrator and that there is an International Criminal Court warrant out for his arrest for alleged war crimes. The LNA, the statement continued, announced on August 17 that Al-Warfally had been arrested and was under investigation. The diplomatic offices called on the LNA to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a thorough, fair manner and that the perpetrators of the unlawful killings be called to account for them, adding that they strong condemned such crimes and would continue closely watching events as they unfold in Libya. They stressed that they would continue their efforts with international partners to fight terrorism in Libya. In a video circulating on the internet on the killings in Benghazi, a bearded man in camouflage fatigues shoots ten blindfolded men in blue tracksuits and on their knees in the face. The man then shoots a barrage of bullets at the backs of the bodies on the ground. (ANSAmed).



Turkey 'not occupying Afrin, only fighting terrorism' Ankara claims to have killed 343 'terrorists' in operation

(ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, JANUARY 26 - Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke Friday on Operation Olive Branch, saying that ''Turkey is not occupying Afrin, only fighting against terrorists there''. He was speaking at a meeting of his AKP party in Ankara on the operation, which has entered its seventh day. The armed intervention is a ''clear warning'' to those who do not believe in Ankara's determination to fight terrorism, Erdogan added, saying that the next step would be clearing the region of Manbej, east of Afrin and also controlled by Kurdish YPG militias but where there are US Special Forces advisors, who have allied with the PKK-linked group as part of the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS) in eastern Syria. The PKK is listed as a terrorist group by the US, the EU and Turkey. ''At least 343 members of terrorist organizations'' including the Kurdish PKK and YPG and ISIS have been neutralized in the Turkish offensive against the Syrian-Kurdish enclave of Afrin, according to an official bulletin. The statement added that airstrikes continued throughout the night on Afrin, conducted by 13 fighter jets, that destroyed 23 objectives including both shelters and weapons depots. The numbers cannot be independently verified. In visiting some of the soldiers injured in the offensive now in an Istanbul hospital, Health Minister Ahmet Demircan said that three men had died - including both Turkish soldiers and their Syrian allies - and over 130 had been injured but none in a life-threatening manner. The YPG, the Syrian branch of the PKK, has accused the Turkish air force of killing seven civilians in the past 24 hours in the Kurdish-Syrian enclave of Afrin. A statement quoted by a website carrying Syrian Kurdish news claimed that seven civilians members of the same family - IDPs from nearby Idlib- were killed over the night in the Mabata district as a result of a Turkish airstrike. The information cannot be verified in an independent manner on the ground. (ANSAmed).



Marysville, CA (95901)

Today

Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 98F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 64F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has received the M&A Deal of the Year award from Airline Economics during its Aviation 100 Global Leader Awards ceremony in Dublin, this week.

This award is recognition of DAEs high-profile acquisition of the leading aircraft lessor AWAS in 2017, which propelled DAE into the top tier of global aircraft lessors. DAE Capital now features an owned, managed and committed fleet of nearly 400 aircraft with a value of over $14 billion.

The Aviation 100, an annual publication by Airline Economics, recognises the years most outstanding performers in the aerospace industry.EgyptAir has won the best punctual airline rank in 2017 amongst other airlines in the African continent, according to OAGs annual Punctuality League performance report in 2017.

EgyptAir Chairman and CEO Safwat Musallam said that such record achieved in punctuality of operational performance in addition to other developed services are results of EgyptAir employees great efforts in different aspects.

We are keen on maintaining this rank, so as to offer our loyal customers the best services they deserve in accordance with EgyptAir strategic planning in modernising the fleet, said Musallam.

Sherif Ezzat, Chairman and CEO of EgyptAir Airlines added: This outstanding result achieved after ranking the 31st amongst the top 50 punctual airlines out of 900 airlines worldwide release in October 2017 report, with 10 points higher than leading carriers in the Middle East and African region. OAG leverages the worlds largest network of air travel data to provide accurate, timely, actionable digital information and applications to more than 900 worlds airlines, 4000 airports, government agencies and travel-related service companies.With the new iflyA380 iOS app, world travellers can book a flight aboard Airbus flagship A380 jetliner, take a 360 tour of the cabin ahead of time, then interact with the aircraft in augmented reality once en route to destinations.

The iflyA380 app from Airbus does all this and more as it helps its users manage trips more efficiently. Users are able to browse all A380 flights offered by 13 operators and select one of the 53 worldwide destinations they serve. Once the desired departure city, destination and travel dates have been chosen, booking is finalised through the selected airline at no additional cost. While on board, travellers can take advantage of a connected and immersive in-flight experience thanks to Apples augmented reality functionalities.

Airbus free app, available in Apples App Store, builds on the success of the iflyA380 website, launched last year to make flying on the spacious A380 a matter of choice rather than chance. Noting that 98% of surveyed passengers would recommend flying on the iconic double deck aircraft to their friends and family, Airbus Digital Transformation Officer Marc Fontaine said the new app is set to make the passengers favourite flight experience even more memorable, from travel inspiration to their final destination.

Response to the iflyA380.com website has been fantastic, Fontaine added. The iflyA380app is a new step for Airbus towards developing digital services that directly benefit consumers.The partnership was finalised in a signing ceremony during MRO Middle East this week and will enable TS&S to become the first aerospace company in the Middle East to use Honeywells Maintenance and Inspection (M&I) voice system.

Under the terms of the agreement, the global software-industrial companys voice system will lead to a Hands-Free, Eyes-Free environment that significantly reduce paper based documentation within TS&S operations by allowing mechanics to speak log their observations and diagnosis in real-time, curtailing the need for manual data entry and improving data integrity.

The Honeywell M&I voice system offers advanced voice and sound-recognition capabilities, and will integrate with TS&S Materials Requirement Planning (MRP) system, allowing for the automation of existing processes.

Commenting on the partnership, Mansoor Janahi, Deputy CEO of TS&S, said: As we grow our operations to new markets, implementing advanced technologies that enable process optimization are critical in ensuring that we meet our growing demand to the highest compliance standards. This announcement today is a testament to our growing relationship between the two companies.

Over the years, Honeywells voice system has enabled organizations around the world to save US$20billion in operational costs, improve productivity by 35% and reduce operational errors by 25%.

Honeywell is proud to partner with industry leading companies such as TS&S, that are strengthening their positions by deploying the latest advances in Internet of Things technology, cloud solutions and automation to tackle operational inefficiencies and disconnects, said Norm Gilsdorf, president, Honeywell Middle East, Russia, Turkey & Central Asia. We remain committed to innovation and to bringing the best hardware and software solutions to market that can help organizations streamline tasks, improve productivity, drive compliance and boost connectivity across all industries.India is looking at 100 per cent EV for public transport and 40 per cent of personal vehicles by 2030.

Company will also wait for wider availability of BS- VI fuel in India before rushing them to launch vehicles complying with the stricter emission norm.

New Delhi: Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover is ready with electric vehicles (EV) in its global portfolio but bringing them to India will depend on the EV policy, according to JLR's head of operations here.

The company will also wait for wider availability of BS- VI fuel in India before rushing them to launch vehicles complying with the stricter emission norm, said JLR India President and Managing Director Rohit Suri.

"As far as the company is concerned, we have the product available to us. The question will be when would we bring them to India That, we will have to watch how the ecosystem in India develops itself, which should be dependent on what kind of policy the government actually brings into play," Suri told PTI in an interview.

He further said: "The EV policy is still not out. So we are waiting for that, what's there in the policy. Depending on that we will have to formulate our strategy how to enter."

India is looking at 100 per cent EV for public transport and 40 per cent of personal vehicles by 2030.

Reiterating the company's preparedness for EVs, he said, "There are a slew of products already being prepared, many many more are going to be coming up. First reveal is going to happen in Geneva (Motor Show) this year with the Jaguar iPace. So starting with that, which is a completely full EV, we have the products." Suri, however, said the company has no pans to rush its launch here in India.

"There is not point in getting a full EV now with no charging infrastructure available. You'll only be inconveniencing the customer. You have to have the infrastructures and it is very critical for completely electric cars," he said.

When asked if JLR was ready to bring BS-VI compliant vehicles ahead of April 2020 deadline, like rival Mercedes- Benz has done, he replied in the negative.

"We have BS VI equivalent cars already available. We have to be careful about what kind of fuel is available and where is it available," Suri said.

He said it doesn't make sense to launch BS-VI vehicles when the customer cannot drive it out of the National Capital Region (NCR) due to fuel availability constraints elsewhere. Last year Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry's had announced plans to advance availability of BS-VI fuel in NCR by two years to April 1, 2018.The actor shared on Instagram to share several pictures from the party where ex-wife Sussanne Khan along with others were present.

New Delhi: Hrithik Roshan, who is a doting family man, recently hosted a grand bash on the occasion of his maternal grandfather J Om Prakash's 92nd birthday.

The 'Kaabil' star took to social media to share few pictures from the party where we can see the whole family in attendance, including his ex-wife Sussanne Khan.

"As a young man he sold his wedding ring to buy books. Studied under street lamps. Self taught. Ignited by creativity he forayed into films. Aap ki kasam and 22 more jubilee films brought him name and fame. But his greatest work was love. Here he is at 92. My greatest teacher. My Deda," the 44-year-old captioned the post.

On the work front, Hrithik has started shooting for 'Super 30'. In the film, he will essay the role of Anand Kumar, a mathematics genius who mentors 30 meritorious and talented candidates from economically backward sections each year for the entrance examination of Indian Institute of Technology.The Congress has been critical of the violent protests taking place against the movie Padmaavat.

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former finance minister P. Chidambaram took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the mob violence, saying that on the day when the Prime Minister invited the world to invest in India, Ahmedabad was hit by mob violence and moral policing was witnessed in Uttar Pradesh.

Mr Chidambaram said on the day when the Prime Minister made a pitch for investing in India at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, the moral police in Uttar Pradesh registered six cases against young couples found in public places. On the day when PM invited world business to invest in India, Ahmedabad was hit by mob violence, he tweeted, referring to the violent protests in Gujarat against the movie Padmaavat.

He slammed the government over the violence that erupted in Gujarats Ahmedabad on Tuesday night where malls and theatres were targeted by opponents of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis movie Padmaavat.

He also said that on the same day, human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar pulled up his junior colleague Satyapal Singh for trashing Darwins theory of evolution. On same day, Supreme Court restrained NIA from investigating why a Hindu girl had chosen a Muslim boy to marry, he tweeted.

On Tuesday, addressing the WEF summit at Davos, the Prime Minister had sought to hard sell India as an investment destination, saying those wanting wealth with wellness and peace with prosperity should come to the country.

The Congress has been critical of the violent protests taking place against the movie Padmaavat.

On Wednesday Congress president Rahul Gandhi had tweeted that There will never be a cause big enough to justify violence against children... The BJPs use of hatred and violence is setting our entire country on fire.

Earlier the Congress had accused the BJP led government of bringing in the culture of intolerance. It had also taken out a march from Parliament to the Rashtrapati Bhavan.Governors unfurled the tricolour in their respective states and outlined its achievements.

Indian Army's T-90 tanks on display at Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Colourful tableaux, disciplined parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day as patriotic fervour gripped the nation on the 69th Republic Day which passed off peacefully amid tight security.

Governors unfurled the tricolour in their respective states and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

Kashmir

In Kashmir, all Republic Day programmes, including the main event in Srinagar, were uneventful amid heightened security measures in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.

"The Republic Day functions at all district headquarters passed off peacefully," a senior police officer said.

(Photo: PTI)

Dehradun

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul hoisted the tricolour and reminded the citizens the Constitution has enlisted fundamental duties alongside the Fundamental Rights.

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, energy and patriotism marked the celebrations with the main function being held at the state capital Lucknow. At Vidhan Bhawan, Governor Ram Naik took the salute of the parades put up by the army, central forces and school children.

The Governor on the occasion asked people to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and the administrator of UT Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag in Pathankot, while Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the tricolour in Ambala.

Bihar

Meanwhile, two Saudi nationals and an Indian, carrying a satellite phone, were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, police said.

Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said they will be interrogated by a joint team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police. Possession of satellite phone without authorisation is not allowed in the country.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the tricolour at the famous Gandhi Maidan at Patna on the occasion and said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

The government will take measures to empower the youth and the marginalized sections of the society, he said, after taking a salute at the marchpast by contingents of Bihar police and central armed forces.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Later in the day, the CM hoisted the flag at his official residence and at a "Mahadalit Tola" in Punpun block of rural Patna.

The tricolour was also unfurled at the offices of political parties like the BJP, the Congress, the RJD and the JD(U) besides government establishments and educational institutions.

Jharkhand

In neighbouring Jharkhand, after unfurling the tricolour Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is second only to Gujarat in terms of growth rate in the country.

West Bengal

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi hoisted the tricolor at Red Road in Kolkata. He also presided over an hour-long march past of the armed forces, police forces and civilians, including school students.

Assam

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

Hoisting the tricolour on the occasion, Mukhi said, "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore."

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the day.

Tableaux on P-21 surface-to-surface missile, surface-toair missile, Rakshak Bulletproof vehicle, Mahila Suraksha Pathak vehicle, Jalyukta Shivar scheme, were a part of the parade.

Telangana

In Telangana, Governor E S L Narasimhan in his Republic Day speeh said the state government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year.

Goa

While, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said although tourism was generating revenue in the state, it has also brought with it issues like narcotics and human trafficking.

"The government is committed to fight these evils. I am hopeful that joint efforts by the people and the government will weed out these evils from the state," she said at the Republic Day function in the state capital of Panaji.

Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh

In his speech, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said the collective efforts of law-enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the more peaceful states of the country.

While in his speech, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra exhorted the people to contribute to the remarkable growth plan being carried out by the state government to put the state in the highest-growth trajectory.

Odisha

The day was celebrated across Odisha amid tight security as Governor S C Jamir unfurled the tricolour on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the state capital.

Tripura

In his speech, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy congratulated the people for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold democratic values under all circumstances.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala urged the people to build a strong nation on patriotic sentiments and scientific temperament as he addressed the gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the historic Manekshaw Parade ground.

Tamil Nadu

Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu today, unfurling the Indian tricolour at the Marina to mark the occasion.

Members of the armed forces and uniformed personnel took out an impressive march past on Kamaraj Salai along the famous Marina beach here, even as a good number of public had turned up to witness the proceedings.

(Photo: PTI)

Cultural shows depicting India's diversity were presented by college students and artistes, while the state government showcased its schemes and projects covering various departments by way of floats.

The floats predominantly featured the pictures of late Chief Ministers and AIADMK stalwarts, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, besides those of the incumbent, K Palaniswami.

(Photo: PTI)

Kerala

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam expressed concern over some youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

A ceremonial parade was held at the naval base, Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi to commemorate the nation's 69th Republic Day.

The parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Southern Naval Command and comprised 24 platoons including six armed platoons.The Kirti Chakra was awarded to Major Vijayant Bist from the J&K light infantry.

New Delhi: On the eve of the 69th Republic Day, President Ram Nath Kovind stamped his seal of approval on the award of one Ashok Chakra, one Kirti Chakra and 14 Shaurya Chakras among a total of 390 gallantry and other defence decorations to personnel of the armed forces and the paramilitary forces.

The awards were for demonstrating gallantry in the insurgency-affected zones of J&K and Nagaland and the Left Wing Extremism affected zone of Chhattisgarh.

The Ashok Chakra, the countrys highest peacetime military decoration for gallantry, was posthumously awarded to IAF Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who laid down his life while gunning down two terrorists in J%K on November 18 last year.

Attached to a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, Corporal Nirala shot dead two top terrorists and wounded two others during an offensive operation mounted on the basis of specific information before a volley of small arms fire fatally hit him in Chanderger village of Bandipora district in J&K.

The Kirti Chakra was awarded to Major Vijayant Bist from the J&K light infantry.On borrowing the legacy of MGR to name his tour, Haasan acknowledged it would remind of the yesteryear veteran.

Chennai: Borrowing the legacy of yesteryear superstar and late Tamil Nadu chief minister M.G. Ramachandran, Kamal Haasan has named his state-wide political tour starting February 21 as Naalai Namathey after the title of the film starring MGR.

Haasan, who has announced his foray into politics in Tamil Nadu, on Thursday unveiled his plans to adopt a village and make it a model one, with special focus on education, transport and civic amenities.

Writing in his weekly series Ennul Maiyam Konda Puyal, (The Storm Centred in me) in Tamil magazine Ananda Vikatan, Haasan sub-titled this weeks column as Munmathiri Gram-am... Nalai Namathey Payanam. Muzhu Arasiyal Plan, meaning Model Village...Tomorrow is ours tour. Full Political plan.

On borrowing the legacy of MGR to name his tour, Haasan acknowledged it would remind of the yesteryear veteran.

If the memories are about him (MGR), so be it.. We have given this name as they are good memories, Haasan said.

Recalling that he and his fans have been involved in public service for many years, Haasan said that they have now decided to adopt a village and provide all required amenities, with special focus on education, sanitation, drinking water supply and transport, and make it a model village.Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at Vyasa Vidhya Peetam Higher Secondary School, an institution run by Vidya Bharti.

The RSS has maintained that there was nothing wrong in Bhagwat hoisting the national flag in the school as every citizen has the right to do so. (Photo: ANI | Twitter)

Palakkad (Kerala): RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Friday unfurled the national flag at a school run by Sangh workers in Palakkad city on India's 69th Republic Day.

Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at Vyasa Vidhya Peetam Higher Secondary School, an institution run by Vidya Bharti.

On Independence Day, in 2017, Bhagwat had kicked up a row by hoisting the national flag at the government-aided Karnakiamman Higher Secondary School, flouting an order by the Palakkad collector. The order had stated that heads of departments have to hoist the tricolour.

The RSS had said that the state government's circular, laying down guidelines for hoisting the national flag in government and educational institutions, was not binding on it.

The RSS has maintained that there was nothing wrong in Bhagwat hoisting the national flag in the school as every citizen has the right to do so.

Both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in the state had asked the government to register case against the RSS chief for defying the government directive.

The government had also sought an explanation from the school management.

Bhagwat will attend a three-day camp of RSS workers in Palakkad, in which more than 5,000 office bearers of the Sangh will participate, sources said.

Matters related to organisation and expansion of Sangh's activities in the state are to be discussed at the meet.

In his Republic Day address, Bhagwat wanted all to follow in letter and spirit the guidelines in India's Constitution.Disagree with other views but dont mock a citizens dignity: President.

New Delhi: In his first Republic Day eve address, President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday chose to underline the significance of tolerance and the need to respect everybodys views without hurting any individuals dignity. The Presidents thoughts could not have come at a better occasion when the controversy over the film Padmaavat has resulted in violent protests across the country, endangering the lives of people and even children.

Mr Kovind called for a civic-minded society where one can disagree with views even which had a historical context without mocking the other persons dignity.

The President also said that institutions should be disciplined and morally upright, adding they are always more important than the individuals in office. The institutions should also respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions, he added.

Touching on other issues, Mr Kovind emphasised that it is our sacred obligation to eliminate the curse of poverty in the shortest possible time.

This is non-negotiable for the Republic. A civic-minded nation is built by civic-minded neighbourhoods, whether in our cities or our villages. Where we respect the next-door persons space, privacy and rights. Where we do not inconvenience our neighbours  while celebrating a festival or while resorting to a protest or on any other occasion. Where one can disagree with another viewpoint  or even with a historical context  without mocking a fellow citizens dignity and personal space. This is fraternity in action, the President said.

The comments come at a time when several parts of the country have witnessed stiff opposition over Padmaavat.

A disciplined and morally upright nation is built by disciplined and morally upright institutions. Institutions that respect their fraternal relationship with other institutions. Institutions that maintain the integrity, discipline and limits of their functioning, without compromising on excellence. Institutions that are always more important than the individuals located there. And institutions where the holders and members make every attempt to live up to the office they occupy as trustees of the people, Mr Kovind said.It was the first time since independence that the Congress' president has not been assigned a seat in the front row.

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who was at Delhi's Rajpath to attend the 69th Republic Day parade, was made to sit in the sixth row, closer to the public than to union ministers and senior BJP leaders.

According to sources in the Congress, it was the first time since independence that the Congress' chief has not been assigned a seat in the front row.

Rahul was seen in the sixth row with Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha. Security men of the 47-year-old Congress president crowded next to him, appearing to block the view of people sitting in the back.

However, BJP national president Amit Shah was seen in the front row with other senior leaders including party veteran LK Advani.

Read Also: Rahul given seat in 4th row for R-Day parade, Cong calls it cheap politics

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala posted what he called a telling image of "petty politics" by the Government. "The arrogant rulers deliberately seated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the fourth row, then sixth row, on Republic Day, discarding all convention. For us celebrating the Republic is above all," Surjewala tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia, who was the Congress president for 19 years, was always seated in the front row.

The Congress, furious, has alleged breach of protocol and "deliberate humiliation" of Rahul Gandhi, who took over as party president in December, that too in front of world leaders.

10 heads of state from ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) were the chief guests at the 69th Republic Day parade. They were seated on a 100-foot wide stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress also alleged that the BJP-led Union government ensured that no visiting foreign dignitary met Opposition parties, a convention followed for years.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi has written an open letter to people on the eve of Republic day. Rahul has made an appeal to the countrymen to defend the Constitution and its treasured commitment to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity. The letter was posted on social media.

The Congress president said all must remember the Indian Constitution and the commitment it made to citizens. On this Republic day, let us renew our lifelong pledge to protect our Constitution, the keystone of our cherished Republic, and to defend it as one people, whenever it is endangered, he said.

Rahul, while extending greetings to fellow citizens, said as all celebrate the beloved nation, let us also remember the Indian constitution and the commitment we made to all our citizens: JUSTICE, LIBERTY, EQUALITY and FRATERNITY.

We are citizens of a democratic republic and our strength is built upon a diversity of religion, cultures, ideas and opinions. No matter our background, we are proud to share a common bond: our belonging to this beautiful nation, he said.Maharasthra CM Devendra Fadnavis warns Sena would be the worst losers with this decision.

A few days ago, the Shiv Senas national executive decided to go on its own in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharasthra in 2019. (Photo: PTI/File)

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed alliance partner Shiv Senas decision to go it alone in the 2019 general and Assembly elections, saying the Sena would be the worst loser in that case.

They will change their mind, Fadnavis told NDTV, as it is now clear that the Congress and the NCP are firmly on one side as they look to rally around a strong Opposition.

Shiv Sena is quite wise politically, Fadnavis said and added that a united Congress-NCP will cause more damage to them than to the BJP.

A few days ago, the Shiv Senas national executive decided to go on its own in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharasthra in 2019.

Read Also: Shiv Sena to go alone in 2019 Assembly, LS polls, says BJP uses power to demoralise

A pact of 25 years, the equation between the BJP and the Shiv Sena changed in 2014 when the BJP  which was till then a junior partner  won most Parliament seats in the state. Months later, it became the single-largest party in the 288-seat Assembly, winning 122.

In the last three years, the Shiv Sena has kept up a strident tone against Prime Minister Narendra Modis polices as well as lobbing a few at Fadnavis himself.It is alleged that leader proposed draft solution for Nagaland peace process in which parts of district would go to greater Nagalim.

The district administration, fearing more violence, has clamped curfew in the district on Friday. (Photo: Representational | AP)

Guwahati: At least two youth were killed and six wounded in police firing in Dima Hasao district of Assam where violence broke out after a RSS leader made a controversial remark.

It is alleged that the leader proposed a draft solution for the Nagaland peace process in which parts of the district would go to the greater Nagalim demanded by NSCN (IM).

The district administration, fearing more violence, has clamped curfew in the district on Friday.

However, senior RSS leaders denied having any such proposal being moved or submitted by them to the Centre.

The reports in a section of media referring an RSS leader resulted in angry protests in the district. The protestors had called a 12-hour bandh on Thursday against the RSS leader and demanded that RSS leader should beg an apology.

Thousands of people who came out in support of bandh blockaded railway tracks at the Maibang railway station. The protestors stopped a Silchar-bound train and allegedly forced passengers to get down.

The protestors went on rampage after police charged them with batons, and damaged the vehicles of Deputy Commissioner of Police and Superintendent of Police. When they attempted to attack the security personnel, the police opened fire, injuring at least eight protestors.

Among those injured in police firing, two of the protestors who were critically wounded  27-year-old Mithun Dibrageda and 17-year-old Prabanta Hakmaosa  died on their way to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital on Friday.

The protestors belonging to three Dimasa organisationsJdike Naiso Hosom, the Dimasa Students' Union and the Dimasa Mothers' Association have called the people to observe Friday as black day.

Meanwhile, additional police forces have been rushed to the district. The state administration on Friday claimed that situation was tense but under control.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also clarified that there is no such proposal and no area of Assam would be included in Nagaland.

It is significant that home ministry has already rejected the demand of NSCN (I-M) for greater Nagalim comprising the Naga dominated areas of Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The union home minister Rajnath Singh has also ruled out the possibility of changing the boundary of any northeastern states.Security agencies, however, admitted that they are looking into the video and trying to identify the Ulfa(I) cadres shown in the video.

People stand in queue to buy tickets for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi. (Photo: Biplab Banerjee)

Guwahati: Call to boycott the Republic Days celebrations by outlawed United Liberation front of Asom (Independent) has been a customary, but this time the outfit has resorted to give the boycott call through a video message, wherein its cadres are shown burning national flag and displaying anti-India placards.

The unidentified Ulfa(I) cadres, in a video message, said, January 25 is not the Republic Day of mother Assam, but rather it is an insult to our motherland. We cannot bear such an insult to our motherland and therefore we burn the Indian flag as a protest against this disrespect.

In what has surprised the intelligence agencies also, the video message sent to newspapers on email also displayed the photographs of the Ulfa(I) cadres and camps in Myanmar.

Security agencies, however, admitted that they are looking into the video and trying to identify the Ulfa(I) cadres shown in the video.

The video message came a day after when Ulfa(I) and Coordination Committee (CorCom) of Manipur shot dead an Army soldier in an encounter near Namsai along Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

Though, security forces have been alerted about the movement of heavily armed rebels, trying to sabotage and attack Republic Days celebrations in Upper Assam districts, security sources said that militants who were camping in Namsai area may try to escape to Myanmar.

Indicating that security forces operating under the unified command of security forces have been asked to seal the escape routes, security sources said that army has launched combing operations in the area but failed to make any contact with the militants so far.

Senior Army and police officials are camping in the area and supervising the combing operations, security sources said adding that militants are taking the advantage of poor security cover in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Pointing out that Ulfa (I) rebels have set up several hideouts in the bording areas of Arunachal Pradesh, security sources said that outfit was running its extortion network in Assam from Arunachal Pradesh.According to Congress leaders, Mr Gandhi has been invited by the government for the Republic Day Parade, but only to be seated in the fourth row.

New Delhi: Just hours before the Republic Day Parade, a political controversy has erupted over the sitting arrangement of Congress president Rahul Gandhi.

According to Congress leaders, Mr Gandhi has been invited by the government for the Republic Day Parade, but only to be seated in the fourth row.

Top Congress sources say this is an attempt to humiliate Mr Gandhi. However, there was no official confirmation on the seating arrangement of political leaders as well as ministers. We have come to know that the Congress president has been assigned a seat in the fourth row, unlike in past when they used to occupy a seat in the front row during the Republic Day Parade, a senior Congress leader said.

The Congress leader alleged that by doing so the Modi government was resorting to cheap politics. The leader, however, maintained that Mr Gandhi will be attending the function irrespective of the seating arrangements.

Another Congress leader said the move was aimed at humiliating the Congress leadership at the public function that will be attended by head of governments/states of all the 10 Asean countries.The vehicle had two passengers when the accident took place and police confirmed that all three survived.

He was using an app called Waze which is owned by Google (Photo: AFP)

Technology has made an impact in almost every aspect of life making several day to day tasks easy for people. But while gadgets are beneficial, having blind trust in anything could land a person in trouble.

A driver in Vermont learned this the hard way when he drove his SUV right into a frozen lake since he was blindly following directions from GPS. The vehicle had two passengers when the accident took place and police confirmed that all three survived after retrieving the borrowed car.

The driver followed the directions as he drove across the boar ramp onto the ice. The vehicle slid at the beginning before the ice cracked and the car sank into the lake. He was using an app called Waze which is owned by Google.

The firm hasnt been able to come up with a valid explanation for the terrible error.He had also said that the harassment of citys traders through the ongoing sealing drive should be stopped.

Delhi lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal and chief minister Arvind Kejriwal attend the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Cabinet colleagues, including deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, attended the 69th Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath on Friday. Mr Kejriwal was seated separately from mR Sisodia and Delhi minister Satyendar Jain in the VIP enclosure.

Mr Kejriwal greeted people while Mr Sisodia expressed happiness over Delhi school childrens performance during the parade. A very happy Republic Day, the chief minister tweeted.

In a tweet Mr Sisodia said: The children of three Delhi schools gave separate performances. Congratulations to the children, teachers, parents and the education department of Delhi government.

On Thursday, Mr Kejriwal, addressing a gathering at a Republic Day function, had said that there should be no "political interference" in the functioning of constitutional institutions. He had also said that the harassment of citys traders through the ongoing sealing drive should be stoppedThe Batla House encounter, as it became known, had taken place on September 19, 2008, and two suspects were arrested.

Twenty-two Delhi police personnel, including two women, have been conferred with the police medals for exemplary service rendered by them. (Photo: Abhijit Mukherjee)

New Delhi: Twenty-two Delhi police personnel, including two women, have been conferred with the police medals for exemplary service rendered by them.

Three personnel of the Delhi police, including ACP Attar Singh and ins-pector Ravinder Kumar Tyagi, currently posted with the special cell, have been awarded the Police Medal For Gallantry.

Mr Tyagi was part of the 2008 encounter at Batla House in Delhi in which two suspected terrorists  Atif alias Bashir and Mohd Sajid alias Pankaj  and police officer M.C. Sharma were killed.

The Batla House encounter, as it became known, had taken place on September 19, 2008, and two suspects were arrested. The deceased and other arrested militants were found responsible for over 65 terrorist incidents in different part of India.

Kamal Kant Vyas, additional commissioner of police, and Surender Kumar Dahiya, assistant commissioner of police (ACP), have been conferred with the Presidents Police Medal for Distinguished Service.

During his tenure in the Economic Offences Wing as the deputy commissioner of police (DCP), Mr Vyas ensured that history-sheets of economic offenders were prepared for the first time, and a database was developed of property dealers involved in white collar crime in the EOW.

Mr Dahiya, who served as the station house officer at Alipur, Janakpuri, Rohini and Model Town police stations, was involved in busting several gangs of dacoits, robbers, burglars and snatchers and worked out numerous sensational cases of heinous nature. Those who have been conferred with the Police Medal for Meritorious Service are DCPs Rajveer Singh Chauhan, Asif Mohd Ali, Sanjay Bhatia, Dinesh Kumar Gupta, additional DCP Varsha Sharma, ACP Shashi Bala, inspectors Som Nath Paruthi, Sandeep Malhotra, Raj Kumar, Krishan Prakash, Suresh Maskeen, assistant sub-inspector Jitender Dogra, head constables Kishan Chand, Dev Kumar, Subhash Kumar, Ranbir Singh and Satish Kumar.

Mr Malhotra, who joined Delhi police in 1995, was instrumental in solving cases of 33 bomb blasts masterminded by the LeT and arresting 25 terrorists.

He was also involved in arresting three terrorists, including Babbar Khalsa International chief Jagtar Hawara, who were allegedly involved in the assassination of Beant Singh, the former chief minister of Punjab in 1995.The BSF also had its iconic camel contingent along with its marching and band teams.

BSFs all-women team Seema Bhawani (above) performs on motorcycles during the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Friday.

New Delhi: Loud cheers and claps were followed from the sea of people gathered to witness the Republic Day parade when in one of the many firsts this year, a women contingent of the Border Security Force performed motorcycle stunts during the parade, drawing one of the loudest cheers from the audience as well as dignitaries like President Ram Nath Kovind and Asean leaders.

Led by sub-inspector Stanzin Noryang, the team showcased its driving skills with daredevil stunts like Salute to President, Fish Riding, Side Riding, Faulaad, Prachand Baalay Shaktiman, Mobile PT, Bull Fighting, etc. Over a 100 women, riding as many as 26 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles, enthralled the spectators many of whom  men, women and children  were on their feet and clapped throughout the display.

President Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asean leaders present on the dais and other dignitaries in the audience too applauded the women bikers.

In 2015, women contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force had made debut in this national parade. The team was raised at Central School of Motor Transport (CSMT), BSF Academy Tekanpur on October 20, 2016.

The members of this special women bikers squad have been specially chosen by BSF trainers and are aged between 25-30 years. They are drawn from various combat ranks of the force.

The BSF also had its iconic camel contingent along with its marching and band teams.

Many among the guests and the audience were seen taking pictures of the decorated camels as they marched on the Rajpath in their colourful finery.

As per tradition, the BSF and the Armys bike-borne daredevils end the parade on alternate years. But this time, members of the BSFs women motorcycle team Seema Bhawani replaced their male counterparts.

Ends/ ShwetaTashi Bhutia was allegedly shot dead by the security forces on July 7 when he had ventured out to purchase medicines at Sonada.

Kolkata: The West Bengal CID on Thursday arrested a GJM activist for his alleged involvement in an attack on the police during a procession with the body of a youth killed allegedly in police firing in Darjeeling last year, an official said.

Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) activist Dawa Sherpa was arrested from Bagdogra airport area, a senior CID officer told PTI tonight.

We had information that he was coming to Bagdogra. We laid a trap and nabbed the man who has been named in the case lodged at Sadar police station, he said.

The accused reached here from Darjeeling and was probably trying to escape. We are interrogating him, the CID officer said, adding that Sherpa was also wanted in other cases related to Gorkhaland agitation.

On June 8 last year, the West Bengal government had to summon the Army to contain violence after GJM supporters clashed with police and set vehicles on fire when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was holding a Cabinet meeting in Darjeeling.

The Hills witnessed a long spell of unrest after the GJM called for an indefinite shutdown to press its demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

The shutdown was called off on September 27 after 104 days, in response to an appeal by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Tashi Bhutia was allegedly shot dead by the security forces on July 7 when he had ventured out to purchase medicines at Sonada.

As news of the death spread the next day, hundreds of Gorkhaland supporters came out on the streets and raised slogans against alleged police atrocities.

They clashed with the police and set on fire a police outpost at Sonada and the toy train station of the Darjeeling  Himalayan Railways, a Unesco World Heritage site.Bohra sent Ali and Pandey to police custody till January 29 and remanded Patil and Bhandari in judicial custody.

Mumbai: The Bhoiwada magistrate court on Wednesday remanded Sayed alias Shehzad Ali, who used to serve hookah at Mojos Bistro and was arrested on Tuesday evening, and Utkarsh Pandey, the owner of hookah supply firm Nirvana, in police custody till January 29. Meanwhile, the court remanded Raje-ndra Patil, the arrested fire officer, Ravi Bhandari, director of Kamala Mills, in judicial custody.

Public prosecutor Sanjay Wadhavane told magistrate V.B. Bohra that Ali had been produced before the court for the first time after his arrest and he should be remanded in police custody for a reasonable period of time. He also requested the court to extend the police custody of rest of the accused also to allow the police to complete investigation.

On the other hand, advocates Sanjay Nangre and Sahil Salvi opposed the extension of remand and argued that the accused should be remanded in judicial custody as the police has already interrogated the accused and they failed to show any progress.

When judge asked the accused if they want to say anything, Ali said, I used to serve hookah to customers, and at the time of incident I was called to table no. 5. When I was taking an order, I heard some noise from table no 7s side about a fire that had broken out and there was chaos. I have nothing to do with the incident.

After hearing the arguments, Mr Bohra sent Ali and Pandey to police custody till January 29 and remanded Patil and Bhandari in judicial custody.The roka ceremony was attended by the couple's immediate family members, including Prateik's father Raj Babbar.

Mumbai: Actor Prateik Babbar and writer-director girlfriend Sanya Sagar are engaged.

The duo, who was dating since past one year, formalised their relationship at a ceremony at Sanya's farmhouse in Lucknow.

The roka ceremony was attended by the couple's immediate family members, including Prateik's father Raj Babbar, his aunts (late mother Smita Patil's sisters) and Sanya's parents.

Prateik issued a statement, sharing the news of his engagement.

"I have always been a very guarded person when it involves my private life. In fact, I went down on one knee and proposed to Sanya at Time Out 72 music festival in Goa in December, and no one knew about it till she brought it up with her parents.

"Since my grandfather passed away last year, we wanted to keep the festivities low key and hence will plan the wedding only next year," he said.

Calling the engagement the happiest day of his life, Prateik said Sanya has brought a lot of stability in his life.

"Yesterday was the happiest day of my life as Sanya brings a lot of stability and fortune into my life and I am someone who has always endorsed the idea of wedlock and brood," the actor said.

The couple has known each other for eight years now, but got together only in 2017 after Sanya returned from London in January having completed a year-long post-graduate course from Goldsmiths, University of London, with specialisation in filmmaking.

She has worked as a production assistant on the Danny Huston-starrer, 'The Last Photograph', and as a production runner on the Salma Hayek short, '11th Hour'.

Prateik is planning to hold separate functions in New Delhi, Lucknow and Mumbai post the nuptials in 2019.

On the professional front, the 31-year-old actor is set to return to the silver screen this year with two big-ticket projects, Ahmed Khan's 'Baaghi 2', co-starring Tiger Shroff and Disha Patani and Anubhav Sinha's social thriller 'Mulk' with Rishi Kapoor and Taapsee Pannu.

Prateik gets engaged to girlfriend Sanya Sagar, Raj Babbar attends ceremonyPatel is the first Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient to have been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association.

Patel (Left), who passed the bar exams of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2016, was administered the oath of office by the New Jersey Attorney Gurbir Grewal, the first Sikh to hold this position nationwide, on Wednesday. (Photo: @NewJerseyAG)

Washington: Indian-American attorney Parthiv Patel, who had arrived in the US as an undocumented immigrant, has been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association. Patel is the first Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient to have been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association.

DACA is a former US President Barack Obama-era programme which prevented illegal undocumented immigrants, who came to the US as children, from being deported.

US President Donald Trump had withdrawn DACA, which comes into effect in March. Several thousands of Indian-Americans are likely to be affected by a change in DACA policy.

Patel, who passed the bar exams of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2016, was administered the oath of office by the New Jersey Attorney Gurbir Grewal, the first Sikh to hold this position nationwide, on Wednesday.

"We're making it absolutely clear today that we will use all of the tools of the attorney general's office to protect the rights of 'Dreamers' like Parthiv, to enjoy that American dream, and to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Jerseyans regardless of their immigration status," Grewal said at the inauguration attended by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Murphy announced that New Jersey will join a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop it from dismantling the programme that protects undocumented immigrants raised in the US from deportation.

"Today I stand here with one message: Dreamers are Americans. We are fifth-graders alongside your children in the school play. We are your friends and your colleagues. And we are your doctors and your accountants and now in New Jersey, your lawyers," Patel said.

Patel was initially denied membership of the bar because of his immigrant status, but was later admitted following a successful appeal with the help of American Civil Liberties Union.

"Parthiv's long wait for bar admission shows the type of obstacles that 'Dreamers' are up against, and at the same time, his determination and altruistic spirit in the face of uncertainty demonstrate the best that New Jersey and America have to offer," said ACLU-NJ Senior Supervising Attorney Alexander Shalom.

"The process of getting admitted to practice law has been daunting, but today's ceremony is a reminder of the reason I've strived so hard to become a lawyer: to use my training and abilities to uplift others. In a climate of anxiety, it's a comfort to know that we 'Dreamers' are not alone in this fight," Patel added.The Xiaomi Mi 6X is rumoured to be showcased at MWC 2018 in February.

Xiaomi is said to be working on a successor to last year's Mi 5X that is Mi 6X. A new report suggests that the upcoming Mi 6X will apparently feature an iPhone X-like design with a vertical dual rear camera setup. The leaked photos suggest that the handset might sport 18:9 touchscreen and a rear fingerprint sensor.

Moreover, the leak also suggests that the phone might sport 5.99-inch display similar to Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus. The is expected to be powered by the company's own Surge S2 chipset. This will have an octa core CPU with four Cortex-A73 cores clocked at 2.2 GHz and four Cortex-A53 cores at 1.8 GHz.

The processor is said to have a Mali G71 MP8 graphics processor and support for LPDDR4 RAM and UFS 2.1 storage. The Mi 6X is also rumoured to be showcased at MWC 2018 in February. Additionally, the Xiaomi Mi A2 is expected to launch in India later this year.

Besides, a recent report suggested that the Surge S2 chipset will be built on the TSMC 16nm FINFeT process and will power the Xiaomi Mi 6X which is expected to debut in February.

Source: Gizchina, OnPhones,Trump's South Asia Strategy by disrupting terrorist organisations and publicly exposing individuals who facilitate their activities.

All property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. (Photo: AP)

Washington: The Trump administration on Thursday slapped sanctions on four Taliban and two Haqqani network leaders for terrorist activities and said Pakistan must work with the US to deny the terror groups safe haven on its soil and target their funding.

The four Taliban leaders include Abdul Samad Sani, Abdul Qadeer Basir, Abdul Baseer, Hafiz Mohammed Popalzai, and Maulawi Inayatullah, while Haqqani network leaders as Faqir Muhammad and Gula Khan Hamidi.

All six have been designated as global terrorists by the US' Department of Treasury.

As a result, all property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

"We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani Network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

He said the action supports President Donald Trump's South Asia Strategy by disrupting terrorist organisations and publicly exposing individuals who facilitate their activities.

"The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani Network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist fund raising," Mandelker said.

In early 2017, Sani sent weapons to Taliban members who later attacked an Afghan National Police (ANP) patrol resulting in the death of an ANP officer and the wounding of two others.

In June, 2015, Sani was a member of the 'Taliban Senior Shura' and had received funding to purchase supplies and ammunition for Taliban commanders and fighters engaged in combat in Afghanistan.

In March, 2015, he was personally involved in appointing special representatives to serve as Taliban fundraisers abroad.

Sani served as the Taliban's deputy finance commissioner, and also as the governor for the Afghan Central Bank during the Taliban regime.

In the fall of 2017, Baseer provided Taliban commanders with tens of thousands of dollars for attacks in Kunar province of Afghanistan.

In early 2016, he hosted meetings with leaders of the Taliban to convince them to support the then supreme leader of the Taliban Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur. In 2009, he served as the treasurer for the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Baseer was the financial advisor to the Taliban's Peshawar Military Council and head of the Taliban's Peshawar Financial Commission in early 2010.

He personally delivers money from the Taliban's leadership Shura to Taliban groups throughout Pakistan.

During the Taliban regime, he was the general consul of the Taliban in Islamabad in Pakistan, and according to the United Nations, he also served as the Taliban regime's military attache at the Taliban embassy in Islamabad.

Popalzai has served for several years at the Taliban Finance Commission and was in-charge of the Taliban's finances for southern and western Afghanistan, including Qandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Herat, Zabul, Uruzgan, and Farah provinces.

In mid-2011, the Taliban was paid 10 million euros for the release of hostages that it was holding. The Taliban arranged for money to be deposited into an account at an Afghan bank in Qandahar, Afghanistan. The account, which ultimately belonged to Ishakzai, was held in a false name.

Popalzai travelled to Qandahar city to retrieve the money and return to Quetta, Pakistan to give the same to Ishakzai.

Inayatullah has been a Taliban military affairs member in charge of multiple Afghan provinces, and was a member of the Taliban Peshawar Shura.

In late 2016, Inayatullah operated as the overall Taliban member responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul.

He provided financial support and other materials for the attack planners.

As of late 2013, Inayatullah, as the Taliban's military commission deputy leader, procured weapons, ammunition, and supplies for operations in Kunar Province in Afghanistan.

In addition, he received a large sum of money from a contact and gave it to a courier to provide it to al-Qaeda militants.

For several years, Faqir has been a major fundraiser for the Haqqani Network.

He was designated for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the Haqqani Network, as well as for acting for or on behalf of the Haqqani Network.

As of July, 2015, Hamidi facilitated communication between a Haqqani Network official and a Haqqani Network contact in Syria and, as of mid-2014, he was relied upon to faithfully translate communications between Haqqani Network officials and a Haqqani Network contact in Syria.

In September, 2014, Hamidi agreed to facilitate travel for a Haqqani Network-affiliated Uzbek extremist and his associates from Pakistan to Turkey.

In July, 2014, he likely facilitated the transfer of funds from the Haqqani Network to a Pakistan-based Uzbek extremist.

In early 2014, Hamidi was an honoured representative of the Haqqani Network in meetings with various Syrian faction leaders in Syria.

During the same time, he planned to send funds to Germans located with the Haqqani Network in Pakistan.

In the fall of 2013, Hamidi coordinated with now-deceased senior Haqqani Network official and SDGT Nasiruddin Haqqani on the travel of an associate to Turkey.

In mid-2013, he sent approximately USD 21,000 to a senior Haqqani Network official.'It will be a peaceful demonstration by small gathering because we cannot have very large numbers outside the High Commission,' Nazir said.

Lord Nazir Ahmed (centre), who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, raised in South Yorkshire and has regularly made common cause with "Kashmiri Pakistanis", is leading the campaign that will involve five billboard vans traversing the streets of London. (Photo: Facebook)

London: One of the first British Muslims to be appointed to the House of Lords on Thursday launched a protest campaign against India, claiming that minorities in the country are not safe.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, raised in South Yorkshire and has regularly made common cause with "Kashmiri Pakistanis", is leading the campaign that will involve five billboard vans traversing the streets of London.

On Friday, a group led by the politician will gather outside the Indian High Commission in London.

"It will be a peaceful demonstration by a small gathering because we cannot have very large numbers outside the High Commission," he said.

The Indian High Commission in London said it has raised its concerns with the UK authorities, but the billboard vans are private vehicles and therefore not directly under state control.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who was in London to attend the Education World Forum earlier this week, dismissed the protest as "fringe elements" keen to foment trouble.

Meanwhile, some pro-India groups have also organised a 'Chalo India House' demonstration in London to "celebrate India's Republic Day by opposing anti-India lobbyists".2 demonstrators in white T-shirts protested quietly against Trump in the lobby outside the hall where he was speaking in Davos.

US President Donald Trump addresses a plenary session in the Congress Hall on the last day of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos. (Photo:AP)

Davos: US President Donald Trump drew boos from the audience at the elite Davos summit on Friday when he attacked the press, repeating his frequent charge that media critical of him report "fake" news.

"As a businessman I was always treated really well by the press... it wasn't until I became a politician that I realised how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be," Trump said in his address to the World Economic Forum gathering.

Some of the 1,500 delegates in the packed conference hall booed at those remarks, made during a question and answer session after an otherwise conciliatory address by Trump to the business world.

Speaking to reporters earlier as he arrived at the centre in the snowbound Swiss resort, Trump had specifically dismissed as "fake news" a bombshell report about him in the New York Times.

The newspaper cited four anonymous sources as saying that Trump had ordered the firing of Russia investigation special prosecutor Robert Mueller last year, but that he had to back off when the White House counsel threatened to resign.

Two demonstrators in white T-shirts protested quietly against Trump in the lobby outside the hall where he was speaking in Davos.

"Listen to him, denouncing fake news. This is what he does," said one of them, Anya Schiffrin, a professor at Columbia University and the wife of prominent US economist Joseph Stiglitz.

She wore a T-shirt with a printed slogan reading "Not My President."

The other demonstrator, Sasha Kramer, wore a T-shirt reading "Stand With Haiti" -- one of the countries reportedly targeted in recent foul-mouthed comments by Trump.

"I believe that this forum is about dialogue and I don't think we have been given an option to have dialogue with President Trump," Kramer said.

"I stand for the friends and colleagues in Haiti who were deeply insulted by his hateful and racist statements."by Li Yuan

Ignatius Wu Jianlin is the head of the management team of the diocese of Shanghai, whose bishop Taddeo Ma Daqin is under house arrest. All the members of the Catholic sector of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, excluding a layman and a priest, are bishops. Three of them are illegitimate. The change of politics in the Vatican.

Shanghai (AsiaNews)  Fr. Ignatius Wu Jianlin, a priest at the head of the team that leads the diocese of Shanghai, has recently been appointed member of 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCP), which the Chinese Communist Party considers its top political advisory body, but which is more often defined as a "political vessel", in short an instrument for conveying Party politics to intermediate social bodies.

The incumbent standing committee of the CPPCC announced the newly approved 2,158 members for the 13th National Committee of the CPPCC on January 24. The meeting also passed a draft timetable and agenda for the first session of the 13th CPPCC National Committee, which usually scheduled in March.

The CPPCC is responsible to liaise and hear opinions from religious groups among other duties. Its members come from different social sectors and political parties in mainland China, from the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, as well as some specially invited.

Among the 67 members in the religious sector, Fr. Ignatius Wu Jianlin is the only new Catholic member while the other eight were re-nominated. He is dean of the downtown deanery and the convener of a five-member management team of Shanghai diocese established shortly before the death of Bishop Aloysius Jin Luxian, an influential figure in the China Church who had also been a member of the CPPCC national committee since 1988 until his death in 2013.

Traditionally, Catholic clergy named into the National Peoples Congress, Chinas parliament, or the CPPCC are bishops or priest who destined to become bishop with or without approval from the Vatican. For example, illicit Bishop Paul Lei Shiyin has been a CPPCC member since 1998 long before he was ordained a bishop without papal mandate and excommunicated by the Holy See in 2011.

With Fr. Wu nominated into the CPPCC, local Catholics anticipated it is a sign that he might eventually become bishop of Shanghai, where now the Vatican-approved Auxiliary Bishop Thaddeus Ma Daqin is given limited freedom from his house arrest to attend government-hosted meetings but still not allowed to exercise his episcopal ministry.

The Communist Party has repeatedly stressed the need to strengthen reliable patriotic force in the religious sector. It would find it hard to trust Bishop Ma any more. He denounced the Catholic Patriotic Association in his episcopal ordination in 2012 but then turned volte-face and praised the organization in his 2016 article, said a Shanghai Catholic who only gives his baptismal name as Peter. From the latest scenario, Wu will likely become the head of the diocese and Ma will stay as the auxiliary, he added.

On the other hand, another priest who returned from aboard is widely believed to be favored by the Holy See as possible bishop candidate in the Shanghai impasse, according to another local source who asked not to be named. If Father Wu is to be made a bishop in the future instead of that priest, it will be another case for the Chinese government and the Holy See to sort out in the negotiations, he said.

Meanwhile, Wang Yang, who ranked No 4 in the standing committee of the Communists Politburo, was added to the CPPCC national committee, indicating he will become the new chairman to replace outgoing Yu Zhengsheng. Given Wangs career path was not in religious affairs, observers believed he could not help improve religious freedom despite his liberal image.

The other re-nominated Catholic figures in the religious sector are Bishops John Fang Xinyao of Linyi, Paul Lei Shiyin of Leshan, Joseph Li Shan of Beijing, Joseph Ma Yinglin of Kunming, Paul Meng Qinglu of Hohhot, Joseph Shen Bin of Haimin and Vincent Zhan Silu of Mindong as well as Liu Yuanlong, a layman. All of them hold positions in either the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association or the bishops conference--the two government-sanctioned national church bodies yet to be recognized by the Vatican.

Among them, Bishops Ma, Lei and Zhan are three of the seven illicit bishops waiting for recognition by the Vatican.

Days ago, AsiaNews released the news that the Vatican had asked the ordinary bishop of Mindong - who leads the underground community, that is, more than 90% of the Catholics of the diocese - to step aside by becoming auxiliary or coadjutor to bishop Zhan, who would be about to be reconciled with the Holy See.

The move has greatly shocked the Church in China and around the world: very rarely has it been heard that a bishop is ordered to step aside from office. Even if a bishop does something wrong, he is asked to resign. Moreover, in the recent past, when the Holy See accepted an illegitimate bishop, he was usually placed as auxiliary bishop to a prelate approved by the Vatican. It now seems that this politics has been overturned.Local leader: We need to counter this "aggression" and stop Ankara air raids. Erdogan ignores Trump's warnings and promises that the operation will "continue until the result is achieved". Europe's concern. Berlin temporarily blocks arms sales to Ankara.

Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Afrin authorities, a region in northern Syria at the center of Erdogan's offensive against the Kurdish militias YGP (People's Protection Unit), are appealing to the government of Damascus to block the flights of Turkish aviation.

Othmane al-Cheikh Issa, executive co-president of the enclave, stresses that "the Syrian state [...]must counter this aggression with all available means and declare that it will not allow Turkish aircraft to fly over Syrian airspace".

Renamed "Olive branch", the offensive launched last 20 January by the Turkish army with the help of some rebel factions long engaged in the Syrian conflict, intends to expel the Kurds from the region. The main target of the Ankara troops is the YGP fighting militias, which have proved fundamental in the past in the fight against the jihadists of the Islamic State (IS).

Turkish President Recep Tayyp Erdogan regards Kurdish fighting groups as an enemy to be hit. The group also has links with a movement inside Turkey (PKK, the Workers' Party of Kurdistan), outlawed considered by Ankara and with secessionist aims.

Afrin is one of the three cantons that form the local "federal region", a semi-autonomous administration founded in 2016 on the initiative of Syrian Kurds who live and control the territory. "We consider Afrin - added Othmane al-Cheikh Issa - as an inseparable element of the Syrian territory" and the attacks against the inhabitants of the area are "an attack on the sovereignty of the Syrian state".

In recent days, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had condemned the Turkish offensive, which has so far resulted in at least 35 victims and dozens injured; Deputy Foreign Minister Faycal Moqdad had threatened to repel Turkish jets surprised flying over the Syrian territory.

However, the Ankara government intends to continue its offensive and not even the recent phone call between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump served to ease the tension. In these hours the Turkish president has visited the troops engaged in the operation against the Kurdish militias, underlining that it will "continue until the result is achieved".

The new war winds blowing from the region are of some concern to Western chancelleries and, in particular, to Europe. In a note German leaders invoked an urgent NATO meeting to discuss the Erdogans military operation, given that Turkey is a member of the alliance. Berlin has also arranged a temporary block of arms sales to Turkey.

The leader of Nato Jens Stoltenberg emphasizes that Turkey has the right to defend itself, but then added that "this must be done in a measured and proportionate way".The date for the vote will be set within 30 days. Last Julys election left the country without a working majority. Party leaders are slammed for turning their backs to each other.

Dili (AsiaNews/Agencies)  East Timor is set to hold fresh elections after President Francisco Guterres (pictured) dissolved Parliament today.

The decision ends a months-long political impasse that plunged Asias youngest democracy into a post-election stalemate.

A tense political situation between the two main political parties had left Asias most Catholic country (97 per cent) on the brink of its worst period of political instability in more than a decade.

After two years of government of national unity, the elections last July led to a minority government under Fretilin against the opposition led by the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction (Congresso Nacional de Reconstrucao de Timor, CNRT).

With only 30 seats in the 65-seat house, the government relied on the confidence and support of other parties in parliament.

Speaking at the presidential palace, Mr Guterres called for new parliamentary elections to put an end to a serious institutional crisis and blasted leaders for turning their backs to each other.

I am convinced that the people must be called to vote once again in order to help, to overcome the challenge that lies (ahead) in our young democracy, he said, adding that the date for new elections will be set within 30 days."Faith is transmitted in a mothers womb, the womb of the Church, because the Church is a mother, the Church is female". A nun was in prison in Albania during the dictatorship, but the guards allowed her out a little and she used to go to the riverbank. What could the poor thing do, they thought. Instead, other women, knowing when she came out, brought their children to her and she secretly baptised them with the river water.

Vatican City (AsiaNews)  Pope Francis spoke about the transmission of faith in his homily in the Mass he celebrated this morning at Casa Santa Marta.

Inspired by the Second Epistle of Saint Paul the Apostle to Timothy, the pontiff noted that faith is transmitted through preaching, which strikes like a slap, by bearing witness, and in a mothers womb, the womb of the Church, because the Church is a mother, the Church is female".

The pope focused on three words that, in the Epistle, show how faith should be transmitted. They are child", which is how Paul called Timothy, "mother" and "grandmother," and finally "witness".

Paul is a father because he generated Timothy with the "foolishness of preaching and this is his fatherhood". The reading also mentions tears because Paul did not sweeten his announcement with half truths. He spoke with courage. This made Paul Timothys father.

Preaching, the pope said, "cannot be lukewarm". For the pontiff, Preaching always  allow me to say it  smacks; it is a slap, a slap that moves and takes one forward. As Paul himself out it: 'The foolishness of preaching'. It's foolishness, because to say that God became man and was crucified and then rose again . . . What did the inhabitants of Athens say to Paul? 'But, the day after tomorrow we'll hear you.' [. . .]. In preaching the faith there is always a 'bit of foolishness. And the temptation is a false common sense, that of mediocrity: 'But, no, we're not joking, it's not a lot . . .', lukewarm faith".

The second word is witness. Faith must be transmitted by bearing witness, which empowers the word. "Today, in certain parishes [. . .] one goes, hears what so and so says of others, of this person, of that . . . Instead of saying how they love each other, one feels like saying: Look at how they are at each others throat . . . Language is wielded like a knife used against each other! How can one transmit the faith when the air is so fouled by chatter, slander? No. Bear witness. 'Look, this guy never speaks ill of others; this one does work of charity; this other person visits the sick. Why do they do it? Out of curiosity: Why does this person live like that? And with bearing witness comes the question of why faith is transmitted here: because he has faith, because she follows in the footsteps of Jesus."

Mother, grandmother: motherhood is the third word. "Faith is transmitted in a mothers womb, the womb of the Church, Francis said, because the Church is a mother, the Church is female. The motherhood of the Church extends through the motherhood of mothers, of women."

In speaking about this, the pontiff remembered meeting a nun in Albania who was in prison during the dictatorship, but who was allowed out occasionally and went to the riverbank. In any event, what could the poor thing do, thought the guards. Instead, Francis noted, she was clever, and other women, knowing when she would be coming out, brought their children to her and she secretly baptised them with the river water.

This is a great example. "But I wonder: Are mothers, grandmothers, like the two Paul spoke about  'Even your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice who transmitted the faith, the sincere faith? A little ... You know, they will learn when they attend catechism'. But I tell you, it makes me sad when I see children who cannot cross themselves. Instead of crossing themselves properly, they know they have to do something and do something like this . . . because they dont have a mother or a grandmother to teach them how. How many times do I think about what is taught in preparation for marriage, to the bride, who will become a mother: Has she been taught to transmit the faith?

In concluding, the Holy Father said, "Let us ask the Lord to teach us, as witnesses and preachers, and [teach] women, as mothers, to transmit the faith."by Kamran Chaudhry

Sareer Ahmed was killed by a student on Monday. The latter had been marked as "absent" after taking part in protests by Islamic radicals in Islamabad. "People are seeking refuge in religion to escape economic woes but sadly they are being radicalised".

Lahore (AsiaNews)  A student killed a college principal after accusing him of blasphemy.

Last Monday, Faheem Ashraf, a grade 12 student, gunned down Sareer Ahmed, principal of the New Islamia Public High School and College in Shabqadar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to media reports, the murderer was furious with the school administration for marking him down as absent during anti-government demonstrations in Islamabad, which blocked the capital for weeks last November.

The protests were organised by Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, which is led by Imam Khadim Hussain Rizvi, to demand the resignation of the Minister of Justice, guilty" in their eyes of approving a law that failed to impose on lawmakers the oath of allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad when they take office.

During the protests, extremists from Tehreek-i-Labaik also defended the blasphemy law and expressed their support for the death penalty against those guilty of denigrating Islam.

Speaking to AsiaNews, some Catholic academics condemned the murder. "This is astonishing. The allegation of blasphemy can be used to kill even a family member or one's own religious leaders, said Sabir Michael, assistant professor in the Department of Social Work at the University of Karachi.

"State departments, he added, have infected our society with religious conflict for forty years (a reference to the Islamisation policy of President General Zia ul-Haq) to please certain groups and achieve short term objectives. We are now witnessing its negative forms; there is a mountain of despair."

Speaking on video posted on social media, the young assassin said, "I have been taught don't be afraid of anyone in Allah's matter. I did it myself and accept [responsibility for] the murder".

In Shabqadar, other students reacted to the incident by blocking city streets demanding harsh punishment for the killer.

According to Michael, now people realise the effects of the controversial blasphemy law.

"The government formed a national action plan to fight back against the militants in 2015 but sadly they only focused on the war on terror, said Anjum James Paul, chairman of the Pakistan Minorities Teachers' Association.

Paul, who is assistant professor of political science at the Government Post Graduate College in Faisalabad, has been documenting hate-based material in textbooks of Pakistan since 2005.

In his hate speeches, explained Paul, who is a lay Dominican, the head of Tehreek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah Khadim Hussain Rizvi openly attacks politicians but there has been no action against the cleric. Such people enjoy the blessing of the state.

They also benefit from the fact that People seek refuge in religion to escape economic woes but sadly they are being radicalised".

Last Monday, his group filed a complaint before the Sindh High Court against hate content in school books.

In his view, Both formal education institutes and madrassas (Islamic seminaries) are teaching racism and hate. Condemnation of such incidents will not solve anything.

In fact, "We have to be careful while taking attendance, maintaining discipline on college campus and especially while delivering lectures. The slain Sareer Ahmed is a martyr," he added.China absorbed 144 billion dollars: in second place after the United States. India is in 10th place with 45 billion. Developing Asian economies are drivers. Good prospects for 2018.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Last year, China absorbed 144 billion US dollars in Foreign direct investment, (FDI), the highest figure ever achieved. In this way, China is ranked second as the destination for FDI, after the United States. India is in 10th place worldwide with 45 billion dollars.

The figures are provided by UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development). The body notes that despite a strengthening of the global economy, in 2017 the total amount of investments towards foreign countries and regions fell by 16%, to 1520 billion dollars. This is the second consecutive year in which there has been a reduction.

UNCTAD attributes the shrinkage of global FDI to a slowdown in foreign investment to developed nations, a decrease of 27%. North America has suffered a reduction of 33% and Europe of 27%.

On the other hand, the FDI grew by 2% in the economies of developing countries. The Asian countries of this category are the largest recipients in the world, with an absorption of 653 billion dollars, followed by the European Union and North America.

According to UNCTAD, projections of economic growth, trade volumes and commodity prices suggest that in 2018 there will be a potential increase in global FDI of up to $ 1.8 trillion. But the whole could be negatively impacted by geopolitical risks and political uncertainties.China took part in the drill in 2014 and 2016. The invitation comes despite tensions over the South China Sea, and the passage of a US military vessel.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies)  The United States has invited China to participate in the most important naval exercise organised by the US, Chinese Defence Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said yesterday at a press briefing.

The invitation comes at a time of tensions between the two countries, due to the passage of an US anti-missile ship in the South China Sea.

Wu said that China sent a team to discuss initial arrangements with the United States, but did not elaborate.

RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific) is billed as the worlds largest international maritime exercise. It is held every two years in Hawaii in June and July, and China has attended previously, in 2014 and 2016.

Pentagon officials have long complained that China has not been candid enough about its rapid military build-up, whereas Chinese officials have accused Washington of viewing their country in suspicious, Cold War terms.

China decried last weeks freedom of navigation operation by a US warship in the South China Sea as an infringement of its sovereignty, and sent one of its ships in response.

China claims most of the South China Sea, and has built islands and military installations on the Spratlys and Paracel islands.

Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei have their own claims in the area.Only 25 tigers still live in the wild in Laos. About 700 are held in captivity in five structures, three of which operate with special permits. Products such as feline meat, bones and even live specimens are on sale in luxury hotels in Vientiane and in special Chinese economic zones.

Vientiane (AsiaNews / RFA) - Three tigers were found killed near a protected area in Laos earlier this week, calling attention again to the presence in the country of tiger farms, where the animals are on sale despite the ban on trafficking in wild animals.

An official of the Department of Wildlife Protection in the central province of Khammouane reports that the dead animals were found by foresters in an area near the Nam Theun 2 dam, in the district of Nhommalath. Investigators speculate that traffickers were transporting tigers to border crossings with Vietnam when the animals died.

In a report released last year, the World Wildlife Fund listed three tiger farms now operating in Laos, with one located in Khammouanes Thakhek district, one in Bolikhamxay province, and the third in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, with the three farms together holding a total of 500 tigers.

All three are privately operated and operate under special permits issued before Laos joined the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in 2014, Lao wildlife protection officials told RFA.

And though Laos announced at an international conference in London in September 2016 that it would close all tiger farms within a year, the countrys trade in tigers has since boomed, with at least five farms now in operation. At least 700 tigers are now held in captivity in the farms, with tiger products such as meat, bone, bone wine, and even live tigers now offered for sale at luxury hotels in the capital Vientiane and in Chinese special economic zones (SEZs).

A memo sent on Jan. 5, 2018 by the Lao prime ministers office to various government departments now calls for better protection of the countrys wildlife and improved cooperation with CITES agreements aimed at blocking trafficking in endangered species. It is estimated that only 25 tigers live in the wild in Laos, most of them in protected forest areas.Hi everyone,



I applied for a Visitor Visa for 3 months but I was granted a 1 year visa, multiple entry, 3 months on each arrival. I just wanted to know if I can extend my stay more than 3 months or do I need to leave Australia every 3 months? Also did anyone applied for a Partner Visa on their first entry to Australia?



Thanks in advancePhoto via Wikimedia Commons.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will host a summit on March 15 to address the growing problem of drugged driving.

The summit will kick off a broader agency initiative focused on finding solutions to the problem, according to NHTSA. Driving under the influence of drugs is already against the law in all 50 states. But in light of the national opioid epidemic, coupled with the trend of more states legalizing marijuana, the agency is making the drugged driving dilemma a top priority.

Nobody can solve drugged driving alone, but by sharing best practices we can begin to save lives today  we cannot afford to wait, said Heidi King, NHTSA deputy administrator. And by advancing the science and data, we can address this problem for our communities in the future.

The summit will explore methods for educating the public on drugged driving risks, collecting consistent data and tracking drugged driving offenses, testing and measuring driver impairment levels, and enforcing drugged driving laws, NHTSA said.

Summit participants will include safety advocates, state and local elected officials, data and policy experts, law enforcement and criminal justice professionals, toxicologists, drug recognition experts and U.S. Transportation Department employees.

The agency will release more details about the summit when they become available.Via The Southern Poverty Law Center:

This Saturday, January 27, the League of the South (LOS), a neo-confederate organization that seeks to establish a white, Christian ethnostate in the southeastern U.S., will hold its first rally of the new year on the steps of Floridas capitol building in Tallahassee.

In a post on the Leagues website titled Off and Running, LOS president Michael Hill announced the event, the first since the Leagues planned dual rallies in Shelbyville and Murfreesboro, Tennessee, collapsed under the weight of intense public protest. The post is styled as a militaristic Directive 05012018, a flourish that is emblematic of Hills embrace of warlike posturing and rhetoric.

Hills post did not indicate a theme for Saturdays rally. Past events at the Tallahassee capitol have attempted to leverage media scrutiny around issues of immigration, federal elections, and Confederate memorials, all with the end-goal of garnering support for the Leagues pursuit of a balkanized south.Found injured in September, a golden eagle was released back into the wild east of Interstate 5 near the base of the Grapevine by the Tejon Ra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.This was originally posted at: 6:34 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 29, 2018.

A Pinellas County man chatted online about having sex with his daughters, sent child porn images and had C4 explosives in his home, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Brian Johnson, 60, arrested on Jan. 22

Johnson sent messages, images through KIK app, according to investigators

Johnson released on $15,000 bond on same day as arrest



Brian Johnson, 60, was arrested on Jan. 22 and charged with possession of an explosive without a license and transmission of child pornography.

The Kentucky Attorney Generals Office contacted the FDLE after one of its undercover officers said he was sent messages and images on the KIK app, according to the arrest report. The undercover officer said the user stated he had been having sex with his daughters, ages 11 and 14, since they were 7 years old, and sent three child porn images.

FDLE agents traced the IP address to Johnsons home near Tarpon Springs and executed a search warrant, according to the report. Agents said during the search they found a green ammo can containing about five ounces of C4 explosive.

Johnson used to train K9s in the detection of explosives, but never obtained a license or permit to possess or use the explosive, according to investigators.

Agents said Johnson admitted to being the owner of the KIK user account and to engaging in online conversations about the sexual abuse of children. The FDLE report makes no mention of finding any children at Johnsons home.

Johnson also admitted to sending the child porn images, but stated that he believed they were images of an adult, and he was only portraying them as a child, according to the report.

Spectrum Bay News 9 caught up with Johnson outside his home on Thursday and tried to ask about his arrest.

No comment, Johnson said. You can speak to my attorney.

Johnsons attorney said he had been hired that same day and it was premature to comment about the case. Johnson was released from the Pinellas Jail on a $15,000 bond.The judge presiding over DUI manslaughter suspect Christopher Ponce's appearance in court on Jan. 26 sentenced him to 15 years in prison following a tumultuous day of statements from victims and a dramatic reversal from Ponce himself.



Judge says it's never happened in his courtroom



Ponce charged with DUI manslaughter in 2012 crash

Ponce removed ankle monitor and fled; caught in Spain in 2016

Earlier in the day, after initially pleading 'no contest' to DUI manslaughter charges, Ponce changed his plea to 'guilty' following a courtroom break.

Ponce said he changed his mind after listening to victims in the courtroom speak out.

Christopher Ponce changes no contest plea to guilty during courtroom break. Ponce wanted to change plea after listening to victims speak out. Judge says this has never happened before in his courtroom. @BN9 pic.twitter.com/mZlCKnX7eT  Josh Rojas (@JoshRojasBN9) January 26, 2018

Authorities say Ponce was driving the wrong way on Interstate 275 and crashed head-on into William Angels vehicle on July 19, 2012.

The 20-year-old Angel died from his injuries and the two passengers in his vehicle were injured.

Ponce, who was 22 at the time of the crash, was on house arrest when he removed his ankle monitor in May 2013 and fled.

Angel's father created a website Find Chris Ponce dedicated to tracking him down. Ponce was an international fugitive for three years until he was detained by police in Spain in 2016.

Ponces escape was featured on CNNs "The Hunt with John Walsh."

Survivors speak

The two survivors in the case said they wanted the judge to give Ponce the maximum sentence. They called him a narcissist who fled to a cozy spot in Spain while they suffered.

In court on Jan. 26, William Angel's mother said she wasn't sure she'd ever be able to forgive Ponce.

"You murdered our son that night," said Cheryl Angel, addressing Ponce. "William didn't get to do a 'do over' that night. You should have died, not William. Your weapon of choice that night was your car."

Angel's father and brother told Ponce they prayed for him.

"Chris I've had daily prayers for you," said Wade Angel Jr., William's brother. "I really hope that you're sorry for what you did. You didn't kill William, you didn't kill in a man in his 20's, a man from Wesley Chapel. You killed my brother"

"Like my son, Christopher, I pray for you every night," said Wade Angel Sr. "I pray that the Lord would turn your heart and move you to do the right thing, but you didn't."

Ponce, after changing his plea, finally apologized to the Angel family.

"I'm sorry that I took your son from you," Ponce said. "I'm sorry that anyone was hurt. I'm sorry it wasn't me."

Cheryl Angel had additional words for Ponce after he'd changed his plea.

"You have given me a little bit of hope for you changing your plea now from no contest to guilty," Cheryl said. "Just because you feel that it's the right thing to do and that does give hope that there is hope for your soul."

In addition to the 15 years in prison, the judge sentenced Ponce to 10 years of probation. The Angel family said they were hoping Ponce would get more than 15 years.

Dave Ryan

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality fined Total Petrochemicals and Refining $313,910 for air emissions violations at its Port Arthur refinery.

The subsidiary of French oil giant Total S.A., incurred the violations between 2011 and 2016 by failing to comply with permitted emissions rates and concentration limits, among other things. The company has taken remedial steps to improve operations and compliance, TCEQ records show.Lamar University is inviting Southeast Texans to celebrate the Magnolia Brass Band.

The free concert on March 24 will commemorate the "March King" John Philip Sousa's four stops in Beaumont in 1906, 1919, 1924, and 1928. It will also celebrate the music of the Magnolia Band, a Beaumont band conducted by dentist Harry Cloud and the Magnolia Refinery bandsmen.

Music will be performed by the Lamar University Bands and the Orange Community Band of Southeast Texas.

The event organizers encourage attendees to bring lawn chairs and picnic baskets.

The concert will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Spindletop-Gladys City Boomtown Museum at Lamar University at 5550 Jimmy Simmons Blvd. in Beaumont.In 2008, Efren Zapata was living in El Paso when he got a call from his sister. She told him she planned to sell Senor Toro.

Almost 840 miles later, the 50-year-old found himself the newest owner of the Vidor restaurant.

"I always wanted to own my own business," he said. "If you enjoy your job, you will succeed. It's a lot of work. Every day I learn something, and I get to meet different people."

Server, food preparer and now owner, Zapata added another role to his list of experiences in the restaurant industry.

"I used to work in restaurants for a long time," he said. "I've done a little bit of everything."

The intimate dining area makes the eatery feel cozy, encouraging chatter across the tables. Zapata greets each influx of customers and roams the tables checking on patrons' food and satisfaction.

Growing up, Zapata dreamed of having a ranch in his hometown in Mexico. Now that he does, he visits it monthly.

But the fulfillment of one dream didn't stop Zapata from fixing on another, now working in a job he thoroughly enjoys.

Senor Toro Where: 1298 N. Main St., Vidor

Hours: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday

Credit cards: All major

Drink situation: Soft drinks, tea, and coffee

Info: "Senor Toro" on Facebook or (409) 769-4321

Price range: $6-$12 See More Collapse

"It makes me happy to see people comfortable and enjoying the food," he said. "When they come to pay and they feel good after being here, that makes me feel good."

Customer favorites include fajitas, quesadillas, enchiladas and the newest item, fish tacos.

"We make the food fresh each day," Zapata said. "I got the recipes from my sister. The food is really good."

The restaurant's creamy queso is different than others because of one special ingredient, Zapata said.

"We cook it with love," he said.

Zapata briefly opened a second location in Lumberton in 2013.

"I built that one  it was a house and I redid everything," he said. "There was just a lot going on, so I ended up selling it to the owner of Tia Juanita's."

However, Zapata hasn't written off expansion completely.

"In the next year, I'm planning to build a new one," he said. "It's a lot of work."

Typical wait time is 15 minutes.

Kara Timberlake is a freelance writer.Kim Kardashian is being slammed on social media after sharing a photo of Texas icon Anna Nicole Smith and calling the late Playboy model her muse.

She shared the post on Twitter, and people had a field day in the comments saying that Smith  who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2007  was a terrible role model.

HONORABLE COMEBACK: Guess Jeans to honor deceased Texan playboy model, brand icon Anna Nicole Smith

One person said, "She was an addict, a tragedy, a warning label, a muse on how NOT to do it. Same with Marilyn Monroe, look at them and say, there's a lesson here, not, there's inspiration."

"Anna Nicole Smith, who dies of a drug overdose, sitting half-naked on a bed and holding what looks like a bottle of pills? Ok then," another commentor said.

Still, many others came to Kardashian's defense saying Smith was a lovely person and icon.

"OMG @KimKardashian I was literally thinking the same thing today. Anna Nicole Smith is so underrated and such a babe and a half," said one user.

Another fan commented that Smith was one of the most "misunderstood, gorgeous women in the world by far! I miss and loved her so much. I knew the real Anna sweetest."

Many others just said things like "RIP, Anna" and "love Anna Nicole Smith! She was a beauty."

Despite people's varied opinions, Kardashian has yet to offer a defense and hasn't removed the photo from social media.

Take a look through the gallery above to see some Anna Nicole Smith quotes that made people smile or laugh.

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.As Mardi Gras season ramps up along the Gulf Coast we're already seeing plenty of festive decorations throughout the area, including king cakes in bakery sections.

As expected, Blue Bell Ice Cream has concocted a seasonal flavor, but it's only available in limited quantities, in pints and half gallons.

RELATED: Mardi Gras is coming, time for a king cake

"Our Mardi Gras King Cake flavor is a market specific flavor available in select markets and areas," Blue Bell's Jenny Van Dorf told Chron.com this week. "We are not distributing the flavor on a wide scale in the Houston area."

She did note that the brand's Alvin and Beaumont distribution centers have a limited amount of the flavor and are currently delivering it to stores in Galveston, Clear Lake, Webster, La Marque, Texas City, Pearland, Friendswood, Beaumont and Alvin.

So that about covers the entire southeast side of the Houston-area, right? Better get out there and find it while you can.

Customers in Louisiana apparently seem to be swimming in the ice cream, which includes pieces of cinnamon cake, Mardi Gras-colored swirls of cream cheese, and candy sprinkles in traditional purple, green and gold colors.

RELATED: Take a look at Mardi Gras through the years

As far as we know there is no tiny plastic baby to be found in the ice cream, as is tradition with king cake.

Parts of southern Mississippi and Alabama are also being stocked with the product.

This year, Fat Tuesday falls on Feb. 13, making the next day, both Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday.

Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. He's an intolerable native Texan with too much ink in his skin and too much brisket stuck in his teeth.We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message.ACCRA, Ghana - When you default on payment of your TV license fees in Ghana, you are hauled into court. But the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation has now been ordered not to prosecute defaulters.

 dvarg via 123RF

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), has been directed by its Governing Board not to pursue any prosecution of people who may default on the non-payment of TV license fees.Responding to the outcry and criticism that met the renewed efforts of the State Broadcaster to ensure compliance with the law, the GBC Board assured the public that no prosecutions will occur.Concerns over the TV license regime followed the Chief Justices setting up of special TV license courts across the country to prosecute people who refuse to pay the mandatory TV license fees in line with the TV licensing Act.Domestic TV users are to pay between GHc36 and GHc60 for one or more TV sets in a household, while TV set repairers and sales outlets are to pay an annual sum of between GHc60 to GHc240.Following the setting up of the special court, it was expected that defaulting TV owners or operators will be prosecuted per Section 1(a) of the TV licensing Act 1966 (NLCD 89) with defaulters facing a fine or a prison term not exceeding one year.But a statement from the Board said, Following an evaluation of the situation, [the Board] has instructed the management of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) not to pursue any activity or set of processes, leading to the prosecution of any individual for the non-payment of the Television license fee.The Governing Board is assuring the general public not to entertain any fear for any such possible prosecutions, the statement added.The board also urged the National Media Commission (NMC) to explore a more sustainable funding module for the GBC.With respect to the future of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, the Board recommends that the National Media Commission (NMC) drives the process of engaging critical stakeholders to resolve the status of GBC, and find a more enduring funding module, that would enable it to discharge its constitutional mandate.Because of my public relations background, I flagged a recent story in The Business Observer headed 'A great PR opportunity for the city and for Malta'. Of course, it was about the Valletta European Capital of Culture 2018 (V18) which just launched here this past weekend.

The Valletta effect

The Triton Fountain outside the entrance to Valletta | Mark Leach

Upstream investment

Creative economy

No marketer worth their salt would use the adjective 'great' without citing some measurement, since campaign excellence can no longer be celebrated for creativity alone if its not accompanied by an increase in commercial metrics. Even before the arrival this month of V18, it had already generated an extraordinarily powerful commercial phenomenon, which is being called the 'Valletta effect'.According to the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), in the period from 2015 to 2017 the number of guest nights that respondents attributed directly to V18 increased from 254,800 to 526,500. By any yardstick, thats a very sizeable updraft. More so considering that this was achieved in the months preceding V18 itself. Just the PR leverage around the fact that the accolade had been accorded to Valletta was enough to double the numbers. Put into monetary terms, 84 million of tourist expenditure is directly attributed to the Valletta effect according to MTA CEO Paul Bujega.But the tourism spend to date is funnily enough only a downstream effect. The upstream Valletta effect has been an infrastructural investment: some 11 million in public funds have been spent over the past four years on upgrades to the capital and a further 19 million will go towards beautification projects of iconic Valletta attractions, including MUZA (Maltas new museum of art and flagship project for Valletta's European Capital City of Culture title), the Grandmasters Palace and the Manoel Theatre.Furthermore, 24 million in EU funds, pledged in September last year, are being put towards the regeneration of the lower part of Valletta. (To my incredulous South African eyes, it begs belief that one of the lowest class neighbourhoods on the island, the Mandrajj, occupies the most phenomenal real-estate location on the side of Valletta facing Marsamxett Harbour  social housing with front row sea views over the baroque fortress of Manoel Island and looking across the bay to the millionaire apartments of Tigne Point!)The money keeps rolling in: another 50 million in ERDF funding goes towards the development of cultural projects and the restoration of heritage site projects included in Governments strategy for the capital for 2018  2025. This is the legacy envisaged  the creation of new jobs in the culture sector and a stimulus to the growth of the creative economy.While property landlords and boutique hotel owners count up the profits, I and other Maltese residents count ourselves lucky in cultural terms; 400 events and 140 projects are being staged the length and breadth of the island this year. Most weeks there are audition notices in the newspapers for productions that will only run for three nights. (This is not specifically linked to scheduling issues for V18  weve noticed before that most live theatre, opera etc. only enjoy a handful of performances and often over a single weekend.)One evening last week, we went to Vallletta to see the just-restored Triton Fountains at the entrance to the capital, and around which the launch festivities were staged. At night with its theatrical lighting, the fountains colour palate of turquoise water, pink limestone and the verdigris patina of the bronze figures contrive to make it look like a cupcake. I had to take off my glasses to check that they werent rose-coloured!The business takeout: For those with exposure to local realty, the just-released Q3 2017 figures show property prices increased by over 4% for the quarter, the second highest increase in the EU. The forward momentum continuesThe social take-home: V18s 110,000 crowd  thats a quarter of the population  is the largest weve heard of, and generated two-hour waits for public transport home. But the capital often hosts celebratory events: last years Science in the City drew 50,000, Notta Bianca 70,000 and New Years Eve 80,000. To solve the parking problem, take your car through in the afternoon and get a spot, then take the bus home. At night, get a taxi or bus back into Valletta.Recent negative comments by US President Donald Trump about Africa and developing nations have been criticised globally. Top Namibian tourism brand, The Gondwana Collection, decided to capitalise on this and released a video which trolled Trump, while promoting the beauty of Namibia and its tourism properties, reaching 670 million people.

The Gondwana Collection Namibia is gobsmacked by how many people have viewed its cheeky video clip on shithole Namibia. In just 10 days it has reached more than 670 million people all over the world  a prime example of the power of the internet and social media. And one of the most successful destination marketing campaigns for Namibia since independence in 1990.After Trumps derogative remark on Haiti and African countries, the Namibian tourism company Gondwana Collection roped in local producer and artist EES to make a video clip on the most beautiful shithole country in Africa. Stunning pictures of animals and scenery show Namibia at its best. A Trump voice imitator is used for the narration.The Norwegian company Meltwater , which monitors and analyses Gondwanas online presence, congratulated it with the words: Amazing to see that the video picked up 1140 global editorial articles. They were seen by 662 million people in 45 countries and in nine different languages. This was in addition to 13 million users of social media.Lets hope that our video makes the global public see the beautiful sides of Africa, said Manni Goldbeck, brand and marketing director of the Gondwana Collection. Namibia is politically stable. Its cultural diversity, unique fauna and flora and breath-taking landscapes, together with one of the most progressive environmental legislations in the world, make Namibia a top travel destination.The Gondwana Collection Namibia combines its hospitality business with nature conservation and social commitment in a sustainable manner. The company today includes four private nature parks and 18 quality accommodation offerings across Namibias key tourist attractions. Nature conservation is financed with the proceeds from the eco-friendly hospitality business, which in turn creates jobs and career opportunities.The South African National Blood Service (SANBS), FNB Varsity Cup and the Western Province Blood Transfusion Service (WPBTS) have entered into a partnership that will run from 2018 to 2020, to foster a culture of blood donation among young South Africans. The partnership aims to raise awareness around blood donation in young South Africans, inculcate a culture of blood donation, and increase the amount of blood donated in South Africa.

Micha Klootwijk via 123RF

The Gazlam Trophy

Regular donations needed

The partnership involves supporters of the nine FNB Varsity Cup teams and seven FNB Varsity Shield teams going head to head to win the Gazlam Trophy, which will be awarded to the university which encourages the most people to donate blood. The Gazlam Trophy will be awarded at the same prize-giving ceremony where the FNB Varsity Cup 2018 winner will be crowned.While students will obviously be encouraged to donate in support of their team, staff and alumni, as well as parents, friends and supporters who do not attend the university, can also donate in favour of their FNB Varsity Cup or FNB Varsity Shield team, says Silungile Mlambo, national marketing manager for the SANBS. All they have to do is go into any donor centre or to a blood drive and say they are donating on behalf of a particular team. That donation will then be awarded to the identified team. The team whose supporters donate the most will win the Gazlam Trophy.Mlambo says the SANBS and WPBTS will host blood drives on all the participating campuses  including on the days of FNB Varsity Cup and FNB Varsity Shield matches  to make it easy for students and university staff to donate.A log will be published weekly  on SANBS, WPBTS, FNB Varsity Cup social media platforms and SuperSport  to keep supporters appraised of their teams standing in the Gazlam Trophy.We are optimistic that this partnership will help to foster a culture of blood donation and regular blood donation among all South Africans, says Mlambo. What many people are still not aware of is that there is no substitute for blood and because most of the components have a relatively short shelf life, we need as many South Africans as possible to donate and to donate regularly. We are confident that this competition and partnership with FNB Varsity Cup will raise awareness of regular blood donation throughout our country.She says anyone who is over 16, weighs over 50kg and who practises a healthy lifestyle can donate.What is also not widely known is that the people who need blood the most are not accident victims, but cancer patients and mothers in childbirth. A unit of blood, something that most people will never miss and never think about, gives many people a second chance at life: the wife or husband, mother or father battling cancer, the woman giving birth and the baby born prematurely. Blood is not just blood, it is life. Everybody who donates helps to save three lives, she says.Kimberly-Clark (think Huggies and Kleenex) is expecting to cut an estimated 5,000 jobs - approximately 12% of its workforce - and to get rid of some manufacturing plants. The move comes as part of a restructuring plan in which the company is looking to cut roughly R17 billion worth of costs by 2021.

Age imbalance

The restructuring comes at a time of shrinking sales, increased competition and an inability to cover increasing costs. According to the business, one of the big trends affecting sales is the change in family dynamics, more specifically a declining fertility rate. This raises an interesting discussion.The infographic below, courtesy of Our World in Data, depicts the fertility rate from 1950 to 2015 in South Africa as well as China, India and the United States  which together account for 40% of the approximate 7.6 billion people on earth.Fertility rates have declined due to the rising cost of living, increasing education, lifestyle changes and improvements in birth control. Take note of the sharp decline in China leading up to 1979 when the one-child policy was introduced as part of population planning. It was formally phased out from 2015.On the one hand, declining birth rates coupled with a higher average age of first-time parents has helped families increase their education, financial wellness and security. Through education, one's earnings potential increases, and working longer before having your first baby makes it easier to fund the expenses of bringing a human into this world.On the flip side, globally we are being faced with an increasing age imbalance. The ratio of elderly dependents to working-age people is declining. Their dependency on the young could become a burden the current working generation cannot bare. In countries like Japan this is well known  see the demographic chart courtesy of IndexMundi.Going forward this could result in considerable economic challenges which we are currently not making plans for. The burden on the state of elderly populations could be too much bare. Fortunately, South Africas age imbalance is not as skewed, fast forward 30 years and we could see something completely different. The time for planning is now.Ciclope, the leading international festival that recognises and rewards exceptional craft in moving image, is hitting the shores of Cape Town this year in its first-ever Africa regional leg. Ciclope Africa aims to shine a light on production excellence across the continent.

Francisco Condorelli

Francisco Condorelli, Director of Ciclope, says, We recently hosted the annual flagship festival in Berlin, which saw a number of African entrants take home the metal; a testament to the calibre of work emerging from the continent. This bolstered our decision to host a regional leg of the show in Africa.Entries are now open locally, and applicants can upload their submissions via the website, http://africa.ciclopefestival.com . The jury panel is formed by a selection of local and global talents, including Alistair King (King James), Amy Allais (Ola! Films), Ralph Laucella (O Positive, US), Trish Russell (AMV BBDO, UK), Debra Stubbs (Groundglass), Kim Geldenhuys (0307), Yash Deb (Isobar, Kenya) and Antoine Bagot (Ogilvy Paris, France), among others. The final round of judging and the awards ceremony will take place at Cape Towns new critically acclaimed contemporary art museum, Zeitz MOCCA, on Tuesday, 10 April 2018.Zeitz MOCCA was the natural choice for Ciclope Africa, as its values  promoting creativity and intercultural understanding through elevating artists  so closely align with our own.Ciclope Africas Grand Prix and best works in each category will receive an automatic entry as finalists into the flagship annual festival, which will be hosted in Berlin later this year.Condorelli mentions that for the past eight years, Ciclope has provided a platform for directors, creatives, artists, producers and brands to celebrate exceptional work, share knowledge and be inspired, and we are excited to turn the worlds attention to African talent, which has been largely underrepresented on the global stage.Our aim is to celebrate and elevate this talent through the Ciclope platform; exclusively dedicated to promoting excellence in craft, and with awarding categories such as Cinematography, Animation, Production Design, and more.Ciclope Africa is part of a series of regional events that will continue on May 2018 with Ciclope Latino, to take place in Mexico City. The festivals programme will also feature exhibitions, panel discussions, and renowned local and international guest speakers, as well as showcase some of the leading international trends.The High Court in Pretoria has ordered Brian Molefe to pay back any money he received from Eskom's pension fund.

Brian Molefe. Picture: Trevor Samson/ BDLive

A full bench of the court ruled on Thursday that the "early retirement agreement" reached between the controversial former CE of Eskom and the company's board, including his subsequent reinstatement to the position, were unlawful and should be set aside.Molefe, who is now employed by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), was also ordered to pay the legal costs of the applicants in the matter, Solidarity and the DA.The application to review and set aside the decision of the Public Enterprises Minister Lynne Brown to reinstate Molefe, following his 2016 resignation from the company, was brought by Solidarity, the DA and EFF separately, but later consolidated.The parties also successfully argued that Molefe should repay a portion of the R30.1m paid to him as an early retirement pension benefit after his resignation was rescinded.Molefe has admitted that he was not eligible for the payout, but that he and the company's board and its pension fund had been mistaken about whether its rules could be relaxed to accommodate his early retirement claim.LUXEMBOURG, Luxembourg: The EU's top court on Thursday, 25 January 2018, dismissed a bid by an Austrian activist to bring a class action against Facebook for privacy breaches, although he can sue the US social media giant on a personal basis.

Max Schrems said he would now push ahead in an Austrian court with the individual case against Facebook's Irish division for alleged rights violations including personal data.Facebook welcomed the judgment and said it looked forward to "resolving" the case brought by Schrems, a campaigner who has previously brought down a landmark EU-US data sharing pact."Mr Schrems may bring an individual action in Austria against Facebook Ireland," the Luxembourg-based European Court of Justice said in a statement."By contrast, as the assignee of other consumers' claims, he cannot benefit from the consumer forum for the purposes of a collective action."Schrems had lodged legal cases in an Austrian court on behalf of himself and seven other users in Austria, Germany and India against Facebook in Ireland as a way of starting a class action suit.Austria's Supreme Court had referred the matter to the ECJ after Schrems's lawsuit was first thrown out and then restored by the country's courts.Schrems still hailed it as a victory, tweeting "YAY" with a winking-smiley-face emoji."For three years Facebook has been fighting nail and toe against the Courts jurisdiction in Austria and lost. Now, we can finally go ahead with the case," he said in a statement."Facebook will now have to explain to a neutral Court whether its business model is in line with stringent European privacy laws. This is a huge blow for them."Unfortunately the Court of Justice has not taken up the golden opportunity to finally establish collective redress options in Europe, but kicked the ball back to the legislator."Facebook had argued that people can only sue as individual consumers, not as groups."Today's decision by the European Court of Justice supports the previous decisions of two courts that Mr. Schrems's claims cannot proceed in Austrian courts as "class action" on behalf of other consumers," a Facebook spokesman said in a statement."We were pleased to have been able to present our case to the European Court of Justice and now look forward to resolving this matter."Schrems single-handedly brought down the EU's former "Safe Harbour" data sharing arrangement in 2015 after he sued Facebook in Ireland over the transfer of personal information by Facebook from Europe to the United States.The ECJ ruled the 16-year-old deal was illegal after Schrems cited US snooping practices exposed by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.Schrems is now suing Ireland's data protection regulator over the issue in a separate case being considered by the ECJ.According to a socio-economic impact study of the 2017 Cape Town Carnival released this week by the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) which details the overall impact of the popular festival and its reception by audiences, the carnival is generating economic benefits for the city and creative industries, alongside social cohesion and stimulation of the creative economy.

The SACO, a creative economy think tank and the research arm of the Department of Arts and Culture, said the economic impact of the 2017 Cape Town Carnival on the economy of Cape Town was R41.14m.

Tracking and measuring different economic, social and intrinsic values

Cape Town Carnival 2017 statistics by numbers:

The carnival is a celebration of culture, creativity and collaboration  and yields both real financial and social returns. The economic impact of R41m includes multiplier effects and excludes local sponsorship, but there are many other social benefits arising from this event which we are also interested in, said Jen Snowball, SACO chief research strategist, and economics lecturer at Rhodes University.The Cape Town Carnival is a six-month production that culminates in a one-day parade that has grown significantly since it was launched in 2010 to accommodating about two dozen floats, an estimated 50,000 spectators, 1,900 performers and 50 participating groups.The 2016 SACO Framework for the Monitoring and Evaluation of Publically Funded Arts, Culture and Heritage was used to conduct the research which was completed in collaboration with SADC Research Centre.The framework considers five broad thematic areas for tracking and evaluating projects. These include audience development and education; human capital/ professional capacity building; inclusive economic growth; social cohesion and community development; and reflexive and engaged citizens.These themes speak to a mix of economic, social and intrinsic values and are supported by a range of indicators that can be used to measure different values.Darryn Durno, director of the SADC Research Centre said: The main aims of the event included providing opportunities for community participation and networking, building social cohesion, building tourism and job creation. The research shows that these goals are being achieved and that there are high levels of trust between participants and organisers; and a sense of diversity.Data was collected via interviews with audiences, data provided by organisers, and focus group discussions held with community participants in the parade.Snowball added that the carnival has both loyal repeat visitors (54% had attended before) and the ability to attract first-time attendees.Of those attending, 40% of the audience rated the event as world class, with 46% rating it good for South Africa. Overall, 80% of the attendees rated it great in terms of the cultural diversity of the parade.The results from the event will be discussed at the upcoming SACO 2018 International Conference in Port Elizabeth on 7 and 8 March 2018. The 2018 Cape Town Carnival, themedtakes place 10 days later on 17 March 2018. Economic impact on the economy of Cape Town was R41m in 2017. Average spending per person was R441. 44,900 people attended. 55% of visitors were from South Africa, mostly from Western Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. 45% of visitors were from outside South Africa. The average length of stay in Cape Town was 5.6 nights. Non-locals, first round net spending was about R13.8m. 80% rated the atmosphere great. 65% of the audience was younger than 35 years old, 57% were coloured and 21% were black African.Image: OSABEE

Augmented reality (AR) or virtual reality (VR)

Personal fulfilment

Hotels vs home sharing

Increased sustainable travel

Though the year was marred by extreme economic and security uncertainties and instabilities across the board, from political upheavals to the controversial Trump Travel Ban , the advancement of the industry is not a subject to be overlooked.Use of various tech solutions, diversification of services by hotels, and the surge of millennial travel are just some of the highlights that marked 2017. So, will these continue to dominate 2018, or do we expect new and rising trends in the travel and hospitality sectors?Getting a feel of your hotel room before you even get there, or your airlines premium economy flight has never been so tangible. Virtual travel is expected to further evolve this year, as service providers haste to offer easy and reliable travel planning and experience.Did I mention the Giroptic iO HD 360 camera for your smartphones/tablets? This represents the perfect way to capture and display your perfect travel memories. It is also an essential marketing tool for destination promoters, as they sell the best 360 views of the various tourism destinations this year.Travel consumer demands will not stop at accommodation, good food, a comfortable ride or flight. Whether for leisure or business, at a five hotel or at a backpacker's hostel; 2018 travellers will be more concerned about their experiential immersion and fulfilment.It will be about clearing the bucket list with new encounters, which comes with a clarion call to hoteliers among other service providers to focus more on personalisation. Client specifications must be adhered to, and swift adoption of emerging technologies necessary, if this trend is to be fully monetised. Understanding the customer to fit your marketing strategy is also key in offering personalised services and achieving maximum revenue growth.The growth of home shares in 2017 created an intense competition in the accommodation sector, largely due to the high demand for diversification of products in the travel and hospitality market. Yet, in its 2018 Future of Millennial Travel Report , Resonance Consultancy indicates that only about 23% of the U.S respondent millennials prefer to book their accommodation and travel via home sharing sites.This, perhaps a big relief for hotels, with 64% preferring to book on travel websites while 47% through specific hotel, resort, and airline websites. Travel agents, still come a little ahead of home sharing sites at 24%.As the UNWTO International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development , 2017 saw massive campaigns aimed at promoting responsible travel both by the World Tourism Organisation as well as by other concerned stakeholders. It is therefore expected that this year will see the implementation of the policies put in place towards sustainability.Additionally, the millions of travellers worldwide who were reached and impacted by the Travel.Enjoy.Respect Campaign by the UN body will increasingly practice caution in their travel behaviours, in a bid to leave only positive impacts in the destinations they travel to.I conclude by echoing former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moons words, Sustainable development is the pathway to the future we want for all. It offers a framework to generate economic growth, achieve social justice, exercise environmental stewardship, and strengthen governance.The Color Run South Africa has announced its final event of The Superhero Tour, taking place in Stellenbosch on 17 February 2018. For one last time, runners can don their capes, masks and wands, and run the happiest 5km race as their favourite superhero.

Have fun, do good

What heroes are made of

The super important details:

The Superhero Tour has been one of The Color Runs favourite themes, says Trevor Latimer, national event coordinator, South Africa.With over 11,500 Color runners participating in the Superhero Tour in Cape Town, The Color Run was able to raise a donation of R 85,000 which will go to a charity in the greater Cape Town area, thanks to the generosity of headline sponsor Capitec Bank. Capitecs sponsorship of this amazing event was not only based on its ability to bring together the diverse communities of South Africa, but also because it has allowed us to give back to the communities which support us. says Francois Viviers, executive of marketing and communications at Capitec Bank.The Color Run enables our superheroes to have fun, while doing good. With its clearly defined ethos, we feel its the perfect partner for Heart FM, says Marlo Paulse head of marketing for Heart FM  media sponsor for The Color Run, Stellenbosch.While the start gun goes off at 8am, Color runners are encouraged to get to Hoerskool Stellenbosch early to soak up the vibe and get warmed up. The route takes most people between one and two hours to complete. Then, Color runners can get ready for the world-famous Finish Festival, which will have you jumping for joy in rainbow clouds of colour.The Color Runs Superhero Tour acknowledges all the characteristics that define us as heroes. And, it applauds those nearest and dearest to us, and those further afield who inspire us and offer themselves as role models.Not only are we encouraging participants to celebrate themselves, and those who have mentored, cheered for, and positively influenced them, but this season, were sending a #TCRHero to The Color Run in Paris, says Latimer.Latimer encourages existing and would be superheroes to start compiling their stories for sharing, consider their charities, and fly over to www.thecolorrun.co.za for more information on The Superhero Tour and the competition rules.As always, The Color Run is a devoted #WaterWarrior, and encourages all Color runners to get on board. We are committed to dry clean ups, and can help you get clean with a minimal amount of water. Please visit our dedicated Water Warrior page for all the information.17 February 2018Start gun goes off at 8am  you should aim to be there by 7amHoerskool StellenboschA super-fantastic superhero, real or imagined#TheHappiest5k and #TCRHero #livebetterAre you interested in developing your own luxury brand or learning how to target affluent consumers? Do you wish to network with leaders within the luxury industry and build premium strategies? If you are looking to understand the South African luxury sector, the Africa Luxury & Wealth Summit will be hosted at Belmond Mount Nelson on 27 February 2018.

The 2018 edition of the Africa Luxury & Wealth Summit will be held at the Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel, in Cape Town (South Africa), on 27 February and will be attended by luxury brand owners and wealth managers from South Africa and beyond. The summit, which is in association with Pernod Ricard and the, will address the theme,. An exclusive Champagne Reception will be hosted by Perrier-Jouet at The Stack Members Club, one of the citys leading private clubs.Founder of the summit Silvana Bottega noted, The original and first forum to bring together leaders in this space, the summit provides a unique opportunity to engage with other luxury brand leaders as well as the chance to broaden and deepen your knowledge of Southern Africa luxury landscape.Join leaders in property, fashion, wine and spirits, wealth management, automotive, luxury branding, beauty, leather and art for what promises to be a highly informative and interesting days conference.Contact Leshiha Blanckenberg, on moc.timmusyruxulacirfa@tneve or register online.To find out more about this forum, visit www.africaluxurysummit.com For VIP Passes or Partnership Opportunities contact Silvana Bottega on 0791787867 or email moc.timmusyruxulacirfa@piv 27 February Full Day VIP Summit Pass: R4,250Early Bird VIP Summit Pass: R3,000 (available until 15 January 2018)Company Pass: R10,000 for 3 tickets* Africa Luxury & Wealth Summit at Belmond Mount Nelson27 February 2018, 08h30* Perrier-Jouet Champagne Reception at The Stack (strictly by invitation)27 February 2018, 18h00Two new categories have been added to the fifth annual African Utility Week Industry Awards to honour excellence in energy or water journalism, as well as digitally advanced utilities.

The complete list of 2018 award categories:

Lifetime Achievement Award - The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual for prolonged and consistent achievements who has made a significant contribution to the development and future of the energy or water industries during his or her entire career rather than or in addition to a single contribution.



The nominee can be from a utility, public or private company and should be someone who has helped to achieve strategic advancement of the sectors by proactively sharing knowledge, encouraging the adoption of new technologies or establishing exemplary financial governance practices. This individual is well recognised across the globe for their influence and insight into the energy or water sectors in Africa.





- The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual for prolonged and consistent achievements who has made a significant contribution to the development and future of the energy or water industries during his or her entire career rather than or in addition to a single contribution. The nominee can be from a utility, public or private company and should be someone who has helped to achieve strategic advancement of the sectors by proactively sharing knowledge, encouraging the adoption of new technologies or establishing exemplary financial governance practices. This individual is well recognised across the globe for their influence and insight into the energy or water sectors in Africa. Outstanding Contribution Award: Power - This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the power industry, while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.





- This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the power industry, while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success. Outstanding Contribution Award: Water - This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the water industry while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success.





- This award celebrates the accomplishments of an individual in a senior position from a utility, public or private company who has displayed passion and commitment to the water industry while also demonstrating leadership, vision and success. Outstanding Contribution Award: Young Leader - This award recognises a person under the age of 35 from a public or private company who has made an outstanding contribution to the energy or water sectors. This young professional has had commendable career achievements to date and is already playing a leading role in their sector.





- This award recognises a person under the age of 35 from a public or private company who has made an outstanding contribution to the energy or water sectors. This young professional has had commendable career achievements to date and is already playing a leading role in their sector. Energy/Water Reporter of the Year  new category - This award recognises a professional journalist who produced outstanding work in 2017/18 for the public, either independently or as an employee of an editorially independent news entity through their reporting on the power or water sectors in Africa.

Power Utility of the Year - This award recognises a power utility in Africa that has excelled in any one or more of the following fields: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, grid integration and new energy sources, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.





- This award recognises a power utility in Africa that has excelled in any one or more of the following fields: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, grid integration and new energy sources, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects. Water Utility of the Year - This award recognises a water utility in Africa that excels in any one or more of the following: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, water quality and sanitation solutions, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects.





- This award recognises a water utility in Africa that excels in any one or more of the following: Service delivery, project roll-out, technology roll-out, revenue protection measures, loss reduction, water quality and sanitation solutions, including company contribution to sector growth, demonstrated expenditure reduction, increased capacity to deliver services and revenue collection, completion of infrastructure development or sustainable maintenance projects. Renewable Energy Project (10MW +) - This award is for a project completed by an African utility, off-grid producer, IPP, government or investor between March 2017 and February 2018.





- This award is for a project completed by an African utility, off-grid producer, IPP, government or investor between March 2017 and February 2018. Small-Scale Sustainable Energy Project (under 5MW) - This award is for a sustainable energy project providing electricity for either a commercial or rural electrification setting that was connected between March 2017 and February 2018.





- This award is for a sustainable energy project providing electricity for either a commercial or rural electrification setting that was connected between March 2017 and February 2018. Innovative Technology of the Year - This award will acknowledge a business that has achieved commercial success from advanced technology, research or developing products, services, or solutions relevant to the energy or water sectors.





- This award will acknowledge a business that has achieved commercial success from advanced technology, research or developing products, services, or solutions relevant to the energy or water sectors. Deal of the Year - This category will recognise an outstanding energy deal which reached financial closure between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017.





- This category will recognise an outstanding energy deal which reached financial closure between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. The Digital Utility Award  new category - The winner captures the full range of digital opportunities by enhancing connectivity, decision making, automation, and innovation for consumers, customers, and employees.

African Utility Week details:

The awards gala dinner forms part of the African Utility Week conference and expo taking place at the CTICC in Cape Town from 15-17 May and celebrates pioneering utilities, projects and people in the energy and water industry on the continent during 2017/2018.The media plays a vital role in the energy and water industries on the continent, says African Utility Week event director Evan Schiff, not only by its investigative work which exposes the sectors challenges and failings, holding stakeholders accountable but also by celebrating the successes and advancements. We invite all journalists who specialise in reporting on energy or water affairs to either nominate themselves or for news and industry organisations to put forward their top choice for the journalist that has covered the sector in an innovative yet objective manner. The category is open to media across the continent.Another exciting new category in the African Utility Week Industry Awards is the Digital Utility Award. The African utility of the future is likely to be a fully digital system, says Evan Schiff, entrants for this award are utilities and solution providers who are leading the disruption in the market, maximising utility profitability and adapting business models in the evolving digital environment.The deadline for entries is 2 March 2018. More information and entry forms can be found on the event website: http://www.african-utility-week.com/aboutawards Conference and expo: 15-17 May 2018Awards gala dinner: 16 May 2018Site visits: 18 May 2018Location: CTICC, Cape Town, South AfricaFor more information, visit: http://www.african-utility-week.com or www.african-real-estate-summit.com , or follow @AfricaUtilities on Twitter #AUW2018.Why release of two journalists in Ethiopia does not signal end to press crackdown

On January 10, radio journalists Darsema Sori and Khalid Mohammed were released from prison after serving lengthy sentences related to their work at the Ethiopian faith-based station Radio Bilal. Despite their release and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn's promise earlier this month to free political prisoners, Ethiopia's use of imprisonment, harassment, and surveillance means that the country continues to be a hostile environment for journalists.KAMPALA, Uganda - Uganda's most popular tabloid paper will soon be back on newsstands after senior management promised to be more "professional" and were given a presidential pardon late Tuesday.

 skantgarg via 123RF

Eight editors and directors of the Red Pepper were originally charged with treason and later with damaging the reputation of President Yoweri Museveni and others following the publication of a story alleging a Ugandan plot to overthrow the Rwandan government."After a meeting with President Museveni at State House, Entebbe Tuesday night, he pardoned the company directors and its senior editors and promised to immediately order the police to vacate Pepper Headquarters," the publisher said in a statement."During the meeting at State House, the President warned the directors and editors to stop being reckless and become more professional in the course of their reporting. The directors pledged to the President and the nation a more transformed and professional publication," the Red Pepper said.The statement added that the tabloid, which specialises in scurrilous gossip and political scoops, would "hit the streets again soon" after more than two months in limbo since a November police raid.A presidential spokesman confirmed Tuesday's meeting saying the Red Pepper had been permitted to reopen after having "apologised to the nation".Source: AFP.BORDERLAND BEAT

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Journalism history is on full, optimistic display in the Academy Award Best Picture nominee The Post, starring Meryl Streep as Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham. In this fast-paced drama, Graham heads a newsroom (headed by Ben Bradlee, played by Tom Hanks) in possession of the Pentagon Papers, damning reports exposing the U.S. governments clandestine decision-making during the Vietnam War.

While the film is naturally set in the Washington D.C. surrounding area, The Post occasionally takes visits to 1971 New York City, at one point even visiting the New York TimesA 43rd Street office off Times Square. We like to imagine The Post shares the same universe as this falls HBO drama The Deuce, also set in 1971 and taking place on 42nd Street, one block away from the Times building.

We always love when we get to seeA Streep on the streets of New York CityA and thankfully we get a scene with Graham meeting up with an editor of the New York Times in a very familiar location A the Oak Room at the Plaza Hotel.A

Above: The Oak Room in 1974

Now why would Graham meet her Times contact at the Oak Room?

Interestingly, the wedding of Julie Nixon and David Eisenhower  held at the Plaza a few days before Christmas in 1968  is referenced early in the film.

But the scene is also a nod to a somewhat wackier moment in Grahams personal biography  Truman Capotes Black and White Ball.

In 1966, Capote had released In Cold Blood and was at the height of his popularity and social prominence. And he wanted to celebrate this by throwing an impossibly lavish ball at the Plaza. Invitations were sent to the most famous people in the world, a most curious assortment of notables.

But he insisted he throw the party in honor . of somebody. And the somebody he chose was Katharine Graham.

In her words: Truman called me up that summer and said, I think you need cheering up. And Im going to give you a ball.I wassort of baffled.I felt a little bit like Truman was going to give the ball anyway and that I was part of the props.

How was the party? For more information please listen to our podcast on Truman Capotes Black and White Ball.

And to take a look at what the actress playing Graham was up to in the 1970s, check out the Bowery Boys article on Meryl Streeps early adventures in New York City.Our thanks to Stefano Tarquini/The Lunatics, the cultural association that brings together the most famous Italian collectors of Pink Floyd, for this report - and the great pictures, too - on the opening of the new (temporary) home for The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains. Visit their website at www.thelunatics.it. The Lunatics have ten pieces on display (see picture, below) in the Italian staging of the exhibition, which is open now at Rome's Museo d'Arte Contemporanea di Roma, also known as MACRO. The exhibition runs until May 20th 2018. Tickets are now available through Vivaticket and as we've noted before, advance booking is highly recommended. Now, over to Stefano... On January 16th "The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains" was presented at the MACRO in Rome, with the presence of the Mayor of Rome, Virginia Raggi, and the councillor for culture Luca Bergamo, together with two of the members of the band, Nick Mason and Roger Waters. After the huge success at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the exhibition has now arrived in Rome for the first international staging; an exhibition that celebrates the historic British rock band 50 years after its birth. Roger Waters and Nick Mason arrived in Rome to present it. The bassist recalled the strong bond in his life between him and Italy, in particular with Aprilia, where his father died, and Anzio. Waters appears detached from the band's glorious past: "I was struck by this exposure because I saw things that I had not seen for a long time and brought back many memories, but everything we've done interests me a little. Of course we have achieved great things that have remained, I am proud of it, but there is much more. I have not been part of Pink Floyd for 38 years and more than in the past I'm interested in the present. "If we place down these phones, stop taking pictures and try to understand how difficult is the situation, it would be a good start." Waters continued: "You can not live in a state of permanent war. I live in the US and most of the taxes I pay are invested to bomb distant countries like Ecuador, Syria and Palestine for profit and the grossest nationalism. We try to put walls between races and nationalities, but in the end we are all Homo Sapiens, coming from Africa. We are all Africans, which we should always keep in mind". The exhibition's audiovisual route follows the career of Pink Floyd, starting from the underground London scene of the '60s and the psychedelia with Syd Barrett, until the last record and the "Live8" event performance. There are over 350 objects, including musical instruments, writings, posters, photos and video clips in which you immerse yourself wearing Sennheiser headphones with the music and the ever present voices of the band members Roger Waters, David Gilmour, Nick Mason and even the disappeared Syd Barrett and Richard Wright. The most impressive rooms are those dedicated to three of their masterpiece albums: "The Dark Side of the Moon", "The Wall" and "Animals", where there is the terrifying teacher of The Wall and the famous pink pig Algie. And there is also the extraordinary and unforgettable "Live at Pompeii" from 1971, conceived as an anti-Woodstock documentary. The exhibition ends with the simulation of "Comfortably Numb" taken from the Live8 concert, where you enter a room showcasing the last performance of the rock band with a complete line-up. There is even a surprise: just before entering the first room of the exhibition, there is a tribute to Italy, with a dozen collectibles-pieces from the cultural association, THE LUNATICS, the famous Italian collectors club, authors of three books about the band. Ten pieces including posters, records and tickets, dedicated to Italian tours, that ideally representing the whole world of Italian collectors. "The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains" is at the MACRO in Rome, Italy, from January 19th to May 20th 2018.Church of the Brethren Newsline

January 26, 2018

by Jeff Boshart

In the 1990s, a wave of Dominicans began leaving their home country to look for a better life in Spain. Members of Iglesia de los Hermanos (the Church of the Brethren in the Dominican Republic) were among them. In time they established the Church of the Brethren in Spain and continue to plant new fellowships across the country.

As the economy has sputtered in Spain, with high unemployment since the world economic crisis of 2008 and 2009, some members are on the move again. Several church members moved from Spain to London, England, about five or six years ago and immediately started a house church. This preaching point was recognized in 2016 by the Asamblea or Annual Conference of Iglesia Evangelica de los Hermanos (the Church of the Brethren in Spain).

Last fall, on our way to attend the 2017 Asamblea in Spain, I stopped for a brief two-day visit in London. Along with me on this trip was Fausto Carrasco, pastor of Nuevo Comienzo in St. Cloud, Fla., a fellowship of the Church of the Brethrens Atlantic Southeast District. He was serving as a volunteer for the Global Food Initiative.

We visited with Karen Meriguete, founder of the church plant in London called Roca Viva Church of the Brethren, along with several other members. She recently turned over the leadership of the new fellowship to her brother, Edward De La Torres, and has begun a second fellowship in a different neighborhood of London.

Meriguete and most of the other house church members are of Dominican heritage but are Spanish citizens, which allows them to move freely across the European Union for work. Most of the members work in restaurants or as janitors and housekeepers for office buildings in the heart of London. Often, several families share small, very expensive basement apartments that rent for over $1,000 per month.

While in London, we learned of house churches starting in Holland and Germany as wellall springing from the Brethren in Spain. The vision of the leaders of the Spanish church is to reach Europe for Christ. It looks like they are well on their way.

 Jeff Boshart manages the Global Food Initiative and the Emerging Global Mission Fund, and is on the staff of Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren.

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.Church of the Brethren Newsline

January 26, 2018

Brethren Disaster Ministries has directed grants from the Church of the Brethrens Emergency Disaster Fund (EDF) to the Disaster Recovery Support Initiative and the task of developing new project sites following the 2017 hurricane and fire season. In addition, a grant has been given to assist families displaced by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Disaster Recovery Support Initiative

An allocation of $50,000 funds volunteer responses in the US Virgin Islands by the Disaster Recovery Support Initiative (DRSI), following Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Vital infrastructure such as water, power, and communications were almost completely severed. Initial estimates reported damage to 90 percent of the 50,000 structures on the islands of St. Thomas and St. John. The plight of survivors is further complicated by the high level of poverty and heavy dependence on the tourism industry for employment.

Brethren Disaster Ministries initial response was through the DRSI, a partnership with the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). One DRSI staff member was deployed to St. Thomas shortly after Hurricane Maria,with supporting visits to other islands. In January, the other DRSI staff member and two UCC volunteers also deployed to St. Thomas to continue to support the development of local recovery efforts and volunteer responses. Brethren Disaster Ministries is acting as the fiscal agent for this initiative, with additional funds being provided by the UCC and the Disciples.

New project sites

An allocation of $25,000 supports Brethren Disaster Ministries in developing new project sites, providing short-term response programming and assisting with response planning related to last falls hurricanes and fire disasters. The money supports staff and volunteers as they travel around the hurricane and fire regions for planning meetings, evaluations, and response coordination. The grant also supports volunteers, districts, and partners who are providing short-term responses in affected areas. The funds are expected to support work in Florida, California, and the US Virgin Islands.

Democratic Republic of Congo

A grant of $10,000 to Shalom Ministry for Reconciliation in the DRC assists families displaced by violence. The country has a long history of war, armed conflict, and many different brutal militia groups. The Church of the Brethren partner, Shalom Ministry for Reconciliation and Development, reported last July about increased armed conflict in the eastern DRC.

Shalom Ministries is assisting the growing group of families displaced from this violence, and has provided written, pictorial, and financial reports showing the effective use of the first two grants given to the effort totaling $15,000. The relief team of nine members facilitated the distribution of emergency food supplies including ground corn, beans, cooking oil, cooking salt, and soap. In total, 950 households totaling nearly 7,500 people were served by the first two grants. This third grant assists families from the villages of Ngovi, Makobola, Mboko, and Uvira.

For more information about the Emergency Disaster Fund go to www.brethren.org/edf.

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news every week.UB biostatistics expert selected for FDA panel on medical product safety monitoring

Marianthi Markatou, associate chair of research and healthcare informatics and professor of biostatistics, UB School of Public Health and Health Professions.

BUFFALO, N.Y.  A University at Buffalo biostatistics researcher will be among the panelists at a public forum on the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations electronic system for monitoring the safety of FDA-regulated medical products.

Marianthi Markatou, associate chair of research and healthcare informatics and professor of biostatistics in UBs School of Public Health and Health Professions, was invited to speak at the 10th annual Sentinel Initiative Public Workshop on Feb. 7 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Panelists include scientists from Harvard, McGill and Duke universities, as well as FDA and industry representatives.

Sentinel is the FDAs national electronic system that has transformed the way researchers monitor the safety of FDA-regulated medical products, such as drugs, vaccines and medical devices.

The FDA launched Sentinel at the urging of Congress in 2008, at a time when patients were demanding more information about the benefits and potential risks of medical products.

Sentinel enhances the FDAs ability to proactively monitor the safety of medical products after they have reached the market. It uses a distributed data infrastructure approach, which allows the FDA to rapidly and securely access electronic health care data from more than 193 million patients from multiple data partners, while securing patient privacy.

Markatous expertise was sought for the panel session titled A Look into the Future of the Sentinel System, which will cover challenges and opportunities that need to be addressed to improve Sentinel and continue its modernization over the next decade.

The workshop is being convened through a cooperative agreement between the FDA and the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy. It will bring together researchers, FDA and industry representatives to discuss a range of topics related to medical product surveillance.

There will be approximately 200 people in attendance for the workshop, which will also be live-streamed on the Duke-Margolis Centers website.Profile

New director brings unique cultural experiences to Honors College

Dalia Muller, associate professor of history and associate director of the Caribbean and Latin/o American Studies (CLAS) program, was appointed director of the Honors College and associate dean of undergraduate education last summer.

By SARAH MACHAJEWSKI

I see the Honors College as a place where high-achieving students of many backgrounds come together in a community founded on the principles of excellence, inclusion, integrity and engagement to pursue their academic goals, cultivate leadership and engage the worlds around them. 

Anyone who pays a visit to the Honors College knows that sometimes what happens there can only be described as an Honors thing. Ambitious students, primed to exceed expectations, continually push the needle and come together to collaborate, debate and dialogue, fueled by their common commitment to academics and coffee. Lots of coffee.

Now with the arrival of Dalia A. Muller, you can add quenepas to that list.

Quenepas, commonly known as Spanish limes, are small rounded fruits native to Central America and parts of the Caribbean. But perhaps whats more interesting is how you eat them. Bite open the tough, green peel to reveal a slightly sour orange flesh. Pop the whole thing in your mouth, suck and discard the pit. At least, thats how Muller explained it recently over a container of quenepas.

Leave it to the new director to bring this kind of unique cultural experience to Honors.

Muller was appointed director of the Honors College and associate dean of undergraduate education last summer. A scholar of Latin American and Caribbean history, her work focuses on the movement of people throughout Cuba, Mexico and the United States  a region she calls the Gulf World. Muller is a prominent voice in Latin American and Caribbean scholarship, evidenced by a lengthy CV detailing numerous talks, conference presentations, publications and books, including her most recent work, Cuban Emigres and Independence in the Nineteenth-Century Gulf World, published in 2017 by the University of North Carolina Press as part of its Envisioning Cuba series.

Mullers passion for history began in a ninth-grade classroom with a teacher who, she says, made history come alive in all of its complexity. Her quest for a deeper understanding of the past led her to Yale University, where she earned a BA in history, with honors, and then on to the University of California, Berkeley for her MA and PhD. After a time teaching at a small, private university in Los Angeles, she joined the history faculty at UB  an exciting opportunity for someone who had always imagined herself teaching at a large public institution.

While Muller is a new face around the Honors College, students may recognize her as a longtime UB faculty member who served as an associate professor of history and associate director of UBs Caribbean and Latin/o American Studies (CLAS) program. In her six years with CLAS, she helped to restructure the program and double its size.

Ive always loved program building, she says, adding that she considers the successes in recruitment and retention of masters students, as well as the programs expansion, as being among her proudest accomplishments. It was in this capacity that Muller gained experience as an administrator and as a professor, and she points to it as the critical preparation needed for her new role as director of the Honors College.

Tasked with the responsibility of leading the future of Honors, Muller started where she knew best: the past. Her inner researcher came to life as she gathered insights from students, Honors alumni and faculty to gain a broad perspective of their experiences. She conducted extensive research on peer programs, excavated the history of the program itself, and is now identifying model programs to develop a plan that builds upon the unique and stellar offerings already in place. The Honors College is such an incredible institution, and yet has so much room to grow, she says.

That growth may first come in building upon a foundation of the Honors College experience: its commitment to civic engagement and experiential learning. [The freshman Honors Colloquium] is an incredibly strong pillar of the college, she says. And theres so much exciting potential here. One thing I am really keen on is serving the Buffalo community better and serving our students better through that course.

Driven by Mullers interest in better serving urban communities, the Honors Colloquium aims to be truly transformative for students while also serving the communities they work with in more meaningful and beneficial ways. She says that can be accomplished by being even more selective and intentional in the relationships with the colleges partners, and really listening to their needs and ensuring that students are properly trained for the experience.

Through this approach, students will be able to triangulate between their research and professional interests, UBs Communities of Excellence and external community organizations. Drawing these connections is something Muller identifies as the key to showing students how they can accomplish their own academic and career goals while clearly seeing the larger purpose of community engagement. It would be really powerful to give students this experience [while theyre] young, she says.

As she steps into her new roles, Muller says she plans to take a deeper dive into the culture of Honors, as well as the university at large. She sees a trend toward integrating undergraduate and graduate education, enabling students to weave together multidisciplinary areas of thinking while cultivating rich experiences through access to higher levels of education. She also is dedicated to inclusive excellence and is committed to working with her staff to diversify the Honors College. I understand diversity as a tremendous strength that will enhance the experiences of all Honors students, she says.

Muller hopes the university and the Honors College can continue to show students the rewards that come from embracing new perspectives. I see the Honors College as a place where high-achieving students of many backgrounds come together in a community founded on the principles of excellence, inclusion, integrity and engagement to pursue their academic goals, cultivate leadership and engage the worlds around them, she says.

She acknowledges that implementing these broad strokes takes time, but did point to one immediate change. Honors students gather weekly in the Don Schack Student Lounge for coffee, tea and conversation, with each director adding his or her own unique touch to the event. Former director Andy Stott provided a British perspective through his Elevenses tea times. Mullers take is more global: She is instituting the Honors International Cafe, which will provide students with a weekly visit to a different country.

Muller says that by serving coffees and teas unique to a specific culture (think Brazilian Cafezinho, Mexican chocolate or Taiwanese bubble tea), accompanied by carefully curated music and slideshows, the cafe will create a sense of place  and cultural awareness  inside UB. Building on the tradition of this signature gathering, she says this new version will still offer a space to come together, converse, share ideas and, most importantly, walk away with new perspectives.

Students will leave knowing something more about the world, she says.

Whether Latin American quenepas will make another appearance inside the Honors College remains to be seen, but with Muller at the helm, the college is sure to offer an abundance of equally fascinating experiences.After joining Grant UK in the summer of 2017, Kevin Ellis has now been appointed as Renewables Manager for the Company and will be providing support in the renewables sector to customers throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

Kevins experience of working with renewable technologies is extensive as a result of being involved in the sector for over seventeen years. Having started his career as an engineer for the Ministry of Defense and then working on both sides of the merchant counter, Kevin understands the industry from both the installers perspective and that of merchants and developers.

From product knowledge through to design and specification, Kevins focus has predominantly been in the renewable sector with an emphasis on heat pumps.

In his new role with Grant UK, Kevin will be supporting the Sales Team of Area Managers based throughout the mainland UK. As Renewables Manager, Kevin will assist the Sales Team with projects involving Grants renewable product portfolio.Following a public vote, Lapford Victory Hall has been chosen as the latest winner of RGB Building Supplies Well Built Community Fund.

Up against Halwill Parish Hall, and Torquay & District Cats Protection, Lapford Victory Hall came out on top and now has 1,000 to spend at RGBs Crediton branch.

The hall is a major part of the local community and is used for a wide range of diverse activities. The Community Fund donation will be used to purchase materials to complete refurbishment of the toilet area and ensure appropriate access is provided for disabled facilities.

Andrew Epstein from Lapford Victory Halls Management Committee said: The hall was built in 1919 to commemorate the end of the First World War so its been a central part of our community for nearly 100 years. Its widely used so its extremely important we continue to maintain and improve the facilities. A huge thank you to everyone that voted for us and to RGB Building Supplies for the generous donation of the materials.

Adrian Borchardt, Branch Manager at RGB Crediton, said: Our Community Fund is all about helping local groups and charities to complete projects that they would not otherwise be able to do. I was delighted to meet Andrew and representatives from Lapford Victory Hall and see how the donation of materials will be used; I wish them every success with the project.DISINI, PVM Live! and 35mm Art Market are events you shouldn't miss

ART | Art Stage Singapore 2018

Back for its eighth edition, the three-day art fair will be introducing three cornerstone initiatives: Inspirations, Conversations and Interactions, with a special highlight on Thailand's vibrant and upcoming art scene.



Till 28 January at Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre.

MUSIC | DISINI Presents - Here/Now

Headlined by the enigmatic French-Canadian DJ Jacques Greene, the nine-month long inaugural visual arts festival DISINI  borrowed from the Malay adverb 'di sini', meaning 'over here'  is celebrating its launch with a rain or shine, all-night-long outdoor party. You can expect an eclectic line-up of homegrown favourites including Mean, AE$OP CA$H and Unknown Radicals.



26 January, 9pm till 6am at Gillman Barracks.

PARTY | PVM Live! Singapore Art Week Closing Party

Ending Singapore Art Week and The Parkview Museum's four-month long Reframe series on a high note, this Saturday evening will be the only time you'll have access to the museum after operating hours. Immerse yourself in a 50-year history of contemporary art works, an artistic improvisation from Bani Haykal, a multilayered instrumental performance by Weish (.gif) and a live electronic DJ set by Rah (Darker Than Wax).







27 January, 7.30pm till late at The Parkview Museum.

SHOP | 35mm Art Market by The Local People x Singapore Art Museum

Drop by the largest art market to date, featuring a culmination of 120 vendors' specially-curated artisanal crafts, delectable bites and thirst quenchers, as well as live performances by Jean Goh Seizure, Desiree Orien Tay and more. If you're a lover of wearable sushi, brush lettering and handmade ceramics, you're bound to shop your heart out at this massive fair.



28 January, 11am till 7pm at Singapore Art Museum.

ART | Trip to the Colourscape

The iconic tunnel connecting Empress Place to Queen Elizabeth Walk since the 1960s is now refreshed with dynamic hues in an installation by Singapore-based lighting design collective, Nipek. Enjoy a refreshing interplay of illumination with this futuristic underground passage backdrop before this tunnel dims its light and returns to normality.



Till 28 January, 8pm till late at Esplanade Park Tunnel and Esplanade Park.Yet another class to add to our to-do-list

Any self-respecting yogi would know that the art of yoga can't actually be confined to a singular form, but can be well translated into many various kinds.

One variation is infrared heat yoga  a special form which heats up objects directly without cranking up the temperature in the air. Pioneers in this unique practice, Jal Yoga has recently opened its doors along Alexandra Road, unveiling a cosy sanctuary that specialises in infrared heat yoga as well as a wide spectrum of other yoga classes.

Their infra heat yoga studio is fitted with a row of cutting-edge (Far-Infrared-Technology) FIR panels on the ceiling, which emit a certain type of therapeutic heat. Not to be confused with hot yoga, the warmth in infrared heat yoga directly permeates the body without it feeling like a billion degrees. It is said to alleviate pains or aches, increase blood circulation, and even aid in better sleep.

Not exactly what you're looking for? Jal's other yoga classes comprise of a good mix of traditional, modern, and entirely unique  enthusiasts can try out "Angamardana" (which makes its debut at Jal), a fitness regime helming from South India, or "Yoga for Sports", which feature performance-enhancing programs for athletes.

In case you were thinking of switching your fitness routine up, pilates and barre classes are also available at Jal. In addition to all that, plans to offer Ayurveda-centered treatments are currently underway. If you are interested in trying out one of the world's oldest healing systems in the near future, you might want to keep tabs on this studio for more updates.

To book a class at Jal Yoga, click here.

991 Alexandra Road #01-03A, Tel: 8799 9825Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

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As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorMy statement might seem contrary to opinions I have expressed on this subject earlier; I have written that those calling for a ban on the film, especially the criminal outfit called Karni Sena that has made itself the sole custodian of Rajput pride, are in contradiction with the Constitution, particularly the fundamental right to expression it enshrines. That is still an opinion I hold dear; Bhansali and Co have every right to release their movie and no one has any ...

Dear Reader,

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.

We, however, have a request.



As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed.



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Digital EditorPrime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Nazib Razak, focusing on ways to enhance counter-terror cooperation, contain radicalisation and boost ties in areas of defence, trade and investment.

Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry Preeti Saran said the two leaders also deliberated on enhancing cooperation in the infrastructure sector.

They deliberated on counter-terror cooperation, containing radicalisation and ways to enhance defence cooperation, Saran told a media briefing.

Razak was among 10 ASEAN leaders who participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit yesterday and watched the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath today.

On Modi's bilateral meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Saran said they explored ways to boost economic cooperation, adding they also discussed transport projects including ensuring connectivity among various Indonesian islands.

Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith during which a range of issues of mutual interests was discussed.

In the meeting, Saran said, the focus was on enhancing defence cooperation.

"Longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive relations! In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, PM @narendramodi discussed developmental cooperation, and partnership in trade and HRD.#aseanindia," the MEA spokesperson tweeted.

Sisoulith also participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit and witnessed the Republic Day Parade.

Saran said Modi will have talks with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen tomorrow. The Cambodian PM, accompanied by a large delegation, is on a state visit here. He attended the India-ASEAN commemorative summit yesterday and watched the Republic Day celebrations today.

Since Wednesday, Modi had held bilateral meetings with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.India on Friday celebrated its 69th as the Rajpath, the capital's main promenade, came alive with march pasts and colourful tableaux to showcase the country's military might, cultural legacy and its initiatives, with 10 Asean leaders as chief guests watching the proceedings.

The parade ceremony commenced with Prime Minister Narendra Modi laying the wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to pay homage to the fallen soldier. President Ram Nath Kovind took his first salute from various wings of the Indian Army, the Air Force and the Navy.

Earlier, Kovind presented the Ashok Chakra - India's highest peace-time gallantry award - to Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala's widow and mother. The 31-year-old IAF commando was killed in an anti-terror operation in Jammu and Kashmir last year that also led to the killing of six terrorists.

Chief guests and heads of states of Governments of ASEAN nations leave after attending the 69th function at Rajpath in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

The parade was commanded by Lt.

General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. Major General Rajpal Punia, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Delhi Area was the parade second-in-command.

The marching contingents started with flag bearer contingent displaying the Asean and 10 Asean countries' flags followed by the Indian Army Band drawn from 39 Gorkha Training Centre and 1 EME Centre.

India for the first time in its history of republic hosted 10 heads of state or government of the Asean countries as guests of honour for the annual parade.

The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, weapon locating radar (Swathi), bridge laying tank T-72, mobile base transceiver station and Akash weapon system were the main draw in the mechanised columns.

IAF's Jaguar planes fly-past during 69th Republic Day Parade at Rajpath in New Delhi (Photo: PTI)

The marching contingent of the Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts, the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion - Territorial Army (Grenadiers) followed by the tableau of ex-Servicemen.

The marching contingent of the Navy comprised 144 young sailors led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam,.

The Indian Air Force contingent also had 144 men led by Squadron Leader Attal Singh Shekhon.

The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces included the Border Security Force marching as well as Camel Contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, Delhi Police, Cadet Corps and Service Scheme.The Border Security Force (BSF) on Friday refused to exchange sweets and greetings with their Pakistani counterparts - the Pakistan Rangers, on the occasion of the 69th

The move by the BSF came following the heightened tension between both countries along the International Border (IB) and Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir due to repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistani forces leading to killing of soldiers and civilians on the Indian side.

Tension continues to prevail along the IB and LoC for the past few months due to repeated ceasefire violations.

BSF sources said it was conveyed to the Pakistan Rangers on Thursday that no sweets will be exchanged on

Border guards of both countries follow a tradition of exchanging sweets for the past several years on major religious festivals, like Eid and Diwali, and also during Independence Days of both countries and India's

The BSF is on maximum alert along Punjab's barbed wire fenced 553-km IB with Pakistan.

In the past 4-5 years, border guards have skipped the exchange of sweets on a few occasions.

The exchange ceremony is mainly held at the Attari-Wagah joint check post, 30 km from Amritsar.During his speech at a WEF Governors meeting this morning, Mr. Vittorio Colao, Vodafone Group Plc's CEO, complimented India and Prime Minister Modi's government for a marked improvement in the ease of doing business in the country during the last four years.

After the meeting, Mr. Colao elaborated and said, "Digital India and Make in India are transformational initiatives. The focus of Prime Minister Modi's government and India's new progressive policy framework are ensuring their successful execution. India's enhanced economic liberalisation will bring more international investment into its growing economy, which will in turn generate exciting opportunities and boost job creation."

Within the telecom sector specifically, Mr. Colao said, "India has significantly increased the amount of spectrum which is now available to operators. The proposed increase in spectrum caps will further hasten the roll out of networks to the benefit of customers, government and industry."

"Simplicity and transparency are key to the reforms introduced and this has been recognised by the significant improvement in India's position in the Ease of Doing Business global rankings. The swift progress we have made in just under a year towards the completion of our merger with Idea Cellular is testimony to this fresh approach. India has a clear set of well-defined M&A rules and we are seeing their fair and speedy implementation," said Mr. Colao.India needs a fighting force that can face adversaries on two fronts. This has been the gist of repeated official and unofficial statements in the past few years.

However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is staring at a crucial capability gap when it comes to mid-air refuelling, an exercise essential for extending the legs of its combat aircraft and for increasing the fighting force's reach. Now, with China in its crosshairs, the IAF has reportedly kicked off the procurement process for six mid-air refuelling aircraft for a third time -- two attempts were previously cancelled over the ...In line with New Delhi's Act East Policy that puts southeast Asia at its centre, India and the Asean regional bloc on Thursday agreed to enhance maritime cooperation while reiterating their commitment to fight the global scourge of terrorism together.

With the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) leaders by his side, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for nations to follow international law of the seas in the Indo-Pacific region - in a veiled attack on China which has been accused by most of its neighbours of violating the rule of law in the South China Sea.

"India shares the Asean vision for rule-based societies and values of peace," Modi said in his opening remarks at the plenary session here of the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership.

He said India is committed to enhancing cooperation in the maritime domain with the Asean regional bloc.



"We are committed to work with Asean nations to enhance collaboration in the maritime domain," he said

The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, and heads of state or government of all these countries are participating in the Commemorative Summit, themed "Shared Destiny, Common Values". The heads of government and state from these 10 countries are here as guests of honour at the Republic Day celebrations on Friday.

A joint statement issued following the Summit said both sides reaffirmed "the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security, freedom of navigation and overflight in the region, and other lawful uses of the seas and unimpeded lawful maritime commerce and to promote peaceful resolutions of disputes, in accordance with universally recognised principles of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), and the relevant standards and recommended practices by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)".

"In this regard, we support the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of the Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and look forward to an early conclusion of the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC)," it stated.

Both sides also agreed to "strengthen maritime cooperation through existing relevant mechanisms including the Expanded Asean Maritime Forum (EAMF) to address common challenges on maritime issues".

India and Asean also agreed to "deepen cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, violent extremism and radicalisation through information sharing, law enforcement cooperation and capacity building under the existing ASEAN-led mechanisms".

In his address, Modi said the nature of Asean-India partnership has evolved significantly.

"Our trade has grown 25 times in 25 years. Investments are robust and growing. We will further enhance trade ties and work towards greater interaction among our business communities."

According to the joint statement, both sides agreed to "further strengthen Asean-India economic relations, including through the full utilisation and effective implementation of the Asean-India Free Trade Area, and intensify efforts in 2018 toward the swift conclusion of a modern, comprehensive, high quality, and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)".

The RCEP is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the 10 Asean member states and the six countries with which Asean has FTAs -- Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea.

Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, which has assumed the Asean chair this year, said that India and the regional bloc have to increase trade and economic cooperation.

"The RCEP being negotiated represents a historic opportunity to establish the world's largest trading region," he said.

Lee also stressed on boosting land, air and maritime connectivity between India and Southeast Asia.

According to the joint statement, both India and Asean "encouraged the early completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway project" and extend this Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnama.

Earlier in the day, the Commemorative Summit started with a luncheon banquet hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind in the honour of visiting dignitaries.

Following this, Modi held a leaders' retreat in which the issue of maritime cooperation and security was discussed.

Prior to the banquet, since Wednesday, the Prime Minister also held bilateral meetings with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singapore Prime Minister Lee, and Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah.With an aim to further trade ties, India and Asean on Thursday agreed for swift conclusion of the comprehensive and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in 2018.

Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to enhance physical and digital connectivity in line with the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity 2025 and the Asean ICT Masterplan (AIM) 2020 by availing the $ 1-billion line of credit announced by India.

India and Asean will also work towards encouraging early completion of the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway Project and extend this Trilateral Highway to Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam, according to the Delhi Declaration of the Asean-India Commemorative Summit.

The summit was held here to mark the 25th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-India Dialogue Relations.

It also emphasised the need to deepen cooperation in the area of aviation under the Asean-India Aviation Cooperation Framework adopted at the 14th Asean Transport Ministers Meeting in Manila, on November 6, 2008, including through the convening of air services consultations by the Asean-India Working Group on Regional Air Services Arrangements and the establishment of air transport cooperation on technical, economic, and regulatory matters between Asean and India.

It was agreed to establish closer Asean-India air links to promote tourism, trade, and enhance greater connectivity between 10-nation grouping Asean and India.





ALSO READ: Asean, Modi attack Bejing on South China Sea stand, vow to fight terrorism

Both sides will work to "further strengthen Asean-India economic relations, including through the full utilisation and effective implementation of the Asean-India Free Trade Area, and intensify efforts in 2018 toward the swift conclusion of a modern, comprehensive, high quality, and mutually beneficial Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP)," it said.

There were also agreements on cooperation for conservation and sustainable use of marine resources in the Indian and Pacific Oceans and address threats to these resources including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, loss of coastal ecosystems and the adverse impacts of pollution, ocean acidification, marine debris.

It also emphasised the need to promote maritime transport cooperation between Asean and India, and encourage potential private sector participation in the development of seaports, maritime logistics network and maritime services in order to create greater efficient linkages and encourage Asean and India to continue discussions on these priority areas.



ALSO READ: India shares Asean vision for rule-based societies, values of peace: Modi

According to the declaration, promotion of stable and sustainable growth for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), including through technology transfer, as well as enhancing capacity building, technical assistance, access to innovation, and opportunities to integrate into the global and regional value chains were agreed upon.

India and Asean countries will continue to collaborate in peaceful exploitation of outer space, through the implementation of the Asean-India Space Cooperation Programme, including launching of satellites, for sustainable exploitation of ground, sea, atmospheric and digital resources for equitable development of the region, it said.





ALSO READ: Unfinished RCEP gets under the skin of nations at Asean business Summit

It further said there is a need to promote private sector engagement and strengthen business-to-business relations, including through the Asean-India Business Council, and encourage trade events to promote brand awareness of Asean and India products and services to further broaden and deepen economic linkages.

"We also look forward to the establishment of the Asean-India Trade and Investment Centre," it said.In an interview to Times Now on the weekend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extolled the virtues of the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, which offers free gas connections to the rural poor. What will be the ease of living for a poor woman, who uses a stove to cook food and spends her entire life in that smoke? he asked. According to me, her ease of living is possible if I free her from that smoke. I took the big step of Ujjwala and provided gas to 33,000,000 families.

I may even complete the target of 5 crore (50 mn) families before the deadline. This, in itself, is our ...Chief negotiators of 16 countries including India and China will meet next month in Jakarta for the next round of discussions on the proposed mega trade deal RCEP.

A government official said issues to be discussed in the week long meeting, starting February 3, include the single- tier system of duty relaxation under the RCEP.

Under this system, the member countries would deliberate on finalising the maximum number of goods on which duties will either be eliminated or reduced drastically.

Matters pertaining to services sector are also expected to figure in the meeting, the official said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu recently stated that India would work closely and constructively with all the members for early conclusion of the negotiations.

However, he has asserted on the importance of addressing sensitivities and aspirations of all the countries of the group.

The (RCEP) is a mega trade pact among 16 countries which aims to cover goods, services, investments, economic and technical cooperation, competition and intellectual property rights.

The 16-member bloc RCEP comprises 10 ASEAN nations (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam) and their six FTA partners - India, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand.

Indian industry and exporters are apprehensive about the presence of China in the grouping. They have stated that lowering or eliminating duties for China may flood Indian markets with Chinese goods.

Indias trade deficit with China stood at USD 51 billion in 2016-17. Due to this, India wants certain deviations for such countries. Under deviations, India may propose a longer duration for either reduction or elimination of import duties for such countries.

Talks for the pact had started in Phnom Penh in November 2012. India already has implemented a free trade agreement with ASEAN, Japan and South Korea. On the other hand, the country is negotiating similar pacts with Australia and New Zealand.In a major relief to exporters, the government today raised rates on 102 items which will make Indian exports more competitive in the global market.

As a step towards more efficient Input Tax Neutralization on exports, after considering various representations from the trade and industry, the government has enhanced the all industry rates of for 102 tariff items, a finance ministry statement said.

The export items mainly include marine and seafood products, automobile tyres and bicycle tyres/tubes, leather and articles of leather, yarn and fabric of wool, glass handicrafts and bicycles, it said.

"It is a welcome move. This would provide some competitiveness to Indian exporters in global market," the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai told PTI.

He said by and large has been enhanced in most of the items except for chemical items where there is some reduction.

The statement said the "revised rates of duty drawback will help address the concerns of these export sectors and make India's exports more competitive in the global economy".

The enhanced rates of duty drawback will be effective from January 25, it said.

The revision of duty drawback is a welcome relief to the exporters and their cash flow should improve, which had been adversely impacted because of delayed refunds and increased input cost in GST, Bipin Sapra, Tax Partner, EY India said.India's stock of soured bank loans shrank slightly in the quarter to September last year, the first pullback since a drive to clean up record levels of bad debt began in 2015 and signalling that tighter rules and a new bankruptcy code may be starting to show results. Stressed loans - which include non-performing as well as restructured or rolled-over loans - eased 0.4 per cent from three months earlier to 9.46 trillion rupees ($148.3 billion) at the end of September, according to unpublished central bank data reviewed by Reuters. The last data seen by Reuters showed soured ...ASEAN-India: Shared values, common destiny: Narendra Modi





Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has shared his vision about ASEAN-India partnership in an op-ed piece titled,  ASEAN-India: Shared values, common destiny. The article has been published in the leading dailies from the ASEAN member nations. Following is the complete text of the article.

ASEAN-India: Shared values, common destiny

By : Shri Narendra Modi

Today, 1.25 billion Indians will have the honour to host 10 esteemed guests -- leaders of Asean nations -- at India's Republic Day celebrations in our capital, New Delhi.

On Thursday, I had the privilege to host the ASEAN leaders for the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of ASEAN-India Partnership. Their presence with us is an unprecedented gesture of goodwill from ASEAN nations. Responding to this, on a winter morning, India has come out to greet them in a warm embrace of friendship.

This is no ordinary event. It is a historic milestone in a remarkable journey that has brought India and ASEAN in a deepening partnership of great promise for their 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of human kind.

The India-ASEAN partnership may be just 25 years old. But, India's ties with Southeast Asia stretch back more than two millennia. Forged in peace and friendship, religion and culture, art and commerce, language and literature, these enduring links are now present in every facet of the magnificent diversity of India and Southeast Asia, providing a unique envelope of comfort and familiarity between our people.

More than two decades ago, India opened itself to the world with tectonic changes. And, with instincts honed over centuries, it turned naturally to the East. Thus began a new journey of India's reintegration with the East. For India, most of our major partners and markets -- from ASEAN and East Asia to North America -- lie to the East. And, Southeast Asia and ASEAN, our neighbours by land and sea, have been the springboard of our Look East and, for the last three years, the Act East Policy.

Along the way, from dialogue partners, ASEAN and India have become strategic partners. We advance our broad-based partnership through 30 mechanisms. With each Asean member, we have growing diplomatic, economic and security partnership. We work together to keep our seas safe and secure. Our trade and investment flows have multiplied several times. ASEAN is India's fourth largest trading partner; India is ASEAN's seventh. Over 20% of India's outbound investments go to ASEAN. Led by Singapore, ASEAN is India's leading source of investments. India's free trade agreements in the region are its oldest and among the most ambitious anywhere.

Air links have expanded rapidly and we are extending highways deep into continental Southeast Asia with new urgency and priority. Growing connectivity has reinforced proximity. It has also put India among the fastest growing sources of tourism in Southeast Asia. Over a 6 million strong Indian diaspora in the region -- rooted in diversity and steeped in dynamism -- constitutes an extraordinary human bond between us.

The Prime Minister has shared his views for each of the ASEAN member nations as follows

Thailand

Thailand has emerged as an important trading partner of India in Asean and is also one of the important investors in India from Asean. Bilateral trade between India and Thailand has more than doubled over the last decade. Relations between India and Thailand are extensively spread across many areas. We are important regional partners linking South and Southeast Asia. We cooperate closely in the Asean, East Asia Summit and Bimstec (the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation), as also in the frameworks of Mekong Ganga Cooperation, Asia Cooperation Dialogue and Indian Ocean Rim Association. Thailand's prime minister's state visit to India in 2016 has made a long-lasting impact on bilateral relations.

The whole of India mourned with their Thai brothers and sisters the demise of the great and popular King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The people of India also join the friendly people of Thailand in praying for the long, prosperous and peaceful reign of the new king, His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun.

Vietnam

The traditionally close and cordial relations have their historical roots in the common struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and President H? Chi Minh led our peoples in the heroic struggle against colonialism. During the visit of Prime Minister Nguy?n T?n D?ng to India in 2007, we signed the Strategic Partnership agreement. This strategic partnership has grown into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with my visit to Vi?t Nam in 2016.

Indias relations with Vi?t Nam are marked by growing economic and commercial engagement. Bilateral trade between India and Vi?t Nam has increased about 10 fold in 10 years. Defence Co-operation has emerged as a significant pillar of strategic partnership between India and Vi?t Nam. Science and Technology is another important area of cooperation between India and Vi?t Nam.

Myanmar

India and Myanmar share a land-border of over 1600 kms as well as a maritime boundary. Religious and cultural traditions flowing from our deep sense of kinship and our common Buddhist heritage bind us as closely as does our shared historical past. Nothing illuminates it more gloriously than the gleaming tower of Shwedagon Pagoda. The cooperation to restore Ananda Temple in Bagan with assistance of the Archaeological Survey of India also is emblematic of this shared heritage.

During the colonial period, political bonds were forged between our leaders, who displayed a great sense of hope and unity during our common struggle for independence. Gandhiji visited Yangon several times. Bal Gangadhar Tilak was deported to Yangon for many years. The clarion call of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose for Indias independence stirred the souls of many in Myanmar.



Our trade has more than doubled over the last decade. Our investment ties are also robust. Development cooperation has a significant role in Indias relations with Myanmar. This assistance portfolio is presently worth over $1.73 billion. Indias transparent development cooperation is in line with Myanmars national priorities and also builds synergy with the Master Plan of ASEAN Connectivity.

Singapore

Singapore is a window to the heritage of India's ties to the region, the progress of the present and the potential of the future. Singapore was a bridge between India and Asean.

Today, it is our gateway to the East, our leading economic partner and a major global strategic partner, which resonates in our membership in several regional and global forums. Singapore and India share a strategic partnership.

Our political relations are infused with goodwill, warmth and trust. Our defence ties are among the strongest for both.

Our economic partnership covers every area of priority for our two nations. Singapore is India's leading destination and source of investments.

Thousands of Indian companies are registered in Singapore.

Sixteen Indian cities have over 240 direct flights every week to Singapore. Indians make up the third-largest group of tourists in Singapore.

Singapore's inspirational multiculturalism and respect for talent have nurtured a vibrant and dynamic Indian community that is contributing to deeper cooperation between our nations.

Philippines

I had a very satisfying visit to the Philippines a little over two months ago. In addition to attending the ASEAN-India, EAS and related Summits, I had the pleasure of meeting President Duterte and we had extensive discussions on how to carry forward our warm and problem-free relationship. We are both strong in services and our growth rates are amongst the highest among major countries. Our business and trade potential holds great promise.

I laud President Dutertes commitment to bringing about inclusive development and to fighting corruption. These are areas where both countries can work together. We are happy to share our experience with the Philippines in universal ID cards, financial inclusion, making banking accessible to all, facilitating direct transfer of benefits, and in promoting cashless transactions. Making affordable medicines available to all is another priority area for the government of the Philippines that we are ready to contribute to. From Mumbai to Marawi, terrorism knows no boundaries. We are enhancing our cooperation with the Philippines in facing this common challenge.

Malaysia

The contemporary relations between India and Malaysia are quite extensive and spread across many areas. Malaysia and India share s Strategic Partnership and we cooperate in a number of multilateral and regional fora. Malaysian Prime Ministers State visit to India in 2017 has made a long-lasting impact on the bilateral relations.

Malaysia has emerged as the third largest trading partner of India in ASEAN and is one of the important investors in India from ASEAN. Bilateral trade between India and Malaysia has increased more than two-fold in 10 years. India and Malaysia have a bilateral Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement since 2011. This Agreement is unique in the sense that both sides have offered ASEAN Plus commitments in trade in goods and have exchanged WTO Plus offers in trade in services. The Revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement between the two countries, signed in May 2012, and the MoU on Customs Cooperation, signed in 2013 further facilitate our trade and investment cooperation.

Brunei

Bilateral trade between India and Brunei has more than doubled over the last decade. India and Brunei share common membership of UN, NAM, Commonwealth, ARF, etc., and as developing countries with strong traditional and cultural ties, Brunei and India enjoy a fair degree of commonality in their perceptions on major international issues. the visit of the Sultan of Brunei to India in May 2008 was a landmark in India-Brunei relations. Vice-President of India visited Brunei in February 2016.

Lao PDR

Relations between India and Lao PDR are extensively spread across many areas. India has been actively involved in power transmission and agricultural sectors in Lao PDR. Today, India and Lao PDR cooperate in a number of multilateral and regional fora.

While the trade between India and Lao PDR is still below potential, India has extended Duty Free Tariff Preference Schemes to Lao PDR, encourage exports of goods from Lao PDR to India. We also have immense opportunities in services trade that goes in building the economy of Lao PDR. Implementation of the ASEAN-India Services and Investment Agreement would help facilitate our services trade.

Indonesia

Separated by a mere 90 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean, India and Indonesia share a continuity of civilizational relationship that spans over two millennia.

Whether it is the annual Balijatra celebrated in Odisha or the legends of Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are visible across the entire landscape of Indonesia, these unique cultural threads umbilically bind the peoples of Asias

two largest democracies in a special neighbourly embrace.

Unity in Diversity or Bhinneka Tunggal Ika is also a key facet of the shared societal value structures that both countries celebrate, as also the common values of democracy and rule of law. Today, as Strategic Partners, our cooperation spans across the entire gamut of political, economic, defence & security, cultural and people to people fields. Indonesia continues to be our largest trading partner in ASEAN. Bilateral trade between India and Indonesia increased 2.5 times in the last ten years. President Joko Widodos State visit to

India in 2016 has made a long-lasting impact on the bilateral relations.

Cambodia

The traditional and friendly relations between India and Cambodia are deeply rooted in civilizational ties. The magnificent structure of Angkor Wat temple is a glorious testimony and grand symbol of our ancient historical, religious and cultural links. India was proud to undertake restoration and preservation of Angkor Wat temple during the difficult period from 1986-1993. India continues this valuable association in the ongoing restoration of Ta-Prohm temple.

After the collapse of Khmer Rouge regime, India was the first country to recognize the new government in 1981. India was also associated with the Paris Peace Accord and its finalization in 1991. These traditional bonds of friendship have strengthened through regular exchange of high level visits. We have expanded our cooperation in diverse fields such as institutional capacity building, human resource development, developmental and social projects, cultural exchanges, defence cooperation, tourism and people-to- people contact.

In the ASEAN context, and on various global platforms, Cambodia is an important interlocutor and a supportive partner for India. India is committed to remain a partner in Cambodias economic development and looks forward to further deepen its traditional ties.

And, India and ASEAN are doing much more. Our partnership in ASEAN-led institutions like East Asia Summit, ADMM+ (the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus) and ARF (the ASEAN Regional Forum) are advancing peace and stability in our region. India is also an eager participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, seeking a comprehensive, balanced and fair agreement for all 16 participants.

The strength and resilience of partnerships come not just from arithmetic of numbers, but also from the underpinnings of the relationship. India and ASEAN nations have relations free from contests and claims. We have a common vision for the future, built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement.

The ASEAN-India partnership will continue to grow. With the gift of demography, dynamism and demand -- and with rapidly maturing economies -- India and ASEAN will build a strong economic partnership. Connectivity will increase and trade will expand. In an era of cooperative and competitive federalism in India, our states are also building productive cooperation with Southeast Asian nations. India's Northeast is on a resurgent path. Links with Southeast Asia will accelerate its progress. In turn, a connected Northeast will be a bridge to ASEAN-India ties of our dreams.

As Prime Minister, I have attended four annual ASEAN-India Summits and East Asia Summit. These have reinforced my conviction in ASEAN unity, centrality and leadership in shaping the region in this vision.

This is a year of milestones. India turned 70 last year. ASEAN reached the golden milestone of 50 years. We can each look to our future with optimism and to our partnership with confidence.

At 70, India exudes the spirit, enterprise and energy of its young population. As the fastest growing major economy in the world, India has become the new frontier of global opportunities and an anchor of stability of the global economy. With every passing day, it is easier and smoother to do business in India. I hope that ASEAN nations, as our neighbours and friends, will be an integral part of New India's transformation.

We admire ASEAN's own progress. Born when Southeast Asia was a theatre of a brutal war and a region of uncertain nations, ASEAN has united 10 countries behind a common purpose and a shared future. We have the potential to pursue higher ambitions and address the challenges of our times: from infrastructure and urbanisation to resilient agriculture and a healthy planet. We can also use the power of digital technology, innovation and connectivity to transform lives at unprecedented speed and scale.

A future of hope needs a solid bedrock of peace. This is an age of change, disruptions and shifts that comes only rarely in history. ASEAN and India have immense opportunities -- indeed, enormous responsibility -- to chart a steady course through the uncertainty and turbulence of our times to a stable and peaceful future for our region and the world.

Indians have always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Now, as before, the East, or the Indo-Pacific Region, will be indispensable to India's future and our common destiny. The ASEAN-India partnership will play a defining role in both. And, in Delhi, ASEAN and India renewed their pledge for the journey ahead.

The text of Prime Ministers op-ed in ASEAN newspapers can be accessed at the following links:

https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1402226/asean-india-shared-values-and-a-common-destiny

http://vietnamnews.vn/opinion/421836/asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny.html#31stC7owkGF6dvfw.97

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/opinion/asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny

http://www.globalnewlightofmyanmar.com/asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny/

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2018/01/26/69th-republic-day-india-asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny.html

http://www.mizzima.com/news-opinion/asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/shared-values-common-destiny

https:// mb.com.ph/2018/01/26/asean-india-shared-values-common-destiny/Bharat Parv event begins today at Red Fort (Lal Quila), Delhi as part of the Republic Day 2018 celebrations. The event has been organized by the Government of India at the Red Fort, Delhi from 26th to 31st January, 2018. Smt. Rashmi Verma, Secretary, Ministry of Tourism inaugurated the event today. The prime objective of organizing the event is to generate a patriotic mood, promote the rich cultural diversity of the country and to ensure wider participation of the general public. .

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Bharat Parv is open for public till 10.00 pm today. From 27th to 31st January, 2018, the event will be open from 12.00 Noon to 10.00 pm. The event is open for public and entry is free. However, identity proof is to be carried for entry to the event. A Media Room has been set up at the venue to facilitate media persons. .

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The Ministry of Tourism has been designated as the nodal Ministry for the event, the highlights of which include Display of Republic Day Parade Tableaux, Performances by the Armed Forces Bands (Static as well as dynamic), a Multi-Cuisine Food Court, Crafts Mela, Cultural Performances from different regions of the country and Photo Exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP). .

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The Cultural Performances include choreographed Folk/ Tribal Dances and Music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from the different States / UTs of the country. The Food Court has stalls set up by the States/ UTs, National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as by the Institutes of Hotel Managements and ITDC. .

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The Crafts Mela with 50 stalls showcases the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by the State Governments and Ministry of Textiles through the office of the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts. There are Theme State Pavilions where each State is showcasing its strength along with its tourism products. DAVP has set up an exhibition on the theme Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge". A live Cookery Demonstration Area has been set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different States of India. .

.The closing ceremony of Jammu & Kashmir Student Exchange programme Maitreyi yatra was held at National Bal Bhawan here today. The Student Exchange Programme organized by Ministry of Human Resource development provides a good opportunity for the youth of J&K to be acquainted with culture, language and development story of different parts of the country. Union Minister for Human Resource Development Shri Prakash Javadekar was the chief guest for the function. Minister of State for Human Resource Development Dr. Satya Pal Singh and Shri Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Education Minister for Jammu & Kashmir also graced the occasion. .

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Speaking on the occasion Shri Javadekar said the objective of this programme was to integrate the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of the country and to promote brotherhood and harmony. He applauded the efforts of the students from both the states for actively participating, learning and sharing knowledge with each other. He further congratulated the students of National Bal Bhawan who vacated their rooms for their Kashmiri friends and stayed in their classrooms proving the real spirit of Atithi Devo Bhava. .

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He added that the government is making a system that will provide equal opportunity to all the students that can contribute to the development of the country. He further assured that 500 children from Delhi Schools will be visiting J&K during summer months. .

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While addressing the event Shri Singh appreciated the students of J&K that they were able to spread the message of love, peace & harmony which even the government efforts might not have done. Education and learning are the most important processes in today's society as today's youth are tomorrow's leaders. .

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Speaking on the occasion Shri Bukhari appreciated the efforts of the HRD ministry and expressed his gratitude for conducting the exchange programme as it will strengthen the social fabric of the country. He added that students from Jammu & Kashmir were given a real hug by the students of National Bal Bhawan, .

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Nearly 500 students of Jammu & Kashmir from Class IX to Class XII along with 50 supervisors visited Delhi on 18th January, 2018. 300 students stayed at National Bal Bhawan and 100 each stayed in two Kendriya Vidyalayas and two Navodaya Vidyalayas. .

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All 500 students were paired with ten government and one private school where each student had a buddy. J&K students spent 3 days in the paired schools. They also went for Delhi Darshan on 20th January, 2018 with their guiding partners. They visited Zoo, Rajghat, Red Fort and many other places of historical & cultural importance. .

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The students visited Delhi University, IIT Delhi, Railway Museum, Mother Dairy Plant, Metro ride, Movie in PVR-Vasant Kunj, Magic Show, etc. Students also witnessed the grand celebrations of Republic Day. .

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Students performed various cultural songs of Jammu and Kashmir. Some glimpses of the Maitreyi Yatra were also shown on the closing ceremony. .

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A group of 40 school children consisting of 20 girls and 20 boys hailing from remote and far flung areas of Jammu region called on the Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh here today. The students are on a Bharat Darshan Tour from 19th January 2018 to 30th January 2018 organized by the BSF.

The concept of Bharat Darshan Tours for the children from Jammu & Kashmir was started as an annual feature in the year 2000. Shri Rajesh Ranjan, SDG BSF apprised the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh of the composition of the group. He informed that Bharat Darshan tour has widened horizons and given the children an opportunity to see the diversities of the nation.

The children then shared their experiences of visits to different historical places and thanked the BSF and the Government of India for organizing tours of this nature.

While addressing the children, Shri Rajnath Singh desired to communicate the experiences gained during this tour to the remote areas from where all have come. It was also told that the anti-national elements should not overpower the thoughts of national integration. A token of remembrance has been given to the Home Minister by the children.

These children are selected for Bharat Darshan as a part of intensive civic action programme of the force in remote and backward areas of the border.

This tour is conducted to give them insights into the rich historical, cultural and social profile of the country and the progress made in industrial, technological and scientific fields. The tour also aims at inculcating in them a sense of pride for the nation.

As part of the programme, they visited Amber Fort, Albert Hall Museum, Junagarh Fort, Jantar Mantar and City Palace in Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri, Taj Mahal and Agra Fort in Agra, Qutab Minar, Lotus Temple, Rastrapati Bhawan and Metro Ride and witnessed the Republic day parade at New Delhi.

After meeting with the Home Minister, all the children will proceed to Amritsar where they will witness the Retreat Ceremony at Attari Border and also visit the historical places of Amritsar.

Till date 1619 children from J&K have participated in BSF sponsored 58 Bharat Darshan Tours.Scientists discovered a jawbone complete with teeth at Israel's Misliya cave dated to 177,000 -194,000 years ago, suggesting that modern humans left Africa at least 50,000 years earlier than previously thought.

"This finding - that early modern humans were present outside of Africa earlier than commonly believed - completely changes our view on modern human dispersal and the history of modern human evolution," said Professor Israel Hershkovitz at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

The common consensus of anthropologists has been that modern humans appeared in Africa roughly 160,000-200,000 years ago, based on fossils found in Ethiopia, and that modern humans evolved in Africa and started migrating out of Africa around 100,000 years ago.

"But if the fossil at Misliya dates to roughly 170,000- 190,000 years ago, the entire narrative of the evolution of Homo sapiens must be pushed back by at least 100,000-200,000 years," Hershkovitz said.

"In other words, if modern humans started traveling out of Africa some 200,000 years ago, it follows that they must have originated in Africa at least 300,000-500,000 years ago," Hershkovitz said.

Until now, the earliest remains of modern human found outside of Africa, at the Skhul and Qafzeh caves in Israel, were dated to 90,000-120,000 years ago, according to the study published in the journal Science.

"Our research makes sense of many recent anthropological and genetic finds," Hershkovitz said.

"About a year ago, scientists reported finding the remains of modern humans in China dating to about 80,000- 100,000 years ago. This suggested that their migration occurred earlier than previously thought, but until our discovery at Misliya, we could not explain it," Hershkovitz said.A huge fire tore through a South Korean hospital on Friday killing at least 41 people, reports said, in the country's worst blaze for over a decade.

More than 80 were hurt in the blaze, which comes just weeks before thousands of athletes and foreign visitors are expected in the country for the Winter Olympics.

Videos posted on social media showed a patient hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter above the hospital in Miryang, in the far south, and another crawling out of a window to climb down a ladder.

The six-storey structure housed a nursing home as well as the hospital.

The death toll rose rapidly throughout the morning, as those initially pulled from the blaze succumbed to their injuries.

By lunchtime, it had hit 41, according to the Yonhap news agency, citing firefighters at the site.

"Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room," said fire chief Choi Man-Woo.

All the patients had been brought out, he said, adding that evacuating 15 sick people from the intensive care unit on the third floor took longer as firefighters had to wait for medical staff to supervise the process.

All those who died were in the hospital, he said.

"Many victims were from the first and second floors of the hospital... some died on their way to another hospital," he said.

Video footage and pictures showed the building engulfed by thick, dark smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks.

Survivors were brought out wrapped in blankets, and firefighters picked their way through the blackened shell of the building after the blaze was extinguished.

Around 200 people were in the Sejong Hospital when the fire erupted, police said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In called an emergency meeting with advisers, and demanded an immediate probe into the cause of the blaze.

The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon -- a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Friday's accident is South Korea's worst fire disaster for more than a decade, after an arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu killed 192 in 2003.Two Republican Senators today introduced legislation in the Senate that seeks to increase the annual H-1B visa limit with an aim to bring in the world's "best and brightest" to the US.

Introduced by Senators Orrin Hatch and Jeff Flake, the Immigration Innovation (I-Squared) Act of 2018 provides work authorisation for spouses and dependent children of holders and establishes a grace period during which holders can change jobs without losing legal status.

It also exempts spouses and children of employment-based green card holders from the cap.

The legislation is supported by top American IT companies, including Microsoft and Facebook, and top trade bodies, including US Chambers of Commerce and Information Technology Industry Council.

In a joint statement Hatch and Flake said the bill focuses on areas vital to maintaining US' competitiveness in the global -- the availability of employment-based non-immigrant visas (H-1B visas) for industries in which there is a shortage of American labour, reforms to the H-1B programme to reduce fraud and help protect workers, increased access to green cards for high-skilled workers and directing fees collected for H-1B visas and green cards to promote STEM worker training and education.

Previous versions of the bill were introduced in the last two Congresses.

"Now more than ever, we need highly qualified workers with the skills employers need to succeed in the information economy," Hatch said.

"As I've long said, high-skilled immigration is merit- based immigration, and we need a high-skilled immigration system that works.

"TheImmigration Innovation Actwill help ensure that our companies have access to the world's best and brightest and are able to fill jobs in highly technical, specialised fields for which there is a shortage of American labor," he said.

Hatch said, it, at the same time, addresses abuses in the H-1B visa programme to ensure that it is not used to outsource jobs or undercut American wages.

"And it provides nearly USD 1 billion in new funding for STEM education and worker training programmes through increases in visa fees. This bill is a win for all sides," he said.

The reforms included in the I-Squared Act are critical to fixing a broken US immigration system that has been unable to keep up with the needs of American employers, Flake said.

"Taking these steps to foster a vibrant for homegrown and foreign entrepreneurs, increase access to the high-skilled talent that US businesses depend on, and attract the best students in the world to US universities will help ensure the United States remains a leader in innovation and global competition," he said.

The bill uncaps the existing exemption (currently 20,000) for holders of US master's degrees or higher from the annual numerical limitation on H1B visas for individuals who are being sponsored for or who will be sponsored for a green card.

It increases the annual base allocation of H1B visas from 65,000 to 85,000.

The bill creates a market-based escalator to allow the supply of H1B visas to meet demand.

Under the escalator, up to 1,10,000 additional H1B visas (for a total of 1,95,000) may be granted in a fiscal year if certain requirements are met.

The bill prioritises adjudication of cap-subject petitions for holders of US master's degrees or higher, holders of foreign PhDs and holders of US STEM bachelor degrees.

It subjects employers who fail to employ an H1B worker for more than three months during the individual's first year of work authorisation to a penalty.

The bill prohibits employers from hiring an H1B visa holder with the purpose and intent to replace a US worker and provides work authorisation for spouses and dependent children of H1B visa holders.

It increases H1B worker mobility by establishing a grace period during which H1B visa holders can change jobs without losing legal status.

The bill updates 1998 law exempting H1B dependent employers from certain recruitment and non displacement requirements. It raises from USD 60,000 to USD 100,000 the H 1B salary level at which the salary-based exemption takes effect.

It also narrows education-based exemption to H1B hires with a US PhD Eliminates exemptions for "super-dependent" employers altogether.

The bill eliminates annual per-country limit for employment-based green cards and adjusts per-country caps for family-based green cards.

It enables the recapture of green card numbers that were approved by Congress in previous years but not used. The bill exempts spouses and children of employment-based green card holders, holders of US STEM master's degrees or higher, and certain individuals with extraordinary ability in the arts and sciences from worldwide numerical caps on employment-based green cards.

It increases worker mobility for individuals on the path to a green card by enabling such individuals to change jobs earlier in the process without losing their place in the green card line.

It also creates new conditional green card category to allow US employers to sponsor university-educated foreign professionals through a separate path from H1B.

The bill also proposes to enables F1 student visa holders to seek permanent resident status while a student or during Optional Practical Training (OPT).

It increases fees for H1B visas and employment-based green cards and directs fees toward state-administered grants to promote STEM education and worker training.

"The Senators' proposed I-Squared Act is an important step in protecting US workers, investing in STEM education, and ensuring that we can recruit people to fill jobs here in the US," said Brad Smith, president, Microsoft.

Erin Egan, VP of US Public Policy, Facebook said the legislation will modernise the H1-B visa and green card programmes while also encouraging increased STEM education in the US to train the next generation of US workers in high- growth fields.

Neil Bradley, executive vice president and chief policy officer, US Chamber of Commerce said the bill would vastly improve high-skilled immigration to the US by establishing market-based H-1B quotas and instituting various reforms to employment-based immigrant visa system that would make nation's immigration system more merit-based.

Lynn Shotwell, executive director, Council for Global Immigration said that the legislation would ensure that employers acting in good faith have access to the top global talent they need to compete, while providing additional investments to train and educate US workers in high-demand STEM fields, while also reforming the H-1B programme with enhanced protections for US workers.

"This bill will greatly enable continued US innovation, job creation, and economic expansion, while preventing abuses of the H-1B programme that could harm US workers," said Mark MacCarthy, senior vice president for Public Policy of the Software & Information Industry Association.US negotiators have held firm in their demands for a wide-ranging overhaul of NAFTA, three sources close to the talks said on Thursday, raising questions about whether any real movement is happening at the latest round of negotiations on the treaty. Officials from Canada, Mexico and the United States are in Montreal for the sixth and penultimate set of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Major differences remain to be settled ahead of the end-March deadline. "We have brought flexibility, we have brought ideas, but the problem is that the United States has not ...The Trump administration today slapped sanctions on six Taliban and the Haqqani network leaders and pressed Pakistan to work with the US to deny militants safe havens on its soil and aggressively target their fund-raising activities.

The Haqqani network has carried out a number of kidnappings and attacks against US interests in Afghanistan. It has also been blamed for several deadly attacks against Indian interests in Afghanistan, including the 2008 bombing of the Indian mission in Kabul that killed 58 people.

In a scathing attack on Pakistan, US President Donald Trump, in his first tweet of 2018, had accused it of "lies and deceit" and of fooling US leaders while sheltering terrorists.

The latest action by the US was taken against four Taliban leaders -- Abdul Samad Sani, Abdul Qadeer Basir Abdul Baseer, Hafiz Mohammed Popalzai and Maulawi Inayatullah -- and two Haqqani leaders Faqir Muhammad and Gula Khan Hamidi.

All the six militants have been designated as global terrorists by the US' Department of Treasury.

As a result, all property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and the US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

"We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

The action supports Trump's South Asia Strategy by disrupting terrorist organisations and publically exposing individuals who facilitate their activities, he said.

Mandelker said: "The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist fund raising".

In early 2017, Sani sent weapons to Taliban members who later attacked an Afghan National Police (ANP) patrol, killing an ANP officer and wounding two

In 2015, Sani was a member of the 'Taliban Senior Shura' and had received funding to purchase supplies and ammunition for Taliban commanders and fighters engaged in combat in Afghanistan. He was personally involved in appointing special representatives to serve as Taliban fundraisers abroad.

Sani served as the Taliban's deputy finance commissioner, and also as the governor for the Afghan Central Bank during the Taliban regime.

Last year, Baseer provided Taliban commanders with tens of thousands of dollars for attacks in Kunar province of Afghanistan. In 2016, he hosted meetings with leaders of the Taliban to convince them to support then supreme leader of the Taliban Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur. He served as the treasurer for the Taliban in Peshawar.

He was the financial advisor to the Taliban's Peshawar Military Council and head of the Taliban's Peshawar Financial Commission in 2010. He personally delivers money from the Taliban's leadership Shura to Taliban groups in Pakistan.

During the Taliban regime, Baseer was the general consul of the Taliban in Islamabad and according to the UN, he also served as the Taliban regime's military attach at the Taliban embassy in Islamabad.

Popalzai has served for several years at the Taliban Finance Commission and was in-charge of the Taliban's finances for southern and western Afghanistan, including Qandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Herat, Zabul, Uruzgan and Farah provinces.

In mid-2011, the Taliban was paid 10 million euros for the release of hostages it was holding.

The Taliban arranged for money to be deposited into an account at an Afghan bank in Qandahar. The account, which ultimately belonged to Ishakzai, was held in a false name.

Inayatullah has been a Taliban military affairs member in charge of multiple Afghan provinces, and was a member of the Taliban Peshawar Shura. In 2016, he operated as the overall Taliban member responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul.

He received a large sum of money from a contact and gave it to a courier to provide it to al-Qaeda militants.

For several years, Faqir has been a major fundraiser for the Haqqani network. He was designated for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the Haqqani network.

In 2014, Hamidi agreed to facilitate travel for a Haqqani network-affiliated Uzbek extremist and his associates from Pakistan to Turkey. In 2014, he likely facilitated the transfer of funds from the Haqqani network to a Pakistan-based Uzbek extremist. Hamidi planned to send funds to Germans located with the Haqqani network in Pakistan, US authorities said.US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he would reconsider US participation in the (TPP) trade deal if it's "substantially better."

"I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal," Trump told CNBC in an interview while attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

"The deal was terrible, the way it was structured was terrible. If we did a substantially better deal, I would be open to TPP," he said.

Last January, Trump announced to officially withdraw the US from the Pacific trade deal in a largely symbolic move, as the US Congress hadn't approved the deal yet.

During his presidential campaign, Trump promised to never sign massive trade agreements like the TPP, which he said would "destroy" US manufacturing.

The TPP deal originally involved Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US and Vietnam.

Trump's remarks to reopen the door to the TPP comes after the 11 remaining TPP members this week announced that they had finalised a revised deal and hoped to sign it in March.

Trump is expected to address the WEF on Friday to lay out his "America First" policy, which has led his country away from multiple multilateral pacts and infused anxiety into both allies and the broader world.The Trump administration is open to a path to citizenship for some 1.8 million of America's so-called "Dreamers" in exchange for $25 billion for the construction of a wall along the Mexican border and other security measures, officials said on Friday.

Such a proposal, senior White House officials said, comes days after the Democrats and Republicans agreed to bringing in an immigration bill on the floor before February 6 when the current short-term extension of funding of the government comes to an end.

Noting that the proposal would be handed over to the Senate, the officials hoped that the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell would introduce it on the floor before February 6.

They described this as the Congress's best chance to fix the immigration system that would benefit recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA.

As per the proposal, the path to citizenship would be given to 690,000 immigrants covered by DACA or an estimated 1.1 million who are eligible but did not apply.

Such immigrants can apply for legal status subject to meeting certain work and education requirements, to be determined by the Congress.

The Obama-era DACA programme was ended by Trump last September.

"This truly represents a bi-partisan compromise position. We have no doubt that if this legislation were brought to the floor, it would easily garner 60 votes," an official said on condition of anonymity.

"This is the president's position. Then it goes to the Hill and they digest it and develop a bill they think can pass...If it's realistic, he'll sign it. If not, he won't," he said.

On Thursday, Trump had told reporters that he was open to a path to citizenship for some of the younger undocumented immigrants, but insisted that there would be no deal on it without a Congressional funding of a wall across the border with Mexico

"We're going to morph into it. It's going to happen, at some point in the future, over a period of 10 to 12 years," he told reporters during an impromptu news conference at the White House before he left for Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.

The White House is scheduled to roll out its immigration framework on Monday, which would be based on four agreed-upon pillars -- securing the border and closing legal loopholes, ending extended-family chain migration, cancelling the visa lottery and providing a permanent solution on DACA.

Officials described it as an "extremely generous but a take it or leave it proposal by the US President".

Democrats and pro-immigrants activists were quick in rejecting the proposal.

"We will oppose it. Most if not all Democrats will oppose it. Some Republicans will, too," said Frank Sharry, from pro-immigrant America's Voice.

"We are not going to allow Stephen Miller to exploit a crisis that he and his boss created to take a wrecking ball to the Statue of Liberty and enact his nativist wish list," he said.

Republican Senator Lindsay Graham welcomed the proposal.

"I welcome White House input," he said.Britain should be able to agree an almost identical level of market access to the European Union (EU) with a free trade agreement after Brexit because the two sides start from a point of regulatory alignment, the health minister said on Friday. Jeremy Hunt was asked about Britain's future trading relationship with Europe after finance minister Philip Hammond called for a modest Brexit that would keep Britain as closely aligned as possible with the bloc after its 2019 exit. "The issue here is not the extent of divergence but the freedom to diverge," Hunt told BBC ...The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu on Friday celebrated the 69th Republic Day.

Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri hoisted the national flag and read out President Ram Nath Kovind's message on the occasion.

The flag hoisting ceremony was attended by over 1000 Indians and the friends of India. The students of the Kendriya Vidyalaya, the Modern Indian School and the Indian Cultural Centre, Kathmandu sung patriotic songs followed by a scintillating performance by the Nepal Army Band.

On the occasion, the Ambassador felicitated seven widows, four next of kins of deceased soldiers and one disabled soldier of the Indian Armed Forces by distributing their dues worth NPR 4.14 crore and a blanket to each.

Reiterating its commitment towards helping the Bhu Puu, the Defence Wing of the Embassy unveiled the Bhu Puu-2017 magazine covering the welfare initiatives of the Government of India for ex-servicemen domiciled in Nepal.

On the occasion, the Ambassador presented keys of 30 ambulances and six buses to various hospitals, non-profit charity organizations and educational institutions of different districts of Nepal.

Since 1994, the India Government has gifted 662 ambulances and 130 buses to various organisations across Nepal to expand access to healthcare and educational services in Nepal. The embassy also announced book grant to 41 educational institutions and libraries across Nepal to provide educational material to students in remote areas.

Later in the day, the ambassador also hosted a reception at India House to celebrate the Republic Day of India which coincides with 70 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Nepal. Vice President of Nepal Nanda Bahadur Pun graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The event was attended by over 1500 guests, including senior political leaders, public personalities as well as prominent Indian and Nepali citizens.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Royal Enfield Academy for Skills, a CSR initiative of Eicher Group Foundation and Aide et Action, an international NGO working to empower youths and children have come together to initiate decentralised demand driven employability and entrepreneurship training for youths in the age group of 18 - 35 years.

Over the next three years, the project aims to train over 5,500 under-privileged youth including 40% women in Gurugram and Chennai.

The trainings will be imparted through the centres in Gurugram, Pataudi and Sohana in Gurugram district of Haryana and Pappadai, Walajabad and Sriperumbudur in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The six centres will conduct training for a period of 3-months in skills such as Automobile Repairing, Electrician, Hospitality, Fashion Designing and ITES.

The Gurugram training centre was inaugurated today by Mr G. Sekar, Director, Eicher Group Foundation along with Ravi Pratap Singh, Regional Director, Aide et Action, DrAishwarya Mahajan, Director - Livelihood Education, Aide et Action.

"We are happy to be associated with Aide et Action which has been providing quality skill training programme to the marginalized youths since 2005." He also added that "the process of Aide et Action's skill training programme is so comprehensive and in-line with Eicher Group Foundation's objective to bring the positive change in the lives of many youths."

"The programme is not only about providing vocational training but also to transform the youths as Change Agents in the society. It is also about innovations and new ways of learning," Mr. Ravi Pratap Singh said.

"Over the last 13 years, Aide et Action has transformed the lives of more than 2,25,000 youths across South Asia. In addition to providing quality training to youth and helping them in placement, we also encourage them to start their own enterprise," Dr. Aishwarya said.

The Eicher Group Foundation is currently engaged in sustainable village development, Housing for the disaster affected, skill development, environment, health and projects in India and Aide et Action, an international NGO is engaged in education, skill development, health, women empowerment and disaster preparedness programmes.

The iLEAD (Initiative for Livelihood and Development), a flagship programme of Aide et Action, which was launched in 2005, is currently operational in 21 states of India and in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan, Philippines, Cambodia has till date trained more than 2,25,000 youths (40 percent women) with a success of 75 percent placement. Very soon, the programme is going to be launched in France.

The Chennai centres, inaugurated last week, will provide training to the youths in skills including Industrial electrician, Four-wheeler service technicians, ITES and House Keeping.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As India celebrated its 69th Republic Day today, several Bollywood celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Riteish Deshmukh and Anushka Sharma among others took to social media to extend their wishes on the occasion.

Here's what the celebs tweeted:

Amitabh Bachchan wrote, "T 2594 - Watching Republic Day Parade in Delhi .. what a moment of pride .. tears welling up as the Army marches past .. memories of the early years in Delhi, when we would clamour for seats to watch the parade ! JAI HIND !!????????????????????".

Actor Riteish Deshmukh wrote, "I am an INDIAN before I am anything else.

Jai Hind. #Justice #Liberty #Equality #Fraternity #HappyRepublicDay".

Actress Anushka Sharma tweeted, "United we stand, divided we fall. Happy #RepublicDay to you all! Jai Hind! ????".

"?So very proud of my country. Jai Hind!", veteran actor Rishi Kapoor wrote.

"Happy #RepublicDay to all", tweeted Salman Khan.

Asking everyone to stand together, Bollywood actress Diana Penty wrote, "Happy #RepublicDay to us all! Let's pledge to stand together as one and be the strength India needs to reach its full potential".

Actor Ajay Devgn tweeted, "Salute to our Armed Forces for letting us have a #RepublicDay".

Actor Vivek Anand Oberoi said, "Freedom in our minds,faith in our words,pride in our hearts & memories in our souls.Lets salute the sacrifice of all those that helped to build our great nation!Justice,liberty,equality,fraternity. May our dream of a new, strong & united India come true! Jai Hind????#RepublicDay".

'Padmaavat' actor, Ranveer Singh posted a picture of himself with a flag in his hand, writing, "?Happy Republic Day! ?? #jaihind ????".

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)United States Senator Bernie Sanders is reportedly preparing himself to challenge incumbent US President Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential elections, according to senior Democratic officials.

Sanders challenged former US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2016, before Hillary edged him out.

Despite age not on his side, he is currently 76 and will turn 79 in 2020, senior Democratic officials told Politico on Thursday that the senator was "seriously considering" to run for the post.

Sanders gathered his top advisers in Washington D.C. to begin work on a future presidential bid.

"The senator is extremely focused on making sure the Democrats win in 2018 and that is the primary goal right now to retake the House and retake the Senate, so we can stop this horrendous Trump agenda," said Jeff Weaver, Sanders' campaign manager and top political adviser.

On a related note, in a survey published by CNN on Tuesday, Trump trails former US Vice-President Joe Biden between 40 to 60 percent and Sanders was ahead between 42 to 55 percent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen will begin his one-day state visit on Saturday, two days after arriving here for ASEAN-India Summit and the 69th Republic Day celebrations.

The Cambodian PM will be given the ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, which will be followed by the wreath laying ceremony at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial in Rajghat.

Following the ceremony, External Affairs Minister (EAM) Sushma Swaraj will call on Hun Sen.

After the meeting, Hun Sen will hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Later, in the evening, the Cambodian PM will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A policeman deputed as gunman of a Station House Officer (SHO) in Ludhiana died after allegedly shooting himself at Republic Day function on Friday.

Policeman Manjit Singh, who dies on the spot, was deputed as gunman of the Jagraon City police station SHO.

The reason behind the shooting is yet to be known.

More details are awaited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The family members of Indian Air Force (IAF) Commander Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who will be conferred with the Ashok Chakra posthumously, expressed their pride on their son's sacrifice.

"I am very happy that my son's sacrifice for the nation did not go in vain. We feel very proud that the govt of India will award him with Ashok Chakra. Every Jawan of India should safeguard the nation in any possible way," Tej Narayan Singh, Nirala's father, told ANI.

The late IAF Commander Corporal's wife Sushma told ANI, "I feel very proud that I am the wife of such brave soldier of this country, who had sacrificed his life for the sake of the nation."

Ashok Chakra is India's highest peacetime military award that will be awarded to Indian Air Force (IAF) Commander Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously for his service to the nation by President Ram Nath Kovind. The award will be received by his family on the 69th Republic Day.

On November 18, last year, based on specific tech intelligence, an operation was launched jointly by the Garud detachment and 13 RR in Chanderger village of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house, where the suspected terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush. Cpl Nirala, displaying exceptional battle craft, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, thus cutting off all possibilities of an escape by the insurgents. Laying this ambush itself at such close quarters demanded a very high degree of courage and professional acumen, read an official statement.

While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists hiding in the house, rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the Garuds. Cpl Nirala, disregarding personal safety and displaying indomitable courage, retaliated with effective lethal fire and gunned down a category 'A' terrorist named Ubaid Alias Osama Jungi (nephew of LeT commander Zaki Ur Rehman Lakhvi). Readjusting his position to protect his colleagues and preventing other terrorists from escaping, Cpl Nirala killed one more category 'A+' terrorist, named Mehmud Bhai (LeT North Kashmir commander) and injured two others. In this violent exchange of fire, Cpl Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, the Corporal continued retaliatory fire. Subsequently, he succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds received in the fierce encounter, which resulted in the killing of all six dreaded terrorists, it added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Patriotic fervour gripped Indians in the Netherlands as they proudly marked the country's 69th Republic Day on Friday.

Over 300 people gathered at the Ambassador of India to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony's residence in Wassenaar this morning for a flag hoisting function.

The celebrations began with the hoisting of the Tricolour by the Ambassador, singing of the National anthem and reading of President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation. This was followed by a performance of patriotic songs.

The event was attended by Deputy Mayor of The Hague Rabin Baldewsingh, Judge Dalveer Bhandari of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Ambassador of Iran to the Netherlands Prof. Dr Alireza Jahangiri and various prominent members of the Indian community residing in the Netherlands.

The flag-hoisting function witnessed a large gathering of the Indian diaspora, especially members of the Surinamese Hindustani community and friends of India that came together to celebrate this significant day in the Indian history.

The Netherlands has the largest population of overseas Indians in mainland Europe, the majority belonging to the 2,00,000 strong Surinamese Hindustani community whose ancestors were taken as indentured labour from India to Suriname 145 years ago.

India and Netherlands have shared friendly diplomatic relations for more than 70 years with the Dutch being amongst the first to establish diplomatic relations with independent India.

The two nations share strong bilateral relations, with the Netherlands being described as a "natural partner" in India's economic development by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recently at the Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Prime Minister Modi met Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in her capacity as the UN Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the nation is all set to celebrate the 69th Republic Day on Thursday, security has been beefed up everywhere.

Security forces have been deployed in numbers, to keep a check on the situations. Vehicles, in each and every police points, are being checked thoroughly. Vigilance at sensitive spots across the country have been increased to ensure safety and security.

For the first time ever, leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei will grace the Republic Day parade as chief guests in the capital.

On the eve of Republic Day, Rashtrapati Bhawan was decorated beautifully with lights.

Rajpath will come alive on Thursday morning where the nation showcases her military might and traditions coupled with the latest initiatives and achievements along with her rich diverse social and cultural heritage. Another feather in tomorrow's pageant will be two tableaux showcasing our historical, civilisational, educational, religious and cultural linkages with the ASEAN nations.

The parade ceremony will commence at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, where the Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath.

An eternal flame burns at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the indomitable courage of the Armed Forces personnel, who have made the supreme sacrifice in the service of the motherland. The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldier's helmet.

Women's Motor Cycle team 'Seema Bhawani' of Border Security Force will be the main attraction of the spectacle, which was raised at Central School of Motor Transport (CSMT), BSF Academy Tekanpur on 20th October 2016. The BSF motorcycle team 'Seema Bhawani' is led by Sub Inspector Stanzin Noryang.

As per tradition, after unfurling the Flag, the anthem will be played with a 21 gun salute. The parade will then commence and the President will take the salute.

Tableaux from 14 States and UT, Nine Central Ministries, Departments and Central Paramilitary Force will present the varied historical, art and cultural heritage of the country. They will also showcase country's progress in different fields, particularly floats from Karnataka, Gujarat, Tripura, Maharashtra, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and Kerala with their varied themes, which will be of special attraction. The floats of All India Radio, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Income Tax Department will showcase the rapid development of some of the flagship programmes of the Government.

The ceremony will end with the national anthem and release of balloons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 'to be formed' new government of Nepal, under Prime Ministership of KP Oli, will take Indo- Nepal relation to a new height, giving it a new start, claimed Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN- UML) leader Pradip Gyawali.

In an interaction program held on the eve of India's Independence Day, Gyawali spoke about leaving the past incidents behind and start a new relation with India.

"We want to forget the bitter experience, which existed in the past. Those were based on certain issues and we should look forward. There is no use of scratching the healed wounds of past. There is no other option than maintaining harmonious relation between the two countries. We should learn some lessons from past. We want to develop the intimate relation between the two countries, which would be exemplary," Gyawali said.

The interaction mainly focused on improving and maintaining relation between India and Nepal, after the formation of the new government under the left alliance. The speakers of the program highlighted the uniqueness that can be witnessed in the Indo- Nepal relation.

"The way in which India proceeded towards its democracy encouraged democratic movements to start over in Nepal too," Prakash Saran Mahat, former Foreign Minister of Nepal, highlighted.

Mahat, who chaired the post of Foreign Minister during the Prime Ministership of Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the previous government, claimed that the open border, shared cultural diversity and other factors are the reason for the uniqueness between the two countries.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeeb Singh Puri, who also attended the interaction, termed the relation between Nepal and India to be the Saga of diplomacy.

"There is competition in democracies internally and there is no doubt over it. But in international relations, if neighbouring countries come to co-operation, then it will result in win-win situation. I am very pleased to say that India and Nepal's 70 years of saga, that started after India's independence, is a story of permanent friendship and partnership for progress," Puri acclaimed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Friday arrived in Pakistan on an official visit after taking part in the ASEAN-India Summit and the 69th Republic Day celebrations.

The Indonesian President, along with his wife Iriana Joko Widodo, arrived in Islamabad for a two-day state visit, reported Geo News.

Widodo was accorded with a 21-gun salute on his arrival in Pakistan.

The visiting dignitary addressed the joint session of Parliament today. Joko Widodo became the second President of Indonesia who addressed the joint sitting of the Parliament.

Earlier, President of Indonesia Dr Ahmed Soekarno had addressed the National Assembly of Pakistan on June 26, 1963.

According to the reports, Joko Widodo will hold a one-on-one meeting with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi which would be followed by delegation-level talks between the two countries on Saturday.

The two countries are likely to ink agreements to enhance cooperation in several fields.

Indonesia is the eighth largest trading partner of Pakistan and Pakistan's largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)United States President Donald Trump said on Friday that US-backed coalition forces had won nearly all of the territories occupied by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

"The coalition to defeat ISIS has retaken almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria," Trump said in a speech at the Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"There is still more fighting and work to be done and to consolidate our gains," he added.

Trump also spoke on Afghanistan, which recently witnessed two ghastly attacks - one on the office of 'Save the Children' organisation in Jalalabad and the other one on Kabul's Intercontinental hotel.

"We are committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who want to commit mass murder to our civilian populations," Trump said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistan-based extremist Islamist group Jaish-e-Muhammed (JeM) has declared India as its number one enemy.

This declaration was made by Maulana Talha Siaf, the brother of JeM founder Maulana Masood Azhar at a rally in Larkana, Sindh, recently.

"India is the number one enemy of the JeM. Modi (Indian Prime Minister) is the number one enemy of Maulana Masood Azhar. Al Qalam is being regularly read by Indian Muslims. Al Qalam has been published online on Tuesday/Wednesday, and while you may not be able to receive a copy of this paper, your relatives in India read Al Qalam of Maulana Masood Azhar regularly. Indian media has launched a campaign against Al Qalam, and by this way, our enemy is performing our duties in India," Maulana Talha Siaf said.

He also incited Muslims to follow the path of 'Jihad' to achieve something great in life.

"India is a mini super power of the region that has created problems for Pakistan for the past sixty years, but India's six lakh forces are facing a tough time in the Kashmir Valley and are unable to announce their victory in Kashmir, said Siaf provocatively.

The JeM is responsible for carrying out several terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir and other bordering states, including at the Pathankot Air Force base in January 2016.

Maulana Saif said, "Mothers and daughters of Kashmir are calling us and we slaves are unable to cross the borders of infidels, but today, free Mujahideen can cross borders."

He also raised the issue of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya city, saying, "The Indian government is using its machinery to attempt to build the Ram Mandir in place of the Babri Mosque. Maulana Masood Azhar had announced that the Ram Mandir would not be allowed to be constructed at the place of the Babri Mosque. Now, every year, the government announces that on such and such date the Ram Mandir will be built, and again from this side, there is an announcement that they will not allow the construction of the Ram Mandir in place of the Babri Mosque, and still the Ram Mandir is not built."

Terrorists like Maulana Talha Siaf are openly allowed to wage 'jihad' against democratic nations and Islamabad continues to act and behave like a mute spectator.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistani authorities on Thursday have termed the accused of rape and murder of a seven-year-old girl in Kasur as a potential serial killer.

A special anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Wednesday placed Imran in 14-day police remand. He will be presented again before the court on February 8.

During the hearing, Imran admitted to killing and raping eight more girls in Kasur.

The Geo TV reported that Judge Sajjad Ali allowed a 14-day long physical remand to give time to the police to match Imran's DNA with seven other victims.

The minor, who was a resident of the Kasur district of Pakistan's Punjab province, was kidnapped on her way to a tuition centre on January 4.

Five days after her disappearance, she was found raped, dead and buried in a garbage dump on January 9 near Kashmir Chowk.

According to the initial post-mortem report, the minor was strangled to death after being raped multiple times.

As per the autopsy, the girl had marks of torture on nose, neck, and other parts of the body, the report said.

This incident incited huge protests in Kasur and other major cities of Pakistan.

The Punjab administration had then said that six personnel, including four policemen and two civil defence personnel, were arrested for allegedly opening fire at the mob.

Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed earlier this week that Imran had murdered and raped the minor.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The principal of Kerala's Vyasa Vidya Peethom School, where Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the tricolor today, blamed the state government of implementing rules for hoisting a tricolour to fulfill its political interests.

Speaking to ANI, Principal Devan Gopal said, "The circular by the government is not applicable to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliated schools. Therefore, we are supposed to obey the rules and regulations of this board. The instructions have been given to different state government schools. The Kerala government is doing such acts out of political interest, as I can see no other state doing that."

He added that the CBSE has also not sent any such regulations in this connection.

"The government normally does not have a control over us. Nowhere it is prohibited, any citizen can hoist the flag. No government can oppose it. This is a foolish attempt and we are totally ignoring it," Gopal stated.

Earlier in the day, Bhagwat unfurled the flag at the school at Palakkad in Kerala on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day.

Bhagwat is here as part of a three-day RSS camp.

"I wish every citizen of our nation a very happy Republic Day. There are different languages, cultures, traditions, customs, etc. still we are united," the RSS chief said.

The Kerala government in a circular on January 24 stated that the hoisting of tricolour will only be done by the heads of department offices and educational institutes.

During last year's Independence Day, a political slugfest erupted over the hoisting of the tricolor by the RSS chief.

Bhagwat hoisted the flag in Karnakkiyamman School in Kerala's Palakkad last year on August 15, even after the district collector issued a memo to the school, categorically stating that it was inappropriate for a political leader to hoist the national flag in an aided school.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 69th Republic Day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety here on Friday despite the militants' call for the boycott of the celebrations.

Amidst tight security, Governor of Manipur Dr Najma Heptulla unfurled the flag at the Kangla Fort.

Heptulla also inspected the guard of honour accorded by a contingent of 8th India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and took the salute from 65 march past contingents headed by parade Commander Achin Haokip, Senior SP.

Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who was also present here, conveyed warm greetings to the people of the state on the occasion.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will fly to Moscow to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin next week, confirmed the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting is likely to deal with Iran and its involvement in Syria, reported the Jerusalem Post.

According to the Prime Minister's office, Netanyahu has told some of the leaders he is presently meeting at the Economics Forum (WEF) in Davos that Israel will not let Iran establish itself militarily in Syria after the civil war there.

The entire visit is reportedly scheduled to last for about five hours.

The two leaders last met in August and speak frequently over the phone.

In addition to the Moscow visit, he is scheduled to attend the Munich Security Conference in mid-February as well as pay a visit to the United States to meet President Donald Trump and attend the annual AIPAC policy conference in the beginning of March, the report said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Haryana Police said on Friday that there were no Muslims among those detained for the attack on a school bus during protests against Padmaavat in Gurugram district.

"Seven cases have been registered in connection with Padmaavat agitation. Till now, 24 accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody. None of them belonged to the Muslim community," Gurugram police Public Relation Officer (PRO) Ravinder Kumar said.

"Preventive actions have been taken against 14 and they are also not Muslims," he added.

On January 24, a school bus was attacked by a group of men who were protesting against the release of the film in Haryana's Gurugram. The protesters threw stones at the bus, which was carrying students, teachers and staff of Gurugram's GD Goenka World School.

The police confirmation came after rumours started doing the rounds that in the social media that the mob, which attacked the bus, was comprised of Muslim men.

The apex court had earlier set aside the notification passed by the states of Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Gujarat to ban the release of the flick.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Gurugram Police on Friday clarified that no Muslim boys were detained in relation to the recent acts of vandalism on a Haryana Roadways bus and a school bus.

"This is to clarify that no Muslims boys have been detained in relation to the recent acts of vandalism on a Haryana Roadways bus and a School bus in Gurugram," Gurugram Police said.

This is to clarify that no Muslims boys have been detained in relation to the recent acts of vandalism on a Haryana Roadways bus and a School bus in Gurugram.  Gurugram Police (@gurgaonpolice) January 26, 2018

Police had arrested 18 people, including seven juvenile, in connection with an attack by an unruly mob on the GD Goenka school bus, ferrying 30 students and three teachers, and torching of the Haryana Roadways bus in Gurugram.

Yesterday, a local Haryana Court had sent 11 people to 14 days judicial custody for their involvement in attacking a school bus and torching a state bus in Gurugram in protest against the release of the film Padmaavat.

Seven other protestors, who were juvenile, will be produced before the juvenile court.Veteran Bengali actress and Padma Shri awardee Supriya Devi died on Friday at her residence in Kolkata.

She was 83.

According to sources, Supriya was unwell for several months and had been admitted in a hospital for the past week.

She died at her residence this morning, the family sources added.

She received the Padma Shri in 2014 and also was a recipient of the BFJA Award twice and West Bengal's highest civilian honour Banga-Vibhushan.

Supriya Devi had acted in almost 45 Bengali films till 2006. Her last film was 'The Namesake'.

She was married to Bishwanath Choudhury and is survived by her daughter Soma.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with his Laotian counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith here.

The two leaders discussed developmental cooperation and partnership in trade and Human Resource Development (HRD) in the bilateral meeting.

External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar branded the relationship between the two countries as "longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive".

"Longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive relations! In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, PM @narendramodi discussed developmental cooperation, and partnership in trade and HRD.#aseanindia", Kumar lettered in a Twitter post.

Earlier in the day, in an unprecedented move, the leaders of 10 ASEAN countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei graced the Republic Day parade as chief guests in the national capital.

India hosted a two-day India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit which is expected to give a boost to the cooperation in key areas of counter-terrorism, security and connectivity.

The summit marks 25 years of Indo-ASEAN ties.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak here.

The two leaders dwelled upon defence and security, trade and investment, counter-terrorism and people to people links in their bilateral meet.

External Affairs Ministry (EAM) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar labelled Malaysia as "an important strategic partner."

"An important strategic partner! PM @narendramodi met with Malaysian Prime Minister @NajibRazak. Two leaders had an engaging discussion on defence and security, trade and investment, counter terrorism and people to people links. #ASEANIndia," Kumar wrote on Twitter.

Earlier in the day, in an unprecedented move, the leaders of 10 ASEAN countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei graced the Republic Day parade as chief guests in the national capital.

India hosted a two-day India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, which is expected to give a boost to the cooperation in key areas of counter-terrorism, security and connectivity.

The summit marks 25 years of Indo-ASEAN ties.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Yadav on Friday revealed that the two Saudi nationals and an Indian were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for "hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony in the state".

"We received input from our sources that a Thuraya set (satellite phone) has been used nearby Pokhran town after which our team probed for 10 km of the area and searched almost every house. We received Thuraya set and arrested two foreign nationals and one Indian national", Yadav told ANI.

"They were hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony", he added.

According to media reports, the two suspects from Saudi Arabia were identified as Al Talal Mohammad and Al Samri Mohammad, while the other Indian suspect is Syed Mohsin, a resident of Telangana.

Yadav further noted that "they will be interrogated by a joint interrogation team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Late Air Force Commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who lost his life in Bandipora encounter, was honoured with Ashoka Chakra on the occasion of Republic Day.

President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the award to Nirala's mother and wife.

Nirala, a resident of Badladih area in Bihar's Rohtas district, was killed during an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Bandipora in Novembar last year.

The award was presented during the Republic Day function, organized at Rajpath in the capital.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid homage to the soldiers who died in the line of duty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India and China on Friday held a ceremonial Border Personnel meeting (BPM) on the occasion of India's 69th Republic Day at Indian BPM hut in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) and Chushul area of Jammu and Kashmir's Leh.

Delegations from both sides sought to build on the mutual feeling of upholding the treaties and agreement signed between governments of both nations to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

The meeting was marked by saluting the tricolour by members of delegations from both sides followed by a ceremonial address by the delegation leaders.

The meeting concluded with a sense of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the LAC.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the 69th Republic Day is being celebrated across the nation, saints in Allahabad unfurled tricolour at Magh Mela on Friday.

Several states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Bihar, Odisha, Assam are also celebrating the occasion with Governors of each state hoisting the flag on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the main function of the Republic Day is organised at Rajpath in the capital where President Ram Nath Kovind is commencing salute of the parade.

Under the custom to host a leader of a foreign country as the chief guest at the parade, this year, in a first, leaders of 10 ASEAN countries are the Chief Guests.

The tableauxs of fourteen states and nine Central Ministries is participating in the parade showcasing various themes.

The capital has been brought under a ground-to-air security cover in view of the Republic Day celebrations. Thousands of armed personnel are keeping a tight vigil in Delhi and in border areas of the city to ensure a smooth passage of the celebrations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday hoisted the tricolour on the 69th Republic Day in Guna district.

Addressing a gathering here, Chouhan said the state government has launched different schemes and scholarships for the welfare of the state.

"Different schemes and scholarships have been launched by the government for the welfare of students, irrespective of their caste and social background. I will not let the dreams of the students of the state die down," he stated.

He further congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for coming up with Ujwala Yojana scheme that has brought immense respite for the rural women by providing them gas connection.

"All needed measures will be taken for the well-being of farmers. Women empowerment is utmost important for us and with this thought we have started 'Ladli Laxmi'," Chouhan further said.

He added that 50 percent reservations have been made for the women in the government jobs for empowering them.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh attended the Republic Day celebrations in Bastar.

The main function of the Republic Day is underway at Rajpath in the capital.

Under the custom to host a leader of a foreign country as the chief guest at the parade, this year, in a first, leaders of 10 ASEAN countries are the Chief Guests.

The tableauxs of fourteen states and nine Central Ministries are participating in the parade showcasing varied themes.

The capital has been brought under a ground-to-air security cover in view of the Republic Day celebrations.

Thousands of armed personnel are keeping a tight vigil in Delhi and in border areas of the city to ensure a smooth passage of the celebrations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the three Service Chiefs paid tribute at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in Delhi on the occasion of 69th Republic Day.

The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldier's helmet.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi had greeted the nation on his Twitter handle.

For the first time ever, leaders of 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries - Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei will grace the Republic Day parade as chief guests in the capital.

The nation is today celebrating the 69th Republic Day, the main function will be organised at Rajpath in the capital where President Ram Nath Kovind will take the salute of the parade.

Under the custom to host a leader of a foreign country as the chief guest at the parade, this year, in a first, leaders of 10 ASEAN countries are the Chief Guests.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Critically acclaimed film-maker Vishal Bhardwaj was saddened to see people protesting violently against the film Padmaavat, even after the Supreme Court's verdict.

"As an industry, we are really sad that these things are now being done so aggressively. I hope the states become more powerful to stop the protestors, who even after the Supreme Court's verdict are taking law in their hands," Bhardwaj said.

While speaking at the 2018 Jaipur Literature Festival, the 'Haider' helmer also shared that the scariest part of all this episode is that these law-breakers are getting away with whatever they are doing.

Bhardwaj noted, "The scariest part of all this is that the protestors are getting away with all they are doing. How will we survive, even if the court's order is not being followed by these people."

Bhardwaj's 'Haider' also faced some protests while shooting the film.

The shooting of the film was halted briefly in Zainakadal in Srinagar in January 2014, when a spectator threw coal towards the actors.

A migrant Kashmiri Pandit group also staged protest demonstrations in Jammu for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindus by portraying the ancient Sun Temple of Kashmir as "Devil's Den" in the Bismil song.

The movie was released after 41 cuts and went on to win five national awards.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajender on Thursday said here that the state is a home to many defence industries.

The Finance Minister attended the International Conference on Composite Manufacturing Technologies and Applications as the Chief Guest.

"Telangana State is home to many defence industries in Hyderabad. DRDO, DRDL, HAL, BDL, RCI, MITHANI and their affiliates are in Hyderabad. During the movement, many industrialists were concerned. But in the course of three and a half years, such anxieties were distributed. Telangana is a small state but it is number one in the country. This is the victory of Telangana," said Etela Rajender.

"In the six months, the state of Telangana with chief minister KCR's planning has ensured that they provide 24 hours electricity to the industries. Trusted by industrial groups through TSIPAS Industry is giving the industry the highest priority", added the Finance Minister.

"There are over 1,000 small industries in Hyderabad. The Telangana government has already allotted 123 acres of land at Ibrahimpatnam. All kinds of infrastructure are provided. But a man's biggest challenge is unemployment. Your entrepreneurs should cooperate and get rid of unemployment so that the state government is giving you huge concessions," he said.

"Telangana government has taken special steps for skill development. The immediate task of the government is to provide employment to those people. Telangana is the number one in India. We will cooperate with you and cooperate with industrialists to grow up", he concluded.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)We all know how awesome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is! Be it celebrating Pongal and Sankranti with Indian-origin people, or wishing Diwali greetings in Hindi, Trudeau is known to do something unique and peculiar, that gives us an 'Oh Wow' moment!

The Canadian Prime Minister, who is currently in Davos to attend the Economic Forum (WEF), met global educational activist Malala Yousafzai.

Amids this, shutterbugs spotted Trudeau with a pair of purple and yellow duck socks. This, along with black shoes and dark blue suit, added a quirky twist and took fashion diplomacy to an entirely new level.

This is not the first time that Trudeau has donned a wacky pair of socks.

He wore a pair of Star Wars themed socks as he met International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Christine Lagarde in September last year.

Trudeau also expressed his patriotism with a unique pair of Maple Leaf socks for Canada Day celebrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)United States President Donald Trump has apologised for retweeting three anti-Muslim videos, which were originally posted by the deputy leader of one of the United Kingdom's most far-right groups.

Trump had retweeted the tweets of Britain First's Jayda Fransen in November.

Speaking to the U.K. broadcaster ITV on Thursday at the Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Trump said, "If you are telling me they're horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that".

"I am often the least racist person that anybody is going to meet. Certainly, I wasn't endorsing anybody", he added.

The U.S. President drew widespread condemnation, including from the British Prime Minister's office for the retweets.

"Britain First seeks to divide communities in their use of hateful narratives which peddle lies and stoke tensions", the statement from 10 Downing Street said at the time.

Britain First, which styles itself as a political party but has been condemned by campaigners as a far-right extremist group, calls on supporters to join the "British resistance" and "secure a future for British children" and has become known for paramilitary-style "invasions" targeting mosques, reported the Independent.

The first video claimed to show "Muslim migrants beating up a Dutch boy on crutches".

A second re-post was captioned, "Muslim destroys the statue of Virgin Mary", while a third read, "Islamist mob pushes teenage boy off the roof and beats him to death".

Fransen delightedly reacted online, touting that the videos had been shared with Trump's nearly 44 million followers.

According to reports, Fransen was found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment in November 2016 after abusing a Muslim woman wearing a hijab. Fransen was fined by the court and ordered to pay costs.

Separately, Fransen was also charged for using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour" during a speech she made in Belfast in Northern Ireland.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The United States President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he would consider re-entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement, if the terms were more favourable to the US.

"I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal," said Trump.

The US President had signed an executive order in January last year to withdraw his country from the trade agreement because he said "it was not good for the American workers and manufacturing", The Hill reported.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday announced that Canada and 10 other countries would form a new Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which would work towards creating a revised trade agreement.

However, the revised trade agreement does not include the US.

For better trading relations and to reduce dependence on Chinese trade, the CPTPP was signed on February 4 last year, along with the United States.

After US' withdrawal, it now includes Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore and Vietnam.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat celebrated Republic Day at Nelong Border out Post (BOP) of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).

Rawat unfurled the flag at the ceremony held at the BOP, which is located at the height of 11,636 feet MSL (Mean Sea Level).

"It is my good fortune to be present among the troops here on Republic Day. I am proud of our defence forces. I have full faith on them," Rawat told ANI.

The Chief Minister also interacted with the jawans, who man the borders braving icy winds and extreme cold conditions.

Nelong BOP is situated along the same border which has been violated by Chinese troops frequently in the recent past.

Despite India's strong reply to Doklam standoff, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops continue to attempt encroachment in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Four persons were killed on Friday on the Delhi-Yamunotri highway in Uttarakhand when their vehicle fell into the Yamuna river, police said.

The accident took place when the driver of a vehicle with Himachal Pradesh registration going from Vikas Nagar to Naugaon lost control near Chami. It plunged hundreds of feet below into the river.

Police and civilians pulled out the dead from the freezing waters with great difficulty, an official said.

The deceased were identified as Javed, 55, Imran, 45, Shahid, 47 and Tonjo, 44. All were residents of Vikas Nagar in Dehradun.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)At least 41 persons have been killed and dozens injured on Friday in a fire that engulfed a hospital in South Korea, media reports said.

The blaze occurred at the Sejong Hospital in Miryang city. It started around 7.30 a.m. in an emergency room of the hospital, Xinhua news agency reported.

Firefighters took about one hour and 40 minutes to put out the blaze, which started when there were approximately 200 people in the building, Yonhap news agency quoted an official as saying.

According to Yonhap, 93 patients from the nursing home were safely evacuated. Fire chief Choi Man-woo told reporters that the cause of the fire was not yet known.

Pictures from the scene showed the building engulfed by heavy grey smoke as well as patients being rescued. It is South Korea's deadliest fire in almost a decade and the toll is expected to rise, the BBC said.

Several of the injured were reported to be critical.

Most patients at the hospital were either of cerebrovascular disease or stroke. Most victims died from smoke inhalation, reports said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting and ordered a thorough response to the blaze.

Miryang is about 270 km south-east of the capital here. The hospital has been operating since 2008. The nursing home and hospital between them have about 200 beds.

About 35 medical staff work at the hospital, according to the government official.

Friday's blaze comes just a month after 29 people were killed in Jecheon in a blaze at a public gym.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Moderate to dense fog and chilly weather failed to dampen the spirit of Republic Day celebrations in Punjab and Haryana on Friday.

People and students turned out in large numbers at various official and other functions across both states to witness the impressive parade and cultural functions.

Punjab Governor V.P. Singh Badnore unfurled the national flag in Pathankot while Chief Minister Amarinder Singh did so in his hometown Patiala.

In Haryana, Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki unfurled the flag in Ambala. Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar unfurled the flag in Rohtak.

The Haryana government had asked all gram panchayats (village councils) in the state to hoist the national flag on Republic Day.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The latest Apple iOS 11.3 update supports Advanced Mobile Location (AML) that automatically sends a user's location to emergency services when the user calls.

"Additional iOS 11.3 features include support for Advanced Mobile Location (AML) to automatically send a user's current location when making a call to emergency services in countries where AML is supported," Apple wrote in a blog post.

The feature activates GPS and Wi-Fi services when someone calls any emergency number and then sends a text with the caller's precise location to responders.

AML is not currently supported in the US, but iOS device users in the UK, Belgium, New Zealand, Sweden, Lithuania and some parts of Lower Austria can take advantage, according to The Verge.

Notably, all Android smartphones running Gingerbread Operating System (OS) and above support AML.

The upcoming Apple iOS 11.3 update will also offer features such as giving users the power to control their batteries, Augmented Reality (AR) upgrade and Animoji.

A major feature will be to show battery health and recommend when a battery needs to be serviced.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Assam on Friday celebrated the 69th Republic Day despite two low intensity blasts and a boycott call by ULFA's anti-talk faction.

However, no report of any injury or damage was reported.

The first bomb exploded in Jagun while another blast took place in Ledo town in Tinsukia district along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.

The Ulfa on Thursday called for a boycott of the Republic Day function.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi unfurled the tricolour at the Veterinary College ground at Khanapara. An IAF helicopter showered the flower petals as the tricolour was unfurled.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal was also present on the occasion.

Other ministers and public representatives of Assam also took part in the Republic Day Celebrations at different districts and subdivisions of the state.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)One of the constant identities that writers are repeatedly bracketed in is their national and ethnic backgrounds. From readers to publishers to major literary awards -- the likes of the Booker and the Nobel for literature -- all take this facet into consideration. So once you have a Brazilian winning the Nobel Prize for literature, the writers of that country are automatically seen out of the league for the next decade or so. But what happens when the empire writes back?

The empire -- a vague term used so often these days to refer to colonisation -- is very much alive today in the form of English language, which is recognised and read, arguably, across the globe. A distinguished panel comprising Pico Iyer, Jeet Thayil, Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, Charmaine Craig and Linda Spalding sought to unravel the need to look at writers beyond their national and ethnic backgrounds at the ongoing Zee Jaipur Literature Festival.

Iyer explained that the identities of writers have come a long way -- though a lot more needs to be done -- and highlighted that until a few years ago, it would be impossible to think of somebody like Jhumpa Lahiri as an American writer and Rudyard Kipling, an Indian writer. "When I hear the empire writes back, it sounds both quaint as well as extremely relevant today to me. Just 25 years ago, when there was no Skype or smartphones, such an analogy was unheard of," 66-year-old essayist and novelist said.

Nigerian author Abubakar Adam Ibrahim, who has often been at the centre of volatile issues in his home country for writing in English, maintained that writing in the language was a very easy decision for him to make. "For me it seems like a question that people shouldn't even ask me about," he said before explaining the massive impact of slavery, followed immediately by the colonisation in Africa. "When you subjugate people for so long, it takes a while for them to regain their consciousness. So the first generation of African writers wrote to express that we too had sentiments, emotions and a right to exist," he said.

But the wounds of slavery as well as colonisation seems to have healed, or at least healing fast, as he quipped that the current generation of writers feel that maybe it is now time to write about the larger picture. And English thus comes as an appropriate medium, reaching out to both Nigerian readers, where English is taught in most schools as well as is an official language.

Acclaimed novelist and a poet extraordinaire Jeet Thayil said that one of the most significant things that he tries to avoid is writing, in his own words, "monsoon-soaked, family stories" that somehow paints the picture of what is expected internationally from an Indian story. True, both of Thayil's novels "Narcopolis" and "The Book of Chocolate Saints" are devoid of this stereotypical imagination of an Indian novel and are lulled in the bliss of little things that often go unnoticed.

Thayil also expressed his disappointment over the repeated attempts to question Indian writers for the language that they are writing in. "I look forward to a time when Indian writers writing in English will not have to explain why they are writing in English. There is nothing to be apologetic about," he advised.

When probed by Iyer on the reason behind Thayil's return to India after a childhood full of travels in New York, Hong Kong and other parts of the world, and his decision to stay back forever, Thayil explained, quite casually, that geographical locations are not of significance as long as a substantial work of literature is produced. Agreeing with Iyer's assertion where he mentioned that New York or London is longer the capital of writing, Thayil said: "No matter where you live in the world, you write a book of substance and that will surely get noticed, sooner or later. It wasn't the case 40 years ago. You could not even think of it -- more power to globalisation," he said.

Thayil also maintained that writers are meant to break boundaries, whether in practice or in their writing and challenged the question of "cultural appropriation". "That's what writers do. And if they didn't do so, art would be so much poorer," he contended.

A packed house greeted the panellists with warm appreciation and, among many other renowned writers, festival co-director William Dalrymple was seen sitting on the floor, right below the stage, with his attention focused on the discussion. One of the sublime scenes customary to the annual gathering of writers in this Pink City.

(Saket Suman is in Jaipur at the invitation of the organisers of Zee Jaipur Literature Festival. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Friday reiterated China's position on the Diaoyu Islands, expressing "strong dissatisfaction" with Japan's latest move to claim the islands.

Spokesperson Hua Chunying was responding to media reports that the Japanese government had opened an exhibition in Tokyo on Thursday to showcase Japan's claim for the islands, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Diaoyu Island and its affiliated islets have been Chinese territory since ancient times," Hua was quoted as saying.

Hua added that ample historical and legal evidence proves China's sovereignty over the islands.

"China is strongly dissatisfied with Japan's move," Hua said, referring to the exhibition.

She said that nothing the Japanese side did would ever change the fact that the islands belong to China.

"China's resolve to safeguard sovereignty over the islands is steadfast," she said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Clashes erupted between two communities in Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh on Friday over celebrating Republic Day, police said.

Over 36 youngsters from a community had taken out a bike rally with tricolours in their hands and were booed while passing through a locality of another community.

There was a verbal altercation after which stones were also pelted on them, injuring two persons.

The angry mob went on a rampage, damaging more than 12 vehicles and property, a district official said.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar told IANS the district administration increased the security presence and the crowds were dispersed.

He also denied there was curfew in Kasganj district as reported in some sections of the media but added since there was heavy police presence and the situation was tense, people were asked to stay indoors as a precautionary measure.

There were reports of firing as well.

Police said three Scorpio SUVs, two Magic passenger transport vehicles and a truck were also targeted by the mob on the Mathura-Bareilly highway.

The unruly crowd also set afire a kiosk near a petrol pump. Fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire.

The District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) were patrolling the disturbed areas to ensure the violence does not spread further, a senior officer at the state police chief's headquarters said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 69th Republic Day was celebrated across Himachal Pradesh on Friday with gaiety despite a sunny but freezing morning in the state.

Governor Acharya Devvrat unfurled the national flag at the main function at the historic Ridge here.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, his Ministers and other dignitaries were present.

The Governor took the salute at an impressive parade by contingents of police, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police, home guards, the army, the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and ex-servicemen.

Acting Chief Justice Sanjay Karol hoisted the national flag at a function held in the complex of the Himachal Pradesh High Court here.

In snow-bound Keylong, headquarters of Lahaul and Spiti, area legislator and Agriculture Minister Ram Lal Markanda presided over the official function.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Rajiv Saizal presided over the district-level function at Rekong Peo in snow-bound Kinnaur district.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), headquartered in Dharamsala town, also organised a brief ceremony at the Kashag (Tibetan cabinet) secretariat.

As CTA President Lobsang Sangay was on an official visit to Europe, officiating President Karma Gelek Yuthok hoisted the Indian national flag.

"I would like to congratulate and convey the greetings of the Central Tibetan Administration and the Tibetan people to India on this auspicious occasion," he said in a message.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)British music star Sir Elton John has admitted his life is "wonderful" right now. He insists his decision to step back from touring has nothing to do with his health.

The 70-year-old has announced his retirement from live performances and has insisted that the decision was not made for negative reasons such as "dwindling record sales" but rather because he has been enjoying his life as a father to his two sons, femalefirst.co.uk reports.

"I'm not going to be going anywhere other than England for a long, long time," he told The Sun newspaper.

"It's not based on health, it's not based on dwindling record sales. I've had the most fantastic, lucky career. I've enjoyed every single minute of playing live.

"There have been dark times, they have been self-induced. And my life is so wonderful now. Ten years ago I wouldn't be sitting here saying this. But now with the boys, it's time," he added.

The star did suffer a scare in May last year when he spent time in intensive care after contracting a potentially life-threatening infection on his way back to the UK from Chile.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Germany's CDU/CSU conservative alliance and Social Democrats (SPD) want to complete coalition government negotiations before February 4, a media report said.

Michael Grosse-Bromer, CDU/ CSU parliamentary group leader, made the announcement after the first round of the formal talks beginning Friday on a new "grand coalition" government.

But he stressed a "time buffer " after the timing, reports Xinhua.

The coalition government is expected to be formed by the incumbent Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU with its sister party CSU and SPD.

Meanwhile, Merkel was optimistic about the talks.

"People expect us to move towards forming a government, and that's why I'm very optimistic and very determined in these discussions that we reach a result and I believe that is achievable in a relatively manageable time frame," Deutsche Welle, Germany's public international broadcaster, quoted Merkel as saying.

SPD leader Martin Schulz said forming a stable government was pivotal for the country's success: "Given the challenges from China and the US, the EU needs a strong, pro-European Germany."

Horst Seehofer, who leads the CSU, was upbeat ahead of the talks, saying: "We will do everything in our power today and in the coming weeks to arrive at a good result."

The previous government was the third "grand coalition" since Germany adopted its current political system.

Germany also witnessed "grand coalitions" in the 1960s and 2000s.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Coconuts, an essential ingredient in Goan cooking, will be sold at a subsidised price to LPG card holders in Goa, Agriculture Minister Vijay Sardesai said on Friday.

This would be done in order to beat the rising prices of the nut in the open market, Sardesai said.

"Coconuts have become expensive. Goans need coconuts. One family needs one coconut per day. The Goa government has decided that one quality coconut will be sold to every family for Rs 20," Sardesai said.

He was speaking at a Republic Day function in Margao town in South Goa district, 35 km from Panaji.

Prices of coconut have increased by at least 50 per cent over the last few weeks, with an average-sized coconut selling for about Rs 40-45.

"I have spoken to Chief Minister (Manohar Parrikar). The coconuts will be allotted using the LPG card and distributed from horticulture (Goa Horticulture Department) carts," Sardesai said.

"We will provide 30 coconuts per family per month at Rs 20. The government will intervene to ensure that the price of coconuts is controlled," the Minister added.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad on Friday unfurled the Tricolour at the Republic Day function here and appealed to people of the state to hold steadfastly to the ideals of democracy.

"A resilient, hard working and peace loving population has always been the strength of great nations. People of our beautiful state have always abided by these values," he said in his first Republic Day address to the people of Meghalaya.

"Even during our movement for statehood, we always adopted peaceful and democratic means. It is well established that there is no issue that does not lend itself to solution through meaningful engagement and reconciliation," Prasad said recalling the statehood movement.

Praising the Meghalaya police and central forces for the improved security situation in the five districts of Garo Hills, the Governor said the internal security situation has also significantly improved in the state.

"The state police in collaboration with central forces have done a commendable job despite facing constraints of difficult terrain and poor communication infrastructure. This has led to a large number of arrests and surrender of militants and other criminal gangs as well as recovery of huge cache of arms and ammunition," Prasad said.

He said the government's recent approach to facilitate surrendered cadres of different militant organisations to take advantage of the government rehabilitation package and assimilate in the national mainstream by involving the Church and community leaders with the aid of the district administration and police have yielded positive results.

He said the situation on the India-Bangladesh border remained peaceful due to improved relations with the neighbouring country and added: "The State is committed to complete the remaining fencing on the international border at a fast pace to effectively contain influx of Bangladeshi nationals and trans-border movement and activities of militants and anti-social elements."

He said the state government is also in the process of creating facilitation centres at various entry and exit points on the interstate border with Assam to check the entry of illegal migrants and other suspicious persons into Meghalaya.

On the disputed Assam-Meghalaya border, Prasad said efforts are on to solve these disputes and effective mechanisms at the level of Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of both the States have been created for securing a permanent solution to the issue.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral summit meeting with his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen here on Saturday, the External Affairs Ministry said on Friday.

"Tomorrow, Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is here with a large delegation, will be on a State visit," Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said at a media briefing here.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on Hun Sen on Saturday morning following which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold delegation-level talks with the Cambodian leader.

Hun Sen will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday.

Hun Sen arrived here on Wednesday to attend the Commemorative Summit hosted by India on Thursday to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership.

The Cambodian leader was among the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Heads of State or government who attended Friday's Republic Day celebrations here as guests of honour, a first in the history of independent India.

The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

India is a major developmental aid partner for Cambodia and has so far extended lines of credit totalling $65.20 million to the Southeast Asian nation for water development and transmission line projects.

India-Cambodia trade basket is small and stood at a little over $153 million in 2016, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry.

Hun Sen last visited India in 2012 to participate in the Commemorative Summit to mark the 20th anniversary of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership, during the course of which he held a bilateral summit with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Cooperation in development aid and trade were among the issues discussed during a bilateral meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held with his Laos counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith here on Friday.

"Long-standing, friendly and mutually supportive relations," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.

Kumar said Modi and Thongloun discussed development cooperation and partnership in trade and human resource development.

India-Laos trade stood at a little over $233 million in 2016-17.

India is a major development aid partner of Laos and Laos supports New Delhi in major international issues, including its claim for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.

Earlier, Thongloun was among the 10 Heads of State or government of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (Asean) members who attended this year's Republic Day celebrations here as guests of honour, a first in independent India's history.

The Laos leader, who arrived here on Wednesday, participated in the Commemorative Summit hosted by New Delhi on Thursday to mark the 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Hundreds of men, women and children donning thick woollens braved the morning winter chill to watch Indias military prowess and diverse cultural heritage on display at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath.

A blanket of thick fog that engulfed the city in the morning and tight security restrictions didn't deter the enthusiasts from venturing out to gather at Rajpath, literary meaning King's Way - a ceremonial boulevard that runs from Rashtrapati Bhavan on Raisina Hill to India Gate.

The parade, a showcase of an impeccable display of might by the Armed Forces and India's soft power, this year had many firsts to its credit.

India for the first time after becoming a republic invited 10 guests of honour - heads of state or government from the 10 Asean countries.

Sporting a multi-coloured turban with a long free-flowing end, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the 10 Asean guests personally, inviting them to the stage where the who's who of the government, including President Ram Nath Kovind and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, were seated.

Another first, and a thrilling one at that, was the sight of women BSF officers riding 350cc Royal Enfield motorcycles, performing acrobatics and daredevil stunts with panache along the Rajpath.

In another first, Rudra armed helicopters were part of the flypast, in addition to the roaring IAF fighter jets.

There were sombre moments as well. Kovind awarded the Ashoka Chakra - India's highest peace-time gallantry decoration - posthumously to Air Force Commando J.P. Nirala, who lost his life in Jammu and Kashmir fighting a group of terrorists in a north Kashmir village in November last.

Earlier, Modi led the nation in paying homage to the fallen soldier. He laid a wreath at the eternal flame at the Amar Jawan Jyoti to commemorate the courage of India's Armed Forces personnel, killed in the line of duty.

The Amar Jawan, the immortal soldier, is symbolised by a reversed rifle standing on its barrel and crested by a soldier's helmet at the war memorial.

A two-minute silence observed at the Amar Jawan Jyoti by Modi, saw a hush descend on the Rajpath before it came abuzz with the foot steps of marching soldiers, whirring sounds of moving vehicles carrying prototypes of defence equipment, and folksongs played on tableaux of various states, and government ministries and departments displaying their achievements.

The daredevil stunts of the women BSF officers, who came riding on 26 350cc Royal Enfield motorcycles, were a real head turner.

A loud cheer went up as the 'Seema Bhawani' women's contingent performed stunts like a 'Peacock' shape on one bike, 'Fish riding', 'Four Harmony', 'Sapt Rishi', 'Brahma yog Guldasta (lotus formation)', 'Seema Prahari' and 'Flag March Pyramid'. It was the first all-women contingent from any force to perform biking stunts.

All heads turned towards the sky during the grand finale - a spectacular flypast by the IAF's flying machines that performed aerobatic manoeuvers over Rajpath.

After the event concluded, Prime Minister Modi walked down a few metres along Rajpath -- like he had last year -- waving towards the crowd.

During the parade, Delhi's main promenade came alive showcasing India's latest initiatives and achievements along with its rich diverse social and cultural heritage, as the enthusiastic crowd, holding tri-colour balloons, clapped loudly and cheered to mark the day India adopted its Constitution 68 years ago.

"The enthusiasm to watch the parade never dies. It is a moment of pride," said Sitanshu Rathi, 50, a Delhi government employee. He claimed he has never missed the Republic Day parade in the last 25 years.

"It makes me feel more secure every time our armed forces showcase how they are securing our boundaries. It is a moment of pride to see how diverse this country is and is yet a seamless single entity. We have to preserve it and display this pride to the world," he told IANS.

Around the parade venue, the city had literally turned into a fortress with special security teams, anti-aircraft guns and snipers deployed to keep a vigil on the eight-km path from Rajpath to Red Fort.

Hundreds of CCTV cameras and drones kept close watch on people's movements along the route. Nearly 60,000 security personnel from the Delhi Police and central security forces were deployed in central Delhi.

(Rajnish Singh can be contacted at rajnish.s@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indian and Chinese troops on Sunday held a ceremonial border personnel meeting (BPM) in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh on the occasion of the Baisakhi festival, a defence official said.

"A ceremonial BPM on the occasion of Baisakhi festival was held today (Sunday) at the Indian BPM huts at Chushul-Moldo and Daulet Beg Oldi-Ten Wen Den Meeting Points in eastern Ladakh," Defence Ministry spokesman, Col. Rajesh Kalia, said in a statement.

The Indian delegation was led by Brig. V.K. Purohit and Col. Prashant Rana and the Chinese delegation by Senior Col. Yin Hong Chen and Col. Song Zhang Li.

"The ceremonial BPM commenced with saluting the respective National Flags by the delegation members. This was followed by a ceremonial address comprising of exchange of greetings, wishes and vote of thanks," the statement said, adding the address "reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at the functional level".

Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment, the statement said.

"The delegations parted amidst a feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the border. Both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to maintain peace and tranquility along the border," it added.

--IANS

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(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India showcased its indigenous defence equipment at the 69th Republic Day parade here on Friday as it aims towards higher self reliance in defence manufacturing under the 'Make in India' programme.

Here is a look at what was on display from India's inventory on Rajpath:

* Rudra Helicopter - Armed version of Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv, Rudra is equipped with Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) and Thermal Imaging Sights Interface, a 20 mm turret gun, 70 mm rocket pods, anti-tank guided missiles and air-to-air missiles. This is the first time a Rudra helicopter of Army Aviation was a part of the flypast at Republic Day Parade.

* Dhruv Helicopter - The Advanced Light Helicopter developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) entered service in 2002. It has become the first major Indian weapons system to have secured large foreign sales.

* Netra - The first indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AEW&C) developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), mounted on an Embraer aircraft was seen for the first time at the Republic Day parade. India is only the fourth country to develop such a technology, the other three being US, Russia and Israel. DRDO is now working on developing a more advanced system with 360 degree scan.

* Tejas Light Combat Aircraft - The indigenous LCA is a single-seat, single-jet engine, multirole light fighter. Indigenously developed by the Aeronautical Development Agency, and produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, Tejas, as a fourth generation aircraft, can fly at 1,350 km per hour and is comparable to the world's best fighters, including French Mirage 2000, American F-16 and Swedish Gripen.

* BrahMos missile - A joint venture between the Defence Research and Development Organisation of India and NPOM of Russia, BrahMos is a short-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, capable of being launched from land, sea, sub-sea and air against surface and sea-based targets. The land attack version of the missile has been operationalised in the Indian Army since 2007. The missile had a range of 290 km initially, which was increased to 450 km this year after India became a member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).

* Swathi Weapon Locating Radar - A mobile weapon locating radar developed by the DRDO and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), the counter-battery radar is designed to detect and track incoming artillery and rocket fire to determine the point of origin for Counter-battery fire.

* Bridge Layer Tank T-72 - Mounted on a T-72 tank chassis, DRDO's Bridge Layer Tank (BLT) provides capabilities to negotiate natural and man-made anti-tank obstacles to an advancing tank column. It can lay its bridge instantly and recover the same from the far bank, after the entire tank column has crossed over.

* Akash missile system - This medium-range mobile surface-to-air missile defence system developed by the DRDO is produced by Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) and Bharat Electronics (BEL). The missile system can target aircraft up to 30 km away, at altitudes up to 18,000 meters.

* Nirbhay Missile system - Indigenously designed and developed by DRDO and Aeronautical Development Establishment, this Long Range Sub-Sonic Cruise Missile Nirbhay was successfully test fired in November last year, after three out of its four earlier tests had failed. Nirbhay is able to pick out a target among multiple targets and attack it, can go around a target and re-engage it. It can fly at different altitudes ranging from 500 meters to four kilometers above ground and can fly at tree level to avoid detection by radar.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the ASEAN Heads of State / Governments and ASEAN Secretary General at the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

India and Asean hold key to the Indo-Pacific Region which will be "indispensable to India's future and our common destiny", Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an article published on Friday in 27 newspapers across 10 Asean countries.

The article, translated into 10 languages, was published as India hosted 10 Asean leaders as guests of honour at its 69th Republic Day celebrations here to mark 25 years of Asean-India partnership.

Modi wrote that India and the regional bloc together had "the potential to pursue higher ambitions and address the challenges of our times -- from infrastructure and urbanization to resilient agriculture and a healthy planet".

He said a future of hope for India as well as Asean countries needed "the solid bedrock of peace" in an age of change, disruptions and shifts that comes only rarely in history.

"Asean and India have immense opportunities - indeed, enormous responsibility - to chart a steady course through the uncertainty and turbulence of our times to a stable and peaceful future for our region and the world.

"Indians have always looked East to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Now, as before, the East, or the Indo-Pacific Region, will be indispensable to India's future and our common destiny.

"Asean-India partnership will play a defining role in both. And in Delhi, Asean and India have renewed their pledge for the journey ahead."

Modi said hosting 10 Asean leaders at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi was "no ordinary event" but a historic milestone in a journey that has brought the India and Asean "in a deepening partnership of great promise for their 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of humankind".

He said India shared a vision with its 10 eastern neighbours for the future "built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement".

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak shared their respective countries' experience of countering terrorism during the course of their visit to India to attend the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of the India-Asean Dialogue Partnership, a senior official said here on Friday.

At a media briefing here, Preeti Saran, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry, said that during the bilateral meetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Widodo and Razak, both visiting leaders "shared their own experiences and the legislations they have introduced in their own countries".

"The soft and hardware aspects of countering terrorism," Saran explained. "The hardware aspects of strict actions to be taken through enabling laws and the software actions in terms of how to ensure that the youth do not go the path of extremism or radicalisation."

Indonesia is the country with the largest Muslim population, as over 61 per cent of the population in Malaysia follows Islam.

A Delhi Declaration issued following Thursday's Summit said both India and the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) agreed to "deepen cooperation in combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, violent extremism and radicalisation through information sharing, law enforcement cooperation and capacity building under the existing Asean-led mechanisms".

The statement reiterated both sides' commitment to promote a "comprehensive approach to combat terrorism through close cooperation by disrupting and countering terrorists, terrorist groups and networks, including by countering cross border movement of terrorists and foreign terrorist fighters and misuse of Internet including social media by terror entities; strengthen cooperation to stop terrorism financing efforts, and prevent recruitment of members of terrorist groups; support efforts in targeting terrorist groups and sanctuaries; and take further urgent measures to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, while stressing that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever".

While Modi held a bilateral meeting with Widodo late on Thursday evening, he met Razak on Friday afternoon.

Widodo and Razak were among the 10 heads of government or state from the Asean member states who attended Friday's Republic Day celebrations as guests of honour, an unprecedented first.

The Asean comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Giving an overview of the Commemorative Summit, Saran said: "All of the 10 Asean countries have appreciated India's role and the bilateral relationship we enjoy with each one of them and the fact that India has played such a positive role in the Indo-Pacific region".

"The message we got from the 10 leaders was that they feel India is a very important component for peace, stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region," she said.

According to Saran, all the 10 leaders greatly appreciated India's growth story.

"All of them repeatedly acknowledged the growth rates India is clocking at the moment, being one of the fastest growing economies." she said.

She said the reforms introduced to fight corruption in India was of interest to Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, who particularly showed interest in the Aadhaar system, digital economy and cashless transactions.

"It was another issue of interest for Singapore who would like to go more and more into cashless financial transaction," Saran said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Brazilian forward Gabriel Barbosa has returned to his former club Santos on a year-long loan from Inter Milan.

The 21-year-old, nicknamed Gabigol, spent the past six-months on loan at Benfica, where he made just four appearances without scoring a goal, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Gabigol is back at Santos FC. After almost 17 months in Europe, the boy from Vila returns for a year-long loan," the Brazilian club said.

Barbosa said: "I'm very anxious and excited to get back onto the pitch again, especially in the Copa Libertadores which is a competition I've always wanted to play in."

The Brazil international scored 57 goals in 157 first-team appearances for Santos before joining Inter Milan in 2016 for 28 million euros.

He failed to impress at the San Siro, scoring just once in 10 matches ahead of his move to Benfica.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Is the human advancement in science and technology leading us to the point when we might not need to exert ourselves to run our world and become bystanders instead of participants? Not yet, say experts, but we need to take some remedial measures, especially on the educational front, to retain our relevance.

While technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning have engendered questions on the conventional notion of work, the anthropoid age is not over yet, a distinguished panel maintained at a session, titled "The End of Work: Automation and Entrepreneurship" at the "Jaipur Literature Festival 2018" on Friday.

Financial journalist Mihir S. Sharma, who began by asking how work would appear two decades hence, saw Tata Sons former Executive Director and Kiran Energy founder Alan Rosling contend that a major instance of the paradigm shift in the nature of work has been the Chinese economy's zooming up, which can be termed the biggest economic phenomenon since the Industrial Revolution.

However, Rosling also stressed that this triumph of technology has a negative political fallout as it is liable to leave millions of people jobless in the future and exacerbate the "sense of disenfranchisement", exemplified most notably by Brexit and Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential polls.

Journalist and author Carlo Pizzati, whose books include "Edge Of An Era" and "Technoshamans", was however of the opinion that while technology will change the nature of work, jobs requiring a human hand and/or emotional understanding - psychiatry and social help notably - are unlikely to disappear.

Seeking to identify the causes for the job-automation conundrum, Professor of Global Economics at Trinity College, Dublin, David McWilliams faulted the education system, which is mostly set in the notion of getting "the single right answer" and discourages innovative, out-of-the box thinking due to fear of failure.

All panelists agreed that quality education can help address the issue of jobs to be done by humans - becoming obsolete in the future. Pizzati urged promoting liberal arts in universities, pointing out that they help develop the critical thinking skills necessary in a world seeing constant interaction with machines, quoting Albert Einstein, who said: "It's in the irrational that you find the idea, and it's in the rational that you prove it."

Rosling, while commending India's growth in the service industry, said it has a long way to go in terms of product innovation, which can be achieved by promoting education and fostering the spirit of entrepreneurship among the youth.

McWilliams, however, said "India needs less innovation" since wage levels here are low. "Innovation that is aimed at enhancing productivity will render millions of Indians jobless and thus there is no need for India to innovate at a pace at which Germany does," he said.

In a lighter vein, he remarked that the biggest source of fake news today isn't the American media; rather, it is the way that Silicon Valley makes everyone feel they are "missing out" on a wave of innovation.

Author Rashmi Bansal stressed that we be happy at work. "Work is love made visible. We as individuals have to find that sweet spot in our career that speaks to our soul. We must look inwards."

Sharma had some prophetic last words. "If there is any part of your work that you are bored with, which can be done automatically without you having to think, that job will go away in five years."

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israel held the annual event on Thursday to mark the UN-sanctioned Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust in Israeli Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum located in Jerusalem.

"Seventy-three years have passed since the fires of the Auschwitz crematoria were put out. Auschwitz has become a symbol of the Holocaust," Xinhua quoted Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as saying.

He added "the UN decided that the day the Red Army liberated Auschwitz should be an day of remembrance for the Holocaust, for the Shoah. That decision recognised how important it is to remember the Holocaust. How important it is to teach future generations about the Holocaust, and to carry on the commitment: Never Again."

"The victims of that hatred were the entire Jewish people and their culture, which were marked for total eradication. On this day, the world remembers their fate, and identifies with their courage," said Avner Shalev, Chairman of Yad Vashem.

After his address, the President was accompanied by Avner Shalev, on a tour of the new "Flashes of Memory" exhibition which presents rare photographs taken by Jews during the Holocaust.

The "Flashes of Memory -- Photography during the Holocaust" exhibition presents visual documentation from during the Holocaust.

The exhibition features nearly 1,500 images, including photographs, albums, diaries and newspaper pages.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rome, Jan 26 (IANS/AKI) The Italian Foreign Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to recover from Serbia eight important Italian works of art that were smuggled out of the country during World War II.

The masterpieces, illegally purchased by Hermann Goring in 1942, include works by Titian, Tintoretto, Carpaccio and Domenico Veneziano which are currently exhibited at the National Museum of Serbia in Belgrade, the Ministry stated.

"We want to bring these eight POWs back home," said Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano.

"We are confident that the Serbian authorities, with which we have established positive contacts within a very long-standing friendly relationship, will be willing to join our effort to undertake a path of tangible cooperation."

--IANS/AKI

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Rome, Jan 26 (IANS/AKI) Two years to the day after Italian researcher Giulio Regeni was abducted in Cairo and tortured to death, Italy's Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni has pledged to keep seeking "the truth" in the horrifying case.

"January 25 - two years after Giulio Regeni's horrendous assassination we remain committed to finding out the truth," Gentiloni tweeted.

The 28-year-old Regeni's badly tortured and mutilated body was found on Cairo's outskirts in early February 2016, 10 days after he vanished while taking the subway to a friend's party in the centre of the city.

The Cambridge University doctoral student had been researching independent trade unions in the Egyptian capital as part of his thesis.

No arrests have been made over Regeni's disappearance and brutal killing.

The case severely strained bilateral ties and caused Italy to withdrew its ambassador to Egypt for 15 months in protest against the lack of progress in the investigation.

There has been widespread suspicion among Western diplomats and in the Italian press that Egypt's security forces were behind Regeni's savage murder - claims strenuously denied by the Egyptian government.

--IANS/AKI

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Japan on Friday ruled out the possibility of renegotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership to facilitate the US rejoining the agreement.

After the decision by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the original TPP in January 2017, the remaining 11 nations decided to go ahead with the agreement.

They were all set to sign a new version on March 8 at a meeting in Chile, Efe news reported.

On Thursday, while attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Trump said: "I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal."

Tokyo's reaction came after Washington's interest in joining back the agreement came to light.

Spokesperson Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a press conference that if the US wanted to join, it would not mean a new renegotiation as the TPP was an agreement initially signed by 12 countries which included the US.

Any small change could affect the negotiations severely, he said, after being asked about Trump's statements.

Japan has already explained the importance of the TPP to the US and was doing everything possible to make it come into effect as soon as possible, he added.

Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, Vietnam and the US, which account for about 40 per cent of global economic activity, signed the original TPP in 2016 after six years of negotiations.

The agreement had to be ratified within a period of two years by at least six member nations whose combined GDP represented 85 per cent of the total. After the US exit - which alone accounts for 60 per cent of the GDP of the 12 signatory states - it became invalid.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Bengaluru, Jan 26 (IANS Karnataka on Friday celebrated the 69th Republic Day with pomp and pageantry amid tight security.

In the state capital Bengaluru, Governor Vajubhai Vala unfurled the Tricolour at the Field Marshal Manekshaw parade ground in the city centre and joined hundreds of people in rendering the national anthem with them.

About 10,000 people, including women and children, thronged the venue and witnessed an impressive march past by the contingents of the three services (Army, Navy and Air Force), state and central police forces, National Cadet Corps (NCC) and Bharat Scouts and Guides with military music bands.

Before addressing the gathering in Hindi, Vala went around the sprawling ground in an open jeep for the guard of honour and received salute from the armed forces at the dais.

A military helicopter hovered over the venue and showered rose petals on the venue to greet the Governor, dignitaries, invitees and the public.

State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was present on the occasion.

The Governor and the Chief Minister also greeted the people in the state.

Boys and girls representing the Seva Dal and about 3,000 students from state-run and public schools and colleges in the city took part in the march past and saluted the Governor passing before the dais.

After the music bands of the services, and the state police forces played patriotic songs, and the audience was treated to an hour-long cultural programmes and sporting events.

According to reports from districts across the state, the day was celebrated with gaiety and patriotic fervour with unfurling of the national flag and parades were held at the venue.

R-Day is celebrated every year to mark the date when the Constitution was adopted by then constituent assembly and the country became a republic two years and five months after India got independence on August 15, 1947 from the British. The Constitution replaced the Government of India Act, 1935.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday unveiled 24 mobile Indira Canteens that will serve food to the poor at subsidised rates.

The canteens were flagged off by the Chief Minister from state legislature in the heart of the city.

"The Indira Canteens will be parked near public parks and prime locations of 24 civic wards serving breakfast, lunch and dinner," Bengaluru civic body spokesman L. Suresh told IANS here.

With an eye on the upcoming state polls in April-May, Siddaramaiah, who is also the Finance Minister, had earmarked Rs 100 crore in the state Budget in fiscal 2017-18 to run the canteens in all 198 civic wards.

However, due to land scarcity in the city, the state decided to set up mobile canteens.

The canteens, which would serve vegetarian breakfast at Rs 5 per plate and lunch and dinner at Rs 10, would be run on modified tempo travellers equipped with CCTV cameras and GPS system to track their locations.

These mobile units are fitted with solar panels for power supply, overhead drinking water tank and an underground sump to collect used water.

The canteens, named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, were unveiled on August 16, 2017 by Congress President Rahul Gandhi with an aim to make Karnataka "hunger free".

The canteens are currently operational in over 150 civic wards, with 12 kitchens catering to them.

With a budget of Rs 185 crore, the government in October 2017 had decided to open 246 Indira Canteens in all the 30 districts of the state and their sub-districts.

The daily operating cost of all canteens in the state was estimated to be Rs 29 lakh, with monthly expenditure of Rs 9 crore.

These canteens are run on the lines of the popular Amma Canteens in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, started by then Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)If the lotus stem, an expensive delicacy much loved in Kashmir, is abundantly available in local vegetable markets these days, it is because of the sheer hard work of farmers who cultivate it in the Dal Lake here.

The September 2014 floods had wiped out seeds of lotus stems, locally known as nadru, from Dal Lake, affecting livelihoods of thousands of people and depriving Kashmiri households of this classic -- and costly -- vegetable. This year nadru is available in large quantities thanks to the revival of the crop in Dal Lake after a gap of three years following the 2014 floods. The large-scale destruction of 2014 was caused by unprecedented rainfall.

Nadru growers of Dal Lake say that they worked hard to revive the crop there and took seeds from various other water bodies such as Mansbal and Anchar over the past three years to revive its cultivation afresh in the iconic lake.

"Nadru had totally vanished from Dal Lake because of the floods," Mohammad Ayoub, a nadru grower in the Saida Kadal area of Dal Lake, told indiaclimatedialogue.net.

"This year, I am harvesting nadru of Dal after a gap of three years. The flooding of 2014 had completely devastated it," said Sher Ali Akhoon, a Nadru-grower in the interiors of Dal Lake, as he pushed down his long stick fitted with an iron hook to pull out nadru from deep inside the waters.

Nadru growers say that before the floods each of them would collect up to 15 bundles (each bundle comprises around 12 lotus stems). "But (though) we have managed to have the first crop after three years, it has not totally revived. We think we have only revived it up to 70 per cent. Next year, we hope we will have a 100 per cent crop," said Nazir Akhoon, a contractor who buys nadru fields in various areas of Dal Lake.

"Because of the floods, I had suffered a loss of half a million rupees as I had bought nadru fields which were later destroyed by floods. I had expected some people might return me entire or at least half of the amount I had paid to them in advance, but no one did that," Akhoon said.

"Now I am quite hopeful that I would be able to make up for that loss," he said, adding that the nadru business is quite profitable. "Nadru is like gold, it has takers all the time even if it is very expensive," Akhoon said.

A bundle of nadru sells at between Rs 180 and Rs 250 in markets across The price often rises to Rs 300 during festivals.

Ghulam Nabi Sheikh, one of the skilled labourers working with Akhoon, said that he earns Rs 1,000 every day when he goes for nadru harvest with the contractor. "Dal chu sani amdani khater akh khazana (The Dal Lake is a repository of income for us). I am so thankful to this lake and I pray for its survival," Sheikh said.

He, however, regretted that the lake is being subjected to a lot of pollution and encroachment, which is slowly killing it. "Earlier, we used to drink from it. But now, we wash our hands with soap using piped water if Dal Lake's water touches our hands," he said, adding that no one seems to care about the lake's deterioration.

When the lotus flowers dot Dal Lake, they enhance its beauty and add to its tranquility. According to boatmen who ferry tourists in the lake, many tourists inquired in the past three years why lotus flowers are not visible any more.

Nadru also provides a livelihood to thousands of people, which include nadru growers, middlemen, vegetable sellers and fast-food vendors. Vendors in all the busy markets across sell Nadir Monji (lotus stems cut into slender pieces and fried after dipping into batter) and Nadir Aanchar (pickle). Outside every shrine in Kashmir, vendors selling Nadir Monji are a common sight.

When it comes to Kashmiri cuisine, the most famous preparation using lotus stem is Nadru Yakhni (nadru cooked with yoghurt with aromatic spices such as cardamom, cinnamon and fennel powder). Recipes such as nadru with spinach and meat are also popular in

Nadru dishes are particularly common during festivals such as Eid, Mahharum and Navroz. "I sell up to 200 bundles of nadru in a day during festivals," said Haji Ali Mohammad Ranoo, who mostly sells nadru and other vegetables from Dal Lake.

(In arrangement with indiaclimatedialogue.net. Views expressed are those of the website. Feedback at information@indiaclimatedialogue.net)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The roller-coaster week of former Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva continues, as he accepted on Thursday to become the presidential candidate for the Workers' Party (PT).

On Wednesday a court dismissed his appeal against a 12-year-jail sentence for corruption.

While Lula vowed to keep fighting to clear his name, this sentence also makes him unable to run for public office.

In a meeting at the PT offices in Sao Paulo, Lula accepted to represent the PT, despite these legal woes, reports Xinhua.

He vowed that "today is a very proud day for me. The press today cannot speak of corruption, because they know yesterday they condemned an innocent."

According to the former president, the fact that judges unanimously upheld his sentence (12 years and one month in prison plus a heavy fine) was done to prevent his defense from pointing out problems in the case against Lula.

"Every time the judiciary judges ... with respect for the Constitution, I will respect the decisions. But yesterday, I only understood they were part of a gang. (The judges) built a gang to agree about the sentence ... to avoid the PT having Lula as a candidate," he continued.

Lula also called on the Brazilian public not to respect the decision, warning that the PT would next "be treated as a criminal organization."

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)United States Permanent Representative Nikki Haley has condemned as "highly offensive" and "disgusting" rumours spread about her personal life by opponents of President Donald Trump that highlight the ugly underside of American

The Indian-American member of Trump's cabinet told Politico that rumours of her having an affair with the President were "absolutely not true."

The rumours illustrate a persistent problem of US where character assassination is used especially against women and minorities by the entire political spectrum -- and not just the Republicans.

The former South Carolina Governor is an inviting target for attacks by Trump's opponents as she is both a woman and an Indian-American and has been the victim of such campaigns in the past.

"Every time this has happened, it only makes me fight harder," she declared in the interview with Politico that was published on Friday.

"And I do it for the sake of other women that are behind me because they should never think that they have to put their head down and cower out of fear that somebody's gonna do something to you."

Politico, an influential media covering politics, reported that she said author Michael Wolf's "insinuation is similar to other attacks that she and other successful women have faced when they've been forced to swat down suggestions they've slept their way to the top."

Politico attributed the online speculation about her and Trump to Wolf, who recently published "Fire and Fury", a book critical of Trump and claiming to give the inside story of the White House.

Wolf "dropped hints on HBO's 'Real Time with Bill Maher' last week when he said he was "absolutely sure" Trump is having an affair -- "just not sure enough to write about it in his book," Politico said.

"Wolff went on to say that discriminating readers would be able to determine the President's paramour by giving his book a close reading: 'Now that I've told you, when you hit that paragraph, you're gonna say, Bingo."

Politico said: "Readers quickly homed in on a single sentence" in the book where Wolff writes "The president had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future."

"I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there," she told Politico, referring to a flight from Washington to Long Island in late July.

"He (Wolf) says that I've been talking a lot with the President in the Oval (Office) about my political future. I've never talked once to the President about my future and I am never alone with him."

Haley told Politico: "It goes to a bigger issue that we need to always be conscious of: At every point in my life, I've noticed that if you speak your mind and you're strong about it and you say what you believe, there is a small percentage of people that resent that and the way they deal with it is to try and throw arrows, lies or not."

"I saw this as a legislator. I saw this when I was Governor. I see it now. I see them do it to other women," she added.

When she ran for the office of Governor of South Carolina in 2010, two men, one of them linked to her political opponent, claimed to have had affairs with her.

The voters in the conservative state roundly rejected the filthy campaign and elected her for two terms, making her the first woman and first non-white to become its Governor.

Haley, who initially opposed Trump's bid for Republican Party nomination, supported him in the election after he became the party's candidate.

She was reported to have been one of those considered by Trump for Secretary of State, but ultimately got the UN job, making her the first Indian-American to get a cabinet-level post.

While critics homed in on her lack of international experience, at the UN she has been pushing Trump's hawkish agenda. Although she lost the General Assembly vote criticising Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, she managed to get strict sanctions against North Korea for its nuclear programme and to trim the UN budget.

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday unfurled the Tricolour at a Republic Day function here and remarked that during his three years as head of the northeast state there had been "no problem" in working with the Manik Sarkar government, "except for some minor irritants".

Roy said the role of a Governor like a diesel generator. "During important events, diesel generator is kept ready and it is used during breakdown of normal power supply. During my three years tenure as Governor of Tripura, except for some minor irritants, there was no problem to work with the government, thus no such situation arose to start the generator as normal power supply was uninterrupted."

He said the Indian Constitution has "given unlimited rights to a Governor to know every aspect and information".

A section of the local media earlier this month had reported that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had asked Chief Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan and Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla not to heed Governor Roy's direction for a meeting with them.

The Governor and Chief Minister's secretariats have been silent on the issue, though the ruling and opposition parties have been attacking each other and the Governor.

Roy also said that Bangladesh is helping the northeast state in ferrying heavy machinery, food grain and transport fuel from other parts of India through its territory.

"Heavy terrain and uncertain road conditions occasionally put Tripura in a serious awkward position. During these situations Bangladesh helped the state a lot in ferrying heavy machineries for power projects, food grains, transport fuels and cooking gas from other parts of India through its territory," he said, after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Ground here.

"India and Bangladesh governments are trying to restore the pre-partition rail and road connectivity between the two countries. This would be beneficial for the people of both countries."

He said: "Due to the model code of conduct for the February 18 assembly polls I will not talk on developmental aspects of the state. However, Tripura has abundant natural resources - natural gas, rubber and fruits. The state has rich archaeological sites and huge prospects for further development of the tourism sector."

The Governor said that except for some problem, tribals and non-tribals in Tripura are living in harmony for many decades.

Republic Day was celebrated across the state with several functions held.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)One person was killed and another critically injured as two communities clashed on Republic Day in Kasganj district of Uttar Pradesh on Friday, police said.

The incident took place when a "Tiranga Yatra" in the form of a bike rally was taken out by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and some other Hindu organisations in the town. As they were passing through the Hulka locality -- a Muslim majority area -- some youths pelted stones on the bikers.

After that, it became a free for all and the bikers also retaliated with stones. Soon there was firing from the locality in which two persons received gun shot wounds and one succumbed in the hospital later.

An irate mob attacked vehicles on the highway, targeted public property and torched some other vehicles. Over half-a-dozen persons, including some policemen, have also been injured in the clashes.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in the violence-hit areas and police patrolling has been increased.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar informed that the situation was under control but tense. The district authorities were keeping a close watch on the situation, he added.

Some reports suggest that the situation took a turn for the worse when in response to the sloganeering of "Vande Mataram" and "Bharat Mata ki Jai", somebody from the locality shouted "Pakistan Zindabad". This apparently incensed the ABVP workers and they also attacked the youth of that community.

The injured person who later succumbed to bullet injuries has been identified as Sushil Gupta, a resident of Shivalaya, Railway Road in the town.

Two others who sustained serious injuries -- Naushad and Prince -- have been referred to Aligarh where the condition of the latter is stated to be very critical.

Although no curfew has been declared in the town, Home Department officials said prohibitory orders were in force, and keeping in view the "fluid and tense situation", people have been advised to stay indoors.

Local BJP leaders, MP Rajveer Singh and other politicians are also counselling the people to calm down and are trying to normalise the situation, an official said.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pakistan, whose democratic facade conceals a strong military impulse, is still a paradox but its next elections will show what course it takes, says French South Asian expert Christophe Jaffrelot.

"Pakistan is still the same paradox... But it is reaching its limit. There are civilians in the government, there is a facade of democracy, but military is still in the driving seat," Jaffrelot, author of 'The Pakistan Paradox: Instability and Resilience' (2015), told IANS at the Jaipur Literature Festival 2018 on Friday.

This state of affairs was made evident now when we know it was the army that was responsible for ousting Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister, he added.

On the way ahead for Pakistan, Jaffrelot, a professor at the Centre for Studies in International Relations at the Paris Institute of Political Studies and author of several books on India and Pakistan, says the next general elections, due in July this year, will be telling.

"How far as Pakistan's paradox.. its democratic facade will be plausible or convincing will depend on the next elections....How fair they are," he said.

In 'The Pakistan Paradox', he contends the basic trend, or "paradox" of Pakistani - as military rule interspersed with civilian, till the time the latter sought to break the army's sway - changed in the 21st century. This, he says, evolved into another unstable dynamic where the politicians acquiesced in not being fully in control and the military continued to undermine them but left them in place.

Jaffrelot was participating at a session on the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar at the Jaipur Litfest on Friday.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Know about partition's unspeakable brutality through the story of a family that's uprooted from its home during that period; go through a woman's life story -- as a witness to the Islamic State's brutality, a survivor of rape, a refugee, and a Yazidi; go back to a magical time when people could teleport, and animals could fly; and read a new translation of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's magnum opus -- Parineeta.

The IANS bookshelf has an interesting blend of fiction and non-fiction this weekend.

1. Book: A Time of Madness; Author: Salman Rashid; Publisher: Aleph; Price: Rs 299; Pages: 127

During the chaos of partition in 1947, something dreadful happened in the city of Jullundur (now Jalandhar) in Punjab. As a result of this, Salman Rashid's family fled the city for Pakistan, the newly created country across the border.

They were among the nearly two million people uprooted from their homes in the greatest transmigration in history. Besides those who fled, other members of the family became part of a grimmer statistic: They featured among the more than one million unfortunate souls who paid with their lives for the division of India and creation of Pakistan.

After living in the shadow of his family's tragedy for decades, in 2008, Rashid made the journey back to his ancestral village to uncover the truth. A time of madness tells the story of what he discovered with great poignancy and grace.

It is a tale of unspeakable brutality but it is also a testament to the uniquely human traits of forgiveness, redemption and the resilience of the human spirit.

2. Book: The Last Girl; Author: Nadia Murad; Publisher: Hachette; Price: Rs 399; Pages: 306

Nadia Murad was born and raised in Kocho, a small village of farmers and shepherds in northern Iraq. A member of the Yazidi community, she and her brothers and sisters lived a quiet life. Nadia had dreams of becoming a history teacher or opening her own beauty salon.

On August 15, 2014, when Nadia was just 21 years old, this life ended. Islamic State militants massacred the people of her village, executing men who refused to convert to Islam and women too old to become sex slaves. Six of Nadia's brothers were killed, and her mother soon after, their bodies swept into mass graves. Nadia was taken to Mosul and forced, along with thousands of other Yazidi girls, into the ISIS slave trade.

Nadia was repeatedly raped and beaten. Finally, she managed a narrow escape through the streets of Mosul, finding shelter in the home of a Sunni Muslim family whose eldest son risked his life to smuggle her to safety.

Today, Nadia's story -- as a witness to the Islamic State's brutality, a survivor of rape, a refugee, a Yazidi -- has forced the world to pay attention to the ongoing genocide in Iraq. It is a call to action, a testament to the human will to survive, and a love letter to a lost country, a fragile community, and a family torn apart by war.

3. Book: The Man From the Egg; Author: Sudha Murty; Publisher: Penguin; Price: Rs 250; Pages: 169

The Trinity, consisting of Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, is the omnipresent trio responsible for the survival of the human race and the world as we know it. They are popular deities of worship all over India, but what remain s largely unknown are some of their extraordinary stories.

Murty walks by your side, weaving enchanting tales of the three most powerful gods from the ancient world. Each story will take you back to a magical time when people could teleport, animals could fly and reincarnation was simply a fact of life.

4. Book: Parineeta; Author: Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, translated by Subhransu Maitra; Publisher: Niyogi Books; Price: Rs 195; Pages: 95

Set in early 20th century Calcutta (now Kolkata), Parineeta (Espoused) is the unforgettable story of a child-woman, an intense and bittersweet romance. Lalita, an orphaned girl, lives with her uncle and considers herself betrothed to Shekhar, her benefactor and guardian. After several failed attempts, Lalita finally gets the egotistical Shekhar to admit that he reciprocates her feelings. However, tensions erupt between Shekhar's prosperous father and Lalita's poor but principled uncle, and the situation is further complicated by the arrival on the scene of Girin, a mild-mannered and eligible bachelor, who is attracted to Lalita. The lover's world is turned upside down, and Shekhar and Lalita find themselves estranged. Years later, they meet again, and the story takes another unexpected turn

Parineeta is a classic that has captured the imagination of generations of readers. This new translation will delight Sarat Chandra's fans, as well as those who are not familiar with the writer's works.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Protests continued in Assam's Dima Hasao district as two of the nine persons injured in Thursday's police firing died on Friday. A mob also stopped a train, leaving thousands of people stranded.

The Silchar-Guwahati passenger train was stopped at the New Haflong railway station.

The agitating organisations called for a 48-hour bandh in Dima Hasao starting Friday after nine persons were injured on Thursday as a mob clashed with the police over an alleged Central government move to set up a satellite council for the Nagas in the district.

Hundreds of people also blocked the tracks at Manderdisa railway station and New Haflong railway station, affecting the movement of trains in the hill stretch which is the lifeline of the people of Barak Valley.

Assam Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay said the situation was under control.

"However, the curfew that had been imposed yesterday (Thursday) continues in Maibong and other adjoining areas. Two of the persons, who were injured in police firing, lost their lives today," the DGP said.

Chief Public Relations Officer of Northeast Frontier Railway Pranav Jyoti Sharma said the Railways was waiting for security clearance from the state government to bring back the stranded passengers from New Haflong.

"On Thursday, close to 3,000 passengers were stranded in Maibong after the locals blocked the tracks. They were sent to their destinations late on Thursday," said Sharma.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has ordered a probe into the Thursday incident by Additional Chief Secretary V.B. Pyarelal.

He has also asked Excise Minister Parimal Suklabaidya and Water Resources Minister Keshab Mahanta to visit the district on Saturday.

Dima Hasao has been witnessing protests since the last few days after rumours spread that part of the hill district will have a satellite council for the Nagas under the peace talks between the Central government and the NSCN-IM.

The NSCN-IM has been demanding the unification of the "land of the Nagas" -- by slicing off Naga-inhabited areas of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur to form a Greater Nagaland.

Several social organisations have in the recent past demonstrated, saying that while they were not against Greater Nagaland they are against inclusion of Dima Hasao in it and also the establishment of a satellite council in the district.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A spectacular flypast by helicopters and fighters of the Indian Air Force marked the grand finale to the 69th Republic Day parade at the Rajpath on Friday.

As IAF aircraft took to the skies at the end of the 90-minute parade, leaders on the saluting dais looked skywards to follow the manoeuvres.

The flypast started with formation by three Rudra helicopters - armed version of Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv. The indigenously-developed Rudra made its maiden appearance in the Republic Day parade.

This was followed by 'Hercules' formation by three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and Netra - an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft. Then came the 'globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Sukhoi-30 MKIs.

Three Light Combat Aircraft took to the skies in a 'vic' formation followed by five Jaguars making another formation. Five MiG-29 air superiority fighters flew in fulcrum style.

Three Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft split upwards, making a 'Trishul' in the sky and another Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter plane performed 'vertical Charlie' manoeuvre over the saluting dais.

The BSF women motorcycle team drew loud applause with its daring stunts and formations including 'Salute to President', 'side riding', 'Peacock, 'Wind mill' and 'Flag march pyramid'.

Balloons were released at the end of the parade that saw leaders from ten Asean countries watch the function as chief guests.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Even as a project on the development of a Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) between India and Russia remains stuck, a top Russian official said the talks are in the "second stage" and a contract document may be signed soon.

In an interview to IANS, Sergey Chemezov, CEO of Rostec Corporation, said that while Russia has traditionally not made single-engine fighter jets, it can join hands with India in making these jets, which India has announced under its new Strategic Partnership model, if it is "invited".

India and Russia have been working on a joint project to develop the fifth generation fighter aircraft, but despite it being in the pipeline for around a decade, a final contract has not yet been signed.

Chemezov said a contract document is likely to be signed in the near future, but did not give any timeline.

"The first stage of the project is completed, now the second stage is under discussion. I think that the contract documents will be signed in the very near future," Chemezov told IANS.

"The project is very complex, but the work continues, although not so quickly," he said.

India and Russia had inked an inter-governmental pact for the FGFA project in 2007. It was to be based on the Russian Sukhoi-57 or the Sukhoi PAK FA T-50 fighter jet.

In December 2010, India had agreed to pay $295 million towards the preliminary design of the fighter, also referred to as Perspective Multi-role Fighter (PMF).

However, negotiations faced various hurdles in the subsequent years.

After evaluating the first PAK FA T-50 prototype, the Indian Air Force (IAF) wanted more than 40 changes to address, among other things, perceived weaknesses in the plane's engine, stealth, and weapon-carrying capability.

There were several disagreements between New Delhi and Moscow, including on work and cost share, aircraft technology, as well as the number of aircraft to be ordered.

There was also Indian concerns over the extent of transfer of technology, since the aircraft will be developed based on the Russian PAK FA T-50 jet.

A committee was later constituted under Air Marshal Simhakutty Varthaman, which has submitted its report to the Defence Ministry, but the content of the report has not been made public.

Informed sources said the IAF felt the deal was very expensive as the cost of developing four prototype fighter jets would be around $6 billion.

However, in October 2017, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman T. Suvarna Raju backed the India-Russia FGFA programme, saying it will bring home niche technology.

Asked if Russia was interested in participating in making single-engine fighter jets in India under the Strategic Partnership model, Chemezov said Russia would participate if it is "invited".

Chemezov said that traditionally Russia has developed only twin-engine fighter jets, but India and Russia can develop a single-engine fighter together if India invited Russia.

"Russia is very strong in the production of various types of twin-engine aircraft, but at present we do not produce single-engine fighters. And our main twin-engine aircraft, both MiG and Sukhoi, are used by the IAF," he said.

"But if India wants to develop its own one-engine aircraft, and if India is interested in international cooperation to develop this aircraft, Russia and Rostec will be open to cooperation," the Rostec Corporation CEO said.

"Thus, if we are invited to participate in the joint development of a single-engine aircraft, we are ready to do this, as it was done in the past with other Russian-Indian projects. The BrahMos supersonic missile is a good example of such cooperation between the two countries," Chemezov added.

India is looking forward to replacing its fleet of Russian MiG-21 and MiG-27 aircraft and a process for making single-engine aircraft in the country is expected to be initiated soon under the new Strategic Partnership model.

So far, Tata Advanced Systems Ltd and US plane-maker Lockheed Martin have signed an agreement to produce F-16 fighters in India, and Swedish aerospace major Saab and Indian infrastructure conglomerate Adani group have also announced a tie-up. The two are so far the main competitors in the project, for which a Request For Information (RFI) is likely to be issued soon.US President Donald Trump on Friday launched a fierce attack on "predatory" trade practices, warning trading partners at the World Economic Forum here that Washington will not tolerate unfair practices.

Speaking to the political and economic elite of the world, Trump said he would always put the US first when it came to trade, but "that does not mean America alone".

Repeating his famous America-first message, the US President said: "The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.

"I believe in America. As President of the US, I will always put America First. Just like the leaders of other countries should put their countries first," he said, adding, that America first doesn't necessarily mean "America alone".

Trump said that the US "will no longer turn a blind eye" to some economic practices he called "predatory behaviour".

"We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal. In the end, unfair trade undermines us all."

The US leader said in his address that "America is open for business and is competitive again".

"The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States. America is open for business," he said.

He added: "Come to America, where you can innovate, create and build."Rome, Jan 26 (IANS/AKI) The UN International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Indian government signed a $168 million pact to sustainably raise incomes and food security for tribal farming households in northeast India, IFAD reported.

The six-year project will help 201,500 rural highland farming households in tribal villages in 12 districts located in the uplands of Mizoram and Nagaland States, IFAD said.

The target population is smallholder farmers who depend on rain-fed agriculture and a shifting cultivation system known as 'jhum' for their livelihoods, IFAD stated.

"Once sustainable, the jhum-based upland farming system is breaking down due to low productivity, shortening and shifting cultivation cycles with less time to restore soil fertility and biodiversity, and an increasing demand for food by a growing population," said Meera Mishra, the IFAD country coordinator for India.

"Changing climate patterns are also having a negative effect," Mishra added.

The project will systematically align traditional jhum practices to the natural regeneration cycle of forests while encourage jhum farming households to adopt alternative farming systems, such as sedentary farming, wet-terrace rice fields and improved livestock systems, said IFAD.

The aim is to promote climate-resilient, remunerative and environmentally sustainable agricultural practices that reduce pressure on natural resources, according to IFAD.

The project includes a $75.5 million loan and a $1 million grant from IFAD and will be co-financed by the governments of Mizoram and Nagaland.

The agreement was inked by Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD, and Anurag Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Indian Department of Economic Affairs, IFAD stated.

IFAD said it had financed 29 rural development programmes and projects in India since 1979, investing $1.12 billion to benefit almost 4.8 million rural households.

--IANS/AKI

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The US Treasury announced that it has imposed sanctions on six individuals whom it alleged were linked to the Taliban and the Afghan guerilla insurgent group Haqqani network.

The designation stopped the six men, who are either Pakistanis or Afghans living in Pakistan, from accessing the US financial system, Xinhua News Agency reported.

"Today's action supported President Donald Trump's South Asia Strategy," Sigal Mandelker, under secretary of the US Treasury, said on Thursday.

"The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani Network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist fundraising," Mandelker added.

The sanctions came three weeks after the US government announced a significant suspension of its aid to Pakistan for its "failure" to take decisive action against these groups.

Washington has accused these groups of "destabilising the region and also targeting US personnel" inside Pakistan.

In response, Pakistan summoned the US ambassador to Pakistan to lodge a protest earlier this month, saying Pakistan has taken action against all militant groups without any discrimination and its sacrifices are being ignored.

As a result of the Treasury's action, any property or interests of the designated persons in the US will be blocked and transactions by Americans involving these persons are generally prohibited.

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Veteran Bengali film actress Supriya Devi, who reached legendary heights for her portrayal of the protagonist Neeta in Ritwik Ghatak's cult movie "Meghe Dhaka Tara", died at her residence here on Friday following a massive cardio-respiratory failure, her physician said.

She was cremated in the evening with full state honours given by the West Bengal government.

Supriya Devi, 85, is survived by her daughter and three grandchildren.

"She felt unwell in the washroom around 6.20 a.m. When doctors were called, they declared her dead at 6.30 a.m.," the family physician said.

Supriya Devi's body was taken from her home to the Rabindra Sadan compound, where hundreds, among them leading cultural and political personalities, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, paid their last respects.

The last journey began around 6.15 p.m., with a barefoot Banerjee walking 3.5 km alongside a large number of mourners to the Keoratala crematorium, where the coffin was taken out of the cortege and placed on a high platform by police personnel in a slow march.

The bugle played the last post before she was accorded a guard of honour and a gun salute, as soulful Rabindra Sangeet played in the background.

Born on January 8, 1933 at Myitkyina in erstwhile Burma (now Myanmar), Supriya Chowdhury (nee Banerjee) took the screen name Supriya Devi to emerge as one of the leading figures of the golden era of Bengali cinema that saw her straddle the celluloid space with great aplomb alongside the late Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen.

Soumitra Chatterjee, Sabitri Chatterjee and Madhabi Mukherjee now remain among the few surviving representatives of that generation.

Supriya Devi was one of the leading heroines of Uttam Kumar, her live-in partner, and essayed memorable romantic roles opposite him through two and a half decades.

The duo's mega hit movies included "Sanyasi Raja", "Baghbandi Khela", "Chirodiner", "Sabarmati", "Suno Baranari", "Bon Palashir Padavali", "Kalankini Kankabati" and "Sudhu Ekti Bachar".

Apart from the Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen combine, it was the Uttam-Supriya pairing that kept generations of Bengali film buffs mesmerised with their romance, hit songs on their lips and well-scripted story lines.

She also acted in a few Hindi films like "Begaana", "Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein" and "Aap ke Parchhaiyan".

Known for her beauty and sharp features, she made her acting debut as a seven-year-old in two plays directed by her father Gopal Chandra Banerjee, and forayed into films in 1952 playing a side part in the Uttam Kumar starrer "Basu Paribar".

It was in 1959 that she rose to prominence after her appearance in the runaway hit movie "Sonar Harin", which also featured Uttam Kumar.

The year 1960 gave Supriya Devi a cult status following her sensitive and touching depiction of the sole bread earner of a refugee family against the backdrop of the 1947 partition of India in "Meghe Dhaka Tara" (Cloud Capped Star).

Her heart-rending cries "Dada ami kintu banchte cheyechilam... dada ami banchbo... dada ami banchbo (Brother, I just wanted to live... brother, I want to live... brother, I want to live)", that broke the serenity of a tuberculosis sanitarium, echoing through its natural surroundings, is regarded as a classic celluloid scene. She came up with another spectacular performance in Ghatak's "Komal Gandhar" in 1961.

Among her other popular films are "Debdas" (1979) - where she was cast as Chandramukhi opposite Soumitra Chatterjee in the title role, "Jadi Jantem", "Amarapali", "Chowringhee", "Sabyasachi", "Dui Pur ush", "Mon Niye" and "Atmiyo Swajan".

In 2006, she made her last appearance on the big screen in Mira Nair's "The Namesake".

In 1954, Supriya Devi married Biswanath Chodwhury. The couple's only daughter is Soma. However, later in life, Supriya Devi fell in love with Uttam kumar.

Supriya Devi was conferred the Padma Shri in 2014, and received the Bengal Film Journalists' Award twice -- "Tin Adhyay" (Best Actress in 1969) and "Chinnapatra" (Best Supporting Actress in 1973).

The state government bestowed its highest award Banga Vibhushan in 2011 on her.

President Ram Nath Kovind led the nation in condoling Supriya Devi's demise.

Calling her an icon of Indian cinema and of Bengal's cultural life, Kovind said she would be "remembered for memorable films such as 'Meghe Dhaka Tara'".

Mamata Banerjee said: "She was a legendary actress. She was like a family member to us... We will fondly remember her through her films. Condolences to her family and fans."

Soumitra Chatterjee, two years junior to Supriya Devi, was heartbroken.

"I have nothing to say. I am also 83 now. For 60 years she was my friend, colleague. We worked together in so many films. I feel very sad and heartbroken."

Film maker Sujoy Ghosh tweeted: "RIP Supriya Devi... I was, am and, always will be your fan"

(Sirshendu Panth can be contacted at s.panth@ians.in)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Terming the Western propagandist, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Friday that India, for whom he had a special message on its 69th Republic Day, should develop its own sources in his country, even as he termed US President Donald Trump's aid cut to Pakistan "a bit too late but welcome".

"You see the western media, from the very beginning, was all about bringing out the negatives of Afghanistan. It's a country with a great civilization and a lot there is positive and good. We are a nation, we are people with history and a way of life, with deep cultural associations and all things that we should cherish," Karzai told IANS in a freewheeling interview on the sidelines of the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, depreciating the Western media's penchant for ignoring his country's positive aspects.

"The conflict (with the Taliban) is of course there and we have seen the result of the conflict but the stories of disunity and divide are largely made up and kind of promoted for all reasons. One of the reasons is the impact (negative reporting) can have on India and therefore it is very very important that India should develop its own sources of information in Afghanistan. It should focus on indigenous reporting from Afghanistan rather than carrying news from AP, The New York Times and other Western sources," Karzai maintained.

He further asserted that the majority of misreporting from Afghanistan was done to spread propaganda and referred in this context to the narcotics trade that is constantly being reported on.

"We are not to blame (for narcotics). We suffered its consequences. I will give you an example. They say the Afghan narcotic trade producess anywhere between 60 to 150 billion dollars. Now if this is the Afghan trade how come we are so poor? Imagine a hundred and fifty billion dollars in Afghanistan, it would be a hell of a rich country like the US. So where is the money going? The UN says that out of the 150 billion dollar narcotic trade, only four billion dollars goes to Afghanistan. So where is the rest? Where has the (remaining) 146 billion dollars gone? Where? Of course, to the international market and western banks" Karzai contended.

There have also been allegations against some of Karzai's close associates, including his brother Ahmed Wali Karzai, for allegedly making profits from the narcotics trade and promoting it in the country.

Responding to a question on such allegations, he said: "It was a tool to pressurise me by the American government. To silence me against civilian casualties and when they were trying to force to stop and end the use of private security firms that they had deployed in Afghanistan. Then they began to tackle me and this seemed the best tool for them."

His message for India?

"India is a great country, India is known around the world as a place where even the biggest of cultures and ways of life come and assimilate over centuries. This is then seen in the world as an Indian commodity. This should be kept in mind and India as a rising power must be a beacon of hope and peace to the world and away from conflict or policies that create conflicts."

Karzai used a Farsi phrase, "Der aayen, durust aayen" to describe Trump's recent announcement of cutting down aid to Pakistan, saying: "It's a bit too late but welcome." He also maintained that "if the action is taken correctly, they (the Pakistan government) will have to pay heed".

He also maintained that the United Nations and other international agencies can play a major role in Afghanistan but they must not undermine Afghan enterprise itself.

"The United Nations can play a great role in Afghanistan. We welcome the presence of international organisations but the international organisations and their role in Afghanistan must not undermine Afghan enterprise itself. It should not undermine our own initiation on vitalities and our own seeking of things. It must not work to promote dependence on the West among people in Afghanistan. The NGOs right now, by the way, are doing just that -- creating dependence. These are the things that will enable us to further our own abilities and aspirations," Karzai said.

The former Afghan President, who earlier addressed a packed house at the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, further contended that the past 40 years of conflict in Afghanistan (that began with the Soviet invasion in 1979) has, no doubt, pushed the country down but even so, "we are still a very thriving and hardworking society for literature and poetry and productions of books and translations".

(Saket Suman and Vikas Datta can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in and vikas.d@ians.in respectively.)

--IANS

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indian farms produced record harvests in 2017, and the government's agricultural budget rose 111 per cent over four years to 2017-18. Yet, prices crashed, 8,007 farmers committed suicide in 2015, unpaid agricultural loans rose 20 per cent between 2016 and 2017, and the 600 million who depend on agriculture are struggling to get by.

This is the situation that faces the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government as it heads into its last full budget before general elections in 2019, at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has promised a doubling of farm incomes by 2022.

Agriculture is the government's "top priority", Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on January 15, admitting that "farmers were not getting the right price for their produce". That is an acknowledgment that record harvests and government spending are not significantly resolving the agricultural crisis.

India harvested a record 276 million tonnes -- all-time highs were reported for rice, wheat, pulses, tur (pigeon pea), urad (black gram) and coarse cereals -- 4.01 per cent higher than the previous record in 2013-14, according to the fourth advance estimates for the rabi (winter) and kharif (monsoon) crops for 2016-17.

Similarly, horticulture output was nearly 300 million tonnes, or 4.8 per cent more than 2015-16, with potatoes -- now experiencing a glut, leading to unrest among potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh -- recording a 11 per cent increase over the previous year.

Over a decade ending 2014-15, India's agriculture sector grew at four per cent per annum compared to 2.6 per cent per annum the previous decade, according to the 2017 Dalwai Committee report that explored how farm incomes could be doubled.

An indicator of growing problems in India's agricultural economy is a drop in the growth of gross value added (GVA) -- a measure of income to farmers before their produce is sold -- to 2.1 per cent in 2017-18 from 4.9 per cent the previous year, according to the first advance estimates of national income 2017-18.

The slowdown could be witnessed in agricultural exports, which dipped to Rs 2.1 lakh crore, after growing more than five times over a decade ending 2014, while agricultural imports grew five times over the decade to 2015-16.

An agricultural slowdown has evident political implications: 49 per cent of landowning farmers voted for the BJP in 2014. A reminder came in December from Gujarat, where the BJP won by the narrowest margin in 22 years, winning fewer rural seats (43) than the Congress (62).

Further evidence of farm distress is evident in rising agricultural loan defaults, loan waivers by state governments and farm suicides. Alongside record foodgrain and horticultural output in 2016-17, many states were swept by farm agitations demanding higher prices for their produce and farm-loan waivers.

One example is tur dal. After the monsoon of 2017, imports and a record harvest caused a glut that led to a fall in minimum support price (MSP), leading to unrest and stress in rural Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Gujarat. A similar glut in potatoes crashed prices in Uttar Pradesh, prompting farmers to dump produce on roads statewide.

Such situations spur agrarian unrest. There has been an almost eight-fold increase in agrarian riots between 2014 and 2016. In July 2017, five farmers were killed in police firing during a protest seeking farm-loan waivers and higher produce prices. And as distress grew, so did farmer suicides, which increased 42 per cent in 2015 over the previous year.

Nearly four in 10 of 8,007 Indian farmers who committed suicide in 2015 were in debt, compared to two in 10 in 2014; more rural households went into debt over 11 years; and the average rural household had borrowed Rs 1.03 lakh, according to an analysis of government data.

In 2017, with farmers in eight states demanding loan waivers, India's potential cumulative loan waiver was Rs 3.1 lakh crore ($49.1 billion), or 2.6 per cent of GDP in 2016-17, almost equal to the defence budget of Rs 3.6 lakh crore ($53.5 billion).

The loan write-offs caused non-performing assets (NPA) related to agriculture to increase three-fold over three years to 2012-13, according to a 2017 report commissioned by the government.

A major reason for persistent farm distress and the debt-and-death cycle is that 52 per cent of farms depend on increasingly erratic monsoon rains. Although 2017 was classified as a "normal" monsoon, eight states were declared drought-affected, revealing the vulnerability of farms to uncertain rainfall in an era of climate change.

Despite spending Rs 3.51 lakh crore -- equivalent to the farm-loan waivers demanded in 2017 -- over 67 years, no more than 48 per cent of nearly 201 million hectares of farmland is irrigated.

The government intended to invest about Rs 50,000 crore over five years to 2019-20 through the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana -- the Prime Minister's Irrigation Programme -- to reach its target of water for every farm. But the programme was modified to revive 99 moribund small and medium irrigation projects in 2016-17.

There is a need to ensure that farm production is linked to various markets for farmers to recover full value of the quantity produced. This will incentivise the farmer to adopt improved technology and management practices for higher productivity, according to the Dalwai Committee report. This requires better storage and warehousing facilities.

About 60,000 tonnes of foodgrain was wasted between 2011-16 in warehouses run by the state-owned Food Corporation of India. This means the grain either rots or is eaten by rodents and other animals.

India's cold-storage capacity for fruits and vegetables increased by eight per cent to 346 lakh metric tonnes over three years to 2017. This should allow farmers to reduce time to market and ensure better quality.

(In arrangement with IndiaSpend.org, a data-driven, non-profit, public interest journalism platform, with whom Shreehari Paliath is an analyst. The views expressed are those of IndiaSpend. Feedback at respond@indiaspend.org)

--IANS/IndiaSpend

paliath/sac/vm

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The six Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) corporators in Mumbai, who had defected to the three months back, are now officially part of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.

Konkan Divisional Commissioner has accepted the corporators' decision to join the Shiv Sena, declaring the defection legal.

The decision was announced by Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar in the general assembly of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) late last night.

On October 12 last year, Dilip Lande, Archana Bhalerao, Snehal More, Datta Narvankar, Parashuram Kadam and Ashwini Matekar, six out of the total seven corporators of the Raj Thackeray-led MNS, had defected to the They had joined the saffron party in the presence of the party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

The MNS had approached the Konkan divisional commissioner challenging the defection on technical grounds and seeking their disqualification.

Konkan divisional commissioner heard their case and finally informed about the decision to the BMC chief.

Speaking in the general body meeting yesterday, the mayor said, "Konkan commissioner did not find anything wrong in the six corporators joining the They are now Shiv Sena corporators."



With this, Shiv Sena's strength has gone up to 93 (including 3 independents) in the 227-member house. Sanjay Turde is the only corporator in the Mumbai civic body, who now represents the MNS.

The election to the cash-rich BMC was held in February 2017.On Republic Day today, two Saudi nationals and an Indian, carrying a satellite phone, were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, police said.

The two suspects from Saudi Arabia were identified as Al Talal Mohammad and Al Samri Mohammad, both in their 40s, they said.

The other suspect is Syed Mohsin (41), a resident of Telangana.

They were staying a hotel in Pokhran in Jaisalmer district and were detained after a tip-off this morning, Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said.

He said that a satellite phone was recovered from them and they will be interrogated by a joint interrogation team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police.

Possession of satellite phone without authorisation is not allowed in the country.

Pokhran police station SHO Manak Ram Bishnoi said that the trio were detained after a joint operation by military intelligence and Jaisalmer police.

They were hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Although suburban railway is considered the lifeline of Mumbai, it is increasingly becoming a 'death trap' for commuters as over 3,000 people lost their lives in train accidents in the city last year, an RTI query has revealed.

According to data provided by the Government Railway Police (GRP) in response to the query, as many as 3,014 commuters died on the tracks on the western, central and harbour suburban services in the metropolis.

A city-based activist, Samir Jhaveri, had filed the RTI query.

"Of the total number of deaths reported in 2017 across all the suburban stations (on all three lines), 1,651 persons (1,467 men and 184 women) lost their lives while crossing tracks. Besides, 654 passengers, including 58 women, died after falling from running trains," the reply said.

"There are three major reasons (for the deaths)-suicide, falling from trains and being hit by trains while crossing the tracks illegally. While suicides cannot be controlled, we can avoid the other two," ACP Central Railway GRP, Machhindra Chavan, told PTI.

"Commuters cross tracks to get from one gate to another. They then try to catch running trains like Marathi actor Praful Bhalerao (who was killed in a train accident recently). People should avoid these mistakes," he said.

The data showed that with 1,534 deaths, the central line, which has some of the busiest stations like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), Dadar and Byculla, claimed the maximum number of lives.

CSMT alone accounted for 62 deaths during the period (2017), it said.

The western line, comprising major stations like Churchgate, Andheri, Bandra and Borivali, witnessed 1,086 deaths last year. The maximum number of deaths (76) were reported from Borivali station.

The harbour line, operated by the Central Railway, witnessed as many as 394 deaths last year, the RTI reply revealed.

While 36 people, including six women, allegedly committed suicide, 556 commuters (481 males and 75 females) died a natural death while travelling, it said.

Besides these, 1,540 people were injured while travelling on the western line, 1,435 on the central line and 370 on the harbour line, the data revealed.

"There are about nine deaths every day and efforts are being made to avoid the fatalities. We are trying to educate people. We have put up stickers at several places and organise various awareness campaigns to sensitise commuters," the ACP said.Opposition AIADMK MLAs today boycotted the 'at home' reception hosted by Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi at the Raj Nivas on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day celebrations, protesting against her 'style of functioning'.

The boycott by the four AIADMK MLAs was announced earlier by party legislature leader A Anbalagan to protest against 'style of functioning of Kiran Bedi'.

Principal Opposition AINRC MLAs too were conspicuous by their absence, but the reason for it could not be ascertained immediately.

Their absence raised eyebrows as AINRC, along with BJP, has been defending Bedi over attacks by ruling Congress and AIADMK on her 'style of functioning.'



Incidentally, most MLAs, including those of Congress and AINRC,had boycotted the customary at home reception hosted by Bedi last year on the occasion of Independence day.

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy alone had made a brief appearance at the event, also attended by BJP functionaries.

The Congress government and Bedi have been at loggerheads over a host of issues, including medical admissions and induction of three nominated MLAs, ever since she assumed office in 2016.

Narayanasamy had said on January 24 that he would soon meet the President and Prime Minister to apprise them of the "undemocratic style of functioning" of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi and her 'interference' in routine administration.

Today, the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, the Speaker V Vaithilingam, DMK legislator R Siva,a BJP delegation headed by local unit president V Saminathan, French Consul General Catherine Suard,top officials and representatives of various organisations were among those who attended



Bedi presented appreciation certificates to those who did services in various developmental and literary activities.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Consumer durables and home appliances makers like Godrej Appliances, Panasonic, Philips Lighting and Intex want the government to lower taxes, give incentives to local manufacturing and increase customs duty on imports.

Besides, the ACE (Appliances & Consumer Electronics) industry also wants the government to encourage manufacturing of energy-efficient products.

"Consumer appliances as refrigerators, washing machines and ACs are no longer considered luxury items. Such consumer appliances need to be made more affordable to the consumers and be put in a lower tax bracket from 28 per cent to 18 per cent," said Godrej Appliances Business Head & EVP Kamal Nandi.

The makers are also expecting tax reduction on the energy efficient 5 star and 4 star products to increase adoption by the consumers.

"There should also be incentives for manufacturers to produce energy-efficient products which will be in line with the government's focus on sustainability as well as its Make in India initiative," Nandi added.

While, Panasonic is looking for a hike in the customs duty for ACE products category such as washing machines and refrigerators to encourage local manufacturing.

"With the BCD hiked on items such as smartphones, TV's microwaves and LED lamps, we expect the union government to take similar steps on other durable items as washing machines, and refrigerators to further encourage localised indigenous manufacturing," said Panasonic India and South Asia President and CEO Manish Sharma.

Expressing similar views, Philips Lighting India said custom duty on all finished lighting products and luminaries should be raised as the government had done on import of LED bulbs.

"We also welcome the recent increase in customs duty for finished LED bulbs from 10 to 20 per cent and hope that the government will extend it to all finished lighting products and Luminaires," said Philips Lighting India Vice Chairman and Managing Director Sumit Joshi.

While, Intex has asked for reduction of GST rates on parts and subparts as battery, shield used in manufacturing of mobile phones to 12 per cent from the present 28 per cent.

"All parts and subparts which are used in manufacturing of mobile phones should be taxed at 12 per cent as similar to GST rates of mobile phone as higher GST rates increases the cost of mobile phones hampering the manufacturing of phones in India," said Intex CFO Rajeev Jain.

He further said that the GST rates for power banks, television tuner cards and webcams should also be reduced to 18 per cent.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Army jawan Jadgish Purohit, who was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, was laid to rest at his native village in Chamoli district here with full military honours.

The jawan's body, which was brought here from J-K's Rajouri district by the Air Force helicopter, yesterday reached his native village Gadasu as large number of people including leaders from different political parties paid their last respect.

Jagdish's brother lit the funeral pyre.

Jagdish Purohit, a member of the from Mahar Regiment, was injured during a ceasefire violation by Pakistan in Rajouri on January 20. He succumbed to his injuries on January 24 while undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Purohit is survived by his two sons.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)All 10 ASEAN leaders conveyed to India their desire for it to play a more assertive role in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region while recognising the country's growing stature in ensuring regional peace and stability.

"Yes," said Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs Preeti Saran when asked during a media briefing whether the leaders of the powerful ASEAN grouping favoured a more assertive role for India in the Indo-Pacific region where China has been ramping up its military presence.

On whether ASEAN wants India to play a more pro-active role in the Indo-Pacific in the wake of China's growing expansionism in the area, Saran said India-ASEAN relationship stands on its own.

"All the leaders conveyed their desire for a greater participation of India (in the Indo-Pacific region)," she said.

The desire by the ASEAN countries for a greater role by India in the Indo-Pacific region assumes significance in the wake of rising tensions between China and a number of countries of the grouping over the South China Sea dispute.

Leaders of all 10 ASEAN member countries were here to participate at a summit meeting to mark 25 years of India- ASEAN ties and to attend India's Republic Day celebrations.

Indo-Pacific broadly refers to the Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean regions, which also include the disputed South China Sea where Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Brunei question China's claims over almost the entire waterway.

The US has also been pitching for greater Indo-US cooperation in the strategically key Indo-Pacific region.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

Saran said all the ASEAN leaders appreciated India's positive role in the Indo-Pacific region.

A number of pressing issues including the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and ways to tackle threat of terrorism figured during the summit meeting as well as in bilateral talks Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with the ASEAN leaders.

Referring to the challenge of terrorism, Saran said that ASEAN leaders emphasised on the need for concerted global efforts to contain the menace.

"Terrorism does not know any boundaries. You know what is cross border terrorism, you cannot be selective in tackling terrorism.... They (ASEAN leaders) recognised the need for the menace to be fought collectively," said Saran.

She said India will host a conference on ways to counter radicalisation.

Referring to the deliberations at the Plenary session at the summit, Saran said Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered India's digital expertise and expressed readiness to set up digital villages in some of the countries as part of a pilot project.

He also said that India will host an ASEAN-India start up festival this year.

She said next year will be celebrated as the year of India-ASEAN tourism by both the sides.

India also offered 1,000 scholarships in IIT for PhD students from ASEAN countries.

Saran and several other officials of the MEA also talked about the meticulous planning that went into hosting the ASEAN leaders including choosing fabric for pillow covers and arranging for various recepies considering the food habits of the leaders.

They also talked about how External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj was involved in minute details for successful hosting of leaders.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 69th Republic Day was today celebrated with pomp and show across the eastern region of the country peacefully, except in Assam where three low intensity blasts took place.

Governors of the all the states hoisted the national flag and extended greetings to the people.

Suspected ULFA (Independent) insurgents triggered the three blasts in Assam's Tinsukia district, the police said, adding that there was no report of any casualty.

Besides, an indefinite curfew was on at Maibang area in Dima Hasao district where two persons who were injured in yesterday's violence succumbed to injuries.

The Republic Day function in Dima Hasao district headquarters town Haflong was also cut short with hoisting of the tricolour only.

In the main programme at the state capital Guwahati, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

In neighbouring Meghalaya, Governor Ganga Prasad in Shillong said that the state has evolved as one of the most preferred tourists destinations in the North East.

Nagaland Governor P B Acharya expressed hope that the decades old Naga political issue would be resolved soon.

In Imphal, Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla awarded medals to police and fire brigade personnel for their services.

On this occasion, Sikkim Governor N. Sriniwas Patil paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for India's freedom.

The day was also celebrated in the other north eastern states of Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi presided over an hour-long march past of the armed forces, police forces and civilians.

The 'unity in brotherhood' tableau from the state, which was rejected by the Centre for this Republic Day procession, was also included in the parade.

In Patna, Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik said the state is working for the development of all sections of the society.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asserted that the state's growth rate has surpassed the national average, while in Ranchi, Jharkhand Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is at the second spot after Gujarat in the growth rate in the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Bengaluru FC pulled off a 2-1 win over NorthEast United which catapulted them to the top of the ISL points table at Sree Kanteerava Stadium here today.

Bengaluru, who also had beaten the visitors at Guwahati in earlier stage of the league, scored the goals in 14th and 51st minute. They took the lead first with the help of Juanan's header on curling Edu Garcia's free-kick from the left flank.

Captain Sunil Chhetri, once again gave the hosts the much needed lead, after they had conceded an equaliser just before the first half. Chettri, in the first-time kick, found the back of the net on Harmanjot Singh Khabra's curling cross inside the box from right flank.

In 81st minute, NE had a chance which was frittered away by Columbian John Jairo Mosquera with his misguided header after Nirmal Chettri curled a cross inside the box.

There was a three-minute halt after one of the floodlights dimmed out in the 26th minute.

With this win, Bengaluru now have 24 points from 12 matches, ahead of Chenniyin FC who have 23 from as many matches.

The hosts have won eight games so far, smashing 23 goals and conceding 14. FC Pune are placed third with 22 points in 12 matches.

Bengaluru will play their next match against ATK on February 3, but before they play return AFC match against Bhutan's Transport United on January 30.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The BJP today held a rally to counter a march by top opposition leaders and termed the Constitution as the "soul" of the country, fundamental to its democratic existence.

The BJP's Maharashtra unit organised a "Tiranga Yatra" here and dubbed it as "Samvidhan Samman rally" to counter the opposition's "Save the Constitution" (Samvidhan Bachao) march held earlier in the day.

The saffron party's rally started from Chaityabhoomi and concluded at the Kamgar Stadium in Central Mumbai, covering a distance of around 2.5 km.

At the venue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed a gathering and launched a scathing attack on non-BJP parties over their event that coincided with the Republic Day which marks the coming into force of the Constitution.

"Those who are holding 'Save the Constitution' rally are actually hypocrites. They see only holes in our Constitution which is the soul of the country and fundamental to our democratic existence," he said.

"While we are showing true respect to the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, the opposition parties are fighting for their own existence," Fadnavis claimed.

He mocked the opposition parties and questioned the legislative strength of some of them.

"People are wise and they know their (opposition's) hypocrisy. Eighteen parties, some of them not having a single MLA or MLC, could not manage to assemble even 1,800 people," he said.

"While you can see here (at the BJP rally) a huge number of people not only from Mumbai but also other parts of Maharashtra have come on roads to show their solidarity with the Constitution. This shows our patriotism and commitment towards serving the nation," the chief minister said.

Fadnavis alleged that the opposition parties were enacting a "drama" in the name of the Constitution and trying to hide behind the statute book to mask their "failures".

"Whenever these people come to power, they take oath in the name of the Constitution and then loot the country. What they want to say? Is this so weak that it can be tweaked or broken? No. Not at all. Babasaheb Ambedkar has given us the world's most powerful Constitution," he said.

Before starting the rally, BJP leaders and workers visited Chaityabhoomi, a memorial to Ambedkar, the chief architect of the Constitution, and sought his blessings.

Fadnavis also spoke about his government's proposal to build a memorial to the Dalit icon on the Indu Mill land in Dadar.

"When these people (Congress and NCP) were in power, they offered the mill land to builders and did not bother to give the same for the Babasaheb Ambedkar's memorial.

"However, when Modiji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) took charge, he handed over the Indu Mill land worth Rs 3,500 crore within three days to (the state government) for the memorial," he said.

Fadnavis also highlighted his government's mega farm waiver scheme announced in June last year and attacked the erstwhile Congress-NCP administration for ignoring farmers.

"You people waived farmer loans of Rs 6,000 crore in over a decade, while we waived farmer loans (till now) worth over Rs 23,000 crore (within two years of coming to power).

"Companies and investors across the globe have shown faith in Maharashtra. We have got investment of more than Rs 1 lakh crore in the last two-three years," he said.

Fadnavis, who attended the World Economic Forum at Davos, said, "Earlier, no head of a foreign country used to pay attention to Indian leaders or prime ministers.

"But ever since Modiji has started representing India at the global stage, there is a scramble among international leaders to have a photo session with him," Fadnavis said.

Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said the opposition parties have no moral right to hold "Save the Constitution" rally.

"They should have held such a rally when slogans like 'Bharat Tere Tukde Honge' were raised or when AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi opposed the singing of Vande Mataram," Shelar said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The BJP and opposition parties today held their rallies here, targeting each other over the Constitution and assessing the public mood before chalking out strategies for the big electoral battle in 2019.

A group of opposition leaders took out a "Save the Constitution" (Samvidhan Bachao) march in the afternoon, while the Mumbai BJP organised a "Tiranga Yatra" in the evening. The saffron outfit described its event as "Samvidhan Samman" rally (Honour the Constitution).

Both events were held on the Republic Day which marks the coming into force of the Constitution.

NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), Omar Abdullah (National Conference) and Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) among others attended the opposition's march.

It started from Oval Maidan near the state secretariat and concluded at the Gateway of India in South Mumbai, covering a distance of around two kilometres.

Addressing the media at the Gateway of India, Pawar said opposition parties will meet in New Delhi on January 29 to decide on the way ahead in the fight against the BJP.

The Maratha strongman said it was a joint decision of the "like-minded" parties to come together and rally to save the Constitution which was under "assault".

"It would be a great disservice to the nation and the Constitution if we do not raise our voice against this," he said.

Yechury claimed that the fundamental rights of people, guaranteed by the Constitution, were being "assaulted" by the ruling party.

"All the opposition parties have come together at the Gateway of India, which was once seen as a sign of slavery but is now a sign of freedom, to save our democratic institutions, for which we have taken an oath," he said.

The CPI(M) leader said all political parties, that want to save the nation from being "destroyed" by the BJP, will unite against the saffron outfit.

"Our Constitution ensures equality for all. However, the fundamental rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, are being assaulted," he said.

Former Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress alleged that the government has moved towards "dictatorship", and all secular people, who have a stake in democracy, should unite to fight against the BJP.

"They are attempting to change the Constitution and this poses a grave threat to the country," Chavan said.

The march is being seen in political circles as a move by non-BJP parties to cobble up a grand coalition of sorts against the Narendra Modi-led government ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

Ever since a Nitish Kumar-led alliance of the RJD, the JD(U) and the Congress handed down a stunning defeat to the BJP in 2015 Bihar Assembly polls, a grand alliance is being seen as the only way to stop the saffron party which has won elections in nearly a dozen states since 2014.

However, attempts to forge a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh fizzled out. The presidential election also saw fresh moves for opposition unity against the BJP but they too came a cropper. In July last, the JD(U) returned to the NDA fold.

The BJP "Tiranga Yatra" started from Chaityabhoomi and concluded at the Kamgar Stadium in Central Mumbai, covering a distance of around 2.5 km.

At the venue, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis addressed a gathering and launched a scathing attack on non-BJP parties.

"Those who are holding 'Save the Constitution' rally are actually hypocrites. They see only holes in our Constitution which is the soul of the country and fundamental to our democratic existence," he said.

"While we are showing true respect to the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar, the opposition parties are fighting for their own existence," Fadnavis said.

Fadnavis said the opposition parties were enacting a "drama" in the name of the Constitution and trying to hide behind the statute book to mask their "failures".

"Whenever these people come to power, they take oath in the name of the Constitution and then loot the country. What they want to say? Is this so weak that it can be tweaked or broken? No. Not at all. Babasaheb Ambedkar has given us the world's most powerful Constitution," Fadnavis said.

Meanwhile, reacting to reports that the police were mulling filing a case against the organisers of the opposition's march for not taking permission for the event, NCP leader Jitendra Awhad said they had sought a nod for it.

"We had sought permission from the police to hold the march. There was no written response but it was orally communicated to us that we can go ahead with the march," said Awhad, one of the organisers of the programme.

"We are not scared of any cases. Everything went off smoothly. Probably the authorities are shocked at the overwhelming response the march got," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Brazilian president Lula Inacio Lula da Silva, who was planning to travel to Ethiopia, was not allowed to leave the country, the justice ministry said today, one day after an appeals court upheld his conviction on corruption charges.

Lula, once seen as the favorite ahead of October's presidential election in Brazil, was headed to Addis Ababa for a meeting organized by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, but authorities rescinded his passport, the ministry said in a statement.

"There is no legal restriction that would prevent former president Lula from traveling abroad. We already told the authorities that he would be participating in this event (in Ethiopia)," one of his attorneys, Cristiano Zanin Martins, told AFP earlier in the day.

"Lula has the right to come and go."



But a complaint was filed asking that his passport be rescinded, arguing he posed a flight risk and that he could ask for political asylum abroad.

Yesterday, the appeals court in Porto Alegre upheld the 72-year-old Lula's conviction for corruption, dealing a body blow to his hopes of running for re-election this year.

The three-judge panel sitting in the southern city unanimously ruled that his original 9.5-year jail sentence be extended to more than 12 years.

Lula is however likely to remain out of prison for many months. He is expected to continue to challenge the conviction through higher courts, initially in the Superior Court of Justice and ultimately in Brazil's Supreme Court.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A British Sikh girl who converted to Islam as a teenager and tried to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State (ISIS) was today sentenced to three and a half years in prison for terrorism offences by a UK court.

Sandeep Samra, 18, who claimed she wanted to work as a nurse in war-torn Syria, had pleaded guilty to engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts by attempting to travel to the region between June 1 and July 31 last year.

However, she denied intending to carry out acts of violence, claiming that she had wanted to leave the UK after members of an anti-extremism team informed her family about her conversion to Islam.

Judge Melbourne Inman at Birmingham Crown Court found her guilty of the charge, saying she had been "deeply radicalised".

The teenager was arrested by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU) in June last year.

"Samra's phone was examined and officers found evidence of her support for ISIS and her intent on travelling to Syria or other areas controlled by ISIS. She dismissed warnings of the dangers for women in the conflict and even declared her intention to seek her own death," said Chief Superintendent Matt Ward, the head of WMCTU.

"The contents gave insight into Samra's mind-set and showed she was developing an active interest in ISIS and jihadi ideology," he added.

The police found several conversations on messaging apps which referred to the fact that her passport had been taken off her and sought help in getting a false one or even fake documentation that she could travel on. Samra also had conversations regarding ways in which she could be smuggled out of the country, how she could then make her way to Syria and the routes available to her.

WMCTU also uncovered conversations with a man, who appeared to live in Egypt, during which they declared their love for each other and a desire to get married and travel to Syria to take part in 'jihad'.

Samra applied for her first passport in September 2015 but it was handed to the police by her father a month later after teachers became concerned and reported her.The schoolgirl then applied again in June last year and tried to trick her schoolteacher into counter-signing it for her.

The prosecution had claimed that her social media messages showed that she was "going for death" and intended to die for ISIS.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In one of the many firsts this year, a women contingent of the Border Security Force on Friday performed motorcycle stunts during the parade, drawing one of the loudest cheers from the audience as well as dignitaries like President Ram Nath Kovind and Asean leaders.

As per tradition, the BSF and the Army's bike-borne 'daredevils' end the parade on alternate years. But this time, members of the BSF's women motorcycle team 'Seema Bhawani' replaced their male counterparts.

Led by sub-inspector Stanzin Noryang, the team showcased its driving skills with daredevil stunts like Salute to President, Fish Riding, Side Riding, Faulaad, Prachand Baalay Shaktiman, Mobile PT, Bull Fighting, etc.

Over a 100 women riding as many as 26 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles enthralled the spectators many of whom -- men, women and children -- were on their feet and clapped throughout the display.

President Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Asean leaders present on the dais and other dignitaries in the audience too applauded the women bikers.

In 2015, women contingents of the Army, Navy and Air Force had made debut in this parade.

The team was raised at Central School of Motor Transport (CSMT), BSF Academy Tekanpur on October 20, 2016.

The members of this special women bikers squad have been specially chosen by BSF trainers and are aged between 25-30 years. They are drawn from various combat ranks of the force.

The BSF 'daredevil' team had made news a few years back when the then US President Barack Obama, while officiating as the chief guest of the 2015 parade, signalled a thumbs up to the bikers from his dais on Rajpath and had later called their stunts "impressive".

The BSF also had its iconic camel contingent along with its marching and band teams.

Many among the guests and the audience were seen taking pictures of the decorated camels as they marched on the Rajpath in their colourful finery.Concerned over delays in land acquisition for highway projects in the North East, the Centre has sought the intervention of officials in the region for expediting the process, a top official has said.

In Mizoram alone, the official said, projects worth Rs 6,000 crore are facing land acquisition hurdles and the state government has been requested to expedite the acquisition.

These projects that are JICA funded are being undertaken in eight packages, a top NHIDCL official told PTI.

The government is planning to undertake highway projects worth about Rs 1.45 lakh crore, spread over 2-3 years, to upgrade the infrastructure in the region.

A total of 197 road development projects are being implemented under various programmes and schemes of the road transport and highways ministry in the north eastern states.

"There have been delays in land acquisition for highway projects in north eastern states including the Imphal-Moreh highway section in Manipur and a 350 km JICA funded project in Mizoram. We have sought state government's intervention expediting land acquisition," the official said.

The National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL), an arm of the road transport and highways ministry, is executing highway projects in the North East.

The Cabinet in July last year had cleared the Rs 1,630 crore project for widening and upgradation of 65 km Imphal- Moreh stretch in Manipur, which is part of the Asian Highway project, providing road connectivity to eastern nations like Thailand.

The government has taken up many road improvement projects under Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East for better connectivity in the region.

This is in addition to the NHIDCL so as to augment the capacity of the agencies involved in development and maintenance of highways in the region.

Last year, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had said, "The government is planning to invest about Rs 1.45 lakh crore in the North East for development of National Highways."



It plans to invest about Rs 48,000 crore in Assam, Rs 22,000 crore in Manipur and Rs 20,000 crore in Nagaland for building roads.

Projects worth Rs 17,000 crore are planned in Sikkim, Rs 12,000 crore in Mizoram, Rs 10,000 crore in Arunachal Pradesh and Rs 8,000 crore each in Meghalaya and Tripura, he had said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Pentagon today accused China and Russia of having taking actions which undermine the very international norms that both of them have prospered from.

It was responding to questions on the recently released National Defence Strategy (NDS) which identified Russia and China as major competitive adversary to the US.

"The NDS is about near-peer competitors, China and Russia. Both countries have taken actions which undermine the very international norms that, in fact, both of them have prospered from," chief Pentagon spokesperson Dana White told reporters.

She said the US is going to continue to ensure that it is "never in a fair fight, that we maintain a competitive advantage".

"But to do that, we also need to ensure that we have a budget, and we have a commitment for growth in that budget," White said.

"The US can't implement a strategy that doesn't have a budget. So it's important that we move at the speed of relevancy. And the NDS is about that," she said.

White said "it is not about a Cold War" but about looking towards the future.

"And as we look to the future, China and Russia we have to think about them because they are undercutting the very international norms that they've thrived upon," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)China today said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the opening of a museum in Tokyo devoted to disputed islands, as the Japanese foreign minister prepares to visit Beijing this weekend.

The museum, which opened Thursday and is run by the Japanese government, displays documents and photographs defending Japan's claims over two sets of islands that China and South Korea also see as their own.

Japan has a longstanding dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. They are administered by Japan, where they are known as "Senkaku", but also claimed by China, which calls them "Diaoyu".

Tokyo also claims islands in the Sea of Japan that are controlled by South Korea. They are known as "Dokdo" in Korean and "Takeshima" in Japanese.

South Korea immediately demanded the closure of the museum as it denounced Japan's "unjustifiable claims" to its "inherent territory".

China said today that the Diaoyu islands have been its "inherent territory since ancient times".

"We are strongly dissatisfied with what the Japan has done, and I want to emphasise that nothing can change the fact that Diaoyu belongs to China," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

"We remain resolute in safeguarding our sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands."



The criticism comes as Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is set to visit Beijing this weekend for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday.

"We have seen some positive momentum but bilateral relations still face challenges," Hua said.

"We hope that through this visit the two sides can implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, and promote improvement in the development of bilateral ties."



The two sides are also expected to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Republic Day celebrations were marred by three low-intensity explosions in Assam, and clashes and curfew in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj, where one person was killed in violence.

However, colourful tableaux, synchronised parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day in rest of the country as it celebrated the 69th Republic Day amid tight security.

A 16-year-old boy was killed and at least two persons injured in clashes that erupted following stone-pelting at a motorcycle rally by VHP and ABVP volunteers on the Mathura- Bareilly Highway to mark the Republic Day, police said.

The district administration has imposed curfew in the trouble-hit area.

"One person died during arson, firing and stone pelting, while two others sustained injuries today. The deceased has been identified as Chandan (16). Curfew has been imposed in the city," District Magistrate R P Singh said.

Assam's Tinsukia district was hit by three low-intensity explosions, suspected to have been carried out by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, police said.

There was no report of any casualty, they said.

Police said two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other one at Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station.

Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters in Guwahati the explosions were of low intensity and was carried out by the ULFA(I) to prove its existence.

In other sates, Governors unfurled the tricolour and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

In Kashmir, all Republic Day programmes, including the main event in Srinagar, were uneventful amid heightened security measures in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.

Governor N N Vohra said Pakistan's continuing proxy war for the past three decades to destabilize the state has adversely affected its growth and development.

He said 2017 was marked by Pakistan's sustained attempts to infiltrate the largest possible number of terrorists into the Valley.

V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and the administrator of UT Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag in Pathankot, while Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the tricolour in Ambala.

Meanwhile, two Saudi nationals and an Indian, carrying a satellite phone, were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, police said.

Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said they will be interrogated by a joint team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police. Possession of satellite phone without authorisation is not allowed in the country.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the tricolour at the famous Gandhi Maidan at Patna on the occasion and said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Later in the day, the CM hoisted the flag at his official residence and at a "Mahadalit Tola" in Punpun block of rural Patna.

In neighbouring Jharkhand, after unfurling the tricolour, Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is second only to Gujarat in terms of growth rate in the country.

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi hoisted the tricolor at Red Road in Kolkata. He also presided over an hour-long marchpast of the armed forces, police forces and civilians, including school students.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

Hoisting the tricolour on the occasion, Mukhi said, "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the day.

Tableaux on P-21 surface-to-surface missile, surface-to- air missile, Rakshak Bulletproof vehicle, Mahila Suraksha Pathak vehicle, Jalyukta Shivar scheme, were a part of the parade.

In Telangana, Governor E S L Narasimhan in his Republic Day speeh said the state government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year.

While, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said although tourism was generating revenue in the state, it has also brought with it issues like narcotics and human trafficking.

"The government is committed to fight these evils. I am hopeful that joint efforts by the people and the government will weed out these evils from the state," she said at the Republic Day function in the state capital of Panaji.

In his speech, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said the collective efforts of law-enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the more peaceful states of the country.

While in his speech, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra exhorted the people to contribute to the remarkable growth plan being carried out by the state government to put the state in the highest-growth trajectory.

The day was celebrated across Odisha amid tight security as Governor S C Jamir unfurled the tricolour on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the state capital.

In his speech, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy congratulated the people for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold democratic values under all circumstances.

In Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala urged the people to build a strong nation on patriotic sentiments and scientific temperament as he addressed the gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the historic Manekshaw Parade ground.

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam expressed concern over some youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Social entrepreneur Chetna Sinha today mooted the idea of bonds for raising funds to be invested in human capital specially focused on social and environmental issues.

"Why can't we have bonds that will raise capital for training people learn about soil and water conservation and all other such things," she said.

The founder of Mann Deshi Foundation was speaking at a session on impact investing here at the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting.

The panelists, which also included Denmark Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Africa Development Bank President Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina and BlackRock Vice Chairman Philipp Hildebrand, discussed how to unlock private capital to scale social and environmental impact and accelerate progress on the social development goals (SDG).

The Danish prime minister said his government is doing a lot on impact investing and will soon launch an SDG Fund.

Adesina said all investments made by his bank take into account the social and environmental impact.

Narrating her experience, Sinha said rural women in India are very innovative who are making their financial decisions on the basis of social and environmental impact even without having ever heard about climate change or global warming.

"I saw women wanted to do savings for drought days and at the same time they also wanted funding for their small businesses, so I decided to set up a women's bank with no outside support.

"There is access of funds from formal banking sector in India, but that is costly and we realised what we need is affordable finance and therefore we have set up a debt fund also, which is registered with the markets regulator SEBI," Sinha said.

There are some obstacles as well but there can be innovative ways to get investments in areas that are key for securing our environment and society, said Sinha, who is one of the seven women co-chairs of the WEF Annual Meeting.

The most important thing is to talk to the people concerned and understand them, she said while citing examples of how women in different parts of India have started innovative ventures at their level that serve the environment and society while earning income as well.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The 69th Republic Day passed off peacefully in the national capital with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters being deployed at various strategic points.

Barricades were erected on all major roads leading to the parade venue at the Rajpath with policemen checking vehicles and informing people about diversions.

Nearly 60,000 security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and central forces were deployed in Central Delhi.

Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters were deployed to keep a watch on the eight-km-long parade route from the Rajpath to the Red Fort, besides nearby localities.

Ten ASEAN leaders, who attended the ASEAN summit yesterday, were the chief guests at the parade.

Snipers were stationed atop high-rise buildings while scores of CCTV cameras kept a tight vigil on people's movements on the parade route.

Elaborate air defence measures, including deployment of anti-aircraft guns, were also put in place to secure the airspace.

Police said there were no untoward incidents reported and no hoax calls received today.

Security personnel had identified vulnerable spots such as crowded markets, railway stations, bus stands and other high-value establishments, and efforts made to secure them.

The traffic police had also deployed over 1,500 personnel to manage route diversions and ensure safe and secure passage for the visiting dignitaries.

Patrolling in public places had been intensified and checking and frisking in metro, railway stations and bus terminals tightened for the celebrations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Jammu and Kashmir governor N N Vohra today voiced hope that Pakistan would soon realise the futility of continuing its terror agenda in the state, and that only sustained peace along the borders will help in building fruitful relations between the two countries.

Lamenting that Pakistan's proxy war as well as continuing strikes have adversely affected the state's economy, he said all steps should be taken to ensure that the youths do not feel frustrated or get attracted to radical ideologies and violent activities.

In his Republic Day address, Vohra said that 2017 was marked by Pakistan's sustained attempts to infiltrate the largest possible number of terrorists into the Valley.

"Because of Pakistan's continuing proxy war and its unceasing campaigns for the past nearly three decades to perpetrate violence and chaos to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir, the growth and development of our state has been adversely affected," the governor said.

Apparently referring to separatists-sponsored strikes, Vohra said there was a need to put an end to the "continuing hartals and protest calendars which result in disturbances and closure of all activities".

"The recurring disorders have caused human and economic losses and the repeated disruption of the educational schedules has adversely affected the career advancement of our youth.

"It is indeed unfortunate that our polity and the society at large have failed to muster courage to immunise our youth, particularly girls, from being involved in agitational activities," he added.

The governor said that the past year also witnessed repeated ceasefire violations by the western neighbour, both across the International Border and the Line of Control, which resulted in closure of schools, damage to properties, many innocent lives being lost and displacement of residents of the affected border villages.

He said that the terrorists also attacked and killed some pilgrims who were undertaking the Amarnath Yatra but could not succeed in disrupting the pilgrimage.

"...The security forces remaining engaged in counter terrorist operations throughout the past year, in which a very large number of terrorists were killed, besides the loss of lives of civilians and security forces personnel," he said.

The governor said that the various initiatives taken by the Prime Minister to secure friendly relations with Pakistan have yet to yield a positive outcome.

"I hope that Pakistan will soon realise the futility of continuing its terror and violence agenda in Jammu and Kashmir and recognise that only sustained peace and normalcy along the borders will help in restoring fruitful relations between the two countries," he added.

He paid tributes to personnel belonging to police, army and other forces involved in countering Pakistans continuing terror campaign in "extremely trying circumstances".

He stressed that it is of crucial importance to safeguard the interests of the upcoming generation and to take all required steps to ensure against their getting frustrated and being attracted to radical ideologies and violent activities.

"While some youth who had joined the terrorist ranks have since returned to their homes, I hope that all others who had left will also come back very soon," he said.

For engendering a hopeful and productive environment, the governor said, the elected representatives and officials should collectively ensure that the administration provides prompt, accountable, transparent and efficient services to all our people.

It will also contribute towards reinvigorating the states economy to progress rapidly and generate the much needed opportunities for the unemployed youth, Vohra said.

Despite constraints and serious challenges on several fronts, India has achieved commendable progress in many arenas. "It is a matter of great pride that today we are the largest democracy in the world and also the fastest growing among the biggest economies," the governor noted.

"Today, when we celebrate the birth of the Indian Republic, we must pay homage to the great leaders who secured freedom for our country and to the founding fathers of our Constitution.

"We must also commit ourselves afresh to protect and preserve our hard won freedom and to safeguard the unity and security of our nation," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)President Recep Tayyip Erdogan today threatened to expand Turkey's offensive in Syria against a Kurdish militia, despite rising concern and calls for restraint from the US and other Western allies.

In the seventh day of the operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, Erdogan vowed to "clean up" the Syrian city of Manbij.

The United States has raised concerns over the deadly offensive, and analysts say direct military conflict between the two NATO powers is possible since the US has a military presence in Manbij.

Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" against the YPG on Saturday, supporting Syrian rebels with ground troops, air strikes and artillery fire.

While the YPG is still working closely with Washington against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria, Ankara views the YPG as a terror organisation allied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) inside Turkey.

The PKK is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies as a terror outfit.

Erdogan vowed in a speech in Ankara that Turkey would "continue our fight until there is no terrorist on our border", but did not elaborate.

He said the operation would last until "we reach our goals," adding: "Afterwards we will, as promised, clean up Manbij of terrorists."



But Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday insisted Turkey was not intending to occupy Afrin and would return the region to its "real" owners.

Tensions between Ankara and Washington are already high but the offensive has added further strain to their relationship. The two sides disagreed about the content of telephone talks between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Washington said Trump had urged Turkey to "limit its military actions" but a Turkish official said the US statement did "not accurately reflect the content" of the call.

Erdogan criticised Turkey's allies, including the United States, which he said called for the operation to be "short" and "limited" in scope, referring to previous interventions.

"How long has Afghanistan lasted? Nearly 20 years. How long has it (the conflict) lasted in Iraq? Nearly 18 years!" he thundered.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Two tableaux showcasing India's strong historical, cultural and religious bonds with the ASEAN nations were among the 23 colourful floats that rolled down the Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day parade here.

Named 'ASEAN-India at 25', the tableaux, made by the ministry of external affairs, portrayed historical, civilisational and religious links as the binding force between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

The front portion of one of the tableaux depicted the ancient Nalanda University, which was a world-renowned centre for learning and Buddhist studies in ancient times.

The rear portion of the tableau portrayed the 'Bali Jatra', a festival held in Odisha to mark the day when ancient 'Sadhabas' (Oriya mariners) would set sail to the distant lands of Bali, Java, Sumatra, Borneo (all in Indonesia), and Sri Lanka.

The second tableau projected religion as one of the strongest linkages between India and Southeast Asia.

The front portion of the tableau portrayed the Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

The rear part depicted a melange of diverse Southeast Asian Ramayanas. Various regions of ASEAN have their own versions of the Ramayana.

Couples wearing traditional attires of the 10 ASEAN countries and carrying flags of the member nations accompanied the tableaux.

Leaders of 10 ASEAN countries joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Republic Day parade and were seen sharing light moments with each other and capturing memories in their cameras.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah attended the event.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.

The participation of the ASEAN leaders at the event comes amid China's growing efforts to expand its influence in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Chancellor Angela Merkel will today begin a final stretch of negotiations with Germany's second biggest party to form a government, four months after an inconclusive election left the country in political limbo.

Merkel will meet with Social Democrat leader Martin Schulz and the chief of her Bavarian allies, Horst Seehofer, at 0800 GMT, sources close to the talks told AFP.

As Germany's European partners are beginning to weary over the long-running impasse along with many Germans, Schulz said the negotiations would proceed "full speed ahead... without getting carried away at all."



He said the SPD was broadly optimistic and determined to forge an alliance that the party leadership could present to the rank-and-file "in good conscience".

The formal negotiations bring Germany a step closer to a new government and come after the SPD on Sunday narrowly approved a preliminary cooperation blueprint and agreed to push on with the talks.

But the outcome is still uncertain as the SPD will give its 440,000 members a vote on the end result.

September's election left Merkel without a majority and struggling to find partners to govern, as the far-right AfD party capitalised on anger over a record influx of asylum seekers to snatch voters from the established parties.

After Merkel's bid to form a government with the smaller left-leaning Greens and pro-business FDP fell through, she was forced to woo back the SPD, its partner in the last four- year-term.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A 51-year-old French national was arrested for allegedly possessing drugs worth Rs 12.50 lakh from Anjuna beach village, police said today.

Sleuths of the Anti-Narcotics Cell yesterday arrested Regis Olmeta from the village, a senior police official said.

Olmeta, who was holidaying in the coastal state, had rented a room in the village. Police found LSD weighing 4.515 grams approximately worth Rs 12.50 lakh from the room, the officer said.

A case under relevant sections of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act was registered and a probe was on, he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Dubai-made original Urdu play, which seeks to revive the spirit and tradition of letter- writing that is rapidly disappearing under the onslaught of communication technology, will be staged in Delhi this weekend, as part of its maiden international tour.

"Mian, Biwi aur Wagah", its makers say, is based on a series of letters, narrating a mixed bag of events and slice- of-life stories.

"Mian (husband) and Biwi (wife) are the South Asian husband-wife duo, while Wagah a border crossing between India and Pakistan takes a human form to become the narrator and a central viewpoint in the play. Just like a sutradhaar (thread-holder), Wagah symbolically dovetails through the cascade of letters," Goonj Productions said in a statement.

"These letters encapsulate human experiences and frailties and are a menagerie of tales wrapped in nostalgic exchanges," it said.

All letters staged are originally written and inspired by true stories and experiences that remain rooted in history and are yet contemporary in nature.

The 120-minute play is light-hearted, jocular, at times poignant but thought-provoking, its makers said.

According to its director, Dhruti Shah D'souza, the play has the potential to appeal to avid Urdu-language enthusiasts and frequent theatre aficionados as well as those who enjoy a good wave of storytelling, in a rather simple and easygoing format with the language at its forefront.

"Handwritten letters carry a sense of quaint longing and hold the innate power of seamlessly merging into evocative storytelling," she said, adding that the boundary between fact and fiction blurs as a result of narration of these letters.

D'souza is a Dubai-based theatre artist, storyteller, writer and playwright, and has written and directed several experimental plays, challenging the ways in which stage is approached from an audience-actor perspective.

"Mian, Biwi aur Wagah", co-directed by Sheherzad Kaleem and co-written by Ehtesham Shahid, will be staged at the Stein Auditorium of the India Habitat Centre on January 27 and 28.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution is non-negotiable, but fundamental duties of the citizens are also equally important as rights, though non enforceable, the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court Indira Banerjee said today.

"We have a duty to renounce practises derogatory to the dignity of women, to protect and improve forests, lakes,rivers and wildlife, to have compassion for living creatures, to develop humanism, to safeguard public property and to obscure violence," she said in her Republic Day address at the High Court campus here.

Apart from this, one should take a pledge to have equal respect to all faiths, beliefs and religions, ensure equality of status and opportunity, ensure the dignity of individual, integrity of nation, she said.

Earlier, the Chief Justice spoke for about a minute in Tamil during the Republic Day celebrations.

The Chief Justice reminded the people that just as they are conscious of their fundamental rights, they should be equally conscious about their duties as incorporated in the Constitution.

She said it was the duty of citizens to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, respect the national flag and anthem, cherish and follow noble ideals which inspired the freedom struggle, uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India, defend the country and render national service required upon to do so, promote harmony and spirit of brotherhood among people, transcending religious, linguistic, regional and sectional diversities.

"While we celebrate Republic day today, we salute all those great freedom fighters who made immense sacrifices to make this day a reality, we should pledge to have equal respect to all faiths, beliefs and religions, ensure equality of status and opportunity, ensure the dignity of individual, integrity of nation," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Kishore Biyani's Future Supply Chain Solutions today said it will fully acquire Snapdeal's logistics service provider Vulcan Express Pvt Ltd in an all- cash deal valued at Rs 35 crore.

Future Group Founder and Chairman Kishore Biyani said in a statement that through Vulcan, the company plans to boost its last mile capabilities and also offer state-of-the-art solutions to its e-commerce and retail clients.

Snapdeal Chief Strategy and Investment Officer Jason Kothari said: "Similar to our recent sale of FreeCharge, we believe Snapdeals sale of Vulcan Express to Future Group is a successful deal for all three parties."



The statement also quoted Kothari as saying that the company "divests off an asset that is non-strategic in nature for Snapdeal 2.0, allowing it to focus its capital and management on its core e-commerce business; Future Group gains high-quality pan-India end-to-end e-commerce logistics capabilities, and Vulcan secures a great new home for its business, including its team".

Future Group has been on an acquisition spree in the recent past. In October last year, Future Retail executed share purchase agreement (SPA) with Shoppers Stop for its Rs 655-crore acquisition of Hypercity Retail in stock-and-cash deal.

Last week, Future Retail said it will fully acquire Travel Services India (TNSI) in a Rs 100 crore deal, a move which would help the company to further consolidate its retail business.

Metta Capital Advisors acted as the financial advisor to Future Supply Chain for the transaction.

Future Supply Chain is present pan-India, with 44 warehouses, 14 logistics hubs, 106 branches, and over 4.2m square feet of warehousing space.

In July last year, Snapdeal had sold its payment wallet Freecharge to Axis Bank for Rs 385 crore, almost 90 per cent lower than what it had paid for the firm in 2015.

In an internal mail to employees, Vulcan Express CEO Hardeep Singh said: "This association is being recognised to be one of the most significant developments in the logistics industry in India... Vulcan's capabilities will be of big value to Future Supply Chain in enhancing its footprint and services".

Formed in 2014, Vulcan provides end-to-end logistics services pan-India and services 2,000 pin codes in 100 cities.

The deal with Future Group will help Snapdeal, which is looking to shed its non-core assets in a bid to survive in the hyper-competitive e-commerce market that includes giants like Flipkart and Amazon.

Last year, Snapdeal had rejected Flipkart's acquisition offer -- which was being orchestrated by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank -- and said it would instead pursue an independent strategy that it called Snapdeal 2.0.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Gandhi and Buddhism were the dominant themes of tableaux at the 69th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Rajpath in the national capital today.

Unprecedented in India's history, leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries attended the Republic Day parade which showcased the country's military prowess and rich cultural diversity.

Twenty three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, All India Radio (AIR) among others rolled down the Rajpath.

States registering their presence this year were Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Tripura, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, Chhatisgarh, Kerala, Punjab and Manipur.

The ministries whose tableaux rolled down the Rajpath were External Affairs, Tribal Affairs, Youth Affairs and Sports.

The Income Tax department showcased its anti-black money drive launched post demonetisation.

The armed forces tableaux were part of the colourful floats.

The Indian Navy's tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy Combat Ready Force for National Security'. The force also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the Defence Development and Research Organisation (DRDO) exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.

The Indian Air Force tableau, led by three women officers, was themed 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation' which displayed models of the Tejas Multi-role Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system.

Among the 23 colourful floats were two tableaux, made by the ministry of external affairs, that portrayed historical, civilisational and religious links as the binding force between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries.

One of the tableaux depicted Nalanda University, a world-renowned centre for learning and Buddhist studies in ancient times.

The second tableaux portrayed the Mahabodhi Temple and Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

Himachal Pradesh's tableau showed status of Buddha in meditation along with some stupas and the monks resting there.

Similarly, Madhya Pradesh's tableau also had an underlying theme of Buddhism, showcasing Buddha sitting in meditation under the Boddhi Tree with four of his disciples.

Leaders sitting in the audience were seen applauding the tableaux of their respective states.

For the first time, the All India Radio showcased its tableau depicting a historic event when Mahatma Gandhi made his maiden and only broadcast through the public broadcast in the wake of post-partition communal riots.

The Gujarat tableau showed Gandhi weaving on his wooden spinning wheel and ashram inmates busy in daily activities. The tableau also showed Gandhi's 'three monkeys' and various other things or places that were an integral part of Gandhi's life.

Karnatka's natural bounty, Tripura's handicrafts, Uttarakhand's potential for rural tourism, livelihoods of Jammu and Kashmir's people, Assam's mask making craft, Sangat and Mangat- Punjab's mode of paying obeisance and community social service were showcased through various tableaux.

Leaders of 10 ASEAN countries joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Republic Day parade and were seen sharing light moments with each other and capturing the memories in their cameras.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong, Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah attended the event.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.

The participation of the ASEAN leaders at the event comes amid China's growing efforts to expand its influence in the region.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Iron ore reserves in Goa may exhaust in another 10 years and if there are too many companies involved in mining and the pace of excavation is high, the stocks may not even last for five years, an expert said today.

"Unless new reserves are located, the current high grade reserves of iron ore will not last for more than about 10 years," Prof Ashoka Dessai, senior geologist and former professor of Goa University and Pune University, said.

"However, it depends on the rate of exploitation of the resources. If many companies are involved in mining and that too at a rapid pace, the iron ores might not survive even for five years," Dessai, whose book titled "Geology and Mineral Resources of Goa" is set to be released on Sunday, said.

Dessai's book that touches upon the technical aspects of geology and the formation of resources in Goa, will be released here by Dr Sunil Kumar Singh, director of CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography.

He advises that the coastal state should not "overexploit" the resources, as was the case before the Supreme Court put a ban on mining in 2012.

"We should fix the maximum quantum of ore that could be mined per year locally and accordingly take up the extraction activity so that the reserves would last longer. Simultaneously beneficiation/blending of low grade ores as well as processing the ores from neighbouring state should be undertaken so as to extend the life of the industry and reap maximum benefits," he said.

Prof Dessai said that there was a need to look for new reserves and new mineral materials in the state.

"Suppose iron ore or manganese ore reserves are exhausted, then there would be a serious economic crisis. There will be unemployment. Therefore, it is essential that alternate mineral resources of other mineral commodities are prospected for," he said.

The researcher, who has mentored several geologists in Goa and in Pune, suggests alternatives such as laterites to make up for the void that would be created in case iron ore and manganese ore reserves dry up.

"When we speak about laterite, we think that it can be used only for construction activity. Laterites are known to host economic proportions of precious metals such as gold. Studies from parts of Goa have shown promising results from the lithomarge horizons. Now the issue is whether commercial extraction is viable or not," he said.

"Of late, laterites are being increasingly prospected for rare earth metals that find a variety of applications in lasers, computer memory modules, batteries, lamps, superconductors, aerospace, caustic cleaning agents, manufacture of specialised glass among others," he said.

According to Dessai, India has been importing rare earth element concentrates from other countries like China.

Being a strategic mineral resource, indigenous production can save the much-needed foreign exchange, in which laterites can play a significant role, like bauxite, which is mined from south Goa, he said.

"The aluminium metal extracted from the ore of bauxite can also be another alternative as aluminium is used in many products, right from manufacturing of soft-drink cans to aeroplanes," Dessai added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Author and economist Gurucharan Das said governance failure and weak municipalities were the reasons behind the problem of uncleanliness in India.

He said at the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) that cleanliness was not a cultural problem as people's culture changed within eight hours.

"Indians do not spit and litter on roads, follow traffic rules when they go to countries such as the US and Singapore," he said.

"Failure of governance and weak municipalities were the reasons behind uncleanliness," Das said at a session on 'Swachh Bharat: Taking responsibility for change'.

The session was attended by journalists Angela Saini, Jeffrey Gettleman, Uday Mahurkar and educationist Hema Maira in conversation with Jyoti Malhotra.

He said Singapore became a first-world country from a third-world country in a short span of time as they made "citizens out of individuals".

"They had a drive for cleanliness. Civic virtues don't come naturally to human beings. Taking ownership of public spaces by the individuals can bring about a change in achieving the Swachh Bharat goal," he added.

Journalist Angela Saini said every country had its own issues of cleanliness.

She said the people in Germany have a strong civic sense and in America, the government has strict legislation and harsh penalty. But in India the biggest problem is caste hierarchy where roles and responsibilities were confined to the caste or race, Saini said.

"Caste is an issue without solving which the idea of cleanliness will remain unsolved," she said.

Uday Mahurkar said Surat was the classic example of transformation. "Smart governance by a smart system was the reason behind its metamorphosis from plague city to clean city. Smart governance was key in achieving Swachh Bharat," he said.

He said the idea of Swachh Bharat was good and it was possible to achieve the target in a planned manner with consistent efforts in strengthening municipal systems.

Comparing African countries with the India, Geffrey Gettleman said rapid urbanisation and population growth were similar problems that some of the African countries as well.

"Problems like uncleanliness are related population which need to be addressed. Punishment and rule of law has to be stronger," he said.

Educationist Hema Maira said good habits needed to be inculcated in kids early on and individual responsibility needed to be taught.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu today, unfurling the Indian tricolour at the Marina to mark the occasion.

Purohit, who took over as Governor of Tamil Nadu in November 2017, unfurled the tricolour and later took the salute.

Members of the armed forces and uniformed personnel took out an impressive march past on Kamaraj Salai along the famous Marina beach here, even as a good number of public had turned up to witness the proceedings.

Cultural shows depicting India's diversity were presented by college students and artistes, while the state government showcased its schemes and projects covering various departments by way of floats.

The floats predominantly featured the pictures of late Chief Ministers and AIADMK stalwarts, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, besides those of the incumbent, K Palaniswami.

The armed forces also displayed their floats.

Members of the state cabinet including Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Speaker P Dhanapal, Chief Justice of Madras High Court, Justice Indira Banerjee, consular officials representing different countries and elected members among others were present during the celebrations.

The Chief Minister gave away various awards to policemen and private individuals for various achievements.

These included the Anna Medal for Gallantry, presented to an RPF constable for saving a passenger who fell from a train, the Gandhi Adigal Police Medal for personnel who had done outstanding work in curtailing illicit liquor. Five policemen received the award.

The Kottai Ameer Communal Harmony Award was also given away. A farmer from Dharmapuri district was honoured for ensuring "highest yield" by adopting the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method for paddy cultivation.

He was chosen for the award for the year 2017, the government said.

Earlier, the Governor paid tributes at the Victory War Memorial here, in the presence of senior officials of the armed forces.

He laid a wreath to pay homage to martyrs in remembrance of their laying down their lives for the country.

Meanwhile, the Republic Day was also held across the state, with District Collectors leading the celebrations.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Union Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the HRD ministry has made an "effective plan" to boost the sector in Jammu and Kashmir.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Jammu & Kashmir student exchange programme - 'Maitreyi Yatra' - he said his ministry was monitoring progress in sector in the state every month.

He said he will visit J&K for a review soon.

Under the 'Maitreyi Yatra' programme, nearly 500 Class 9 -12 students from J&K came to Delhi on January 18 for a 10-day stay, during which they visited the Delhi University, the IIT and the Railway Museum among other places.

They also enjoyed a metro ride and witnessed the grand celebrations of the Republic Day.

Javadekar said Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and the state needs to be given all facilities.

"I have observed that in the state, there is dedication towards particularly for girls' education...Many Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas were opened in the state," the Union minister said.

He said a good education system can change the country.

"In view of this, we have made an effective plan of education. We are monitoring progress in the education sector every month.

"In the coming days, I will also visit Jammu & Kashmir to review the progress. I will also take 500 students from Delhi to the state under student exchange programme," Javedkar said.

He said the objective of 'Maitreyi Yatra' was to integrate the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to the rest of the country and to promote brotherhood and harmony.

He congratulated the students of National Bal Bhawan who vacated their rooms to accommodate Kashmiri students and stayed in their classrooms proving the real spirit of "Atithi Devo Bhava" (The guest is equivalent to God).

MoS HRD Satya Pal Singh, who was also present, applauded the J&K students for they were able to spread the message of love, peace & harmony which even the government efforts might not have done.

J&K Education Minister Mohammad Altaf Bukhari expressed his gratitude for conducting the exchange programme, saying it will strengthen the social fabric of the country.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has termed as "disgusting" and "offensive" online rumours suggesting she is having an affair with President Trump and said such insinuations fit a pattern of attacks on successful women.

The online speculation was instigated by 'Fire and Fury' author Michael Wolff, who dropped hints on HBOs 'Real Time with Bill Maher' last week when he said he was "absolutely sure" Trump is having an affair just not sure enough to write about it in his book.

Wolff went on to say that discriminating readers would be able to determine the president's paramour by giving his book a close reading.

Haley, 46, married for 22 years and the mother of two children, in an interview with Politico, said the rumours were "absolutely not true."



She also said she's never talked once to the president about her future and that she is never alone with Trump.

"So the idea that these things come out, thats a problem," the Indian-American diplomat said.

"But it goes to a bigger issue that we need to always be conscious of: At every point in my life, Ive noticed that if you speak your mind and youre strong about it and you say what you believe, there is a small percentage of people that resent that and the way they deal with it is to try and throw arrows, lies or not," she said.

In his bestselling book "Fire and Fury," Wolff wrote that Trump had been spending "a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future."



That led to online scrutiny of Haley.

This is not the first time Haley has had to deal with false claims of an affair, something she said is an attack frequently made against women.

"I saw this as a legislator. I saw this when I was governor. I see it now. I see them do it to other women," she said.

"And the thing is, when women work, they prioritise, they focus, and they believe if youre gonna to something, do it right," she added.

Haley before becoming the UN ambassador was the first woman to be elected governor of South Carolina and the second Indian-American governor in US history.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Madras High Court has expressed regret that an 89-year-old Indian National Army member had to struggle for four decades to get freedom fighter pension due to " bureaucratic dogmatism", and ordered the Tamil Nadu government to grant it in two weeks.

Allowing a petition by K Gandhi of the city, who applied for the pension in 1980 and moved the court after waiting for 37 years, Justice K Ravichandra Babu said pension was not a charity but conferment of an honour on such selfless freedom fighters and the state should not wait for them to make their application for it.

"Sorry sir, you are made to suffer at the hands of our people too, as, unfortunately, this is how the bureaucratic dogmatism with wooden approach works, at times, in this country, for which you fought to get freedom," the judge said in his recent order.

He ordered the state government to pass an order granting pension from the date of Gandhi's original petition and serve such order to him at his door steps.

He also said: "It is a sorry state of affair and saddening factor to note that a person, who fought for freedom of this country is again driven to fight now, even after freedom, unfortunately to get some financial assistance for his sustenance by way of such pension."



Gandhi had joined the INA floated by Nethaji Subhas Chandra Bose and was a part of the Indian Independence League in Rangoon (now Yangoon), Burma (Myanmar). He was imprisoned in Rangoon Central Jail from May 1945 to December 1945.

He had applied to the state government for freedom fighter pension on July 6, 1980. He had also submitted a certificate by co-prisoner K Kalimuthu stating that both were imprisoned in the Burma jail together.

Besides, the petitioner had also furnished a personal knowledge certificate from INA Col.Lakshmi Sahgal stating that he was a member of INA and took part in the freedom struggle.

Pulling up authorities for not considering the plea on the sole ground that there was a discrepancy in the petitioner's age in the elector's photo identity card and the Ration Card submitted by him, the judge said the reason was irrelevant and immaterial.

He noted that the petitioner's participation in freedom struggle was not in dispute and he had submitted two "overwhelming evidence" -- certificates by the co-prisoner and by Col.Lakshmi Sahgal, vouching for Gandhi's credentials.

"...the respondents have chosen to mechanically reject the claim of the petitioner with irrelevant and immaterial reason which only shows that they somehow wanted to wash off their hands and relieve themselves of their liability," he said.

Referring to reminders sent to officials and their replies that the representation had been forwarded to the authority concerned, the judge said except doing so mechanically, the respondents had done nothing effectively or positively to consider the petitioner's request.

This was despite the officials concerned being informed about the urgent need to extend monetary support, "which is certainly not a charity, but conferment of an honour on such selfless freedom fighter," the judge said.

"Unfortunately, these respondents failed to note that but for such selfless contribution and participation in the freedom struggle by persons like the petitioner, we would have not been in the present position to deal with this matter like this," Justice Ravichandrababu said.

The judge said in his considered view, persons like the petitioner, who fought for freedom, should have been conferred with such due honour and dignity by extending the invitation to them and not by waiting for them to make their application.

The order shall be served to Gandhi "at his door steps" within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the court verdict.

The arrears of pension shall be calculated and disbursed within a period of four weeks thereafter, the judge said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sri Lanka has increased by over 100 times the fine on foreign vessels to deter them from fishing in its waters, amid the dispute over the frequent entry of Indian fishing trawlers into the country's maritime territory.

Sri Lankan parliament has approved the amendments (to the Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act) to increase fines on foreign vessels poaching in the country's waters, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera said today.

The draft Bill for amending the Fisheries Act No 59 of 1979 (Foreign Fisheries boats Regulation Act) was presented in Parliament for approval on Wednesday.

The Act aims to prevent illegal fishing activities in the Sri Lankan waters and protect the fisheries and aquatic resources of the country's coastal belt.

"The previous fine of 1.5 million Sri Lankan Rupees was no deterrent. Foreign vessels did not fear facing such a small fine," Amaraweera said.

The Minister said that the new fine amount would mean that any foreign fishing vessels entering Sri Lankan waters would be subject to a minimum fine of 6 million Sri Lankan Rupees and a maximum of 175 million Sri Lankan Rupees.

Under the new amendment, the amount of fine on foreign fishing boats would be proportional to their length.

The move comes amid frequent straying of fishermen from India and Sri Lanka into each others' waters, creating diplomatic difficulties.

This month, the Sri Lankan Navy had arrested a total of 37 Indian fishermen, mostly from Tamil Nadu, for fishing off Neduntheevu and Katchatheevu islets in the north.

The arrest of Indian fishermen has become a flash point in the relations between the two countries.

According to the new rule, a fee of minimum 4 million Sri Lankan Rupees and a maximum of 150 million Sri Lankan Rupees will be slapped on any vessels, in proportion to their length, for entering the country's coastal waters without license. Earlier, the maximum fee was 750,000 Sri Lankan Rupees.

"All vessels caught for poaching would be liable for both the fines," Amaraweera said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Supporting US President Donald Trump's tough stance against Pakistan on dealing with terrorism, former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai today voiced hope that he will follow his words with action.

Speaking at the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival here, the Afghan leader even talked about his love for Bollywood films, music, and the Indian culture at large. Karzai said that actor Naseeruddin Shah would be the right person to play him if somebody plans to make a film about his life.

Responding to a question regarding being termed "anti- American", Karzai, who was made the interim leader of Afghanistan in 2001 and became the first popularly elected president in 2004 following the fall of the Taliban, said that he was in fact opposed to the US way of dealing with insurgency that left the country hurt and destroyed.

Asked about Trump's recent statements, he said, "It's one of the few sensible decisions that Trump has taken. We do support President Trump's statement on Pakistan's use of extremism and we hope that they will take action, that they will walk the talk this time."



In a scathing attack on Pakistan, Trump had accused it of "lies and deceit" and of fooling US leaders while sheltering terrorists. He also suspended all security aid to the longtime US military ally.

While speaking strongly against Pakistan's support to extremist forces, Karzai today stressed that he had nothing against the Pakistani people.

"Yes, the insurgents were getting support from Pakistan, but they not from Pakistani people. The Pakistani people treated us equally like themselves, like brothers and sisters when we were refugees.

"My complaint is not to the Pakistani people. I love them just like I love Indian people. The complaint is with the military intelligence establishment there," he said.

The former Afghanistan president was speaking at a session titled "The Great Survivor".

He also spoke of factors that contributed to the rise of Al-Qaeda, saying it was a "very deliberate radicalisation for political gains" and that "Al-Qaeda wouldn't have happened without the support of the CIA".

"Sometimes I am termed an anti-American. No, I am not. I am very pro-American, pro-western person. I am an eastern man without eastern attributes and qualities.

"My opposition to America was because they were hurting Afghanistan by bombing our country, by hitting our villagers, by taking our people prisoners. We were getting hurt, we were getting destroyed, that made me against the American policy," he said.

He said there had been in the past "very deep cooperation" among the US, some western allies and Pakistan "when they tried to use religion to defeat the former Soviet Union".

"And the Pakistanis and the Americans and some Gulf countries joined hands to use Islam. And the more they used it the more radicalised it became.

"Al Qaeda wouldn't have happened without the support of the CIA. It was them who did it. It was a very deliberate radicalisation for political gains," he alleged.

He hoped Pakistan "would agree to peace" so that a dialogue could be initiated between the country and Taliban.

On Bollywood and Indian culture, Karzai said, "I can possibly talk more about Dev Anand, Hema Malini, Zeenat Aman, Rafi, Mukesh than most people here.

"I have read Kalidas, Rabindranath Tagore and bought books on Mirza Ghalib's work during my visit to Khan Market in Delhi.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump today said he supports free trade but it has to be fair and reciprocal, as he reaffirmed his nuanced commitment to 'America First' policy, saying it does not mean "America alone".

Addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) where several leaders have took him on for his alleged protectionist and inward-looking policies, Trump said America is "open to business" and competitive again.

He also said the US would keep up its fight against terrorism across the world and would not let Afghanistan become a haven for terrorists again.

"I am here to represent the interest of American people and to commit their support for a better world," Trump said after a traditional Swiss brass band welcomed him on the stage.

The main Congress Hall -- the biggest at the WEF venue -- was jam-packed one hour in advance and many could not get in even as some African officials present here decided to boycott the speech.

Talking about America and his various decisions, Trump said, "The stock market is smashing one record after another, and has added more than USD 7 trillion in new wealth since my election".

"I am here to deliver a message that America is open for business again... Now is the best time to bring your business, your jobs and your investments to America," he said.

"We are creating an environment that rewards. Come to America. I believe in America and as president I will always believe in America first and all world leaders should feel so about their country. But America first is not America alone," Trump said.

Stressing that there cannot be free and open trade if some country does not follow the rules, Trump said, "We support free trade but it has to be fair and reciprocal".

As president, Trump said he would always protect the interests of his country, workers and companies.

"Can we create a system that works for not just one country but for all others... We have agreements with so many other countries and will be negotiating with many others," he noted.

Noting that he has pledged to eliminate two old regulations for every new rule, the American president said, "We have massively cut taxes for middle class and have lowered corporate tax."



The tax cut bill is expected to raise the average American's household income by more than USD 4,000, he added.

The US is lifting self-imposed restrictions on energy production to provide affordable power and promote energy security, he said, adding that no country should be held "hostage" to a single provider of energy.

Taxes are being cut, burdensome regulations are being eliminated and bureaucracy is being reformed, Trump added.

Only the second American president after Bill Clinton to attend the Davos meet in nearly two decades, Trump ended his speech saying "God bless you all".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Dokalam standoff has been blown out of proportion but it is important to not change the "status quo" at sensitive points at the India-China border, Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said.

In an interview to the state-run Global Times here on Friday, he said post-Dokalam, India and China should hold candid talks to resolve contentious issues, including the $ 50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"I believe that you are blowing it out of proportion. The people of India and China and our leaders are experienced enough and wise enough to overcome such momentary hurdles in our relationship," Bambawale said while answering a question if the Dokalam standoff damaged ties.

"I believe that in the post-Dokalam period, India and China need to be talking to each other and conversing with each other much more than in the past" at different levels including at the leadership level, he told the tabloid daily of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) known for its strident anti-India write-ups.

Also in an apparent reference to reports of China may try to make yet another attempt to build the road in Dokalam near India's Chicken Neck corridor which led to the standoff, he said it is important to not change the "status quo" at sensitive points.

The 73-day standoff at Dokalam in Sikkim where Chinese military attempted to build a road close to Chicken Neck corridor has sparked a new round of tensions at the border. It finally ended on August 28 after China agreed to stop road building.

As the two sides made efforts to improve ties, officials here said a new incident of Chinese military's attempts to build a road inside the Indian territory in Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh has been resolved.

"In our conversations and discussions, it is important to talk to each other and not talk past each other. We must be sensitive to the other side's concerns. Our interaction must be based on equality and mutual benefit. Also, in the India- China border areas, especially at some sensitive points, it is important not to change the status quo. We need to be clear about this," he said.

Recent reports say that Chinese troops have been building facilities not far from the standoff area. China asserts that Dokalam which is also claimed by Bhutan belongs to it.

Dispelling the notion that India-China is rivals, Bambawale also said there is no "anti-China mentality" in India.

"If India and China could hold the dialogue successfully we will understand each other much better and we will build trust and confidence with each other," he said.

"With enhanced trust and understanding will come a stronger partnership between India and China. I would like to say that India and China are partners in development and progress. We are not rivals," he said.

Answering a question, he refuted that there is an adverse sentiment in India against China.

"If you travel to India and meet the common people in our cities and villages, you will come to know that they do not have an anti-China mentality. In fact, the people of India have great admiration for what China has achieved in economic development over the past four decades," he said.

He pointed to the success of Bollywood superstar, Aamir Khan's Dangal and Secret Superstar in China to show the goodwill for India and asked China to allow screening of more Indian films to enable Chinese to understand India better.

But at the same time "there are a few issues about which, we in India, have been focusing attention on".

"The foremost is the large and growing trade deficit we face with China. In 2017, the deficit for India is likely to be $ 55 billion," he said and questioned why China is not opening its markets to Indian Pharmaceuticals and IT products.

"For 20 years, we have been asking for the Chinese market to be opened for our pharmaceutical and IT products and services. To no avail. What do we make of this? What conclusions should we draw? We should discuss such issues frankly but also take steps to resolve them," he said.

"Secondly, the CPEC passes through Indian-claimed territory and hence violates our territorial integrity. This is a major problem for us. We need to talk about it, not push it under the carpet," he said.

"I believe, the more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems. Also, please don't forget, there are many subjects - the vast majority of issues - on which we are already working together and where we can expand cooperation," he said.

He suggested India and China should work together this year to have more summit-level meetings and official meetings besides enhancing exchanges of military personnel, parliamentarians, business persons, journalists, academicians, students, sportspersons and film makers.

Calling for more Chinese investments he pointed to the success of Chinese telecom firms in India. "We would like them to manufacture at least some of their products in India" under 'Make in India' programme.

Similarly, India has embarked on a programme of 'Smart Cities'. Do you think it would be possible for Chinese companies to assist us in one or two of these new 'Smart Cities'? Perhaps, some Indian IT firms can assist with China's plans on big data, he asserted.

He said India and China also have common positions on many international and global issues. The prime example is that of climate change.

"We have been working together on this subject in the past and under the new international circumstances it is especially important that we continue to work together, he said and congratulated Beijing city for improving city's air by reducing pollution," he added.India and ASEAN have relations "free from contests and claims" and believe in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today.

Twenty-seven newspapers in 10 languages in 10 ASEAN countries have published the op-ed by the Prime Minister on the historic occasion of 69th Republic Day and ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet.

In the article, 'shared values, common destiny' published in the Straits Times, Modi highlighted the importance of India's ties with ASEAN nations, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

"India and ASEAN nations have relations free from contests and claims," Modi said.

"We have a common vision for the future, built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement," he said.

Modi said that he had the privilege to host the ASEAN leaders for the commemorative summit to mark 25 years of ASEAN-India partnership.

It is a historic milestone in a remarkable journey that has brought India and ASEAN to a deepening partnership of great promise for their 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of humankind, he said in the article.

India-ASEAN partnership may be just 25 years old, but India's ties with South-east Asia stretch back more than two millennia, Modi said.

Forged in peace and friendship, religion and culture, art and commerce, language and literature, these enduring links are now present in every facet of the magnificent diversity of India and South-east Asia, providing a unique envelope of comfort and familiarity between our people, he said.

More than two decades ago, India opened itself to the world with tectonic changes. And, with instincts honed over centuries of interaction, it turned naturally to the East. Thus began a new journey of India's reintegration with the East, the Prime Minister said.

"For India, most of our major partners and markets - from ASEAN to East Asia to North America - lie to the East. And south-east Asia and ASEAN, our neighbours by land and sea, have been the springboard of our Look East and, since the last three years, the Act East policy," he said.

Along the way, from dialogue partners, ASEAN and India have become strategic partners, he said.

"We advance our broad-based partnership through 30 mechanisms. With each ASEAN member, we have growing diplomatic, economic and security partnership. We work together to keep our seas safe and secure. Our trade and investment flows have multiplied several times," Modi said.

ASEAN is India's fourth-largest trading partner; India is ASEAN's seventh.

Over 20 per cent of India's outbound investments go to ASEAN. Led by Singapore, ASEAN is India's leading source of investments.

India's free trade agreements in the region are its oldest and among the most ambitious anywhere.

Air links have expanded rapidly and we are extending highways deep into continental South-east Asia with new urgency and priority. Growing connectivity has reinforced proximity.

It has also put India among the fastest-growing sources of tourism in South-east Asia.

"The over six-million-strong Indian diaspora in the region - rooted in diversity and steeped in dynamism - constitutes an extraordinary human bond between us," the Prime Minister said



Singapore is a window to the heritage of India's ties to the region, the progress of the present and the potential of the future. Singapore was a bridge between India and ASEAN.

"Today, it is our gateway to the East, our leading economic partner and a major global strategic partner, which resonates in our membership in several regional and global forums. Singapore and India share a strategic partnership.

"Our political relations are infused with goodwill, warmth and trust. Our defence ties are among the strongest for both. Our economic partnership covers every area of priority for our two nations. Singapore is India's leading destination and source of investments. Thousands of Indian companies are registered in Singapore," he said.

Sixteen Indian cities have over 240 direct flights every week to Singapore. Indians make up the third-largest group of tourists in Singapore.

"India and ASEAN are doing much more. Our partnership in ASEAN-led institutions like the East Asia Summit, ADMM+ (ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus) and ARF (ASEAN Regional Forum) is advancing peace and stability in our region," he said.

"India is also an eager participant in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement, seeking a comprehensive, balanced and fair agreement for all 16 participants.

"With every passing day, it is easier and smoother to do business in India. I hope that ASEAN nations, as our neighbours and friends, will be an integral part of New India's transformation," Modi added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India today celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the ASEAN leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.

Thousands of people on both sides of the Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power on the Raisina Hill, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableaux went past them.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.

In a series of tweets, Modi talked about India's partnership with ASEAN and yesterday's India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit. "Their presence with us is an unprecedented gesture of goodwill from ASEAN nations."



Before the beginning of the ceremony marking the date when India's Constitution came into force way back in 1950, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, wearing a saffron, red and green safa (headgear), paid homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate.

The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. The supreme commander of the Indian armed forces President Ram Nath Kovind took the salute at the parade.

India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra was posthumously given to IAF Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi.

The celebrations were attended by most of the Union ministers, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister J P Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attended the parade. He was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia were also present on the occasion.

A march-past by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag also featured during the parade. The Army personnel also carried the flags of the 10 ASEAN nations in the parade.

Twenty three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, rolled down the Rajpath.

Tableaux from 14 states and Union territories showcased the historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.

The highlight of the parade was the motorcycle contingent, 'Seema Bhawani', comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade.

The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System were also showcased at the parade.

The marching contingent of the Army included horse- mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts and the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion -- Territorial Army (Grenadiers).

The marching contingent of the Navy, comprising 144 young sailors, was led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent, comprising 144 men, was led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon.

The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces, including the Border Security Force, also marched on Rajpath.

Camel contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, the Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme were also among the marching contingents at the parade.

There were a number of interesting Tableaux that rolled down Rajpath.

This year, the Indian Navy's Tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy Combat Ready Force for National Security'.

The Navy also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the Defence Development and Research Organisation exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.

The theme of the Indian Air Force tableau was themed 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation' which displayed models of the Tejas Multi-role Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system.

The All India Radio tableau featured Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat' and was one of the many firsts this year.

An Income Tax Department tableau, about special anti- black money drive launched post-demonetisation, that rolled down Rajpath, was also on the list of many firsts.

On behalf of the central government, 61 tribal guests from various parts of the country had been invited to witness the Republic Day celebrations.

Fifteen of the 18 children who won the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade. Three children, including two girls, have received the award posthumously.

Of the 18 children, seven are girls and 11 are boys.

In the children's section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi along with a group of school children from Nagpur and Dimapur, performed colourful dances on different themes.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of IAF aircraft.

The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Trailing them was the 'Netra' which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as 'Eye in the Sky'.

'Netra' was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs among others.

Minutes before the parade began, the prime minister, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force paid tributes at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.

As per tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.

The ceremony ended also with the playing of the national anthem and the release of thousands of balloons.

Modi and president Kovind also waved to the crowd after the conclusion of the ceremony and were greeted with loud cheers.

Earlier, Modi greeted citizens on the occasion of the Republic Day, tweeting, "Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind.".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Marching contingents, strategic defence weaponry and colourful tableaux were on display as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with ten ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first.

Signifying India's fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country's military might and cultural diversity.

Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators who witnessed the nearly one-and-half-hour-long parade that marched down the eight-kilometre stretch from the Rajpath to the Red Fort amid an unprecedented security cover.

The ASEAN leaders, here to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi at the Republic Day parade, making it an unprecedented event.

The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. The supreme commander of the Indian armed forces president Kovind took the salute at the parade.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.

They were seen sharing light moments with each other and capturing memories in their cameras.

Most of the ministers of the Modi government, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister J P Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan were present on the occasion.

They were seen applauding the tableaux of their respective states.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attended the parade. He was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia were also present on the occasion.

There was a march past at the ceremony by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag. The Army personnel also carried the flags of the 10 ASEAN nations in the parade.

Twenty three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, rolled down the Rajpath.

Tableaux from 14 states and union territories showcased the historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.

The highlight of the parade was the motorcycle contingent, 'Seema Bhawani', comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade.

The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System were also showcased at the parade.

The marching contingent of the Army included horse- mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts, the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion -- Territorial Army (Grenadiers).

The marching contingent of the Navy, comprising 144 young sailors, was led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent, comprising 144 men, was led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon.

The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces, including the Border Security Force also marched on the Rajpath.

Camel Contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo Tibetan Border Police, the Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme were also among the marching contingents at the parade.

There were a number of interesting Tableaux that rolled down Rajpath.

This year the Indian Navy's Tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy Combat Ready Force for National Security'.

The Navy also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the Defence Development and Research Organisation exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.

The theme of the Indian Air Force Tableau was themed 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation' which displayed models of the Tejas Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system.

The tableau of All India Radio featured Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat', was one of the many firsts this year.

An Income Tax Department tableau, about special anti- black money drive launched post-demonetisation, that rolled down Rajpath was also on the list of many firsts.

On behalf of the central government, 61 tribal guests from various parts of the country had been invited to witness the Republic Day celebrations.

Fifteen of the 18 children who won the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade. Three children, including two girls, have received the award posthumously.

Of the 18 children, seven are girls and 11 are boys.

In the children's section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi along with a group of school children from Nagpur and Dimapur, performed colourful dances on different themes.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of IAF aircraft.

The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Trailing them were the 'Netra' which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as 'Eye in the Sky'.

'Netra' was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs among others.

Minutes before the parade began, the prime minister, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force paid tributes at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.

As per tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.

A massive ground-to-air security apparatus was put in place in the national capital, turning the city into a virtually impregnable fortress.

The ceremony ended with the playing of the national anthem and the release of thousands of balloons.

Modi and president Kovind also waved to the crowd after the conclusion of the ceremony and were greeted with loud cheers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Indian-American attorney Parthiv Patel, who had arrived in the US as an undocumented immigrant, has been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association.

Patel is the first Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient to have been admitted to the New Jersey Bar Association.

DACA is an Obama era programme which prevented illegal undocumented immigrants, who came to the US as children, from being deported.

US President Donald Trump had withdrawn DACA, which comes into effect in March. Several thousands Indian-Americans are likely to be affected by a change in DACA policy.

Patel, who passed the bar exams of both New Jersey and Pennsylvania in 2016, was administered the oath of office by the New Jersey Attorney Gurbir Grewal, the first Sikh to hold this position nationwide, on Wednesday.

"We're making it absolutely clear today that we will use all of the tools of the attorney general's office to protect the rights of 'Dreamers' like Parthiv, to enjoy that American dream, and to ensure the safety and well-being of all New Jerseyans regardless of their immigration status," Grewal said at the swearing in ceremony attended by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

Murphy announced that New Jersey will join a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop it from dismantling the programme that protects undocumented immigrants raised in the US from deportation.

"Today I stand here with one message: Dreamers are Americans. We are fifth-graders alongside your children in the school play. We are your friends and your colleagues. And we are your doctors and your accountants and now in New Jersey, your lawyers," Patel said.

Patel was initially denied membership of the bar because of his immigrant status, but was later admitted following a successful appeal with the help of American Civil Liberties Union.

"Parthiv's long wait for bar admission shows the type of obstacles that 'Dreamers' are up against, and at the same time, his determination and altruistic spirit in the face of uncertainty demonstrate the best that New Jersey and America have to offer," said ACLU-NJ Senior Supervising Attorney Alexander Shalom.

"The process of getting admitted to practice law has been daunting, but today's ceremony is a reminder of the reason I've strived so hard to become a lawyer: to use my training and abilities to uplift others. In a climate of anxiety, it's a comfort to know that we 'Dreamers' are not alone in this fight," Patel added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An Indian-American has been convicted for his role in an international money laundering organisation that conspired to move millions of dollars in proceeds for narcotics traffickers, authorities said.

Harinder Singh, 32, also known as "Sonu", was found guilty of conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, the Justice Department said.

Singh will face a statutory maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison for the conspiracy count, and five years for each of the other two charges.

The sentencing is scheduled for April 30.

A federal grand jury deliberated for less than two hours on January 19 before finding Singh guilty of all three charges.

With this, prosecutors have convicted 18 defendants who were named in a 2015 grand jury indictment that was the first major case in the US involving "hawala" transfers of drug money.

The evidence presented during the two-week trial in US District Court, which included Punjabi language wiretap calls, Punjabi-speaking witnesses and a money laundering expert, showed that Singh participated in a "hawala" conspiracy that was moving money generated from drug sales in Canada to the US to pay for multi-kilogramme drug shipments purchased in Los Angeles and then routed back to Canada for distribution.

According to the indictment, Singh was stopped by the California Highway Patrol in October 2012, which led to the discovery of USD 274,980 in US currency in rubber-banded stacks wrapped in black plastic.

While the traffic stop was being conducted, special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration were conducting surveillance and observed Singh's wife exiting the couple's apartment complex carrying a bag which later revealed USD 388,100 in US currency, again rubber-banded in stacks and similarly wrapped in black plastic.

Prior to the traffic stop and the seizure at Singh's apartment complex, a federal wiretap intercepted Punjabi language calls indicating that Singh and co-conspirators communicated over multiple telephones to arrange for the pick- up, transport and delivery of large amounts of US currency



in amounts of up to USD 800,000 across Los Angeles.

In this case, drug traffickers used a traditional hawala network of brokers spanning the US, Canada and India to secretly transfer millions of dollars of drug proceeds to the US where brokers such as Singh delivered money to couriers acting on behalf of the Canadian drug traffickers and Mexican drug cartels.

During the course of a four-year investigation, authorities seized nearly USD 15.5 million in bulk US currency, 321 kilogrammes of cocaine, 98 pounds of methamphetamine, 11 kilogrammes of MDMA ("ecstasy") and nine kilogrammes of heroin.

Previously in this case, 17 defendants have pleaded guilty, and several have already been sentenced, receiving prison terms as high as 70 months.

The indictment also charges four other defendants who are currently fugitives.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An Indian-origin jeweller has been found dead in the UK after being reported missing, prompting police to launch a murder investigation.

Ramniklal Jogiya had gone missing as he walked home from work and was forced into a vehicle by masked men. The 74- year-old ran the jewellery store Vama on Leicester's Belgrave Road, known as the Golden Mile due to its row of jewellery shops mostly run by Indian-origin merchants.

"He was heading home to his family for the evening, before he was taken," said Detective Chief Inspector David Swift-Rollinson, from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, as he released CCTV footage today of Jogiya's last seen movements.

"Did you see anything unusual? No matter how small it may seem, it may be key in this investigation,"he said in his appeal.

Jogiya was reported missing on Wednesday evening following his failure to return home from work, and a missing person inquiry was launched by Leicestershire Police.

Initial enquiries established that he was pulled into a vehicle and taken against his will from Belgrave Road. It is thought that an incident at his shop was a pre-curser to the events leading to the death, police said.

Jogiyas body was recovered from Gaulby Lane in Stoughton area of Leicester. A post-mortem examination has taken place and a murder investigation has been launched as police officers try and piece together the movements of Jogiya as he walked home from work.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Patriotic fervour gripped Indians as they celebrated the 69th Republic Day by unfurling the tri-colour and organising cultural festivities.

In China, Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale hoisted the tricolour at the embassy in Beijing and read out President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation.

The event was followed by a cultural programme. Over 300 Indian expats and Indian diplomats participated in the celebrations.

The Republic Day was also celebrated at the Indian embassy in Jakarta earlier today.

Prakash Gupta, Charge de Affairs, hoisted the flag at the embassy premises as large gathering of Indian nationals and members of Indian diaspora watched with pride and joy.

Similar ceremonies took place at the Indian Consulates at Bali and Medan.

In Singapore, over 600 Indians joined the acting High Commissioner Ninad S Deshpande in celebrating the Republic Day.

Deshpande read out the president's speech. Students from Indian schools sang patriotic songs. The High Commission hosted a reception for the community.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Israeli Holocaust survivors are pleading with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his plan to forcefully expel tens of thousands of African migrants, citing their own experiences as outcasts.

"We, who know precisely what it's like to be refugees, to be homeless and bereft of a state that preserves and protects us from violence and suffering, cannot comprehend how a Jewish government can expel refugees and asylum seekers to a journey of suffering, torment and death," the 36 signatories wrote in an open letter published in English by Haaretz newspaper today.

The appeal came on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On January 3, Netanyahu announced implementation of a plan to deport about 38,000 migrants who entered Israel illegally, mainly Eritreans and Sudanese, and gave them until the end of March to leave voluntarily or face jail and eventual expulsion by force.

He defended his decision at the weekly cabinet meeting last Sunday, denying that the potential deportees were refugees.

"We are acting against illegal migrants who come here not as refugees but for work needs," he said. "Israel will continue to offer asylum for genuine refugees and will remove illegal migrants from its midst."



He did not say to which country they would be sent but Israel tacitly recognises it is too dangerous to return the Sudanese and Eritreans home.

Aid workers and media have named Uganda and Rwanda.

Uganda has publicly denied being a destination.

The website of the Aid Organisation for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (ASSAF) says that of 10,000 asylum requests from Eritreans in Israel, only seven have been granted, while one Sudanese has received asylum.

It does not state the number of Sudanese applicants, but government figures from October 2016 list 8,066 Sudan nationals among the migrants.

A 2016 UN commission of inquiry into Eritrea's regime found "widespread and systematic" crimes against humanity and said an estimated 5,000 people flee the country each month.

The International Criminal Court has indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide linked to his regime's counter- insurgency tactics in the 14-year-old Darfur conflict.

ASSAF says that there are "thousands" from the Darfur region of western Sudan among those seeking asylum in Israel whose applications have yet to receive an answer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)As the Congress voiced displeasure over its president Rahul Gandhi being seated in the sixth row at the main Republic Day event in Delhi, senior party leader Salman Khurshid said it was "more an issue of good manners than protocols".

Gandhi attended the Republic Day Parade at Rajpath and took the designated sixth-row seat, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad. "It's sad if those in power think somebody's stature is decided by where that person is seated," Khurshid said.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival here, he said India values protocols, but beyond protocols "there is something called good manners". "Rahul Gandhi is not just a Congress MP anymore. He is also the president of India's largest opposition party. And if the ruling party doesn't understand that position, it is unfortunate."



Government sources said that as per the protocol, the Leader of Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row. Khurshid also said the entire matter reflects "how much respect the ruling party has for the democratic process". The Congress leader also spoke about the ongoing protests over the release of Bollywood film "Padmaavat".

PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi at 69th Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath. Photo: Reuters

"The Supreme Court has done what is the obvious thing to do. This is not an isolated judgement for one single film, this should be taken as a general view for the freedom of expression. And that applies to everybody." The apex court had allowed the release of the film in all states.

He noted that while everyone has a right to free expression and dissent, it should be exercised within the walls of "permissible free expression". "Dissent is a part of freedom of expression," he said, "just as much as the person who wants to say something should be allowed to say that, there are people who have an issue with that person should also be allowed to voice it. But all of this should remain within the four walls of permissible limits of free expression," he said.

He said free expression that turns violent should not be permitted. "Free expression when turns into violence or oppression is obviously not permissible. We are all committed to free expression and not free oppression," he said.China's chief envoy for North Korean affairs said Friday the reasons he hasn't visited Pyongyang are "complicated" but that China remains committed to finding a diplomatic solution to tensions over the North's nuclear weapons program.

Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou offered no details but the lack of a visit has been cited as an indication of how badly relations between Beijing and Pyongyang have deteriorated.

"I am the special representative of the Chinese government on the Korean Peninsula affairs, but I have not visited North Korea yet. The reason is quite complicated," Kong told reporters.

"But regardless whether I visit North Korea, China's commitment to safeguarding peace and stability and realizing denuclearization on the peninsula will never change," he added.

China has long been the North's chief economic partner and political ally but North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's refusal to rein in his regime's provocative actions has left Beijing officials increasingly frustrated.

China's support for increasingly tough United Nations sanctions has also sparked a backlash from Pyongyang. Recent moves to ban sales of North Korean coal and other key exports are believed to be causing a cash crunch although the effect on regime stability isn't known.

Despite its reservations, China wants to avoid bringing the regime crashing down, causing a potential refugee and security crisis along with the loss of a buffer between it and US-backed South Korea.

Unlike his father and predecessor Kim Jong Il, the younger Kim has yet to visit China since coming to power in 2011.

The last high-level Chinese visitor to Pyongyang was Song Tao, head of the ruling Communist Party's International Department, in November.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh hoisted the tricolour and took salute today at an impressive march past amid the presence of thousands of people in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district.

Over 37 contingents from CRPF, SKPA, Home Guards, police, NCC, Flag troops and civil scots of different educational institutions, and the police band took part in the event.

While extending Republic Day greetings to the people of Udhampur, Singh said, "This day symbolises unity in diversity of our great nation."



The Dy CM commemorated the sacrifices of freedom fighters, including Sardar Bhagat Singh, Raj Guru, Chander Shekhar, Madan Lal Dingra, Ashfaq-Ullah-Khan etc, who laid down their lives for the nation, an official release said.

The deputy chief minister also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar.

Singh gave credit to the police, the paramilitary forces and the Army for bringing down violence and militancy in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The last rites of Army soldier Rakesh Kumar, who was killed in an IED blast in Arunachal Pradesh, were performed with full state honours here today.

Kumar, who was Lance Naik, was killed two days ago, defence officials said, adding that his body was flown to the Nal airport by a special aircraft last night.

Government representatives, officials from the Army, district administration and police paid their tributes to Kumar, who was supposed to retire this month.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)French President Emmanuel Macron today called for harsher European sanctions against Venezuela and urged the South American country's trading partners to follow suit in a bid to increase pressure on the regime of Nicolas Maduro.

Following a court decision to exclude the Venezuelan opposition from upcoming presidential elections in April, Macron denounced the "unacceptable authoritarian slide" of the oil-rich and once prosperous country.

"It will be at the European level that we will coordinate to see if we want to increase our sanctions. I am in favour," he told a press conference with Argentinian President Mauricio Macri.

He said that individual European sanctions against Venezuelans linked to the Maduro regime had had a "limited impact".

"I hope that other countries which share our values and our attachment to human rights, and obviously have much closer economic links, can also introduce effective sanctions," he added in an apparent message to other Latin American countries.

Argentina's Macri also condemned the "unacceptable authoritarian slide" of Venezuela under Maduro and called for "transparent elections", adding: "It has not been a democracy for some time."



The Venezuelan Supreme Court decision today effectively cleared the way for Maduro to win another term in April.

The court, seen as being stacked with Maduro loyalists, issued a ruling that means the MUD opposition will be unable to register before the vote, which has been brought forward to April 30 at the latest.

Since taking power last May, French President Emmanuel Macron has been an outspoken critic of Maduro, the hand-picked successor to longtime Venezuelan strongman and socialist Hugo Chavez.

"A dictatorship is trying to survive at an unprecedented humanitarian cost," Macron said in his first major foreign policy speech in August.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak today visited a mosque in Lutyens' Delhi to offer Friday prayers.

Razak visited the Jama Masjid mosque near Parliament at around 1 pm and stayed there for half an hour, a senior police official said.

A heavy security cover was thrown around the area in view of Razak's visit to the mosque.

Razak was among 10 ASEAN leaders who witnessed the Republic Day parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country's military might and cultural diversity.

Signifying India's fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc were invited as chief guests for the parade.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)FC Goa today announced the signing of former Kerala Blasters FC striker Mark Sifneos for the current season of the Indian Super League.

The Dutchman, 19, is the youngest foreign player in the Hero Indian Super League and was the first goal scorer for his former team in this season of the ISL.

The youngster already has four goals and an assist in the tournament and will be looking to add to that tally with the Gaurs who are the highest goal scorers of the tournament, having played only 10 games.

Sifneos also scored a goal against the Gaurs when Kerala played Goa at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.

The lanky Dutchman is a towering presence in the box and will be a threat to opposing teams at set pieces. His poaching instinct and ability to convert half chances will also help the Gaurs push for a place in the play off stage of the competition.

"The club is pleased to get Sifneos on board. He's a player who has already proved his quality in the league this year with his goals and all round play. We hope he can continue to replicate those performances for us," said an FC Goa official.

The Dutchman has been signed as a replacement for Spanish striker Adrian Colunga who was released recently.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad today said the state has evolved as one of the most preferred tourists destinations in the North East.

The governor unfurled the tri-colour and took the salute at the Republic Day function at the Polo ground here.

"Meghalaya has been able to evolve as one of the most preferred destinations in the North East of the country. Tourism is a pollution free industry, an eco-friendly industry capable of generating substantial employment opportunities to the people of the state," Ganga said.

"Adventure tourism activities are being encouraged and a number of adventure destinations providing activities like zip lining, scuba diving, trekking, mountain biking, river rafting and camping," he said.

The governor said, "The state government is augmenting the tourist accommodation facilities and also building up the brand of the state through focused publicity in electronic and print Media."



He said these efforts will manage in providing ecologically sustainable tourism with livelihood opportunities for the local communities.

He said the state is committed is achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and several steps under the Mission modes have been taken to ensure that these goals are achieved.

As the state prepares to host the national games 2022, the governor said an Indoor Stadium each will be constructed at Ampati in South West Garo Hills District and Pomlakarai in East Khasi Hills District.

Prasad also said the state received sanction of Rs 810.42 crore for construction of 290 roads with a total length of 1112.839 kilometre and 36 long span bridges aimed at connecting 297 villages.

Of these 61 roads have been completed covering a length of 520.185 km and 75 villages have been connected, he said.

On the situation along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Prasad said that the situation has remained peaceful due to improved relations with that country.

He said, "The state is committed to complete the remaining fencing on the international border at a fast pace to effectively contain influx of Bangladeshi nationals and trans-border movement and activities of militants and anti-social elements."



On the interstate borders with Assam, the governor said the state government is in the process of creating facilitation centers at various entry and exit points to check the entry of illegal migrants and other suspicious persons into the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma today congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the 69th Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said that the collective efforts of law enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the most peaceful states of the country.

He said that the state government's flagship programme



- the New Land Use Policy (NLUP) has already ushered in significant growth and changes in the socio-economic scenario of the state over the past five years.

"The NLUP has been successfully implemented since its inception on January 14, 2011 and will be completed within March 2018," he said.

He said that the New Economic Development Programme (NEDP) was now under vigorous implementation with the allocation of Rs 750 crore during the current fiscal.

Emphasis was given on entrepreneurship development schemes under which business plan competition was organised in partnership with the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kolkata Innovation Park to promote entrepreneurship, he said.

The 60-megawatt Tuirial Hydro Electric Project was completed and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 16, 2017, he said, adding that the state government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for execution of 210-megawatt Tuivai Hydro Electric Project.

He also made special mention that two-wheeler taxi permit has been introduced within Aizawl city with a view to provide quick and convenient system of public transport.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Most wanted gangster Vicky Gounder, who had escaped from the Nabha jail along with five other prisoners, was today killed in an encounter by the Punjab Police near a village in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district, officials said.

Another gangster, Prema Lahoria, the mastermind of the sensational Nabha jail break in November 2016, was also killed in the police operation this evening, they said.

A notorious criminal was injured while another was arrested, they said.

Two policemen also suffered injuries in the encounter at a 'dhani' (a small conglomeration of houses) near Pakki village -- just 50 metres from Punjab border in Rajasthan, Director General of Police (Intelligence), Punjab Police, Dinkar Gupta said in Chandigarh.

The operation was undertaken by the Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU), a special unit of the Punjab Police, he said.

Acting on a specific intelligence, an OCCU team, led by AIG Gurmeet Chauhan, raided the 'dhani' where the dreaded gangsters were provided shelter by another criminal, Lakhwinder Lakha, around 6:30 pm.

"Our two cops, Sub Inspector Baljinder Singh and ASI Kirpal Singh, were injured in this operation," DGP Gupta said.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has lauded the state police for eliminating the notorious gangsters.

"Congratulations to Punjab Police for killing most wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and his aide Prema Lahoria. Excellent work by DGP Suresh Arora, DG Intelligence Dinkar Gupta and OCCU team, including AIG Gurmeet Singh and Inspector Vikram Brar. Proud of you boys," the chief minister tweeted.

In the sensational Nabha Jail break in 2016, six prisoners including Harminder Singh Mintoo and Kashmir Singh, both terrorists, and gangsters Aman Dhothian, Vicky Gounder, Gurpreet Sekhon and Neeta Deol were freed by armed men.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The NIA has arrested a self- styled 'Brigadier' from Nagaland for his alleged involvement in supplying government arms and ammunition to NSCN-U and NSCN-K cadres, the central probe agency said today.

Aheto Chopey, a resident of Dimapur's Unity village, was arrested in a joint operation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) with Assam Rifles, it said in a statement.

He was intercepted near Zubza area in Kohima.

A non-bailable arrest warrant was issued against him by an NIA court in Nagaland's Dimapur.

The officials have recovered one AK-56 rifle, two 9mm pistols along with magazines, assorted ammunition and Rs 1,32,000 in cash from his possession, it said.

He was produced before an NIA Court in Dimapur yesterday from where he was sent to judicial custody since the NIA had already submitted a charge sheet against him in April last year, the statement said.

The case, registered in 2013, relates to the supply of government arms and ammunition to Naga underground factions The National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Unification (NSCN- U) and National Socialist Council of Nagaland Khaplang (NSCN-K), the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)No untoward incidents were today reported across the megapolis during the Republic Day celebration, police said.

The Republic Day celebrations went off peacefully here and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the city, a senior police official said.

Mumbai Police had stepped up security at all vital installations and sensitive locations, the official said.

Quick Response Teams were also deployed in the city.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah today said the 'Save Constitution' march here was an attempt to protect the "constitution under threat".

"Since 1947, we have been deriving our identity from the Indian Constitution. We all have come here to send across a message that to save the country, the constitution should be protected," he said.

The National Conference working president joined several opposition leaders for the march which began from B R Ambedkar's statue near the state secretariat this afternoon.

Earlier, the leaders met at the official residence of Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in south Mumbai.

Sharad Pawar (NCP), Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress) and Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) attended the meeting and joined the march.

NCP leaders Praful Patel and D P Tripathi and former MP Ram Jethmalani were also present. The Trinamool Congress deputed Trivedi, former railway minister, for the march.

'Save Constitution' march is being largely seen as an attempt to consolidate the anti-BJP forces ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Independent MP from Maharashtra Raju Shetti, convener of the march, said the participants gathered near the Ambedkar statue and began walking towards Shivaji Maharaj statue at the Gateway of India.

"This is a silent morcha (march). After reaching the Gateway (of India), they will stage a sit-in for some time. There will be no speeches," he said.

Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan and Mumbai Congress president Sanjay Nirupam also joined the march.

Meanwhile, the BJP is organising 'Tiranga Yatra' in the city this afternoon, apparently to counter the opposition event.

"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will address the gathering when it converges at Kamgar Maidan," Mumbai BJP chief Ashish Shelar said, adding several ministers, MPs and MLAs will participate in the event.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)People who engaged in online harassment and burned my effigies have only emboldened me to "write more", noted writer Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar has said in the wake of the controversy sparked by his second book 'The Adivasi Will Not Dance'.

The 34-year-old writer, a recipient of a Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar, had to face continuous online flak for a year- and-a-half from members of the Adivasi community who thought the book portrayed his own Santhal people, especially women, "in a bad light".

In August last year, the Jharkhand government banned the book. It suspended the writer, a medical officer at a district health centre 400 km from the capital Ranchi, and asked him to explain his actions.

"It was embarrassing. The irony was that the people who have been accused of harassing women were the ones showing that they respect women," Shekhar said at the eleventh edition of Jaipur Literature Festival.

"I was told that a law and order situation was created because of my book. How can a book be blamed for creating a law and order situation?" the author wondered.

Interestingly, the author's first novel 'The Mysterious Ailment of Rupi Baskey' published in 2015, though critically acclaimed also found itself at the centre of controversy back then.

But it seems it was much ado about nothing!



According to the author, the intention of instilling fear in him has only ended up encouraging him to write more on the issues he wants to write about.

"These people burnt my effigies. The campaign they started on the social media against me showed their character...Most of these people who threaten me are paper tigers. These people only encourage us to write more. Opposition encouraged me to write more," he said.

However, acknowledging the support and protection he got from the fellow writers, he did say that protecting people was not the job of writers.

"I approached police for help, but was told to keep a body guard," he said while participating in a session titled as "Banned in India" along with other notable writers like Mridula Garg and Paro Anand.

One of Hindi's famous author Mridula Garg too shared her story as she talked about her arrest after the release of her novel 'Chittacobra'.

She said she was so frustrated by the experience that she felt motivated to write another book.

But, needless to say, the authors discussing the topics didn't agree among themselves on all the counts.

So where Shekhar was grateful to writers for their support, Garg, on the other hand, expressed sadness at the lack of support from the authors.

"When a goon does something, the state does nothing to protect you. The state colludes with the goon to get you arrested.

"The writer community till date has not expressed any remorse. They pretended as if nothing had happened," she added.

Discussing the tools that the authors have to counter any book ban, Garg said one of the best way was to organise a public reading.

"One voice is enough to start a movement. Keeping quiet is not the answer," she added.

Paro, another writer who writes for children and has seen her work banned in some schools, said the state should do more to punish these people who demand bans on books and on films like the recent 'Padmavaat'.

"It is not right to paint the entire situation with a broad brush. If you are not happy with a particular book, the best thing to do is not to read that book or write your own book instead," she said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Critically acclaimed filmmaker Vishal Bhardwaj said today that people had no right to violently protest against "Padmaavat" as it was cleared by the censor board and given the go ahead by the Supreme Court.

Speaking on the second day of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the 52-year-old director and music composer also alleged that the government was hand in glove with protesters.

"If the Supreme Court and the censor board have given clearance, what is the problem? If they are saying that there is nothing objectionable in the movie, then we should not pay heed to people who are protesting on the streets," he said.

Bhardwaj also said that if the state government was unable to control protests, it should resign.

The film, which is based on 16th Century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's "Padmavat", got mired in controversy after various Rajput groups, including the Karni Sena, alleged that it distorts history, a claim repeatedly denied by director Sanjay Leela Bansali.

Historians are divided on whether Padmavati actually existed.

The film starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh was released yesterday after the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) cleared it last month with a 'U/A' certificate and five modifications, including title change from "Padmavati" to "Padmaavat".

"People used to get offended earlier also. Now, the offenders are being patronised. They are being encouraged by enforcement agencies to throw stones... Nobody has the right to participate in violent protests when the director has made the changes that he was told to make," he said.

"Indian films are being targeted aggressively. The film industry is very sad. The scary part is that the protesters are getting away with it," the filmmaker said.

"Today the gun is at your head. It's all going in the wrong direction. If you have to curb and control your thoughts, how can it be called a democratic society...Earlier you could criticise the prime minister and the policies, now you have to think twice," Bhardwaj said.

He said the present time was the "best time" for artists as they were being heard and paid attention to like never before.

"When you are suppressed, repressed or silenced by the state, then you have an enemy to react to. Otherwise the enemy is so useless. Earlier, if you said something they wouldn't pay attention to it, now you know you are being heard. Even if you are silent, your silence is piercing them.

"This is a beautiful time for art and the artists. They have to strangulate us so that we can scream. And this is the time to scream," Bhardwaj said.

"Also, it is up to the masses whom they want to support. Do they want to side with the artists or do they want to side with the oppressor," he said.

On the film fraternity's stand over the "Padmaavat" row, Bhardwaj said the community was united, but lamented that it is powerless and is not being taken seriously.

"We speak in one voice. We are brothers in arms, but are not warriors. We are with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but have no power and are considered as mere entertainers," he said.

Bhardwaj told PTI that the only way forward was to make wise use of the chance that people get after every five years when they exercise their franchise.

"Every five years we get a chance, this is the only way to fight this out," he said at the Lit Fest that began yesterday and will end on January 29.

On his obsession with Shakespeare, Bhardwaj said the bard's stories are "timeless" and are so "dramatic and entertaining" that he wants to continue to do adaptations from the writer's work.

He said he was also planning to do a trilogy on Shakespearean plays based on comedy.

"My first encounter with Shakespeare was in school. It was with 'The Merchant of Venice'. I was too young to understand it. Later I read Macbeth... Ideally that is how I got introduced to Shakespeare," the filmmaker said.

He said he wanted to explore the works of other Indian writers such as Munshi Premchand, Sharad Joshi and Ruskin Bond.

Terming Haider as his favourite Shakespearean adaptation, Bhardwaj said he had matured a lot as a filmmaker when he made that movie.

"Basharat Peer's book 'Curfewed Night' inspired me to do Haider in Kashmir. It was a personal film for me and I wanted to dedicate it to my father who died of a cardiac arrest on the road after a case was brought against us by a lawyer," he said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)No protests were witnessed in Rajasthan today against the controversial film "Padmaavat" till afternoon, a police official said.

The Sanjay Leela Bansali-directed period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh was released across the country yesterday amid tight security.

The film's release was protested by several organisations, including the Karni Sena, in many states, including Rajasthan.

"No incidence of protest or rally was reported in the state as the fringe group, Karni Sena, had announced that they will not protest considering Republic Day celebrations," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, N R K Reddy said.

He said that yesterday an incident of stone pelting was reported in Udaipur, but no fresh incident occurred today.

Shree Rajput Karni Sena patron Lokendra Singh Kalvi had yesterday announced that the 'Janta Curfew' will be imposed post noon when Republic Day celebrations are over.

Reddy said that ample security measures had been taken to ensure that law and order is maintained.

He said that none of the multiplexes in Rajasthan is showing "Padmaavat" as theatre owners have refrained from screening the controversial movie in the state.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)India's vibrance was on full display on the world stage today, with Indians celebrating the 69th Republic Day at Indian missions where the tricolour fluttered proudly amid melodious strains of the national anthem.

In China, Indian envoy Gautam Bambawale hoisted the tricolour at the embassy in Beijing and read out President Ram Nath Kovind's address to the nation.

The event was followed by a cultural programme. Over 300 Indian expats and diplomats participated in the celebrations.

The Republic Day was also celebrated at the Indian embassy in Jakarta.

Prakash Gupta, Charge de Affairs, hoisted the flag at the embassy premises as large gathering of Indian nationals and members of Indian diaspora watched.

Similar ceremonies took place at the Indian Consulates at Bali and Medan.

In Singapore, over 600 Indians joined acting High Commissioner Ninad S Deshpande in celebrating the Republic Day.

Deshpande read out the president's speech. Students from Indian schools sang patriotic songs. The High Commission hosted a reception for the community.

In Bangladesh, Indian nationals rallied at the country's High Commission in Dhaka while the celebrations began with the hoisting of the national flag as the national anthem was played on the backdrop.

"The Republic Day has taught us to be respectful to all," High Commissioner Harsh Bardhan Shringla told the celebration after hoisting the flag.

He said the 1950 adoption of the Indian constitution, which is marked as the Republic Day, was the second most crucial event in nation building process of India.

The High Commission organised day-long cultural programmes to mark the day while set to host a reception for distinguished Bangladeshis and foreign dignitaries in the evening.

In Russia, a large crowd of over five hundred people, including Indian citizens, people of Indian-origin and Russian nationals, participated in the joyous celebration braving the bitter January cold of Moscow.

The ceremony commenced with the unfurling of the National Flag by Ambassador of India Pankaj Saran followed by singing of National Anthem and reading out of the president's address to the nation.

On the occasion, the envoy greeted the Indian community in Russia and also thanked all those who participated in the function. The event also included a cultural performance by the children from the Embassy of India School, Moscow.

To mark the occasion, the national daily newspaper 'Kommersant', one of the most prominent and widely circulated dailies of Russia, brought out a special supplement on India in cooperation with the Embassy of India.

The publication contained articles, providing an interesting insight into the special and privileged India- Russia ties.

It covered unique facets of the relationship in many fields including Defence, nuclear energy, hydrocarbon and culture. The publication also covered various aspects of India's progress, including scientific and technological advancement, and other achievements over the years.

The Indian embassy in Nepal celebrated the 69th Republic Day of India at a special function. Ambassador of India to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri hoisted the national flag and read the president's message.

The flag hoisting ceremony was attended by over 1,000 people. The students of the Kendriya Vidyalaya and the Indian Cultural Centre, Kathmandu sang patriotic songs followed by a scintillating performance by the Nepal Army Band.

On the occasion, Puri felicitated seven widows, four next of kins of deceased soldiers and one disabled soldier of Indian Armed Forces by distributing them a total sum of 41.4 million rupees as award.

India also gifted 30 ambulances and six buses to various hospitals, non-profit charity organisations and educational institutions of different districts of Nepal.

The embassy also gifted books to 41 educational institutions and libraries across Nepal as part of its initiative for providing educational material to students in remote areas.

The envoy also hosted a reception at India House in the premises of the embassy to observe the Republic Day of India which coincides with 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Nepal. Vice President of Nepal Nanda Bahadur Pun graced the occasion.

In Egypt, Indian envoy Sanjay Bhattacharyya hoisted the Indian flag.

Members of Indian community attended the celebrations which was held at the India House premises in Zamalek, Cairo.

After hoisting the flag, the attendees sang the national anthem.

"We are celebrating the 69th Republic Day of India, for us in Cairo it's a very special occasion because this coincides with the 70th anniversary of our independence and also the 70th independence of India-Egypt relations. Our relations have been very deep at a political security level, we have strong economic content and we also have a very active cultural exchange," Bhattacharyya told PTI.

The event also included patriotic singing by a choir consisted of young Indians. The songs were in three languages - Bengali, Malayalam and Hindi.

Also Indian students who study at Al-Azhar University, recited an patriotic poem in Arabic dedicated to India.

"This morning we had a very wide cross section of the Indian community who sang patriotic songs of different languages exhibiting the diversity of India and we also had a rendering of a very popular song of India in its Arabic version which shows the string connection between the Nile and the Ganga," the envoy added.

On the occasion of the Republic Day, the envoy will hold a reception for Indian community and diplomats to share the bonds of friendship and make it deeper.

"We believed that India is today poised to assume a more active role in global affairs and to lend our principles and values towards the betterment of mankind," the envoy added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Nazib Razak, focusing on ways to enhance counter-terror cooperation and boost ties in areas of defence, trade and investment.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said the two leaders had an "engaging" discussion.

"An important strategic partner! PM @narendramodi met with Malaysian Prime Minister @NajibRazak. Two leaders had an engaging discussion on defence and security, trade and investment, counter terrorism and people to people links. #ASEANIndia," he tweeted.

Razak is among 10 ASEAN leaders who participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit yesterday and watched the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath today.

Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith during which a range of issues of mutual interests were discussed.

"Longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive relations! In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, PM @narendramodi discussed developmental cooperation, and partnership in trade and HRD.#aseanindia," the MEA spokesperson tweeted.

Sisoulith also participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit and witnessed the Republic Day Parade.

Since Wednesday, Modi had held bilateral meetings with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The premiers of Fiji and Bhutan greeted India on the 69th Republic Day today, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanking them for their wishes.

"On behalf of the Fijian people, I would like to wish @narendramodi, and all of India, a very happy 69th #RepublicDay," Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama tweeted.

"While our nations vary greatly by size and population, we share a unique bond. I'm honoured to call PM Modi both a partner in development and a friend," he tweeted.

His Bhutan counterpart, Tshering Tobgay, also took to Twitter to wish Modi and the countrymen.

"Hearty congratulations and best wishes to PM @narendramodi ji, the government and the people India on the happy occasion of their 69th Republic Day," Tobgay tweeted.

Responding, Modi said, "Thank you PM Frank Bainimarama! for the Republic Day wishes. India truly cherishes our deep- rooted ties with Fiji."



In another tweet addressed to Tobgay, Modi said, "Thank you for the Republic Day wishes, PM @tsheringtobgay."



India celebrated the day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Pro-India and anti-India protesters today faced off outside India House in London to raise slogans and wave flags and placards.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, a Pakistani-origin peer,led an anti- India protest campaign.

The Indian High Commission in London branded the protest as a "desperate attempt by a disgraced politician" who had been suspended from the Labour party in 2013 following an anti-semitism row.

Members of the Indian diaspora in the city had mobilised a 'Chalo India House' demonstration to counter Ahmed's plans and a few dozen members on both sides tried to shout at each other down outside the Indian High Commission building as Scotland Yard officers stood guard.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A radicalised Pune-based woman was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police last night following an intelligence input that she wanted to join banned ISIS terror group, police said here today.

The woman identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, who turned 18 in November last year, had come from Pune and was staying in Bijbehara as a paying guest and planning to join the ISIS, the police claimed.

However, during her extensive questioning, the school dropout turned out to be having radical thoughts who had fallen prey to false propaganda on social networking site about alleged suffering of the Kashmiri people at the hands of security forces, officials said.

The state police has got in touch with her mother and aunt and she will be handed over to them as there is no case pending against the detained woman either in the Valley or Maharashtra, they said.

It was a case of misinterpreting an intelligence input by the Jammu and Kashmir police who were informed by central security agencies that a Pune-based woman, who was detained on various occasions by the ATS Pune, had shifted her base to the Valley and that surveillance needs to be mounted.

However, Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan, who is functioning as Inspector General of Police Kashmir range, issued an alert to all districts naming her and claiming she was a suicide-bomber planning to disrupt the Republic Day function.

The note signed by Khan said that "there is a strong input" that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the Republic Day parade in Kashmir.

"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of ANEs (anti-national elements)," the note, circulated on January 23, read.

Today, after understanding the gravity of the faux pas, Khan refused to give any details and said, "We will be talking to her and we will be talking to our sister agencies. We will be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. After doing proper investigation, we will come to any conclusion."



Shaikh had been questioned by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2015, when it came to notice that she had been radicalised after coming in contact with ISIS supporters abroad.

She was planning to travel to Syria, the ATS had then claimed. The woman, a Class 11 student at a Pune college, was subsequently sent for a de-radicalisation programme by the ATS.

Meanwhile, the woman's mother refuted all the charges levelled against her daughter and said she will not believe the claims of security agencies until she talks to her.

She refused to speak on why Shaikh had gone to J&K.

She said her daughter was innocent and somebody has misused her name. Her mother claimed that Shaikh spoke to her over the phone two days ago and said she was fine.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A Pune-based woman, alleged to be a suicide bomber, was detained by Jammu and Kashmir Police last night from South Kashmir, police said.

"We had an input about a suspect. Fortunately, after working on all the leads, we were able to apprehend the suspect late last night," Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan told reporters here.

Refusing to give any further details, Khan, who is also holding the post of Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range), said, "We will be talking to her (suspect) and we will be talking to our sister agencies. We will be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. After doing proper investigation, we will come to any conclusion."



Central intelligence agencies had sounded to the state police that a woman from Pune, identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, had shifted herself to Kashmir Valley and was in regular touch with ISIS operatives, officials said.

A high alert was sounded in the valley two days ahead of Republic Day and a message was circulated that "there is a strong input" that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the Republic Day parade in Kashmir.

"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of ANEs (anti- elements)," the message, circulated on 23 January, read.

Shaikh had been questioned by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2015, when it came to notice that she had been radicalised after coming in contact with ISIS supporters abroad.

She was planning to travel to Syria, the ATS had then claimed. The woman, a Class XI student at a Pune college, was subsequently sent for a de-radicalisation programme by the ATS.The Republic Day was celebrated across the eastern region with enthusiasm today, but it was marred in Assam by three low-intensity blasts in Tinsukia district and an indefinite curfew in Dima Hasao' Maibang.

The explosions, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, took place at two places in the district.

Two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other at the Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station, police said.

Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters here that the explosions were of low-intensity and was carried out by ULFA (Independent) to prove its existence.

There was no report of any casualty, police said.

In Dima Hasao, the indefinite curfew in Maibang, which was clamped yesterday after clashes between the police and a mob during a bandh, continued today.

The bandh was extended by groups opposing the proposed inclusion of Dima Hasao in Greater Nagalim after two people, injured allegedly in police firing during the clashes, died today.

"While one person died on the way to a hospital in Guwahati, the other succumbed at a hospital this morning," a senior government official told PTI.

The Republic Day function at the Haflong, the district's headquarters, was cut short after hoisting of the tricolour as there was hardly any people present.

In Jharkhand, an encounter took place between security forces and Maoists in West Singhbhum district's Porhat forest this morning.

Chakradharpur Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sakaldeo Ram said that a CPI (Maoists) squad led by its 'area commander' Jeevan Kandulana fired on police and CRPF personnel around 9.40 am.

The personnel retaliated and the exchange of fire lasted for over half an hour, forcing the ultras to retreat, the officer said.

In a search operation a .303 rifle, which was looted from the police, was recovered along with 100 rounds of ammunition, six powerful bombs, over 20 detonators, cordex wire and explosive-attached arrows.

Governors of the all states in eastern India hoisted the national flag and extended greetings to the people.

In Guwahati, Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said that the government was working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion.

In neighbouring Meghalaya, Governor Ganga Prasad said that the state had evolved as one of the most preferred tourists destinations in the northeast.

On the occasion, Sikkim Governor N Sriniwas Patil paid homage to those who laid down their lives for India's freedom, while his counterpart in Manipur, Najma Heptulla, in an event in Imphal, awarded medals to police and fire brigade personnel for their services.

Nagaland Governor P B Acharya expressed hope that the decades old Naga political issue would be resolved soon.

The day was also celebrated in the other north eastern states of Tripura, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

In Kolkata, West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi presided over an hour-long march past of the armed and police forces.

The state's 'Unity in Brotherhood' tableau, which was rejected by the Centre for the Republic Day procession in Delhi, was also included in the parade.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik in Patna said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

In Odisha, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik claimed that the state's growth rate had surpassed the national average, while in Ranchi, Governor Draupadi Murmu said Jharkhand was at the second spot after Gujarat in growth rate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A ceremonial parade was held at the naval base, Southern Naval Command (SNC) here to commemorate the nation's 69th Republic Day.

The parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Southern Naval Command and comprised 24 platoons including six armed platoons.

The President's Colours awarded to the Southern Naval Command were also paraded on the occasion, accompanied by a 50-men Guard of Honour.

The Admiral had earlier paid floral tributes to the martyrs at the War Memorial prior arriving on Parade.

The Parade was commanded by Commander Shyam Dhar and was accompanied by the SNC band playing stirring martial music.

Karve, while addressing the gathering reminded everyone that the position of the navy as the net security provider of the region would constantly pose new challenges and that each one would have to measure up.

The C-in-C complimented the well-coordinated and proactive actions taken during Cyclone 'Okchi' resulting in naval ships and aircraft saving the lives of many fishermen.

He also emphasised the importance of safety and security, which needed constant and dedicated attention.

All naval ships at Kochi were also "dressed overall" with various signal flags displayed from their masthead to both stem and stern (throughout from forward to aft) to mark the occasion.

On the occasion of the Republic Day the award of Param Vishisht Seva Medal to Karve by the President was also announced.

Six additional Officers and one defence civilian of SNC have also been selected for distinguished service awards by the President.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Manipur Governor Najma Heptulla today unfurled the national flag at Kangla Fort here on the occasion of the country's 69th Republic Day celebrations and awarded medals to police personnel and fire brigade officials for their services.

Heptulla extended her wishes to the people of the state and paid homage to the great founding fathers of the country.

Altogether 79 contingents, representing different central and state security units, took part in the march past on Kangla Fort premises in the presence of dignitaries and bureaucrats.

Chief Minister N Biren Singh today urged the militants to shun violence and join mainstream.

"All differences can be resolved through dialogues," he said after hoisting the tricolour at the parade ground of 1st Manipur Rifles complex.

The CM also highlighted some of the initiatives taken up by the BJP-led coalition government on this occasion and assured to provide all necessary facilities, including food, clean water and medical aid for the people.

"The Anti-Corruption Cell in Manipur has received around 500 complaints since its establishment in March last year. Of that more than 100 have been dealt with by the officials so far," he said.

Security forces have been put on high alert all across the state today in the wake of a boycott call given by several militant outfits.

No untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, a senior police officer said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)An additional commissioner in the Income Tax Department, enrolled with a special territorial army unit, has been decorated with the Shaurya Chakra for exhibiting extraordinary courage and killing infiltrators along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

47-year-old Captain Pradeep Shoury Arya's is one of the exceptional cases in which a bureaucrat has been decorated with the third highest peacetime military gallantry medal.

Shoury, a 2004-batch Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer, was commissioned into the 106th infantry battalion of the Territorial Army (PARA) in 2009. His unit was on attachment with the 4th battalion of PARA (Special Forces) deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) when he undertook a dare-devil operation.

Shoury's team was tasked to create effective intelligence and defence mechanism against cross-border infiltration in the Baramula district of J-K, along the LoC.

The officer's citation says: "On the night of May 28 last year, he displayed heroic initiative and inspirational combat leadership, ran ahead from his concealed position, unmindful of his own safety and came directly in contact with the terrorists and eliminated them."



Shoury, posted as an Additional Commissioner in the international taxation wing of the I-T Department in Mumbai, told PTI: "I always wanted to don the uniform and hence enrolled myself into the TA to serve the motherland."



The officer had also used his tax investigation knowledge to prepare a special report on terror funding and money laundering activities of the ultras operating in Kashmir valley, earning himself commendation from the Chief of the Army Staff (COAS).

He was also adjudged the best trainee officer at the Indian Military Academy and has won the national award for best electoral practices for conducting polls in Nagaland as part of working under an Election Commission team.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Colourful tableaux, disciplined parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day as patriotic fervour gripped the nation on the 69th Republic Day which passed off peacefully amid tight security.

Governors unfurled the tricolour in their respective states and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

In Kashmir, all Republic Day programmes, including the main event in Srinagar, were uneventful amid heightened security measures in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.

"The Republic Day functions at all district headquarters passed off peacefully," a senior police officer said.

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul hoisted the tricolour and reminded the citizens the Constitution has enlisted fundamental duties alongside the Fundamental Rights.

In Uttar Pradesh, energy and patriotism marked the celebrations with the main function being held at the state capital Lucknow. At Vidhan Bhawan, Governor Ram Naik took the salute of the parades put up by the army, central forces and school children.

The Governor on the occasion asked people to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.

V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and the administrator of UT Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag in Pathankot, while Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the tricolour in Ambala.

Meanwhile, two Saudi nationals and an Indian, carrying a satellite phone, were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, police said.

Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said they will be interrogated by a joint team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police. Possession of satellite phone without authorisation is not allowed in the country.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the tricolour at the famous Gandhi Maidan at Patna on the occasion and said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

The government will take measures to empower the youth and the marginalized sections of the society, he said, after taking a salute at the marchpast by contingents of Bihar police and central armed forces.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Later in the day, the CM hoisted the flag at his official residence and at a "Mahadalit Tola" in Punpun block of rural Patna.

The tricolour was also unfurled at the offices of political parties like the BJP, the Congress, the RJD and the JD(U) besides government establishments and educational institutions.

In neighbouring Jharkhand, after unfurling the tricolour Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is second only to Gujarat in terms of growth rate in the country.

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi hoisted the tricolor at Red Road in Kolkata. He also presided over an hour-long march past of the armed forces, police forces and civilians, including school students.

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

Hoisting the tricolour on the occasion, Mukhi said, "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore."



Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the day.

Tableaux on P-21 surface-to-surface missile, surface-to- air missile, Rakshak Bulletproof vehicle, Mahila Suraksha Pathak vehicle, Jalyukta Shivar scheme, were a part of the parade.

In Telangana, Governor E S L Narasimhan in his Republic Day speeh said the state government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year.

While, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said although tourism was generating revenue in the state, it has also brought with it issues like narcotics and human trafficking.

"The government is committed to fight these evils. I am hopeful that joint efforts by the people and the government will weed out these evils from the state," she said at the Republic Day function in the state capital of Panaji.

In his speech, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said the collective efforts of law-enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the more peaceful states of the country.

While in his speech, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra exhorted the people to contribute to the remarkable growth plan being carried out by the state government to put the state in the highest-growth trajectory.

The day was celebrated across Odisha amid tight security as Governor S C Jamir unfurled the tricolour on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the state capital.

In his speech, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy congratulated the people for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold democratic values under all circumstances.

In Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala urged the people to build a strong nation on patriotic sentiments and scientific temperament as he addressed the gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the historic Manekshaw Parade ground.

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam expressed concern over some youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)In a tragic incident, six people, including three of a family, headed for a picnic programme on Republic Day, were killed when their car rammed into a tree near Kolhapur, police said today.

Three employees of a pune-based software firm were killed in the accident that took place near Talawade village around 11 am, a police official said.

They were headed to Ratnagiri for a picnic, said Inspector Anil Gade of Shahuwadi police station.

"While three persons were killed on the spot, the others succumbed to their injuries at a nearby primary health centre," Gade said.

The deceased were identified as Santosh Raut (37), his wife Snehal (32) and their six-year-old son Swananda.

The other deceased were identified as Prashant Patankar (40), car owner Deepak Shelkande (40) and his three-year-old son Pranav.

According to the officer, Santosh, Prashant and Deepak were employees of Yardi Software India Private Limited.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Congress president on Thursday attended the Republic Day Parade and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from his party that accused the government of setting aside tradition and indulging in "cheap politics".

Gandhi was seated in the sixth row, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government's "cheap politics" was on display today when it broke tradition and denied Gandhi a front-row seat.

Congress sources said the party presidents, including Sonia Gandhi who handed over the party reins to in December last year, had always been seated in the front row at the Republic Day Parade.

"The Modi government's cheap politics is for all to see. The Congress president was deliberately made to sit in the sixth row, after initially assigning him a fourth-row seat, at the Republic Day celebrations by the arrogant rulers, who set aside all past traditions. For us the celebration of the Constitution is foremost," Surjewala tweeted in Hindi.

He also tagged a picture of Gandhi seated along with Azad at the Republic Day function.

Former prime ministers H D Deve Gowda and Manmohan Singh were seen seated in the front row in the picture, followed by Union ministers Smriti Irani and Thawarchand Gehlot.

Congress leaders had yesterday alleged that assigning a seat in the fourth row to the Congress president was an attempt to "humiliate" him at a public function, which was attended by heads of government/states of 10 Asean countries.

India today celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the Asean nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the Asean leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.

Last year, Sonia Gandhi was assigned a seat in the front row and was seen sitting along with BJP president Amit Shah. The BJP president was seated in the front row in the function today.

Government sources said that as per the protocol, the Leader of Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row.Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to arrive here on January 30 for a two-day meeting with the party workers and supporters of the poll-bound state, sources in the state unit of the party said today.

Meghalaya is set to go to polls on February 27 and the results will be announced on March 3.

The tenure of the current 60-member assembly ends on March 6.

"Our party president (Rahul Gandhi) will arrive here on January 30 and address leaders and workers in Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills and the state capital," Shillong MP Vincent Pala, who is also the working president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, told PTI.

He said the AICC president will not address any public rally during this visit.

The party is finalising the two-day schedule the Gandhi's visit to state, Pala said, adding that all leaders and supporters have been invited by the party president for the meeting.

The Congress had faced a major setback earlier this month when five of its MLAs resigned from the assembly and joined the NPP and two other legislators moved to the BJP and the newly formed People's Democratic Front.

The BJP, on the other hand, has said that it is in the process of finalising the visit of its star campaigners which include Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi had visited the state last month and addressed a gathering at Polo Grounds here. The rally was attended by thousands of people, including the BJP workers.

It would be a morale booster for the state unit leaders if the Prime Minister addresses rallies in all three regions - Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills - while party president Amit Shah campaigns in at least two places, BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Regulations for crypto currencies can help boost public trust in them as many nations are looking to take advantage of this disruptive innovation, according to experts participating in the WEF summit.

While regulations for crypto currencies are still evolving, Sweden is already planning to launch its own digital currency.

The price of bitcoin has increase more than 12-fold in the past four years and the combined market of crypto-assets is now valued at over USD 500 billion, as per a release issued by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

"I do think (crypto currency) needs to be regulated, just like anything I would want to become mainstream should be regulated," said Neil Rimer, General Partner and Co-Founder of Switzerland-based Index Ventures, adding that regulation could be one way of increasing public trust in the experiment.

The release said that not only are nations seeking to regulate the use of crypto currency, many are also looking to take advantage of the disruptive innovation associated with it.

Cecilia Skingsley, Deputy Governor of the Swedish Central Bank (Sveriges Riksbank), said Sweden is considering having its own digital currency 'e krona' that would complement traditional notes and coins.

"Cash is going out of fashion very quickly," she was quoted as saying in the release.

Some developing nations have also seen the potential of becoming part of the crypto currency movement.

"A lot of smaller economies now - they start to think if we just make our regulation a little bit more crypto-friendly we can attract a lot of investment and a lot of talent," said Jennifer Zhu Scott, Principal at Radian Partners, Hong Kong SAR.

According to the release, the staying power and pricing of bitcoin suggest that crypto-assets would continue to have a disruptive impact on global finance but they raise more questions than answers about what shape that disruption would take.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The annual congregation of world leaders in this snow-laden Swiss town concluded today where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the charge against protectionism and was joined by the likes of Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron while US President Donald Trump wrapped it up by asserting 'America First' does not mean 'America alone'.

Over five days, the rich and powerful of the 'fractured' world as well as those from academia, art, culture and civil society, also flagged growing levels of gender and income inequality, as well as the financial and environmental risks.

Davos regular and IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the world should celebrate economic recovery but also repair the leaking roofs while the sun shines.

As this ski resort town saw unprecedented levels of snowfall this year, there were unusual delays in start of some programmes on the first two days besides ever increasing serpentine queues of vehicles on roads and of people outside the session halls.

Against that backdrop, French President Emmanuel Macron remarked this much snow would raise doubts among sceptics of global warming and it was good that they were not here as yet -- an apparent quip at his US counterpart who has announced that America would be leaving the Paris climate pact.

Macron's remarks came on Wednesday before Trump arrived at Davos.

And today, Trump was welcomed on stage with a traditional Swiss brass band performance, another unusual event.

In his typical style, Trump said the press always loved him as a businessman but turned "nasty" and "fake" when he joined politics and became president, eliciting quite audible hisses and boos from some people in the audience that included a large number of media persons.

Replying to the growing demand for action against what is being considered as protectionist policies in the US, Trump declared he supports free trade but it must be fair and reciprocal. He also asserted that free trade would not be possible if some countries resort to abuse of systems, taking an indirect jibe at China.

Modi -- the first Indian prime minister to come here in over two decades -- led the charge against protectionism and declared that India was an open economy and ready to host businesses from across the world and share the benefits for all with its age-old concept of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' -- the world is one family.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke out against protectionist tendencies at the summit.

As the world leaders continued to voice their concerns over various ills facing the world, British Prime Minister Theresa May was somehow cynical that the big words spoken in Davos were often not matched with actions outside.

Her comments led many here to quip that Davos was like Las Vegas of the economic world -- whatever happens in Davos, remains in Davos.

The official programme began on Monday with Crystal Awards for cine star Shahrukh Khan, actor Cate Blanchett and music icon Elton John. At the ceremony, the Bollywood star had his own 'fan moment' when he asked Blanchett for a selfie.

A concert by the Davos Festival Chamber Coir marked the end of the five-day summit.

International Trade Union Confederation's Sharon Burrow, part of the all women co-chairs, in her closing remarks made sure to thank drivers and all the support staff for running the show successfully. She also said the theme of creating a shared future in a fractured world would not be achieved without inclusion at all levels.

Chetna Sinha from India was also a co-chair for this year's summit.

A large Indian delegation, including union ministers, attended the 48th annual meeting of the WEF.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)A prominent, now-retired orthodontics Indian-origin professor at the University of Connecticut subjected Muslim and Arab resident doctors at the school to disparaging remarks about their nationalities and retaliated against them when they cooperated with an inquiry into his conduct, according to a school investigation report.

Among the allegations in the July 2016 report against Dr. Ravindra Nanda are that he called some resident doctors members of the Islamic State, said the FBI might think he is building an "ISIS cell" because of the large number of Saudis in his program, allowed only North American students and residents to treat Caucasian patients and scuttled a job application for a woman resident doctor.

Nanda, 74, a native of an area of former British India that is now part of Pakistan, denied all the allegations. He retired last fall, more than a year after the report was issued.

The report by an investigator with UConn Health's Office of Institutional Equity found the testimony of several resident doctors credible and recommended that UConn Health officials consider disciplining Nanda. The resident doctors' names are blacked out in the report.

It is not clear, however, whether Nanda was disciplined. Chris Hyers, chief communications officer for UConn Health, said Thursday that leaders of the Farmington campus took "appropriate measures" in response to the investigation findings. He would not elaborate.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley today due to a strike called by all separatist groups, which had asked the people to observe the Republic Day as a "black day".

Shops, offices, petrol pumps and business establishments in the city here remained closed while public transport was off the roads, the administration said.

The effect of the strike was accentuated due to a holiday and the strict security arrangements which were in place to maintain law and order, they said.

According to a official, reports of shutdown being observed were received from other major towns of the Valley also.

However, the Republic Day celebrations went off peacefully and there were no reports of any untoward incident from across the Valley.

Separatists groups had called for observance of "black day" on 26 January to press for the early resolution of Kashmir issue.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Union ministers, including Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, unfurled the tricolour at their official residences here and greeted the nation on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day.

"Unfurling national flag at residence on #RepublicDay. Greetings on the holy occasion of Republic Day #RepublicDay," Finance Minister Jaitley tweeted.

Gadkari, who also hoisted the national flag at his residence, took the micro-blogging site to wish countrymen.

"Let us pledge to uphold the spirit of our constitution at all times and make ours a Republic of positive constructive, nation building ideas. #Republicday2018," he said.

Union Minister for Science and Technology, Harsh Vardhan echoed similar sentiments and said Republic Day was a solemn occasion to pay tributes to the country's architects and democracy.

"It is now the responsibility of each citizen to uphold the sanctity of our constitution and contribute to making a #New India," he tweeted.

Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Twitter said, "Unfurled the National Tricolour and took salute on Republic Day at my residence. My tributes to those brave soldiers who made their supreme sacrifice for security and pride of the nation. #Republicday2018."



Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani urged people on Twitter to reaffirm their commitment to contribute towards building a "new" and "positive" India.

Minister of State for Water Resources Satyapal Singh paid respects to freedom fighters and asked people to resolute to "live for the country".

"Will make sacrifices if need be (for the country)," he said on the micro-blogging site.

Union Ministers Ram Vilas Paswan and Arjun Ram Meghwal were also among the ministers who unfurled the tricolour at their residences.

Colourful tableaux, disciplined parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day as patriotic fervour gripped the nation on the 69th Republic Day which passed off peacefully amid tight security.

Governors unfurled the tricolour in their respective states and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Patriotic fervour and re-dedication to nation building marked the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh with the main function being held at the state capital this morning.

Governor Ram Naik took the salute at an impressive parades put up by the Army, central forces at Vidhan Bhawan here.

On the occasion, different state departments along with the students of different schools brought out tableaux and made colourful presentations.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, cabinet ministers and state officials, among other dignitaries were also present at the function.

Later, talking to reporters, Governor Ram Naik said that this year Republic day was different as just two days before the state celebrated its own foundation day, called 'UP Divas'.

"The UP Day was celebrated after 68 years on which the Chief Minister had launched a number of developmental schemes for the people of the state," he said.

Uttar Pradesh government had celebrated for the first time the state's foundation day, the date when the erstwhile United Provinces was rechristened as Uttar Pradesh in 1950.

The idea to mark UP divas was given by the Governor Ram Naik only when he suggested to celebrate the day on the lines of Maharashtra Day so that people know the history and culture of their state.

Republic day functions were also held in all government and political party offices with unfurling of the national flag and singing of patriotic songs.

According to police, there was no report of any untoward incident anywhere in the state so far.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The MHRD has granted Rs 456.10 crore to four older IITs including the one at Kharagpur for development projects.

An IIT Kharagpur statement today quoted a tweet by the HRD ministry on the approval of the Rs 456.10 crore as one-time additional capital funding for IIT Kharagpur and three other IITs.

The funding has been earmarked for lab infrastructure, equipment and others, the statement said.

As per the announcement by the HRD Ministry, Rs 151.19 crore has been earmarked for IIT Kharagpur followed by Rs 105 crore for IIT Delhi, Rs. 103.41 crore for IIT Madras and Rs 96.5 cr for IIT Bombay.

The funding was approved based on proposals submitted by the four IITs for augmentation of infrastructure and facilities, the statement said.

"IIT Kharagpur has been focussing on attracting young talented academicians and post-doctoral fellows from across the world. For this we need world-class laboratories, high-end equipment to conduct cutting-edge research on the one hand and on the other quality living experience such as accommodation facilities," Director, IIT Kharagpur Prof Partha Pratim Chakrabarti said.

"Our proposal significantly highlighted this aspect and we aim to use this additional fund towards building these facilities" he said," he said.

The institute has already drawn the blueprint to build lab infrastructure of top global standards and acquire equipment for technological convergence domains like manufacturing, transportation, VLSI (very largescale integration) design, cloud computing, smart infrastructure and affordable healthcare among others.

"We will soon undertake a housing project for facilitating international faculty and post-doctoral fellows," Chakrabarti said.

A significant part of the funding will be used to offer challenge grants and equipment for central research facility of the institute. Students' innovation projects will also receive a major boost through this supplementary funding.

"We at IITKGP are extremely happy and thank MHRD for having agreed to support almost the total requirement of the proposal submitted. We look forward to an incremental change in the size of faculty and post-doctoral fellows while fostering students innovations and overall development" the director said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)on Friday unfurled the flag at a school run by Sangh workers in Palakkad city on India's 69th Republic Day.

Bhagwat hoisted the tricolour at Vyasa Vidhya Peetam Higher Secondary School, an institution run by Vidya Bharti.

On Independence Day last year, Bhagwat had kicked up a row by hoisting the flag at the government-aided Karnakiamman Higher Secondary School, flouting an order by the Palakkad collector. The order had stated that heads of departments have to hoist the tricolour.

The RSS had said that the state government's circular, laying down guidelines for hoisting the flag in government and educational institutions, was not binding on it.

The RSS has maintained that there was nothing wrong in Bhagwat hoisting the national flag in the school as every citizen has the right to do so.

Both the ruling CPI(M) and the opposition Congress in the state had asked the government to register case against the RSS chief for defying the government directive.

The government had also sought an explanation from the school management.

Bhagwat will attend a three-day camp of RSS workers in Palakkad, in which more than 5,000 office bearers of the Sangh will participate, sources said.

Matters related to organisation and expansion of Sangh's activities in the state are to be discussed at the meet.

In his Republic Day address, Bhagwat wanted all to follow in letter and spirit the guidelines in India's Constitution.A sweeper helped avert a possible tragedy at a primary school near here when she spotted empty containers of chloracetanilide herbicide near the school's water tank and immediately alerted the school authorities, police said today.

Her timely alert led to detection of contamination of water in the overhead tank by unidentified miscreants yesterday, they said.

Nagammal was today honoured at the Republic Day function organised by the Panchayat Union School at North Maruthur village near Vedaranyam in the district.

After reaching the school, the sweeper woman had noticed that the water was pale and smelt an odour when she opened a tap, prior to the arrival of the children.

She immediately alerted school headmaster Vadivel, who in turn, informed the police.

Police found empty containers of chloracetanilide herbicide near the 1,000 litre capacity water tank indicating some miscreants had mixed it in the water.

A holiday was declared and the children were sent back home while the health department officials sent water samples for lab test.

Recognising Nagammal's deeds, she was honoured by the parents-teachers association of the school.

The health department authorities said herbicides, if consumed orally, could cause severe damage to nervous system, gastrointestinal damages, hypo-tension, coma and also prove to be life-threatening.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)With seven new rail projects and an ambitious '7-star Village' scheme for gram panchayats announced by the Haryana government today, the 69th Republic Day brought many presents for the people of the state.

Addressing the gathering during a Republic Day function at Rohtak, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced seven new rail projects.

The seven new rail-projects, he said includes Yamunanagar-Chandigarh via Naraingarh and Sadhaura, Delhi- Sohna-Nuh-Ferozpur Zhirka-Alwar, Farrukhnagar-Jhajjar-Charkhi Dadri, Jind-Hisar, Bhiwani-Loharu, Karnal-Yamunanagar and railway sliding project in Manesar for Maruti Udyog.

The state government has, in collaboration with Railway Ministry, constituted Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation to further develop rail infrastructure in the state, the chief minister said.

"The corporation would prepare feasibility report of new railway lines within next 10 months. Feasibility report of all these projects, having a total length of 439 kms, would be prepared at a cost of Rs 20 crore," Khattar said.

Expressing concern over some unfortunate incidents that occurred in the state recently, the chief minister said the incidents, especially those occurred against women, had hurt him.

He noted that the culprits involved in such incidents have been nabbed.

"The government will introduce a stringent law in the next session of the state Assembly to deal with such incidents.

"In this law, a provision of death penalty for the rape of a child below 12 years of age will be made," he added.

Two minor Dalit girls were allegedly raped and killed in separate incidents in Haryana recently, barely a month after a similar case involving a six-year-old girl shook the state.

One of the girls, a 15-year-old school student, had been brutally assaulted and her private parts mutilated.

Also, speaking at Republic Day celebrations in Rewari today, Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister O P Dhankar announced to introduce a '7-Star Village Scheme' to strengthen and improve working of gram panchayats in the state.

The minister said under the scheme, best performing gram panchayats in each district would be identified in a systematic manner and would be awarded and given incentives.

Also, gram panchayats scoring maximum in all parameters would be recognized as 'Indradhanush Gram Panchayats' and would get special grants for development works from the Development and Panchayats Department, Dhankar said.

Under this scheme, he said, stars of different colours would be awarded to panchayats.

Like, pink star would be awarded to those panchayats that would make outstanding performance in improving sex ratio, green star for protection of environment and white star for cleanliness.

"Saffron star is for crime-free villages, sky colour star would be awarded to the village that will have no drop out, golden star for good governance and silver star would be awarded for participation in development of villages," the minister further added.

The villages receiving different star ratings would be honoured by the department on March 23, 2018, the minister informed.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The foster parents of Sherin Mathews, the three-year-old Indian girl who was found dead in a culvert in Dallas, today relinquished custody and parental rights to their biological child.

In a custody hearing this morning, Wesley and Sini Mathews stood in shackles before a judge and agreed to relinquish their parental rights an irrevocable decision, Dallas reported.

Sherin went missing 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. Her body was identified days later.

Wesley has been charged with capital murder in Sherin's death. Sini was arrested on a charge of child abandonment or endangerment based on her husband's admission to investigators that they went out to dinner and left Sherin alone the night before she died.

Sini "made the extremely difficult decision to give up her parental rights because, given the circumstances and the pending criminal cases, this is in the best interests of the child. She wants what's best for her remaining daughter," said attorney Mitch Nolte who represents the mother.

Last month, a Dallas judge blocked the couple, hailing from Kerala, from having contact with their 4-year-old surviving child after prosecutors argued that they failed to protect Sherin.

The judge's ruling meant that Child Protective Services did not have to work with the Richardson couple to reunite them with the girl. When the agency removes children from their homes, it typically offers the parents services such as parenting classes and counselling to help them regain custody of their kids.

The CPS has custody of Sherin's sister, who has been temporarily placed with relatives in the Houston area.

Those relatives, who went through extensive background checks and home studies, plan to adopt the girl, said Marissa Gonzales, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of Family Protective Services.

Authorities have said Sherin was killed by "homicidal violence" before her adoptive father hid her body in a Richardson culvert where it went undiscovered for weeks.

The Dallas County capital murder indictment against the father says he killed Sherin "by a manner and means unknown to the grand jury," court records show.

If convicted, Mathews could face the death penalty, should prosecutors choose to pursue it, or an automatic sentence of life without parole.

Wesley, 37, was arrested in October on a felony injury to a child charge after the girl's body was found. He originally said he put her outside on October 7 because she would not drink her milk. He later changed that story to say that the child choked on her milk.

He is charged with four felonies, including injury to a child and capital murder. He is also charged with abandoning a child and tampering with physical evidence.

During a hearing in late November, a doctor testified before a court that Sherin, who was adopted from India, had broken bones and had injuries in various stages of healing, indicating abuse.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sikkim Governor N. Sriniwas Patil today unfurled the tricolor at Paljor stadium here on the occasion of the country's 69th Republic Day celebrations and paid homage to the martyrs who laid down their lives for India's freedom.

The Republic Day is an occasion when we remember and pay homage to the great sons and daughters of the country, the governor said.

Patil also praised the armed forces, paramilitary and other security forces for providing constant security to the country and its people.

"It is also a time to remember and greet the members of the armed forces, the paramilitary and the internal security forces, who provide constant security to the nation," he said.

The governor highlighted the achievements of the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF)-led government in the state on this occasion.

"Over the decades, Sikkim has made progress in multiple sectors. Democracy has been strengthened here and people have prospered economically," Patil said.

Sikkim is one of the best states in the country, recording an impressive development on many socio-economic indicators, he added.

The programme at Paljor stadium was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Pawan Kumar Chamling, his cabinet colleagues, bureaucrats and police officers.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena has said he has not yet decided if he would seek a second term.

Sirisena's current term ends in January 2020 and the next presidential election must be declared by November 2019.

His comments came in the midst of his current stand-off with his unity government partner of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP).

Sirisena in the recent weeks has taken the UNP to task while campaigning for the February 10 local council election.

He has openly criticised the UNP for corruption, an allegation stemming mainly from the report of a probe he ordered on a scam connected to the issuance of bonds by the Sri Lanka Central Bank.

Then governor Arjuna Mahendran, an appointee of Wickremesinghe, has been accused of insider trading.

Sirisena has also faced a stiff challenge by the leadership of former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Rajapaksa's new party is expected to create dents in the SLFP support at the local election.

Sirisena was backed by the UNP in the presidential election of 2015 against Rajapaksa. This resulted him from being sacked from the SLFP by Rajapaksa.

However, after Sirisena won the presidency, Rajapaksa handed him the party leadership. The UNP is unlikely to back him for another term and in all likelihood Wickremesinghe will be chosen to become the UNP candidate for the election.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Hundreds of Hong Kong students protested today as tensions escalate on campuses over compulsory testing of Mandarin -- the dominant language of mainland China.

The first language of Hong Kong is Cantonese and proposals from chiefs to put more emphasis on learning Mandarin have tapped into fears about the "mainlandisation" of the semi-autonomous city's culture and identity.

Anger has mounted since two students from Baptist University were suspended this week for confronting and swearing at staff over the requirement to pass an exam in Mandarin before being able to graduate.

Their suspension comes as concern grows that academic freedoms are being squeezed by Beijing, and that freedom of speech as a whole is under threat.

Protesters from a range of universities gathered Friday afternoon in a public square at Baptist to support suspended pair Andrew Chan and Lau Tsz-kei, chanting: "Shame on student suppression!"



"Never mind if we have been suspended, but what if it happens to you all?" an emotional Chan told the crowd, wiping away tears.

Lau, who is president of the Baptist student union, admitted they need to reflect on their actions towards staff but said he was "very disappointed" in the university chief's decision to suspend them.

"I never thought he would do this," Lau said.

Lau and Chan were among 30 students who confronted staff in an eight-hour stand-off at the university's language centre last Friday after it was revealed that 70 percent of those who had taken a Mandarin proficiency test had failed.

The test was introduced last year for students seeking exemption from a compulsory course in the language.

Students have highlighted the complexity of the proficiency test questions, and say the marking system was not transparent.

Supporters of compulsory testing say Mandarin skills boost students' career prospects, but many feel they should have the right to choose their own subjects.

Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland since being handed back to China by Britain in 1997, under a "one country, two systems" deal.

But there are rising concerns that those liberties are under threat.

Universities have increasingly become battlegrounds after the mass Umbrella Movement protests of 2014 demanding democratic reforms.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Switzerland today asked the US to swiftly conclude proceedings against some Swiss banks for better banking activities, as its President Alain Berset met his American counterpart Donald Trump.

In a statement on the last day of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting, Swiss government said Berset held lengthy talks with around a dozen heads of state and government on the fringes of the meet.

The main topics addressed during the discussions included international cooperation, economic and trade contacts, and Switzerland's relations with the European Union and the UK.

"International cooperation and exchanges with other countries are key to our prosperity. Personal contacts at the highest level are therefore extremely important.

"During my many discussions I was able to set out our position and inject fresh impetus in a number of areas," Berset said while taking stock on Friday of accomplishments during the WEF meet.

At the meeting with US President Donald Trump, which was also attended by federal councillors Johann N Schneider-Ammann and Ignazio Cassis, talks focused on economic and financial relations, education and global challenges.

With regard to the banking dispute, the Swiss delegation explained that it would be beneficial for bilateral business activities if the proceedings against Swiss 'Group 1 banks' were to be concluded swiftly.

This would provide greater legal certainty and open up fresh economic opportunities. The separation of powers is to be respected, as per the statement.

Some Swiss banks are facing regulatory action from the US authorities for allegedly helping American citizens evade tax.

President Berset also stressed the importance of the international legal system and the multilateral order, adding that they are vital to Switzerland's security and prosperity, but ultimately in everyone's interests.

The meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was attended by President Berset and Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann. During the meeting, a number of important issues were discussed. These include bilateral economic and trade relations, particularly the ongoing negotiations on a bilateral investment protection agreement and the envisaged free trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association and India.

Berset's discussions with German chancellor Angela Merkel, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and EU Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici mainly focused on European policy issues, including on ways to resolve outstanding matters in relations between Switzerland and the European Union in a cooperative manner.

The statement said that during talks with British Prime Minister Theresa May, both sides stressed the will to minimise the impact of Brexit on bilateral relations and to build on relations in areas of common interest.

During talks with the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Berset reiterated Switzerland's commitment to Ukraine and its support for the country's reform process.

Separate talks with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan specifically addressed the situation in the Caucasus region.

At the meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al Hariri, the main subject on the agenda was the Syrian conflict. Lebanon is sheltering around 1.3 million Syrian refugees.

In his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Berset discussed bilateral issues and the Middle East conflict. He also stressed that Switzerland was committed to a negotiated, fair and lasting peace with a two-state solution.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The Telangana government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year, Governor E S L Narasimhan said today.

The TRS government will also be providing investment support for the key sector to ensure cultivators don't fall into debt trap, he said.

"Let me, at this moment, share that from 2018-19 budget onwards, my government proposes to introduce a separate budget for the agriculture sector," he said in his Republic Day address after unfurling the national flag at Parade Grounds here.

The government has decided to provide Rs 8,000 per acre per annum to farmers (for two seasons) as investment support for agriculture, the Governor said.

The government would allocate funds for the scheme in the budget, Narasimhan said, adding the move is aimed at supporting farmers and preventing them from falling into debt trap.

Noting that the government is making "all-out" attempts to provide water for irrigation for one crore acres of land, Narasimhan said irrigation projects like Devadula, Bhima and Kalwakurthy are being put on a fast track with a budgetary allocation of Rs 25,000 crore every year.

The Governor, in his speech, also spoke about various other welfare schemes.

The government is constructing two-bed room houses for the poor and a target of building 2.65 lakh such dwellings in the first phase by next year is set to be achieved, he said.

The government is spending an estimated Rs 40,000 crore annually to help the poor and needy, he said, referring to the numerous welfare schemes being implemented.

The administration had put in place an innovative mechanism to fast track project approvals. The Telangana State -industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System or TS-iPASS has so far attracted 6,070 industries which have been given clearances, he said.

"Of these, 2,000 have already gone into production. With these new industries, the state has received Rs 1,18,000 crore investments and created over two lakh jobs," he said.

Due to the government's efforts in the manufacturing sector, the state's Gross State Domestic Product growth rate stood at 13.9 per cent in 2016-17 on current prices as against national average of 11 per cent, Narasimhan maintained.

In the fiscal 2016-17, the state's per capita income was Rs 1,55,216 as against Rs 1,03,219 at the national level.

"Till 2017-18 December the growth rate of the state was pegged at 18 per cent," the Governor said.

Earlier, he reviewed the Republic Day Parade.

On the occasion of 69th Republic Day, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao hoisted the national flag at Pragati Bhavan, his official residence.

The day was also celebrated in the offices of ruling TRS and opposition Congress, the BJP, the TDP and others here.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Critically-acclaimed filmmaker Mira Nair has said her 2012 movie 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist', a post-9/11 political thriller based on an eponymous novel, was the "hardest" film she has ever made.

Speaking at the Jaipur Literature Festival, the 60-year- old director said despite being a big budget and "completely hot button" film, she always wanted to make it.

Nair said she was moved by the narrative of the 2007 best-selling novel by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid.

"The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the hardest film I ever made because it took five years to finance that film. I have never had trouble raising money but this was a big film. Many stars, global appetite and many countries, it cost millions," she said.

"A completely hot button film. The story of a young Asian man post-9/11 who loved America and then gets disillusioned. That is an amazing story. What Mohsin Hamid wrote spoke deeply to me, but to finance that film was not easy," she said.

"A completely hot button film. The story of a young Asian man post-9/11 who loved America and then gets disillusioned. That is an amazing story. What Mohsin Hamid wrote spoke deeply to me, but to finance that film was not easy."



Noting that the struggle is to preserve the voice, Nair said instinct was the only thing that differentiated her from others - and each one of us from the rest.

"What happens in Hollywood or in any mass market place is that they work on you to lose your instinct. They work on you to make you what is supposedly the mainstream. But in my case I have preserved it," she said yesterday.

The filmmaker revealed that she was approached for 'Harry Potter 4', but she turned down the offer from Warner Brothers as she had to focus on 'The Namesake', a film based on a novel of the same name by Indian-American author Jhumpa Lahiri.

"(Warner Brothers) approached me after the success of Vanity Fair. I turned it down for Jhumpa Lahiri's 'The Namesake'. I was deep into making 'The Namesake'. My mother- in-law had just passed away.

"An unexpected death due to medical malpractice and I was deep in melancholy and that is what inspired me to make 'The Namesake'. Because Jhumpa has written in it about this terrible melancholy of losing a parent in a foreign country which is what I was experiencing," Nair said.

"I was a month away from shooting 'The Namesake' when they offered me Harry Potter. I asked my son what should I do, and he said to me: 'Mamma, many good directors can make Harry Potter, but only you can make The Namesake'. It was such a clear statement," she said.

Recounting her college days, Nair said she had played Cleopatra opposite Shashi Tharoor at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, with noted novelist Amitav Ghosh being the chief slave.

"I grew up finding enchantment in small things and had an unscheduled life, not knowing exactly what to do... My roots are so strong that I do believe I can fly. They (roots) are not going to change no matter where I live. It is the rootedness that keeps me grounded," she said.

Talking about 'Salaam Bombay', a movie that catapulted her into limelight, Nair said it was the first Indian film to get international recognition.

"Yet, I did not have stars (in the film) to promote it. It was all about incredible street children. 'Salaam Bombay' put India on a map like never before. The greatest thing about the film was that it changed lives," she said.

Describing herself as an Iyengar Yoga enthusiast, Nair said the ancient Indian meditation practice kept her "sane, strong and flexible".

"It keeps me grounded or otherwise I will become a drug addict... The good thing about Yoga is that it teaches the art of resistance and surrender," she said.

Commenting about her ability to spot talent and getting the best out of them, she said, "I work with my actors with love, that is how I get the best out of them".

"The stories that get under my skin, that attract me are the ones that ultimately become the theme of my movies," she added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Three Indian-origin CEOs attended a dinner hosted by US President Donald Trump in Davos with top European executives to highlight investment opportunities in the country.

Trump, in all, had invited 15 top European CEOs for dinner in Davos on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

He invited them to discuss business and encourage them to invest in the United States as part of his effort to strengthen the American economy.

Three Indian-origin CEOs -- Vas Narasimhan from Novartis; Rajeev Suri from Nokia and Punit Renjen from Deloitte were part of the dinner.

The American delegation was attended by the Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson; Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson; National Security Advisor H R McMaster and Dire of the National Economic Council Gary Cohen.

Narasimhan was named Novartis CEO in September 2017. Singaporean citizen Suri is now based in Finland. Rohtak-born Punit Renjen has been CEO of Deloitt since June 2015.

During the dinner, Trump spoke about the thriving US economy - crediting his tax policies, deregulation and his role as a cheerleader for American business.

"Sitting around this table are some of the greatest business leaders in the world, some of the greatest companies in the world. Probably, I can think of no other place or time where you'll have executives of this stature," Trump said as he asked the CEOs around the table to say a few words.

"On behalf of 265,000 employees across the globe, 70,000 in the US, thank you again for having us," Renjen said.

Thereafter, Suri gave a brief description of Nokia.

"We're the leading networks -- telecom networks company in the world, number two. We have 15,000 people in the US, and it's one of our strongest R&D setups in the world, spread throughout the US," he said.

"We have half of the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent. We own Nokia Bell Labs, which is in New Jersey. We do a lot of stuff in the West Coast, in Chicago, and throughout the country, really. So just under half of our people do research and development, and the rest are doing services and 4G networks and 5G. So I'm very happy and pleased with your infrastructure focus," Suri said.

Narasimhan said Novartis is one of the largest healthcare companies in the world.

"We focus on innovative medicines, generics, as well as eye care," he said.

"Today, we have about 22,000 employees in the US across 21 sites. We invest about USD 14 billion every year into the United States, including USD 3.5 billion in research. It's one of our key, obviously, markets, but also key places where we drive innovation," he said.

"We are really pleased with the tax reform, but also very pleased with the great progress being made at FDA. We believe you have a great leadership team there and they're doing all the right things to accelerate innovation," Narasimhan said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Marking the 69th Republic Day celebrations, the Ministry of Tourism today launched 'Bharat Parv' at the Red Fort here.

Rashmi Verma, secretary, tourism ministry, inaugurated the programme this evening.

The event will be held from January 27 to January 31 between 12 noon to 10 pm for the general public for free.

The ministry will display the Republic Day parade tableaux, performances by the armed forces bands (static as well as dynamic), multi-cuisine food court, crafts mela, cultural performances from different regions of the country and photo exhibition by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), an official statement said.

The cultural performances include choreographed folk and tribal dances and music arranged through the North Zonal Cultural Centre as well as performances by cultural troupes from different states and Union Territories of the country.

The food court will have stalls set up by the states/UTs, also the National Association of Street Vendors of India (NASVI) showcasing street food from different regions as well as the Institutes of Hotel Managements and the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC).

The crafts mela with 50 stalls will showcase the diverse handicrafts of the country, arranged by state governments and the Ministry of Textiles through the office of the development commissioner of handicrafts.

There will also be theme-based state pavilions where each state would showcase their strengths along with tourism products. DAVP is also setting up an exhibition on the theme 'Naya Bharat Hum Karke Rahenge'.

A live 'Cookery Demonstration Area' is also being set up in the food court to promote cuisines of different states of India, the statement added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Trade ministers from various countries including Australia, Japan and Switzerland met today for an informal WTO ministerial gathering here to discuss the way forward for the global trade organisation, with India offering to host another such meeting in March.

The meeting would be held in New Delhi on March 19-20.

It was also felt that the WTO is facing significant challenges and fundamental reflections are required at the political level on major issues of divergence.

The meeting, also attended by the US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, was held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual summit. India was represented by Deepak Jagdish Saksena, ambassador and permanent representative to the WTO.

A dinner was hosted last night here by the WTO for trade ministers of the member countries which was also attended by Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu.

In a statement, the Swiss government said the informal meeting hosted by it and convened by WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo sought to start a dialogue on the way forward following the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference held in December 2017 in Buenos Aires.

Twenty nine members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), representing a broad range of interests, participated in the gathering, it added.

Ministers shared their assessment of the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference and also discussed possible ways forward in trade negotiations as well as other aspects of the WTO.

Besides, the ministers welcomed the positive outcomes achieved in Buenos Aires, notably on fisheries subsidies.

At the same time, they expressed their disappointment over the lack of further multilateral outcomes and acknowledged significant challenges lying ahead in the WTO.

Ministers expressed their willingness to pursue their active engagement in view of preserving and further developing the multilateral trading system.

In concluding remarks by the Chair, Switzerland's State Secretary Marie-Gabrielle Ineichen-Fleisch said the ministers welcomed the fact that in spite of challenging circumstances, some positive results were achieved at the 11th ministerial conference.

However, disappointment was voiced about the lack of further convergence and outcomes, she said.

It was noted, from different perspectives, that the WTO is facing important challenges and that fundamental reflections, including at political level, would be required on issues where major divergences exist, she noted.

In many interventions, a need to preserve and enhance the functioning of the multilateral trading system and the existing WTO framework was emphasised. These include work of the regular WTO bodies and the WTO's dispute settlement mechanism, with particular concern being expressed about the situation of the appellate body concerned.

Among horizontal challenges faced in multilateral negotiations, the question of how to take into account different and evolving levels of development of members was highlighted.

Furthermore, a need to re-engage in negotiations on a range of longstanding issues relevant to members was expressed by many participants, taking into account what prevented more progress so far.

Beside, the ministers reaffirmed their willingness to pursue their engagement on WTO and to address key issues.

In this context, India announced that it will host an informal WTO Ministerial gathering in March, the statement said.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy today congratulated the people here for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold democratic values under all circumstances.

Addressing the 69th Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Roy thanked the police, paramilitary forces and army of the country for protecting the border areas.

"The main characteristic of our country is peace, harmony and development. Without the development of northeastern region, the development of the country is not possible. We must pay attention to this and uphold the values of democracy," he said.

The relation between the present government and Bangladesh is very cordial and the neighbouring country is helping India check infiltration and smuggling, he said.

Tripura shares 856-km-long border with Bangladesh.

Exhorting people to remember the freedom fighters of our country, Roy said their contributions should not be belittled by religious or caste-related violence.

"There is no place for violence and intolerance in our Constitution. Our Constitution also does favour any particular religion or community. Let us pay our respects to the great freedom fighters of the country," he added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)US President Donald Trump today declared before a full house at Davos that he has made "15 new friends" whom he did not know before at a dinner last night -- including three of Indian origin.

After a 'band' welcome and a nearly 20-minute speech, Trump sat down for a brief question and answers session with WEF Founder Klaus Schwab on the last day of the annual pow-wow of rich and powerful from across the 'fractured' world and began by complementing him for putting together this "really great" economic forum.

Trump, who arrived here yesterday afternoon, told Schwab -- who on his part said the US President's strong leadership is open to misconceptions and biased interpretations -- that he has made "15 new friends" here in Davos.

"We had dinner last night with about 15 leaders of industry -- none of whom I knew, but all of whom I have read about for years -- and it was truly an incredible group," Trump said.

"And I think I have 15 new friends. So this has been really great what you have done in putting it together, the economic forum," he said.

These 15 industry leaders from Europe -- whom Trump described as "very powerful businesspeople of the world" and asked them to introduce themselves one by one and say a few words at the dinner table, as per a White House release --- included Swiss pharma giant Novartis' incoming CEO Vas Narasimhan, Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri and Deloitte CEO Punit Renjen.

Others were heads of Bayer, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Siemens, AB Volvo, SAP, Adidas, Statoil, Nestle, ABB and HSBC.

At the dinner, Renjen said, "Mr President, thank you for having me. Punit Renjen from Deloitte. On behalf of 265,000 employees across the globe, 70,000 in the US, thank you again for having us".

As per the White House release, Trump replied, "Great company. Thank you very much. Great job."



Suri said Nokia runs the world's second largest telecom network and has 15,000 people in the US and one of its strongest R&D setups in the world is spread throughout the US.

He further said, "We have half of the acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent. We own Nokia Bell Labs, which is in New Jersey. We do a lot of stuff in the West Coast, in Chicago, and throughout the country, really. So just under half of our people do research and development, and the rest are doing services and 4G networks and 5G. So Im very happy and pleased with your infrastructure focus..."



Narasimhan said Novartis is one of the largest health care companies in the world and its focus is on innovative medicines, generics, as well as eye care.

He elaborated that Novartis has about 22,000 employees in the US across 21 sites and invests about USD 14 billion every year in the US, including USD 3.5 billion in research.

Further, he described US as one of the key markets and also key places where it drives innovation.

"And we are really pleased with the tax reform, but also very pleased with the great progress being made at FDA. We believe you have a great leadership team there and they are doing all the right things to accelerate innovation," he said.

Trump replied, "Scott is great, and Alex is great. You know, Alex is just starting, and he's highly respected. So that's fantastic. Scott Gottlieb, as you know, is a star," referring to his FDA Commissioner and Health and Human Services Secretary, respectively.

Narasimhan said further, "He (Scott) is a star. And I think his vision for tobacco and trying to improve reduce the use of tobacco around the world is also very inspiring."



After everyone's introduction, Trump said, "I want to thank everybody. Really, you have done incredible work, incredible jobs. These are some of the great companies of the world, many of the great companies of the world".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The National Security Service of Armenia has uncovered a trans-national crime syndicate engaged in organizing illegal migration of foreign citizens from Armenia to Iran, and then to Turkey.

January 26, 2018, 15:55 Cases of illegal border crossing discovered by NSS of Armenia

STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 26, ARTSAKHPRESS:In January-June of 2017, the NSS discovered 5 cases of illegal border crossing of the Armenian-Iranian borders Meghri section by 1 Iraqi, 1 Uzbek and 4 Iranian citizens.

NSS reported that investigation has revealed that the same people residing in Iran and Turkey were behind those cases.

The foreigners arrived in Armenia under their guidance, who were later transported to the Iranian border. Then, one of the organizers of the plot forcibly removed the barbed wire along the border and accompanied them to Iran for a subsequent relocation to Turkey.

6 people have been indicted in the case, with three currently wanted.

The investigation subsequently continued, and the NSS received intelligence reports on new groups of people comprising citizens of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Yemen  who were expelled from Turkey and want to illegally return after arriving to Armenia.

The NSS prevented the entry of these individuals to the country in December of 2017 and in January of 2018.

The same people were behind these attempts as in the first case.

The Iranian citizen who was engaged in organizing the illegal migration was arrested by Armenian authorities in a special operation.

4 people are detained.

An overall of 45 criminal cases were discovered in 2017 relating to such attempts. Out of the 47 defendants, 25 were foreigners).

In all the cases, the NSS was cooperating with security services of other countries.

As result, an analysis was made by Armenian authorities and proposals were made to relevant agencies to eliminate the shortcomings and to rule out similar cases in the future.US President Donald Trump last year ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting an investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, but backed off after the White House counsel threatened to resign, a media report claimed.

The report comes a day after Trump said he was willing to be questioned under oath by Mueller.

Trump's opponents allege that the Russian interference helped him win the polls. But he denies any collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians.

Mueller, the former FBI director, has interviewed several members of the Trump campaign, Trump's family members, colleagues in the Cabinet and present and former White House officials.

He has been seeking the interview with Trump as part of his investigation.

According to media reports, Mueller wants to interview Trump on his decision to fire national security advisor Michael Flynn and FBI director James Comey.

"President Trump ordered the firing last June of Robert S Mueller III, the special counsel overseeing the Russia investigation, according to four people told of the matter, but ultimately backed down after White House counsel (Don McGahn) threatened to resign rather than carry out the directive," The New York Times reported.

Trump's personal attorney Ty Cobb refused to comment.

"We decline to comment out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process," he said.

Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal slammed trump for his reported decision.

"Firing Robert Mueller is a red line, full stop," she said.

"The Special Counsel is widely respected on both sides of the aisle and his investigation into grave breaches of our electoral system is absolutely critical to our democracy any attempt to threaten his investigation is an affront to accountability and potential legal consequences for collusion with a foreign power," Jayapal said in a late-night statement.

Jayapal said this is truly a make-or-break moment for the country's system of checks and balances.

"Today's New York Times report lays out what can only be described as despotic and authoritarian behaviour by Donald Trump with strong overtones of Nixon's Watergate.

"Now is the time for Republicans to stand up and be counted and for all Americans to oppose the naked abuse of power by a dangerous and unhinged man who is utterly unfit to be president," Jayapal said.

Senator Mark Warner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence warned Trump against firing Mueller.

"I've said it before, and I am saying it again: firing the Special Counsel is a red line that the President cannot cross.

"Any attempt to remove the Special Counsel, pardon key witnesses, or otherwise interfere in the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power, and all members of Congress, from both parties, have a responsibility to our Constitution and to our country to make that clear immediately," he said.

According to The Times, Mueller learned about the episode in recent months as his investigators interviewed current and former senior White House officials in his inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice.

Investigators are assessing if the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election in his favour - a claim denied by Trump and Russia.

Investigators will also determine if Trump obstructed the inquiry.

The US intelligence community has already concluded that Moscow tried to sway the presidential election in favour of Trump.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Donald Trump will visit the UK in the second half of this year for a working visit agreed between UK officials and the US president's team at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Downing Street said today.

The plans follow a meeting between Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May on the sidelines of the summit yesterday.

"The PM and President concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year," Downing Street said.

The visit will not take the form of a formal State Visit, which involves a ceremonial welcome from Queen Elizabeth II and a state banquet at Buckingham Palace.

The invitation for a State Visit had been extended during a Washington DC visit by Theresa May in January 2017 but has since been the subject of much controversy, with Opposition parties in the UK insisting that the US President does not deserve such pomp and ceremony.

The meeting between the two leaders in Switzerland was seen as crucial after Trump had suddenly cancelled plans of a working visit to open the new US Embassy building in London next month.

While ostensibly he blamed the previous Barack Obama led US government for a bad decision on selling off the older US Embassy building for "peanuts", the cancellation was widely seen as a sign of strain in UK-US ties following the US Presidents re-tweets of videos from a far-right UK group



Britain First.

Trump sought to quash those rumours by expressing his "love" for the UK and saying relations between the two countries remain strong.

"I have a tremendous respect for the Prime Minister and the job shes doing and I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot. That was a little bit of a false rumour out there, I just wanted to correct it," Trump told reporters.

"We love your country," he said, adding that the US and UK were "joined at the hip" on military matters.

Later, in an interview with Britains ITV channel, he said he was prepared to apologise for retweeting posts from Britain First.

"If you are telling me they're horrible people, horrible, racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that," he said in the interview conducted in Davos on Friday to be broadcast fully in the UK on Sunday.

The row over the tweets last year had escalated further after Theresa May said: "I'm very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do." It had prompting Trump to tweet directly to the British PM, asking her to focus on "terrorism" in the UK instead.

Asked if he regretted the tweets, Trump said: "They had a couple of depictions of radical Islamic terror. It was done because I am a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror. This was a depiction of radical Islamic terror."



One of the videos retweeted by Trump had unverified footage of a "Muslim migrant" attacking a young Dutch man on crutches, with another showing a man smashing a statue of the Virgin Mary. The third video, originating from riots that took place in Egypt in 2013, showed a man being pushed from the top of a building.

"I know nothing about them, I don't want to be involved with people [like that]," he said in reference to the far- right group.

Downing Street later said that Trump's words on Britain First "speak for themselves".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Security forces arrested two militants including one woman in Manipur, the police said today.

A woman cadre of the proscribed militant outfit People Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PRO) group was arrested from Wangkhei Andro Parking in Imphal East district on Tuesday, a press release issued by Manipur Police said.

Another militant of the banned underground outfit United National Liberation Front (UNLF) was arrested by a combined team of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles from Wangjing Sorokhaibam Leikai area in Thoubal district on Wednesday, the release added.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The United Nations is in talks with countries that contribute peacekeepers to its mission in the Central African Republic after an investigation found their response to attacks last year fell short, a UN spokesman today.

A special investigation led by a retired general from Benin found "deficiencies" in peacekeeping operations in the southeast of the country from May to August 2017 and presented recommendations, the UN said.

UN peacekeeping officials are in to talks with the troop- and police-contributing countries "to ensure that these measures are implemented," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq.

"If they are not,... peacekeeping will decide at the appropriate time on any further action to be taken," he said.

Troops serving in the MINUSCA force may be sent home if they fail to show improvements, according to UN officials.

The Security Council in November voted to beef up the peacekeeping force with 900 extra troops, bringing the total number of troops and police serving in MINUSCA to about 13,700.

The decision followed a warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the country faced a risk of ethnic cleansing.

In May, the town of Bangassou was attacked by "anti- balaka" militias -- a force that claims to defend Christian communities from mostly Muslim rebels -- who killed many civilians.

In August, similar bloodshed took place at Gambo, about 100 kilometres from Bangassou, despite the presence of UN soldiers near both towns. In all, several dozen people were massacred.

There are also concerns about the presence of anti-balaka fighters at a camp for displaced people in Bria, where MINUSCA is providing protection.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)The UN Security Council will travel to Washington on Monday to inspect debris from missiles allegedly provided by Iran to Yemen's Houthi rebels and hold meetings at the White House, diplomats said.

The ambassadors are expected to meet with President Donald Trump as the US administration seeks action against Iran, diplomats said.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley last month presented the fragments as "undeniable" evidence that a ballistic missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels at Saudi Arabia in November was Iranian-made.

That claim was bolstered when a UN panel of experts concluded in a recent report to the council that Iran had violated the arms embargo on Yemen by failing to block supplies of missiles to the rebels.

Haley has invited her UN counterparts to see the missile debris stored in a warehouse at a Washington military base.

"The evidence is undeniable. The weapons might as well have had 'Made in Iran' stickers all over it," Haley told a press conference last month.

The "evidence" stored in Washington includes other pieces of military material allegedly provided by Iran including fragments of an anti-tank missile and drones.

Iran has strongly denied arming the Houthis and last month accused Haley of presenting "fabricated" evidence that the November 4 missile fired at Riyadh airport was Iranian-made.

Haley is seeking to persuade the Security Council to take action against Iran, possibly by imposing sanctions, but will likely face opposition from Russia, which has friendly ties with Tehran.

A separate report last month said UN officials had examined the missile fragments and found that they were of "common origin" but they were unable to reach any firm conclusions about whether Iran was the source.

The US mission did not immediately respond to a request for information about the council visit to Washington.

It will be the second time that the top UN envoys meet with Trump, who sat down for a lunch meeting with the ambassadors in April last year.

Relations between the United Nations and the US administration have been strained over Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, his threats to scrap the Iran nuclear deal and funding cuts.

The council voted 14-1 to reject Trump's Jerusalem decision, prompting Haley to resort to the US veto to block the condemnation.

The General Assembly later approved by a vote of 128 to 9, with 35 abstentions, the same resolution.The US today urged Pakistan to restore operations of Radio Mashaal shut down by Islamabad for allegedly broadcasting programmes against the "interests" of the country.

The Pashto-language radio station of US Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) was operating from the border areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Last week Pakistan had shut down Islamabad bureau of Radio Mashaal after the ISI alleged that its programmes were "against the interest of Pakistan and in line with a hostile intelligence agency's agenda".

The allegations were denied by REF/RL.

"Radio Mashaal serves no intelligence agency or government," RFE/RL president Thomas Kent had said.

"We are very concerned about the Pakistani Ministry of Interior's decision to close the offices of Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Liberties, Radio Marshall in Islamabad on January 19th," State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told reporters at the Washington DC Foreign Press Center.

She said the US has conveyed its concerns to Pakistan and urged them to "swiftly and unequivocally revoke the closure decision and restore Radio Marshall's operations".

In a separate statement, John F Lansing, CEO Broadcasting Board of Governors, said he was "troubled" by the decision of the Pakistani government.

"RFE/RL's dedicated reporters are Pakistani citizens providing unbiased and accurate local reporting. They should be permitted to do their jobs informing the Pakistan citizenry, and they should be guaranteed safety while they do it," he said.

"I call for the immediate reopening of its offices in Islamabad. The people of Pakistan deserve accesstofact-based reporting," Lansing said.

The Pakistani move comes amid deteriorating US-Pakistan relations after Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Islamabad.

RFE/RL's Pashto language service, known locally as Radio Mashaal, is a public service broadcaster providing an alternative to extremist propaganda in Pakistan's tribal regions.

Kent demanded that RFE/RL journalists be allowed to resume their work "without fear or delay".

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)BNP Paribas pleaded guilty to conspiring to fix the foreign exchange market and agreed to pay a USD 90 million criminal fine to settle the case, the US Justice Department announced Friday.

The big French bank worked to fix prices of the currencies of Central and Eastern European, Middle Eastern and African countries, coordinating bids and offers and agreeing to quote rates to specific customers, the government said.

"The antitrust division is committed to uncovering and prosecuting wrongdoing in all corners of the foreign currency exchange market," US assistant attorney general Makan Delrahim said.

"The division's investigation aims to root out and eradicate the manipulation that has plagued this industry."



BNP Paribas agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department's ongoing probe of the foreign exchange market as part of a guilty plea, according to information filed in US District Court.

BNP Paribas' admission follows a succession of indictments and pleas from a variety of financial institutions and employees for fixing the forex market.

In January 2017, former BNP Paribas trader Jason Katz pleaded guilty to participating in a conspiracy that ran from January 2007 to July 2013.

In May 2015, four major banks, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and the Royal Bank of Scotland, pleaded guilty and agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion for conspiring to manipulate the price of dollars and euros.

US and British authorities have netted nearly USD 10 billion in fines overall in cases on fixing the foreign exchange market.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Most-wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and 2016 Nabha jail break mastermind Prema Lahoria were today gunned down by the in an encounter near a village in Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar district, officials said.

Another notorious criminal was injured while one arrested in the encounter that took place this evening at a 'dhani' (a small conglomeration of houses) near the Pakki village in Rajasthan -- just 50 metres from the Punjab border, they said.

Two policemen -- Sub Inspector Baljinder Singh and ASI Kirpal Singh -- were also wounded in the face-off, Director General of Police (Intelligence), Punjab Police, Dinkar Gupta, said in Chandigarh.

The operation was undertaken by the Organised Crime Control Unit (OCCU), a special group of the

Acting on a specific intelligence, an OCCU team, led by AIG Gurmeet Chauhan, raided the 'dhani' where the dreaded gangsters were provided shelter by another criminal, Lakhwinder Lakha.

"We went there at 6:30 today and these guys -- Gounder and Lahoria -- came out firing outside the dhani," the DGP said.

"Prema Lahoria was killed when he was scaling the boundary wall of the dhani and Gounder was killed when he was coming out firing near its gate," Gupta said.

He said three weapons, including two .32 bore and one .30 bore pistols, were recovered from the spot.

He said an unidentified person also suffered injuries and was hospitalised.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has lauded the state police for eliminating the notorious gangsters.

Gounder was among the six prisoners, including Harminder Singh Mintoo and Kashmir Singh, both terrorists, and gangsters Aman Dhothian, Vicky Gounder, Gurpreet Sekhon and Neeta Deol, who were freed by armed men from the high-security Nabha Jail in November 2016.

"Congratulations to for killing most wanted gangster Vicky Gounder and his aide Prema Lahoria. Excellent work by DGP Suresh Arora, DG Intelligence Dinkar Gupta and OCCU team, including AIG Gurmeet Singh and Inspector Vikram Brar. Proud of you boys," the chief minister tweeted.

Gupta said about 20-25 policemen were involved in today's operation.

He said the Rajasthan Police had been informed about the encounter of gangsters. Lakha has also been arrested by the Punjab Police.

Gounder, whose real name is Harjinder Singh Bhullar, had become a headache for the Punjab Police since his jail escape. On several occasions, police were on the verge of nabbing him, but he managed to give them the slip, the DGP said.

"Police had even conducted raids at his possible hideouts but he remained successful in dodging them," he said, adding Gounder had been moving in and out of Punjab all the while.

In April last year, he even led his accomplices and killed three members of a rival gang in Gurdaspur. Police had even announced a Rs 10 lakh reward to anyone giving any clue about him, the officer said.

Gounder, a resident of Sarawan Bodla village of Muktsar, belonged to a gang formed by another history-sheeter Jaipal Singh. Gounder shot to limelight in January 2015 when his name cropped up as the prime suspect in rival gangster Sukha Kahlwan's murder.Actor Shabana Azmi today said she would have agreed to do any character in a Satyajit Ray film and was lucky to work with the maestro in his flick 'Shatranj Ke Khilari'.

"I consider myself very lucky to have played the role of Khurshid (in Shatranj ...) and to have been cast by a director like him (Ray)," Shabana said to questions at the fifth day of Tata Steel Kolkata Literary Meet here.

Asked which character of the maestro she would have liked to portray other than her role in 'Shatranj Ke Khilari', she said "Every single one, including children and men - anything,"



Shabana had played the role of the wife of a nobleman Mirza Sajjad Ali portrayed by late Sanjeev Kumar in 'Shatranj ki Khilari'(1977) based on Munshi Premchand's short story of the same name.

Her work in the Ray film, which was set in 1856 on the eve of the Indian rebellion of 1857 when the British were about to annex the Indian State of Awadh, was only for three days, Shabana said.

Recalling the first day of her shoot for the film, Shabana said she was in jeans and tee shirt when she reached the studio.

"When I approached Ray he had asked me to get into my costume first without briefing me on my role or any scene ... As I got into my costume I had realised there was a completely different posture in my sitting and moving.

"Then Manikda (as Ray is called by his friends and followers) entered the make up room and said he did not want to communicate with me about the role when I was in jeans and tee shirt. He then briefed me about the scene."



The 67-year old actor, famous for several critically acclaimed films including 'Ankur', 'Arth', 'Mandi' and 'Masoom' besides being a theatre personality, was participating in a discussion on 'Shatranj Ke Khiladi' along with Suresh Jindal, the author of 'My Adventures with Satyajit Ray: The Making of Shatranj ke Khiladi'.

Asked about Ray as a director, Azmi said, "An interesting thing about Manikda is he worked with different actors in different ways. He gave instructions to Sanjeev Kumar, while he absolutely gave none to Saeed Jaffrey."



Asked about the film's legacy, she said "I think to take up a literary work and transform it into a film - that to me is the legacy."



To another question about the presence of four women characters in the film, Azmi said, "Truth of the matter remains that there was only this very small window of opportunity for women (in the society) in those days," and the film sums that up.

"If you talk about my character she can't really take away her husband (from his obsession for chess)," Azmi said.

Amjad Khan had portrayed Wajid Ali Shah, the Nawab of Awadh and Richard Attenborough the role of General James Outram. The others in this period film were David Abraham, Tom Alter, Victor Banerjee, Farooq Shiekh and Farida Jalal. It had Amitabh Bachchan as the narrator.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi, Anna Irrera and Steve StecklowZUG, Switzerland/NEW YORK (Reuters) - The co-founders of a cryptocurrency project called Tezos have caused a "catastrophe" by making unfounded accusations against the president of a Swiss foundation that controls the money raised, a former board member told Reuters.In his first interview since resigning from the three-member board of the Tezos Foundation in December, Guido Schmitz-Krummacher blamed the project's creators, Arthur and Kathleen Breitman, for delays in writing computer code and setting up infrastructure that would allow the ...(Reuters) - Fujitsu Ltd is planning to sell a majority stake in its mobile phone business to Japanese investment fund Polaris Capital Group for 40 billion yen to 50 billion yen ($365.6 million-$457.0 million), the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.An official agreement is expected to be inked by the end of the month, the paper said without citing sources, adding that retaining the mobile division's staff and factories will likely be a condition of the deal. The firm is also expected to continue operating its mainstay Arrows brand under Polaris.Fujitsu and Polaris could not be reached for ...SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore's year-on-year manufacturing output in December fell for the first time in about 1-1/2 years due to a dip in pharmaceuticals production, data showed on Friday. Manufacturing output in December fell 3.9 percent from a year earlier, data from the Singapore Economic Development Board showed, the biggest decline in 2 years. The median forecast in a Reuters survey predicted a 0.5 percent expansion.On a month-on-month and seasonally adjusted basis, industrial production fell 2.0 percent in December. The median forecast was for a rise of 1.5 percent.In November, ...The leaders of India and southeast Asia agreed on Thursday to boost their maritime ties at a summit in New Delhi, as they seek to balance the increasing weight of China across the region.

India is hosting the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Regional Cooperation (ASEAN) and the summit comes at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is pursuing an "Act East" policy of developing ties with these countries.

The Indian and ASEAN leaders agreed "to establish a mechanism for greater cooperation in the maritime domain sector", Preeti Saran, secretary in the Indian foreign ministry, told reporters.

"They did discuss the issues of greater maritime cooperation, addressing both traditional and non-traditional challenges all of us face collectively," Saran said, without elaborating.

In the talks Modi also pitched for an ASEAN-India women's navy team which could sail around the world, just as an Indian team is doing currently, Saran said.

Modi has invited the leaders of all 10 ASEAN nations to join him for India's Republic Day celebrations on Friday in the biggest ever gathering of foreign leaders at the parade, which showcases the country's military might and cultural diversity.

The leaders attending the summit in New Delhi include Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines.

New Delhi's push to expand economic ties with southeast Asia still trail those of China, whose trade with ASEAN was more than six times greater than India's in 2016-17 at $470 million.

China has in recent years also built ports and power plants in countries around India's periphery, expanding its presence in South Asia and pushing New Delhi to seek new allies.

Modi said he would work towards strengthening relations with ASEAN countries, saying trade had already grown "25 times in 25 years".

"Investments are robust and growing. We will further enhance trade ties and work towards greater interaction among our business communities," Modi said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi today greeted citizens on the occasion of the 69th Republic Day celebrations. "Greetings on #RepublicDay. Jai Hind (sic)," PM Modi said in a tweet. India will be showcasing its military prowess, culture and diversity in the presence of heads of the 10 ASEAN nations who will attend the event at the Rajpath as chief guests.

There will be a march past by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag at the Republic Day parade, where 23 tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries will roll down the Rajpath.

On Thursday, President Ram Nath Kovind greeted the nation. He said: "This is a day for all of us to celebrate and honour our nation and our sovereignty. This is a day to remember with gratitude the enormous efforts and sacrifices of millions of freedom fighters whose blood and sweat gave us Independence and created our Republic. Above all, this is a day to cherish our republican values."

The national capital has been put under a security blanket with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters deployed in view of the Republic Day parade that will be attended by ASEAN leaders.

(With inputs from PTI)Rating agency Crisil today revised upwards the outlook on 18 state-run banks to 'stable' from 'negative' and also reaffirmed their ratings following the Rs 88,139-crore capital infusion by government.

The agency said move will strengthen the balance sheets of these banks apart from improving their core capital.

It also expects an improvement in the overall performance of these lenders with the uptick in credit demand.

Earlier this week, government said it would pump Rs 88,139 crore into 20 public sector banks before end-March.

The outlook on Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Central Bank, Corporation Bank, Dena Bank, IDBI Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Oriental Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank, Punjab National Bank, Syndicate Bank, Uco Bank, Union Bank and United Bank have been revised upwards to stable now.

The report, however is silent on SBI, which will get Rs 8,800 crore from the government this year.

"The revision in outlook is primarily driven by the recapitalisation, which will improve the financial risk profiles of these banks and also help them meet the Basel III capital norms, besides providing a cushion against expected rise in bad loan provisioning," Crisil said in a note today.

The ratings on Basel III tier I bonds of nine PSBs including Andhra Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra and IDBI Bank among others, have also been reaffirmed, but their outlook has been retained as 'negative'.

The agency said it is evaluating the flexibility with the banks to set off any accumulated losses with their balance in share premium account and its implication on the availability of eligible reserves to service AT1 coupon payments.

"We will revisit our ratings on AT1 instruments once there is clarity," Crisil said.

The Rs 88,139-crore fund infusion is part of the Rs 2.11 trillion bank recapitalisation plan announced by the government last October, spread over FY18 and FY19.

The finance ministry will raise Rs 80,000 crore through recapitalisation bonds and provide another Rs 8,139 crore from the Budget.

The agency believes that with the fund infusion, these banks are now adequately placed to meet Basel III capital norms and are also better prepared to absorb any hit from provisioning on stressed assets and also on account of migration to the Indian Accounting Standards.

The recapitalisation is dependent on the performance and reforms that each bank undertake and banks will have to adopt differentiated business strategy and exit from non-core businesses and focus on their core competencies, government had said.

"Recapitalisation while emphasising government support, also persuades public sector banks to up the ante on responsible banking. The upshot of more accountability, governance and efficiencies is a structurally stronger banking system and improved investor sentiment towards them," Krishnan Sitaraman, a senior director at Crisil said.

The report said asset quality issues are peaking for these banks with incremental slippages to NPAs expected to taper in FY18 and FY19 as credit health of corporates are improving.

However, the resolution of large stressed accounts under the Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code and the potential haircuts thereof are expected to increase the provisioning burden and impact their earnings profile and capital position in the near-term, he warned.There were two positive developments at Dr Reddy's that were hard to miss when the company's CFO Saumen Chakraborty and COO Abhijit Mukerjee announced the company's financial results for the third quarter (Q3) and for the first nine months. One: "The company had some one offs in the quarter but the US numbers have turned out to be better than what some of us expected, especially in the US," is how a leading analyst put it.

Second: A day earlier, the company had informed the bourses that a re-inspection carried out by the German regulator at the company's formulations making plant at Bachupally, Hyderabad, had led to the EU GMP non-compliance getting withdrawn by the government of Bavaria and this means the plant could restart dispatching its approved products to the European Union. But then, it was not as if the company was totally out of the woods for challenges remain.

It posted, what analysts, called relatively weak numbers for most regions outside US like Europe, emerging markets and even India, though there was a 3 per cent year-on-year growth in India. Then, there was a 29 per cent de-growth year-on-year in the profit at Rs 334.4 crore as against Rs 470.1 crore earlier.

But then, Chakraborty reminded that during Q3 FY18, the 'Tax cuts and jobs act of 2017" in the US, which had meant a hit for many Indian companies including Dr Reddy's for the "consequent to this enactment in the US, the deferred tax assets and liabilities of its US entity were remeasured resulting in a one-time charge of Rs 93 crore."

Disclosing the financial results for their quarter and for the first nine months of the year, Saumen Chakraborty, the CFO of the company, however referred to a 3 per cent year-on-year growth in topline and a 7 per cent sequential growth. The decline on the profit compared the previous period, he attributed mainly to the price erosion challenges that pharma companies are facing in the US. The share price of the company, which opened at Rs 2569, touched a high of Rs 2594.95 to close at Rs 2504 on Thursday.Tata Group may soon sell the assets of loss-making Tata Teleservices, which recently sold its mobile business to Airtel. Reports suggest a consortium backed by a US-based investment group has bid to buy the assets of the company. A TPG Capital-backed consortium comprising several executives of Tata Group placed bid to buy the Tata Tele enterprise for around $1 billion, reported Bloomberg. The consortium is led by Mukund Rajan, who's the head of international operation of Tata Teleservices; he is also the brother of former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan.

Another player who could also bid for Tata Teleservices is its sister company Tata telecommunications, which in the past had said it was interested in buying the enterprises' fixed-line business. If that happens, TPG-backed consortium could face competition in closing the deal. The report says many other players could still emerge to bid for the company's fiber business sale.

Tata Teleservices owns optical transmission network of over 113,000km across the country. If the deal happens, the company, already suffering from huge debt burden, could repay some of its debt of Rs 28,000 crore.

Tata Teleservices and Tata Teleservices Maharastra sold consumer mobile businesses to Airtel on a debt-free cash-free basis in October. Bharti Airtel now owns Tata consumer mobile businesses operations across the country in 19 circles. Earlier, it was reported that Tata Tele's debt will be settled by Tata group. Tata will retain its stake in Viom and take care of associated liabilities -- American Tower Company (ATC) owns 51 per cent stake in Viom while Tata Tele holds 33 per cent and Tata Sons 2 per cent.

The telecom sector has been witnessing rough weather in terms of profitability due to rising competition and lower margins, resulting in large scale lay-offs in the sector. The so-called 'tariff war' started by Mukesh Amabni-led Reliance Jio has caused consolidation in the telecom sector amid mounting losses.

The year 2017 saw many telecom companies merging their telecom businesses. Prominent deals include Vodafone India and Idea Cellular merger, Airtel's acquisition of Tata Tele's mobile business and Telenor and Tikona digital. Reliance Jio, which has turned profitable for the first time after its launch 16-month ago, bought Anil Ambani-led RCom's wireless assets, including spectrum, tower, fibre optic, for a total value of nearly $3.75 billion.Padmaavat maker Viacom 18 Motion Pictures on Thursday said one million people had watched the film on its opening day. It said in a statement that the team is "humbled" by the response to the Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed film, which released in over 4,000 screens across the country. The Rs 150-crore lavishly mounted period drama finally released on Thursday amid protests by Karni Sena that began in October soon after the trailer came out.

"We are humbled with the response we have received for Padmaavat. Over 1 million Indians have already watched the film and occupancy levels for shows are very strong across more than 4000 screens with most running house-full. The feedback for the film has been overwhelming," the spokesperson of the production house said.

The producers also thanked the government, state authorities, police and fans for making the opening a "stellar success".

"We are hopeful that every Indian across all states - will get a chance to see the film especially as we celebrate our great nation's 69th Republic Day," the spokesperson added.

The actress, Deepika Padukone had taken to Twitter yesterday to express how grateful she was to her fans for going to the theatres to watch the movie amid such chaos. She said that she was touched, overjoyed and humbled at this reaction.

I cannot believe what I'm seeing!!! @dp1stday1stshow what a show of pure genuine love & commitment!im not only touched & over joyed but extremely humbled seeing this absolutely unique initiative!lots & lots of love to each & every one of you!!! #DP1stDay1stShow pic.twitter.com/HcP6NKl7Lm - Deepika Padukone (@deepikapadukone) January 25, 2018

Ranveer Singh had also tweeted a message to his fans on the eve of the movie's release.The movie has received mostly positive reviews and Ranveer Singh has been unanimously praised for his performance. While a few critics have said that the movie gets a bit slow in between and lacks depth, one thing that everyone seems to agree on is that the movie is a tribute to Rajput valour and courage.

Padmaavat, which is also produced by Bhansali Productions, features Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh in the lead roles of Rani Padmavati, Raja Ratan Singh and Alauddin Khilji. It is based on 16th century poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi's epic "Padmavat".

(With PTI inputs)National Governors Association (NGA) Chair, Utah Gov. Gary Herbert gives a 'State of the States' address, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016, at the National Press Club in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

LOGAN  Utah Governor Gary Herbert has endorsed a local politician in his run for the District 5 seat in the Utah House of Representatives, saying that Casey Snider will be a strong advocate for constituents.

Snider said hes appreciative of the governors endorsement and that he had a chance to work with him while employed with Congressman Rob Bishop and the late Senator Bob Bennett.

Its a little overwhelming, Snider said. Weve been getting a lot of support here locally. When I threw my hat into the ring to start this race I thought we had a good shot and it has just been incredibly humbling to see all the support from all the people in the valley who think I would do a good job.

Snider said he is pursuing the caucus convention route for his campaign. He said he feels it makes him a better candidate to sit down in the living room or on the front steps with people in his district.Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is asking the Commerce Department to reconsider its decision earlier this month to impose preliminary duties on imports of uncoated groundwood paper from Canada, which is commonly used by the newspaper industry and other print publications.

The tariffs on Canadian paper imports range from 6 to 9.9 percent. The Commerce Department is expected to assess anti-dumping duties in early March. The duties could be much higher than the existing tariffs.

The Commerce Department will issue its final decision on the tariffs in July.

Schumer, D-N.Y., is urging Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to reverse the duties because of the potential impact on newspapers, including those in New York. Uncoated groundwood paper is used to print The Citizen and many other newspapers across the Northeast.A chapel for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY (AP)  The Mormon church is calling on national leaders to support Dreamer immigrants who the religion says have earned the right to continue to contribute positively to society.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said Friday in a statement that it respects the right of nations to establish immigration laws, but called on leaders to create polices that give hope and opportunities for Dreamer immigrants. That refers to young people brought to the country as children illegally and raised here through no fault of their own.

The statement comes after President Donald Trump told journalists this week he favors a pathway to citizenship for those immigrants, embracing a notion he once specifically rejected.

The new statement aligns with the Utah-based religions past calls for a compassionate approach to immigration reform.

The full statement from the church appears below:

<em>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established in 188 nations around the globe. Issues of immigration and legal status are of concern for many of our members. Most of our early Church members emigrated from foreign lands to live, work and worship, blessed by the freedoms and opportunities offered in this great nation.</em>

<em>Immigration is a complex and sometimes divisive issue. As we have stated before, we believe that our first priority is to love and care for one another as Jesus Christ taught. Each nation must determine and administer its policies related to immigration. The Church does not advocate any specific legislative or executive solution. Our hope is that, in whatever solution emerges, there is provision for strengthening families and keeping them together. We also acknowledge that every nation has the right to enforce its laws and secure its borders and that all persons subject to a nations laws are accountable for their acts in relation to them.</em>

<em>We welcome the sincere efforts of lawmakers and leaders to seek for solutions that honor these principles and extend compassion to those seeking a better life. Specifically, we call upon our national leaders to create policies that provide hope and opportunities for those, sometimes referred to as Dreamers, who grew up here from a young age and for whom this country is their home. They have built lives, pursued educational opportunities and been employed for years based on the policies that were in place. These individuals have demonstrated a capacity to serve and contribute positively in our society, and we believe they should be granted the opportunity to continue to do so.</em>As a child, Jodi Baldwin always dreamed of owning land.

Born and raised in Borodino  a hamlet near Skaneateles Lake  Baldwin's family lived on two acres of land surrounded by farms, pumpkin patches and corn fields. As children, she and her brother would often hitch a tractor ride from a local farmer.

"It was just your all-American country childhood and I loved it," Baldwin said. "I never wanted to leave the Finger Lakes. ... I was always very attached to the area."

But when high school came around, Baldwin said she got caught up in the search for a big career and wound up in Rhode Island, where she studied costume design and conservation.

"Everyone was just biting the bullet to get out of the small-town world," she said. "I lived in a generation where everyone went to college ... and that's just what everyone expected of you."

Baldwin enrolled in the University of Rhode Island, focused on a career in movies and museums. But between classes on costuming, she started studying something else: real estate.

A freshman in college, Baldwin said she began searching for farms in the Finger Lakes region, printing ads off the Internet and circling the ones she liked most.AUBURN  The Cayuga County Economic Development Agency is increasing efforts to maintain a local workforce.

One of the big disconnects we're taking about is kids don't know what jobs are available here. So they go away to college, they find a job, they  if we're lucky  come back to raise a family later, said Tracy Verrier, executive director of CEDA, after the Economic Forecast Luncheon on Thursday.

Verrier said there is a generation gap, specifically in manufacturing jobs and the county is working to increase efforts to get in front of young people while they're still here to be able to say, Look, here are these really cool, high-tech manufacturing jobs, that you could do, or these quality assurance jobs where you get to play with cool machines all day.

They're good-paying jobs, high-tech jobs, and they require, in a lot of cases, some very specialized skills, Verrier said, we really need people to understand that and want our students to know that those jobs are here, so they can go get their training and come back.| BY Lynchy |

McCann Health today announced the appointment of Australias June Laffey to the new position of Executive Vice President, Chief Creative Officer, McCann Health New York.

Ms Laffey has served as Regional Executive Creative Director for McCann Health Australia & Southeast Asia since 2016, based in Sydney. She was Chairman of the Pharma Jury for 2017 Cannes Lions Health and also holds the distinction of being the most awarded female creative leader in the history of McCann Worldgroup Asia Pacific. She will move to New York from Sydney to take up her new post in early February.

McCann Health New York, comprised of McCann HumanCare and McCann Healthcare, provides consolidated integrated communications solutions for HCP and Consumer Health & Wellness clients across all channels and audiences  from consumers to physicians. This new leadership appointment in New York follows impressive growth over the last three years with McCann HumanCare more than tripling in size, and McCann Healthcare gaining a more diversified business portfolio and becoming one of the most awarded agencies in the healthcare arena.

Says Aussie expat Jeremy Perrott (left), Global Chief Creative Officer for McCann Health: Junes passion and love for this business is infectious. Her reputation as team builder, team player, collaborator, mentor and business builder go before her. But its her creative ability to deliver consistently award-winning solutions for big and small clients, for complex brands in Rx and consumer, that her reputation comes to life. Im excited to have June at McCann Health New York to lift the creative product even higher and build on the agencys very successful growth.

Ive had the pleasure of working closely with June during my tenure in APAC and she is an absolute power house of creativity and talent, said Amar Urhekar, President, McCann Health Americas. Im looking forward to welcoming June in her new role in NY and as a part of the senior leadership team across MHNA.

I am absolutely thrilled to partner with such a word-class creative leader as June in order to take our integrated creative offering to the next level, said Leo Tarkovsky, President McCann Health NY. Together, we will strive to offer breakthrough ideas to our clients that will enable them to transform their businesses and win in the highly cluttered and competitive health and wellness category of today and tomorrow.

I am feeling blessed and humbled at this amazing opportunity with the McCann family, said Ms Laffey. For me, coming to New York means new beginnings and a new opportunity to make a difference with ideas that can change, empower and even save lives. Most of all, I look forward to building and creating an environment where innovation and creativity thrive in a vibrant, IdeaCentric culture.

Ms Laffey joined McCann Health Sydney in 2010 as Executive Creative Director, McCann Health Sydney, and under her leadership the agency quickly became the most awarded healthcare agency in the APAC region. During her nearly eight years with the network, she earned a reputation for being a great team-builder and consistently producing world-class award-winning work: work that gets recognized not just locally, but regionally and globally as well.

Ms Laffey is in high demand on the international judging circuit, and has been invited to judge in all the industrys top award shows. She served as the inaugural Jury Chair at the Spikes Asia award show and Clio Health. She is known for bringing passion, integrity, and love into every jury room she enters. Junes mantra is that everybody is creative, and she passionately believes in the power of teamwork.| BY Lynchy |

Adweek in the US reports that, this week, Wieden + Kennedy London has fired chief strategy officer Paul Colman (pictured), a global partner who spent more than 10 years with the agency.

I can confirm that Paul Colman will no longer be working at W+K London, an agency spokesperson told AdWeek.

The representative declined to elaborate on the reasons for Colmans abrupt departure but provided the following statement: W+K does not tolerate harassment of any kind. If harassment or inappropriate conduct is reported, a timely investigation is conducted, and if a violation is found to have occurred, appropriate corrective action is taken.news, latest-news

There is something quintessentially Australian about the way in which the Queen's representative, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove, casually walked among the Australia Day crowds in Canberra, without fuss or fanfare, saying hello to families and recognising some of the very moving aspects of the day. Similarly, there is something intrinsically Australian about the larrikins who set up a faux-Hills Hoist-powered slip and slide at Pine Island in Tuggeranong to celebrate our national day. From the formalities of Australia Day to the sheer frivolity, the national capital covered the spectrum on Friday. In Commonwealth Park, there was Australia's Federation Guard, a national flag raising and citizenship ceremony, a booming gun salute and the smell of eucalypt from a traditional smoking ceremony welcoming our newest Australians. It was also the site of ActewAGL's Great Aussie Breakfast early in the morning and then fireworks and a concert in the evening. Sir Peter was moved after seeing 32 people from 19 countries become new Australians in the national citizenship ceremony. "I'm never failed to be touched by the very people like you making that great leap and becoming Australian citizens," he said. Down at Pine Island, the humid and hot conditions were being tempered in the most Aussie of ways: punters being spun around a slip and slide via a Hills Hoist. Oxley brothers Mikey and Phil Jacob and their family and friends spend "hours and hours" setting up the ultimate Australia Day fun machine. They work in fire protection and the machine, constructed to look like a Hills Hoist, is powered by a lathe usually used to thread pipes through for roof sprinklers. It's then powered by a generator. Mikey reckons the contraption can reach speeds of 60km/h but averages 30k/h. He says Australia Day to him is all about "just having a good day" and sharing it with as many people as possible. "We've got so many of our friends and family here," he said. "But half the people here are strangers. They stop and look and take videos. All the kids are having a blast. It's just a good time." The Mailler siblings of Campbell - Chloe, 9; Will, 7; and Isaac two on January 29; were celebrating Australia Day in Commonwealth Park with their grandparents. Mum Melissa and her twin sister Amanda were also celebrating their 40th birthdays on Australia Day. Young Chloe was very clear about what Australia Day meant to her: "A day where Aussies get together to have fun and celebrate their country". "And barbecues!" she said. The Muslims for Loyalty from the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Australia again quietly made their presence felt at the official ceremonies at Commonwealth Park. They stood in the crowd wearing t-shirts that read: "Love for all. Hatred for None. Muslims for Peace". ACT president of the association Khalid Syed, originally from Pakistan, said Australia Day had powerful connotations for him. "It is a yearly reminder of how lucky we are to live in a safe, friendly, prosperous country where my wife and I can get up every morning to go to a job and my children have access to world-class education. What else can you hope for from life," Mr Syed said. Protesters who also prefer to call Australia Day Invasion Day walked across Commonwealth Avenue Bridge to call for the nation's day of celebration to be changed. Come evening, thousands of Canberrans flocked to Regatta Point for a family friendly celebration to cap off the day. People came early to bag prime position, picnic and flags in hand, to enjoy the fireworks which lit up the skies above Lake Burley Griffin at 9pm. There was something for everyone with jumping castle and activities for the kids and food trucks keeping everyone fed and watered. But first a concert - headlined by ARIA nominees and hip-hop outfit The Justice Crew and featuring local band Tuchasoul and duo Jess & Matt - entertained crowds.

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Senior Australian of the Year Dr Graham Farquhar will use his year in the spotlight to advocate for long term funding certainty for scientific research. Speaking the day after accepting the award, Dr Farquhar said he still hoped to keep up with his research, but said the year would "give me a chance to push favourite causes, like making good use of the talents of senior people". Knowing that he has the ear of some of the most senior decision-makers in the country, Dr Farquhar hopes to push for funding for research that needs many years to be successful. "I do feel that longer term research, longer than 2 or 3 years, is an issue thats worth exploring," he said. "Hopefully we can take a longer term view, hopefully they see that investing in research for the long term is useful." In the 50 years since he first graduated with a Bachelor of Science at ANU, Dr Farquhar says the increase in research funding coming from grants creates a more difficult environment for longer term, ambitious projects. "I think [Professor Michelle Simmons] said it really well actually, we've got to encourage people to work on hard topics and working on hard topics means there's a chance of failure. We've got to make sure there's some way of judging whether failure of a particular piece of research is because of doing bad science or whether it's the luck of the draw." "I support Michelle in her call for people to do difficult research on hard problems and deep problems," he said. Dr Farquhar also paid tribute to the support he has received from Australian National University, particularly that from Vice Chancellor Brian Schmidt. "At a personal level Brian Schmidt has been extraordinarily supportive," he said. "He has a Nobel Prize of his own so as soon as he learnt that I was getting the Kyoto Prize last year he swung into action because he knew what it would involve. He said you're going to need administrative support and that sort of thing because he'd been there and done that." He hopes that the award will bring recognition to ANU, drawing attention to the work being done at the university. Although Dr Farquhar now lives in Burra, he said he identifies as a Canberran, living in Yarralumla before moving just beyond the border. "I've lived all around Canberra and, more to the point, the reason I was nominated in the ACT is that that's where my work is," he said. Dr Farquhar said he hoped the honour would also lead to Canberra to get "more of a fair go". "I think it's helpful for Canberra to see recognition for people doing something substantial," he said. "Hopefully if they see people doing good biophysics along with good music and good poetry etc then it will change the image of Canberra."

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As an 11 year old growing up in New Zealand, Lewis Mander was more interested in reading chemistry books for pleasure than the usual exploits of boys his age. Little did he know that decades later it would lead to a top honour in another country. Professor Mander said he was delighted and it was very unexpected to be honoured with the Companion of the Order of Australia. The renowned organic chemist was honoured for his outstanding service to science through "pioneering contributions to organic chemistry in the field of plant growth hormones, to higher education as an academic, researcher and author, and to national and international scientific societies". Professor Mander's wife Stephanie Mander said that chemistry was well taught in New Zealand schools which also helped fuel her husband's interest in the subject. "School standards are very high because there aren't many jobs for chemistry graduates, so teaching is a preferred profession, which obviously benefits the children." Professor Mander's understanding of chemistry was noticed and he received a visit from the Professor of Botany at Auckland University in his last year of high school who tried to persuade him to use his knowledge of chemistry in biology. Mr Mander took him up on the offer and completed his Bachelor and Masters degrees at the University of Auckland and obtained his PhD in 1965 at the University of Sydney. It was there in the Sydney labs that he met Stephanie, who was also doing her PhD. "It was meant to be," she said. When asked if it was love at first sight, Stephanie laughed and said that "Lew was far too cautious for that". After two years of postdoctoral studies at the University of Michigan and at Caltech, Professor Mander returned to Australia as a lecturer in organic chemistry at the University of Adelaide and finally moved to Canberra in 1975 to work at the Research School of Chemistry at ANU. When Professor Mander started looking at plant growth hormones it was to find a "wonder drug in the Australian trees" with lengthy research into Alzheimer's and blood thinning which didn't bear fruit. Now the research has changed from looking for medicine to looking to "continue feeding people in the future". The 78-year-old said that the award reflected positively on the ANU because they "gave me the freedom to pursue my research activities". Professor Mander also acknowledged his extensive relationship with CSIRO which was "particularly valuable" and was a "fantastic collaboration". Professor Mander retired in 2002 and was appointed Professor Emeritus at ANU, the Latin word emeritus meaning "veteran soldier". Professor Mander has also struggled with Parkinson's disease for five years, after his son-in-law noticed a tremor in his right arm and that he wouldn't swing his arms when he walked - which is an early sign of Parkinson's disease. This didn't slow him down though, with the Professor continuing to work in the lab until he finally stopped two years ago. After a career that spanned over 50 years, the professor thought that "he had his turn". It was time to retire and see the next generation take up the reigns, with research into a treatment into Parkinson's disease at Monash University which the Manders have a particular interest in. According to Professor Mander, just as important as the research is the countless number of students around the world that Professor Mander has worked alongside. "It is like a big family", according to Mrs Mander, that has learnt a set of "tools and skills and most importantly patience and optimism".

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The joy of serving the community has kept associate professor Vanita Rajul Parekh pushing to help those who have suffered from sexual or domestic violence among the Canberra community. Professor Parekh was made a Member of the Order of Australia in this year's Australia Day honours for her significant service to medicine as a specialist in the fields of sexual health and forensic medicine, as an educator and clinician. Dr. Parekh moved to Australia from Scotland in 1995 for an adventure, after receiving an offer to fill a doctor shortage in Canberra. She began Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care (FAMSAC) in 2000 after being contacted by the Government to start the service. She was originally the only person in the clinic. "We've gone from me doing the roster for about a year by myself to having a team of doctors and now a team of nurses as well," she said. "It's exciting to start something and watch it [grow]." Dr. Parekh spends most of her time in the clinic helping patients, but spends time travelling Australia and overseas teaching other doctors who undertake this work. She travelled to Namibia with the AFP and remembered one of their police officers saying they wanted a health centre like FAMSAC and vowed to make it happen. It was then when Dr. Parekh realised other places rely on their work. "By having an effective service here there's actually other places that are relying on us globally to have an output and to be involved in teaching and training," she said. Dr. Parekh believes working in the Canberra community has had advantages to addressing health issues in the area. "It's been amazing to work here in Canberra," she said. "Because we are quite small we can see the needs [of the community] and we can act quite quickly." Dr. Parekh said she was taken by surprise when told she would be receiving her award. She does not know who nominated her but feels honoured that they thought of her. "To me it's so significant because I love Australia and it just makes me feel really Australian," she said. "I couldn't believe it, it's an amazing, wonderful honour."

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There's a smile constantly twitching at the mouth of 59-year-old Gippsland farmer Sam Xuereb as he talks about progressing from building to paddock bashers to monster trucks. "This is what we live for," he said, as he watched his 23-year-old son Michael drive their monster truck Tropical Thunder on its two back wheels around the arena of Exhibition Park in Canberra. Sam likes to keep it a little smaller than his son. His speciality is driving a sunny-yellow 1974 120Y Datsun around on its two side wheels. "I've been doing this ever since I was 15," Sam said. "Ever since I got my first paddock basher I've been wanting to do this. And I'm still learning." Sam is equally enthusiastic about the other performers in this Saturday night's Smash Fest at EPIC including Steve "Program" Ellis. The massive bloke - for the waiting media on Thursday - nonchalantly drove, at high speed, a beat-up Mitsubishi Magna into stationary Toyota Rav4, causing a massive bang and sending debris over the ground. "He just lives for demolitions," Sam reckoned, of the hefty Program. "You want it wrecked, he can wreck it." A night of crazy stunts and action are promised on Saturday night at EPIC. The family-friendly chaos includes racing lawn mowers, freestyling motocross riders, heavy machinery at war, Benny the clown, a jet car that performs the "Doughnut of Death", rides for the kids and country music star Adam Brand as MC. And monster trucks. Crazy monster trucks. Michael, who lives with his dad on an acreage full of jumps and obstacles in the Gippsland, has been driving monster trucks since he was 15. "I got to ride one of these before I got my licence," he said. Tropical Thunder boasts a 572 cubic inch big block Chev engine that throws out 1500 horsepower. That simply means it is loud and powerful. "Awesome," is how Michael describes the feeling of driving the intimidating vehicle. Tickets for the Smash Fest at EPIC - gates open at 3pm; show starts at 6pm - are available here.

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Interesting letter accusing Trump of being racist, using sexual harassment, and unethical business conduct! The writer also accused Trump of misconduct. Of course she did not detail any examples. The left often makes accusations out of thin air while ignoring gross misbehavior by Obama and Hillary.

Of course racism to a Democrat is a fallback position when all else fails. If you cant swim grab a lifeline. The Democrats lifeline is the accusation of racism. It is inevitably used when other arguments fail. Obama majored in racism and the relationship between the races went downhill. Murders in Democratic governed cities have increased while under a black president aided by BLM. Those who see racism in every event are racists by definition.

Sexual harassment (to the point of being criminal) is best exemplified by Bill Clinton. Nobody will ever outdo Bill. Hillary supported his sexual aggressiveness and defended him every step of the way. We are talking about sexual activities so common and frequent that he lost a lawsuit and his law license.

Business conduct is best compared to Hillary and Bill with the Clinton Foundation. Can you imagine they left the presidency broke and now have a net worth around $150 million. During that time, Hillary was working for the government and Bill was unemployed. What kind of business conduct did that take? How about netting millions of dollars to help walk the sale of 20 percent of our uranium to Russia through our political system? How would you describe using a charitable organization to get rich?

Egregious misconduct! The writer must be listening to Morning Joe. I have never turned to his show when he wasnt beating up on Trump with the most unverified, speculative accusations anyone could invent. The man is obsessive. It would help to describe what the writer means by egregious misconduct.

And what about a commander in chief who steps aside to open up Iraq for the most horrific terrorist ISIS and then does nothing, calling ISIS the JV team? He helps unseat Qaddafi, opening up another territory for ISIS and sends no help to our embassy as it is attacked. He does nothing as Russia takes over Crimea and invades Ukraine. His only weapon against North Koreas eight years of developing atomic bombs and missiles are his innocuous speeches. Then there is the red line he draws in Syria using invisible ink.

Finally he cuts back on defense funds disarming America making us more vulnerable than any time since Carter. I wonder if Captain Mack was happy with Obama, a fake commander in chief.

People in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.

John Benedict

Cape CoralCadillac aims to sell 200,000 vehicles in China 2018

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Cadillac plans to sell 200,000 vehicles in China this year with a predictable year-on-year annual sales growth of 15.6%, according to Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen's.



Last year, Cadillac of SAIC-GM posted a year-on-year sales growth of 46.6% to 173,017 units (excluding imported vehicles), achieving double-digit sales growth for 22 consecutive months. China surpassed the United States as the brand's largest retail market for the first time.

By the end of 2017, Cadillac's dealerships in China had exceeded 180. In the future, the automaker plans to increase this number to 300.

Cadillac will complete the modification and upgrading of the existing models being sold globally by the end of 2021. Currently, SAIC-GM produces ATS-L, XTS, XT5, CT6 and ATS in China, which are expected to be upgraded synchronizing with the upgrading in overseas areas.

At present, Cadillac only owns two SUV models, ESCALADE and XT5. According to official news, in the last quarter this year, the automaker will launch an all-new compact SUV XT4 in America. Meanwhile, this model is expected to be introduced in China for sales and be locally produced by China.Personally, I would like to see Canada lead rather than follow. The boycott should not be for political or human rights issues. How about the simple protection of our complete delegation.

Sure, Olympic Village will be completely fortified but let's be reasonable here, North Korea is some 68 miles from Korea with the North Korea Leader threatening nuclear devastation.

What nation or international body could possibly blame a country for protecting its citizens? If it's safe in Korea then why are their missile defense shields set up all over the country and region.



All Canadian federal Government websites say North Korea is a 100% no go for travel but 68 miles into Korea is safe?

Ken WarrenI came to Toronto Canada in 2001 and have a master's in mathematics like many people who came before me and are still coming.

I looked for a job for three years and could not find anything, so I started driving taxi. I was working 70 to 80 hours a week and still had a hard time providing for my family.

As per my experience, instead of the ride-hailing technology, give some benefits to drivers. It only killed hundreds and thousands of jobs related to this industry.

I don't know how in this civilized country, our politicians are in favour of running two different systems in one city. The old one is charging $10 and the new one is charging $6, where a driver would make $3.50/hour and even a single man would find it very hard to survive.

I hope the administrator of every municipality would give favour to people who drive taxi before passing a bill for ride hailing. These companies need to pay a respectable amount to the driver and then give them permission to run this business.

Abdul Qayyum Khan

You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes 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: BREAK, ENTER AND THEFT

DATE: January 16, 2018

RCMP FILE: 2018-2723

On January 16th Kelowna RCMP received a report of a theft from an underground parkade located on the 100 block of Barber Road. Sometime overnight a suspect used a tool to force his way through the front doors of the condominium building then entered the parkade. He rummaged around several vehicles, stealing a key fob to the building and a pair of snowshoes. If you recognize this person of interest, please send a tip to Crime Stoppers  you could be rewarded.

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.

CRIME: BANK FRAUD

DATE: August 11, 2017

RCMP FILE: 2017-50416

Kelowna RCMP are interested in learning the identity of this man who allegedly bilked local banks of thousands of dollars. The man made deposits with counterfeit cheques and withdrawals at several banks in the area on August 11th and 12th, 2017 using a stolen Quebec identification.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.

CRIME: AUTO MISCHIEF OVER $5000

DATE: January 23, 2018

RCMP FILE: 2018-3927

A report was called in to Kelowna RCMP just after midnight on January 23rd, 2018 when a witness watched two males wearing all black hitting numerous vehicles with their skateboards in the Glenwood Avenue / Ethel Street area. Police Dog Services were called and the police dog followed a trail finding at least fourteen smashed side mirrors and knocked-over garbage bins. The scent was lost in the area of Cameron Park. If you have information on who may have done this senseless damage, please contact Crime Stoppers.

Photo: Crime Stoppers

You can help catch these suspects and qualify for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers anonymous tips line at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), visit our website at www.crimestoppers.net or text to CRIMES (274637), keyword Ktown.Chesterfield Police make arrest in Labor Day shooting Chesterfield Police have arrested one suspect and are seeking two others in relation to a shooting that occurred in a North Chesterfield apartment complex on Labor Day. Officers responded to...Guest Commentary Local coalition aspires to achieve smokefree air for all More than 1 in 5 Indiana adults smoke cigarettes (21.5%), one of the highest rates in the nation, while the number of youths using vaping products remains a concern for anti-smoking advocates. Secondhand smoke is estimated...

Voice of the People Well so much for the Tribune allowing only letters focusing on local issues. Tuesdays letter giving Biden a pass on his totally irrational screw-up of the Afghanistan withdrawal, ends if under the circumstances  if they could do better. The answer is  absolutely. The...

Voice of the People Recently four members of Porter County Board of Zoning Appeals approved to give an Iowa company special exceptions and variances to build a THIRD gas station at U.S. 6 and Indiana 149, on the northwest corner adjacent to Liberty Township. In this growing age of...

Voice of the People We havent betrayed the Afghan people; they betrayed us. Monday morning quarterbacks criticizing our government and military are nothing more than cheap shot malcontents. Id like to see or at least hear how, under these same circumstances, they could do better. Joel Sutlin Chesterton September...Think about that. Claims get rejected about half the time for dubious reasons  or, the cynic in me wants to say, because the insurer is curious to see if the patient has the wherewithal and stamina to navigate the appeals process.Late last year, the Army Corps of Engineers said in a public notice that the project would have an adverse effect because it requires demolishing an architecturally significant building. The federal agencys approval of the development is needed because the project will include a stormwater outfall structure, which is essentially a hole cut in the seawall to allow rainwater to flow from the tower into the Chicago River.In this file photo taken on September 16, 2013 shows the bombardier aircraft CSeries on the tarmac in Mirabel, Quebec. A bipartisan trade panel has blocked the U.S. government's decision last year to impose nearly 300 percent punitive tariffs on airplanes manufactured by Canada's Bombardier in a dispute that has inflamed relations with Ottawa. (Clement Sabourin / AFP/Getty Images)Typically, when a book sells out, theres a similar title the employees can recommend, Turner said. They were able to do that with The Power by Naomi Alderman. The science-fiction novel  in which women discover the power to release jolts of electricity from their hands and become the dominant gender  sold steady after it was released in the U.S. this fall, but sales took off suddenly during the holidays, Turner said. A salesperson might instead direct a shopper to anything by Margaret Atwood.For Petes Fresh Market, a 12-store grocery chain in the Chicago area, truckloads of produce from Mexico have roughly doubled in cost since the new devices were mandated  from about $2,400 for 40,000 pounds of produce to more than $5,000, said produce buyer Kenneth Moore. Petes has been able to absorb much of those costs, but the companys had to mark up items like bananas and lettuce, for example, by 20 cents, Moore said.Taking the stage, Trump received modest applause but some people kept their hands at their sides. The crowd was largely subdued as the president spoke but there were boos and hisses when he took a swipe at "how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be."However, on the same day Walmart announced the bonuses and raises, it also announced it was closing 63 Sams Club stores, including six in the Chicago area. Meanwhile, 400 to 500 jobs at the companys Arkansas headquarters are being cut, though some employees will be rehired in different roles. More layoffs are expected next year when Walmart relocates facilities on the site of its new corporate headquarters.This is the problem with iconic culture: Whether or not you experience the thing, you bear witness to it; you are bombarded by a narrow set of images providing the thing you avoided with a shape in your head. By 1980, you could think that you had seen Saturday Night Fever even if you hadnt. And yet now that I am in my 40s and have finally seen Saturday Night Fever  as of last week  I feel like a cultural MIA who just wandered out of a pop jungle. I am in awe of this artifact that I missed, in love with its freshness, and unable to think of much else. And forget girly: This is a rough, lacerating and undeniably charming indictment of male cruelty and privilege. Its hard to deny the electricity of Travoltas Tony, yet the character is a casually racist, misogynistic predator who sexually assaults a dance partner. (Changing attitudes aside, I know that this somewhat shocked plenty of moviegoers in 1977, too.)The ad plays on a familiar scene: Viall having trouble connecting with a woman. The Wisconsin native was runner-up on two seasons of The Bachelorette and his relationship from The Bachelor quickly fizzled. Turns out, Viall just needed a new mattress. When he gets one from Brilliant Bed in the commercial, the woman who initially gave him side-eye ends up bringing him cookies.Much of the details of the case are being kept under wraps. Hudson and David Otunga, who were not in court Friday, and their attorneys are prohibited from talking to media about the case, under a gag order Judge Karen Bowes signed in November.Why? Its hard to say. Ive spent a lifetime with her on the periphery. Genuflecting at her title as the godmother of punk, despite her ambivalence toward the role. Relishing her ability to capture the way lust is both ecstasy and a prison in Because the Night, even though Natalie Merchants quaking vocals hit my ears long before co-writer Bruce Springsteens version did. And understanding that, like the Velvet Underground, the bands she influenced probably outnumber the people who own a copy of Horses. I could feel her fury in PJ Harvey and romance in Jeff Buckley almost by osmosis. She also hung out with the coolest dudes: Bob Dylan, Sam Shepard, Allen Ginsberg, producer John Cale.If art helps us to better understand what it means to be alive, you might say the intention of BioArt is to help us understand what it means to be alive at a cellular level  at a moment when technology has complicated that meaning. It doesnt necessarily mean art about science. BioArt is a new art form predicated on something unprecedented in the history of art: the manipulation or creation of life, said Eduardo Kac, a professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and pioneering bio artist. And yet science itself does not resonate with me any more than other sectors of culture. Is painting chemistry? Not in the hands of Kandinsky. If I work with a medium, it becomes an art medium. Last year, Kac, along with a handful of other bio artists, posted an online manifesto for the emerging world of BioArt, a litany of parameters, including a rule that BioArt must use some form of biomaterial (cells, DNA) to be considered genuine BioArt.Its a fictional scene, of course, and it has irritated the more conservative wing of the British Churchillians, many of whom dislike how Darkest Hour dispenses with the usual Churchillian swagger and imagines a doubting, alcoholic, eccentric and far-from-decisive leader, a puppet of the people who needs to be buoyed by a trip on the District Line among those who actually were looking to him for leadership. But thats the point of the film: Authoritarianism, it is saying, had morphed into fascism, and it cannot properly be vanquished merely by titled, white, male elites. In other words, Churchill had to learn to be other than himself in order to lead. Its a very 2018 point of view, of course, but that does not make it less convincing."She the People" is a new revue at Second City featuring five women and the subtitle "A Girlfriends' Guide to Sisters Doing It For Themselves." Much of the show was penned before the current #MeToo movement, and its references to Ross and Rachel feel positively quaint. But things pick up in the second half when it snags an audience member for a game show and, inevitably and not unkindly, reveals she knows more about the Kardashians than ISIS. Up-and-comer Maria Randazzo is the natural leader here and her range is striking. She can play a CEO and a quirky, wacky woman  someone who "works with kids, animals or coffee"  and you believe her as both. Through April 1 in the UP Comedy Club at Second City, 230 W. North Ave.; $26-$41 at 312-662-4562 and www.secondcity.comIt costs about $375,000 a year to run Annes House, according to a member of the Annes House advisory council. The member of the council said Annes House has always been able to raise the money in the past but 2017 was a tough year. Three longtime donors died, and the director has been unable to do fundraising since April, due to a severe illness. Justvig said recent financial difficulties at Annes House were not the reason for the closure or for the timing of the closure.MIR Corp. is a tour company that goes above and beyond your usual destinations, and its done it again with a new trip to Russia scheduled for Aug. 7-20. Moscow and St. Petersburg, your typical Russia destinations, are a long way from the itinerary for the Lands of Frost & Fire. This tour explores Russias Far East. Yakutia, home to various indigenous tribes, is a frontier area where mammoths once roamed. Also on the itinerary is the Kamchatka Peninsula, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire. While in the Yakutia region, there are visits to a diamond factory, the Permafrost Research Institute with its 66-foot shaft in the frozen ground, the Mammoth Museum, which celebrates the large creatures that lived there more than 40,000 years ago, and lunch in the home of a family in the Yakut village of Tyokhtyur. On the Kamchatka Peninsula, guests can take a helicopter flight to the geothermally active Valley of the Geysers. Theres also a chance to meet with peoples of the Koryak and Even tribes and go hiking on Avacha, one of the roughly 160 volcanoes on the peninsula. Price for the trip is $7,595 per person, double occupancy, plus $1,400 for internal air. International air to Russia is extra. Info: 800-424-7289, tinyurl.com/ydgalg8jThis memory came to mind Thursday with the news that preliminary plans have been released for the Tribune Tower of the future. In the next few months, the Chicago Tribune, the newspaper that gave the building its name, will be moving a few blocks south, to the old Prudential Building near Millennium Park.Two adults and a child were able to escape unharmed but the family's dog died of smoke inhalation and fire injuries, Kubinski said in the release.Nearly two weeks later, police and the Cook County medical examiner's office have determined that the man, Jenaro Carballo, 31, actually died from injuries he suffered in a fight. His death has been ruled a homicide.He showed her the images on his cell phone, and she walked away and told an adult, police said. The girls age was not released.Records show that Dina Markham told police her husband had locked her out of their home the night of his death after the couple had been out drinking and argued after leaving a bar about 1 a.m. She said she discovered her husband dead in their bed after one of her children let her in the house, the reports said.The woman motioned the girl with her hand to come over to the van. The girl then ran back to her house and called her father, police said.Abigail Hall, who was last seen leaving her home around 5:30 p.m. in the 800 block of West Eastwood Avenue, has been located, police said in an update Friday afternoon.An indictment last year charged O'Brien with lying to lenders to obtain more than $1.4 million in mortgages on two South Side investment properties that she bought and sold between 2004 and 2007 when she owned a real estate company and worked part time as a loan originator for a Lincolnwood real estate company. She was then also working as a special assistant attorney general for the Illinois Department of Revenue.The Illinois Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act was passed in 2001 to allow parents to safely give up newborns. The law says a baby can be left with staff at a fire station, police station, hospital or other emergency medical provider within 30 days of the birth.The shots were fired about 3:20 p.m. in the 8000 block of South Sangamon Street in the Gresham Police District, according to a police media notification. No one was reported injuredAuthorities could not say Friday how many officers fired their guns or if the undercover cop was among those who shot at the suspects. A 10-1 police response  designated as an emergency call for an officer in need of assistance  was called during the shootout.Officers went to the 200 block of East Erie Street in the Gold Coast neighborhood around 4:20 a.m. after gunshots were reported in the area, police said.Just before Rauner took office in early 2015, he committed to following blind trust procedures to make sure there was no conflict of interest between his personal investments and public duties. Rauner granted power of attorney over much of his wealth to an investment adviser. His aides at the time said establishing a traditional blind trust would have meant he could not comply with the states requirement to annually disclose economic interests.In this June 6, 2017, file photo, Chinese, American, and other international flags fly as women walk past a Huajian Group shoe factory, which made shoes for Ivanka Trump's brand, in Ganzhou in southern China's Jiangxi Province. Apple Inc. and Ivanka Trump's brand both rely on Chinese suppliers that have been criticized for workplace abuses. But they've taken contrasting approaches to dealing with supply chain problems. When Apple learned thousands of student workers at an iPhone supplier had been underpaid, it helped them get their money back. After three men investigating labor abuses at factories that made Ivanka Trump shoes were arrested last year, neither Ivanka Trump nor her brand spoke out. (Mark Schiefelbein / AP)In this Oct. 15, 2017, photo, Barry and Honey Sherman pose for a photo in Toronto, Canada. At the conclusion of a six week investigation, police said Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, they believe the Canadian billionaire businessman and his wife were both murdered. (United Jewish Appeal Federation - Greater Toronto/Canadian Press via AP)Joseph Kennedy, 37, has served in Congress since 2013 and while maintaining a low-profile, rank-and-file existence on Capitol Hill, he is considered a rising star in his party who could easily vault into higher office in the coming years, given his pedigree and the fact that he is among the younger members in an increasingly aging House Democratic caucus.European leaders have long greeted the Russian leader's assurances with more skepticism. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May have in recent months directly accused Russia of interfering. "So I have a very simple message for Russia. We know what you are doing. And you will not succeed," May said in November. "The U.K. will do what is necessary to protect ourselves, and work with our allies to do likewise." The Macron presidential campaign accused the Kremlin of election meddling, saying that servers belonging to the team were hacked by a group likely to be associated with Russia.No question, in our view, Bannon is a disreputable character who used Breitbart to fan the flames of white nationalism. When Trump failed to condemn neo-Nazis after the Charlottesville, Va., riot, you could see Bannons ugly influence. Yet this is not a reason to keep Bannon from campus. His ideas are extreme but not irrelevant. He helped run the White House. He and his political movement should be understood. That requires engaging and challenging him. A college is the perfect location, a debate the perfect forum. The University of Chicago is deeply committed to upholding the values of academic freedom, the free expression of ideas, and the ability of faculty and students to invite the speakers of their choice, the administration said in defense of the Bannon invite.It got worse for the city when Pallmeyer learned Salvador had been named in another civil rights lawsuit. Whats more, Salvadors attorney in the case, Assistant Corporation Counsel Scott Cohen, also represented him in the other suit, yet the second suit wasnt shared with Evans attorneys. When Cohen explained that he hadnt realized he was representing the same officer, Pallmeyer was livid: Im sorry, as a matter of professional responsibility, you dont know who your client is? What law firm, what city, what anything allows you to say, I dont remember that I was his lawyer?  The judge couldnt believe city attorneys didnt keep a running list of clients. Who dropped the ball?Its a page straight from the Kremlin playbook. Moscow is capitalizing on the discord between the U.S. and Turkey over the Kurds to cozy up to a member of NATO, an alliance the Kremlin still regards as an existential threat on its western border. Aggravate the rift between Washington and Ankara, Moscow figures, and Ankaras ties with the West will continue to weaken. The winner in all this? You guessed it, the bare-chested former KGB agent.What that list of 900 really means is that almost everything in life carries some risk. Some are large, some vanishingly small. This obsession with risks, many of them infinitesimal, denies the certainty that life is all about risks  how to evaluate them, how to negotiate them. Something, eventually, will get you.He knew right away this was the work of aliens. The letters were all tilted to the left, which obviously meant the FBI is a liberal group hellbent on undermining Donald Trump. The message was clear, and we know its factual because the farmer wrote about it in the margins of his Bible. (There are no photos of the field drawing, of course, because he quickly plowed the field before George Soros spy drones saw it and killed him. Also, the Bible burned in a house fire that was undoubtedly started by one of Bill Clintons henchmen.)For those who feel helpless about what happened in Montana in mid-January, we must learn its lessons. Be vigilant. Stand up for local landmark protections, raise awareness and celebrate the significance of each of these buildings in your community. Treat them as assets and not liabilities. Find a community of champions before it is too late. Let people in power know that these places matter. Get in touch with local and national preservation groups so that they have the resources to help local communities save these places. And get involved.Nothing hurts Trump, and heres why: Trump was created in the freak radioactivity of the Obama administration. Every Obama scandal that got swept under the rug; every apology Obama offered for Americas alleged misdeeds; every abuse of presidential authority Obama committed  all of these, over eight years, made possible and inevitable the creature known as Donald Trump, imbued with invulnerability. Hillary Clinton and the GOP elite could not stop him, and CNN and the New York Times certainly wont.The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it low mortgage rates and increased government stimulus that may have helped many Americans enter the housing market. But sellers are reluctant to leave their homes, resulting in high demand and low supply. Median home prices jumped from $329,000 in January 2020 to $347,500 in January 2021, a 6% increase, and widespread inflation could make it difficult to find the right home in the right location. But with remote work becoming the norm, homebuyers are less concerned with location and more interested in size. Data from the National Association of Home Builders found that 21% of homebuyers would now prefer a larger home and 30% would prefer to live in an outlying suburb post-COVID."We have about 50 members in the Boys II Men group, and with over 120 young men getting awards, you can see this is not just about our group," he said. "These young men need a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and service is not about hours but service inside school or outside in the community."A: We're a startup, and we've had challenges. It's been hard for us to get going. As teens, balancing the whole company can be stressful, but we're finding out how to do it through compromising our ideas. From that, it has taught us so much regarding marketing strategies and leadership skills. It has been a great opportunity. We've received about 100 art submissions and not quite 100 percent were printed up for shirts.To resolve a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, SunCoke will pay a $5 million fine. It also will spend $250,000 to clean up lead hazards at schools and day care centers in East Chicago, where the EPA has been overseeing a massive cleanup of lead pollution from other factories that closed long ago.Traffic in the southbound lanes of the toll road was only proceeding on the far right shoulder after the crash and subsequent police investigation, according to a news release from state police. The crash site is near the merger of the Tri-State with Interstates 88 and 290.In a community alert, the department said that Tyler Powell had been reported missing by his parents and had not been attending school recently. He is believed to be in the south suburbs and was wearing a black coat and navy blue shirt and pants.Some context: Illinois' student population is shrinking. Illinois' state budget is already out of balance by more than $1 billion, even after state lawmakers passed a $5 billion tax hike. As of 2015, Illinois spent at least 20 percent more on education per pupil than every neighboring state. And even when stripping out the richest school districts, Illinois spent more per student on average than every neighboring state."I also believe that no woman should be forced to make a different decision than another woman would make purely based on her income," Rauner said when he signed the law. "I believe that a woman living with limited financial means should not be put in the position where she has to choose something different than a woman of higher income would be able to choose."Well, I know Ives and I respect her. She has six years of service in the Illinois General Assembly under her belt. That's six more years of elected public service than Rauner had when he was running for governor four years ago. So, in that sense, she is less of a "fringe candidate" than when the governor first ran.The sentence handed down by Judge Kinsella this morning underscores the severity of the injuries that Mr. Churchill inflicted upon his own infant daughter, Berlin said. Child abuse has no place in a civilized society and remains a top priority in my office as the victims in such cases are arguably societys most vulnerable."We meet up with them at the Vietnam War Memorial Wall, which was dedicated Nov. 13, 1982," Franklin said. "We see them who they are now, and go back in time to them getting on a plane and their personal journeys as they struggled with the horrors of war."At U46, schools have been updating science materials for grades one through eight as well as for high school biology, physics and chemistry. Fergus said district leaders recognized the need to update resources to be aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, which "emphasizes not just mastery of knowledge but application." Next Generation Science Standards have been adopted by 19 states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia.On Tuesday, O'Shea said that vehicle stolen in River Forest had been recovered Monday in Chicago, near Roosevelt Road and Sacramento Boulevard. He said it was a joint effort with the Chicago Police Department. O'Shea added that someone had been taken into custody and turned over to the Chicago Police Department, and the vehicle was towed to River Forest and processed for evidence by detectives and evidence technicians. He said the case remains under investigation.She said that while its a privilege to be a congresswoman, it has also become more challenging under the current administration. The way the United States is viewed by the rest of the world has drastically changed in the last year, and how President Donald Trumps administration has decided to relate to the rest of the world has impacted that, she told students.Johnson said the decision to pursue aquaponics came from attending the College of Lake County, where she earned an associate's degree in Applied Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Natural Areas Management. From there, Johnson and her husband enrolled in classes at Cornell University, the University of Arizona, and the University of Wisconsin to further their knowledge. They are also members at a number of local and international groups and associations on aquaponics and farming."I'm grateful for the opportunity to attend and look forward to hearing what the President has to say about how the Federal government is going to assist us in addressing this epidemic. The strategy needs to include more resources to help people access quality long-term treatment," Nerheim said of his scheduled visit.Joe Rada of Lakemoor is part of the committee of representatives from the archdiocese and four churches under the Lakes Region Grouping. Along with St. Bede and St. Peter, the group includes Prince of Peace Parish and School in Lake Villa and St. Raphael the Archangel Parish in Old Mill Creek, both of which will continue with full-time resident pastors."Upon due consideration, while I have expressed my loyalty to the people who've worked for the City of Waukegan, I would like to voice my enthusiasm to work with whomever is the next Executive Director," Cunningham wrote in the letter."Our team is taking those comments and that perspective and going through our plan to see if there are potential modifications or adjustments we can submit on our current site," Thunstrom said. "That is our priority before we evaluate whether another site will work or whether there are alternative sites."The classic Greek tragedy, "Iphigenia Among the Taurians," will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, to Saturday, Feb. 3, and at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, and Sunday, Feb. 4, in the Madden Theatre at the Fine Arts Center, 171 E. Chicago Ave.But what those students didn't know is that one of the people responsible for starting International Day and the special lunch it features was back for her first in eight years.Under questioning from Severtson, Campbell said he took his children, who stayed with him at his Hobart home the night before Thomas was killed, to a park in Lake Station to throw out a grocery bag of "snot tissues" from his youngest child on their way to school in Portage.Strong and Dillon were charged in 2014 with murder, battery and two counts of neglect of a dependent. The two were arrested after police found Brandon dead Sept. 30, 2014, on an air mattress in the 300 block of West 6th Avenue with a V-shaped head wound and signs of abuse, court records show.St. Mary Catholic Community School: 405 E. Joliet St. The school will host a pancake breakfast and open house from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday. Those interested in learning more about the school's faith-based education are invited to attend. An evening open house also will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 31. Attendees will have an opportunity to tour the school and meet the faculty and staff. St. Mary's School has space for new students at all grade levels from preschool through eighth grade. More information about the school and tuition rates is at www.stmarycp.org/school or at 219-663-0676.Bishop Noll Institute is currently enrolling students for Fall 2018 and will host two entrance exams in February for prospective students. The first exam will be at 8 a.m. Feb. 8 at the school, 1519 Hoffman St., Hammond. Students will take the exam, have lunch and stay to shadow a current student for the remainder of the day. The second exam (test only) will be offered at 8 a.m. Feb. 10. Prospective students are to arrive by 7:45 a.m. the exam day of their choice. Enter through Door A and bring two No.2 pencils. The exam is approximately three to four hours. Fee is $25. Forms are available between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in the main office of the school, or on the date of the exam. Walk-ins are welcome. More information is at (219) 932-9058 or at admissions@bishopnoll.org.While Arshami said only 457 houses have been built in the unincorporated areas since 2010, he believes more than 150,000 houses could be built in the southern portion, with the assumption that there would be four houses built per acre. He said a business park could be built along Interstate 65 in the future, and Indiana 2 at I-65 could provide more highway commercial uses.Ivan Reyes, 30, one of four alleged Jackson Street Latin Count gang members charged earlier this week with conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, was charged Thursday with two counts of murder resulting from the use (of) and carrying of a firearm during and in relation to a drug trafficking crime in the deaths, court records show.The two Illinois men who led police on a bi-state chase Thursday that left a Lake County Sheriff's officer and his police dog injured have been identified and charged, according to police.



Dionte Vaughs, 26, of Markham, Ill., and Donzel Jenkins, 25, of Homewood, Ill., are facing multiple charges stemming from the chase that began Thursday morning in Cedar Lake, continued through multiple jurisdictions, and ultimately ended in Chicago, according to Emiliano Perez, public information officer for the Lake County Sheriff's Department.



Both Officer Doug Parker and his K-9 partner, Rocky, are recovering from injuries they sustained, according to Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez.



Vaughs is facing charges of resisting arrest and auto theft through from the Lake County Prosecutor's Office. Jenkins is facing charges of resisting arrest, auto theft and two counts of reckless driving, Perez said.



According to a release from the Illinois State Police, the Cook County State's Attorney Office charged Jenkins with one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking, two counts of possession of a stolen motor vehicle and aggravated fleeing and eluding.



Vaughs was charged with one count of aggravated vehicular hijacking.The Gary ordinance also prohibits any threats based on citizenship or immigration status and states no person should be stopped, arrested or detained solely because the officer believes the person is in the U.S. illegally. The city has been sued over the ordinance by an Indiana lawyer who claims it violates Indiana's prohibition on sanctuary cities.According to the report, compiled by State Board of Accounts Field Officers Mary Jo Small and Karen Tetrault, Pfister's contract in June 2001 included a clause for an annuity starter and said the school corporation would pay his annual contribution to the Indiana State Teachers Retirement Fund plus an additional 1 percent. The contract was changed, however, in June 2002 to read the school corporation would pay Pfister's annual contribution to ISTRF plus an additional 2 percent to an annuity of his choice.During the sentencing for Buncich, Kirsch said Moody's comments on public corruption and betrayal of the public trust captured the need to continue pursuing those crimes. Kirsch said the judge noted that most public officials are upstanding but it's the bad few that drag down the rest.Why do people file for these governmental jobs and, let's be honest, for these highly political positions? What's their motivation? Is it for personal power and control or for public altruism and servitude? Our task as voters is to decipher which one it is and go from there."A lot of times, they're just driving them around [after the car theft]," Greenwood said. "Typically, they're using those cars to commit another carjacking or to steal another car. A lot of this started years ago, where crews were going up to areas like Northbrook, Wilmette and Highwood, places that don't have a really high crime rate. We were fortunate that we were never really touched by that, but you could see a systemic closing of the area."One woman said she was not able to even run outdoors for months after Grover approached her from behind and grabbed her as she ran on the path in April. Ironically, she said, at the time she had recently moved to Chicago from the Wheaton area, but had returned to run on the path because she felt safe there.My parents fled the island of Cuba and dictator Fidel Castro's regime in 1962, along with many other refugees who sought asylum in the United States. They eventually settled in Miami, which over decades transformed itself into a cultural bubble where Spanish is as common  if not more so, in some parts  as English.For Subscribers Mortgage lender shares tips on how to prepare for Pueblo house hunting

If low interest rates are prompting you to consider a move, check out these tips from a Pueblo mortgage lender before going house hunting.Top economic advisor pledges market opening

Liu He, a member of Chinas politburo and one of President Xi Jinpings top economic advisors, has pledged that China will accelerate economic reforms in 2018.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Liu stated that some measures will exceed the expectations of the international community, and noted that the reforms will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening up policy.

While short on specifics, Liu said that China would open up its market to more foreign imports, strengthen intellectual property protection, and further open up its financial sector. Liu also said that within three years, China would substantially scale up pollution control and have financial risks under control.

Business Intelligence Solutions from Dezan Shira & Associates

Shanghai introduces visa incentives to attract foreign talent

The Shanghai government has announced eased visa and green card rules as part of a strategy to attract top foreign talent.

Outstanding graduates from top foreign universities who come to work in Shanghai will be able to apply for a two-year residence permit within two years of graduation, and will be able to apply for a green card after three years of working in the city. Leading experts will also be able to recommend foreign team members to apply for green cards. Additionally, top foreign talent will be able to work part-time for other companies or institutions while working in Shanghai.

Foreign holders of green cards can now also establish technology enterprises in Shanghais Pilot Free Trade Zone with the same priority as Chinese citizens, and enjoy a number of other incentives for establishing and operating a business there.

The relaxed visa and green card rules are part of Shanghais latest Five Year Plan covering the years 2017-2021, as the city looks to attract talent and boost its image as Chinas most international city.

Smartphone use now allowed on major Chinese airlines

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has released rules that will allow air passengers in the country to use smartphones and other electronic devices during flights.

The new rules allow airlines to set their own policies on in-flight use of electronic devices. Major Chinese airlines, including China Eastern, Air China, and Hainan Airlines, have already relaxed their rules on electronic devices in response.

Previously, electronic devices  including smartphones set to airplane mode  were banned from use on Chinese airlines, due to safety concerns over signal disruption.

The relaxed rules are part of an effort to introduce more market-based reforms to Chinas aviation industry. Earlier this month, the CAAC liberalized price-setting rules for over 300 air routes, and eased restrictions on private investment in the sector.



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An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

This Dezan Shira & Associates 2017 China guide provides a comprehensive background and details of all aspects of setting up and operating an American business in China, including due diligence and compliance issues, IP protection, corporate establishment options, calculating tax liabilities, as well as discussing on-going operational issues such as managing bookkeeping, accounts, banking, HR, Payroll, annual license renewals, audit, FCPA compliance and consolidation with US standards and Head Office reporting.

China Industries Outlook 2018

In this issue of China Briefing magazine, we analyze macro-level foreign investment trends into China, and how the high-tech sector stands out above others. We then shift our focus to Chinas healthcare sector in the context of policy reforms and demographic changes. We also examine how to invest in Chinas education industry and how Chinas war on pollution introduces new opportunities for foreign investors.

Dezan Shira & AssociatesOur weekly round up of other news affecting foreign investors throughout Asia:

Thailand Introduces New Four-Year Smart Visas for Investors

With effect from February 1, 2018, foreign investors and experts in ten specific high-tech business sectors can apply for a new 4-year Smart Visa to live and work in Thailand.

Access India and ASEAN Through Singapore

A key incentive of Indian trading  both inbound and outbound  is the relationship India enjoys with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Russian Non-CIS Imports Rise by 24.3 Percent in 2017

Russia increased its import of goods from non-CIS countries in 2017 by 24.3 percent, year-on-year, to US$202.3 billion, the Russian Federal Customs Service said on Monday.

China Passes Belt and Road Dispute Mechanism, But Who Will Have Final Say?

The Chinese government has approved a guideline to establish a mechanism to solve trade and investment disputes among the Belt and Road nations, which was passed during a meeting of the Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform of the 19th Communist Party of China Central Committee.

FDI Opportunities in Vietnam in 2018

With a record GDP growth, import-export turnover, and FDI, 2017 emerged as one of the strongest years for Vietnam. In 2018, further growth is expected.



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An Introduction to Doing Business in ASEAN 2017

Doing Business in ASEAN introduces the fundamentals of investing in the 10-nation ASEAN bloc, concentrating on economics, trade, corporate establishment and taxation. We also include the latest development news in our Important Updates section for each country, with the intent to provide an executive assessment of the varying component parts of ASEAN, assessing each member state and providing the most up-to-date economic and demographic data on each.

An Introduction to Doing Business in China 2017

Doing Business in China 2017 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. Compiled by the professionals at Dezan Shira & Associates in January 2017, this comprehensive guide is ideal not only for businesses looking to enter the Chinese market, but also for companies who already have a presence here and want to keep up-to-date with the most recent and relevant policy changes.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Hong Kong 2017

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An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2017

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An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Singapore 2017 provides readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Singapore and outlines the citys role as a trading hub within ASEAN. The guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, and social insurance in the city-state.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017

An Introduction to Doing Business in Vietnam 2017 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of investing and conducting business in Vietnam. Compiled by Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, this guide explains the basics of company establishment, annual compliance, taxation, human resources, payroll, and social insurance in this dynamic country.Two days ahead of the 125th anniversary of Soong Ching-ling's birthday and the 140th anniversary of Ho Hsiang-ning's birthday, an exhibition of relics and pictures opened at the former residence of Soong, wife of Sun Yat-sen, in Beijing on Thursday.

The exhibition, co-sponsored by the Research Center of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, and the Shanghai Sun Yat-sen and Soong Ching-ling Heritage Management Committee, was attended by more than 70 representatives.

Soong Ching-ling, born in Shanghai in 1893, was the wife of Chinese revolutionary Dr. Sun Yat-sen, who led the 1911 Revolution. She got to know Ho Hsiang-ning in Japan after she married Sun Yat-sen. Ho was the first female member of the Chinese Revolutionary League. She was married to Liao Zhongkai, a senior statesman of the Kuomintang.

In early 1925, Sun was badly ill. Ho Hsiang-ning went to Beijing to take care of him. Sun wanted her to take care of Soong after his death. The two great ladies built ties of profound friendship during the long-term revolutionary career.

A ceremony marking the 125th anniversary of the birthday of Soong was held before the opening of the exhibition.

Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and chairman of the CSCLF, stepped forward to organize ribbons and presented a flower basket at Soong's statue.

Jing Dunquan, vice chairman of CSCLF, reviewed the revolutionary course of Soong and Ho and called for the succession and development of the patriotic spirit of the two women who worked to rejuvenate China.

The friendship between Soong and Ho was particularly illustrated during the exhibition. It showcased more than 120 photos and around 20 relics, including the first-ever showing of the letters between Soong, Ho and their families, as well as the wedding gifts given by Soong to Li Mei, her secretary Liao Mengxing's daughter.

The exhibition is open until June.China will strengthen financial support for its maritime economy with measures to increase bank loans and diversify financing channels, an official statement said Thursday.





Banks will be encouraged to favor maritime economic development and make collateral loans, according to a document released by the People's Bank of China and other government agencies.





There will be targeted policies on maritime infrastructure, industrial companies, fishermen and other market entities.





Businesses will be supported in raising funds through equity and bond issues, and to set up financial leasing companies. More will be done to bolster shipping finance, such as public-private-partnership.





The gross output of China's maritime industry grew by 7.5 percent annually on average in the past five years, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country's GDP. The sector generated 7.8 trillion yuan (1.22 trillion U.S. dollars) last year.





China expects the maritime industry to be worth 10 trillion yuan by 2020 and account for around 15 percent of GDP by 2035.



Operation Olive Branch [Chinanews.com]





Turkish forces crossed the Syrian northern border on the weekend and entered the Afrin enclave to clear out the Kurdish fighters of the People's Protection Units (YPG) and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey considers these groups as a threat.

Code-named as Operation Olive Branch, the offensive is a mixture of strategic, political and security objectives. Apparently, Turkey is planning to deal a crushing blow to YPG fighters near the border. It is so far too early to say if it will succeed.

The YPG has the support of the United States. Media reports suggest that the group is also funded and armed by Washington. YPG played a vital role in the fight against the Islamic State last year. Its credibility as a battle-hardened force is unquestionable. But it also raises concerns in Turkey, which considers a strong Kurdish force near its border as a security threat.

Interestingly, the Russia soldiers present in the area left ahead of the onslaught by Turkey. It means that Ankara might have entered in some sort of tacit understanding with Moscow ahead of the attack, as the weakening of the YPG will damage the interests of the U.S.

Another reason for Russia to let the Turkish forces come across the border without any resistance could be that the defeat of Kurdish forces in the area would strengthen the hands of Bashar al-Assad. Kurds have become strong in northeastern Syria and could become a future threat to the integrity of the country.

So, Russia is trying to kill two birds with one stone by looking the other way when Turkey is smashing the Kurds. First, it will weaken the position of the U.S. in Afrin and nearby areas; second, it would strengthen the position of the central government of Syria in the tricky and fluid security scenario.

The Afrin adventure means opening up a new front of war in Syria, which is already badly battered due to the civil war. The conflict has been raging since the spring of 2011 and destroyed the fabric of the country. Turkey's adventure may push the possibility of peace further away by complicating the situation on the ground.

The Islamic State might use the chaos to regroup as the focus of YPG has shifted towards Turkey. It would be a mammoth loss for all stakeholders if IS made a comeback. The rebel groups and the countries supporting them change their positions and one cannot rule out a new configuration of fighting groups and factions.

Turkey has also been changing its position. It had good ties with the Syrian government before the start of the civil war. But later it joined those elements that demanded removal of President Bashar al-Assad. After the involvement of Russia, the situation changed further. Now Turkey is not asking for the skin of al-Assad.

Turkey is also facing regional challenges. It is trying to walk a tight rope to keep good ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran. Though, initially it helped to create the Syrian Free Army in league with Saudi Arabia, it has now tilted towards Tehran after tension between the kingdom and Qatar.

Turkey also needs to maintain a balance in ties with Russia and the United States. But most importantly, it should micro-manage ties with the U.S. in order to manage the Kurdish factor that could pose a threat to its sovereignty.

But it should have waited and used diplomacy instead of physically invading and targeting Kurds because it sets a dangerous example for others. Saudi Arabia has a problem with Yemen. What should it do to dismantle the threat of Houtis' missile attacks? Can it follow the Turkish model of entering another country?

Lately, President Donald Trump talked to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and urged him to stop the Afrin offensive in order to avoid a conflict with U.S. forces. He also urged a de-escalation to avoid civilian deaths. Erdogan may not like the idea but open opposition would bring him in conflict with the U.S. which it can hardly afford.

The Afrin intervention could exact a price if mismanaged. Opinions are also divided in Turkey over the issue. It would be better if Erdogan could wind up the operation at the earliest. Failure would push him deeper and deeper into the quagmire of Syria.

Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:





http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm





Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.You are here: Travel

 Flash

About 1.21 million Chinese tourists had visited Cambodia in 2017, up 45.9 percent compared to 2016, a Cambodian Tourism Ministry report showed Wednesday.





Chinese holidaymakers accounted for 21.6 percent of the international tourists visiting Cambodia last year, the report said, adding that China topped the chart among the top 10 arrivals to Cambodia, followed by Vietnam and Laos.





According to the report, a total of 5.6 million international tourists traveled to Cambodia in 2017, up 11.8 percent compared to 2016.





Speaking to Xinhua last month, Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon said 2017 marked a significant milestone in Cambodia-China tourism relations as China overtook Vietnam to become the biggest source of foreign tourists to Cambodia.





2017 was also the first year that Chinese tourists to Cambodia surpassed the 1-million mark, he said.





The minister added that tourist spending greatly contributed to developing the local economy and reducing poverty.





Currently, 12 Chinese airlines had operated 126 direct flights each week to Cambodia, he said.





He predicted that the Southeast Asian country could attract at least 2 million Chinese tourists in 2020.





Tourism is one of the four sectors supporting the Cambodian economy. The country has three world heritage sites, namely Angkor archeological park in northwestern Siem Reap province, Preah Vihear Temple in northwestern Preah Vihear province, and Sambor Prei Kuk archeological site in Central Kampong Thom province.





Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong.



The old town of Zhouzhuang is located in the "Golden Triangle" among Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou. The town was included on American news agency CNN's list of the top-10 most beautiful towns in the world. The town's 14 stone bridges, from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, embody a unique structure that mesh well with the old waterway infrastructure for which the town is famous. Also boasting hundreds of old mansions, courtyard dwellings, alleyway boutiques selling traditional wares, Qunqu opera and delicacies such as Xuan rolls and Apo tea, Zhouzhuang is definitely worthy of its moniker, "The best water village in China." [China.org.cn]



 Flash

China welcomes the planned visit of United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis in the first half of 2018, a Defense Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.





Defense departments from both countries are communicating to facilitate the visit, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a ministry spokesman. He did not elaborate on details.





Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said last week that Mattis is planning his first visit to China during spring. It would be the first China visit in four years by a US secretary of defense.





Wu's remark came amid a series of US military gestures seen as unfriendly to China last week. These included naming China as a "central challenge" to the US, US vessels entering waters around Chinese islands in the South China Sea, and US Pacific Command chief Harry Harris calling China "disruptive" in the Indo-Pacific region.





In response to Harris' remark, Wu said, "China has been and always will be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development and the protector of international order."





"The only thing China wants to disrupt is the hegemonic thinking and Cold War mentality that plagues some people's minds," he added. Some foreign media are also claiming China is building a military base in Afghanistan to hype a Chinese military threat, Wu said, criticizing such reporting as "completely baseless".





Mattis is visiting Southeast Asia to strengthen US military cooperation with countries around the South China Sea, according to reports. Some analysts believe this is a US attempt to sway ASEAN countries from Chinese influence.





"Military cooperation should help regional peace and security, not go against it," Wu said.





"A healthy Sino-US military relation is beneficial for the people of both countries and regional peace and security," he said.





"But this relationship needs effort from both sides to maintain. We hope the US will uphold mutual respect, strengthen practical cooperation, manage differences appropriately, and inject positive energy and drive into bilateral relations."





One example of effective communication between the Chinese and US militaries is the phone line established by the two defense ministries in 2008, said Wu. "China and the US have conducted many successful calls with the line."





Li Haidong, a professor of US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said Mattis will likely visit in April, but his visit will not change the US' confrontational view of China as shown in recent US national defense reports.





"His mission will likely be establishing new communication channels to prevent miscalculations and avoid conflicts," he said. "This is especially important because the US military will likely increase its presence in Asia."



 Flash

The government, political parties and organizations of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) held a joint conference, calling for improvement of relations between the two Koreas, the official media reported Thursday.

The meeting urged to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two sides and defuse the military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, so as to remove misunderstandings and distrust and advance the north-south relations along the course indicated by the June 15 Joint Declaration and the Oct. 4 Joint Declaration, according to a report of the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Both declarations were signed by then leaders of the two neighboring countries during the inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007 respectively.

Participants also appealed to hold joint events on the anniversaries of the signings of declarations and other occasions this year to show the "will for independent reunification," said KCNA.

The two countries' relations of an all-time low are likely to have reached a turning point as Pyongyang and Seoul held high-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjom earlier this month, with the DPRK said it will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, in February. Flash

Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative will be among the highlights of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's upcoming visit to China, said Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to the UK. 2018 will see the China-proposed Initiative making more solid progress, the Ambassador told reporters in a recent interview.





Looking forward to Theresa May's official visit to China scheduled from January 31 to February 2, Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to the UK said that the two countries expect to see more cooperation brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. He observed that there has been growing enthusiasm towards the Initiative from UK government and businesses.





"We've seen advisory bodies being set up and special envoys appointed to help UK businesses better understand and engage in the Belt and Road Initiative. The UK government has pledged more than 30 billion US dollars worth of financial support for companies participating in the Belt and Road projects in Asia. China and UK have also established a bilateral Belt and Road themed investment fund with a preliminary value of one billion US dollars.





During a previous visit to China, UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond regarded his country as the "natural partner" in Belt and Road Initiative. Britain is one of the first countries to have made financial contributions to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and also the first major Western country to have approved and signed the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road projects. Liu Xiaoming explained that the UK enjoys many advantages in cashing in on the Belt and Road Initiative.





"UK's strengths lie in its expertise in the financial and legal sectors. The country also has a long history of trading with countries along the Belt and Road which will play an important role in creating multi-party cooperation platforms."





Liu Xiaoming said that Theresa May's visit will build on the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations which was established during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK in 2015. He quoted statistics to show that trade volumes between the two countries reached 79 billion US dollars in 2017, an increase of nearly 6.2% on last year's numbers and with the UK seeking to build a global vision after Brexit, the two countries will see the "Golden Era" enriched by new opportunities emerging from projects such as those under the Belt and Road framework.





"And so we have reasons to believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will not only provide new growth point for China-UK cooperation, but also help the 'Golden Era' of China-UK relations to yield more Golden fruits."





It was announced that during her China visit, Theresa May will co-host the bilateral annual prime ministerial meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and she will also travel to other cities including Shanghai and Wuhan. This is Theresa May's first official visit to China since she assumed office in 2016.



 Flash

Opening up. Opportunity. Development. These were the three signals sent out Wednesday by China's top representative at the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to the political and business leaders attending the global gathering.





Liu He, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, elaborated the path of China's economic development in the coming years and China's pledge to join hands with the rest of the world to create a brighter future for all.





China to open up further





Liu, who is also director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, said China will encourage both inbound and outbound investment and business activities as it seeks greater economic and trade interactions with other countries and will work with them to establish an open world economy.





China will continue to let the market play a decisive role in resources allocation, and focus on better protection of property rights, especially intellectual property rights, he said.





Beijing will further integrate with international trade rules and ease market access. It will substantially open up the services and financial sectors and create a more attractive investment environment.





Liu underscored the message that had been presented by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his report at the 19th National Congress of the CPC in October: that China will not close its door to the rest of the world but become more and more open.





"That's great!" said Rupert Adams, a partner of Alignvest UK LLP, an investment company. Adams called it a message from China on its continuous reform and opening up, and also a real practical action showing firm support to economic globalization.





Opportunities, contributions to global development





Liu said after decades of development, a large middle-income population has emerged in China, the biggest in the world, giving rise to a vast domestic market. This open market with a fast-growing population of 400 million will contribute significantly to global development.





China's domestic demand has steadily expanded, with consumption contributing 58.8 percent to economic growth, nearly 4 percentage points higher than five years ago, Liu said.





The added value of the services sector takes up 60 percent of China's gross domestic product, more than 5 percentage points higher than five years ago. With more rural migrant workers relocating to cities, the number of permanent urban residents has increased by over 80 million in the past five years, accounting for 58.52 percent of the total population, nearly 6 percentage points higher than five years ago.





However, China's development faces three challenges, Liu said -- risk prevention, poverty reduction and pollution control.





Regarding risk prevention, he said in about three years, China will strive to bring the overall leverage ratio under effective control and make the financial system more adaptable and with better ability to serve the real economy. Systemic risks will be prevented and the flow of economic activities improved.





As for poverty reduction, China has a target to eliminate absolute poverty in three years.





In the next three years, China will also scale up pollution control to substantially cut major pollutant emissions and lower the intensity of resource consumption. The efforts will improve the environment and make China's development more eco-friendly.





These are the concrete actions China will take to fulfill its pledge to counter climate change impacts and implement the Paris Agreement, Liu said.





Besides, he pointed out that the Belt and Road Initiative, originating from China, is a concept that will deliver opportunities and benefits to the whole world.





Proposed in 2013, the initiative comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road, aimed at building a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes.





China has inked agreements with more than 80 countries and organizations to jointly develop the initiative. It has also invested more than 50 billion U.S. dollars in key projects under the initiative, thereby creating nearly 200,000 jobs.





"It's a very positive message from China," said Mohammed Sharaf, an economy and trade official from the United Arab Emirates. "China's opening up not only benefits itself, but also brings a huge opportunity to the whole world."



Ten young female scientists are honored in China for their pursuit of academic excellence. Yang Yang reports.

In early January, 10 women from around China were honored with the 2017 China Young Women in Science Fellowships in a ceremony at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.

The annual awards, organized by the China Association for Science and Technology, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO and L'Oreal China, were set up 14 years ago to recognize the outstanding achievements of young female scholars in various fields of scientific research.A Chicago-based church has recently announced that it has decided to suspend a longtime campus pastor of North Park University for an indefinite time because of her decision to officiate a same-sex wedding.

The decision, which was announced on Sunday, came after leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church spent a day deliberating the case of Rev. Judy Peterson. The Chicago church said the campus pastor may not carry out her ministry for now but encouraged her to come back in June for another round of discussion over the issue, The Chicago Tribune reported.

"A suspension is always extended with the hope of restoration where possible," leaders of ECC said on Sunday. "One mark of a pathway toward credential reinstatement is ongoing observance of current guidelines and practices."

ECC suspended Rev. Peterson's credentials last month and put her on a paid sabbatical after it discovered that the campus pastor had officiated a gay wedding ceremony. The denomination notably prohibits clergy from officiating such unions.

Meanwhile, at least 4,800 people have supported a petition to revisit the discussion on same-sex weddings. They also want a moratorium placed on sanctions for clergy to officiate gay unions.

The church, on the other hand, said that its clergy has limits on which traditions they are to participate in. The denomination maintained that "a pastor's credential is not one's own."

On Jan. 19, almost 100 NPU students and faculty members participated in a rally in honor of Rev. Peterson. They went around campus to express their support for the suspended campus pastor, WGN TV detailed.

Rev. Peterson said she knew that her job could be jeopardized by her decision to officiate the gay wedding in April but still pushed through with her decision because she believed it was right.

Peterson wrote a letter detailing how she had encountered a lot of LGBT youth who struggled with the feeling of being unworthy of love. She said the decision to go ahead and preside over the same-sex wedding stemmed from her drive to stand with these troubled young people in the same way that Jesus stood with her.Nine people were killed, 21 others were injured, and several churches and buildings were destroyed when rebel forces bombed a predominantly Christian district near Damascus, Syria, on Jan. 22.

On Monday afternoon, Syrian rebels shot several mortar shells into the district of Bab Touma, killing nine people. It was a consequence of the growing number of clashes between rebel forces and government troops in Syria in the last few weeks, the Christian Broadcasting Network detailed.

Government forces have reportedly advanced into eastern Ghouta. The continuous clashes in the area that is home to 400,000 people have left dozens dead and caused its residents to suffer from a lack of supplies including food, water, and medicine.

In the last few years, the forces backed by Syrian President Bashar Assad have managed to regain control over some of the key regions in the country. Nevertheless, the rebels refuse to surrender, and the resulting clashes have often trapped innocent civilians in the middle of the confusion.

Earlier this month, rebels belonging to the Free Syrian Army retaliated against Syrian forces and their allies in the province of Idlib, the biggest rebel-held area in the country. The anti-Assad forces were trying to push back against advancing government forces, Reuters reported.

In a statement, a senior official for one of the FSA factions, Abdul Hakim al Rahamon said they had put up a joint operations room in order to fight against the government offensive. They intend to regain the areas already seized by Assad's forces in Hama and southern Idlib.

According to the rebels, they had seized 15 villages and have 60 government fighters in their custody. However, a source within the Syrian military denied these claims and implied that this was mere propaganda.

The clashes have also sparked tension with Turkey, whose troops had established bases inside northern Idlib. It explained that these measures were part of their deal with Iran and Russia that involved setting up a de-escalation zone in the area.A federal lawsuit has been filed by parents of students in Michigan against a school district after it approved a gender-identity policy in November which they say violates their kids' right to share their Christian beliefs on campus.

The lawsuit against the Williamston Community Schools was filed by Edward and Erin Reynolds, Christopher Johnecheck, and Monica Schafer. The Reynolds couple pulled their children out of the school district after the latter added the gender-identity policy to its non-discrimination practices, MLive detailed.

"Specifically, Defendants' non-discrimination and gender/transgender policies and practices seek to silence and punish Plaintiffs' sincerely held religious beliefs and viewpoint," said attorney David Kallman in the lawsuit. In addition, he stated that the school district promoted an "alternative lifestyle" and at the same time fostered an environment that was hostile to those who were against the policy because of their faith.

The parents also said the gender-identity policy punished those who do not agree with the idea of having gender-neutral facilities in the campus.

Schools Superintendent Adam Spina has refused to comment on the issue pending review of the filing. The district's attorneys are also reportedly planning to file a motion to have the federal lawsuit dismissed.

Meanwhile, in Fairfax County in Virginia, a school board has considered banning public comments that oppose its gender-identity policy. This would mean that parents could be prohibited from speaking out on sex education and related issues that spark their concern, The Christian Post reported.

The situation in Fairfax County could also affect other American public school students because it is often considered as a model district that other places follow when it comes to educational practices. If the changes are approved, the board will be able to dictate what public commenters can say on school board agenda items.

The school board in Fairfax County is expected to vote on the possible ban on public comments on its gender-identity policy on Jan. 25.A busy street was recently obstructed by a large crowd of Christians in Tamil Nadu state to demand the arrest of four individuals who they said were responsible for the death of a Christian pastor who had been harassed by high-caste Hindus.

On Jan. 20, Pastor Gideon Periyaswamy was found dead hanging from a rope in his home a week after he reported to the police the alleged harassment he experienced from Hindus. The 2,000 Christians who protested on Monday were demanding that authorities arrest four people including village leaders suspected of being involved in the 43-year-old pastor's death, UCA News detailed. The pastor ran an independent church in Adayachery village.

Pastor Immanuel Prabhakaran and other local Christian leaders told the publication that high-caste Hindus in the area wanted Periyaswamy to stop ministering to lower-caste people.

"Not a single Sunday service in the past six months passed off peacefully without disturbance," Pastor Prabhakaran shared.

Although the initial evidence reportedly points to it being a suicide, police inspector Amal Raj told UCA that they were also investigating other possible angles in the case.

However, commenting on the testimonies of the church members, Wilson Chowdhry of the British Asian Christian Association said it would have been unusual for Pastor Periyaswamy to commit suicide on that day since he was expecting a large number of people to attend their scheduled prayer and fasting. Parishioners also mentioned that the pastor's gold ring was missing and that his body bore signs of welts and bruises, the Christian Broadcasting Network relayed.

According to lawyer Gini Immanuel, Pastor Periyaswamy experienced several incidents of harassment because of his mission. There were times when his church's roof was destroyed and the water supply was also cut off.

Rev. Joel Sekar of the Synod of Pentecostal Churches said the local Christians will continue protesting until authorities cave in to their demand. He said they want a fair post mortem and impartial investigation for the case.I was married for more than a decade to a Christian man who engaged in disturbing secret behaviors that included sexually abusing a female relative between the ages of 9-12. When the child courageously disclosed the abuse and my husband was confronted, he admitted to some of his abusive behaviors. However, he did so while providing serious spin to the facts.

Still, he was convinced by our pastors to turn himself in to the police, and he pled guilty to a misdemeanor in order to avoid a more serious charge, a trial, and potential jail time. He received probation and court ordered counseling sessions.

I know what occurred when I was a teen, but I still have great difficulty interpreting what occurred. Here are the details: when I was 14, I met a 24-year-old man who groomed me and abused me for years. I have no difficulty acknowledging that a grown man having sex with a teen is abuse, as long as the teen is someone other than me.

I know what the research says. I know that my grooming for sexual abuse was so effective that, many years later I still feel responsible for my own abuse. I understand the dynamics that produced this effect in me. And, yet, after all my knowledge, all my therapy, and all the years of praying, it still feels like my fault, like I was complicit in my own abuse. And, it still feels like I owe my abusers compassion, love, secrecy, and the denigration of myself for their aggrandizement.

This is how effective and destructive abusive grooming is. And this barely touches on the reality of all the feelings, trauma, PTSD symptoms, and other long-term effects caused by sex offenders.

Understanding sexual abuse dynamics

Dr. Anna Salter is a leading expert on recognizing and treating sexual offenders. Her book Predators: Pedophiles, Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders--Who They Are, How They Operate and How We can Protect Ourselves and Our Children should be required reading for anyone with a leadership position. Because, as Dr. Salter, in her exceptional book Transforming Trauma: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse asserts, "the best protection against sexual abuse is understanding it."

There are a number of misconceptions I have encountered within the church concerning the nature of sexual abuse. The first one is that time, becoming Christian, or truly repenting and being forgiven heals the sex offender.

Dr. Salter states sexual offending is "highly compulsive and repetitive behavior, the tenacity of which is truly impressive." It will not go away on its own. Serving time in jail will not cure it. In fact there is no cure, only the possibility of recovery if the offender commits to a long term specialized treatment program that addresses the conflation of distorted thinking, beliefs, and values that drives their abusive worldview and entitled behaviors. While engaging with experts, offenders need to submit to a literal renewing of their minds.

Sexual offending cannot be addressed as just a terrible "sin" that is fixed instantly through forgiveness. It must be addressed as a result of the fall, like Cancer, which is treated though God's working through human agents and rarely through miraculous intervention. Recovery requires commitment, effort, and time that hopefully results in emotional and spiritual health and maturity.

The second misconception is that accepting abusers within church communities is primarily a theological issue. A number of years ago, Leadership Journal published an article addressing church leaders' attitudes towards sex offenders. Tellingly one pastor profiled stated, "Many people view child abuse as the unforgivable sin. But Jesus says there's no unforgivable sin except blasphemy of the Holy Spirit."

Yet sexual abuse has the potential to destroy lives and relationships with God. Decisions to accept a known offender within a church community need to be based on knowledge of sexual abuse dynamics, and questions of ensuring safety and removing potential risk, and not on whether or not the abuser has been forgiven by God.

The pastor profiled also highlighted the importance of educating the congregation stating, "When you teach healthy people in the parish what to look for, what to be aware of, what the rules are, and how we can create safe boundaries, this creates environments where Christ's light can shine." He is absolutely correct.

However, his statement, "Within our first year of meeting, [the offender] told me what had happened. I took this as a sign of health on his part, that he came to me and told me about his past," reveals a lack of understanding concerning sex offenders. Why did the pastor think that confession was a sign of health? It could be. But it could also be an act of manipulation to groom the pastor to perceive the abuser's prior offenses and character in a way that allows him to begin to groom and abuse future potential victims. The research from those who treat abusers, as well as my own experiences, strongly suggests the latter, not the former.

The third misconception is the idea that sex abuse is merely sinful sex as opposed to abuse within a sexual context. Even though we label this abuse "sexual," it is not merely sexual, since it includes other types of abuse such as emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse as well.

Abuse is about power and control. And sexual abuse is not different. It is always primarily about power and control. In fact, abusers groom their victims and communities in order to establish and enforce control. If we continue to misunderstand this basic truth about sexual abuse, we will continue to underestimate and misread potential sex offenders.

Difficulties recognizing potential abusers

There are different stages of grooming. Learning these stages is one step toward understanding sexual abuse, but learning the stages is not enough to protect the vulnerable.

Here's why: sex abusers, like abusers in general, engage in secret behaviors. This means that when abusers engage in grooming, they are doing everything possible to make the grooming appear to be normal behavior or else they are keeping it well hidden. Dr. Salter explains, "The most chilling aspect of this behavior is its invisibility." Complicating matters further: abusers are frequently likable, charming, and highly skilled at manipulation.

So how do we learn to recognize potential threats? By listening to survivors who can inform us how abusers function, and by engaging research from experts who treat abusers, victims, and survivors.

One other note: I have found prayer to be an essential part of dealing with sex offenders. Because sexual offenses are shrouded in deception, prayer can help prepare one to receive disturbing truths, practice discernment, and also help to illuminate and clear the darkness and confusion created by the abuser.

Common traits of sex offenders

1. They establish and enforce control through defining reality.

Fleming Rutledge, in her wonderful theological treatment of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings series, suggests that "Leadership has to do with defining reality." Good leaders "shape" reality to correspond to objective reality. For example, good leaders recognize that humans created in God's image should treat each other with dignity and value. Bad leaders "shape" reality in ways that are self-serving.

Sex offenders groom in order to "define reality" for victims and their community so that they agree with the abuser's distorted thoughts, beliefs, and values. Their purpose is to control others' perspectives. They gain control much like Rutledge describes Grima Wormtongue's hold on King Theodin, "as a classic example of a person who holds [humans] captive to unreality by calling black white, truth lies, and wisdom foolishness."

For example, I once had to intervene when I witnessed my daughter introduce her stuffed dolphin, Mr. Periwinkle, to her father, who as mentioned above is my former husband and a sex offender. He responded by telling her it was blue. She proclaimed, "No, he's purple." He continued to insist it was blue. Now technically the dolphin is a purplish-blue color.

However, the important thing here is that her father insisted she capitulate to his perspective. He refused to allow her to have a different perspective than the one he provided. Disagreeing with him over anything, no matter how minor, would result in withdrawal, victim-stancing, and/or escalating anger. This is one example of the insidious and subtle ways an abuser attempts to gain control and enforce their worldview.

If the abuser has a position of authority and a platform, they will use it to influence their community's views by establishing and reinforcing their distorted perspective.

2. Sex offenders victim-stance.

We had a friend who is a large intimidating man. He looks as if he has stepped off the set of Sons of Anarchy. My husband told him his version of what happened and our friend, who is a protective father, surprisingly experienced deep sympathy for him. A few days later our friend spoke with me and I told him the unspun version. He was so angry on behalf of the victim and our family, he couldn't believe he had felt such strong sympathy. Now, why didn't he feel angry when speaking directly with the abuser?

Simple. Sex offenders purposely attempt to manipulate out empathy. If they can evoke empathy, they can manipulate our trust and gain our support. Lundy Bancroft, an expert in treating domestic abusers, explains abusers manipulate so effectively they gain allies within the legal system and even the victim's families.

As I've written elsewhere, "if you are interacting with a sex offender who is admitting he or she has harmed someone, and you feel yourself being pulled to feel sorry for this person instead of, or more than, the victim, it is probable that an experienced victim-stancer is manipulating you."

Many well-intentioned people feel sympathy for an offender and advocate for them with the victim and/or the victim's loved ones. They remind victims that their abusers are created in God's image no matter what harm they have done. For the victims and their loved ones, this is a bizarre, surreal, and wounding experience because it echoes and reinforces the grooming of the abuser.

Bancroft states that he has "almost never worked with an abused woman who overlooked her abuser's humanity. The problem is the reverse: He forgets her humanity."

In other words, to tell a survivor that she should feel sympathy for the one who sexually abused her is to impede her recovery. Instead, survivors need support to fight against the internalized impulse to automatically empathize with our abusers.

3. They coerce secrecy and isolation.

It is common for abusers to create distance and mistrust between their victim and their victim's loved ones. This is an intentional grooming tactic. For example, a common scenario is to trap a child by setting up a bonding and isolating circumstance. One example provided by Dr. Salter involved a sex offender who left an unlabeled pornographic videotape mingled with the children's normal tapes.

Then he waited.

When the children found the tape and watched it, he "caught" them, reprimanded them and warned them how upset their parents would be. As the children became upset, the abuser comforted them, told them to keep their infraction secret from their parents, and assured them, that out of his love for them, he would keep their secret.

This scenario has numerous desired results for the abuser. He has bound them to him with shame and secrecy. He has coerced them into keeping secret his abusive behavior. He has introduced them to sexually explicit material with the intention of creating curiosity and desensitization. Plus, he has misled them to believe he can be trusted more than the children's parents. And, in doing all this, he has isolated them from their parents.

4. They deal in entitlement.

Experts explain the distorted thinking of abusers always involve beliefs about their entitlement. They are entitled to feel what they feel, say what they say, and act how they act no matter what. With known offenders this can include expecting victims or betrayed loved ones to get over the injuries as quickly and quietly as possible. Offenders believe they are owed an infinite degree of loyalty and forgiveness.

Because of their entitlement, abusers have difficulty accepting boundaries. Be wary of someone who has a pattern of violating others' boundaries even if the violations seem minor. An individual who cannot accept minor boundaries should not be trusted to respect larger boundaries.

Abusers' issues with entitlement are why "agreements" and "covenants" for restricting or guiding known abuser's behaviors within church communities are ineffective for protecting the vulnerable. By all means abusers should be provided clear boundaries and they should agree to adhere to them. But do not trust that the agreement will keep an offender from offending. If an abuser intends to abuse, they will justify their abuse no matter what agreement or promise they have made. It is naive to believe otherwise. After all, marriage covenants and state laws were powerless to stop their offending.

If you are working with known abusers and you are attempting to discern if an abuser is authentically repentant, look for signs that they feel entitled to sympathy instead of accountability and restrictions, or to forgiveness and reconciliation from their victims and/or loved ones, or to being restored to a position of power. A truly repentant abuser will have relinquished their "right" to control another.

I spent years loving and engaging sex offenders. As difficult as those experiences have been, I now see them as a costly education. It has taken much time and effort to unravel the tangled threads their grooming has left behind in my heart, mind, and body. Even so, threads remain, some hidden, some exposed but too twisted and interlaced to fully recognize or remove safely. My hope is that our Christian communities will become secure places for our vulnerable, knowledgeable places where abusers will be detected, confronted, and offered the hope of true transformation, and safe places for survivors to heal and share their wisdom and experiences while we work together towards unknotting the tangled threads we bear.

Maureen Farrell Garcia is instructor of English at Nyack College Manhattan Campus in New York. This article has been revised and adapted for CT Pastors since its original publication in Leadership Journal.Reversed -- Washington State Supreme Court Sides with Firefighter Who was Fired for His Faith

Contact: Brad Dacus, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-616-4126



OLYMPIA, Wash., Jan. 26, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- The Washington State Supreme Court today ruled in favor of a former Spokane fire captain who was fired for refusing to self-censor his religious expression.



The court held that the Spokane Valley Fire Department committed unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination when it admonished and ultimately terminated Sprague. At issue were the SVFD's e-mail and electronic bulletin board systems. The bulletin board had been used by other employees to seek babysitting and sell concert tickets, but supervisors ordered Sprague not to announce religious meetings via the same forum. The SVFD had also shared newsletters by e-mail dealing with social topics like substance abuse and conflicts with children, but Sprague's attempts to share Biblical perspectives on the same topics got him fired.

Pacific Justice Institute was asked to participate in the case as amicus and filed a friend-of-the-court brief. PJI's brief delved into First Amendment implications of the case that had not been fully addressed.

Brad Dacus, president of PJI, commented, "This is a terrific victory for Capt. Sprague, and an important reminder of First Amendment principles. No employee should be terminated for speaking on otherwise-permissible topics at work, just because he has a religious perspective."

PJI was assisted in this case by Seattle affiliate attorney Conrad Reynoldson of Washington Civil and Disability Advocate.

Capt. Sprague is represented by Albrecht Law in Spokane.

Foreign investments in the U.S. that pose national security risks are evading scrutiny because of gaps in American law that limit reviews, a senior Treasury Department official said Thursday.

Overseas investors are exploiting restrictions on what kind of deals American officials have jurisdiction over, and some may be structuring transactions to avoid review, Heath Tarbert, the assistant secretary for international markets and investment policy, told U.S. senators.

"We are seeing a radical change, a shift in foreign investment we haven't seen," he told the Senate Banking Committee. "There are key gaps where we can't look at transactions."

Tarbert was testifying in support of legislation that would expand the scope of reviews by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., a panel of officials led by the Treasury Department that examines acquisitions of U.S. businesses for possible national security risks.

The bill would broaden reviews to include certain non-controlling investments and joint ventures.

Tarbert said there have been transactions the U.S. lacks the jurisdiction to review but which pose national security concerns. Some overseas investors have tried to "exploit" those gaps in jurisdiction, he said. CFIUS currently looks into deals that give foreign investors control of a company, although that can include minority investments in some circumstances.

Investment from China has become a focus of U.S. lawmakers, who are expressing concern that Chinese buyers with links to the government are acquiring American assets without proper scrutiny. Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said China and Russia are waging "economic warfare" to acquire U.S technology.

"Getting this right is one of the most import national security requirements we have," he said.

The proposal to expand foreign-investment reviews comes amid heightened trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Several Chinese deals have fallen apart during the Trump administration after encountering objections from CFIUS. On Wednesday, China's Sinovel Wind Group Co., a wind turbine maker, was convicted of stealing trade secrets from American Superconductor Corp.

Sen. Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, cautioned against discouraging overseas investments, particularly from China.

"I don't want the productive deal flow to slow down. I actually want it to increase," Tillis said. "To me, it's another regulatory burden that a lot of M&A activities never occurred" because of the anticipated burden and time to execute the deal.

Tarbert replied, the Treasury has "no intention of stopping deal flow. We would like to see it increase."Gian Ehrenzeller/SUB

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump had a message for the billionaires and CEOs gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum this week: U.S. oil fields and coal mines are open for business.

"We are lifting self-imposed restrictions on energy production to provide affordable power to our citizens and businesses and to promote energy security for our friends all around the world," the president said, according to Politico. "No country should be held hostage to a single provider of energy. America is roaring back and now is the time to invest in the future of America."New York has joined a growing roster of states pledging to use their buying power to force broadband companies to honor the spirit of net neutrality.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo this week signed an executive order barring state agencies from doing business with internet providers that block rivals' web traffic or charge more for faster service. The move follows a similar order this week from Montana's Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock.

"The states are stepping up," said Gigi Sohn, a fellow at the Open Society Foundations and former Federal Communications Commission aide who helped write the net neutrality rules that the agency gutted in December. "There's a void, and the states want to fill it."

The FCC, in rescinding the Obama-era open web rules last month, included a clause aimed at preventing states from adopting their own standards.

But some advocates believe the use of state contracts as leverage will withstand legal challenges - and might pressure internet service providers such as AT&T and Verizon Communications to keep honoring the former rules.

The broadband companies have pledged not to block or slow traffic notwithstanding the absence of the rules, which they said gave the FCC too much power.

Proposals using a variety of tactics have surfaced in at least 11 states to restore net neutrality principles, said Tim Karr, a spokesman for Free Press, a policy group that favors restoring the net neutrality regulations. Legislatures of Rhode Island and California are considering bills that include procurement restrictions like New York's. Measures in Massachusetts and Georgia would set state net neutrality rules.

Microsoft has urged lawmakers in its home state of Washington to pass their own net neutrality law. And New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to monitor how telecommunications providers serve broadband customers with a "Truth in Broadband" proposal.

"We can't wait for folks in Washington, D.C., to come to their senses," Montana's Bullock said in an emailed release. He invited other jurisdictions to follow suit after he signed his order on Tuesday.

Cuomo's order requires recipients of state contracts, beginning March 1, to adhere to net neutrality principles of not blocking or slowing web traffic, or demanding payment for faster passage over their networks - the key aspects of the rule voided in a vote led by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican who was chosen by President Donald Trump.

Telecommunications companies that do business with New York state include AT&T, Verizon and Frontier Communications Corp., according to a list compiled by Cuomo's office.

Broadband providers reacted with alarm to the prospect of a welter of regulations.

"We simply cannot have 50 different regulations governing our internet - consumers expect and demand a single approach," Jonathan Spalter, president of USTelecom, a trade group with members including AT&T, Verizon and CenturyLink, said in an emailed statement.

Congress has been unable to agree on the topic. Lawmakers appear polarized, with Democrats focused on votes to undo the December repeal and suspicious that Republican proposals would hamstring regulators.Raymond T. Nimmer, a revered former law professor and dean at the University of Houston Law Center, died Thursday, according to a statement from the school. He was 73.

"When you lose a fellow teacher like Ray, we Houstonians need to sit up and listen and say that was a great teacher," said Tom Kirkendall a lawyer based in The Woodlands and former student of Nimmer's. "He taught thousands of not only people at the law center here, but people around the world."

Nimmer died early Thursday morning after a short illness, according to Kirkendall.

His death was the third this week of a major Houston legal figure. The others were Donald J. DeGabrielle Jr., 64, a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Texas, and Adele Hedges, 70, a former chief justice of the 14th Court of Appeals in Houston.

Nimmer's storied career of more than four decades at the University of Houston Law Center included serving as dean from 2006 to 2013 and being the Leonard H. Childs Professor of Law.

His achievements included writing more than 25 books and various articles, including a book on the Law of Computer Technology and a treatise on Modern Licensing Law.

The cherished former professor taught a wide variety of classes including Contracts, Internet Law, Electronic Commerce, and Bankruptcy.

Nimmer received both his B.A. and J.D. from Valparaiso University in Indiana.

In 1975, he began his career at the law school. Three years later he was named associate dean and worked his way up to dean in 2006.

The former professor also held the title of co-director of the Law Center's Intellectual Property and Information Law Institute.

A well-admired scholar, he was known as "a recognized authority on commercial law, information law, and intellectual property law," according to a statement from the law center.

"He wouldn't strike you as a big feminist, but actually he was," said Barbara Evans, Alumnae College Professor of Law and director of the Center on Biotechnology & Law. In the university's statement, she added: "He made considerable progress toward gender-balancing our faculty and successfully recruited a crop of women scholars who are now coming of age as full professors and leading scholars in their fields."

Kirkendall remembers taking his first class from Nimmer in the late 1970s as a law school student. He continued to be friends with the professor after graduation and admired his intelligence.

"He was likely the professor at the University of Houston over the last half-century that had the widest breath of knowledge in different areas of the law," Kirkendall said by phone late Thursday. "His intellect was extraordinary. It was very well-balanced by just a charming nature. He was just a charming man."

Nimmer was well honored, including being named among the Best Lawyers in America in Intellectual Property Law and in Information Technology Law.

"Ray taught generations of students to see the law governing information from a holistic perspective with his rare combination of expertise in commercial law, contracts, licensing and information law, the latter being a category he helped create," said Law Center Associate Dean Greg R. Vetter, an intellectual property law scholar and expert.

Nimmer's influence also traveled outside of Houston, as he spoke at programs around the world and across the country on topics including intellectual property, business and technology law.

Besides his post in Houston, he served as the Distinguished Chair- in-Residence at Universidad Catolica in Lisbon, Portugal.

The Law Center is expected to hold a celebration for Nimmer's life at an undetermined future date.

"Ray Nimmer was one of the most influential legal scholars of his generation," said Sandra Guerra Thompson, Alumnae College Professor of Law and director of the Law Center's Criminal Justice Institute. "He was an artist, a connoisseur of life's finest, a world traveler, and, to countless people, he was a dear, trusted friend."Police charged a man Monday with killing his wife in a November shooting, according to a Houston Police Department news release.

Kalandre Kytrell Adams, 28, admitted to investigators his involvement in the slaying of his wife, Keishawra Shepherd-Adams, 27, police said.Friends of state Sen. Carlos Uresti testified during his criminal fraud trial Wednesday that they cautioned him about forging business ties with FourWinds Logistics CEO Stan Bates.

Uresti set up a 2014 dinner meeting at a downtown San Antonio steak house with friend Alexander Begum, a Brownsville lawyer, and Bates to discuss Begum investing in FourWinds, a startup company planning to buy and sell sand used in fracking.

Begum confirmed he told Uresti after the meal that Bates was a complete con man.

I told him that I didnt think it was a good investment and I gave him my opinion of Mr. Bates, said Begum, who has a masters in business administration. Something to the effect, you need to get away from this man.

The San Antonio Democrat never heeded Begums advice, instead becoming the companys outside lawyer and a 1 percent owner who also recruited investors. FourWinds collapsed in the summer of 2015 and entered bankruptcy amidst complaints from investors that they had been defrauded.

Uresti, Bates and company consultant Gary Cain were indicted last year by a federal grand jury on a combined 22 felony counts, including money laundering and wire fraud. Bates pleaded guilty on Jan. 8 instead of standing trial with Uresti and Cain, who have denied the charges against them.

Margarito Alonzo, another Uresti friend, testified how he and Bates have been friends for 18 years, yet he considered Bates to be a shady individual.

Alonzo recalled some misfortune Bates had with a marketing company in the Rio Grande Valley where he was bouncing checks and failing to deliver marketing materials.

Asked by Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Blackwell if he had any information about Bates defrauding anyone, Alonzo replied, The bouncing checks is defrauding people. Alonzo shared the information with Uresti and added that he didnt trust Bates.

Nevertheless, Alonzo, who said he is in clothing sales, viewed FourWinds as a business opportunity and sought to recruit investors with Uresti. Alonzo testified how he expected Uresti to verify the numbers that Bates was presenting to prospectives investors.

Alonzo recalled how Bates embellished his sales pitch to potential investors a little bit too much, falsely telling them that actor Matthew McConaughey and the Spurs Tim Duncan were potential investors.

Alonzos friends didnt like Bates, prompting him to tell Uresti that we needed a better pitch man.

Attorney Michael McCrum, one of Urestis lawyers, asked Alonzo on cross examination why he would want his friends to invest with FourWinds given Bates background.

I went in there with an open mind, Alonzo said. The presentation was impressive, adding that Bates wasnt the only one running the company.

McCrum showed the jury 2014 photos from Bates Facebook page running with some rich and powerful individuals. In one, Bates is in conversation with Spurs guard Tony Parker. In another, Bates and Uresti are arm-in-arm with Congressman Lloyd Doggett, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood and lawyer Thomas J. Henry.

The Facebook photos were used in presentations to potential investors, according to Alonzo.

McCrum later asked Alonzo if he ever saw any indication that Uresti was committing any type of fraud.

No, sir, Alonzo said.

Earlier during the third day of trial, FourWinds former office manager was asked how Bates referred to the financial spreadsheets that were presented to potential investors to make it look good.

Fluff, Desiree Talley said, answering a question from attorney John Muller, who represents Uresti co-defendant and ex-FourWinds consultant Gary Cain.

Muller then asked Talley how Bates referred to her.

I was the fluffer, unfortunately, she said.

Talley had seen Uresti at at least one meeting with potential investors where a spreadsheet was part of the presentation, she said earlier in her testimony. McCrum asked her if Bates did all the talking rather than Uresti or anyone else.

Well, I did hear Mr. Uresti make a statement that he was an investor in the company, she said. With that, I was uncomfortable being there (at the presentations) because it was all fluff and B.S. Excuse my language.

The start of Wednesdays court proceedings were delayed for about 80 minutes because of an ill juror.

Senior U.S District Judge David Ezra dismissed the juror after a doctor confirmed she has the flu. She was dismissed from the jury over objections from lawyers for Uresti and Cain.

Sixteen jurors, including four alternates, were seated last week. The ill juror was replaced by the first alternate juror, a woman.

Talley wrapped up her testimony recounting how she had full access to Bates bank accounts and would use company money wired to those accounts to pay his personal bills, including for prostitutes, rent, child support and another childs college tuition and fraternity dues. She also said she saw cocaine a couple of times at Bates house.

Talley testified Tuesday that FourWinds had a reputation as a brothel that employed surgically enhanced women and let workers booze it up.

The trial is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. today.

pdanner@express-news.net | gcontreras@express-news.netMattress Firm CEO and president Ken Murphy will step down in March after two years at the helm, the company said Friday.

Executive chairman Steve Stagner, who served as the company's CEO from 2010 to 2016, will resume that role on March 1.

The release stated that the joint decision by Murphy and the board of directors "reflects the need for a singular voice of leadership" for the company.

"I am confident in the future of Mattress Firm, and bringing Steve back as CEO is the right thing to do for the next chapter of the business," Murphy said in a prepared statement. "It's bittersweet to step down, but I am incredibly proud of the success we have built together."

Mattress Firm declined to provide further comment or interviews with its executives.

The decision comes amid a sweeping accounting investigation of Mattress Firm's parent company, Steinhoff International. The South African retail conglomerate became embroiled in a financial scandal last month when it admitted to "account irregularities" that could affect some $7 billion in assets.

During Murphy's 20 years at the company, Mattress Firm grew from a small chain to the nation's largest mattress retailer. Murphy, in his executive role, guided the company's rapid expansion in recent years and oversaw its $3.8 billion acquisition by Steinhoff in September 2016.





3 1 of 3 Vanesa Brashier Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Vanesa Brashier Show More Show Less 3 of 3





A suspected arsonist is believed to have set several grass fires in the Cleveland and Plum Grove area Thursday afternoon, according to law enforcement and fire department officials.

The fires were first reported around 4 p.m. along FM 787 and FM 1010, said Cleveland Fire Chief Sean Anderson. None of the fires caused any serious property damage but fire departments were strained by responding to multiple calls with limited, often volunteer, personnel.A musician is speaking out on behalf of an artist that designed one of his posters, alleging that Drake stole the designer's artwork to use on his latest single, "Scary Hour."

"Today I wake up to see OVO has redone one of my 2015 tour posters designed by @collindfletcher for Drake's new single," wrote the Houston musician known as Rabit on Instagram. "Poor Collin is always having his style stolen | lol BUT I love being part of a team that's so creative and iconic."Mark Mulligan/Staff

As Houston developed its bid to host the second headquarters for Amazon.com Inc., Mayor Sylvester Turner urged the city to consider including in its proposal the controversial property owned by the University of Texas System, new documents show.

Fall communications obtained by KTRK show that city officials approached the UT System regarding the property, which regents voted to purchase in fall 2015. Chancellor William McRaven called off any development on the property in March after lawmakers and newly appointed regents criticized the system for spending hundreds of millions of dollars on a project that was not publicly defined.The Texas Department of Public Safety announced Thursday that it has collected nearly $25,000 in donations related to sexual assault evidence testing since the program began a little over two weeks ago.

The program, which began on Jan. 8, allows customers applying or renewing a drivers license, identification card or commercial drivers license to donate money to sexual assault evidence testing, according to a news release from DPS.A Baytown man who fatally shot his estranged wife in the front yard of her home while her children were inside and in front of police was sentenced Friday to life without parole.

Elrey Gonzalez, 39, a registered sex offender, was charged with capital murder for attempting to kidnap, then killing 41-year-old Elva Gonzalez in the 1900 block of Mississippi in Baytown just before 6 p.m. on Sunday, October 30, 2016.

Gonzalez pleaded guilty to capital murder in exchange for the state promising not to seek the death penalty. Forgoing a trial also means the child he was convicted of sexually assaulting in 2005 will not have to testify in the punishment phase of a trial.

When officers arrived at the scene, they saw the woman forced out of the home by her estranged husband, who was armed with a handgun, officials said.

In the front yard, Gonzalez fired multiple times at the woman, fatally wounding her, according to police. Then an officer fired at least one shot, grazing him.

Gonzalez surrendered to police at the scene and was taken into custody.

Investigators later learned that Elva Gonzalez's children, ages 16 and 21, were at the home at the time of the shooting. One of them had called 911. Both were unhurt.

The couple, who lived in Baytown about 25 miles east of downtown Houston, had separated months before. Gonzalez had been badgering and threatening his wife, family members said. But, they said, they never thought it would lead to violence.A Rio Grande Valley man was sentenced Wednesday in San Antonio to 20 years in prison followed by five years supervised release for drug trafficking and money laundering conspiracy, according to a press release from the Western District of Texas U.S. Attorney's office.



Raymundo Villarreal-Arelis (a.k.a. "Mundo"), 46, of Mission was charged with committing drug-related crimes in Texas and Oklahoma. Jurors in June convicted Villarreal-Areilis of possessing five kilograms of cocaine with intent to distribute. Additionally, they convicted him on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.

The jury found he and others, conspired to use proceeds derived from cocaine transactions and moved money outside the U.S. to help conceal the source of unlawful activity, according to the press release.



Evidence during the trial showed Villarreal-Arelis was one of the leading members of a Rio Grande Valley cocaine-trafficking family operation known as "Los Piojos," according to the release.Ahead of Sen. Chuck Schumer's visit to Houston, Congressman John Culberson, local politicians and flood victims gathered Friday in the Energy Corridor to urge the senator to not block funding on the Hurricane Harvey bill.

"I wanted to invite him to come meet my neighbors and my constituents who are suffering because the Senate won't pass the bill," said Culberson following the press conference held inside a flood-ravaged neighborhood on the west side of Houston.

Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., will be in town on Saturday for a fundraising trip for the Democratic Party.

Culberson noted how many of the houses on Arrow Hill Road are empty because residents are unable to live there safely.

Mary Khoury, 70, who lives in a neighborhood nearby, said the home she had for 27 years flooded for the first time during Hurricane Harvey. She vacated the home she shared with her husband and two daughters. Now, they're living in a one room hotel that FEMA is paying for.

Khoury said one of her daughters is away at college, but the living quarters are still cramped for the family.

"We are your citizens. I'm a senior citizen," Khoury pleaded at the press conference. "We need your help."

Culberson notes that he voted for the Hurricane Sandy bill and asks Schumer to return the favor.

"I was there for him when he needed help," said Culberson. "I'd like him to be there for Texas and our constituents when we need it."



A north Houston home was destroyed by fire late Thursday.

The Aldine Fire Department was called around 10 p.m. to Cohutta Lane and Hopper Road, where they found heavy flames coming from a one-story, wood-frame house.

The elderly man who owns the home just southeast of Keith-Wiess Park was able to get out of the house and was taken to a hospital as a precautionary measure, officials said.

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The cause of the fire is under investigation by the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office.Harris County has agreed to pay nearly $200,000 to settle a lawsuit by a Houston woman subjected to a controversial roadside cavity search in 2015 by sheriff's deputies, according to federal court records.

The settlement comes after Charnesia Corley, 24, filed a federal lawsuit against Harris County, contending her constitutional rights were violated during the late-night search in the driveway of a busy convenience store.

The mid-2015 invasive search, caught on dashcam video, sparked a social media maelstrom as well as withering criticism from government watchdogs and civil rights advocates, as well as apologies from Harris County elected officials.

Two deputies were charged with official oppression after the incident, but the charges were later dismissed.

Robert Soard, the first assistant county attorney, said the settlement came after a lengthy negotiation.

"Certainly, the county is not admitting any liability by paying that amount," Soard said. "But it seemed to be a reasonable thing to do based on what we knew at the time and what we still know."

Documents from Soard's office show county commissioners agreed to pay Corley $185,000 to settle the case, ending the multiyear saga.

While the settlement brought the case to a close, Corley's attorney, Samuel Cammack, said Wednesday that the sum is "an injustice" to his client. He said she deserved far more for her ordeal, but he'd felt backed into a corner during settlement negotiations.

"We felt like it was best thing to do for Ms. Corley. We felt we were about to end up with zero," he said. "We're disgusted with the process and how it all turned out."

The Corley settlement is the second the county approved in recent years related to the conduct of sheriff's employees.

In June 2015, the commissioners court awarded $400,000 to Terry Goodwin, a mentally ill inmate who spent weeks in an isolation cell in the Harris County jail filled with his bodily waste, insects and trays of food. After an investigation, six employees were fired and nearly two dozen jailers and deputies were disciplined for not taking action to address the filthy conditions in Goodwin's cell.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis said he would have voted for a larger settlement over Corley's treatment.

"This was an appalling case and I apologize to Ms. Corley for the atrocious treatment she endured, right here in Harris County," said Ellis, who is an attorney. "I do believe that this settlement sends a message that in cases where law enforcement officers are accused of misconduct, the allegations are going to be closely examined and addressed. That kind of behavior is unacceptable and the victims deserve justice."

However, local civil rights activists excoriated the settlement, which they said failed to meaningfully deter future abuses by county law enforcement.

"That settlement did not send a message," said Quanell X, a prominent local civil rights activist. "Why would anyone ever be afraid of a lawsuit when they know they're only going to pay pennies in restitution for such egregious behavior?"

Kandice Webber, an organizer with Black Lives Matter Houston, said county law enforcement officials need to reach out to the county's residents of color and assure them that similar incidents would not happen in the future.

"No amount of money can give Charnesia Corley what those officers took from her, and that was her dignity and respect as a human being," Webber said. "I'm glad she's gotten some justice, even if its just in the form of monetary justice, but (the incident) never should have happened."

ORIGINAL STORY: Two HCSO deputies indicted for roadside cavity search

Corley was pulled over by Harris County sheriff's deputies for allegedly running a stop sign around 10:30 p.m. June 20, 2015, according to her lawsuit. She pulled into a convenience store parking lot off Ella Road in North Houston and began speaking with the deputies.

The deputies believed they smelled marijuana as they were talking to Corley and subsequently searched her car. When they found none in the car, they started to search Corley herself in the parking lot  in plain view and in a "non-sterile environment," according to the lawsuit.

Corley was initially ordered to take off her pants for a strip search, but the deputies later tried to cavity search her. She protested at first but was thrown to the ground and searched anyway, according to the suit.

Corley claimed the deputies searched inside her genitalia and allegedly found 0.2 ounces of marijuana, although the deputies' attorney later said the deputy searching Corley never penetrated her privates. Corley was arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

Charges against Corley were later dismissed.

Two of the three deputies involved in the search were indicted by a Harris County grand jury on charges of official oppression.

That led to an unusually public fight between the sheriff's office and the district attorney's office, with then-Sheriff Ron Hickman criticizing the decision to charge the deputies as "not based on a review of evidence, but rather ... upon a local news report."

Charges against the two deputies, Ronaldine Pierre and William Strong, were dismissed in August 2017, when Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg presented the case to a second grand jury after new evidence emerged.

The dismissal of their charges and the subsequent release of the video of the search reinvigorated the public's interest in the case.

As the story gained visibility, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez weighed in on the case, saying his administration was "fully committed to ensuring that every resident of our community is treated with dignity and respect," and acknowledging that department policies prohibit deputies from conducting strip searches without a warrant issued by a judge.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.

Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan.The National Hurricane Center's official report on Hurricane Harvey, released Thursday, five months later, mostly confirms what those who lived through the storm already knew.

The wonky government document - 76 pages of graphs, charts and meteorological analysis - repeated the word "catastrophic" seven times, and it was not short on superlatives.

It declared the August hurricane "the most significant tropical cyclone rainfall event in United States history."

A "prolific tornado producer."

Rainfall that was "truly overwhelming, literally and figuratively."

"The second-most costly hurricane in U.S. history."

"The deadliest hurricane to hit Texas since 1919."

"Unprecedented."

MORE: Harvey aid promised as Congress votes to reopen government

The in-depth meteorological review, a sort of score card tallying the storm's total impact, makes clear that Harvey's rainfall - a 1-in-1,000-year event - is unlike anything seen in recorded history.

Eric Blake, the National Hurricane Center scientist who authored the report, posted a series of Tweets, laden with exclamation points, trying to put the findings in context.

"It's a once in a lifetime event for so many people," Blake told the Associated Press. "I think the flooding in the Houston metropolitan area is really unparalleled."

Harvey didn't just break the previous U.S. record for rainfall, set at 52 inches in Hawaii nearly 60 years ago, Blake wrote. The storm broke that record at seven different stations across southeast Texas. And, he added, 11 other stations recorded rainfall totals that broke the previous U.S. mainland record of 48 inches.

MORE: Harris County officials to get update on closed criminal courthouse

Isolated rainfall amounts were likely even more extreme in places, Blake wrote, levels so high that flood gauges could not capture them. Radar estimated isolated rainfall totals "as high as 65-70 inches in southeastern Texas."

"It is unlikely the United States has ever seen such a sizable area of excessive tropical cyclone rainfall totals as it did from Harvey," the report said.

The hurricane center estimates Harvey's damage at between $90 billion and $160 billion with a midpoint of $125 billion. The storm killed at least 68 people, the report concluded, but attributed another 35 deaths to indirect causes, "such as electrocution, motor-vehicle crashes and isolation from necessary medical services."

By one estimate, the storm dumped more than 33 trillion gallons of water over Texas and the southern United States.A man stole televisions from a west Houston barbershop before leading officers on a car chase that ended with him striking two other vehicles and then evading officers.

The man was still at large Friday morning.A teenager accused of stealing a bike and riding it onto Loop 410 is dead after pulling a knife during a struggle with officers Thursday evening, police said.

San Antonio Police Department Chief William McManus said the man, who was 19-years-old, had stolen the BMX bike at about 6:30 p.m. from the Target at the Park North shopping center.

"The security of the store tried to stop him, couldn't, called the police," McManus said.

The man was spotted by passing officers near Loop 410 East at San Pedro Avenue as he was making his way to the entrance of the highway among traffic.

"After riding a short ways, he actually went up on the freeway," McManus said. "We had three police cars behind him by that time blocking traffic."

RELATED: FBI agent apparently killed wrong person in TX operation

After riding on the highway for a couple of minutes, one officer went in front of the bicyclist and got him off the bike just west of the McCullough Road overpass, near the boots at North Star Mall, he said.

That's when a struggle ensued between the man and three officers trying to subdue him, he said.

The man then pulled out a knife and cut one of the officers in the hand.

"The knife was big enough to kill someone," McManus said.

When the knife came out, one officer then backed off and fired a single shot into the man's abdomen, the chief said.

RELATED: Tim Duncan settles lawsuit with ex-adviser

The man died at the scene, police said.

McManus said the officer who fired the shot was a 15-year-veteran and will be placed on administrative duty as police continue investigating the shooting.

The officer who was cut was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

A call to Target about the incident was redirected to their corporate spokespeople, who did not answer Thursday night.

Police said a backpack that was found next to the man's body did belong to him. They did not say what was found inside of it.

The incident shut down the eastbound lanes of 410 until 10 p.m. Traffic was backed up just beyond Jackson-Keller Road at that time.

McManus said several vehicles that were stopped on the highway just before the scene of the shooting were held there as their occupants were witnesses to the shooting.

"Some of them are better witnesses than others," McManus said. "They saw some things; others didn't actually see the shooting."

SAPD officers were involved in a police pursuit Monday when U.S. marshals shot 32-year-old John Carlos Alvear after he crashed in front of a home in the 200 block of Chevy Chase Drive. Alvear, who was hospitalized, was wanted on three felony warrants, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrested and assault family violence.

Thursday night's shooting comes more than a month after a woman, who was a wanted felon and a suspect in a car theft, was fatally struck by gunfire from Bexar County deputies during Pecan Grove Manufactured Home Community, located off FM 78 on the banks of Cibolo Creek.

Kameron Prescott, 6, was killed by a stray bullet that went through the mobile home he lived in.

In June 2016, a shoplifting suspect identified as Manuel Madrid, 42, was fatally struck by a car while he ran across Loop 410 at Ray Ellison Boulevard in an attempt to evade police. Police said an officer had driven drove to the other side to wait for him to run under the overpass, but instead he ran onto the highway itself.

Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com

jbeltran@express-news.net| Twitter: @JBfromSAHouston is one of the most diverse cities in Texas and the country, but congressional districts manage to miss capturing that diversity with their irregular drawn boundaries, an examination of U.S. Census data shows.

Earlier this month the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will take on a Texas redistricting case, which involves a lengthy controversy addressing whether the Texas GOP intentionally discriminated against blacks and Hispanics voters when they redrew lines for congressional districts 2011.

With those oral arguments looming, the Houston Chronicle decided to look at districts in Houston. Houston has about nine congressional districts, but the Chronicle opted to examine the districts 2, 7, 9, 18 and 29  which rest entirely inside of the city.

They also have the most distinct boundary shapes.

Districts 2 and 7 are both Republican and have managed to exclude minority neighborhoods outside of their boundaries. See the map above. It is possible race was not a factor in the creation of those boundaries, but by doing so, lawmakers weaken minority voices.

And that's exactly what lawmakers and experts are alleging that Republicans are doing across the state.

Because of the way these boundaries are drawn, data show every district is skewed and doesn't reflect Houston. For instance, the combined demographic breakdown of the county's five districts shows it's 43 percent Hispanic, 26 percent white, 22 percent black and 7 percent Asian.

Now, take the red Congressional District 2, the breakdown is 47 percent white, 11 percent black, 7 percent Asian and 31 percent Hispanic. Or take the democratic District 29  11 percent white, 12 percent black, 1.9 percent Asian and 73 percent Hispanic.

Now the Supreme Court will look to see if the Republican legislature in Texas took race too much into account. The Republican-drawn maps have long been disputed by Democrats through the courts for three election cycles.

In the simplest terms, gerrymandering is the manipulation of the boundaries of to favor one party or class.

A political party with control of a state legislature may try to "gerrymander" district boundaries to favor its party over others. Political gerrymandering is not illegal. However, courts have ruled "racial gerrymandering" is illegal. In 1995 the Supreme Court recognized a state could consider race as a factor, but found that race cannot be the predominant factor motivating the drawing of district lines.

The racial-gerrymandering challenge is already slated for oral argument and the Supreme Court could issue a decision by late June, according to the Supreme Court of the United States blog.

The Texas case is is happening amid a national tide of gerrymandering cases from various states, including some already under consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Experts say that "it is shaping up to be a blockbuster term on gerrymandering at the Supreme Court this term."Mayor Sylvester Turner's press secretary resigned Friday afternoon, three weeks after news broke that she had been suspended for routinely conducting personal business on city time and failing to release public records.

Ward sent or received roughly 5,000 pages of emails about personal business from her government account over the last four years, many of which dealt with reality shows she was pitching to television networks or a charity for which she serves as an advisor.

Ward, who earned $93,712 annually, was suspended for 10 days without pay in late December.

Her resignation came hours before new emails showed Ward again had tried to block the release of a portion of the personal business documents she sent on city time. The Houston Chronicle and other news outlets sought the emails under the Texas Public Information Act.

"I believe many of the documents which include show concepts, treatments, etc. are protected through the Writers Guild Association's registration. Legal needs to be advised," Ward wrote to colleagues two weeks ago.

Assistant City Attorney Danielle Folsom replied last week, saying the city attorney's office "does not believe that registration with the Writer's Guild of America makes information confidential under the TPIA."

Ward still wanted to seek an opinion from the Texas attorney general's office, emails show. Pamela Ellis, founder of a charity Ward was promoting on city time, also asked the city to withhold documents.

As a result, the city released roughly 2,500 pages of Ward's emails on Jan. 19.

With the release of that first batch, Ward expressed confusion that her attempt to intervene had not fully halted the city's records release.

"How were emails released when I'm waiting to write the AG's office?" she wrote to coworkers that evening.

READ ALSO: Emails show Turner aide repeatedly used city resources for personal business

The city distributed nearly 1,200 additional pages Thursday, accompanied by a letter to the attorney general's office.

"The city takes no position with respect to the public availability of the requested information and will not raise any arguments on behalf of any third party," Folsom wrote in requesting a ruling from the attorney general's office.

Kelley Shannon, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, called Ward's request absurd.

"It was done on public computers. It's something somebody was reprimanded for," Shannon said. "Now, there's this effort to twist and turn the Texas Public Information act to prevent the public from seeing what was being done on its watch."

Ward did not respond to requests for comment, but said in her resignation letter that she was stepping down "with great sadness."

"My job is to get the city's and your message out, not to be a distraction," she wrote to the mayor. "Therefore, I think it is in the best interest of the city that I resign effective immediately."

Ellis, in a brief interview Friday evening, said she sought to withhold records related to her charity and private business because the nonprofit should not be sullied by a scandal it did not cause.

"We have no connection with the city of Houston, and so I just think for our own good name and the good we do in the community there's no reason to involve us in the story," Ellis said.

Turner wished Ward success after accepting her resignation Friday.

"Ward served the city as a key communicator for many years and has our thanks for working in public service," he said in a statement.

The mayor tapped Mary Benton to replace Ward on an interim basis. Benton previously served as spokeswoman for former Precinct 1 Harris County Commissioner Gene Locke and, prior to that, worked for the Harris County Toll Road Authority and was a longtime reporter at KPRC Channel 2.

"The addition of Mary Benton to our team brings even more experience and expertise to our work of keeping Houstonians informed about their government's many actions on their behalf, such as reducing flooding, restoring the city's financial health, leveraging our status as a welcoming community that is the nation's most diverse, and much, much more," Turner said.

Benton declined comment.

Meanwhile, Joe Stinebaker, communications director for Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, lauded Turner's choice.

"In my dealings with Mary, both when she was a reporter and when she's worked with the county, she has been extremely professional in everything she's done," Stinebaker said. "Frankly, I look very forward to working with her when she's over at the city because I think it will help continue fostering better relationships between the county and the city."

Benton is set to start Monday.

Ward joined former mayor Annise Parker's staff as press secretary in 2014. Turner kept her on in the same role.

Though he signed off on Ward's two-week suspension, Turner initially brushed off criticism of Ward's behavior.

"She's done her job extremely well since I've been here, over and above," the mayor told reporters three weeks ago. "I have no question with regard to her work performance."

Beyond conducting personal business from her city email, Ward in 2015 used Houston's publicly-funded television station, HTV, to promote contestants in a reality show she was developing.

Ward also did not pay full price when she rented HTV's studios that year to film a pilot for another show, records show.

Turner responded to those revelations by calling Ward's actions "unacceptable and against policy," adding that subsequent violations of city rules "could result in termination."

The Harris County District Attorney's Office has asked the city's Office of Inspector General to share information regarding Ward's behavior.Cookie Preferences Cookie List

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If you want to opt out of all of our lead reports and lists, please submit a privacy request at our Do Not Sell page.AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron caregiver is accused of allowing a 22-year-old man with developmental disabilities to wander outside and contract hypothermia, authorities said.

Benita Wilson, 53, is charged with patient endangerment in the Dec. 27 incident on Inman Street near Cole Avenue, according to a Summit County Sheriff's Office incident report.

Authorities investigated the incident for several weeks before filing the patient endangerment charge against Wilson on Tuesday, records show.

Wilson is self-employed and does not work for a health care provider, the report says. She told investigators she was working another job when the man wandered outside, the report says.

The man walked out of the home about 6:45 p.m. Akron police officers found him, but the report does not say how long he was outside.

Akron Fire Department paramedics took him to a hospital for treatment.

The man requires visual and audio supervision, a Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board service support administrator told investigators.

An SCDDB spokesman did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section.AKRON, Ohio --Authorities are offering reward money for information on a double fatal shooting in Akron.

No arrests have been made in the Dec. 12 shooting deaths of Tramango Roper, 44, and Robin El-Amin, 54, at a house on Merton Avenue near Inman Street, police said.

Witnesses said four men were playing cards in a dining room when a fight broke out. Roper and El-Amin were shot during the fight, police said.

Roper and El-Amin were found dead in a bedroom, police said.

Summit County Crime Stoppers is offering reward money to anyone with information leading to an arrest in the case.

Anyone with information is asked to call Akron detectives at 330-375-2490; U.S. Marshals at 1-866-4-WANTED; or the Summit County Crime Stoppers at 330-434-COPS. Tipsters can also text TIPSCO at 274637.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Friday's crime and courts comments section.BEACHWOOD, Ohio -- It was a Yankee Doodle day for one Beachwood School District custodian Friday as the children and faculty of Hilltop Elementary School celebrated the fact that he recently became a U.S. citizen.

At 2 p.m. Friday, Jimmy Grajdianu was called to the Hilltop gym to "clean up a spill." Waiting to surprise the native of Moldova were all of the school's 300 students and staff, as well as members of the Beachwood High School marching band.

"This is amazing," the humble Grajdianu said shortly after his surprise. "These people are so nice. I'm not used to this (attention). I'm not a public person."

Grajdianu moved with his family in 2012 to the United States from Moldova, a country of 3.5 million people nestled between Romania and Ukraine. He became a U.S. citizen in November 2017.

After beginning work as a second-shift custodian in 2016, he began taking classes at Cuyahoga Community College, where he is studying to earn an associate's degree in biomedical technology.

"It is my deepest passion, electronics," he said. "I want to work in IT and electronics."

While in Moldova, he earned an associate's degree in micro-electronics and a bachelor's degree in water and sewer systems.

"We've been planning this (celebration) for two months," said fourth-grade teacher Alesha Trudell, of the school's Kindness Committee. "Jimmy's very well liked here.

"He'll talk to the kids and joke with them. He'll drop whatever he's doing to help teachers and kids."

Teachers made it a very patriotic day for their students, who are in grades three through five. Before calling for Grajdianu, Trudell, fifth-grade teacher Alison LeMieux and third-grade teacher Jessica Ezzi taught the assembled students about citizenship and what it means.

The youngsters were told that being a good citizen means doing things such as opening doors for others, picking up litter and saying "hello" or "good morning" when greeting someone.

Next, the students were given some of the multiple choice test questions that are asked of those seeking citizenship, such as "What is the economic system used in the U.S.?" and "Name one war fought in the U.S. in the 1800s."

Just before Grajdianu entered, a recording of Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the U.S.A." was played.

Grajdianu walked into the gym flanked by students holding American flags. He was presented a piece of art that contained red and blue fingerprints of every student and staff member that were designed to look like the American flag.

The marching band then played "The Star Spangled Banner."

As students filed out of the gym at the celebration's closing, many congratulated Grajdianu for his accomplishment.

Present were Grajdianu's family, which includes his wife of more than 20 years, Crestina, and three daughters, ages 17, 11 and 3.

Of his homeland, Grajdianu said, "It's a former Soviet satellite country. I just didn't want to live there."

Speaking about America, Grajdianu, a Mentor resident, said: "I'm very happy to be here. All of my expectations are being met. We have found a very good life for us and are very happy."Theft, Eastland Road: A 9 mm Luger handgun was stolen at about 1 p.m. Jan. 21 from the Berea gun show at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland.

The victim was a company called Gun Brothers, which had a display at the show. A worker for the company suspects a woman customer, who earlier had asked to buy the Luger. The worker checked the woman's identity through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which said the woman was subject to a waiting period before she could buy the weapon. The woman, who was accompanied by a man, didn't want to wait, so she left.

The woman and man returned to the display about five minutes later. Another customer asked the worker a question. When the worker turned his attention back to the woman and man, he noticed that the Luger was missing. The worker asked the man if he took the Luger, but the man said no and quickly walked away with the woman.

Theft, Eastland Road: A .45-caliber handgun was stolen at 11:15 p.m. Jan. 21 from the Berea gun show at Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 164 Eastland.

The victim was BBC Weapons Armory LLC, which had a display at the show. A worker for the company said she was talking to a customer when a crowd suddenly gathered near her display table. Then she noticed that the handgun was missing. She didn't see who stole the weapon.

Theft, West Bagley Road: A breathing machine was stolen between 1:30 and 2 p.m. Jan. 21 from a pickup truck parked at Berea Square Storage Facility, 384 West Bagley Road.

The victim was picking up belongings at the storage business and had backed the truck into a loading dock. He left the breathing machine on the truck's tailgate and walked back inside to gather more items. When he returned to his truck, the machine was gone.

Operating a vehicle under the influence, Prospect Street: A Middleburg Heights woman, 54, was arrested at about 11:45 p.m. Jan. 19 after police saw her Toyota swerve left of center several times on southbound Prospect near Sprague Road.

The woman and her car smelled like alcohol. She admitted drinking two rum and Cokes. She failed field sobriety tests.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments section.CLEVELAND, Ohio - A seven-line section tucked in a Republican Ohio Senate proposal to change the way congressional district lines are drawn could forever ensure that several counties and cities are sliced and diced into different districts.

The proposal stipulates that the total population in each of Ohio's congressional districts must not vary by more than one person, plus or minus.

Noble idea indeed.

But a closer look reveals it is not practical -- if the goals are to design districts that make geographic sense and establish rules to limit possible shenanigans by politicians out to help their party or political friends.

Requiring precise population counts for each district opens the door to justify otherwise unnecessary splitting of counties and cities.

Several other states don't follow such strict population rules.

No one really knows how many people live in each district.

The population numbers used at redistricting time are often estimates at the very local level for any one street or neighborhood.

This is confirmed by Mark Salling, a senior fellow at Cleveland State University who compiled the population data under contract for the state for the redistricting work in 1991, 2001 and 2011.

The main reason the numbers are not exact is that census blocks don't follow precinct lines, let alone the precinct splits created by the people drawing the maps. Additionally, the census is a snapshot in time.

Learn more about gerrymandering, what's wrong with it and potential fixes for Ohio from a cleveland.com series - Out of Line: Impact 2017 and Beyond.

Lima Republican Sen. Matt Huffman, who introduced the redistricting reform plan, has said that the federal law requires that the districts be exactly the same size.

That's why any reform proposal must allow for the splitting of counties and cities when necessary to meet the requirement, he said. Huffman is not alone in this view.

While his proposal said Ohio must follow "applicable provisions" of U.S. law, it takes the extra step of proposing to write a nearly equal population requirement into the Ohio Constitution, allowing for a variance of just one person.

This section of a proposed Ohio Senate resolution for redistricting addresses the population size of each district.

However, under federal law, districts don't have to be so close in size, said Justin Levitt, who runs the All About Redistricting website and is associate dean for research at the Loyola of Los Angeles law school.

"Congressional districts must be fairly close but not exactly equal population -- the Supreme Court's 2012 decision in Tennant v. Jefferson County Commission (out of West Virginia) says as much, though I'm shocked by the number of people who ignore it," Levitt wrote an an emailed response to a question from cleveland.com.

The court deferred to other criteria used in West Virginia, such as not splitting counties. The court upheld the West Virginia congressional map, allowing a variance of 0.79 percent, or 4,871 people, from the smallest to the largest district.

West Virginia's congressional map follows county lines.

A spokesman for the Ohio Senate Republican caucus said West Virginia was not a good comparison because it is a far smaller state, with just three congressional seats. Additionally, he said, the state had a long history of not splitting counties.

West Virginia is one of 11 states where the populations vary by more than two people from district to district, according to research published by the National Conference of State Legislatures. They are:

State Ideal district size Difference

largest

to smallest West Virginia 617,665 4,871 Hawaii 680,151 691 Idaho 783,791 682 Arkansas 728,980 428 Louisiana 755,445 162 Mississippi 741,824 134 Iowa 761,589 76 Texas 698,488 32 Washington 672,454 19 Kansas 713,280 15 New Hampshire 658,235 4

Politicians in Ohio have a long history of splitting counties, one of the reasons leading calls for reform. Currently, Cuyahoga and Summit counties are split four ways each, Lorain and Portage counties three ways each, and Medina County two ways.

This is far different than some other states.

Ed Cook, legal counsel for the Iowa Legislative Services Agency, told cleveland.com during an earlier interview that when his nonpartisan agency prepares the maps each 10 years for legislative approval, equal population falls behind other criteria established by Iowa law.

"We don't look at incumbents. We don't look at party registration," Cook said. "One requirement that kind of trumps the whole process here is that we do not split counties. That is in our constitution. ... After that, there is compactness."

Huffman's proposal, which could lead to a public vote in the May primary, is at odds with a separate effort led by the Ohio League of Women Voters and other groups circulating petitions aimed seeking voter approval of their plan in November.

The two sides are talking. It's possible an agreement will be worked out to settle on a single proposal.

But Ann Henkener, redistricting specialist for the league, said there are a number of points of conflict, including the equal-population clause in the Senate proposal.

"I don't understand why Sen. Huffman does not recognize the Tennant (U.S. Supreme Court) case as being the standard for how close the population has to be. It is my understanding that it is the law," Henkener said. "We think keeping counties together is more important than being on the dot from the census."

Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner.

Previously:CLEVELAND, Ohio -- From New York to Los Angeles and Boston to Orlando, people looking to use MoviePass showed up at their favorite theater only to realize, sorry, the subscription service is no longer accepted there.

That scenario played out at several popular AMC theaters across the country this week, without notice, as frustrated MoviePass card holders took to social media to ask what was going on.

"No more AMC Century City (Los Angeles)??? That is truly disappointing. I cancelled my membership because of it," one subscriber wrote on Twitter. "#Moviepass no longer offering tickets at AMC Disney Springs (Orlando), will probably cancel now since I see all my movies there. Bad move @MoviePass," posted another.

@MoviePass @MoviePass_CS No more AMC Century City??? That is truly disappointing. I cancelled my membership because of it.  Mike Burgher (@MikeBurgher) January 26, 2018

#Moviepass no longer offering tickets at AMC @DisneySprings will probably cancel now since I see all my movies there. Bad move @MoviePass  Lito M. (@lmo18) January 25, 2018

After responding individually to angry users, MoviePass confirmed the changes when asked about them by Deadline.

"As of today, you'll find a small handful of theaters are no longer available on our platform," MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe said in a statement. "Our number one goal as a company is to provide an accessible price-point for people to enjoy films the way they're meant to be seen: on the big screen. Many exhibitors have been receptive to this mission, and we're excited to keep working with theater chains that are closely aligned with our customer service values.

"As we continue to strive for mutually-beneficial relationships with theaters, the list of theaters we work with is subject to change."

A small handful of theaters are no longer available on our platform. The theater youre referring to seems to be affected by this. As we continue to strive for mutually-beneficial relationships with theaters, the list of theaters we work with is subject to change.  MoviePass (@MoviePass) January 26, 2018

Translation for MoviePass users: if your favorite theater is popular enough to charge more, you may be out of luck in the future.

In an email to cleveland.com, MoviePass said it pulled out of just 10 AMC theaters, with parent company chairman Ted Farnsworth explaining, "Since the get-go, AMC has not been interested in collaborating with MoviePass -- a move that is not in the interest of our subscribers and AMC theater-goers."

According to MarketWatch, MoviePass asked AMC to share a portion of ticket prices or concessions revenue but was refused.

Farnsworth continued, "We already know in past testing that MoviePass subscribers are not theater-loyal; they're happy to drive by a theater that may be closer to a theater that will accept MoviePass-- because of the MoviePass value."

While the company's statements appear to be an attempt to place the blame squarely on AMC, which has publicly criticized MoviePass' business model in the past, the theater chain said not only was the decision not theirs, but it apparently didn't know about the switch beforehand.

Responding to the complaints on social media, AMC said, "Some of our guests say MoviePass may be blocking the use of their service at a handful of AMC locations. AMC has not restricted MoviePass acceptance at our theatres, nor have we heard from MoviePass about this. MoviePass customers should contact MoviePass for clarification."

Some of our guests say MoviePass may be blocking the use of their service at a handful of AMC locations. AMC has not restricted MoviePass acceptance at our theatres, nor have we heard from MoviePass about this. MoviePass customers should contact MoviePass for clarification.  AMC Guest Services (@AMCHelps) January 25, 2018

It's important to note MoviePass is still accepted at AMC theaters at Ridge Park Square in Brooklyn and Westwood Town Center in Rocky River along with just about every other theater chain in Northeast Ohio and, at $9.95 a month, it's a pretty good deal. Still, the decision to pull out of certain theaters, seemingly at random and without warning, is a bad precedent for the 1.5 million subscribers who pay for the promise to see a movie when they want, where they want.CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A Cleveland man who bought guns for the Heartless Felons gang was sentenced Friday to life in prison for the shooting deaths of a 15-year-old boy and a Cleveland State University adjunct professor.

Terrell Gray, 26, was "part of a sickness in this town where people can just buy guns and do whatever they want with them," Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Kevin Filiatraut said during Gray's sentencing hearing Friday morning.

Gray had no criminal records prior to the killings, so he was able to buy guns for the gang, prosecutors said.

"Today is the day that Terrell Gray needs to face the music," Filiatraut said.

Judge Timothy McCormick imposed the sentence in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Gray will not be eligible for parole for 61 years.

"This is something that has to stop," McCormick said. "Young men running the streets with guns, shooting with no concern for the consequences of human life has top stop. I'm trying to send a message right now."

Gray was found guilty last week of murder and other charges in the deaths in the deaths of David Wilder, the 61-year-old professor, and Tywain Johnson.

Kassius Williams, 19, and Charles Walker, 27, were previously sentenced to life in prison for the killings.

Williams, who fired the fatal shots, will be eligible for parole in 66 years. Walker, who drove the car involved in the drive-by shooting, will be eligible for parole in 71 years.

Gray fired seven shots from the car, prosecutors said.

Surveillance videos from stores along Woodland Avenue captured the events that led to the fatal shootings.

Video showed Walker, Williams and Gray with guns in their waistbands about 1:20 p.m. at a convenience store.

As the trio left, they spotted a red Saturn SUV drive by and jumped into the Volkswagen to follow it.

When they caught up to the SUV, Williams leaned out a passenger-side window and fired 29 shots. Gray fired another 7 shots at the SUV, prosecutors said.

Twenty bullets tore into the SUV, and three struck Tywain in the head. The boy died the next day at University Hospital.

One bullet traveled nearly 1,400 feet -- more than 20 blocks away -- and pierced the windshield of Wilder's car while he was driving near a farmer's market. The bullet hit Wilder's left eye, killing him instantly, prosecutors said.

One bullet struck Gray's hand, so Walker and Williams rushed him to St. Vincent Charity Medical Center for treatment.

Walker walked into the hospital with a pistol tucked in his waistband, and he was immediately arrested. Investigators found Williams' .40-caliber pistol with the extended clip and another gun in the Volkswagen, prosecutors said.

Gray originally told investigators he was shot by someone in the red SUV, and Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams held a news conference afterward and called the incident a "running vehicular gun battle."

But prosecutors said there was no evidence that any bullets were fired from the SUV, and that Johnson was actually struck by a round fired by Williams.

Investigators say these photos show Terrell Gray purchasing the guns used in the killing on the left, and posing with members of the Heartless Felons on the right.

Investigators also learned that Gray, on several occasions, bought guns from a licensed dealer in Lyndhurst. The guns wound up in the hands of members of the Heartless Felons street gang, Filiatraut said.

Homicide detectives obtained receipts showing Gray went three times to the store, which was run out of a man's private home, and bought weapons in the six weeks before the shooting.

The day before the killings, Gray bought three 9mm pistols, including an Astra 9mm used in the shooting, Filiatraut said.

A Cuyahoga County judge last year declared the gun shop violated the city's code and ordered the owner to shut down. The case is currently in the Ohio Eighth District Court of Appeals.

Gray stuck to his story of how he was wounded in the shooting. He apologized to the families of Johnson and Wilder, and said he'd lost family members to gun violence.

"I am not a murderer," Johnson said.

McCormick replied, "I disagree with that statement."

To comment on this story, please visit Friday's crime and courts comments page.WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate plans to vote next week on a bill that would criminalize abortions performed after 20 weeks as a way to target swing-state senators like Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown who support abortion rights.

"The United States is currently one of just seven countries - including China and North Korea - that permits elective abortion after 20 weeks," Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday. "It is time we begin to remedy this obvious and tragic moral wrong. This long-overdue legislation would do just that."

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act" in October by a 237-189 vote, with support from all of Ohio's Republican legislators and opposition from all its Democrats.

The measure has previously failed in the Senate, and probably won't be adopted next week. The bill's supporters say the vote will force opponents to go on the record against a measure they believe is popular with voters.

An anti-abortion organization called the Susan B. Anthony List conducted a poll in Ohio that shows 67 percent backing for the proposal - one of 20 states that have adopted a similar state law. The poll indicated 56 percent of those they contacted would be less likely to support a senator who doesn't vote for the bill, said the organization's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser. She said her organization is already publicizing Brown's stance in Ohio.

Brown intends to vote against the bill, said his spokeswoman, Jenny Donohue.

"Senator Brown believes women - not politicians - should have the freedom to make personal, private health decisions for themselves," Donohue said.

The proposed law would subject abortion providers to up to five years in prison for violations, but wouldn't penalize women who seek or undergo the abortions at issue. It allows abortions that are needed to save a pregnant woman's life, or when the pregnancy results from rape or incest.

Backers of the bill, like South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, say that fetuses that are aborted after 20 weeks feel pain and are medically viable. Its 45 cosponsors include Ohio Republican Sen. Rob Portman.

"We're going to get the country where it needs to be on this issue," said Graham, who believes it will eventually pass "the more the public knows about what we're trying to do."

President Donald Trump backs the bill and last week urged the Senate "to pass this important law and send it to my desk for signing."

Representatives of Planned Parenthood observed that nearly 99 percent of abortions in the U.S. occur before 21 weeks, and those that occur later in pregnancy usually involve "rare, severe fetal anomalies and serious risks to the woman's health."

Faiz Shakir, national political director at the American Civil Liberties Union, called the bill "unconstitutional and shameful on its own--the decision to have an abortion is one that should be made by women, not politicians."

"It's even more outrageous that the Senate would take up this vote when they should be spending their time finding a solution for the 800,000 Dreamers who have spent months living in fear and anxiety," said a statement from Shakir. "Every day 122 Dreamers lose status, and could be deported if Congress does not act. The Senate should stop wasting time on unconstitutional abortion bans and get back to real priorities."CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Teenagers housed in Cuyahoga County's old juvenile detention center decades ago used to be able to sit by a fireplace, learn how to use metal dinner utensils and, as recently as the late 1990s, cut each other's hair with scissors in an in-house barbershop, Judge Kristin Sweeney said.

The imagery is a far cry from that displayed earlier this month, when officials say a group of juveniles -- including one charged with aggravated murder -- broke off metal legs of a table in the jail, smashed glass windows and used the broken pieces as weapons at the five-year-old facility on Quincy Avenue.

The incident represents what Sweeney, County Executive Armond Budish another officials described in an interview with cleveland.com's editorial board as a "new reality" in juvenile detention, where teens as young as 14 and 15 are committing crimes just as heinous than many adult offenders.

As they struggle to deal with that reality, Sweeney, Budish and Cuyahoga County Law Director Robert Triozzi claimed that a 2012 state law that limits transferring juvenile inmates to adult jails is hamstringing their efforts to keep peace and order in the juvenile detention center.

The law, known as SB 337, says juveniles who are tried as adults and those who turn 18 while in custody should stay in juvenile detention, and not be transferred to adult court.

Erin Davies, executive director of the Columbus-based Juvenile Justice Coalition, helped write the bill. She said it was based on research that found juveniles who were housed in adult jail were more likely to commit suicide, be victims of sexual assault and re-offend after their release from incarceration than juveniles who were kept in detention centers.

"Once you put kids in an adult jail, they are at risk," Davies said.

The juvenile justice system was established to rehabilitate children out of a life of crime, not instill similar punishment as adults. But in recent years in Cleveland, the court has seen younger children committing more violent crimes, the officials said.

Sweeney pointed to statistics that nearly half of the 155 teenagers locked up in jail on Thursday were charged with aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, kidnapping or rape.

Those same teenagers are also incarcerated alongside teenagers as young as 13 years old being held on misdemeanor domestic violence charges.

On top of that, the county recently released to cleveland.com a report that found significant flaws in the daily operations of the jail that stemmed from a lack of leadership and failure of the detention officers and their supervisors to spell out clear rules for the juvenile inmates, hold them accountable if they broke the rules, or hold each other accountable.

All of that, the county officials said, was the backdrop to the Jan. 8 riot when a group of juveniles caused more than $200,000 worth of damage.

The officials said they were committed to reform the culture of the jail staff, starting by hiring a new superintendent and more than a dozen new detention officers and instill a culture of professionalism.

But they also said having a mechanism where judges have the ability, in limited, circumstances, to allow juvenile inmates who pose a risk to the security of the facility to be transferred to adult court could help solve the issues.

Ken Mills, director of the Cuyahoga County Corrections Center, said the adult jail has a 29-cell pod that is used only to house juveniles who are being tried as adults, that could hold more kids if they are prone to violence.

Davies pushed back on that idea, saying that it not only went against research on the most effective way to keep children from re-offending, but also that it might actually violate a federal law that was passed in 1974 and reauthorized by Congress in 2002.

That law, known as the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, outlawed the practice of detaining youth in adult jails except for very limited circumstances, such as weather emergencies or when there are no other facilities available.

Davies said she has not heard of any other juvenile detention centers in the state having similar problems as Cuyahoga County, and that, based on the report, the problems stemmed from adults in the jail failing the children, not the other way around.

"That to me is a total misplacement of where the problems are," she said.

Michael Brickner, director of policy at the Ohio ACLU, said he would like to see the court divert the younger teenagers who are charged with lower-level offenses from the detention center into other incarceration options, provide extensive retraining to the staff to give them the ability to handle disruptive inmates in the juvenile jail, rather than "adultify" the juvenile detention center.

He also called for the county to invite someone from a national organization that specializes in juvenile detention, rather than a sheriff's department that provides adult corrections, to examine the detention center.

Many of the teenagers in juvenile lock-up have been victims of trauma before, he said.

"Certainly if a young person is disrupting the environment, there should be steps the adults can take," Brickner said. "But I don't think that should be moving them to adult jail, or pepper spraying them or putting them into a restraint chair, because that only traumatizes them more."

Sweeney said she would love to have the option to hold juveniles in adult jail while their juvenile cases were pending, she cautioned on the urge to crackdown with a heavy hand by bringing in sheriff's departments.

"We don't want to over-correct, however tempting that is, in solving one problem and then end up creating others," she said.

To comment on this story, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page.ELYRIA, Ohio -- Two teenage boys made their first court appearance after being charged in connection to the shooting death of a 19-year-old Elyria man.

The teens, 16 and 17, denied the charges during their arraignments Thursday afternoon in Lorain County Juvenile Court, court administrator Jody Barilla said.

The two are charged with murder and two counts of aggravated robbery in the shooting death of Cody Snyder, according to their complaints.

Judge Sherry Glass scheduled a pretrial hearing for Tuesday. Both teens are currently at the Lorain County Detention Center.

An 18-year-old man made his first court appearance Tuesday morning in Elyria Municipal Court in connection to Snyder's death.

Kajaun Anderson faces a charge of aggravated murder. Prosecutors say he shot Snyder in the chest while trying to steal a half pound of marijuana from him.

He is currently being held in Lorain County Jail on a $1 million bond.

Snyder was shot just after 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police were called on a report of shots fired on Clinton Avenue near Lake Avenue.

A police officer saw a car pull up to the emergency room doors of University Hospitals Elyria Medical Center a short time later, police said.

A man in the car yelled for help and said a man was shot, police said.

The officer ran to the car and found the man unresponsive and covered in blood in the passenger seat, police said.

Emergency room staff took him inside the emergency room where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

If you'd like to comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section.WASHINGTON - This week, President Donald Trump unveiled details of his long-awaited plan to revamp the nation's immigration system.

Trump's proposal would eliminate the visa lottery, offer a 10- to 12-year path to citizenship for roughly 1.8 million "Dreamers" whose parents brought them to the United States as children, many of whom were previously protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. It would also set up a $25 billion trust fund to establish a border wall system and otherwise improve border security. Additionally, it calls for ending "extended family chain migration" by limiting family immigration sponsorships to the spouses and minor children of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.

"America is a cutting-edge economy, but our immigration system is stuck in the past," Trump said in a Friday morning speech. "We must replace our current system of extended-family chain migration with a merit-based system of admissions that selects new arrivals based on their ability to contribute to our economy, to support themselves financially, and to strengthen our country."

DACA has been made increasingly difficult by the fact that Cryin Chuck Schumer took such a beating over the shutdown that he is unable to act on immigration!  Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 26, 2018

The White House framed Trump's proposal as a compromise among the various immigration plans that have been broached in Congress, but House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi didn't see it that way. She released a statement that called it "an act of staggering cowardice which attempts to hold the Dreamers hostage to a hateful anti-immigrant scheme."

"The 50 percent cut to legal immigration in the framework and the recent announcements to end Temporary Protected Status for Central Americans and Haitians are both part of the same cruel agenda," Pelosi's statement said. "They are part of the Trump Administration's unmistakable campaign to make America white again."

Though Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said Trump's proposal would provide a "framework for guidance" as legislators discuss an agreement, it might not satisfy Republican backers of a bill by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Goodlatte of Virginia that would grant Dreamers legal status in the United States, but not citizenship.

Ohio's U.S. Senators - Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Rob Portman - are still reviewing Trump's proposal. Brown spokeswoman Jenny Donohue said her boss "is encouraged that bipartisan negotiations are continuing, and he looks forward to reviewing all the details."

"There are ongoing bipartisan discussions about DACA, stronger border security measures and additional enforcement tools, and Rob hopes those discussions are successful," added Portman spokeswoman Emily Benavides.

Wadsworth Republican Rep. Jim Renacci - who is aligning himself with Trump in a bid to win Brown's Senate seat - applauds Trump's willingness to work with Democrats to fix the system, said his spokeswoman, Kelsey Knight. Renacci wants to set up a path for illegal immigrants to gain legal status, but believes it shouldn't supersede what law-abiding immigrants go through, said Knight.

"He is pushing for a fair system," Knight said.

In a Friday morning appearance on FoxNews, Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan said he "has some concerns" about the focus of Trump's proposal. He said that if it stresses the border wall, ending chain migration, getting rid of the visa lottery and dealing with "these crazy sanctuary city policies around the country," he'd support it.

"It's all about where the priority is, where the focus is, and it's got to be on border security," said Jordan.

Holmes County Republican Rep. Bob Gibbs is still reviewing the plan, and says it must "provide a path to legal status for people who were brought here as children, but that fix has to include increased border security, ending chain migration, and moving towards a merit-based immigration system," said Gibbs spokesman Dallas Gerber.

"If it doesn't, we'll be back in the same situation a few years from now," Gerber added.

Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge called Trump's proposal "a non-starter."

"America's strength is in its diversity," said a statement from Fudge. "The immigration framework put forth by the Trump Administration is a continuation of the anti-immigrant stance this White House has taken from the beginning."

Niles-area Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan said he's disappointed that it took Trump so long to "release an immigration framework to solve a problem that he has created."

"While there are aspects of this framework that greatly concern me, I am continuing to review this proposal and other proposals currently in Congress, and am ready to continue the debate of how best to fix our broken immigration system in the long term, improve border security, and, secure vital protections for Dreamers," a statement Ryan continued.

Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur said a $20 billion wall does little to improve the nation's immigration system and "takes us backward on the comprehensive reform we need." She suggested that Trump "needs to bring people together, not divide us with game show like deal-making to fulfill his ill-advised campaign rhetoric."

"Ohioans care about keeping families together and that includes providing relief to the many young people who live here and were brought here through no fault of their own," said a statement from Kaptur. "Instead of building an expensive wall along our southern border, let's refocus on bipartisan priorities such as creating jobs through infrastructure and ensuring retirement security for millions by protecting pensions."AKRON, Ohio -- A University of Akron student was sexually assaulted inside a campus building Wednesday night, officials say.

The woman said she was assaulted by a man she knew at 7:30 p.m. inside the Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences building, according to a campuswide alert.

Authorities gave few details on the suspect, saying he is 5-foot-5.

Additional information was not immediately available.

The incident is being investigated by university police.

Anyone who knows anything about this incident should call university police detectives at 330-972-2911. Tips can be made confidentially to police by texting to 274637 and beginning the message with the keyword ZIPTIP. A tip also can be submitted online hereCLEVELAND, Ohio -- Hostile.

That was the first word the juvenile detention officer used when asked Friday to describe working conditions he routinely encounters at the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Justice Center. He paused, then offered a second word:

Dangerous.

"It's gotten to be dangerous. Even inmates who look like children can be planning to violently attack you. It happens frequently. You have to watch your back at all times."

I know this man well. He's professional. He has a military bearing. He's powerfully built. He's active in his church. He loves mentoring children and young adults. He's reaching his breaking point.

"We (detention officers) are in the belly of the beast. The level of physical and verbal violence that the inmates inflict on each other and on the guards is worse than it's ever been," said the officer.

"It's probably just a matter of time before something really awful happens. The gangs are constantly sizing each other up, and the corrections officers. They want to create chaos and they're good at it."

That something "really awful" nearly happened earlier this month. On the evening of Jan. 8, a riot broke out in a housing unit of the juvenile detention center in Cleveland's Fairfax neighborhood.

Six juveniles, including one being held on a murder charge, were charged for involvement in a large-scale fight that caused an estimated $200,000 in damages to the housing pod. The fight, which prompted responses from more than two dozen police, sheriff's deputies and state troopers, required more than three hours for authorities to quell.

Fortunately, no life-threatening injuries were sustained. However, personnel casualties and demotions seem certain to mount as finger-pointing and reform proposals are now considered in earnest.

Thursday, Karmin Bryant, superintendent of the detention center, retired after more than three decades as a county employee. In her two-sentence resignation letter, she wrote that she "truly enjoyed working for Cuyahoga County Detention Center[...]."

That's charitable. Perhaps Bryant, a former detention officer, genuinely enjoyed attempting to provide a safe place for both vulnerable and violent youth. However, a report issued by the Cuyahoga County Sheriff's Department last November found the juvenile detention facility in disarray under her watch.

The report documented a dangerous lack of readily available information on inmates' criminal history and suspected gang ties. Even more shocking was a revelation that little effort was made to keep rival gang members separated.

"At first, this appeared to be an employee complacency issue. However, after conducting an in-depth analysis it appears the problem stems from all levels of the organization," the report stated.

Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish said last week that he is considering reform proposals contained in the report, including hiring more officers and requiring more training. In addition, he is assessing the competency of the detention center's leadership, while conducting a national search for a new superintendent. While necessary, these moves may not go far enough.

Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley and Cuyahoga County Councilman Mike Gallagher have suggested that the operations of the juvenile facility be transferred to the county's sheriff's department. It's an idea worth considering.

It's time for Cuyahoga County (and perhaps the state of Ohio) to seriously rethink its approach to housing and adjudicating violent predatory youth. Last week, 155 adolescents were held at the juvenile detention facility. Nearly half were charged with either aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, rape and kidnapping charges, according to the Juvenile Court's Administrative Judge Kristin Sweeney.

The fact that violent teens are routinely housed in the same facility as juveniles held on misdemeanor charges is a recipe for disaster. The dangerous demographic pairing is also a momentous roadblock to the rehabilitation of youth who remain reachable.

The volatile conditions at the juvenile detention center have long been the county's worst kept operational secret. Now, the underperforming juvenile jail and its overperforming young clientele have been dangerously exposed. Failure for the county to react decisively could prove costly in terms of lives and property.

There must be no more riots.CLEVELAND, Ohio - A new statewide poll of the gubernatorial race shows former federal consumer watchdog Richard Cordray narrowly leads the wide-open Democratic side of the race, while Attorney General Mike DeWine is running away with the Republican primary.

The poll was commissioned by the 1984 Society, a nonprofit, bipartisan group of former Ohio Senate employees and senators who wanted good independent polling for the political community. It was conducted via phone interviews by Fallon Research with a sample size of 801 and a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The poll was taken Jan. 16-19 and is the first released since the multiple shakeups in the governor's race, including the exit of Secretary of State Jon Husted and U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, both Republicans, and former U.S. Rep. Betty Sutton and Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, both Democrats. It is also the first to include Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, both Democrats.

It also includes running mates for each of the candidates. (1984 Society board member Neil Clark acknowledged having to anticipate several of the running mates, including Democrat Connie Pillich's, who was initially listed in the poll as state Sen. Cecil Thomas. Pillich eventually selected Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer, which was reflected halfway through the poll.)

Democratic primary

Cordray, the former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who entered the race in December, currently leads the field of five Democratic candidates, though only by seven percentage points. Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich came in second with 16 percent. Fifty-two percent of Democratic primary voters said they were undecided. The breakdown is below.

1984 Society Poll - Democratic Primary Percent Ex-CFPB Director Richard Cordray 23% Former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich 16% State Sen. Joe Schiavoni 4% Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill 3% Former State Rep. Connie Pillich 2% Undecided 52%

The poll was taken after Cordray and Sutton announced they would join a single ticket, merging what up to that point was considered the top two Democrats in the race on a unity ticket.

But the poll released Thursday does not show significant support flocking to the Cordray-Sutton ticket, indicating a potentially more competitive primary.

While Cordray has had two months to actively campaign, speculation mounted around Kucinich on Jan. 8 when he filed paperwork to revive his committee. He didn't declare he was running until Jan. 17.

Dennis Kucinich announces his candidacy for governor of Ohio at a rally in Middleburg Heights.

The race appears to be shaping up into a duel between Cordray and Kucinich, but Clark said Schiavoni could also become a contender.

"Ultimately, I think as Joe approaches this game, even though he's low in this particular poll, I think ... he could be a factor if he spends money and gets out there," Clark said. "But right now, you'd have to say it's between Cordray and Kucinich."

Republican primary

According to the poll, DeWine currently leads his lone challenger, Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, by a margin of 54-14, with 32 percent of those polled undecided. He leads in every demographic and geographic group by a wide margin, though is only besting Taylor in Toledo by six percentage points.

1984 Society Poll Results - GOP Primary Percent Attorney General Mike DeWine 54% Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor 14% Undecided 32%

Attorney General Mike DeWine, right, shakes hands with Secretary of State Jon Husted. DeWine announced in November that Husted will leave the 2018 Republican gubernatorial race to become his running mate.

DeWine's lead isn't shocking given past polls and recent developments in the race. The attorney general led several Republican polls in both name identification and support.

Since November, the once seemingly competitive Republican primary field winnowed. Husted, who was DeWine's top contender, dropped out of the race in November to join DeWine's ticket as his running mate. Renacci left the race in December to run for U.S. Senate after Treasurer Josh Mandel surprisingly dropped out of the race.

General election

The only general election matchup question that was asked was between Cordray and DeWine and shows bad news for Democrats.

In the head-to-head, DeWine currently leads Cordray 49-28, with 23 percent of respondents unsure.

1984 Society Poll Results - General Election Percent Attorney General Mike DeWine 49% Ex-CFPB Director Richard Cordray 28% Undecided 23%

Part of that could be Ohioans' response to the question of whether the state was on the right track. Fifty-four percent of respondents said it was, while only 24 percent said the state is heading in the wrong direction.

Kasich and Trump

Term-limited Republican Gov. John Kasich's popularity is likely another factor in DeWine's strong general election numbers. While Republican President Donald Trump is under water with 52 percent of respondents disapproving of his job in office and 43 percent approving, Kasich fared much better.

Fifty-seven percent of respondents said they approved of the job being done by Kasich, while 29 percent said they disapprove. That includes 53 percent of Democrats, 56 percent of independents and 63 percent of Republicans.

In this April 4, 2017 file photo, Ohio Gov. John Kasich speaks in Sandusky, Ohio. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane, File)

Trump, meanwhile, is wildly unpopular with Democrats at 13 percent approval and 84 percent disapproval. His approval with independents is also abysmal, with 39 percent supporting and 53 percent opposing.

Clark said he did not expect the Republican candidates to distance themselves from Trump at any point during the 2018 cycle in Ohio, largely because of his 75 percent approval rating among the GOP.

Instead, despite his overall popularity, the Republican primary candidates have shunned Kasich, trying to distance themselves from the governor. At a forum in October, the then-four candidates couldn't muster any support for Kasich.

Taylor, who has been endorsed by Kasich, has actively tried to shed herself of any connection to the governor, claiming that he actually endorsed DeWine.

Future polls

Clark said the 1984 Society plans to do polls throughout the primary and general election to give some clarity to the race for donors on both sides of the aisle and the business community.

He said he wanted to do independent polling so the community could quit relying on the candidates' campaign committees.

"It's unfair when you're out there trying to raise money or make decisions that you're not getting accurate numbers," he said.

The Thursday poll was paid for by the 1984 Society, but Clark said he anticipated future surveys would be paid for by others, akin to crowdfunding from the political community.

Clark said he hoped to have the next poll done in March and wants to include all statewide contests, including the U.S. Senate race.

Read the poll:

01-25-2018 1984 Society Gubernatorial Poll by srichardson on Scribd

Poll presentation:

Winter 2018 Survey Results Presentation by srichardson on ScribdWhile debate continues over the way in which the online charter school Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow squandered Ohio taxpayer money and failed the young Ohioans it was supposed to be teaching, there can't be any debate over what the ECOT mess has taught Ohio's taxpayers:

Money talks at the Statehouse.

At every turn in the regulatory road, ECOT's mainly Republican enablers looked the other way because, in effect, that's what they were paid to do - legally, through campaign donations.

In the wake of ECOT's closure last Thursday, abruptly forcing 12,000 students to find other schools, those Statehouse relationships cannot disrupt Ohio's efforts to recoup tens of millions of dollars the state says ECOT and at least two affiliated firms still owe for overstated enrollments. (ECOT is fighting the clawbacks before the Ohio Supreme Court.)

The Columbus Dispatch recently reported that ECOT and founder Bill Lager donated more than $2.1 million to the campaigns of Ohio politicians and political organizations over two decades. The top amounts: $174,500 to the Ohio Republican Party; $147,799 to the Ohio House's Republican caucus; $125,707 to the state Senate's Republican caucus; and $95,000 to the Ohio Democratic Party.

Key legislators also were rewarded, including former Republican House Speaker Bill Batchelder ($55,000); current Republican Speaker Clifford Rosenberger ($36,843); and former Republican Senate President Keith Faber, now running for state auditor ($34,013). When the Batchelder Co. lobbying firm was formed by two of Batchelder's top staffers after Batchelder left office at the end of 2014, ECOT was one of its first clients.

The Dispatch also reported that Republican Gov. John Kasich's campaign received $30,000 in ECOT-related contributions. Then there's Ohio Auditor Dave Yost, now a Republican candidate for state attorney general, whose campaign coffers were enriched by at least $29,000 from Lager and other ECOT-affiliated individuals over the years, cleveland.com reported three months ago.

Fortunately for Ohio taxpayers, the Kasich administration and Yost converted to ECOT accountability. But in Ohio's GOP-run legislature, lawmakers didn't want to derail the gravy train. So not only didn't they act, but, too often, they tried to put up roadblocks to tougher state oversight. That cynical choice has penalized not just taxpayers and charter school interests but now ECOT's displaced pupils. It's time the adults in the state legislature acted as such in making sure ECOT and its affiliated businesses repay every penny owed.

About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue).

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com."Dennis!" "Dennis!" the cheering crowd at Middleburg Heights Community Center chanted when Dennis Kucinich, former Cleveland mayor and ex-congressman, announced last Wednesday that he was running for the governor of Ohio.

But will Kucinich, 71, earn that kind of love -- and votes -- at statewide polls in the May Democratic primary and beyond?

He's hoping so. In 2012, after GOP-directed redistricting in Ohio, Kucinich lost his long-held congressional seat to U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo. An unsuccessful presidential contender in 2008 and 2004, he now wants to replace term-limited Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Kucinich, a name brand in Ohio politics, elbowed his way into a crowded Democratic primary field that includes Richard Cordray, the former federal consumer watchdog, state Sen. Joe Schiavoni and Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill.

And he was clear about his agenda, telling the audience in Middleburg Heights that it was time to get rid of an "unresponsive" government in Columbus and replace it "with strength, with experience and with fearlessness."

Kucinich, who could appeal to former President Barack Obama liberals, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders populists and President Donald Trump disaffected voters looking for change, has called for more spending on infrastructure, increasing the minimum wage to $12.50 and better access to health care and public transportation.

But he may not be popular in all quarters. He has defended former Trump National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia, met with Syrian President Bashar Assad, accused of killing thousands in his country, and asserted that Trump is being attacked by the "deep state," secret government forces attempting to undermine the president.

So what do you think of Kucinich's entry into Ohio's race for governor? Does he have a chance at winning? Tell us what you think in the comments, and the editorial board roundtable offers its thoughts below.

Sharon Broussard, chief editorial writer, cleveland.com:

Democrats will have a lot of interesting choices for governor, including Kucinich, who has served at the local, state and federal level. His support of Flynn, Assad and Trump is disturbing but it's hard to say if that will make a difference in a state race where people may be more concerned in jobs, taxes and the economy than national and international issues.

Ted Diadiun, editorial board member:

I first met Dennis Kucinich one summer day in 1985, when he walked into my office at the Lake County News-Herald, just before his 541-mile walk across Ohio. He was running for governor and wanted to talk. I felt sorry for the little has-been, so I humored him. He ultimately dropped out of the race, but a dozen years later he was a U.S. congressman. Seven years after that, he was running for president. The moral for his current opponents: You'll never outwork him, and you should never underestimate him.

Thomas Suddes, editorial writer:

In a crowded field, and in an era of unorthodox politics, anything is possible in this year's Ohio Democratic gubernatorial primary. Politically speaking, Dennis Kucinich has more lives than a cat. That and his statewide name-recognition make him a contender. A primary winner? Not out of the question but, at this point, that's a long shot.

Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, cleveland.com:

The old saw about politicians and journalists -- "I don't care what you say about me as long as you spell my name right" -- applies with Kucinich, a politician with powerful name recognition. His unabashed populism and willingness to challenge the party line also will be key in a Trump-leaning Ohio where voters want to hear less of the same-old, same old. Both Democrats and Republicans better beware.

Have something to say about this topic?

* Use the comments to share your thoughts, and stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the Notification Settings (in blue).

* Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication.

* Email general questions about our editorial board or comments on this editorial board roundtable to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com.

Space News space history and artifacts articles Messages space history discussion forums Sightings worldwide astronaut appearances Resources selected space history documents





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NASA sends historic Apollo mission control consoles to be restored



Jan. 25, 2018  The historic consoles used by NASA flight controllers to manage the first missions to land astronauts on the moon are on the move.



Workers on Thursday (Jan. 25) were busy labeling and removing the iconic rows of consoles that comprised NASA's historic mission control at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The green metal cabinets, with their cathode-ray tube displays, rotary dials and backlit push button panels, are being temporarily relocated to the Cosmosphere museum in Hutchinson, Kansas, where they will be restored to their Apollo-era condition and appearance.



"All of these historical consoles have been catalogued and we are removing them from the room and sending them to our restoration contractor," said Jim Thornton, NASA's project manager for the restoration, during a media tour Thursday. "This is [the first] stepping stone in the overall project to restore the original Apollo flight control room, visitor viewing room and the simulation control room back to the way they appeared in July of 1969."



The $5 million restoration will return Mission Operations Control Room-2 (MOCR- 2) inside the Mission Control Center to how it looked at the time of Apollo 11, the first mission to land humans on the moon.



"This will be a complete and accurate historical restoration," said Sandra Tetley, the historic preservation officer and real property officer at Johnson Space Center. "It will not be a fix-it-up. Everything will be preserved and accurate, from buttons, button labels, lighting  everything will be completely accurate."



"It's going to look as if the flight controllers just walked out of the room," she said.



Space Center Houston, the visitor center for Johnson Space Center, together with NASA, Texas Historical Commission and the National Park Service are overseeing the project, with the goal of it having ready in time for the 50th anniversary of the first lunar landing next year. The Park Service gave its approval for the restoration in 2017 given the room's status as a National Historic Landmark since 1985.



Before removing the consoles, each component needed to be tagged and entered into a database.



"Every piece that goes out has to be documented," Tetley told collectSPACE. "We went through and documented every part and serial number, manufacturer's part number and which console and which position it is in."



Though the overall control room is being returned to its Apollo 11 appearance, the consoles will be configured to how they looked during the fourth moon landing in July 1971. The Apollo 15 mission included the first use of the lunar roving vehicle (lunar rover) and began the extended exploration of the moon.



"The flight controllers said Apollo 15 was the height of the technological changes in the Apollo program. After that mission, the console configuration did not change very much," Tetley said.



At the Cosmosphere's SpaceWorks restoration facility, conservators will carefully take apart the more than half-century old consoles in order to bring them back to life.



First used for NASA's Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and retired after STS-53, the 52nd space shuttle mission in December 1992, the consoles' electronics are largely no longer serviceable. As such, the displays and some of the other visible elements will be augmented with modern components in order to create the appearance that the consoles are operational.



"We're not re-energizing the consoles, but they will animated to appear as if they are," said Thornton.



"They will be representative working," added Tetley. "They will be backlit with LED lighting so the visitor's experience is such that when you are in the viewing room looking in, all of the lights and monitors will be the same as when we were landing on the moon."



First to depart by truck for the Cosmosphere are the consoles from the simulation control room and the first two rows of the main room  including the stations for the retrofire officer (RETRO), flight dynamics officer (FDO), capsule communicator (CAPCOM) and electrical, environmental and communications officer (EECOM). They are slated to return to Houston in October, when the second and last set of consoles, including the flight director (FLIGHT) station, is expected to leave.



In the meantime, work to restore the rooms themselves is beginning, with details like the carpet, ceiling tiles, wallpaper and upholstery being cleaned or replaced to match their 1969 appearance.





Inside Mission Operations Control Room-2 (MOCR-2, also known as Flight Control Room-2 or FCR-2, or Historic Mission Control), workers have prepared the Apollo-era consoles for being moved to the Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, Kansas by inventorying and tagging every part and component by serial number and console position. (collectSPACE)





collectSPACE





"Everything that happens to it, where it goes, what's done to it has to all be documented."  Sandra Tetley, historic preservation officer at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. (Pictured: Cosmosphere curator Shannon Whetzel tagging a component.) (collectSPACE)





The Cosmosphere will preserve the original electronics inside the consoles, but will also install modern technology to give the appearance that the consoles are again active, monitoring the first landing on the moon. (collectSPACE)





collectSPACE





The Cosmosphere's SpaceWorks division conservators will work to arrest corrosion and reverse damage to the consoles. (collectSPACE)





Cosmosphere and NASA workers remove a console from the simulation control room for its delivery to the Kansas museum. (collectSPACE)





collectSPACE





The consoles were loaded onto pallets, wrapped in padding and loaded on a truck bound for the Cosmosphere in Kansas. (collectSPACE)





collectSPACE





collectSPACE





collectSPACE



 2021 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

president obama takes moves to protect service members Flower girl Dress families from predatory lending

With all the young people, cursing in the office, wearing whatever they felt like wearing, every office blasting music while working, and never really getting a straight answer when I asked specific questions, I felt as if this was not the kind of environment I want to work in.

pixar fest coming to disneyland in april 2018

Well, I just couldn't get over why I had that thought. The one that I think is the most interesting is the Results Only Workplace environment, or ROW, where you effectively tell your employees, what you have to do. Sharpe Kids Karate Kinder KarateTime: 9.30am 10.00am.

Virl lives with his wife, Chris, and their two dogs, one of whom is Nibley, named in honor of Hugh Nibley. Our technical staff were right not to extend his contract, which has been proved by the fact that no other technical staff in the world wanted him except Los Angeles.

The possibility existing of a large scale fire should be treated as the normal, according to the report.. Knew there be a couple of bumps in the road, Green said. Livery service is also available to those who own their own equipment. Well, I hate to say it, but you find the money.

Wright, who is the director of the group Global Security Program wrote, range of this test was significant since North Korea demonstrated that it could reach Guam with this missile, although the payload the missile was carrying is not known. The couple had been together for 11 years.

They do activities with wild ricing and finishing maple syrup. But it was Radford's team shining through in the circle and his players remembering all those pointers to stretch its state title streak to eight, a Maryland state record, and fourth longest state title in national history according to the National Federation of State High School Associations.

But don completely ignore the issue; otherwise your child might think it is okay to do it anywhere.Do ignore it at naptime and bedtime. He also believes that the jingle could have been made more contemporary in its treatment and instrumentation. Bach arrives to play on the clavier some of the pieces he's written down, but as he plays, the strangeness of the temperament and lowness of pitch, the flexibility of beat and rhythmic declamation yields some of the things he plays unrecognized, for moments, or even a long while.This music that we own, this familiar canon, under his fingers it is so strange, so far from the received "this is how it goes" we have that I [Read more.]Case LawNovember 9, 2009 by Setting out to learn a piece of scripted classical music, a pianist usually looks at print.

Gibson has had to make 30 or more saves on seven occasions.. This is a 7 week program for kids ages 6 to 12 to attend with a parent or guardian. This is such a challenging story and you don't flinch. Among young males in particular, play fighting may be a means of practicing for serious competition during mating seasons later in life.[79] Polar bears are usually quiet but do communicate with various sounds and vocalizations.

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Welcome to visit your fashion designer & stylish Kids clothing shop on http://www.jollyhers.com/dresses-150/ now!We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds..The World Economic Forum is taking place this week in Davos, Switzerland. The meetings are dominated by a class of individual that the late Samuel Huntington named Davos Man: cosmopolitan, secular, and having self-consciously purged every hint of such parochial ties as tradition or particularity. Davos Man meets annually to frolic in Alpine splendor, and engage in supranational statism, with other Davos Men.

Imagine that instead of a global gathering of elites and celebrities, the World Economic Forum tried to see the challenges facing the world through the lens of faith and the Judeo-Christian ethic that has guided the West to its current status of wealth and power, writes Jon Miltimore, the senior editor of Intellectual Takeout, in a new essay at Actons Religion & Liberty Transtatlantic website. What might a Christian Davos look like? Would such an event even be possible?

Read Jon Miltimores full essay here.PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- Pascagoula police have as suspect in custody, charged with shooting and killing a man late Thursday night, according to Capt. Doug Adams.

Adams said police received a 911 call around 11 p.m. Thursday night from a male stating someone was shooting at his vehicle on Jerry St. Pe Highway.

As officers arrived in the area dispatchers advised that shots were being fired on Highway 90 and Victor Street eastbound. As officers arrived in the area, they located a victim that had been shot multiple times.

The 61-year-old victim was transported to Singing River Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries and died. His identity at this time is unknown.

The suspect, Luis Joel Soto Jr. of Gautier was taken into custody just after 6 a.m. Friday morning. He has been charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of murder. Bond has been set at $1 million by Pascagoula Municipal Judge Michael Fondren.

Anyone with additional information about this shooting is asked to contact the Pascagoula Police Department at 228-762-2211.It's hard to impress people with a really amazing camera shot nowadays, because they'll assume it was all done by some nerd in front of a computer. But every once in a blood moon, when you see a really insane shot in a movie, that's because there's an even more insane story behind it. Such as how ...

5 The Bourne Movies' Cameramen Had To Leap Between Buildings

The Bourne series found success by posing a fascinating question: "What if James Bond was even more of a reckless maniac?" One notable sequence from The Bourne Ultimatum has the camera following Jason Bourne as he jumps off a building into another building via the window, because if your derring-do isn't as painful as possible, you may as well be riding a tricycle.

Universal Pictures Bourne's skin is 50 percent glass fragments by now.

So how did they get a camera crane to move so fluently? They didn't. In what you're hopefully starting to recognize as a pattern in this article, they just tied up a cameraman and had him jump off a building.

Universal Pictures It was about time Peter Parker graduated to bigger cameras.

We say "just," but this shot took months of preparation in order to find a suitable window-jumping-through location, as well as build the rig that would let the cameraman jump safely while filming (the actual stuntman's safety equipment consisted of crossed fingers and a will). And on top of that, the harness got stuck, and they had to film the leap a second time. For the sake of comparison, we got tired merely writing that sentence.

Universal Pictures Although they got some good footage of the dude in the apartment below taking a shower.

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But the ridiculous stunts aren't limited to the good Bourne movies. In order to film a car chase for 2016's Jason Bourne, the filmmakers had to follow the stunt car in a car of their own, through traffic, while wielding a miniature GLaDOS on the end of a crane.

Universal PicturesSolution providers are cheering the news that Dell Technologies is eyeing the full acquisition of VMware, saying it would rev up the VMware innovation engine and lead to tighter integration between the two companies' product portfolios.

VMware shares soared 10 percent, or $13.34, Friday to $151.31 on reports that Dell Technologies is considering strategic options that include a full buyout of the virtualization market leader.

"VMware is a jewel. It's one of those staples that are out there. It would put Dell in full control of that portion of the OS," said Michael Goldstein, CEO of LAN Infotech, a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., solution provider that partners with Dell. "We would probably see bigger innovations that would be tightened mainly to Dell hardware. I can see if you're not a Dell partner it might rub you the wrong way, but it gives Dell a better position of having more insight into those operating systems and hardware designs."

[Related: Dell Partners 'Can't Imagine' IPO Being On The Table]

Dell's board of directors is scheduled to meet later this month to discuss the options including filing for an IPO or completing a full buyout of VMware, according to Bloomberg.

Solution providers said bringing VMware private would enable the company to be even more of a technology disrupter.

Michael Tanenhaus, CEO of Mavenspire, an Annapolis, Md.-based solution provider and Dell EMC channel partner, said since VMware is a tracking stock and public company, it has to disclose financial numbers as well as product road map plans for investors.

"If Dell could take VMware private as well, one big upside would be they could stop reporting numbers altogether and they could stop reporting the plans for VMware. So Dell could start doing some big things, some big innovation with VMware without having to worry about reporting everything to everyone," said Tanenhaus.

However, Tanenhaus did say acquiring VMware and taking the company private would be a "gamble."

"It's a gamble because on one hand, it's an amazing set of intellectual property. On the other hand, some of the power of VMware is that it's used everywhere," said Tanenhaus. "They've gone through a lot of trouble so far to keep it independent, so that would be a big change."

Round Rock, Texas-based Dell Technologies owns a majority stake in VMware after buying EMC for $67 billion in 2016. EMC owned 81 percent of VMware when it was acquired, with Dell gaining all the shares of VMware common stock previously owned by EMC.

VMware currently has a market cap of $61 billion. VMware is a tracking stock whose shares have increased by well over 60 percent over the past 12 months.

Michael Hadley, CEO of Boston-based iCorps Technologies, who partners with VMware and Dell, said acquiring VMware would also give the company better control on how they compete with Microsoft. The two companies compete against each other in the virtualization market, including hypervisors, where VMware competes against Microsoft's Hyper-V.

Dell is also considering a public share sale for its Pivotal Software Inc. cloud computing venture, according to Bloomberg. Dell met with bankers last year to discuss a potential Pivotal IPO and was told the company was valued at $5 billion to $7 billion, according to Bloomberg.A new fiscal plan from Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello would close more than 300 of the islands roughly 1,100 schools, part of a larger government reorganization effort designed to help the island recover from two hurricanes last year, according to news reports.

The proposal from Rossello released earlier this week would save an estimated $300 million by fiscal year 2022 for the island, which suffered significant damage and population loss, particularly after Hurricane Maria struck in September. The plan anticipates a decline in enrollment of 27,500 students , as well as a drop of 7,300 in the teaching workforce, Primera Hora reported Thursday. There would also be additional administrative consolidation.



Last month, Puerto Ricos Secretary of Education Julia Keleher informed us that all but a small percentage of the islands schools had reopened, even though many remained without electricity, and that about 331,000 students were in public schools, down from about 350,000 before Maria. On Thursday, Keleher released new statistics about the share of students and teachers who had returned to schools compared to pre-Maria levels. In San Juan, for example, 78 percent of students had returned to their schools, Keleher reported. The city of Bayamon just outside San Juan, meanwhile, had the lowest share of students and teachers who had returned.



Click here to read our on-the-ground reporting from Puerto Rico from last October, shortly after Maria hit the island .

The governors plan needs approval from the Board of Fiscal Supervision.

The island and its school system were already struggling with dire financial problems before Maria struck. Last summer, Kelehers department closed 179 schools as part of a larger strategy to deal with the islands estimated $120 million debt and pension crisis. Student enrollment in Puerto Ricos schools had also dropped significantly in the recent years before the hurricane.

Rossello said that the school closures proposed in his plan reflected the islands declining population and student enrollment, and the need to have subsequent plans for schools that are not divorced from that reality, El Vocero newspaper reported .

However, Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico (AMPR) President Aida Diaz and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten criticized the plan to close schools in a statement released Thursday, saying schools were critical community hubs and could help schools overcome trauma.

They also warned against any attempt to privatize Puerto Ricos schools , an issue we touched on last fall. (AMPR, which had about 40,000 members before Hurricane Maria, is an AFT affiliate.)

To thrive, Puerto Rico needs to keep schools open, not close them, and thats why the push for mass school closings falls wide of the mark, Diaz and Weingarten said.

Photo: Juanita Negron Reyes, principal of the Bernardo Gonzalez Colon School in Utuado, Puerto Rico, works on prepping food for disaster-recovery efforts last October. (Swikar Patel/Education Week)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .BRIDGEPORT  Eight months after a rookie police officer shot and killed 15-year-old Jayson Negron, the States Attorneys Office has wrapped up its investigation.

It is expected that results will be shared Friday with the family, then the public, according to city officials and activist groups that are planning vigils in response.

Mayor Joe Ganim confirmed Thursday that he decided not to attend the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., in anticipation of a Friday announcement.

I tried to keep my schedule light this week, Ganim said. I thought it was better to be here. ... I dont know what the results are going to be, but we want to continue to express the same feelings of what a tragedy this is for a community, for a family and anyone and everyone touched by it.

And Thomas Gill, Ganims director of economic development, earlier Thursday sent a memorandum to the business community warning there will be demonstrations by advocacy groups (Friday), most likely at 1000 Park Avenue.

There is a Walgreens Pharmacy at that location, where Park and Fairfield avenues intersect. Negron was shot and killed by Bridgeport Police Officer James Boulay, 30, last May 9 on Fairfield Avenue outside of the pharmacys parking lot.

Friday morning, the Working Families Party sent a action alert email about two planned protests, including comments that anticipated that Boulay will not be prosecuted.

States Attorneys Maureen Platts decision will not be the end of this fight to prosecute Officer Boulay, and the City of Bridgeport wont be able to wipe their hands clean of the murder of Jayson Negron, said Kerry Ellington, an organizer of the Justice for Jayson Coalition, in the release. We will challenge every state official involved in the failure to prosecute Boulay.

In Bridgeport, activists are demanding that the Police Commision use its powers to remove Officer Boulay from the force and continue to call from the removal of Chief A.J. Perez.

This or other demonstrations may cause detoured traffic, and possibly lead to an interruption of business in the downtown vicinity, Gill wrote. Please know that the City of Bridgeport Police Department has been diligently working on a plan to mitigate any type of disturbance.

Gill in his memorandum noted it was based on social media outlets and unnamed sources.

Activist groups were promoting two rallies on social media. One at 5 p.m. at 1000 Park Ave., and one at 1 p.m. in Waterbury.

Waterbury States Attorney Maureen Platt was assigned the Negron case. Michael Rosnick, the lawyer for Jayson Negrons father, Juan Negron, confirmed he will be going to Waterbury Friday with his client to read Platts report. Rosnick declined comment.

The States Attorney is releasing her decision on the case at 1 p.m. to the family so community members are showing up to be in support of that," Camelle Scott-Mujahid with CTCORE-Organize Now! said in an interview Thursday. And Bridgeport is really just about holding space for the community to have whatever reaction it has to whatever decision comes out.

The Justice for Jayson Facebook page described the rallies as peaceful gatherings. We are standing together tomorrow at Jaysons memorial to honor him, to build solidarity and love and community power so that we can end police violence once and for all.

Another group, Bridgeport Generation Now, in a statement said its members will stand in solidarity with other groups at 1000 Park Ave. at 5 p.m.

Jaysons family, the Justice for Jayson coalition, and the Bridgeport community have repeated calls for accountability, transparency and justice through this eight month-long ordeal, read Generation Nows statement. Yet States Attorney Maureen Platt and (Bridgeport Police) Chief A.J. Perez have consistently refused to release evidence, despite having the power and authority to do so."

Ganim said: Ive been told its (Platts report) very comprehensive and that anything and everything they have will be made open to the general public. It will all be put online so anybody and everybody can access everything. Ill be looking at that like everyone else. I may have comments about it.

The Rev. Cass Shaw, head of the Council of Churches of Greater Bridgeport, which has been urging equipment and training reforms within the police department, planned to be at the 5 p.m. rally in Bridgeport.

I believe we can trust the community, which has been incredibly patient for the last eight months, to express ourselves with dignity and peacefully, Shaw said. Whatever Platt announces, Shaw said the Bridgeport police should conduct an after action review looking for lessons learned and opportunities to improve both their performance and relationship with the community.

Staff writers Cedar Attanasio, Tara ONeill and Daniel Tepfer contributed to this report.Fairfield-based Save the Children placed an associate vice president on administrative leave after an investigative news organization outed him for sexual harassment and pointed fingers at the American Red Cross for withholding the allegations.

Save the Children on Thursday said executive Gerald Anderson had been suspended from work and that outside advisers had been hired to determine the next steps. On Friday, Save the Children, in an email to Hearst Connecticut Media, said Anderson no longer worked for the organization and offered no further explanation regarding his employment status.

Save the Children wants to be clear that there have been no reported allegations of misconduct against the individual during his more than five years of employment with Save the Children, the agency said in a statement.

Although Save the Children did not disclose where Anderson worked, several entries on the web site LinkedIn said he was based in the agencys Washington, D.C., office. Anderson is also listed on LinkedIn has having worked for the Red Cross in Washington.

ProPublica on Thursday reported that Anderson had been forced to resign by the Red Cross over allegations of sexual harassment  including allegations from one woman who suspected Anderson had drugged her  prior to being hired in 2013 by Save the Children.

The publication also reported the Red Cross did not tell Save the Children about the allegations against Anderson or the circumstances surrounding his departure when contacted about their former employee.

In fact, the Red Cross had issued laudatory statements about Anderson after he was forced to resign, said ProPublica, a nonprofit national online news site dedicated to investigative journalism.

Christine Palm, communications and womens policy analyst for the Connecticut Commission on Women, Children and Seniors, said the Red Cross should have told Save the Children about issues regarding Anderson.

More News Long Wharf Theatre fires Gordon Edelstein after sex-harassment...

Until institutions hold themselves accountable for their employees actions, sexual harassment will continue unabated, Palm said. Its not acceptable to fire someone for a history of harassing behavior and then foist him on someone else, as seems to be the case here.

Palm likened the Save the Children situation to the sex scandal that enveloped the Catholic Church over abusive priests.

Relocation does not make the problem go away  it just goes somewhere else, Palm said.

Save the Children confirmed the Red Cross said nothing about Andersons past when the agency sought information about him and references.

At the time of his hiring in February 2013, Save the Childrens recruiter conducted interviews and background checks, as well as reference calls with his previous employer, The American Red Cross, Save the Children said.

We received only positive information about this candidate from senior executives at The American Red Cross and our recruiter had no indication there had ever been problems or concerns with this staff member at that organization, the agency said.

Disturbing allegations

The Red Cross said in a statement Thursday the agency is reviewing its policies, has already taken disciplinary action and apologized to Save the Children.

While we took correct and immediate action at the time, we acknowledge that subsequent actions fell short, the Red Cross said, referring to its failure to inform Save the Children about Anderson.

The laudatory language used in association with Mr. Andersons departure was inappropriate and regrettable, the Red Cross said. Moreover, we recently learned that a verbal reference given to Save the Children may also have contained similar language.

The Red Cross added as a result, we are taking appropriate disciplinary action, and we have apologized to Save the Children.

ProPublica said two women at the Red Cross came forward in September 2012 to accuse Anderson of inappropriate behavior.

One of those women, who worked under Anderson, cited disturbing emails he sent to her work account insisting they should have a romantic relationship. A Red Cross attorney subsequently acknowledged to her that investigators had found her account to have merit, ProPublica said.

The second woman, Eliza Paul, a program assistant who met Anderson at an after-work happy hour, lodged even more serious allegations.

She told Red Cross officials she had woken up naked in his bed without knowing how she had gotten there and had gone to the hospital for a rape kit exam, ProPublica reported.

ProPublic said Andersons lawyer declined to answer specific questions but said in a statement: Mr. Anderson has not engaged in any sexual misconduct.

Before being hired by Save the Children, Anderson had worked for the Red Cross for more than 15 years, leading the relief effort following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami and the half-billion-dollar response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake, ProPublica reported.

System break down

The Red Cross said that after learning of the allegations against Anderson in September 2012, the agency hired outside counsel to conduct an investigation, which concluded Andersons actions were in direct violation of Red Cross policies and principles.

The Red Cross added We informed Mr. Anderson that he needed to leave the Red Cross, and he resigned, effective November 2, 2012.

The Red Cross also noted we are re-evaluating our practices with these types of communications and, in the future, we are committed to greater due diligence. The American Red Cross has zero tolerance for sexual harassment and our hearts go out to anyone who has experienced it anywhere.

Palm said corporations and agencies must take responsibility for their actions both during a sexual harassment investigation and after the case is resolved.

As sexual harassment complaints continue to cascade, we need to begin to ask where, in the chain of command and responsibility, did the system break down? Palm said.

This gets at one of the main reasons women dont come forward sooner  too often, there is still an institutional environment in which they arent believed, or are blamed, or are written off as troublemakers, Palm said.HARTFORD - The state Supreme Court on Friday ordered the city of Bridgeport to hold a third primary for that citys North End council seat.

The states highest court agreed that Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis was within her right to throw out the results of two previous primaries after she ruled they were skewed by political corruption.

Citizens can expect and are entitled to integrity in the process and a fundamentally fair and honest election, and this, I regret to say, they did not get, the judge stated in overturning the results of the primary and ordering a new one.

The city had appealed her decision to overturn the second primary.

We conclude, consistent with the determination of the trial court, that a second special election is required. The case is therefore remanded to the trial court for any further proceedings that the trial court may deem appropriate not inconsistent with this order, the Supreme Court ruled.

For Peter Finch, who urged the justices to uphold Bellis decision on behalf of council candidate Robert Keeley, the courts decision was especially sweet. Not only was it his first argument before the states top court but his first major case since he became a lawyer less than a year ago. He is the son of former Bridgeport mayor Bill Finch.

This is awesome, he said of the Supreme Courts decision. This is one small step for democracy and a giant leap to restoring honesty to Bridgeport politics.

Bridgeport officials were less enthusiastic.

Dirty cheaters

City election officials were obviously reluctant to nullify the election results, because doing so disenfranchises the known will of the voters, said Deputy City Attorney John Bohannon. Although the rationale for the Supreme Courts decision is unknown at this point, the way it answered the reserved questions of law indicates that it identified requirements or prohibitions that are not clear in the plain text of our election statutes.

Robert Keeley, who lost the special primary Nov. 14 by 18 votes for the seat in the 133rd district against Democratic Party-endorsed candidate, Jeannette Herron, had asked Bellis to overturn the election results contending fraud by election officials. Testas bartender, Michael DeFilippo, was the top vote getter and automatically got in. Herron came in second in the primary followed by Keeley.

The two top vote getters in the primary become the Democratic candidates for the seat.

Our opponents are dirty cheaters, said Keeley, who has begun preparing for a third primary.

Bellis had previously thrown out the results of a first primary between Herron and Keeley which Herron won by one absentee ballot vote that mysteriously showed up during a recount.

During a hearing after the second primary, Police officer Paul Nikola testified he was ordered by Police Chief Perez to report to Testa at Testas pizza restaurant the day before the primary. Nikola said Testa introduced him to DeFilippo who then provided Nikola with addresses to go to pick up absentee ballots.

Nikola said he then drove around the citys North End in his police car picking up absentee ballots from those addresses, including from a mailbox.

Local lawyer Maximino Medina Jr., who had been appointed to monitor the primary by the judge, testified at the hearing that on the morning of the Nov. 14 primary, he went to the mail room at City Hall where some absentee ballots had been delivered. He said the supervisor of the mail room, Jack McDowell, told him he had brought the bundle of 15 ballots over from the post officer but 12 did not have post marks.

Medina also testified at the hearing that he went to Northbridge Health Care on Main Street where a mandated supervised absentee balloting was to take place and did not see any signs specifically about the primary vote. He said two members of the registrars office were in a community room at the center but were not approached by any residents.

Ballots without postmarks

Democratic Registrar of Voters Santa Ayala testified that voters at Northbridge refused to cast ballots.

Bellis stated that she did not believe the 12 ballots without postmarks came through the post office and she found that the registrar failed to take reasonable steps to deliver absentee ballot applications to the health care residents.

During a hearing Dec. 21, lawyers for the city of Bridgeport had asked the justices to answer four questions regarding the legality of Judge Bellis decision: if state law prohibits any person other than the elector from arranging for a designee to return an absentee ballot to the town clerk; did the judge err in rejecting the unpostmarked ballots; did the judge err in her Northbridge ruling and did the judge wrongfully apply the law in ruling there were substantial violations of law that left the reliability of the election in doubt.

In its one-page decision released shortly after 3 a.m. on Friday, the Supreme Court simply ruled Yes, to the first question, No, to the second, Yes, to the third and No, to the fourth question.Washington

Democrats used Tuesdays confirmation hearing of Frank Brogan, President Donald Trumps nominee for assistant secretary for elementary and secondary education, to lambast U.S. Secretary Betsy DeVos implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

DeVos, argued Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has been rubber-stamping ESSA plans, approving them even if they dont comply with provisions in the law to protect vulnerable subgroups of students and fix low-performing schools. (So far, the department has approved ESSA plans for 33 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.)

Now that the law is passed and beginning to be implemented, I am very concerned the Department of Education is approving state plans that do not comply with all of ESSAs federal guardrails, said Murray, the committees top-ranking Democrat.

But Sen. Lamar Alexander, D-Tenn., the committee chairman, is pleased with the way DeVos is implementing the law, which passed with big bipartisan support back in 2015.

I commend the work Secretary DeVos and her staff have already done in approving these plans, he said. She is charting new territoryapproving plans that give states dramatic new freedom to set goals and hold students accountable. And I believe she is following the lawappropriately balancing the laws flexibility and guardrails.

DeVos, Murray said, has agreed to meet with her and Alexander about ESSA implementation.

Murray ticked off a number of things in approved plans she finds problematic: The department, she said, has greenlighted plans that allow schools to get the highest rating (say, an A) in their states school rating system, even if subgroups of students such as minoirities and those with disabilities are falling behind. (Some examples of states where this is an issue in this report by the Education Trust .)

Some quick background: This is part of the law is complex and different people appear to have different interpretations. ESSA doesnt specifically say schools cant get an A if the performance of subgroups students is iffy. But the law does require states to base their ratings at least in part on subgroup performance on each indicator of the accountability system, and to flag schools where any subgroup of students struggle for improvement, or targeted support.

And Murray isnt happy that some of the approved plans use the same criteria for whats supposed to be two separate groups of schools singled out for extra help: schools where subgroups are consistently underperforming (a term states get to define) and chronically underperforming (which ESSA defines as a school where subgroups of students are doing as badly as the kids in the worst schools in the state). Delaware and Washington state both have this issue.

I believe in this law, and Im not going to stop raising these issues until the Department resolves them, Murray said.

Murray noted that DeVos hasnt appeared before the committee to testify on ESSA implementation. Thats a contrast, she said, to President Barack Obamas last education secretary, John B. King Jr., who testified twice during the first year of ESSA implementation. (This isnt the first time Murray has expressed concerns about the way DeVos is approaching ESSA .)

Other Democrats shared Murrays qualms.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., said that the department hasnt been consistent when it comes to the use of so-called super-subgroups, which combine groups like English-language learners, students in special education, and minority students into a larger group for accountability purposes. Civil rights advocates have said super-subgroups mask achievement gaps and are an ESSA no-no.

The departments feedback letters to states on their ESSA plans raised questions about super-subgroups. But states were able to get them into their approved plans, including Alexanders home state of Tennessee. The Volunteer State showed the department that more schools would be identified as needing extra help using super-subgroups than would be flagged otherwise.

Brogan didnt commit to outlawing super-subgroupsor anything else.

Instead he said, Im working under the absolute belief that the plans that have been approved were compliant with the law. Brogan added, however, that hed be able to gather more information about the ins and outs once he is confirmed. He isnt allowed to get in on things like plan approval as a nominee, he explained.

Brogans own background played second fiddle to the ESSA concerns.

Brogan has been a state chief, lieutenant governor, principal, teacher, and school superintendent. As Floridas state chief in the mid-to-late 1990s, Brogan championed higher academic standards . And he supported using tax dollars for private schools.

Brand-new Sen. Doug Jones, D-Ala., seized on Brogans support for vouchers, noting that in his state, private schools were formed to help white families get around segregation. Jones said he doesnt want to see schools like those getting federal money.

Brogan said that hes merely in favor of more choices for parents.

I have no interest in privatizing the public education system which serves obviously the lions share of children today, Brogan said.

Despite the fireworks on ESSA, Brogan appears headed for confirmation. One promising sign for him? He was introduced by Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida, a Democrat, who called him a friend.

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .A forthcoming proposal from President Donald Trump would create a path to citizenship for 1.8 million Dreamers who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, as well as provide billions in new funding for border security and other changes to the nations immigration system, the Associated Press reported Thursday.

The deal, outlined by White House officials with members of Congress, could shield from deportation those currently covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, as well as others who dont have official DACA protection but could qualify. About 250,000 school-age children have become eligible for DACA since President Barack Obama instituted the program in 2012, and about 9,000 educators are covered by DACA, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Overall, about 800,000 people benefit from DACA protections.

The AP said it was not immediately clear how the Trump proposal would shift the qualifications for DACA to include up to 1.8 million peoplenot all of those eligible for DACA have applied and received protections. Parents of Dreamers would not be allowed to be deemed lawful immigrants in Trumps proposal, and there would be other new restrictions on immigration, the AP reported.

In exchange for enshrining DACA protections into law, Trump, who has spoken in favor of building a wall along the U.S. border with Mexico, also wants $25 billion in new funding for border security.

DACA has been a fraught issue in U.S. schools , with many educators and students increasingly uncertain if they will be allowed to stay in the country. Theyve followed the back-and-forth debate in Washington over DACA with great interest and anxiety.

Last week, Senate Democrats forced a partial government shutdown by refusing to vote in sufficient numbers for a continuing resolution funding the federal government. Their stated intent was to force Congress to pass new protections for Dreamers. The government reopened on Monday after three days, and the continuing resolution approved by Congress lasts until Feb. 8, but Democratic leaders in the Senate have said that without a deal to protect DACA recipients , theyre prepared to force another partial shutdown.

Earlier this week when talking with reporters, Trump indicated a willingness to allow some illegal immigrants brought to the country when they were young to eventually become citizens. However, the president has also previously stated that he was not in favor of a path to citizenship for Dreamers.

Simultaneously, however, the Trump administration is seeking to overturn a federal judges recent ruling that blocked its move to overturn DACA. Trump has also backed restrictions to how family members of immigrants are dealt with by the nations immigration system, as well as the U.S. visa lottery program.

Trump announced last year that he planned to cancel DACA in early March , but has expressed a willingness to sign congressional legislation that enshrines DACA protections. At least one version of the Dream Act previously introduced by lawmakers would allow Dreamers to gain protections in part by obtaining a high school degree, among other avenues.

Photo: Maricruz Abarca, of Baltimore, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient who is originally from Mexico, cries during a demonstration with other supporters of the DACA program outside of the U.S. Capitol last month. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP)

Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 .A proposal in the West Virginia legislature would give local school districts more control over the books and materials they choose to purchaseand at least a handful of Democratic lawmakers fear that it might also allow some to skirt the teaching of topics such as evolution.

The Charleston News Gazette reports that, under current practice, the state convenes a committee of teachers and content experts, and then figures out what percentage of standards each textbook meets. It puts those that meet 80 percent of the criteria on an approved list from which districts must choose their primary materials.

The bill would keep this system in place, but also allow districts to conduct a similar review on their own for materials not on the list. (Currently, districts have to seek waivers from the state to go off list.)

Some Democratic lawmakers fear that they would use the 80-percent-of-standards-met rule, which is written into the proposal, as a way of avoiding topics like evolution, the newspaper reports, especially because the local school boards are elected, with three members serving as a majority.

The proposals sponsor, Paul Espinosa, a Republican, defended the proposal in an interview, saying the change would merely allow districts to get materials into students hands faster.

The testimony we heard is that the waiver process can take up to 18 months to get approved, he said. So that really was the primary driver behind this. It will really be up to local school districts to decide if this is something they really want to take on.

In remarks on the house floor reported by the Charleston News Gazette, Espinosa noted that the states existing process could already, in theory, permit books that didnt cover evolution to win approval. He urged lawmakers to trust local officials judgment.

State officials also said that, even when books dont fully cover the content standards, educators are by law required to make sure they teach them all.

This isnt the first time that West Virginia has kicked up controversy over curriculum. A few years back, it softened some of the language on climate change in the Next Generation Science Standards, which are in use in about 18 states.

The bill cleared the West Virginia house and is awaiting action in its senate.

Related stories:

For news on standards, curriculum, and testing,

And sign up here to get alerts in your email inbox when stories are published on Curriculum Matters.Film-maker Gordon Buchanan is interviewing candidates to take over his role as cameraman. Hi, he greets the first hopeful. What are your qualifications? Youre a meerkat  good. Are you old enough? No! Get out.

Unoffended, the applicant scampers off. The next arrival is more suitable: his name is Fat Boy, and hes hyperactive even by meerkat standards.

Gordon wants to slip a tiny collar around Fat Boys neck, to film life in Africas Kalahari desert as seen by its most lovable residents. These little creatures are wild, though they are accustomed to the scientists studying them.

That doesnt mean Fat Boy will sit still. Technician Chris Watts, who has developed the miniature video lens, tries repeatedly to attach the camera. Every time, Fat Boy stands still until the last instant and then twitches away.

Finally, he allows Chris to click the collar into place. Gordon watches with mixed feelings. As a cameraman, he murmurs, Im giving my job to a completely different species. Im trusting in technology  and a meerkat.

Gordon Buchanan (pictured) placed miniature cameras on a selection of animals including meerkats, cheetas and baboons for his new documentary, Animals With Cameras

This is the revolutionary premise of his latest documentary, Animals With Cameras. After living alongside gorillas and wolves, letting them learn to trust him, this innovative naturalist has devised a way to obtain more intimate footage.

Using collars, harnesses and extra-strong waterproof glue, he attaches state-of-the-art recording devices to nine different species, including chimps, devil rays and penguins, in a three-part BBC1 series.

I want to see the world from an animals point of view, he says. They can take us places that a cameraman like me cannot go, and show us sides of their lives we have never seen before.

The show lives up to its extraordinary promise immediately, as Fat Boy gets into a playfight with his cousin. Dust flies as the two mischievous meerkats pummel each other, and the collar-mounted camera makes viewers feel as if were right in the middle of the scuffle.

Fat Boys auntie, Eve, is better behaved. After she sits meekly for her collarcam, she digs up a juicy grub and carries it in her mouth to one of the babies. Later she heads underground to see her newborns.

And this is where the film becomes really extraordinary. Despite weighing barely more than an ounce, the camera has an infrared lens that can see in the lightless burrow.

As Eve dives down one of the 20 boltholes into the maze of tunnels hundreds of yards long, we can see her paws deftly avoiding dozens of dung beetles. The meerkats tolerate them because the insects keep the place clean.

The cameras captured the Kalahari meerkats (pictured) both outside and inside their burrow

A mother meerkat catches her snuggling newborns on camera in a tunnel deep underground

Unlike the camera, Eve cannot see in the dark, instead using her whiskers and sense of smell to navigate. The camera battery lasts two hours, but the journey through the tunnels takes so long that the BBC team had to programme a delay, so it wouldnt start filming until the animal was snuggled up with her babies, deep underground.

The easiest animal to fit with a camera was also the most difficult to retrieve it from. Fur seals off the southern coast of Australia, on Kanowna island, were happy to lie still while Gordon and a local scientist used a special glue that wouldnt harm the seals to fasten the video box to their backs.

But fur seals spend up to 80 per cent of their lives in water so when they come ashore, they might be on a completely different part of the island. They could also dislodge the cameras by knocking them on rocks and if their fur moulted, the cameras would drop off.

WILD! Magellanic penguins, on the coast of Patagonia, love anchovies. But so do seagulls. A penguincam shows a gull swooping down and snatching an anchovy right out of a penguins beak. Advertisement

It was a huge worry, Gordon admits. If we couldnt retrieve the cameras then we didnt have any footage  or a show! One seal did bring back her camera, and the pictures she captured were remarkable enough to rewrite much of what was known of fur seal behaviour.

Weve learned more from two hours of underwater filming than we have from years of dive recorders, one scientist enthused. Were seeing what they see.

The shots solved a major mystery: how they avoid their main predator, the great white shark. The killer fish circle Kanowna constantly, looking for prey, and sometimes seals return with bite marks in their flanks, tokens of a narrow escape. But mostly the sharks go hungry, which puzzled scientists.

When the camera-seal hits the water, the answer is revealed. She takes evasive action by diving to the seabed. Great whites like to ambush prey from below, so seals on the ocean floor are safer. Fur seals can hold their breath for eight minutes and, when the shows star does surface briefly for a gulp of air, the picture shows her constantly rolling as she looks for sharks in all directions.

The BBC team had to programme a delay into the cameras in order to film the meerkats

The most dramatic finding comes from collarcams on baboons at a farm in South Africa. The greedy monkeys have been raiding the butternut squash harvest and the destruction caused in a single night is extraordinary. Before long, the harvest is gone and the farm out of business. Its like being invaded by ninjas, says scientist Leah Findlay.

Farmers have tried planting walls of thorn trees to keep baboons out, scattering the ground with rubber snakes, erecting electric fences and employing guards. Nothing works. But for a few weeks every year the baboons disappear. With Leahs help, Gordon traps half a dozen baboons with butternut bait and a rusty cage. The animals are tranquilised and fitted with cameras.

The footage reveals a surprise. Once a year baboons gorge on the fruit of the lala palm. They enjoy it so much that they scoff every morsel. If you cant beat em, bribe em. After seeing the footage, the farmers plant acres of lala palms. Next year, the baboons will stuff their faces on their favourite fruit, and leave the harvest in peace.

WILD! Baboons sleep in trees to protect themselves from predators. But a branch is also a fine spot for sunbathing... so every baboon morning begins with a session soaking up the sun. Advertisement

Getting a good meal isnt so simple for Odyssey, Shylo and Wonder, cheetah orphans on a reserve in Namibia. Theyve been hand-reared by conservationist Marlice van Vuuren since their mother was killed when they were a day old. Now the cats are learning to hunt.

Using a strap made on a 3D printer, specially tailored to the shape of a cheetahs head, Gordon mounts cameras between the ears of Odyssey and his sister Wonder. The footage reveals the trios problem  they are too ambitious. On their first filmed hunt, the three cats seek out a herd of gemsbok, an antelope with long and lethal horns. Boldly, they stalk and chase a calf. At first the gemsbok scatter. But within seconds the antelope charge the predators. All that Odyssey and his sisters can do is make a run for it. Very undignified...

For Gordon, the most exciting challenge came in the mid-Atlantic Azores islands, where scientists study devil rays  a fish that looks like a bat, yet is related to the shark. The team fitted trackers by freediving, without scuba tanks, down to the rays on the seabed. To know theyd take our cameras to places we couldnt go  it opened up a world for us, says Gordon. As we bobbed about on the surface in a yacht, the rays showed us their world.

The most dramatic finding came from collarcams on baboons (pictured) in South Africa

The first glimpse is like a CGI film shot. The rays swim in formation, never overtaking or jostling, as perfectly spaced as jets in an air display. Many of the females are pregnant. Rays give birth to live pups after a year-long gestation, and several of the mothers-to-be are close. The raycam picks up something never captured before: a baby wriggles inside its mother, making her skin ripple.

The shoal goes into a steep dive, racing towards the ocean bed more than half a mile below. They are hunting plankton, but the water is so cold that they can only stay for a few minutes. The rays are soon heading for the surface, to sunbathe. And here the camera records another unknown behaviour. When a devil ray is chilly... it shivers!

Gordons favourite animals were the chimps. At a sanctuary in Cameroon, he met four-year-old orphan Kim Bang. She was immediately interested in Gordons gadgets. Great apes are as fascinated by us as we are by them, he says. Kim Bang quickly understood Gordon wanted her to wear a camera, and she liked looking at her reflection in the lens. But when she tired of carrying it, she pulled it to pieces. Chimps are up to four times stronger than humans and even the biggest rivets couldnt withstand her powerful fingers.

Gordon visited a sanctuary in Cameroon to capture the lives of Kim Bang and other chimps

Chimp Kim Bang (pictured) was wary of wearing the camera until she realised it was harmless

The camera captured known behaviours, such as nest-building, from the animals viewpoint. Some activities, such as teeth-brushing, feel very human  even if chimps use a stick, not a toothbrush. But one experiment was new. Brought up in the safety of a reserve, Kim Bang had never seen a snake before. But to live in the wild, she has to learn how to avoid them. So the scientists hid a rubber snake in a tree and waited for her to discover it.

Kim Bang knew instinctively to be wary. Skirting it carefully, she sounded the alarm and then looked more closely. The chimpcam revealed she never took her attention off it for a moment... until she realised it was a harmless toy. Kim Bang didnt know it, but she had just taken a giant leap towards the day she can live free in the forest.

Animals With Cameras starts on Thursday 1 February at 8pm on BBC1.Every writer dreams of winning a six-figure book deal - and that's just what Sarah J. Harris has achieved with her first-ever adult fiction book.

Her psychological thriller, entitled The Colour of Bee Larkhams Murder, was snapped up by publishers within days, with film producers already looking to adapt it for the big screen.

The novel tells the story of a 13-year-old boy called Jasper who has synaesthesia, a condition that means he sees sounds as colours.

The teenager, who also suffers from face blindness, believes he is responsible for his neighbour's murder after 'seeing' the colour of her screams.

Here Londoner Sarah, who is signed by the same agency as The Girl On The Train author Paula Hawkins, tells FEMAIL how the idea for the story came to her after waking from a nightmare...

Author Sarah Harris has landed a six-figure book deal for her first adult fiction book entitled The Colour of Bee Larkhams Murder

'I had a dream about a boy running across the road, screaming, absolutely terrified,' said Sarah, 46.

'When I woke up I was wondering what he could have been so scared by. I wondered if it could have been the colour of something, the colour of murder screams.'

The mother-of-two says she is 'still pinching herself' following the buzz surrounding the novel, which is due to be released in May 2018.

After significant interest from a number of publishers, HarperCollins snapped up the book in the UK for an undisclosed six-figure sum, while Touchstone in the US also paid six figures for the book.

Speaking about landing her dream book deal, she said: 'It's wonderful. I'm still pinching myself - it's every writer's dream.

The psychological thriller tells the story of a 13-year-old boy called Jasper who has synaesthesia, a condition that means he sees sounds as colours

'My agent put it out, and we got interest immediately really as soon as it landed, which is unusual.'

Sarah, who is also a freelance journalist, said she was initially inspired after writing an article about synaesthesia, as well as becoming interested in face blindness, or prosopagnosia.

'I've found it a very fascinating world to delve into,' she said. 'I thought face blindness was a very good premise for a novel, because if you can't recognise people, how do you know whether you can trust them? For children it's a very frightening experience.

'My character can't distinguish between different people's faces, so he uses the colours of their voices to help recognise people.'

Sarah says she is 'still pinching herself' following the buzz around the novel, which has been praised by people who have synaesthesia

What is synaesthesia? Synaesthesia is a condition that causes people to experience different senses at the same time. For example, the most common type of synaesthesia, colour-graphemic, causes those with the condition to associate words and numbers with colours. Across the world, one in every 5,000 people have synaesthesia, according to Boston University. James Wannerton, the president of UK Synaesthesia Association explained: 'Synaesthesia is caused by cross activation between two normally separate areas of the brain. 'An individual with synaesthesia has extra neural connections linking these separate areas. 'The stimulation of one sense causes an involuntary reaction in one or more of the other senses. 'Someone with synaesthesia may for example, hear colour or see sound.' Advertisement

The novel, which has been compared to Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, has already won praise from people who have synaesthesia.

'Somebody who has [the condition] said it was the most realistic portrayal of synaesthesia that they've read,' Sarah revealed.

The author also hopes that her novel raises more awareness of people who have synaesthesia - a condition suffered by celebrities including Pharrell Williams and Kanye West - and face blindness.

'I think it's great if there's more awareness that not everyone sees the world in the same away,' she said.

'If teachers are more aware about synaesthesia in schools, they can help utilise that as synaesthetes often have very good memories.

The mother-of-two says she hopes the novel will raise awareness about both synaesthesia and face blindness

'If they're able to minimise for a child some background noise, if they find it quite distracting, it helps.

'It's the same for face blindness, there's not much awareness in schools. It can be very difficult for children [with the condition] because everyone's wearing the same uniform, so there are not many markers to help them identify people.'

Sarah, who has previously written young adult novels under the nom de plume Sarah Sky, is already working on a second novel.

Explaining how she balances writing with her journalism work and raising two young sons, she said: 'I just try to find those snatches of time to write. I work as soon as I drop the children off at school, and often work late at night or early in the mornings.

'I also carry a notebook with me so if something comes to me I can scribble it down.'

Asked what her next novel will be about, Sarah gave little away. 'It's in the aftermath of a terrible accident,' she said. 'That's all I can really say.'

The Colour of Bee Larkhams Murder by Sarah J. Harris (HarperFiction, 12.99) is out May 3If internet service providers in New York and Montana want state contracts, they will have to uphold net neutrality for consumersincluding schoolssay both states governors.

Andrew Cuomo of New York on Wednesday issued an executive order making that requirement of ISPs, two days after fellow Democat Steve Bullock of Montana signed a similar policy .

Whether those executive actions hold up legally remains to be seen.

An intensely debated order issued last month by the Federal Communications Commission, which effectively dismantled net neutrality , included language pre-empting actions by state and local jurisidictions that contradict the federal policies.

Net neutrality is the principle that internet traffic should not be throttled or blocked from various sources, and that ISPs should not engage in paid prioritization of content from different sources or create fast or slow lanes for that content.

During the Obama admnistration, Democrats on the FCC approved a policy designed to protect net neutrality.

But in December, a Republican-led majority on the commission overturned that order, arguing that it was regulatory overkill that stymies business innovation.

In an interview with Education Week Wednesday, Democratic FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel expressed support for the actions by the two governors, as well as related attempts by state legislators and members of Congress to challenge the FCCs recent action.

Im glad to see states and governors and others pick up the pieces and try to fix what I think the FCC broke, Rosenworcel said. The momentum they are creating is really important.

Net Neutrality and Schools

Some school and library officials worry that the new FCC policy will impede the flow of online content to K-12 systems. Others have worried that it could hurt smaller businesses with few resources that rely on low-cost delivery of internet content to schools.

In their executive orders, both Cuomo and Bullock specifically cite a desire to protect school content as one of the justifications for their executive orders.

New York students rely on a free and open internet to learn and access information far beyond their physical reach, Cuomos order says.

Bullocks order says that his states educational institutions rely on net neutrality to provide Montanans with world-class educational opportunities.

New Yorks order says that the order applies to not only public departments over which Cuomo has authority, but also public-benefit corporations, public authorities, and commisions, for which the governor makes appointments.

The state of Montana does business with all the major wired carriers that operate in Montana, such as CenturyLink, said Ronja Abel, communications director for Gov. Bullock, in an e-mail. It also does business with most of the wireless carriers who work in the state, such as AT&T and Verizon.

The cumulative value of the states contract with ISPs is about $50 million, she said.

Most K-12 schools rely on the same ISPs that the state does, such as Charter Spectrum and CenturyLink, Abel added. So the executive order has the effect of compelling those carriers to abide by net neutrality rules, she said, which is ultimately a good thing for the K-12 community.

State resistance to the FCCs order is playing out on several fronts. Lawmakers in a number of states have introduced legislation seeking to preserve net neutrality, and last week, attorneys general from more than 20 states went to federal court to try to block the FCCs recent order.

Rosenworcel said Wednesday she believes most ISPs will not change their policies in the short term in ways that disrupt schools online access.

But in the longer term, ISP behavior is something to watch closely, she said.

Photo: Montana Governor Steve Bullock speaks before a U.S. Senate committee in September, 2017. --Jose Luis Magana/AP-FileThe Body Shop enlisted a group of dogs to protest in front of the United Nations' headquarters, in an arresting bid to ban animal testing in the cosmetics industry.

Dogs of various breeds could be seen yesterday outside of the UN in New York City, with signs reading 'ban animal testing' around their necks.

The company has called on the UN to end animal testing in cosmetics worldwide, arguing that the practice harms up to 500,000 animals each year.

Message: The Body Shop enlisted a group of dogs to protest in front of the United Nations' headquarters, in an arresting bid to ban animal testing in the cosmetics industry

Demonstration: Dogs of various breeds could be seen yesterday outside of the UN in New York City, with signs reading 'ban animal testing' around their necks

Prime spot: The demonstration saw the group of dogs pose in front of the UN's iconic building in Manhattan, with the location's iconic flags behind them

Rules: With yesterday's protest, both organizations hoped to emphasize the fact that 80 per cent of countries around the globe do not have laws to ban cosmetic animal tests

Cruelty Free International, an advocacy group that campaigns against animal experiments, has partnered with the brand to launch a petition, which can currently be signed online globally.

The Body Shop and Cruetly Free International have met with UN representatives as part of the campaign, called Forever Against Animal Testing.

With yesterday's protest, both organizations hoped to emphasize the fact that 80 per cent of countries around the globe do not have laws to ban cosmetic animal tests.

The demonstration saw the group of dogs pose in front of the UN's iconic building in Manhattan, with the location's iconic flags behind them.

Instagram pet photographer Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as The Dogist, who has a whopping three million followers on the platform, came to support the protest.

Also present was Louboutina, a dog that has become an online sensation for distributing hugs around the city and is now followed by 197,000 people on Instagram.

Campaign: The Body Shop has called on the UN to end animal testing in cosmetics worldwide, arguing that the practice harms up to 500,000 animals each year

Duo: Also present was Louboutina, a dog that has become an online sensation for distributing hugs around the city (she is pictured with her owner, Cesar Fernandez-Chavez)

Group: Instagram pet photographer Elias Weiss Friedman, also known as The Dogist, who has a whopping three million followers on the platform, came to support the protest

DNA: Created in 1976 by British businesswoman Anita Roddick, The Body Shop has long stood against animal testing in the cosmetics industry

A sense of duty: The group of dogs solemnly posed with their signs during the protest

Louboutina's owner, Cesar Fernandez-Chavez, joined as well and donned one of the campaign's sweatshirt that reads: 'I am forever against animal testing.'

Created in 1976 by British businesswoman Anita Roddick, The Body Shop has long stood against animal testing in the cosmetics industry.

The brand suffered accusations of hypocrisy when it was sold to L'Oreal in 2006, because of the latter's stance on animal testing.

L'Oreal has said it stopped testing its products on animals in 1989. However, the brand sells products in China, where authorities require animal tests to be conducted for certain products.

In recent years, L'Oreal has worked to ensure some of its products made and sold in China are no longer tested on animals, but the fact that it still trades with China currently prevents the company from being part of PETA's cruelty-free list.

In September last year, the French cosmetic group sold The Body Shop to Brazilian make-up company Natura.Gwyneth Montenegro, 39, became an escort at just 21 years old after a horrific gang rape that completely changed the course of her life.

The former devout christian spent 12 years in the industry - her $1,000-an-hour job as an elite escort affording her designer clothes, expensive cars and first class trips around the world.

But it is this 'glamorous' portrayal of the sex industry that Ms Montenegro, from Melbourne, has taken serious issue with after revealing that girls as young as 12 have approached her for advice on becoming an escort.

Horrified by the ever-increasing amount of women and girls contacting her after hearing stories about the 'high-flying' career path, Ms Montenegro has shed light on the not-so-glamorous side of the industry and called for disclaimers on 'stories involving high end escorts'.

Gwyneth Montenegro, 39, became an escort at just 21 years old after a horrific gang rape that completely changed the course of her life

'It seems that with increasing frequency I find myself reading feature articles about how an "elite" escort has earned $1,000 per hour, $2,000 per hour or even up to $5,000 per hour selling her body for sex,' Ms Montenegro told Daily Mail Australia.

'These articles usually go on to expand upon their glamourous lives, the huge money they make, the joys of travelling the world and their outlandish sex lives.

'I've had girls as young as twelve, while they are still at school, reach out to me and ask for advice on how to become an elite escort. Twelve! Still in school, planning a life of prostitution as soon as they reach legal age.

'What parent wants their twelve-year-old daughter pondering such a thing? When and how did this become legitimate?'

The former devout christian spent 12 years in the industry - her $1,000-an-hour job as an elite escort affording her designer clothes, expensive cars and first class trips around the world

Ms Montenegro said that the challenge is that these impressionable girls are reading articles about these lifestyles and are setting out to replicate it.

'Selling their body for sex seems a fair trade-off for a lifestyle of privilege. The problem is that the illusion shown within the media rarely matches the reality of working within prostitution,' she said.

Ms Montenegro said that while is possible to make 'enormous' money within prostitution, it is a 'trade off'.

'It takes a very strong minded person to do it and leave the industry unaffected. You are working in the underbelly of society and you are frequently doing so in an unsafe environment,' Ms Montenegro said.

'Then you have the added societal stigma - "you're a w***e, that's all you'll ever be good for, a play thing for men". Id never felt so removed from society than when I was a practicing escort.'

But it is this 'glamorous' portrayal of the sex industry that Ms Montenegro has taken serious issue with after revealing that girls as young as 12 have approached her for advice on becoming an escort

Sample disclaimer Ms Montenegro would like to see implemented This article discusses topics related to prostitution. Participation within the prostitution industry can be dangerous and in some cases illegal. Involvement should not be considered without appropriate research. Indications of earnings may not be indicative of the reality of all participants. Advertisement

'Those who make it to the "elite" level are very much in the minority. What you dont read in print is that an "elite" escort is not trading at that level entirely because shes stunningly beautiful.

'Sure, looks are a huge part of it, but you dont make that kind of money on looks alone. Frequently, you make that kind of money by offering services that regular escorts wont offer. Effectively "elite" or "high class" often means willing to push the boundaries, to consider things that much of society would deem unsafe.'

Ms Montenegro traded at the elite end of the industry 'for a while' and charged $1,000 an hour, sometimes more.

'I was young and I was foolish. Here I was thinking I was living an empowered life. I was taking risks with my health. I was taking risks with my safety. I was taking risks with my future. And this is exactly what those young girls fantasising about being an elite escort are setting themselves up for. They have absolutely no idea,' she said.

'Ive granted sexual services to men for money. Ive flown as a commercial pilot (left). I know which made me feel more empowered and it certainly wasnt prostitution,' she said

Ms Montenegro said that while the money was 'empowering', she personally didn't feel as though her career as an escort was.

'Ive granted sexual services to men for money. Ive flown as a commercial pilot. I know which made me feel more empowered and it certainly wasnt prostitution,' she said.

'Ultimately, who cares if you perceive it as lucrative, liberating and empowering. Most of the time you are providing sexual services to other peoples husbands. If youve got the slightest hint of a conscience, you arent going to be feeling too good about that.

'For me, the only thing I found empowering about the trade was the money, and even then I spent a huge amount of money trying to hide what I felt about myself.'

Prior to her work as an Intimacy Behaviourist, Ms Montenegro worked in both legalised brothels and in the private market.

Ms Montenegro says she absolutely believes the sex industry has a right to exist and should be legalised, taxed and regulated - but simply stresses that is not for everyone

'All are rigorous. Thats why I shared my numbers. 10,091 men. I wanted my story to be a reality check. You dont make the big dollars by simply dressing in your nicest clothes, climbing into bed and sleeping with a handful of men,' Ms Montenegro said.

'To operate as a successful "high end" or "elite" escort you'll frequently find yourself in a position in which youll need to consider offering services and taking risks that a legalised brothel would undoubtedly shun.

'Having the looks helps, but its certainly not everything. Theres girls at half of the price of "the elite" who are model material, the difference is more than skin deep.

'Sure, you can earn the big bucks but, at what price? What are you prepared to sacrifice?'

Ms Montenegro says she absolutely believes the sex industry has a right to exist and should be legalised, taxed and regulated - but simply stresses that is not for everyone.

'It has its fair share of casualties. Its tough, its competitive and since you tend to operate in the underbelly of society it can be very isolating and lonely. This leaves a working prostitute vulnerable on many levels,' she said.

Ms Montenegro is not trying to discourage women from entering the industry. Instead she wants women and girls to understand what they could potentially be signing up for

'Thats why I wrote The Secret Taboo  The Ultimate Insiders Guide to Being a Financially Successful Escort. Its designed to be a reality check. To examine what a prospective entrant to the trade is going to face.

'Its not for me to persuade a person whether to enter the trade or not, but if they were to, I want them to go in with their eyes open, make their money, and get out fast.'

Ms Montenegro is not trying to discourage women from entering the industry. Instead she wants women and girls to understand what they could potentially be signing up for.

This is why she has called for the wide use of disclaimers.

'Generally we cant talk about issues about mental health or issues that may evoke a mental health issue without a disclaimer below. Society expects that, as a responsible practice,' she said.

Ms Montenegro wants less focus on how much money a girl can make by selling sex

'We have similar rules governing how we communicate issues involving the smoking of cigarettes and otherwise.

'My question is, with that in mind Why does society consider it okay to promote participation in a trade that is largely dangerous, risks the health of the population and has a reputation for destroying lives?'

Ms Montenegro wants less focus on how much money a girl can make by selling sex.

'And if there must be, insert a disclaimer that warns of the dangers of pursuing such a lifestyle,' she said.

'Surely society would deem it inappropriate that a 12-year-old girl, with the world at her fingertips is contemplating prostituting herself as a more desirable career choice than other mainstream options?

'And where do these ideas come from? I believe that frequently they come from admiring the lives of high class escorts in various forms of media. And who can blame them - high fashion, money, travel and sex can be alluring.'

She now devotes her time to issues regarding female empowerment and particularly focusing on women achieving their dreams and goals despite adversity

Ms Montenegro first made headlines in 2014 when she revealed her 'secret past'.

She entered into the industry after a traumatic past which saw her drugged, taken away and gang raped leaving her feeling 'unworthy' and 'unwanted by society'.

She became a fully-licensed commercial pilot at the age of 29 and found a new job doing scenic tours.

But Ms Montenegro fell back into the sex industry once more when she was diagnosed with kidney failure and could no longer get medical approval to keep her licence.

She now devotes her time to issues regarding female empowerment and particularly focusing on women achieving their dreams and goals despite adversity.

She also pioneered the field of Intimacy Behaviorism, is a Master Neuro Linguistic Programming practitioner and developed her own methodologies involving the mind's influence on intimacy; Intimacy Programming and Intimate Profiling.

Sex industry laws across Australia can be found on Scarlet Alliance.

More information can also be found on the AIC regarding employment practices, health and safety issues and legal frameworks.

SWOP is Australias largest and longest established community-based, peer education sex worker organisation focused on HIV, STI and hepatitis C prevention, education and health promotion for sex workers in NSW.Japanese men are lining up for the chance to marry a former porn star, with a price tag of $4,000.

But while there's everything from a flowing white gown and romantic ceremony to a kiss at the altar, the entire wedding is actually fake.

It's a new role for Asuka Hoshino, who left the adult film industry in 2014 after three years.

Now Asuka, 31, is giving men a chance to live out a very different kind of fantasy.

Former porn star Asuka Hoshino, 31, is letting men marry her in a fake wedding ceremony that costs $4,000

The package promises a complete wedding experience that includes a dress and tux, hairdressers, romantic lighting, flowers, and a full-blown ceremony

With the help of wedding company Ambitious, Asuka is offering up packages for fans who have dreamed of being with her in the real world.

The package promises a complete wedding experience that includes a dress and tux, hairdressers, romantic lighting, flowers, and a full-blown ceremony.

Asuka has promised to meet with each groom three weeks beforehand so that they can plan their dream wedding together.

On the big day, there will be a wedding rehearsal to ensure everything is perfect and then the ceremony will begin.

Asuka has promised to meet with each groom three weeks beforehand so that they can plan their dream wedding together

On the big day, there will be a wedding rehearsal to ensure everything is perfect and then the ceremony will begin - ending with a kiss at the altar

Asuka will walk down the aisle with her groom and they will be able to exchange rings - but only if he has provided them himself.

Grooms will be able to take home the marriage certificate - which will not be legally recognised

The couple will then sign a marriage certificate and seal the deal with a kiss, before taking wedding pictures with a professional photographer.

Grooms will be able to take home the marriage certificate - which will not be legally recognised - as a souvenir, as well as six of the professional photos.

The entire ceremony lasts up to two and half hours long and will take place in Odaiba, a large artificial island in Tokyo.

While the wedding may be fake, it appears Asuka hopes to make it feel as authentic as possible.

'Come enjoy your real wedding with me and be happy together,' she promises on the Ambitious website.

A beautiful wedding is no doubt a much-needed fantasy for Asuka, who revealed that she was coerced into joining the adult film industry.

Asuka had appeared in a number of movies after earning a finalist spot in a major magazine contest in 2004.

The entire ceremony with Asuka lasts up to two and half hours long and will take place in Odaiba, a large artificial island in Tokyo

But a big talent agency introduced her to a man that eventually entangled her with the porn industry, she told the Tokyo Reporter.

In her early twenties at the time, Asuka said she was 'easily brainwashed'.

After struggling with depression, panic attacks, and a suicide attempt, Asuka was finally able to leave the industry for good after three years.

'I still think it would be hard for me to think about getting married or having children,' she told the site.James Bond is part of British cinematic history, with 26 films spanning the past 56 years - but some millennials watching 007's early outings for the first time are taking issue with the movies' 'inappropriate' content.

Some viewers too young to witness past Bonds like Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton - and even Pierce Brosnan - in action at the cinema have expressed their shock at the 'sexist' and 'racist' contents of the films in a modern context.

The older Bond movies may have stood the test of time in the eyes of true devotees of Ian Fleming's hero - but those people coming to the franchise with fresh eyes say the spy's sexually aggressive actions are unacceptable.

In particular, Sean Connery's James Bond - the Scottish actor took the title role in seven Bond flicks between 1962 and 1983 - has been described variously as a 'sexist wife beater', a 'scumbag', and a 'rapist' by modern viewers.

It comes after the arrival of seminal '90s sitcom on Friends on Netflix sparked an online outcry among 20-somethings seeing the episodes for the first time, who branded it 'transphobic', 'homophobic', and 'sexist'.

Scroll down for video

Sean Connery (seen with Daniela Bianchi in a scene from From Russia With Love) starred as James Bond in seven movies between 1962-1983 - but his 'sexually aggressive' spy has failed to impress millennial viewers

The late Roger Moore took a turn as 007 in six movies between 1973-1985, but the A View to Kill and The Man With The Golden Gun have been blasted as 'sexist' and 'racist'

Viewers of 2012's Skyfall were not impressed with the way Daniel Craig's Bond sneaked into a shower naked to seduce his Bond girl, played by Berenice Marlohe

Following the reaction towards the return of Friends on Netflix, many people have gone on to watch old movies like James Bond and been shocked at the sexist tone in the current climate

It's become a familiar Bond trope to feature a woman in as little clothing as possible as a love interest for 007, but amid a global conversation around consent triggered by the Weinstein scandal, Connery's version of the character has come under fire for his 'aggressive' seduction technique.

One unimpressed person said on Twitter: 'Sean Connery's James Bond is a flat out rapist.'

While another asked: 'Is old school James Bond a rapist? Sean Connery is pretty damn aggressive.'

RACISM

The Man With The Golden Gun, which starred Roger Moore and hit theatres in 1974, has also been described as racist by viewers who pointed to remarks made by the sheriff character, played by J.W. Pepper.

The officer from America's deep south is seen on holiday in Thailand in the movie, where he calls people in Bangkok 'little brown pointy heads'.

J.W Pepper's sheriff in The Man With The Golden Gun was branded racist due to his comments while on holiday in Thailand in the movie

Moore as the spy in The Man With The Golden Gun which has been lauded by some millennials watching it for the first time as racist

First-time viewers believe that James Bond was sexually aggressive, labelling him a rapistand a 'sexist wife beater'

SEXISM

The 1985 film A View to Kill, another outing for Moore, has also attracted accusations of sexism.

Even more modern installments featuring Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig have not escaped criticism - although some at least feature acknowledgements of Bond's flaws.

Like Dame Judi Dench's classic in 1995's GoldenEye, in which she dismisses the spy as a 'sexist, misogynist dinosaur - a relic of the Cold War'.

Even the latest Bond movies haven't escaped criticism, as 2012's Skyfall Bond girl Severine, played by Berenice Marlohe, was seduced by Daniel Craig's spy before being brutally killed

Some have found it difficult to move past the treatment of Severine in Skyfall, saying that she was made to be a 'disposable object'

As for Daniel Craig, In 2012's Skyfall his Bond sneaks into the shower of former sex slave Severine, played by Berenice Marlohe, and has his way with her with zero conversation.

She is then killed in the next scene, prompting one viewer to tweet: 'At least once a week I think about the abominable treatment of Severine in Skyfall.

'She was honestly one of the most traumatised and bravest characters and they made a huge show of throwing her life away and she was never mentioned again.

'Then the next scene they want me to feel bad for the guy who shot her? Hard pass.'British welly brand Hunter has been slammed by customers for boots that are peeling and splitting, with thousands claiming they have struggled to get a refund.

Shoppers have raised questions over the quality of the high-end boots - which cost upwards of 85 - after the matte finish of their wellies began peeling off.

Floods of customers say they are still waiting to get through to its customer services team, months after a glitch on the Hunter website occurred in November, which left them unable to get a refund.

Shoppers have branded the customer service at the company 'dreadful' - despite the brand having a royal warrant and being a favourite of celebrities such as Kate Moss and Alexa Chung.

The company - which has its headquarters in Edinburgh - outsourced production to Asia in 2008, with the famous boots now believed to be predominantly made in China.

Hunter has apologised for the technical fault and insists it has maintained the same 'values, production process and quality', despite production moving elsewhere.

British brand Hunter has been slammed for its 'dreadful' customer service after shoppers struggled to get a refund due to a technical glitch. Some have complained that their wellies have started peeling (pictured)

Hunter has been hit with Twitter complaints from buyers unable to get through to its customer service team.

Aristy Zorbas commented: 'Very disappointed with your view on faulty items. Shame on you Hunters for not believing in your brand and not wanting to make things right.'

Tracy Glaser added:'@HunterBoots very disappointed in your customer service and on-line ordering. poorcustomerservice 25minutesonhold.'

Meanwhile, Katheryn Gordon wrote: 'Do you respond to anyone? You'd think with the amount of continuous complaints...you might step up your customer service game #theworst.'

Some customers have reported that the matte finish was peeling off her boots (pictured)

One person complained that there were holes in her boots eight months after purchase

Hunter boots have become a British staple after being spotted on countless celebrities.

Princess Diana wore Hunter Originals in her pre-makeover engagement photos to Prince Charles, while Meghan Markle was seen running errands in them in rainy London last year.

The company had been struggling with cash flow problems in 2006, due to high production costs, but the brand saw a resurgence in popularity in 2007, with sales up 85 per cent.

The following year, Hunter made the decision to relocate its production to Asia, with its boots now predominantly believed to be made in China.

Its website states that its products are made by supplier factories located in China, India, Indonesia, Italy, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam, as well as the UK.

The resurgence of the brand over the past decade is thought to be thanks to Hunter boots being worn by countless celebrities, who have been spotted wearing them to wade through the mud at music festivals such as Glastonbury.

Countless celebrities have been spotted in the boots over the years, including Kate Moss at Glastonbury Festival

Model Kate Moss was credited with making them cool again after she paired hers with tiny hotpants at the festival in 2005.

Others followed suit, including Alexa Chung, Ellie Goulding, Lily Allen, Cara Delevingne, Suki Waterhouse, Emma Watson and Stella McCartney.

However, Hunter's official account has been flooded with complaints about the quality of the boots.

Jonathan Layzell, 38, found his Hunter wellies had split in November after just eight months of wear.

They replaced a previous pair which also split after 18 months after the rubber perished, leading to the boots leaking.

Mr Layzell, from north east Somerset, said: 'At present Hunter assert that there is no defect with the second pair which have started leaking. It's my fourth pair I think.

Many customers have complained after struggling to get a refund due to a technical glitch

A number have also described how their boots have been peeling and splitting

My sister-in-law had a pair which lasted eight years and my mum had perhaps two or three pairs in 25 years so there does seem to be a change in quality and certainly in how long they last.'

He says he was offered a 20 per cent discount on his next pair - but would rather shop elsewhere.

He added: 'I am frustrated that a company with a strong reputation historically and which made - past tense - good quality, comfortable, functional boots no longer seems to be able to do that.

'The 20 per cent discount voucher is of no interest to me as until I am reassured about the quality I would rather buy elsewhere, which is a great shame. What a way to run a business.'

Mr Layzell's complaint is one of dozens of similar ones on the famous brand's Twitter page.

Kim revealed how her Hunter boots had begun peeling after 18 months, commenting: 'It's the first and last pair I'll own. They're poor quality and you only get a bad warranty.'

Customers have been sharing pictures of boots where the matte finish has started peeling off

Alix Clarkson had the same issue, with the matte finish peeling off her boots, which were a Christmas gift in 2016.

She said: 'I also have adjustable boots and the straps have broken off. No leaks yet but I don't use them very often but there is no real reason why they should be eroding. All I've gotten from Hunter is automatic emails.'

Meanwhile, Stephanie Bridwater's boots also only lasted a year before they split.

She said: 'They are very poor quality - my boots have lasted little over a year and they are perishing and cracking.

'Customer service is absolutely appalling - they are not interested in helping at all. You are simply paying for the name.

'I advise everyone to stay well away from these massively overpriced, not fit for purpose wellingtons.'

Hunter recently outsourced some of its production in 2008 to China due to rising costs, but the brand says a pair of its Original boots are still handcrafted from 28 parts

Hunter began life as the North British Rubber Company in 1856 and had its factory in Dumfries, Scotland, up until recently.

Described as a heritage British brand, Hunter holds several royal warrants as suppliers of waterproof footwear and is a favourite of the hunting set.

The company was forced to outsource production in 2008 due to rising costs and the famous boots are believed to be mainly made in China.

Planet Retail retail analyst, Natalie Berg, said Hunter should be very careful of its customer service standards.

She said: 'Social media reinforces that old adage in retail that the customer is king.

'It may be quick and somewhat gratifying for shoppers to publicly air their issues, but this often leads to unrealistic expectations when it comes to response times as many shoppers expect their issues to be resolved instantly.

However, customers say they have been left disappointed by the quality of their boots. Pictured is a pair of splitting wellies

'Social media can not only expose but also magnify any quality or service issues, potentially leading to long-term damage to a brand's reputation.'

A spokeswoman for Hunter has apologised for falling below 'the level of customer service that should be expected'.

She said in a statement: 'At the end of November, a technical fault with our global website meant that a significant proportion of customers were unable to complete the automatic returns form online.

'As a result, anyone wishing to return product was reduced to calling our customer services phone lines. This technical fault coincided with our biggest trading period of the year.

'We were not prepared for this and it therefore resulted in a significant backlog of calls. We took measures to increase staff numbers, which in the last week have increased further.

She continued: 'As a 160 year old British brand, we take the expectation of our customers and our reputation very seriously. Hunter has always prided itself on its quality and hand assembled production.

Hunter boots have become a British staple over the years, championed by celebrities such as Alexa Chung

'In fact, we extended the manufacture warranty on our Original Wellington Boots from 12 months to 24 months in September 2017. Our Original boot continues today to be made in the same traditional way as it was in the brand's birth place of Scotland.

'Production moved to Asia in 2008 to safeguard the future of this heritage brand, but did so while maintaining the values, production process and quality that was established over many decades in Scotland.

'Regardless of geography, a pair of Hunter Original boots are still handcrafted from 28 parts and assembled over a 3 day period; a process that hasn't changed significantly over the product's lifetime.

'As the Hunter brand thankfully grows and becomes successful around the world then clearly our volumes increase and with greater numbers of boots being produced there is a higher potential for manufacturing defects.

'We're very proud to announce that our product defect levels are at the lowest they have ever been. However, as with all brands we can improve and we strive to do so daily, pushing to improve on our established quality levels to deliver the best possible experience to our customers.

'Inevitably product defects will happen from time to time, but it's our commitment and duty to our customers that when they do, we react quickly and effectively to resolve the situation. It is this area that we are actively improving. '

Wellington boots were worn and popularised by Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, and became common among the aristocracy in the early 19th century.Six-year-old Derrica Grace has never been to school, but she can discuss Cryptocurrency, explain the history of the Blank Panther movement - and show you how to shoot an Uzi machine gun.

It's all thanks to her father, Derrick Grace II  who has developed his own homeschooling curriculum after making the decision to pull his son out of first grade in 2016.

The father-of-four, from Tampa, Florida, says that he's not a fan of the school system - and believes they 'dilute the mental progression' of children.

However, he has attracted controversy online after posting a series of videos online showing his daughter Derrica and son Derrick Grace III loading guns and reciting facts learned from their homeschool experience.

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Derrick Grace II - pictured with children Derrica, six, (front) and one-year-old daughters Melanin and Malaya - has developed his own homeschooling curriculum

Describing his attitude towards homeschooling, Derrick, 28, said: 'To me school is a day care. It's a place where the adults take the babies while they worry about adult life.

'I'm not a huge fan of the school system state-wide, or on a national level. I think they do a whole lot to dilute the mental progression of our children. So I think it's absolutely Dthat we take it into our hands.'

He continued: [My] curriculum includes guns because violence can take place anywhere in the world at any given moment.

'I'm a firm believer that if you have guns in your house, an educated mind is far greater than a wondering mind.'

Derrica, six, is fully versed in how to load and shoot Glocks, Mac 11s, and even an Uzi (pictured)

Both Derrick Jr, nine, and Derrica, six, are fully-versed in loading magazines into Glocks, Mac 11s, and even an Uzi, fully extending their arms, and pulling the triggers.

Although the children usually practice with empty magazines, they have accompanied their father to shooting ranges to experience the recoil that comes with actually firing rounds.

Since taking his children's schooling into his own hands, Derrick has had an obvious effect on their development.

Derrica, who also enjoys gymnastics and has a 'lucky bullet' displayed in her room, said: 'If somebody was trying to kill me or if somebody is trying to kill my father, or my mom, or my sisters, anybody that's my family members, [I would] shoot them. If somebody broke into my house I'd shoot them.'

The siblings make use of their father's small arsenal of five guns, which at one time comprised 12 firearms and now includes a Glock 30 nicknamed 'Big Black' and an AK47 affectionately known to its owner as 'Brown Sugar'.

Derrick says it is important for his children to know how to use guns because 'violence can take place anywhere in the world' at 'any given moment'

For Derrick, this is all an important part of his curriculum and bringing his children up in a way that shuns much of society's traditions and customs, so as to gain what he says is a more individualistic perspective on life.

He now spreads a message of self-sufficiency, and has built a business around his 'Unlearn and Relearn' curriculum, which is available for others to purchase, alongside a range of books containing guidance for adults.

'It's built on four elements: self-love, self-education, self-awareness, and self-reliance. I think those are key to live a mentally free and fruitful life,' he explained.

It's not just guns that are on the curriculum, however, as proved when asking Derrica to recite facts.

Questioned what intellectual property is, she responded confidently with: 'They can take your possessions, but they can't take your mind.'

Derrica (pictured) is also well-versed in subjects such as Cryptocurrency and the Blank Panther movement

Her father has taught her how to load magazines into various guns, and how to shoot them

Derrick is open about his troubled upbringing, where, despite coming from a family with a strong history in law enforcement, his day-to-day life involved breaking into houses and cars, and generally rebelling against a school system he felt neglected his particular talents.

'I was a terrible child,' he explained. 'At Christmas time we would cut Christmas lights just for the hell of it, to ruin people's holiday. I know I broke into at least 20 cars as a child we would just go in these guy's houses and sit there and just go through their stuff.'

The entrepreneur - whose own father is a Secret Service retiree and whose grandfather worked as part of both a Sherriff's office and the Tampa PD, would continue to get into trouble into his teens - before starting work as a 911 dispatcher in 2008.

Despite this seemingly respectable job, he still found himself getting into trouble in his personal life, at one point being involved in a fight at a children's birthday party, where his assailants attempted to steal thousands of dollars worth of his jewellery.

Reflecting on the incident, Derrick recalled how he used the services available to him as a 911 dispatcher to track down the people from that day: 'I used some of my resources to find addresses, locations, names of almost everybody in that family.

Derrick began developing his own homeschooling curriculum after making the decision to pull his son out of first grade in 2016

However, videos shared online showing Derrica shooting a gun has sparked controversy

Derrick has launched his own curriculum for other parents to follow, which is available for others to purchase

'I found them eight months later. My AK47, that was my weapon of choice that day. But we ended up robbing them, taking everything he had, making him take some articles of clothing off. My goal that day was just to belittle him as best I could.

'I have evolved I am a different person now, but I wouldn't change anything. I think respect is a huge thing.'

He recalls how, during these troubled years, he would have bought a Bazooka rocket launcher if he could have afforded it: 'Just to say I got the biggest gun in Tampa.'

Referring to the incident at the children's party, he said: 'When there was like 30 of them, I definitely would have just used the Bazooka and just blew the whole parking lot up.'

However, Derrick says that this is all part of a past he has made real efforts to leave behind.

The father-of-four admits that he himself had a troubled upbringing while growing up

After losing his job as a 911 dispatcher in 2012, due to taking time off on a holiday and allegedly mishandling a 911 call, he decided to try to make a more positive impact and became a mentor to young people.

He has since spoken at numerous schools and juvenile corrections facilities throughout Hillsborough County in Tampa, and now shares his knowledge with a much larger demographic, travelling the US with Derrick III and Derrica, as well as his two one-year-old daughters.

Of course, homeschooling helps him to make his own schedule, which in turn allows him to bring his children on stage at events around the country and showcase the results of his own brand of education.

Homeschooled children in the United States account for a very small number of overall students, with just 3.3 percent of students between 5 and 17 being taught at home for the year 2015-16, according to data released by the Department of Education last September.

But while a 2012 report from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) showed parents were homeschooling mainly out of concern for their children's safety or to help them avoid temptations such as drugs, Derrick's decision to keep his children out of school comes from his personal philosophy of self-actualisation.

Derrick, who is also now an entrepreneur, says his biggest aim is to teach his children to be self-sufficient

'My biggest aim is I want them to be self sufficient,' he explained. 'I think it's 100 percent unfair to raise our kids to be dependent on us until 16, and then force them to be dependent on strangers until they're 70.'

While distrust of 'the system' plays a big role in Derrick's overall project, safety is still a big concern for the Tampa native  which is why he chooses to focus so heavily on gun education and making sure his children can defend themselves.

As with so many cities in the modern United States, Tampa has experienced its own issues with guns and gun violence in recent times.

Just last year, the city's Seminole Heights neighbourhood was rocked by the indiscriminate shootings of four separate residents who were seemingly targeted for nothing more than being out in public.

It took 51 days before the first arrest was made in the case, during which time, residents were advised not to leave their houses alone.

However, videos of daughter Derrica (pictured) and her brother online have sparked criticism from other parents

Derrica explains how if somebody tried to kill her or her family, she would 'shoot them'

Derrick recalls the events well: 'The guy was just shooting random people for two months. Killed four people. By just popping out at night. No reason, no personality traits in common, no nothing. Just literally coming to the area and shooting at random people.

'It's a jungle outside. These people are at a place where have no moral compass, they're killing kids and all, they just don't care.'

There's no doubt the Derrick has come a long way from his days spent breaking into houses and cars, but he has had trouble escaping his complicated past.

In 2014, he was involved in an altercation with the mother and brother of his current partner, in which he ended up shooting at them both from a parked car, hitting the mother in the hand, and the brother in the arm. A three-year-old Derrica was in the back seat of the car at the time.

Resolute that the pair had started the confrontation, he explained how he warned the brother that if he opened the car door, he would use deadly force.

Derrick says he thinks of schools as a 'day care centre', which is why he decided to take matters into his own hands

'I told him, "Listen, if you open the door I am going to kill you",' he said

'I just leaned out to the left and started firing out the passenger door, but because [her mother] jumped in the way, she had her hand up, so I ended up shooting her. She did lose a finger but they were able to put it surgically back on and I ended up shooting him in the arm.'

Following the shooting, Derrick says the brother threatened to use his own gun. He continued: 'I'm like, "Go get it, let's have a shootout." But for a split second I forgot Derrica was in the car.

'I'm like, "Damn, I can't have a shootout. She's in the car" he may not be a good aim. He may shoot wild and if something happened to her then I would have to go back home, retrieve something even bigger, and try to come back and kill everybody that's related to you.'

Derrick was not charged for the incident, and credits his dad's affiliation with the police as one of the factors that helped him to avoid any repercussions for the shooting, as well as Florida's infamous 'stand your ground' law.

Derrick says it is a 'necessity' for parents to take control of their children's education

He continued: 'A lot of people get so desensitised by movies, television, and music and they think that shooting is just like shooting on Grand Theft Auto. Absolutely not. It's a whole different experience when you smell somebody's flesh burning when you see the blood.'

Looking back, he is disappointed in the incident and says he wouldn't want anyone to mimic his actions, but maintains that he 'wouldn't change anything,' even having his daughter in the car.

'Had she not seen somebody shot, I don't think she would be a strong as she is,' he said. 'I am pro-peace. I love people. I don't bother people. So, when people bother me, I take it real personal because I don't bother them.'

Derrick literally wears this mantra of hardship leading to personal strength on his face, where, among the dozens of facial tattoos, is inked a large 'ABC' for 'Adversity Builds Character'.

Derrica has never been to school, but can easily reel off facts on a range of subjects

Derrick emphasises that safety is a big concern for him, which is why he teaches his children how to defend himself

It's a philosophy that seems to fuel much of the no-nonsense material in his Unlearn and Relearn curriculum.

Derrick said: 'For anybody that said [you shouldn't give kids guns] I would tell them just, look at America. I don't watch the news, but social media tells me enough of what's going on out here and it's just too many random acts of violence.

'People could literally be like, "I'm gonna get a Cuban sandwich" and never come back home because somebody was just like, "I'm gonna randomly shoot up this sandwich shop".

'People are doing the most weirdest things, they're shooting up Walmarts, they're shooting up movie theatres, eateries. You can literally just go grab a soda and get shot in America.'The second husband of a Bradford beauty therapist raped and murdered in a suspected honour killing has spoken for the first time in a haunting documentary exploring her final months.

Samia Shahid, a Muslim, was 28 when she was allegedly raped and strangled by her ex-husband and cousin Mohammed Shakeel while visiting relatives in Punjab, Pakistan, in the summer of 2016. Her father stands accused of helping him.

Now Syed Mukhtar Kazam, who she married in 2014 after secretly seeking a divorce from the abusive Shakeel, has told of his belief that his wife's relatives deliberately lured Samia from the couple's new home in Dubai to Pakistan by telling her her father was gravely ill - all the while knowing what awaited her.

In the BBC show Murdered for Love? Mukhtar recalls his 'helpless' fear as he dropped his wife at the airport ahead of her 'fatal' trip to Pakistan to join her apparently ailing father and the rest of her family, who were in the country for a funeral. Six days later, she was dead.

Eight days later both Samia's first husband and her father were arrested in connection with her murder.

Samia's uncle told the BBC that her relatives deny all of the allegations.

Grieving Mukhtar reveals on the show how his wife had been desperate for forgiveness from her family - who made no secret of their shame over the breakdown of her first, arranged marriage.

'How could a father do that to his daughter?' he asks of the fateful decision to send Samia to Pakistan to marry her cousin.

'He raised up a child all his life, loved and cared so much for the child, and finally he just decides that shes no more his daughter - but a cow to go the market and sell.'

Samia Shahid with her second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam, who she moved to Dubai to live with in 2015 - she was killed in July 2016 in an alleged honour killing

Muhktar spoke to the BBC in a documentary looking over his wife's last months alive - he believes that Samia was lured to her death by her family

In the wake of her death Samia's case was taken up by Bradford MP Naz Shah, who wrote to the Prime Minister of Pakistan describing the case as an honour killing.

It's estimated that almost 1,000 women are murdered in Pakistan each year for violating conservative norms around love, marriage and public behaviour.

Finding love

Samia had first met Muhktar in 2013 after returning to the UK from Pakistan following her first wedding the previous year, in an effort to help secure a visa for Shakeel, who remained in Punjab.

The couple fell in love while she was still married.

Messages sent from Samia to her friends revealed in the documentary offer an insight into her changing state of mind - from her unhappiness while living in Pakistan with her first husband, during which time she sent them photos of bruises inflicted upon her, to the giddy voice notes she sent during the early

Her friends knew about the romance and say that they were pleased she had finally found love with Mukhtar, who split his time between the UK and Dubai.

In May 2014, Samia approached a local Imam to ask for a divorce under Sharia Law, and in September 2014, she and Mukhtar married in a secret ceremony on what he describes as one of the 'happiest days of his life'.

Samia's parents were horrified by the break down of her first, arranged marriage, and explosive arguments left Samia feeling 'like a prisoner in her own home'.

Samia's parents arranged a marriage between her and her cousin Shakeel when she was 25, she moved to Pakistan to live with him but she was unhappy in the relationship

Eventually, by May 2015, Samia made the decision to join her husband Muhktar in Dubai.

The couple were eager to become parents, but Muhktar says the breakdown of her relationship with her parents weighs heavily on Samia.

WHAT HAPPENED TO SAMIA SHAHID? FEBRUARY 2012: Samia Shahid was 25 when her parents arranged for her to marry her cousin Shakeel in Pakistan. JUNE 2012: Samia returned to the UK to apply for Shakeel's Visa, and moved back in with her parents in Bradford. OCTOBER 2013: Samia arranged a secret meeting with Syed Mukhtar Kazam in London, a man she had met in the UK, and they began a romance. MAY 2014: Samia approached a local Imam to ask for a divorce under Sharia Law from her husband Shakeel - without her family's knowledge. SEPTEMBER 2014: Samia and Muhktar wed in a secret ceremony. OCTOBER 2014: Samia was assaulted while walking home with a cousin and beaten with metal poles on the legs. MAY 2015: Having being rejected by her family after they found out about the divorce, Samia moved to Dubai to be with her husband Muhktar. JULY 2016: Samia was told by her family that her father was gravely ill and close to death. 14 JULY 2016: Samia flew to Pakistan to stay with a friend before then arriving to see her family the next day. 20 JULY 2016: Samia was found dead at her family's home. 28 JULY 2016: Her father and ex-husband were arrested in connection with her alleged rape and murder. SEPTEMBER 2016: Shakeel was refused bail and accused of murder and rape. JANUARY 2017: Samia's father Muhammed Shahid was granted bail. He denies all involvement. Advertisement

'She had the best of this world She wanted the best of that world. But things didnt work out the way she wanted it,' he says on the show.

Seeking forgiveness

Mukhtar says that his was desperate to mend her relationship with her mother and father - but claims her father begged him to leave Samia, so that she could return to Pakistan.

When her aunt - and the mother of her first husband Shakeel - died, a devastated Samia wanted to return to Punjab to pay her respects.

Having been persuaded not to make the trip by her anxious second husband, Samia then began to receive messages from her sister and mother - who had flown to Pakistan for the funeral - claiming that her diabetic father was gravely ill, Mukhtar says.

'She got another phone call saying "what if your father dies?". She was just out of control, she wanted to get to Pakistan to see her father,' he recalls.

A police report issued in the wake of Samia's death indicates that Samia's mother Imtiaz and sister Madiha are accused of 'emotionally blackmailing' her into making the trip to Pakistan, and are wanted on suspicion of 'abetting the murder'.

Madiha and her older sister allegedly exchanged 15 calls in as many days, with Madiha 'crying' and saying that their father was perilously ill in hospital.

Samia's mother Imtiaz 'also painted a grim picture of her father's condition on telephone', the report says, and 'emotionally blackmailed her daughter to plan her fatal trip to Pakistan'.

Lured to her death

Samia had told her worried friends in the UK she intended to join her family in Pakistan, because she would never forgive herself if her father died.

But one friend says Samia was worried by the lack of reassurances around the nature of the trip: 'It showed she feared for her life and she had no guarantees that she was going to come back.'

Muhktar drove his wife to the airport after her sister sent her a plane ticket to Pakistan.

'I was really upset about it,' he says. 'I was helpless. What could I have done?'

'[Was I] going to face her for the rest of our lives knowing that her father was not well and I stopped her [from going] and something happened to him? I had to let her go. [But] I stopped my car and said "you still have time".

'She hugged me and said nothing is going to happen to me, I still have time. And that was the last time [I saw] her.'

When her friends realised she had gone they were horrified.

'It shocks me, she wasnt a daft girl,' one says on the show.

Another agrees: 'That is the question, why did she go? Why?'

Samia had found happiness with Muhktar following her marriage to Shakeel - she had divorced him without her parents knowledge and they had rejected her

Six days after she flew to Pakistan Samia's death was reported, and initially her family told Muhktar that she had suffered a heart attack.

'I thought maybe this is one of the dirty games they were playing I thought they would torture her,' he says. 'I still had a hope she would be alive and I could find her.'

Forensic evidence revealed that she been raped and then died from suffocation.

Police in Pakistan eventually arrested Shakeel and Samia's father in connection with her death - her ex-husband confessed that he had strangled her with a scarf.

However any confessions obtained under arrest in Pakistan are not admissable in criminal proceedings.

Shakeel is currently detained in prison on suspicion of murder and rape and is awaiting trial. Samias father has been released due to a lack of evidence to support his involvement.

Her mother and sister are believed to have fled Pakistan in the wake of Samia's death, and are thought to be in Britain.

Samias uncle told the BBC that the family denies all allegations.

Murdered for Love? Samia Shahid airs on BBC Two at 9pm on Wednesday 21 FebruaryHope Hicks made a noticed appearance today at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, donning thigh-high boots and a dark blue wrap dress while listening to President Donald Trump's speech.

The White House communications director, 29, sat next to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, 65, while Trump delivered a speech in which he declared America 'open for business'.

She paired the pricey $798 taupe Stuart Weitzman boots with the navy blue dress, cinched at the waist with a belt, as well as a $500 DKNY camel coat placed behind her on her chair.

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Staffer: Hope Hicks made a noticed appearance today at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland as she listened to President Donald Trump's speech

Happy to be heading home? Hope was later seen preparing to leave Switzerland alongside special adviser Jared Kushner, whose wife Ivanka Trump did not make the trip to Davos

Time to fly back: Jared and Hope walked side by side on the tarmac as their Davos visit ended

Not wasting time: The staffers headed back not long after Trump wrapped up his speech

Bundled up: Hope was wearing the $500 DKNY camel coat seen earlier hanging on the back of her chair

Hope wore her hair in her trademark blowout and finished off her outfit with discreet pearl earrings.

She along with the rest of the audience heard Trump declare the US is 'open for business and competitive once again'.

Addressing world leaders at the World Economic Forum, the US president said: 'The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.'

The gathering of global elites with a free trade penchant had viewed Trump with skepticism, given his 'America First' message, but the White House has insisted his protectionist policies and international co-operation can go hand-in-hand.

Hope's colleague Jared Kushner, 37, is also traveling with President Trump for the World Economic Forum, while his wife and fellow economic adviser Ivanka Trump has remained at home.

Tune in: The White House communications director sat next to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson while Trump delivered a speech in which he declared America 'open for business'

Outfit: She paired her $800 thigh-high boots by Stuart Weitzman with the navy blue dress, cinched at the waist with a belt, as well as a beige coat placed behind her on her chair

Speech: Hope, who wore rather heavy make-up, looked fascinated as she heard Trump declare the US is 'open for business and competitive once again'

Leaving: President Trump departed Davos in the Marine One helicopter later today

He and Hope were seen together later today on the tarmac, getting ready to leave Switzerland at the close after Trump's address.

Jared has appeared in high spirits throughout the visit, and was seen yesterday smiling widely among the crowd, including before a meeting between President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

However, he pulled a more serious face on the sidelines of a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the president accused Palestinians of disrespecting the United States and threatened to withhold aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars until they accede to US-brokered talks.

While Jared tagged along for Trump's visit to Switzerland, Ivanka stayed in Washington, D.C.

She was seen leaving for work a little before 8 this morning, wearing black trousers and a beige blazer.

The first daughter accessorized her outfit with a pair of kitten-heeled, studded shoes, a black headband, and eye-catching earrings.

She also carried a large black purse as she walked towards the park Secret Service vehicle waiting for her.

Team: Hope's colleague Jared Kushner, 37, is also traveling with President Trump for the World Economic Forum, while his wife and fellow adviser Ivanka Trump remained at home

Happy to be here: After arriving to Switzerland yesterday for the World Economic Forum, Jared, 37, was seen smiling among the crowd

Stepping out: While her husband is in Davos, Ivanka has remained at home in Washington, D.C. and was seen leaving her home in a blazer and black trouser ensemble on Friday morning

Business: She paired her black pants and beige blazer with kitten-heeled, studded shoes and a black headband

Thumbs up! Back in November last year, Hope and Jared both traveled with President Trump during his trip around Asia, and posed together in Air Force One during a stop in South Korea

Yesterday, Ivanka headed to work around 9:30 am, leaving the house she shares with Jared and their three children in a black SUV.

While Ivanka is often seen making the walk between her house and her parked vehicle, on that morning she chose to depart directly in the car, and was only seen quickly behind the blacked-out windows.

Earlier this month, Ivanka, who like Jared is a senior White House adviser, updated her Twitter bio to read in part: 'Adviser to POTUS on job creation + economic empowerment, workforce development & entrepreneurship.'

Yet, despite the addition of her economic adviser duties, Ivanka is not accompanying her father to the World Economic Forum this week.

At home: On Thursday, Ivanka made a much more discreet exit from her home, choosing to depart in the back of a blacked out SUV

Duties: Jared sat next to (from left to right) Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, and White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn yesterday

Entourage: Trump and Jared (pictured first from left) arrived with other members of the US delegation for the annual meeting in Devos yesterday

In November last year, the first daughter pulled out of her father's trip to Asia after traveling solo to Japan, after her father asked her to remain in the US to promote his tax plan.

Jared, meanwhile, did join his father-in-law during his tour around Asia, along with Hope and First Lady Melania Trump.

Hope, Melania and Jared traveled with Trump over his 12-day journey across Asia, while Ivanka, on this occasion too, remained in D.C.

Last week, however, Ivanka and the president visited a factory in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and toured the facility together.

Jared appeared in high spirits yesterday before Trump met the British prime minister, and was pictured beaming before the meeting, dressed in a classic suit and tie.

Trump boasted of a 'really great relationship' with May on Thursday, as the pair traded compliments and tried to turn the page after very public spats.

Duo: Last week, however, Ivanka and the president visited a factory in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and toured the facility together

'We're on the same wavelength in, I think, every respect,' Trump said, waxing lyrical about trans-Atlantic ties and complimenting May in effusive terms.

'The prime minister and myself have had a really great relationship,' he added. 'Although some people don't necessarily believe that, but I can tell you, I have a tremendous respect for the prime minister and the job she's doing.'

May echoed the gushing tone. 'It's been great to see you,' she said, 'as you said, we had a great discussion today. We continue to have a great relationship between the UK and the United States.'

Jared, who has been put in charge of brokering peace between Israel and Palestine, sat next to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, and White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn during Trump's meeting with the Isreali prime minister.

In a significant sharpening of his rhetoric against the leadership in Ramallah, Trump said the Palestinians had 'disrespected us a week ago by not allowing our great vice president to see them.'

'We give them hundreds of millions,' Trump said. 'That money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace.'Ivanka Trump cut a classic figure as she departed her Washington, D.C. home this morning to give a talk on tax reform in South Carolina.

The first daughter, 36, was seen heading out a little before 8 in black pants and a beige blazer, paired with a black headband pulling her long blond hair back.

She accessorized her outfit with chunky earrings and a pair of black, pointy kitten-heeled shoes embellished with studs.

Stepping out: While her husband is in Davos, Ivanka has remained at home in Washington, D.C. and was seen leaving her home in a blazer and black pants this morning

Business: She paired her black pants and beige blazer with kitten-heeled, studded shoes and a black headband

Ivanka has remained in the nation's capital while her husband and fellow White House adviser, Jared Kushner, 37, accompanied her father to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

She headed to Greenville this morning with Republican Senator Tim Scott to talk about the tax reform passed by the Trump administration last month, and how it affects families.

A local protest group was planning a protest outside the Westin Poinsett Hotel in downtown Greenville, where Ivanka was scheduled to speak at 12:30 pm, WYFF4 reported.

'The group will host the protest for all persons interested in raising their voices against the Trump Administration's "War on Women", the GOP "Tax Scam", and in support of the DREAMERS who are being uncompassionately cast aside by this administration,' the organization said in a release.

Ivanka's visit to South Carolina came as Jared was heading back to the US along with the rest of the US delegation in Davos.

Work: Ivanka headed to Greenville this morning with Republican Senator Tim Scott to talk about the tax reform passed by the Trump administration last month

Duo: The first daughter and Senator Scott posed for a photo together in Greenville

Meeting: Ivanka and the senator traveled to discuss how the tax reform affects families

Happy to be heading home? Hope was later seen preparing to leave Switzerland alongside special adviser Jared Kushner, whose wife Ivanka Trump did not make the trip to Davos

Time to fly back: Jared and Hope walked side by side on the tarmac as their Davos visit ended

Earlier this morning, White House communications director Hope Hicks made a noticed appearance at the forum, donning thigh-high boots and a dark blue wrap dress while listening to President Trump give a speech.

Hope, 29, sat next to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, 65, while Trump declared America 'open for business' in his address.

She paired the pricey $798 taupe Stuart Weitzman boots with the navy blue dress, cinched at the waist with a belt, as well as a beige coat placed behind her on her chair.

Hope, along with the rest of the audience, heard Trump declare the US is 'open for business and competitive once again'.

Addressing world leaders at the World Economic Forum, the US president said: 'The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America.'

The gathering of global elites with a free trade penchant had viewed Trump with skepticism, given his 'America First' message, but the White House has insisted his protectionist policies and international co-operation can go hand-in-hand.

Not wasting time: The staffers headed back not long after Trump wrapped up his speech

Speech: Hope, who wore rather heavy make-up, looked fascinated as she heard Trump declare the US is 'open for business and competitive once again'

Jared and Hope were later seen together on the tarmac, getting ready to leave Switzerland at the close after Trump's address.

Trump's son-in-law has appeared in high spirits throughout the visit, and was seen yesterday smiling widely among the crowd, including before a meeting between President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May.

However, he pulled a more serious face on the sidelines of a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which the president accused Palestinians of disrespecting the United States and threatened to withhold aid worth hundreds of millions of dollars until they accede to US-brokered talks.

Meanwhile, Ivanka was seen heading to work yesterday around 9:30 am, leaving the house she shares with Jared and their three children in a black SUV.

While the first daughter is often seen making the walk between her house and her parked vehicle, on that morning she chose to depart directly in the car, and was only seen quickly behind the blacked-out windows.

Team: Hope's colleague Jared Kushner, 37, is also traveling with President Trump for the World Economic Forum, while his wife and fellow adviser Ivanka Trump remained at home

Happy to be here: After arriving to Switzerland yesterday for the World Economic Forum, Jared, 37, was seen smiling among the crowd

Thumbs up! Back in November last year, Hope and Jared both traveled with President Trump during his trip around Asia, and posed together in Air Force One during a stop in South Korea

Duo: Last week, however, Ivanka and the president visited a factory in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and toured the facility together

Earlier this month, Ivanka, who like Jared is a senior White House adviser, updated her Twitter bio to read in part: 'Adviser to POTUS on job creation + economic empowerment, workforce development & entrepreneurship.'

Yet, despite the addition of her economic adviser duties, Ivanka is not accompanying her father to the World Economic Forum this week.

In November last year, the first daughter pulled out of her father's trip to Asia after traveling solo to Japan, after her father asked her to remain in the US to promote his tax plan.

Jared, meanwhile, did join his father-in-law during his tour around Asia, along with Hope and First Lady Melania Trump.

Hope, Melania and Jared traveled with Trump over his 12-day journey across Asia, while Ivanka, on this occasion too, remained in D.C.

Last week, however, Ivanka and the president visited a factory in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, and toured the facility together.An Ellen DeGeneres superfan was overcome with emotion when her idol reunited her with her boyfriend, a US Navy supply officer who has been on deployment for months.

Maura Gonsalves, 25, was in the audience at Ellen DeGeneres' show yesterday. She and her partner Noah Copeland moved to San Diego, California, from Massachusetts in July 2016.

Just five months after the move, Noah was deployed. He only had two days to pack his bags before leaving Maura behind, departing for the military island of Diego Garcia in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

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So sweet! Ellen superfan Maura Gonsalves, 25, had an incredibly emotional reunion with her boyfriend, a US Navy supply officer, on yesterday's show

Overjoyed: Maura promptly jumped into her partner's arms after Noah Copeland stepped onto the set carrying beautiful flowers for his girlfriend

Kept apart: Noah and Maura moved from Massachusetts to San Diego, California last year, and just five months later, Noah was deployed and given only a two-day notice

Ellen, who is turning 60 today, started yesterday's reunion by stating she has been receiving tons of fan letters to mark her birthday.

Among them was one signed by Noah, in which he explained that Maura has got to be Ellen's 'biggest fan' and watches her show every day.

When Maura realized Ellen was reading Noah's letter, she immediately got emotional and started to sob in the audience.

'I know nothing would make her happier than getting to celebrate your birthday with you at your show,' Noah told Ellen in the missive, adding: 'Thanks for keeping my girl company while I'm away.'

Noah also explained that he was supposed to come back to the US at the end of January, but that his return keeps getting pushed back.

After reading the letter, Ellen invited Maura onto the stage, and the fan was already supremely excited to get to chat with her idol.

She doesn't know what's coming: Before the reunion, Maura became emotional when Ellen started reading a letter written by Noah

Happy: Maura was already overwhelmed when Ellen asked her to come onto the set

Chatting: She then got to talk to her idol, telling her more about her and Noah's situation

She told Ellen about her and Noah's background, recounting his sudden deployment.

'He went into work on a Friday and then he came home from work that Friday and they were like, "You're going on Sunday", so he had two days to pack up his whole life and just leave for a year. He's been gone for over a year right now,' Maura told Ellen.

She then told the host how much she enjoys the show, gushing: 'I can't even believe this is happening right now.'

'Because I'm such a fan, I made [Noah] a fan, basically. We've been watching together while he's been away. I will FaceTime him while I'm watching,' Maura added.

She explained that the recent government shutdown had further delayed her boyfriend's return, and that she had no idea when he would be back.

Ellen then told her that she wanted Maura to be able to attend her birthday show, and asked: 'Bring Maura the tickets to the birthday show.'

Gifts: Noah turned up with flowers and tickets for Ellen's birthday show, which occurred today

Lovebirds: The crowd erupted in cheers as Noah stepped onto the set in his Navy uniform

Sweet! Ellen later surprised Maura with a six-night stay at a resort in Koala, Hawaii. She is not allowed to give Noah a gift because of his status in the military, but Maura can bring a guest

At this point, the crowd erupted in cheers as Noah stepped onto the set in his Navy uniform, carrying the tickets and a beautiful bouquet of flowers for his girlfriend.

Maura, who was hugging Ellen, immediately ran towards him and jump in Noah's arms for an incredibly emotional reunion that quickly brought the audience to tears.

Noah and Maura later sat with Ellen for a chat, with Noah telling the anchor: 'I just wanted to do something special for her.'

The couple was planning to travel to Puerto Rico upon Noah's return, but have instead donated the money they would have spent on the trip to Ricky Martin's relief fund in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Ellen explained that she was unable to give Noah a gift because he's not allowed to accept presents due to his position in the military, but pointed out that nothing prevents her from giving Maura a gift, which she might then share with him.

She thus offered Maura a six-night stay at a resort in Koloa, Hawaii, and said that she is free to bring Noah as a guest if she so desires.

'It was just an all around amazing experience!' Maura told WBSM about the reunion. 'I will remember it for the rest of my life! I'm so happy to have my boyfriend home and I am just so grateful for everyone that surprised me and made it such an amazing special moment!'Editors Note: On a recent, #Globaledchat on Twitter, I asked the Right Question Institute s Director of Strategy for their Education Program, Andrew P. Minigan, to facilitate a conversation on encouraging student curiosity in the classroom. Here are some ideas we discussed during the chat. Join us every Thursday on Twitter for #Globaledchat at 8pm Eastern time.

by guest blogger Andrew P. Minigan

Nobel-prize winning physicist Richard Feynman put it quite simply: All learning must begin with the posing of a question.

Nowadays, educators around the world recognize just how powerful a student-formulated question can be for sparking new thinking and learning. Traditionally, the rate of childrens question asking declines significantly as they enter formal school; yet, in recent years and with the emergence of 21st century skills , educators have begun integrating new strategies and approaches to teach students how to ask their own questions. During a recent Twitter chat on facilitating curiosity, 50 educators shared their collective wisdom and insight in response to the following questions, summarized below. You can peruse the entire chat here .

Why is curiosity important for teaching and learning? How does curiosity support student learning in your classroom?

Facilitating student curiosity can help to shift the onus of learning from the teacher to the students. Ellen Gammel, a high school English teacher formerly at Fitchburg High School in Massachusetts, uses strategies such as the Question Formulation Technique throughout her semester, providing opportunities for students to drive their own learning.

One of her ninth-grade students reflected at the end of the semester, Curiosity is what drives children and teens to want to learn, even when they dont realize it. Knowing the answers are a roadblock while questions lead to unexpected adventures and a new way of thinking. Everything starts with a question, even if you dont realize it.

When educators cultivate a learning environment that actively promotes student curiosity and creates a space for students to formulate, work with, and explore their own questions, it can fundamentally change the way students view their role in the learning process.

Although a curious mindset is often considered a prerequisite for question asking, educators who teach students to formulate their own questions are observing something novel: by teaching students how to ask and work with questions, their students are becoming more curious, engaged learners in turn. Many chat participants noted how curiosity can be a driving force for student thinking, learning, and engagement. For example:



Curiosity drives their learning! Asking questions and hearing others questions pushes us into new ways of thinking. Knowing how to ask questions makes us grow. #globaledchat @MissParkSES

Curiosity is foundation of learning. Connecting relevance to curiosity is important in the classroom so that each student is connected to their learning #globaledchat @mmoll74

Why is it important to honor students questions as part of their learning process?

Starting a lesson or unit with students questions rather than what students already know and are able to answer is a departure from the traditional classroom format. When educators pivot from ignorance as a weakness to ignorance as a strength and a starting point for new learning, it can level the playing field so all students feel comfortable inquiring.

To convey a message to students that their questions are important, heard, and can help to drive learning, educators can:



Equally acknowledge students questions

Avoid placing value statements on student questions (e.g., thats a great question!)

Make visible students questions exactly as they state them.

A high school student from Hazard High School in Perry County, Kentucky, captured this sentiment well when they shared that having to ask their own questions: challenged me to broaden my thinking as an active participant in my learning rather than simply sitting, listening to a lecture. The no judgment zone made me feel at ease, so I was open to more opportunities of learning.

During the chat, educators touched on many themes of equity, student-centered learning, critical thinking, and engagement when considering why it is important to honor students questions:



Honoring all questions, honors all learners. The questions are what lead us to new learning and new discoveries #globaledchat @anichols32

Honoring all questions gives students an opportunity to participate and be a part of the experience. It also creates a great safe space which may trigger more ideas/questions. #Globaledchat @Chemteach201

How do you incorporate students questions into the learning process? How do student-generated questions differ from questions posed by teachers?

Students questions can be used in all subject areas and across all grade levels. Whether it is the beginning, middle, or end of a unit or lesson, educators can build in time for students questions for myriad purposes.

For example, student questions can be used to design an experiment , analyze claims and statistics , read primary source texts or images , and much more. Through thoughtful lesson design and backwards planning, educators can have students use their newly formulated questions to drive their authentic, student-centered inquiry.



Ive ended up learning new things alongside my students based on their questions. So much more fun than asking questions I already know the answers to and waiting for students to answer them #globaledchat @MissjenwaWalker

How can students curiosity and ability to ask questions help them become more engaged global citizens?

A citizenry that is able to ask questions, rather than leap to assumptions and answers, can more effectively participate and contribute to a well-functioning democracy. Asking a question can be the first step in participating and engaging as a citizen on both the micro and the macro (global) levels.

Questions are essential for learning about our community and neighbors, our own country and its people, and the citizens of other countries. And by asking questions, people can grow to be more empathetic individuals who recognize different perspectives.

Ultimately, a question can be a catalyst for breaking down prejudices and biases. Educators as social change agents can help students equip themselves with the ability to be global citizens, think and act democratically, and become lifelong learners simply by teaching to formulate questions and follow their curiosity.



Questioning develops critical thinking and exposes students to different perspectives. Teachers need to be purposeful in having these learning spaces. #globaledchat @edtechjoe

By expanding their inquiry to the world, it becomes smaller and more relatable, thereby breaking down prejudices. #globaledchat @mrsmaliablake

The little ones continually ask questions and we can connect those questions to our community, our island or the world. They want to know it all. #globaledchat @kthomas4808

What are strategies and resources you use to facilitate student curiosity and to teach students how to ask questions?

Educators shared many valuable strategies and resources that they use to facilitate student curiosity in their classrooms, including:

Connect with the Right Question Institute , Andrew , Heather , and the Center for Global Education on Twitter.

Photo by Jodie Botzang and used with permission of the author.

Quote image created on Pablo .They may only be three years old yet Princess Gabriella and her twin brother Jacques already have perfected the art of public engagements.

The youngsters were polite and well-behaved as they attended the annual Sainte Devote procession in Monaco on Friday night.

Smartly dressed and smiling to the crowds, the children appeared to be model versions of their parents Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene who accompanied them to the event.

While most siblings begin to bicker during their toddler years, the twins showed a display of unity as they held one another's hand and even shared an adorable hug.

Just like mother! Princess Gabriella looked strikingly similar to her 39-year-old parent Princess Charlene as they attended the Sainte Devote procession in Monaco

Sibling love: Princess Gabriella and her twin brother Jacques looked adorable as they hugged one another during the celebration

Family affair: Prince Albert II of Monaco and his wife held the hands of their little ones during the evening event

Princess Gabriella was dressed in black boots and a black button-down coat while her blonde hair was pulled into a top-knot.

Her mother Princess Charlene looked every inch the glamorous royal in a checkered coat and a wide-legged trouser.

Slicking back her short crop of blonde hair, the royal opted for a fresh faced look with a hint of lipgloss and eye shadow.

Her husband the Prince looked smart with a long black coat and cashmere grey scarf.

And little Prince Jacques added a modern touch to the royal family's image, wearing a smart blue puffa jacket and a pair of trainers.

The three-year-old's long white-blonde hair had been brushed over into a side-parting for the occasion.

Her mother Princess Charlene looked every inch the glamorous royal in a checkered coat and a wide-legged trouser

Prince Jacques added a modern touch to the royal family's image, wearing a smart blue puffa jacket and a pair of trainers

Sainte devote is the patron saint of Monaco and France's Mediterranean Corsica island.

Each year the royal family attend and Prince Albert II of Monaco uses a torch to burn a small fisherman's boat to mark the beginning of the festivities.

The twins celebrated their third birthday in early December 2017.

It is thought their parents threw a wintry-themed party.

Although no pictures of the celebrations have emerged Albert, 59, opened up to People magazine about the party held at the Oceanographic Museum with friends they've made at kids club and nursery.

'Its kind of a Polar Arctic setting. Theres stuff like mechanized polar bears that move their hands and arms - it was really fun,' he said.

'Then we had a little celebration up at Roc Agel with Charlenes family, and that was nice.'

He also revealed that Prince Jacques had received a Hot Wheels launcher and truck for his birthday, while Princess Gabriella Barbie doll and the Barbie Dream Horse.

There's also an exciting year ahead for the young pair who will take a 'halfway-around-the-world' trip with their parents.

In another interview with People magazine, Prince Albert revealed the family is planning a trip to Polynesia in summer 2018.

'We did a cruise with them this summer and that was fine. We'll have to break up so it's not so long for them.'

He added that while he's eager for the twins to see the world, he is not planning any official visits with them until they're a little older.There are few Australian treats more iconic than a warm, flaky, savoury meat pie.

So what better way to celebrate Australia Day than to honour some of the best pies in the nation?

From mince to chunky beef, plus pies that aren't afraid to give tradition a twist, these are the bakeries making a splash with their creations across the nation.

A chicken, brie, and cranberry pie from the Victoria bakery Tatura Hot Bread holds the current crown for Australia's Best Pie - beating out 2,000 competitors

Jeff Alexander, who opened Tatura Hot Bread with his wife Glenda when he was just 23, is the baker behind the unique creamy creation

It is actually a chicken creation that currently holds the crown of Australia's Best Pie.

A chicken, brie, and cranberry pie from the Victoria bakery Tatura Hot Bread won the prestigious title during the 2017 competition - beating out 2,000 other pies.

Jeff Alexander, who opened Tatura Hot Bread with his wife Glenda when he was just 23, is the baker behind the unique creamy creation.

It wouldn't be a best pie list without mention of South Australia's Orange Spot Bakery, which has been cleaning up competitions for nearly a decade.

Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton took home best gourmet pie with this chili con carne creation

The bakery also took home the prize of Australia's best mince pie (pictured) at the competition

It has been a big year for the bakery. Along with its mince and gourmet pie awards, the bakery also won Australia's Greatest Pepper Steak Pie

And it's not just the savoury that Country Cob excels at. The bakery also currently holds the title for Australia's best vanilla slice

The beachside bakery in Glenelg won best poultry pie, as well as best traditional pastie, gourmet pastie, and vegetarian pastie at the competition.

Orange Spot Bakery, which is led by father and son duo Nick and Jamie Davey, was named best pasty in the country for six years in a row before reclaiming the title again this year.

Country Cob Bakery in Kyneton took home best mince pie and gourmet pie, nabbing the latter title with a chili con carne beef pie.

This year the bakery has also won Australia's Greatest Pepper Steak Pie and was even named the country's best vanilla slice.

Four Seasons Patisserie Bakery in Kelmscott took home the top prize for Australia's best chunky beef pie

Owner and baker Andy Le won over the judges with his creation, and this year also became nationally recognised for his apple pies

Country Cob has seen massive success since coming under the management of Chan Khun, who only began baking five years ago after leaving his native Cambodia for Australia.

Finley Bakery & Patisserie nabbed the title of best beef flavoured pie in Australia with its Finley Farmer's Choice pie.

Pastry chef Micka Littlejohn slow cooked local beef and added caramelised onions to the creation, which featured a map of Australia on the top with a hole to signify Finley's location.

Family bakery Rolling Pin Pies and Cakes, in Ocean Grove, was crowned best seafood pie in Australia for their Prawn Laksa Pie.

Orange Spot Bakery in Glenelg won best poultry pie at the competition this year

The beachside bakery has a stacked trophy case, also winning best traditional pastie, gourmet pastie, and vegetarian pastie at the competition

The bakery, which has been owned by locals Geoff and Susie Chalker since 1997, also took the title of Australia's Best Gourmet Pie in 2016 and Australia's Best Pie in 2013.

Bruns Bakery in Brunswick, New South Wales is the titleholder for the country's best vegetarian pie.

The vego pie features creamy onion sauce, sweet potato, broccoli, potato, and carrots all wrapped in a delicious pastry.

Tony Smith, the Executive Officer of the Baking Association of Australia, revealed that judges look at everything from the colour of a pastry to how it's cooked inside when deciding which will be named best in the country.

Bruns Bakery (pictured) in Brunswick, New South Wales is the titleholder for the country's best vegetarian pie

Finley Bakery & Patisserie nabbed the title of best beef flavoured pie in Australia with its Finley Farmer's Choice pie (pictured)

'On top of this, the pie needs to be one that is actually sold in the shop,' he told Daily Mail Australia last year.

'All entrants need to sign a disclaimer before entering the competition that their pie is not a show pie and then for four to six months after the competition one of us will go in unannounced, buy the pie and make sure it's the right one.'

If the pie is not the same or not being sold in the shop, winners are actually stripped of their title.

'Bakers enter this competition with a lot of heart and soul,' he said. 'People who make show pies and don't show off their proper skills take the credibility out of it.'An accounts assistant was diagnosed with cervical cancer after being too embarrassed to go for a smear test until she was 32 years old.

Gemma Anderson, 34, who works for a firm of solicitors, was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2016 after having her first screening at 32. It is unclear if Ms Anderson was vaccinated against human papillomavirus virus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer.

Ms Anderson, from South Shields, had no unusual symptoms but was urged by her husband to have the check up.

After being diagnosed, she was forced to have her uterus removed and is considering starting a family with her husband via surrogacy or adoption.

Now in recovery, Ms Anderson is speaking out during Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust's smear week campaign to encourage women to go for regular tests, adding there is nothing to be embarrassed about.

In the UK, all women who are registered with a GP after invited for a smear test at 25 years old.

Around 3,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer every year in the UK.

Gemma Anderson was diagnosed with cervical cancer after being too embarrassed to go for a smear test until she was 32 years old. It is unclear if she was vaccinated against HPV

'I can't take my knickers off in front of a stranger'

Ms Anderson, who imagined the smear to be much worse than it turned out to be said: 'Friends had said it was nothing but you just think, "I can't take my knickers off in front of a stranger," The Shields Gazette reported.

After being relieved by how straightforward the procedure was, Ms Anderson was called to go to hospital for a colonoscopy and biopsy, with the results confirming she had cancer.

Ms Anderson said: 'I was in shock. You think it will never happen to you but it does. It still doesn't feel real when I think about it.'

Ms Anderson had no unusual symptoms but was urged by her husband (pictured) to have the check up. Now in recovery, she is speaking out to encourage women to go for smear tests

'I'm slowly building my strength up'

In September 2016, Ms Anderson underwent a radical hysterectomy and lymph node removal by keyhole surgery.

The operation was a success and Ms Anderson, whose cancer did not spread, has been told she does not require further treatment.

She said: 'I've just returned to work and am slowly building my strength back up.'Doctors have been ordered to stop giving antibiotics to patients with sore throats and to tell them to buy paracetamol instead.

Officials say antibiotics dont work for the vast majority of sore throats, but GPs still dole them out in their millions. Experts believe this is contributing to the superbug crisis, with bacteria evolving to become resistant to the drugs.

Guidance by NHS watchdog NICE and Public Health England says GPs should be clear with their patients that antibiotics are unlikely to work.

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Overuse of antibiotics is believed to be contributing towards the superbug crisis, with bacteria evolving to become resistant to the drugs

Sore throats are one of the most common complaints seen by GPs, and in most cases are triggered by a virus against which antibiotics are useless. Yet 60 per cent of patients who complain about a sore throat are given antibiotics, NICE said. The guidance says most patients will get better within a week without treatment, and doctors should tell their patients to buy painkillers such as paracetamol to deal with the pain.

Dr Tessa Lewis, a GP and chairman of the managing common infections guidance committee, said: A sore throat can be very painful, making you feel tired and unwell for about a week. But in most cases antibiotics will not make much difference. Instead, we should drink plenty of fluids and rest. Paracetamol can help to relieve pain and control temperature.

The guidance says some patients will benefit from antibiotics, but usually only if their complaint is caused by streptococcal bacteria, rather than a virus. This can cause tonsilitis and other problems.

But the report spells out how GPs can spot these problems, including whether someone has a fever or inflamed tonsils. A quarter of all antibiotics prescribed by GPs  10million a year  are not actually needed, officials say.

Giving patients too many drugs, particularly for complaints where they are not needed, means bacteria are evolving to become resistant to the treatments.

Health experts have frequently warned that resistance to antimicrobial drugs could cause a bigger threat to mankind than cancer

Superbugs are already breeding at a rapid rate, with increasing numbers of germs evolving to become untreatable with what were previously effective drugs. Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, has warned of a post-antibiotic apocalypse if the problem continues to grow.

Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, of the Royal College of GPs, said: We support the NICE recommendation today that paracetamol or ibuprofen would be the most appropriate first line treatment to manage the pain caused by a sore throat.

NICE says there is little point in using medicated lozenges for a sore throat because they only help to reduce pain by a small amount.

Cough sweets  which contain no drugs  are unproven to work at all.

Strepsils, owned by UK health giant Reckitt Benckiser, is the most sold sore-throat medicine in the world.

It declined to comment but the Proprietary Association of Great Britain, which represents manufacturers of over-the-counter medicine, insisted lozenges were an appropriately safe and effective way to provide relief.A mother-of-two suffered from a rare tropical disease, caught from eating unwashed fruit, bought in the UK, which masked her bowel cancer symptoms for more than two years.

Anna Gilmour, 39, from Esher, Surrey, started losing weight and suffering from diarrhoea in 2015, prompting her to be diagnosed with giardiasis.

After years of bloating and abdominal pain, Ms Gilmour, a Waitrose insight manager, was relieved when they finally eased, only for her discomfort to return around 12 months later.

Ms Gilmour received the 'devastating' news she had a tumour, which her family dubbed 'Sid the sod', after her nurse sister encouraged her to visit a doctor.

She said: 'Cancer has the same symptoms of giardiasis and IBS, so I always thought it was just that.'

After enduring eight weeks of grueling chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour, Ms Gilmour is now cancer free and is speaking out to raise awareness of the condition in young people.

Around 41,200 people get diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK.

Anna Gilmour suffered from a rare tropical disease, caught from eating unwashed fruit, which masked her bowel cancer for more than two years (pictured with her husband Damien, 40)

Ms Gilmour started losing weight and suffering from diarrhoea in 2015, prompting her to be diagnosed with giardiasis and later cancer (pictured with her seven-year-old son Sam)

After weeks of chemotherapy and surgery to remove the tumour, she is now cancer free

THE SYMPTOMS OF BOWEL CANCER, WHICH DEVELOPS FROM POLYPS IN THE COLON AND RECTUM Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom

Blood in stools

A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks

Unexplained weight loss

Extreme, unexplained tiredness

Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50

Have a family history of the condition

Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel

Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease

Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement

'Younger people are being diagnosed so late'

Ms Gilmour said: 'My diagnosis sent us all in the wrong direction.

'When we did look at alternatives, after over a year, we all went down the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) route, as that is in my family.

'It was just unlucky that I got both giardiasis and cancer. What are the odds of that happening?'

After Ms Gilmour was told she would need surgery to remove the tumour and chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells, she headed home to break the news to her sons.

She said: 'Telling them wasn't easy, but for me, it was about being really honest with them, but saying it in a way they understood.

'We called the tumour "Sid the sod", plucked out of thin air, and explained that mummy had a lump in her tummy, meaning she'd have to go into hospital. They were excited because it meant grandma would come for a sleepover.

'When I had chemotherapy, Sam [her seven-year-old son] used Star Wars to help him understand. He said it was like they had removed the death star but there were still drones hanging on.'

Now in remission, Ms Gilmour has recently returned to work and wants to help others understand the symptoms of bowel cancer.

She said: 'I didn't think about bowel cancer, but this shows that it can happen to anyone. I look at the statistics and I know younger people are being diagnosed so late.

'I was lucky and, hopefully, I will continue to build up my strength and get back to normal in 2018, but people need to be aware of the symptoms and doctors need to know that it can happen in younger people.'

Ms Gilmour suffered years of abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea due to her giardiasis (pictured with her mother just before her cancer diagnosis)

When her symptoms finally started to ease, she was shocked when they returned and dismissed them as IBS as a result of giardiasis (pictured with her four-year-old son Oliver)

After visiting a doctor, Ms Gilmour discovered cancer was causing the same symptoms

WHAT IS GIARDIASIS? Giardiasis is a stomach bug that is commonly spread by drinking untreated water abroad or eating food handled by an infected person. Symptoms include: Smelly diarrhoea

Abdominal pain

Flatulence

Smelly burps, like eggs

Bloating

Weight loss Diagnosis may require sending off a stool sample. Treatment is antibiotics for several days, which should cause symptoms to stop in around a week. People are most infectious from the start of their symptoms to two days after they pass. While recovering, drink lots of fluids, wash hands thoroughly, frequently disinfect surfaces, and wash bedding and clothing separately on a hot temperature. Giardiasis is thought to affect around 3,500 people each year in the UK. Approximately 15,000 suffer annually in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advertisement

'I thought it was just IBS'

Ms Gilmour was out with her sister Vicky, 41, who works at London's St Mark's Hospital, when she had to rush to use the toilet.

She said: 'Vicky manages the hospital's Polyposis Registry, which supports families with a history of bowel cancer, who have polyps.

'When someone with that kind of knowledge about bowel disorders tells you, "That poo isn't normal", you tend to do as you're told.'

After giving a stool sample to her doctor, tests revealed Ms Gilmour had giardiasis.

After Ms Gilmour told the doctor her only trip overseas in the past year had been to Majorca with her family, he suggested she had contracted it from unwashed fruit.

She does not know what type of fruit she was eating when she caught the infection or how long after eating it she became unwell.

Ms Gilmour said: 'The doctor told me it can take up to four years to fully recover.'

After several years of experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, they finally subsided, only to return.

Ms Gilmour said: 'I was worried I had IBD. My brother, David, has Crohn's and I had all the same symptoms.

'I felt unwell, but not as bad as when I had giardiasis, so I thought it was just post-infectious IBS.'

She explained the cancer to her children in a way they could understand, calling it 'Sid the sod'

Sam likened her surgery to removing the death star but with drones hanging on

DO I NEED TO WASH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES? It is important to wash fruit and vegetables in water before eating them to remove any residue pesticides that are used to control pests and can be detrimental to human health. Produce is also at a high risk of contamination from dust, dirt and bacteria as most is stored in warehouses, before travelling in containers and being stored again at retailers. Failure to wash fruit and vegetables can cause food poisoning, such as an E.coli infection. It is particularly important to wash off any soil as this is usually where bacteria resides. NHS Choices advises people wash fruits and vegetables under running tap water. The Food Standards Agency also recommends people wash produce before use but adds this will not completely eliminate potentially-harmful residues, only lessen those on the surface. Peeling can be a more effective method, however, this removes fibre and important nutrients, such as vitamin C. Friends of the Earth claims the best way to avoid pesticides in produce is to eat organic fruit and vegetables. Advertisement

'I was only 38. It seemed so young'

When her blood tests for IBD came back clear, Ms Gilmour tried to put it to the back of her mind and headed off to Australia for a dream holiday in December 2016.

Yet, during the trip, her health deteriorated. She said: 'I could barely eat anything. I was bloating like I was six months pregnant.

'My stomach was huge. I called it my "beige buffet" because it was so sensitive, I could only eat plain, beige food. Anything else would cause really bad pain and diarrhoea.

'When I got home, I caught up with my sister, who was worried about me and wanted me to see a private specialist. She thought maybe the giardiasis had done some permanent damage.'

During an appointment with a doctor on Harley Street in March 2017, further blood tests showed her vitamin and iron levels were very low.

Ms Gilmour said: 'I was referred for an urgent colonoscopy, which happened five days later on March 27.

'I was sedated, but awake enough to see what was happening on the screen. I saw an obstruction and asked what it was, only to be told, "That's what is causing your problems".

'I don't think I even thought about cancer. It was only in the waiting room, afterwards, when they brought my sister and my husband in, that I realised I had bowel cancer.

'Cancer has the same symptoms of giardiasis and IBS, so I always thought it was just that. I was devastated. I was only 38. It seemed so young.'

Find more information here.

Ms Gilmour endured eight weeks of chemotherapy, as well as surgery to remove the tumour

Now cancer free, Ms Gilmour has recently returned to work as a Waitrose insight managerNicole El-Safty, of Clacton, Essex, was given the controversial Gardasil jab

A 17-year-old girl claims she has been left paralysed after she was given the HPV jab.

Nicole El-Safty, of Clacton, Essex, said she became 'totally motionless and unable to move' just months after being given the Gardasil vaccine.

The aspiring dancer has been forced to give up her hobby because of the side-effects from the jab, dished out for free to teenage girls by the NHS.

Her story echoes concerns raised by thousands of girls across the world, who say they have suffered adverse reactions to the jab, with two other British girls having come forward last year to reveal they were also left paralysed.

However, health officials across the globe strongly deny there are such devastating effects and warn there is not enough evidence to suggest a link. Known side effects include headaches, fever and nausea.

Studies have repeatedly shown that the vaccine is effective in protecting against HPV, which can lead to several forms of cancer, including cervical, anal and throat.

Extensive reviews by various authorities have concluded the life-saving jab is safe and estimates state it saves thousands of lives in the UK and US each year.

UK campaigners have been up in arms in recent years because the jab is only given to girls between the ages of 12 and 18 on the NHS under a scheme rolled out in 2008 - despite boys also being at risk of HPV. In the US, it is also dished out to young boys.

Speaking of her ordeal for the first time, Miss El-Safty told MailOnline: 'I went from being completely fit and healthy in every way to totally motionless, unable to move.

'It was one day when I spotted a headline on TV about the affects of the HPV virus that alarm bells rang.

I had all the symptoms, including heart problems, severe ulcers and paralysis. Then finding out that infertility was also likely.

Whilst legally my GP couldnt confirm that my suspicions were right, many medics gave me the nod. A standard jab had disabled me for life.

I still keep up my work in local politics and I study law but my main aim is to warn other girls about the jab. Its dangerous and terrifying.

Miss El-Safty, now 22, had been a competitive dancer since she was a child - and spent 18 hours each week practicing.

When did her side effects begin?

But in March 2014, just months after being given the Gardasil jab as part of the NHS scheme, she was left bed-bound and helpless, suffering chronic pain. She wasn't told of any risks.

She added: 'I went back and forth to hospital where after many months of having no idea what had caused my sudden problems, I was diagnosed with sciatic arthritis.

Miss El-Safty became 'totally motionless and unable to move' just months after being given the under-fire vaccine, she claims

But it didnt make sense. I was agile and danced every night but I had to believe that the doctors knew what they were talking about.

'My gut instinct told me that something wasnt right. I felt so low. I barely went out and had to rely on my mum Charlotte for everything.'

Staying at home

Miss El-Safty revealed that other than occasional meetings with her local political party she 'stayed at home' the entire time.

This is where she met her boyfriend, Matt, 29. He has since become her 'biggest support'.

But while Miss El-Safty personal life brought her happiness, her health detriorated further.

She said: 'Weeks later, the left side of my face dropped drastically - and things just got even worse.

'The pain spread down my left arm and all down my back. My face looked like I had had a stroke. It was terrifying.

WHAT IS HPV? THE INFECTION LINKED TO 99% OF CERVICAL CANCER CASES Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with HPV in their lives Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body. Spread through vaginal, anal and oral sex and skin-to-skin contact between genitals, it is extremely common. Up to eight out of 10 people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV infections are common and highly contagious. Many people never show symptoms, as they can arise years after infection, and the majority of cases go away without treatment. It can lead to genital warts, and is also known to cause cervical cancer by creating an abnormal tissue growth. Annually, an average of 38,000 cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed in the US, 3,100 cases of cervical cancer in the UK and around 2,000 other cancers in men. What others cancers does it cause? Throat

Neck

Tongue

Tonsils

Vulva

Vagina

Penis

Anus Advertisement

Speaking of her ordeal for the first time, Miss El-Safty told MailOnline: 'I went from being completely fit and healthy in every way to totally motionless, unable to move'

Miss El-Safty, now 22, had been a competitive dancer since she was a child - and spent 18 hours each week practicing

With her life having changed completely, Miss El-Safty gave up the things she loved.

Having been set to dance professionally, usually dancing 18 hours a week in training, she found herself in 24-hour pain and temporarily in a wheelchair.

What side effects did she have?

Her symptoms graduated to severe gastric issues, hernias, mouth ulcers and memory loss - none of which were symptomatic of her initial diagnosis of arthritis.

It was from her bed one morning, while watching someone talk about the HPV jab on the news, that she put everything into place.

Miss El-Safty, who has now started studying law, added: 'I was in bed watching TV when I heard someone talking about the HPV jab.

'It said that many teenagers were having drastic reactions to the injections ingredients.

'When the list of possible symptoms were read out, I couldnt believe what I was hearing.

I knew it would be hard to prove that this is what had happened to me, but every single thing fell into place.'

IS THE HPV JAB SAFE? HOW THE CONTROVERSY HAS LED TO A DROP IN VACCINATION RATES WHO IS GIVEN THE JAB? All girls aged between 12 and 18 are are offered a free vaccination against HPV by the NHS to help protect them against cervical cancer under a programme launched by UK health officials in 2008. However, boys aren't given the jab. In the US, the CDC recommends for all children to receive the vaccine, which was approved by the FDA in 2010, between the ages of nine and 12. Catch-up jabs are then available for men up to the age of 21 and women up to 26. It's estimated that about 400 lives could be saved every year in the UK as a result of vaccinating girls - while around 30,000 cases of cancer could be avoided in the US each year with the jab, according to figures. WAVE OF ALLEGATIONS However, a wave of allegations over the controversial HPV jab has caused vaccine rates to plummet to as low as 1 per cent in some countries. Anti-vaccine campaigners have the slump, which has badly affected Japan, which had a vaccine rate of 70 per cent just four years ago. They have posted hundreds of unsourced videos online featuring girls in wheelchairs that they claim have been disabled by the jab. The downturn in vaccination rates came after an allegedly fake study on mice linked the vaccine to neurological issues. A wave of allegations over the controversial HPV jab has caused vaccine rates to plummet to as low as 1 per cent in some countries 'PROMOTING PSEUDOSCIENCE' However, the world's leading health officials have repeatedly slammed anti-vaxxers for 'promoting pseudoscience'. Government authorities agree there is no evidence to support a link between HPV vaccination and chronic illnesses. The World Health Organisation, CDC, Public Health England and the European Medicines Regulator have 'extensively reviewed the vaccine's safety'. They concluded there is 'no credible evidence of a link between the HPV vaccine and a range of chronic illnesses'. They warn the vaccine has been proven to be safe in more than 10 years of studies, and it is essential for preventing dozens of HPV-linked cancers. And last year, the revered John Maddox prize for 'sense about science' was awarded to a Japanese researcher who debunked the jab claims. HOW MANY SIDE EFFECTS HAVE THERE BEEN? English health officials received 3,972 'yellow cards' - warnings of side effects - between 2010 and 2013 for the controversial HPV jab Gardasil. In Europe, 11,867 reactions to Gardasil have been recorded up to February 2017, according to The European Medicines Agency. Many report symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome, and cases of girls being left paralysed are rare. Fatalities have occurred, reports also showed. Advertisement

Having been set to dance professionally, usually dancing 18 hours a week in training, she found herself in 24-hour pain and in a wheelchair

Miss El-Safty is pictured seven months after being given the jab trying to stand up using a walking stick. The NHS states that paralysis can 'come and go'

THE 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL LEFT PARALYSED BY THE HPV VACCINE Ruby Shallom suffered spasms and pain A 16-year-old British girl was left paralysed in three limbs after having the HPV jab, it was claimed last year. Back in 2014, Ruby Shallom from Bracknell, Berkshire, was vaccinated at school to protect her against cervical cancer as part of the routine NHS programme. In a controversial documentary she said: 'The only limb that works now is my left arm I still go out and see my friends but the pain and fatigue makes it hard.' Weeks after having the vaccine, the keen horse-rider and runner started to suffer from stomach spasms, dizziness, pain, headaches and fatigue. Her muscles became weaker and in May 2016  two years after she was given the jab  she woke up with no feelings in her legs whatsoever. She is now virtually bed bound  unable to eat, lift or dress herself, incontinent and often too weak to lift her head. Doctors have been unable to diagnose her with anything and have dismissed it as being psychological, refusing to acknowledge any link to the jab. Advertisement

Miss El-Safty is now the member of an online support group called HPV daughters for other women like her.

Wanting to raise awareness

She said: 'Im the ambassador for the group in Essex. It can be a huge relief to be able to talk about things that no-one else understands.

Whilst I would never tell a parent what decision to make about their own child, I cant help want to urge parents to think twice before they let their daughters have the immunisation.

'There is information out there, and whilst side effects arent always as severe as main  many girls go on to experience them.

If one parent reads this and it creates awareness about what could occur, then Im glad I spoke about what my life has become now.

From the age of 12 up until their 18th birthday, all girls in the UK can get the HPV vaccine free on the NHS.

Gardasil protects against two types of HPV, which are responsible for more than 70 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK.

It's estimated that about 400 lives could be saved every year in the UK as a result of vaccinating girls before they are infected with HPV.A series of NHS blunders have caused 137 men to lose one of their testicles in the past six years, according to latest figures.

Some 2.8 million in compensation was dished out to those who were affected by the 'devastating' incidents - around 20,000 each.

The statistics, released by NHS Resolution - which is the litigation authority, revealed some of the most horrific cases that have occurred.

They include the case of an unidentified man who had his healthy testicle removed - rather than the cancerous one.

Another saw his testicle become gangrenous and had to be cut out after reportedly being given the wrong treatment for torsion.

Some 2.8 million in compensation was dished out to those who were affected by the 'devastating' incidents - around 20,000 each

The figures, given to The Sun, prompted concerns by medical negligence lawyers about the long-term effects.

Nicola Wainwright, of law firm Leigh Day, told the newspaper: 'It is devastating, particularly if they are young and not yet in a long-term relationship.

'They are embarrassed having to explain their injury to future partners.

'Its also a tragedy if they are hoping to have a family and are worried about their fertility.'

NHS Improvement said: 'With incidents like this, our organisations examine what happened to understand what went wrong and identify how to improve their care.'

The NHS typically pays out around 20,000 when it admits it is at fault for leaving men as monorchid - the medical term for having just one testicle.

But payments for removing a mans only healthy testicle in a surgical mix-up can be around 70,000 as the individual gets compensation for being left infertile.

Often the compensation figure includes a sum to pay for cosmetic surgery to provide the men with a false testicle.

In 2013, a 48-year-old company director, revealed he was taking legal action against Salisbury District Hospital after he had a healthy testicle removed by mistake.

The unnamed man had gone into theatre expecting a cancerous testicle would be removed, but 40 minutes after the operation a doctor realised the blunder.

The healthy testicle was then frozen, while a plastic surgeon was rushed to the scene and tried to undo the damage. He said he went through 'incredible stress and strain'.

The most common reason for payouts is when medics misdiagnose testicular torsion where the tubes inside the body get twisted cutting off the blood supply.

The condition, which can happen after strenuous exercise, has to be diagnosed quickly as the testicle can be dead within a few hours.

Other claims result from the consequences of hernia operations where the blood supply to the testicle is accidentally cut off in the surgery.Physicians across the US are outraged that the FDA has banned the two top rapid flu tests at the peak of this deadly season leaving them 'begging' distributors for supplies.

The largest medical suppliers in the US are completely out of the rapid flu test kits that detect the virus within 10 minutes after the FDA pulled the top brands from the market on January 12 due to false negatives.

Speaking to Daily Mail Online, President of Dealmed-Park Surgical, the largest medical supply distributor in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, called the situation a 'crisis' and 'can confirm that we have totally exhausted our stock and have physicians begging for product on the phones and need to turn them away.'

While new, more accurate tests are on the market, they are not being produced fast enough to keep up with the high demand this flu season, forcing doctors to resort to three-day blood tests to determine if someone is sick with the flu.

The ban came in the midst of a flu season that is on track to becoming one of the worst in history and has already killed more than 37 children with hospitalizations climbing each day.

The FDA banned two top rapid flu test brands on January 12, 2018 - in the middle of one of the worst flu seasons in recent history leaving physicians begging distributors for supplies

Michael Einhorn, President of Dealmed-Park Surgical, supplies 4,000 physicians offices and urgent care facilities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

He told Daily Mail Online: 'This is something that's been going on for the last three weeks. There's minimal talk about it and it's just a crisis.'

His company shipped out 20,000 to 30,000 rapid flu tests this week alone and has another 20,000 tests on back order that they cannot fill.

'The alternative rapid tests weren't able to ramp up production in time,' Einhorn said.

Fortune-500 distributors Henry Shein and McKesson have been out of flu tests for two weeks and Einhorn said they have reached out to his company asking to lend product.

Last January the FDA downgraded the two rapid flu test kits Osom and QuickVue which detect the flu within 10 minutes through a nasal swab.

Some tests had produced false negatives and the FDA said they were 'performing poorly, resulting in many misdiagnosed cases.'

The CDC notes that rapid influenza testing has a sensitivity ranging from 50 percent to 70 percent, meaning that half of flu cases could come up negative.

On January 12, 2017 the FDA sent out a notice giving manufactures one year to develop new fast-acting flu test kits because by January 12, 2018 the Osom and QuickVue tests would no longer be available.

Einhorn said some physicians and urgent care facilities stocked up on the product before they went off the market and can use the tests until they expire.

But the slow production of the new kits have left doctors offices calling and emailing Einhorn nonstop in desperate need of rapid tests.

Stats released today show the rate of hospitalizations is soaring, not dipping, as the CDC had hoped

THE 2017/2018 FLU SEASON STATISTICS New CDC figures released this week show that this year's flu is is getting worse, not better. Seven more child flu deaths were recorded, bringing the total to 37 this season - but officials believe that number is a wild underestimate. Speaking on Friday, Dr Dan Jernigan, director of the CDC's Influenza Division, said he believes the actual pediatric death toll could be closer to 80, and predicts it will climb to around 150 by the end of March. Schools in at least 11 states are closing to disinfect buildings and quarantine children at home and hospitalizations rates are soaring. The rate of people with influenza-like illness (ILI) has rocketed past the rate of every other year except the unusual November pandemic of 2009 - even eclipsing the deadly 2014/15 season. Advertisement

Physicians are finding alternatives to test for the flu including taking blood samples from patients which take about three days for results.

In some cases, three days of untreated flu-symptoms can be long enough for deadly complications including pneumonia and sepsis to set in.

Einhorn added that the demand for rapid flu tests this year is 'substantially higher' and that doctors are 'burning through them'.

'For a typical flu season we maybe have half of those orders. This season we're doubling our volume with less available product,' he said.

'It's not as easy to buy something else,' Einhorn added. 'The FDA gave them a year but you don't stop [distributing] flu tests in the middle of flu season.'

According to the CDC, at least 37 children have died and hospitalizations have climbed to 41.9 per 100,000 this week.

This year's outbreak is on track to becoming one of the worst flu seasons in recent history due to a deadly strain that has become widespread in 49 states, excluding Hawaii.

The flu is especially dangerous because while most people suffering from the virus experience fever, chills, muscle aches, cough, congestion, runny nose, headaches and fatigue, not all those infected show symptoms.

With three months of flu season left, the CDC is urging everyone to get the flu shot and say it is not too late to protect yourself from the H1N1 and B viruses that are beginning to emerge.Professor Chris Bulstrode was stationed in Sierra Leone during the pandemic of 2014/15

An Oxford University professor who was awarded a CBE for his Ebola aid work has revealed how his neighbour was petrified of him on his return to the UK.

Professor Chris Bulstrode, stationed in Sierra Leone during the pandemic of 2014/15, said the woman 'dropped her dog lead and ran away' after seeing him for the first time since he had been away.

He admitted that returning home after an 'emergency mission' is always a 'tricky change of gear' and can take some getting used to.

Writing in a blog for The British Medical Journal he said: 'I stepped out of my house into the street the next morning to meet my neighbour walking her dog.

'She took one look at me, dropped her dog lead, and ran as fast as she could up the road. I have never seen her run before or since.'

Professor Bulstrode, emeritus professor of orthopaedic surgery at the prestigious university, added: 'It was a splendid sight, and made me roar with laughter for the first time in weeks.'

He was named an honourary Commander of the Order of the British Empire, or CBE, by the Queen in the New Year's Honours of 2016 for his Ebola aid work.

The haemorrhagic fever, considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence, killed at least 11,000 across the world.

It decimated West Africa and spread rapidly over the space of two years, with cases reported in the US.

Many British aid agencies volunteered to help stop the spread of the virus, including nurse Pauline Cafferkey, who was left critically ill by the deadly disease.

The international response to the outbreak drew criticism for moving too slowly and prompted an apology from the World Health Organization.

And Professor Bulstrode blasted the instructions that were given to him for 'delaying and confusing things' to cover the backs of the decision makers.

He claimed the delay 'succeeded in sending a clear message to the Sierra Leoneans' - that African lives were worth less than European ones.

The haemorrhagic fever, considered one of the most lethal pathogens in existence, killed at least 11,000 across the world

Professor Bulstrode also revealed that the full protective clothing he was given in Sierra Leone to protect him from infection 'didn't have an air circulation system'.

He and other medical staff were only able to spend 30 minutes in a quarantined zone nursing patients because they risked collapsing from over-heating.

Writing in the blog, he added: 'In the tropical heat and humidity, within minutes, the suits were virtually unusable. Our visors misted up with sweat, and we overheated.'

'The patients needed fluids but we could only see to put up a cannula for intravenous fluids by looking through the tracks of sweat running down the inside of our visors.'

Professor Bulstrode began working with charity Doctors of the World after retiring as a consultant at the John Radcliffe Hospital in 2010.

He has also been sent to Afghanistan during a nine-month tour to Helmand Province with the army before he retired.

And he was deployed in Haiti to help deal with the devastating aftermath of the 3.4 magnitude earthquake in Haiti in 2010, which killed around 200,000 people.Katharine Gallagher, 27, died on December 5, 2017, in her Tustin, California, home.

The Boston University graduate started experiencing flu-like symptoms on Thursday night and went to the doctor on Sunday where was sent home with antibiotics.

Two days later her boyfriend came home to find her dead on the bathroom floor after she appeared to be getting better that morning .

She had caught severe acute bronchial pneumonia.

Jonah Smith, 17, died December 29, 2017, when his heart stopped beating in the backseat of his sister's car.

His family said he showed no flu-like symptoms except he had complained of a backache, but continued to go to work at a fast-food restaurant and see friends.

After his death, doctors confirmed that the teen from Arizona had the flu and pneumonia and believe he may have suffered from an underlying medical condition, though he was never known to have one.

Kyler Baughmen, 21, became sick on December 23, 2017, with a mild cough and runny nose.

The body builder celebrated Christmas and went back to work December 26, but the following day was rushed to the hospital.

He died on December 28 from kidney failure due to septic shock caused by the flu.

Jeremy Westerman, 27, fell ill with the swine flu around Christmas.

The fitness trainer had symptoms of nausea and lethargy but did not seek treatment.

His parents say he became violently ill on January 2 and went to bed with a high fever and died in his sleep.

He was one of at least 20 to die of the virus in the Dallas-Fort Worth area this flu season.

Katie Oxley Thomas, 40, of San Jose, California, died of the flu just 48 hours of falling ill.

The mother-of-three and marathon runner's condition declined so quickly that she was moved to intensive care, placed on life support and died all in the span of 15 hours on January 4, 2018.

Her family said she had received her flu shot before getting sick.

Jenny Ching, 51, went to the hospital in Massachusetts with flu-like symptoms.

After being diagnosed with the flu she developed an infection and pneumonia.

The mother-of-two died on January 6, 2018, just a week after being diagnosed.

Jonah Rieben, four, died on January 6, 2018, just hours after first showing symptoms, making him the first child to die from the flu in Ohio this season.

The boy who loved to play with his 16 adoptive siblings was born with Noonan syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes heart defects and developmental delays. Doctors are still investigating if his condition contributed to his death.

Jonah's older brother, who also suffers from a disorder, is in the hospital with a severe case of the flu.

Nico Mallozzi, 10, of New Canaan in Connecticut, had been sick and bed-bound all weekend during the hockey tournament in Buffalo, New York, forcing him to miss every game.

Eventually, he was hospitalized and diagnosed with Influenza B, which had developed into pneumonia and caused sepsis.

He died on Sunday January 14, 2018, in a Buffalo hospital.

Zainab Momin, a third-grader of Montgomery, Alabama, died on Tuesday January 16, 2018.

She died in hospital the day her school was closed due to snowy weather.

More details are pending about her specific case and symptoms.

She is the first child to die of the flu in Alabama this season.

Amanda Franks, 38, was killed by the flu on January 17 after being diagnosed just three days prior.

The mother-of-four from New Hampshire was prescribed Tamiflu but did not take it because 'the doctor said the side effects were a lot of times worse than the flu'.

Septic shock set in and she died in the ambulance on her way to the hospital.

Emily Grace Muth, six, was killed by the flu on Friday January 19, 2018.

She first fell ill on that Tuesday and went to urgent care where she received Tamiflu.

By Friday her breathing was labored and her mother called the ambulance but they said to keep her hydrated and she would be okay within a week.

Hours later she stopped breathing and died.

Tandy Harmon, a 36-year-old mother-of-two in Oregon died on Friday, January 19, 2018. She went to the hospital with flu symptoms on Wednesday, but was told to go home to rest and hydrate. Hours later, Harmon was back in the emergency room, where she quickly declined and had to be placed on life support by that evening. Harmon had developed MRSA and pneumonia and died two days later.



Lily Kershaw, 5, died of the flu on January 22 in Nebraska.

She was the first child to die of flu-related causes in the state so far this season, although there have been 21 adult fatalities so far.

More details are pending about her specific case and symptoms.

Dylan Winnik, 12, died of the flu on Tuesday January 23, 2018.

He fell ill two days earlier and his parents thought he had the common cold because his symptoms were mild.

The seventh-grader died two days later.

Dylan is the first flu death in Palm Beach County, Florida, this season.

Timothy Schell, 51, died of the flu on January 31, just days after taking a flight from his home state of Michigan to Colorado.

He suddenly developed symptoms after landing in Colorado where he and his wife, Dana, intended to spend their vacation skiing.

Schell - nicknamed 'Smiley' - was young at heart and always laughing, his obituary said.

Savanna Jessie, seven, was killed by the flu on Thursday February 1, 2018.

The first-grader was found unresponsive in her Columbus, Indiana, home the morning after.

She was taken to the hospital where she received treatment but was sent home and put to bed.

She tested positive for influenza B, strep throat and scarlet fever at the time of her death.

Angie Barwise, a 58-year-old who beat the flu once this season, was killed by another strain of the virus on February 3, 2018.

The grandmother from Fort Worth, Texas, was diagnosed with influenza Type A three days after Christmas and recovered after being prescribed Tamiflu.

She fell ill again weeks later and was diagnosed with influenza Type B, which led to pneumonia and sepsis, killing her.

Jenna Libinsky, 24, died on February 7 in a Las Vegas hospital after coming down with the flu in late January.

She had gone to the doctor five times in eight days after January 25, but wasn't feeling better despite treatment.

After her death, her father Neil said that the family just thought it was a bad chest cold.

Heather Holland, 38 died from the flu on February 11 in Weatherford, Texas.

The mother-of-two hesitated to buy the Tamiflu prescribed by her doctor because, as she told her husband, it 'cost too much'.

Within four days of her diagnosis, Heather's body had gone into septic shock, a condition that ultimately killed her.

Aaron Masterson, 12, was declared brain dead and taken off of life support on February 11.

Aaron, a middle-schooler from Huntsville, Alabama, suffered from cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that damages the lungs and restricts the ability to breathe.

His pre-existing condition weakened his immune system, making his flu diagnosis far more severe and caused him to suffer brain damage.

Aaron was one of more than 63 children to be killed by the flu this season.





Nevaeh Hernandez, six, died from the flu on February 12, in spite of getting vaccinated against the illness.

The first hospital Nevaeh went to reportedly failed to diagnose the virus and sent her home with a 104 degree fever.

After her condition continued to worsen, her mother took her to another hospital where she slipped into a coma.

Her father, who is in armed services and was stationed in Germany, flew home after hearing she was in a coma but she had died by the time he arrived.5 Wacky Myths about Obama

by Tom Murse

Updated March 18, 2017

If you believe everything you read in your email inbox, Barack Obama is a Muslim born in Kenya who is ineligible to serve as U.S. president and he even charters private jets at taxpayer expense so the family dog Bo can go on vacation in luxury.

And then there is the truth.

No other modern president, it seems, has been the subject of so many outrageous and malicious fabrications.

The myths about Obama live on through the years, mostly in chain emails forwarded endlessly across the Internet, despite being debunked over and over again.

Here is a look at five of the silliest myths about Obama:

1. Obama is Muslim.

False. He is a Christian. Obama was baptized at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ in 1988. And he has spoken and written often about his faith in Christ.

"Rich, poor, sinner, saved, you needed to embrace Christ precisely because you had sins to wash away - because you were human," he wrote in his memoir, "The Audacity of Hope."

"... Kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth," Obama wrote.

And yet nearly one in five Americans - 18 percent - believe Obama is a Muslim, according to an August 2010 survey conducted by The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.

They are wrong.

2. Obama Nixes National Day of Prayer

Numerous widely circulated emails claim President Barack Obama refused to recognize the National Day of Prayer after taking office in January of 2009.

"Oh Our wonderful president is at it again .... he has cancelled the national day of prayer that is held at the white house every year .... sure glad I wasn't fooled into voting for him!" one email begins.

That's false.

Obama issued proclamations setting the National Day of Prayer in both 2009 and 2010.

"We are blessed to live in a Nation that counts freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion among its most fundamental principles, thereby ensuring that all people of goodwill may hold and practice their beliefs according to the dictates of their consciences," Obama's April 2010 proclamation read.

"Prayer has been a sustaining way for many Americans of diverse faiths to express their most cherished beliefs, and thus we have long deemed it fitting and proper to publicly recognize the importance of prayer on this day across the Nation.

3."Obama Uses Taxpayer Money to Fund Abortions

Critics claim that the health care reform law of 2010, or Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, includes provisions that make up the broadest expansion of legalized abortion since Roe v. Wade.

"The Obama Administration will give Pennsylvania $160 million in federal tax funds, which we've discovered will pay for insurance plans that cover any legal abortion," Douglas Johnson, legislative director for the National Right to Life Committee, said in a widely circulated statement in July 2010.

Wrong again.

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department, responding to claims that federal money would fund abortions, issued a stern rebuttal to anti-abortion groups.

"Pennsylvania will - and has always intended to - comply with the federal ban on abortion funding in the coverage provided through our federally funded high risk pool," the Insurance Department said in a statement.

In fact, Obama signed an executive order banning the use of federal money to pay for abortion in the health care reform law on March 24, 2010.

If the state and federal governments stick to their words, it does not appear taxpayer money will pay any part of abortions in Pennsylvania or any other state.

4. Obama Was Born in Kenya

Numerous conspiracy theories claim that Obama was born in Kenya and not Hawaii, and that because he was not born here he was not eligible to serve as president. The silly rumors grew so loud, however, that Obama released a copy of his certificate of live birth during the presidential campaign in 2007.

"Smears claiming Barack Obama doesn't have a birth certificate aren't actually about that piece of paper - they're about manipulating people into thinking Barack is not an American citizen," the campaign said.

"The truth is, Barack Obama was born in the state of Hawaii in 1961, a native citizen of the United States of America."

The documents prove he was born in Hawaii. Though some believe the records are phony.

5. Obama Charters Plane for the Family Dog

Uh, no.

PolitiFact.com, a service of the St. Petersburg Times in Florida, managed to track down the source of this ridiculous myth to a vaguely worded newspaper article in Maine about the first family's vacation in the summer of 2010.

The article, about the Obamas visiting Acadia National Park, reported: "Arriving in a small jet before the Obamas was the first dog, Bo, a Portuguese water dog given as a present by the late U.S. Sen Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., and the president's personal aide Reggie Love, who chatted with Baldacci.

Some folks, eager to jump on the president, mistakenly believed that meant the dog got its own personal jet. Yeah, really.

"As the rest of us toil on the unemployment line, as millions of Americans find their retirement accounts dwindling, their hours at work cut, and their pay scale trimmed, King Barack and Queen Michelle are flying their little doggie, Bo, on his own special jet airplane for his own little vacation adventure," one blogger wrote.

The truth?

The Obamas and their staffer traveled in two small planes because the runway where they landed was too short to accommodate Air Force One.

So one plane carried the family. The other carried the Bo the dog - and lots of other people.

The dog did not have its own private jet.Andrea Caldwell's travel insurance claim was rejected, even though she cancelled the holiday when the policy was active

We had a family holiday booked last March to Disneyland in Florida and my father had paid for the whole trip for my brother and me and both of our families.

Before the holiday I only had European travel insurance and therefore I contacted the insurer Insure and Go to buy a worldwide policy.

As we were due to leave on the Tuesday, I bought and paid for the policy on the Sunday and arranged for it to begin on the Monday night at midnight.

However earlier on the Monday evening my father was taken ill, was told he could not travel. Therefore we all decided we could not fly on the Tuesday morning.

Even though I had a worldwide policy, the insurance company rejected my claim because my father was admitted to hospital before the cover started.

He went into hospital around four hours before the policy started but as we only decided on the Tuesday that we weren't going to fly  we had previously thought my father might be able to join us later  I don't understand why the claim wasn't allowed.

The insurer said because my father was taken into hospital before the policy began  even though this was just hours before  I wasn't able to claim on the policy because this would be classed as something I would already have known about, even though we didn't know at that point we wouldn't travel.

I have been to the Financial Ombudsman and had the same response, is there anything I can do now? Andrea Caldwell, via email.

Rebecca Rutt, of This is Money, replies: Travel insurance is designed to cover you should anything go wrong with a trip away.

This includes both things happening on the trip, such as your belongings being damaged or stolen or you falling ill, for example, and anything that might happen beforehand.

When you buy travel insurance, the cover starts from either the moment you buy it, or from the date in which you want it to start.

Anything that happens before that date can't be covered and therefore it's advisable to buy it as soon as you book a trip.

In your case you bought and paid for travel insurance on the Sunday, to go away to Florida two days later, but the policy wasn't due to start until midnight on the Monday.

Your father was then taken ill on the Monday - before the policy was active - and you and your family decided on the Tuesday morning to cancel the holiday.

However, even though the policy was active when you decided to cancel the holiday, the reason for cancelling was something that had happened before the policy was valid and this was the reason your claim was rejected.

Travel insurance is designed to cover you from the moment the policy begins

We contacted Insure and Go and a spokesperson said: 'The medical certificate shows the GP confirmed Mrs Caldwell needed to cancel the holiday on 28.03.16, the day before the policy began.

QUICK MONEY-SAVER: TRAVEL MONEY Heading abroad? Make sure are not wasting cash on hefty bank fees. Most credit and debit cards will charge around 3 per cent for foreign transactions, with extra charges for withdrawing cash abroad. There are several current accounts and credit cards which offer reduced fees or waive overseas charges altogether. Alternatively you could consider a prepaid currency card. FairFX is offering This is Money and MailOnline readers a free MasterCard prepaid card, which usually costs 9.95. For more help deciding on the best method for you, check out our guide here.

'Unfortunately as there had been a medical recommendation to cancel the day before, and Mrs Caldwell was aware she would need to cancel the holiday, we were unable to pay Mrs Caldwell's claim.

'We encourage customers to have their insurance in place - and active - from the day they booked a trip, that way incidents of this nature are covered. We are really sorry we can't do any more on this occasion.'

As you have already approached the Ombudsman about this case, and it has come back in favour of the insurer, unfortunately there is little else you can do.

The insurer is playing by the rules here as it won't cover anything that happened before the policy started.

Your story serves as an important warning to others to show why travel insurance should be arranged as soon as you book a holiday so you are covered from that moment if anything happens.Agreed takeovers have a bad enough record, but that of hostile bids is even worse.

The nadir in Britain was in January 2010 when, after a lengthy battle, Cadbury found it could no longer resist Kraft after hedge funds crowded on to the share register in search of a quick profit.

At the time, this papers reservations were that Kraft was a rapacious American group with little appreciation of Cadburys special place in British life which would destroy jobs, brands and taxes. All of which proved true.

Eight years on, investors face a similar challenge. The UK-quoted group Melrose, which turns around under-performing engineering companies, is ready to hurry investors into a 7billion bid for one of the UKs oldest established and innovative industrial groups, GKN.

Global: GKN is a vital defence contractor in the US making parts for the Black Hawk helicopter (pictured), the F18 fighter and is working on vital avionics for American B21 bombers

No one can fault Melrose on timing. It is taking advantage of a temporary weakness at GKN after accounting difficulties at the companys aerospace components plant in Alabama.

It is a bid which has reminded me of the onset of Lord Hansons audacious raid on ICI in 1991, which was eventually to cost the group its independence and British character.

It also foretold the break-up of the Hanson business after it came to realise that no longer could it rely on ever larger bids and smart accounting to buoy its share price.

Melrose can be faulted on its analysis, tactics and failure to recognise the importance of GKN to Britains manufacturing base in the post-Brexit world.

Trade unions are already bending the ear of Business Secretary Greg Clark over the threat to British jobs and technology if GKN were to be taken over and broken up into smaller, easy to swallow parts and ending up in overseas ownership.

Former business secretary and now Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable is similarly agitated by the prospect of GKN being abandoned. So far nothing suggests that Clark, or Cabinet Secretary Jeremy Heywood, are minded to intervene.

An aloof approach has already cost the motor industry dearly, with Peugeot, unsurprisingly, preparing to slash jobs and production at the former Vauxhall (General Motors) plant at Ellesmere Port.

This in spite of the fact that GM insiders acknowledged before the French deal that it was their most efficient operation in the whole of Europe.

Peugeot was always likely to put French interests above those of Britain, even though in recent years, under Japanese, Indian and German ownership, British car production has excelled.

Melrose is admired by the City because of the ability of chairman Chris Miller and his team to deliver speedy returns from dull assets.

There is nothing dull about GKN. Sure, it might be possible to hollow out the firms headquarters, split off divisions and sell them within three to five years.

That is to ignore the long cycle from the engineering labs, to development and production of much of what GKN does. It is part of a journey which takes eight-to-ten years to pay off.

GKN is a leading contractor on the turbo-fans for next generation civil aircraft engines for both Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney in the US.

Technology for Airbus wings, built in the UK, comes from GKN.

It also is a vital defence contractor in the US making parts for the Black Hawk helicopter, the F18 fighter and is working on vital avionics for next generation American B21 bombers.

Any takeover of the company by Melrose would require a go-ahead from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. There is no obvious reason why it would object to Melrose.

But it could hold up the bid timetable and also require assurances about future ownership, which Melrose might not be able to give.

You know that a bid is not going well when advisers to the predator turn personal.

Melrose has allowed disobliging material about the track record of Anne Stevens, the chief executive of GKN, to filter out.

The real story of Stevens is that she is a committed engineer, as is her spouse and her offspring. She is an excellent person to lead a must-win GKN defence in Britains long-term interest.A takeover of GKN could face delays due to national security concerns abroad.

The Worcestershire-based maker of defence, plane and car parts is under threat from a hostile 7.4billion takeover bid by turnaround specialist Melrose.

But any deal would need to be approved by the USs Committee on Foreign Investment  which focuses on national security concerns  as well as the authorities in France and Germany.

GKN is making parts for the USs F-35 strike fighter as well as its new G-21 stealth bomber.

GKN is making parts for the USs F-35 strike fighter as well as its new G-21 stealth bomber.

Some sources believe a backlog at the US Committee on Foreign Investment (CFIUS) could push the bid back as much as six to eight months.

A spokesman for the US Treasury declined to comment on any backlog but said: Treasury takes the role as chair of CFIUS very seriously, to ensure that it identifies and addresses any national security concerns posed by such foreign investment.

As well as CFIUS, the deal would need the nod from other US agencies, Germanys Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy and the French Ministry of Economy.

A takeover battle erupted on January 8 when Melrose made an approach valuing GKN at 405p per share, then returned with a 430p bid on January 17.

GKN, which employs around 9,000 people in the UK, has rejected the bid as opportunistic and cheap and is putting in place a turnaround plan under chief executive Anne Stevens.Australia has just sweltered through two weeks of an intense summer heatwave, leaving people grappling with imaginative ways to beat the heat.

So as temperatures soar along the east coast once more, Tim Tam have stepped in to help revellers in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast keep it cool.

The beloved biscuit brand has teamed up with Gelato Messina once again to create three delectable summer flavours - Choc Cherry Coconut, Turkish Delight, and Iced Coffee.

Tim Tam have teamed up with Gelato Messina for the second year to cool down Australians over summer

Carly, Georgina, Izzy and Jessie were stoked to pop a packet in their esky as they headed down to Manly Beach to celebrate Australia Day

The new flavours are Choc Cherry Coconut, Turkish Delight, and Iced Coffee

But that's not the only thing that's new.

The sweet treats now come in brand-spanking new packages that change colour once popped in the fridge to let you know when they're the right temperature to cool you down.

And so in honour of this summer favourite making a come-back, those soaking up the sun across the country on Australia Day have been given the chance to sample the much-loved treats straight from a giant Tim Tam fridge.

When the mercury hit 25C on Sydney's Manly Beach today the doors of the huge cooler were flung open to much fan-fare.

Beachgoers flocked to get their hands on the beloved biscuits, unable to wait to try the new summer flavours.

Andres of Baked By Andres said she couldn't wait to incorporate the Turkish Delight flavour into her own cooking

The beloved sweet treats were handed out to hot revellers straight from the giant fridge

David Vu from MKR was down at Sydney's Manly Beach, and said his favourite flavour is Choc Cherry Coconut

The doors of the Tim Tam fridge popped open to much fanfare at midday when the mercury hit 25C

David Vu from MKR was down at Manly, and said his favourite flavour of the new ones is the Choc Cherry Coconut.

'What a combination, plus iced coffee - you can't go wrong with that,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

Giant Tim Tam fridges have also been stationed at Melbourne's QV Shopping Centre and outside The Circle on Cavill Avenue on the Gold Coast.

For the entire Australia Day weekend revellers can head down to these hot-spots and try some of the cool biscuits.

Andres from Baked By Andres said she can't wait to put her own twist on the new Turkish Delight Tim Tam, and work it into some of her own dishes.

Giant Tim Tam fridges have also been stationed at Melbourne's QV Shopping Centre and outside The Circle on Cavill Avenue on the Gold Coast

For the entire Australia Day weekend revellers can head down to these hot-spots and try some of the cool biscuits

'I'll probably eat a whole pack to myself,' Jono Morris aka The Brunch Dude said

All the Manly locals were seen taking the chance to cool down with a packet of the biscuits

'I definitely want to incorporate them into my baking as well, imagine that in a macaron!', she said.

The Brunch Dude, whose real name is Jono Morris, was also on hand to try out the new sweet treats.

'I am a massive Turkish Delight fan, I don't know if it's weird but I actually put them in the fridge as well, the chocolates,'he told Daily Mail Australia.

'So these, which are chilled, and Turkish Delight, they were made for me.

'I'll probably eat a whole pack, have my own little esky, have them on the go all the time,' Jono added.

This is the second year in a row that sweet treat giants Tim Tam and Gelato Messina have joined forces to make the summer better for all Australians.

This is the second year in a row that sweet treat giants Tim Tam and Gelato Messina have joined forces to create a unique range of flavours

Instagram famous baker Andres (second from left) and blogger Raf Ruiz (second from right) were down in Manly to sample the new flavours

The new Tim Tam biscuits are at their best after four hours in the fridge, and the perfect thing to share - but only if you want to

That first crunch is the best thing ever,' lifestyle blogger Raf told Daily Mail Australia

The new Tim Tam biscuits are at their best after four hours in the fridge, and the perfect thing to share on a hot afternoon (but only if you want to).

Blogger Raf Ruiz said the combination of Tim Tam and Messina is 'heaven', and said it's definitely something he will be sharing with friends and family.

'It's like having chocolates on a hot summer day, but it's chilled, that first crunch is the best thing ever,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I'll share, that first packet, the minute you ruffle that package, everyone is like a flock of seagulls.'

Janne (right) and Jesper (left), who are spending their first Australia Day in the country, said they loved the Australian biscuit

The writing on the packets turn a cool shade of blue once put in the fridge

The giant Tim Tam fridges will be helping people keep it cool all weekend

Andres (left) and Raf (right) said the new Tim Tam flavours were an awesome twist on the Australian classic

Locals were equally impressed with the new sweet treats, and Danish couple Janne and Jesper, who are spending their first Australia Day in the country, said they loved the Australian biscuit.

'I love the coffee flavour', Janne said.

Carly, Georgina, Izzy and Jessie were stoked to pop a packet in their esky as they headed down to the beach for the day.

'These are so good', Jessie said of the Iced Coffee Tim Tam flavour.

The good news is that if you missed out on the action today, you can still grab a cool treat over the weekend.

The giant fridges will also be opening their doors on Saturday and Sunday so head down to Manly Beach, the QV Shopping centre and The Circle this weekend to grab a bite of the action.Advertisement

As Australians across the country fire up their barbecue burners, many are unaware of how the humble backyard barbie became an Australia Day tradition.

From colonial pioneer William Wentworth to the soldiers in the trenches. From Prime Minister Gough Whitlam to 'shrimp on the barbie' Paul Hogan, the love of a charred sausage may forever be entrenched in our culture.

Australia's earliest settlers sailed onto the shores in 1788 with colonial ale, high hopes and an early barbecue pioneer.

Paul Hogan put Australia's barbie on the world map. Australian tourism advertisements in the 1980s promoted the Australian way of life as being outdoors and gathering with mates over an outdoor barbecue. The phrase 'throw another shrimp on the barbie' became a world-wide sensation after this advertisement in 1984

Australia even threw a barbecue for The Queen. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II came to Australia as part of the Royal Tour in 1970 and was treated to this barbecue feast at the grounds of Government House in Canberra

William Wentworth was the son of a convict, a cross-country explorer, an early politician and a man with an aspiration to barbecue.

He pioneered the first expedition across the Blue Mountains to the grazing lands of inland New South Wales.

He called for free speech and self-government for the Australian colonies.

He called for the dismissal of the wealthy and corrupt Governor Ralph Darling.

Colonial explorer William Wentworth's famous public barbecue is remembered in this 1927 newspaper column. It reads: 'Send me, gods, a whole hog barbecued ... The first barbecue ever held in Australia was nearly 100 years and it was one unique in the history of the British Empire. It's purpose was to celebrate the freedom of the Press and the right of free public speech'

And in 1831 he called for the nations first national barbecue.

And as Governor Darling sailed back to England, in a glorious synergy of our nation's finest qualities - free speech and a barbecue - the early Australians held up their glasses and threw a public barbie.

As Australia grew, the train lines and roads stretched further inwards, the towns grew into cities and life on a penal colony began to thrive.

Australians worked hard creating this new life in the 20th century. With more leisure time and year-round warm weather, domestic comforts were brought into the weekend. The penchant for picnics, barbecues and camping had just begun.

Australians even took their enthusiasm for the barbecue to the war. When they weren't fighting from the trenches, soldiers across the country shared the dining tradition across the world with the Allied soldiers.

Australians even took their enthusiasm for the barbecue to the war. These Australian soldiers in Darwin pass the time grilling sausages in a makeshift barbecue in 1943

When they weren't fighting from the trenches, soldiers across the country shared the dining tradition across the world with the Allied soldiers. Australian and American soldiers share a giant bone at the R.A.A.F. Beaufort squadron barbecue in 1944

After the Second World War European immigration increased dramatically in Australia. In particular, large numbers of Italians from agricultural backgrounds sailed into Australia with olive oil and a shared love for alfresco dining.

In the 1950s Australians didn't have access to European food and with the arrival and use of olive oil, we were on our way to champion the barbecue cuisine.

Many migrants worked extremely long hours and reserved Sunday to spend with the family. Increasingly, families took their meals outside.

Australians worked hard creating this new life in the 20th century. With more leisure time and year-round warm weather, domestic comforts were brought into the weekend. One of Australia's earliest images (left) taken in 1895 on a glass plate negative, depicts a picnic scene at Freshwater beach, Sydney. On the right, a typical Australian Sunday lunch outside the Colallilo family home of recent Italian-Australian immigrants, in Hoxton Park, NSW, 1950

In 1953 the Australian Womens Weekly told Australians how to build a backyard brick barbecue and in the mid 60s, gas had arrived. This woman takes over the barbecue duties, using a popular gas grill in 1954. Gas-fueled barbecues popped up in parks all over the country

Essential items such as baskets, cups and plates could be bought from Store Catalogues of the late 1800s and early 1900s, like those of Anthony Hordens and later David Jones.

After the Second World War European immigration increased dramatically in Australia. In particular, large numbers of Italians from agricultural backgrounds sailed into Australia with olive oil and a shared love for alfresco dining.

In 1953 the Australian Womens Weekly told Australians how to build a backyard brick barbecue and in the mid 60s, gas had arrived.

Gas-fueled barbecues popped up in parks all over the country.

If a man had a patio, a set of tongs and a charcoal grill, he became a neighbourhood hero.

In a suspected barbecue incident, former Prime Minister Harold Holt went for a swim in 1967 and just never came back. Such is the power of the barbecue.

Previously a public spectacle, the barbecue slowly became synonymous with the backyard family home and is now an integral part of the Australian way of life. This photo shows a typical suburban family backyard in 1968

As barbecues became a feature of public parks, more and more Australians made gathering for a barbecue at the park a social occasion. These group of friends meet for a barbecue in a park in Victoria in 1967

Australia's proudest bogan, Paul Hogan of Crocodile Dundee, put Australia's barbie on the world map in 1984. 'Throw another shrimp on the barbie!', he told the world in an Australian tourism advertisement.

The Aussie barbecue is a glorious reflection of an attitude past and present - one that brings us all together and sits us in the sizzling sun.

So who says Australia has no culture? We have the barbecue. The glorious grill. The Colosseum of public life. The parkland town hall.

God bless this country and throw me a burnt sausage.

The love of a charred sausage may forever be entrenched in our national psyche.

Serving sausages with a smile: Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard (left) takes charge of the grill in Toowoomba. Bill Shorten (right) gleefully tucks into a sausage sandwich in Strathfield, a classic Aussie favourite!

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull gloves up while former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd makes sure his sausages are always served appropriately - with condiments

Australia Day celebrations in 2016 on the flight deck of HMAS Adelaide which docked on Sydney Harbour providing a barbecue feast



Police are carrying out investigations into four cases of MPs' expenses abuses - with prosecutors considering whether to charge one politician.

Scotland Yard has been conducting probes into the cases for up to two years, but the individuals have never been named.

The investigations, uncovered by MailOnline, raise fresh concerns about the levels of secrecy surrounding allegations about politicians.

Two of those under investigation are thought to have stood as candidates in the general election last year.

The Commons expenses system has been radically tightened since the scandal that rocked Westminster to its foundations in 2009 (file picture)

Two of those under investigation are thought to have stood as candidates in the general election last year

Former sleaze watchdog Sir Alistair Graham said it was wrong that voters were being denied crucial information about their elected representatives.

'They are innocent until proven guilty. But if there is sufficient evidence to refer it to the police then that is something people need to know,' Sir Alistair said.

The Commons expenses system has been radically tightened since the scandal that rocked Westminster to its foundations in 2009.

But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) has previously come under fire for the refusal by its compliance officer to name MPs facing allegations about abuses.

Dozens of complaints have been subject to lengthy probes by the watchdog, including in many cases sifting through significant volumes of evidence.

But the individuals have avoided identification because they were classed as 'assessments' instead of 'investigations'.

By contrast the Commons standards commissioner is more transparent, identifying politicians as soon as they are satisfied there is a prima facie case against them.

In 2015 Ipsa sparked controversy by burying the fact that it had referred three expenses cases to the police in a few paragraphs on page 74 of its annual report.

The individuals have still not been formally identified, as police did not bring charges, although one female aide received a caution for fraud by false representation.

FOUR POLICE PROBES INTO COMMONS EXPENSES ABUSES Officers from the Mets Special Enquiry Team assessed an allegation of fraud reported by two separate members of the public in February 2016. An investigation was launched in January 2017. A 50-year-old man was interviewed under caution on 2 March 2017. A file has now been passed to the CPS. In February 2016, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. The matter is currently under assessment by officers from the Special Enquiry Team. In August 2016, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. The matter is currently under investigation by officers from the Special Enquiry Team. On 28 November 2016 a letter was received to the Commissioners office concerning an allegation expenses fraud. This matter is currently under investigation by officers from the Special Enquiry Team.' Advertisement

Police said two of the latest four cases were referred to them by Ipsa - one in February 2016 and another in August that year - raising questions about why the watchdog has not disclosed the fact.

An Ipsa spokesman insisted it had not made referrals, suggesting that there had merely been liaisons with police about expenses complaints.

According to Scotland Yard, another probe into suspected fraud was triggered by concerns raised by two members of the public in February 2016.

A full-blown investigation was launched in January last year, and a 50-year-old man was interviewed under caution in March. Prosecutors are now considering a file on whether to bring charges against the individual, believed to be a former MP.

A fourth expenses fraud investigation was sparked by a letter to the forces commissioner in November 2016.

Before February 2016, all MPs who were arrested had to be named in the Commons.

In the 2010-2015 parliament several politicians were identified in this way, including Tory MPs Nigel Evans and David Ruffley. Mr Evans was later cleared of sexual offences and Mr Ruffley cautioned for assault.

Green MP Caroline Lucas was arrested during an anti-fracking protest and later cleared of obstruction.

But the convention was dropped, with MPs insisting it was an intrusion on their privacy and nodding the change through without a vote.

Sir Alistair, a former chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said there should be more 'transparency' around expenses allegations against MPs.

'It is information the public needs to know if these MPs are continuing to participate in debates in parliament or sit on certain committees. It is important background information.'

Setting out details of the investigations in answer to requests from MailOnline, a Met spokeswoman said: Officers from the Mets Special Enquiry Team assessed an allegation of fraud reported by two separate members of the public in February 2016.

'An investigation was launched in January 2017. A 50-year-old man was interviewed under caution on 2 March 2017. A file has now been passed to the CPS.

Sir Alistair Graham, former chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, said there should be more transparency

'In February 2016, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. The matter is currently under assessment by officers from the Special Enquiry Team.

'In August 2016, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) made a referral to the Met in relation to possible expense claims irregularities in relation to an individual. The matter is currently under investigation by officers from the Special Enquiry Team.

On 28 November 2016 a letter was received to the Commissioners office concerning an allegation expenses fraud. This matter is currently under investigation by officers from the Special Enquiry Team.'As millions of Christians finish celebrating Shrove Tuesday, also known as 'Pancake Day', their attention will turn to Lent - a religious period that lasts 40 days and comes before Easter.

Its a time of reflection and when many people decide to abstain from things like chocolate and smoking and take up certain food fasts.

But what is Lent and when does it start? Here, all the information on Lent including the meaning behind it, why Western and Eastern Churches observe Lent at different times and when it ends.

When is Lent 2018?

Lent starts on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter and the day after Shrove Tuesday. In 2018, Lent will begin on Wednesday, February 14. That is because Easter 2018 starts on April 1.

Lent is a religious 40-day period celebrated by Christians that begins on Ash Wednesday

Lent dates vary year to year, sometimes starting in March as opposed to February. In 2017, Lent started on March 1.

However, Eastern Orthodox churches observe Lent differently, with the religious period starting on the Monday of the seventh week before Easter, known as Clean Monday. Clean Monday in 2018 falls on February 19. Easter begins on April 8 for Eastern Orthodox churches.

What is Lent?

Lent is a 40-day Christian religious period that comes before Easter. Although it technically lasts for 46 days, Western Churches do not count the Sundays during the period.

It is a time of solemnity and fasting during which many people abstain from festivities and certain foods such as chocolate and fast food.

Why do people fast for Lent and why does it last 40 days?

The reason why people fast for Lent and abstain from festivities is because Lent is meant to be a reflection on, and reenactment of, Jesuss suffering during the 40 days he spent in the desert being tempted by Satan.

Lent is 40 days long because that is how long Jesus spent in the desert being tempted by Satan

The number 40 is significant throughout the Old and New Testaments. Just as Jesus spent 40 days in the desert running up to his crucifixion in Rome, he also spent 40 days fasting in the Judean desert before beginning his ministry.

In the Old Testament, in Genesis, the flood lasted for 40 days, while the Jewish people wandered through the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land.

When does Lent end?

Lent doesnt actually end on Easter Sunday. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends around six weeks later, on the Thursday before Easter Sunday, known as Holy Thursday or Maundy Thursday.

Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper of Jesus Christ.

The Lent 2018 Holy Thursday falls on March 29.

However, for Eastern churches Lent ends on Palm Sunday, which is on March 25. This day marks Jesuss return to Jerusalem prior to The Last Supper.Pictured here is Delaware attorney Jeffrey J. Clark who referenced a 'credible' report that Reynolds had died in Maryland after the convict failed to show in court

A 45-year old man from Delaware, who is guilty on seven rape-related counts, might be dead after he didn't show up in court Wednesday at Kent County Superior Court.

A jury found 45-year-old William L. Reynolds guilty on all seven counts, which include first-degree rape with injury that allegedly took place in November 2016.

The Maryland man failed to show in court and Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Clark ordered a writ for his arrest.

After the verdict was issued, Clark referenced a 'credible' report that Reynolds had died in Maryland and ordered Reynolds' bail revoked.

Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson told Clark an investigator was trying to confirm Reynolds' status. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Dickerson and defense attorney Jaime L. Walker had agreed jury deliberations should continue despite Reynolds' absence.

Defense attorney Jaime L. Walker said the seven felony charges against Mr. Reynolds should still be investigated.

Jurists returned to the courtroom briefly and Judge Clark answered questions they had regarding counts and specific alleged acts involving the defendant.

The jury then left to continue deliberations and a recess was ordered.

Pictured here is Kent County Superior Court where 45-year-old William L. Reynolds failed to show up at on Wednesday

Convicted charges included five counts of first-degree rape with injury, and single counts of third-degree rape with injury and strangulation.

The date of offense was listed in court documents as November 4, 2016, an arrest came on December 6, 2016 followed by an indictment on March 6, 2017.

Four trial dates were postponed in 2017 including June 5, July 18, September 19 and December 18.

At least 20 spectators sat in on the proceedings, roughly half behind the defense table side of the courtroom, the other half behind prosecutors.A famous Chinese panda breeding centre has been accused of animal maltreatment after visitors claimed its bears were so ill their black eye circles had turned white.

Chinese internet users claimed that the pandas had parasites and feared that the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base had not given them proper care.

In response, the research centre, which keeps 113 pandas, said they had noticed the situation and their experts are trying to find out what had caused the loss of the black fur on the bears.

A picture posted by a web user on January 19 shows one panda lying on the ground poor while its black eye circles had turned white. The user said the panda was in Chengdu, China

The user, apparently horrified, claimed that the panda had suffered from skin irritation caused by mites. The viral pictures have caused major concerns among the Chinese public

Three of the pictures were posted on January 19 on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter.

In the pictures, a panda was lying on the ground and its black eye circles had faded.

The Weibo user claimed to have seen the panda at the Chengdu centre, in south-west China, and was horrified by its apparent poor health.

The user also claimed that the ill panda suffered from skin irritation caused by mites, a type of parasite.

Further pictures were posted by another user on January 23 who claimed that the panda in the images was two-year-old Xiao Ya.

The pictures were quickly shared sparking rumours that the state-funded centre had been abusing the animals.

Web users also criticised the centre for forcing pandas to take pictures with tourists to earn money.

Further pictures were posted by another web user who claimed to have visited the panda at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base in south-west China's Sichuan Province

The panda is said to be Xiao Ya, a two-year-old male bear that is being looked after by the Chengdu centre. The health condition of the previous animals have sparked controversy

The Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base said they had noticed the situation and their experts are trying to find out what had caused the loss of the black fur on the bears

Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Base is the world's largest artificial breeding population of captive pandas.

The base yesterday responded to the allegations amid controversy.

In press conference, the centre denied the allegations of animal abuse. It also said they had not run paid photography programmes with pandas.

Wang Chengdong, a panda expert working for the centre, said they were aware of the situation, but hadn't found out the cause of the symptoms.

The centre has denied allegation of animal abuse in a press conference yesterday. The above file picture shows one cub walking in the centre situated in south-west China's Sichuan

An expert from the centre said eight pandas at the centre sustained 'whitening eye circles' and were being looked after. The centre has the world's largest panda population in captivity

Mr Wang said eight pandas at the centre sustained 'whitening eye circles', and vets had taken sample from around their eyes for lab examination.

The centre said the eight pandas had healthy appetites and were healthy in all other regards.

The centre added that it was waiting for results of the examination.

This is not the first time Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base has been accused of poor treatment of pandas.

In July last year, three of their workers were caught violently handling bear cubs.

The keepers were seen dragging two bear cubs along the ground, pushing them away and throwing them in the air and on the floor on a CCTV video.

Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda claimed its workers were trying to keep the cubs inside their enclosure and the workers were scratched and bit by the baby pandas during the process.

A spokesman from the centre told the media the two cubs, Yuanyue and Meilan, wanted to follow their playmates and keepers had a hard time keeping them inside the room, and that was when the workers dragged the bears by force.Failed senator Roy Moore has sent an email begging supporters for money to help fight a court battle against one of the women who accused him of sex assault.

Moore, who lost the Alabama seat to Doug Jones after being accused of attacking multiple women while they were teenagers, said in the message that the legal battle may cost him $250,000.

The email adds that Moore has 'very limited' resources to fight the defamation lawsuit brought by Leigh Corfman, who says Moore molested her when she was 14.

Roy Moore has sent an email to supporters begging for $250,000 to fight a defamation lawsuit brought by sex assault accuser Leigh Corfman

Corfman, who says Moore attacker her in 1979 when she was 14, has filed a defamation lawsuit against Moore after he branded her a 'liar' and 'immoral'

Corfman filed suit against Moore and his campaign earlier this month for calling her a 'liar' and 'immoral' as the politician denied her claims.

The suit says she wants Moore to stop trashing her name in public and seeks legal costs, but does not seek damages.

Corfman said it was early in 1979 when Moore, then a 32-year-old assistant district attorney, touched her sexually during an encounter.

She says that Moore first approached her as she waited outside a custody hearing at the Etowah County courthouse and that she later met Moore before he took her to his home.

While there Moore took off Corfman's shirt and pants and removed his clothes except for his underwear before touching her over her bra and underpants, she says.

Two of Corman's friends from the time recall that she mentioned seeing an older man, with one saying she identified that man as Moore.

Corman also told her mother about the encounter a year later as Moore was becoming known as a judge.

Despite being backed by the RNC and President Trump, Moore lost the Alabama senate race to Doug Jones, marking the first time in 25 years that a Democrat has held the seat

Corfman says Moore took her to his home where he removed her clothes and fondled her on top of her bra and underwear. He denies the claims

After she came forward with the allegations, his campaign issued a statement saying: 'We look forward to transparently discussing these matters in a court of law.'

Moore's campaign was roiled by the accusations as he sought the U.S. Senate seat previously held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Moore, who was backed by the RNC and President Trump, lost the race to Doug Jones, the first Alabama Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate in 25 years.

The lawsuit was filed a day after Jones was sworn in as a member of the Senate.

The lawsuit cites numerous statements made by Moore and his campaign staff and surrogates denying the allegations and accusing her of not telling the truth.

Moore on several occasions denied knowing Corfman. In a church speech, he dismissed the misconduct allegations against him as 'dirty politics.'

Moore, who filed an unsuccessful lawsuit seeking to stop the certification of the Alabama election, submitted an affidavit saying the accusations were false and malicious and that he passed a polygraph test.

'Mr. Moore's continued attacks against Ms. Corfman after the election and the content of his affidavit demonstrate that if not enjoined, he will continue to defame Ms. Corfman, if simply for the purpose of furthering his political goals,' Corfman's attorney wrote in the lawsuit.Susan Dubois Marcinko, 61, has been charged with reckless manslaughter in the death of her 91-year-old father last October in Sun City West, Arizona

Susan Dubois Marcinko, 61, has been charged with reckless manslaughter in the death of her 91-year-old father last October in Sun City West, Arizona

An Arizona woman has been charged with reckless manslaughter following the death of her 91-year-old father.

Susan Dubois Marcinko, 61, told police she found her father dead inside the courtyard of his Sun City West home last October.

The elderly man died from blunt force trauma and had more than 20 rib fractures.

Marcinko told authorities that she and her father had argued and physically fought on October 4 and October 13.

He had been hospitalized after the first fight, according to AZ Central.

The woman claims that her father had Alzheimer's and dementia and did not remember that he allowed Marcinko's boyfriend to live with them in the home.

She also said that her father would believe she was his wife and would make sexual advances toward her.

She claimed that both fights began after her father attacked her from behind.

In order to restrain him, Marcinko alleges that she sat on her father's hip area and held his arms down so that he wouldn't hit her.

Her boyfriend said he saw Marcinko sitting on her father's chest during their deadly fight October 13.

The elderly man died from blunt force trauma and had more than 20 rib fractures

She told investigators during a January 22 interview that she tried to restrain her father for 15 minutes.

Then, she dragged him by his ankles to the courtyard so he could 'get some fresh air'.

He was found dead in the courtyard the next day.

When she came back inside, she cleaned up 'multiple blood marks'.

Bail has been set at $30,000 and her preliminary hearing is on February 2.Pothole-related breakdowns have jumped by more than ten per cent, new figures show.

The RAC was called to 2,830 vehicles with faults likely caused by poor quality road surfaces between October and December last year, compared with 2,547 in the same period in 2016.

The firm warned that the condition of many roads is hanging in the balance.

Potholes can damage a car's suspension, shock absorbers and wheels

While potholes are a menace to four-wheels vehicles, they are especially dangerous for cyclists and motorbike riders (Stock image)

There is potential for another sharp rise in potholes by the spring if there is a spell of particularly wet or cold weather, it added.

Driving into potholes can cause broken suspension springs, damaged shock absorbers and distorted wheels.

The RACs pothole index, based on a 12-month rolling average of breakdown numbers, indicates that road quality has steadily declined over the last year and a half.

Its chief engineer David Bizley believes most drivers will view the figures with concern.

He said: Potholes are a menace for drivers and indeed for all road users. They represent a serious road safety risk and anyone who has driven into one will know it can be a frightening experience, not to say a potentially costly one.

'For those on two wheels it can be genuinely life-threatening.

Road quality has steadily declined over the last year and a half, the RAC said

Councils say they do not get enough money from the government, and are often forced to carry out short term fixes rather than properly repair damaged roads

The Local Government Association said on Thursday that motorways and major trunk roads in England are receiving 52 times more government funding per mile than local roads maintained by councils.

The LGAs findings have fuelled concern among motoring campaigners about the state of local roads.

Councils have come under fire for failing to repair potholes and ignoring complaints from residents.

But they say they claim they are simply not getting enough money from the government, and are often forced to carry out short term fixes rather than properly fixing damaged roads.

Councils are prioritising major roads with the funding they do receive from central government

The LGA says councils need 12 billion repair bill, to carry out more than a decades worth of road repairs.

It has urged the government to give local councils an extra 1billion a year to patch up roads by allocating them 2p per litre from fuel duty.

The LGAs transport spokesman, Martin Tett, said: Councils are fixing a pothole every 19 seconds despite funding pressures. They want to do more but are trapped in an endless cycle of patching up our deteriorating network.

Local roads make up 98 per cent of the countrys road network, which stretches for a total of almost a quarter of a million miles.

Around two thirds of journeys are also made on local roads, with the remainder on motorways and major A roads.

The Government has rejected criticism from councils arguing that is spending a record 23billion in improving Britains road network between 2015 and 2021.

When capsules are added to the asphalt, they allow it to 'self heal' which could provide a much cheaper way of filling potholes

It says it is up to councils how they allocate funding, and it is also up to them what repairs are undertaken.

Official figures published last week showed that councils themselves are prioritising major roads with the funding they do receive from central government.

Spending on local roads fell 23 per cent to 1.87billion between 2011 and last year.

But local councils increased spending on the major A roads and motorways they manage by a fifth to 1.43billion over the same period.A journalist has revealed a 13-year-old photo of Barack Obama posing with the Nation of Islam's leader that was kept under wraps in order to protect the former president's career.

Askia Muhammad snapped the photo of Obama smiling alongside Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan during a Congressional Black Caucus meeting in 2005.

Muhammad, who revealed the photo on Thursday, told the Trice Edney News Wire that he 'gave the picture up at the time and basically swore secrecy' out of concern that it could have 'made a difference' and damaged Obama's political future.

The former president was an Illinois Senator at the time the photo was taken.

The picture was also taken before conspiracy theories developed that Obama was not born in the United States and is a Muslim.

Journalist Askia Muhammad has released a 13-year-old photo of former president Barack Obama posing alongside the Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan (right)

Muhammad, who revealed the photo on Thursday, said he 'gave the picture up at the time and basically swore secrecy' out of concern that it could have 'made a difference' and damaged Obama's political future. Farrakhan is pictured in October 2015

Muhammad told the news site that the photo was kept a secret until after Obama secured the Democratic nomination to run for president and 'all the way up until the inauguration'.

'Then for eight years after he was president, it was kept under cover,' Muhammad said. 'It absolutely would have made a difference.'

Muhammad recalled on Thursday that a 'staff member' for the CBC contacted him 'sort of in a panic' after he took the photo.

'I sort of understood what was going on,' Muhammad told Talking Points Memo, which published the photo Thursday.

Muhammad said he 'promised and made arrangements to give the picture to Leonard Farrakhan', the minister's son-in-law and chief of staff.

He said he gave away 'the disk' from his camera but 'copied the photograph from that day onto a [computer] file.'

'Realizing that I had given it up, I mean, it was sort of like a promise to keep the photograph secret,' Muhammad said.

Muhammad told the site that he was afraid the photograph would be 'damaging politically' if it were released and feared the possibility of someone breaking into his apartment looking for it.

Muhammad said the photo was kept a secret until after Obama secured the Democratic nomination to run for president and 'all the way up until the inauguration'. Obama, former first lady Michelle Obama, former VP Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden during 2009 Inauguration

Farrakhan (pictureed in November 2017) is a minister who leads the Nation of Islam and has made Anti-Semitic remarks in the past

He said he 'felt a little bit more at ease' after Farrakhan claimed in 2016 that Obama visited his home in Chicago.

Muhammad contacted Farrakhan in autumn 2017 with the 'final manuscript' for a self-published book containing the photo.

Farrakhan is a minister who leads the Nation of Islam and has made Anti-Semitic remarks in the past.

In March 2016, Farrakhan praised then-presidential candidate Donald Trump as the only candidate who hadn't taken money from the 'Jewish community'.

Throughout Obama's presidential campaign, conservatives pushed multiple conspiracy theories about Obama's religion and supposed ties to Islam.

At a 2008 presidential debate in Cleveland, Obama said he had 'been very clear' in his 'denunciation' of Farrakhan's remarks in the past.Courtland Sykes is running for Senate in Missouri and released a full statement on his views of women's rights

A Republican Senate candidate has been criticized for a sexist post where he called feminists 'she devils' and said he demands his fiance cook him dinner every night.

Courtland Sykes, who is running in Missouri, took to Facebook on Tuesday to reiterate a statement he previously made in September 2017.

He starts off by saying that his fiancee Chanel had given him 'orders' to favor women's rights, so he'd 'better'.

'But Chanel knows that my obedience comes with a small price that she loves to pay anyway: I want to come home to a home-cooked dinner at six every night, one that she fixes and one that I expect one day to have daughters learn to fix after they become traditional homemakers and family wives  think Norman Rockwell here and Gloria Steinem be damned,' he said in the post.

His comments ignited a social media firestorm with many slamming the Republican for his sexist and antiquated views.

'This is an actual statement. From a Republican Senate candidate. In 2017. Not a gaffe. A deliberate, typed out, posted statement. Wow, Courtland Sykes. Just wow,' CNN commentator Sally Kohn said on Twitter.

He starts off by saying that his fiancee Chanel (pictured) had given him 'orders' to favor women's rights, so he'd 'better'.

Sykes, who campaigned for accused child molester Roy Moore in Alabama, said in his statement that he does not 'buy into radical feminism's crazed definition of modern womanhood' and that 'They made it up to suit their own nasty, snake-filled heads.'

He then launched into a criticism of Hillary Clinton.

'Modern women can BE anything they want, including traditional women  as millions are fast becoming. Millennial women voters despised Hillary and cost her the election (and they weren't Russians!). I wonder why they despise her? One reason is they look at her personal life's wreckage and didn't want to become like her,' he said.

Sykes, who campaigned for accused child molester Roy Moore in Alabama, said in his statement that he does not 'buy into radical feminism's crazed definition of modern womanhood' and that 'They made it up to suit their own nasty, snake-filled heads'

He said he wants his fiancee to cook him dinner every night and that feminists are 'she devils'

He ended his statement by saying: 'I support women's rights, but not the kind that has oppressed natural womanhood for five long decades - the kind of wrongheaded "women's rights" that allows mean-spirited radical feminists to use political correctness and their little broom label of "sexist" to define womanhood and women's rights for me, for my family, for you and your family or for my country and the world.'

The comments were part of an 11-page statement sent to the St. Louis Dispatch last September.

With voters aged 18 to 44, Clinton outperformed Trump 53 percent to 39 percent, according to exit polls.

Sykes is an avid Trump supporter, but the controversial politician has not endorsed him, instead choosing to back Missouri's GOP Attorney General Josh Hawley.

Sykes hopes to unseat Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill.Vegan activists are fuming after Yarra Trams cancelled their ads at the last minute, ruining the centrepiece of their Melbourne campaign.

The eight-week 'animal equality' Be Fair Be Vegan campaign began on January 15, timed to coincide with the Australian Open.

Featuring provocative images of animals alongside vegan slogans, campaign ads were to be featured on a tram passing busy Flinders Street Station.

Vegan activists are fuming after Yarra Trams cancelled their ads at the last minute, ruining the centrepiece of their Melbourne campaign (pictured is an artist impression of the tram ad)

The eight-week 'animal equality' Be Fair Be Vegan campaign (pictured) began on January 15, timed to coincide with the Australian Open

Featuring provocative images of animals alongside vegan slogans, campaign ads were to appear on a tram passing busy Flinders Street Station (pictured is one of the ads)

Only days before the rolling billboard was scheduled to appear, Yarra Trams pulled out, saying the ads did not comply with their guidelines, The Age reported.

'They could have told us right away that they wouldn't do it,' said Be Fair Be Vegan spokesperson Angel Flinn.

'It took us a long time to get that answer, so we ended up losing out, but we are hoping that this incident will cause people to see the hypocrisy.'

Yarra Trams' guidelines prohibit ads for political or activist campaigns, or show images showing violence against animals or that demean or denigrate animals.

'Yarra Trams provided feedback about how the artwork could be modified to adhere to our advertising guidelines, and we are yet to receive revised artwork,' said a spokersperson for Yarra Trams.

Campaign designer Joanna Lucas said they did not receive a message about artwork feedback.

Only days before the rolling billboard was scheduled to appear, Yarra Trams pulled out, saying the ads did not comply with their guidelines (pictured is one of the ads)

'As a matter of fact, we even asked at the very last minute if we could change the creative,' she said.

'Throughout the entire process we made it clear to everyone that we would have been happy to alter the artwork, as we very much wanted the tram to go ahead.'

Yarra Trams was not the only organisation to refuse to run the ads, with oOh! Media and QMS also declining to be involved with the campaign.

'It's hard to imagine advertisers are subject to such restrictions when their ads show animal bodies on a barbecue or on the end of a hook,' Ms Flinn said.

'They could have told us right away that they wouldn't do it,' said Be Fair Be Vegan spokesperson Angel Flinn (pictured is one of the ads)

The campaign chose Melbourne as it is one of the world's most vegan-friendly cities, but claimed their efforts had met with 'considerable censorship'.

The slogan set to run on the tram said: 'See them for who they really are, not what we force them to be. All prejudice is learned, it's time to unlearn speciesism'.

Be Fair Be Vegan states: 'The movement for the emancipation of nonhuman animals is now the biggest social justice movement since the abolition of slavery'.

Their Melbourne campaign aims to use billboards, posters and 'guerrilla style urban media' to challenge attitudes and outlooks and fight for animal rights.Emma Noble, has undergone heart surgery at the age of 46

Sir John Majors former daughter-in-law, Emma Noble, has undergone heart surgery at the age of 46.

Her devastated second husband Conrad Baker, who has been holding a bedside hospital vigil, tells me that the operation was caused by an underlying condition.

She had the heart operation this morning and shes doing very well, he tells me. The details are difficult to explain, but it should make her life easier.

Its been a worrying time, but she is being well looked after.

Earlier, he sent out a message to well-wishers, thanking them for their kind words and wishes for my beautiful and brave wife, Em. She is out of theatre and doing really well.

As some of you may know, Emma has been unwell for a while; its been a really tough time for her. But this is a positive step forward.

By bizarre coincidence, Emmas first husband, James Major, also suffers from a heart condition. He had a pacemaker fitted to correct an irregular heartbeat when he was just 24 in 1999.

Emma (pictured) was best known for her role as a hostess on the TV game show The Price Is Right when she met James.

They got engaged three months later and married in the Palace of Westminster in 1999 in a lavish ceremony that earned them 400,000 from Hello! The couple had a son, Harry.

However, the union ended in an acrimonious divorce in 2004. Noble was alleged to have cheated with actor Graham McGrath, her co-star on former ITV soap Crossroads, which she denied.

In 2007, Emma spoke about the pressures of bringing up her autistic son as a single parent. The following year, she cDlaimed that Sir John and Lady Major took little interest in their grandchild, failing even to send him a birthday card. The allegations were rejected as wholly false and hurtful by James.

Emma wed businessman Conrad in 2013 at Canterbury Cathedral and Harry walked her up the aisle.

James later married Kate Dorrell, the woman he fell for when she was the married deputy head at Harrys school in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.

ALL-STAR LINE-UP FOR JOOLS HOLLAND'S 60TH

Jennifer Saunders, Ruby Turner, Jools Holland, Mary McCartney, Kylie Minogue and Melanie C at Jools Holland 60th Birthday Party at the Boisdale of Belgravia, London

Although musician Jools Holland gathered a full Jurassic Park of rock legends to his 60th birthday bash at Boisdale in Belgravia  Jeff Beck, Sir Tom Jones, David Gilmour and Bob Geldof among them  he had the good taste to be snapped surrounded by his most photogenic female guests.

His admirers included (from left to right) Jennifer Saunders, R&B star Ruby Turner, pop pixie Kylie Minogue, Spice Girl Melanie C, clutching the left hand of Joolss wife, Christabel McEwen, and Mary McCartney.

DISGRACED DJ DLT IS GIVEN A JOB LIFELINE

Partial rehabilitation for disgraced DJ Dave Lee Travis, who is still banned from being shown on TVs Top Of The Pops repeats.

The former Radio 1 star has been given a job on a new national radio station.

DLT, now 72, known as The Hairy Cornflake in his broadcasting heyday, was given a suspended sentence after being found guilty of a historic sex offence after a retrial on various charges in 2014.

He has now been hired for a job on United DJs, staffed by veteran former Radio 1 and Radio Luxembourg DJs.

Fellow former Radio 1 DJ Mike Read, 70, who will also be presenting on the self-styled Station of the Stars says: We agreed he hadnt done anything [bad] for years, we cant judge him, he isnt working at the moment so were having him on board, hell be doing a show for us.

The British Backscratching Corporation was in full swing at the premiere of Rupert Everetts Oscar Wilde biopic The Happy Prince in Utah.

Alan Yentob tagged along, as he is filming Everetts quest to make the movie for his BBC Imagine show.

The Happy Prince is a BBC Films co-production and Yentob is thanked in the credits, says my source at the Sundance Film Festival, so one arm of the BBC is merrily promoting another at licence-fee payers expense.Theresa May (pictured at Davos on January 25) has been challenged by Eurosceptic MPs to make a clean break with Brussels or face a leadership challenge

Theresa May faces the threat of a leadership challenge as a group of 60 Eurosceptic MPs warned her to make a clean break from Brussels or they would scupper her premiership.

The Tories were plunged into war by Philip Hammond saying leaving the EU would result in only very modest change.

The Chancellor sparked uproar among Eurosceptic MPs after he said Britain would stay in a customs arrangement with the EU  and suggested free movement might continue in all but name.

The ferocious backlash led No 10 to disown the remarks and forced Mr Hammond to issue a partial clarification, insisting he stood by Tory pledges to make a clean break with the EU.

It came amid claims that at least 40 MPs have sent letters to Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers, expressing no confidence in Mrs May.

There needs to be 48 names to spark a leadership contest. It is understood that some of the Prime Ministers critics believe she is too timid to achieve a clean Brexit.

Prominent Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg said it was now clear Brexit was at risk, as Cabinet Remainers, led by Mr Hammond, attempt to water it down beyond recognition.

He said some ministers appeared to be cowed by the EU and warned they were in danger of throwing away the great Brexit opportunity.

In a speech in Hampshire he accused the Chancellor and other pro-Remain ministers of treating Brexit negotiations as a damage limitation exercise.

He said: The British people did not vote for that. They did not vote for the management of decline.

They voted for hope and opportunity and politicians must now deliver it. If we do not, if we are timid and cowering and terrified of the future, then our children and theirs will judge us in the balance and find us wanting.

The Tories were plunged into war by Philip Hammond (pic in Davos on January 25) saying leaving the EU would result in only very modest change

Mr Rees-Mogg said remaining in close alignment with the EU was unacceptable, as it would make it impossible for the UK to compete in fast-growing world markets.

There is a great Brexit opportunity and some really obvious benefits that we can get that improve the condition of the people, he said.

This is currently at risk. The negotiations that are about to begin sound as if they aim to keep us in a similar system to the single market and the customs union. Close alignment means de facto the single market, it would make the UK a rule-taker like Norway, divested of even the limited influence we currently have.

Privately, some Tory MPs warned that Mrs Mays tenure as premier would be put in jeopardy unless she reined in the Chancellor and made it clear she would stick to her Brexit pledges.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said Mr Hammond was guilty of undermining the PM at a critical time.

Andrew Percy, another former Tory minister, told Mr Hammond bluntly to put a sock in it, Phil. The row came as senior Tories urged the Prime Minister to get a grip on her warring Cabinet after days of leaks and toxic briefings.

Behind the scenes, Mr Hammond is leading a group of Cabinet Remainers locked in battle with Leavers led by Boris Johnson over the fate of Brexit.

The row burst into the open yesterday after he delivered an incendiary speech to a CBI event at the annual gathering of the global elites at Davos.

The Chancellor praised the CBI for its focus on securing the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the UK, post Brexit.

Describing Britains future relationship with the EU, he suggested there would be only minimal change, adding: We are taking two completely interconnected and aligned economies with high levels of trade and selectively moving them, hopefully very modestly apart.

Prominent Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg (file photo) said it was now clear Brexit was at risk, as Cabinet Remainers, led by Mr Hammond, attempt to water it down beyond recognition

He suggested free movement would remain in all but name, saying: We want to maintain the closest possible relationship in people to people exchanges.

Downing Street initially ducked questions about Mr Hammonds comments. But, as Tory anger grew, a source later issued a reprimand, saying: The Governments policy is that we are leaving the single market and the customs union.

Whilst we want a deep and special economic partnership with the EU after we leave, these could not be described as very modest changes.

In a series of messages on Twitter last night, the Chancellor said he was clear that Britain would leave the EU next year and would be outside the customs union and the single market.

Former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson said Mr Hammond should quit if he could not reconcile himself to Brexit.

He said: The Chancellor needs to follow Government policy. If this speech represents what he really thinks then he should not be in Government.

Tory grandee Bernard Jenkin said he was very uncomfortable with the idea of pursuing a transition deal at all, adding: We need to see what safeguards are in place to ensure that we are not just subjected to foreign rule during that period. And it will only be worth it if the deal at the end of it is what we want, otherwise it will not be worth it.

Last night a senior Eurosceptic said a calculated push was underway to highlight concern about the Governments direction on Brexit. He said: We have been nice, nice, nice to the Government 

'But that is changing very fast  we are going from nought to 60 in terms of raising concerns, and you are going to be hearing a lot more like this.

'The Government has to understand its majority ... rests on 100 MPs who think like us. We are very suspicious about the talk on transition  we will not accept an endless transition where nothing changes.

The developments came as David Davis and Liam Fox warned ministers will not sign up to a Brexit transition period unless Britain is set free to negotiate and sign trade deals during it.

The Brexit Secretary and International Trade Secretary said they were determined to fire the starting gun on a process that will make Britain a great trading nation again. They said Brexit would spark the beginning of a bright future for our country.

The UK is barred from opening trade negotiations while it remains a member of the EU, and some in Brussels are pushing for this restriction to be extended throughout a two-year transition  till 2021  that is now being negotiated.

Setting out a new negotiating red line, the two ministers said it was essential for the UK to have the freedom to formally discuss and sign new trade deals that are ready to come into force straight after this strictly time-limited period.

Ministers will not sign up to a Brexit transition period unless Britain is set free to negotiate and sign trade deals during it, David Davis (left) and Liam Fox (right) warned last night

They also sought to calm Eurosceptic concerns about the transition period, when the UK is likely to remain governed by EU laws.

The two ministers said a transition period is essential  not least because the EU is unable to strike a new trade deal with the UK until we have actually left.

They describe the two-year interlude as a bridge that will allow the UK to take the crucial steps needed to ensure our future outside the EU is a prosperous one.

They also set out plans to continue with dozens of trade deals already negotiated by the EU, saying this will help avoid unnecessary disruption for business.

Mr Davis will set out further details of the Governments negotiating aims for the transition in a major speech today.

The EU is due to publish its own negotiating terms for a transitional deal on Monday.

Allowing the UK to negotiate its own trade deals would require the EU to set aside its central principle of sincere co-operation during the transition.

But sources last night suggested Brussels was willing to bow to the UKs demands on trade negotiations, provided no new trade deals come into force until after the UK has fully left.

Officials in Brussels however revealed that the Government has so far failed to tell the EU whether it wants to roll over around 759 international agreements that currently apply to Britain as a member of the bloc.

In a move aimed at easing trade across the bloc after Brexit, Brussels has said it will allow the UK to copy the deals with 168 countries during the transition as they will otherwise end on transition day.Britain's terror watchdog yesterday warned a crackdown on social media sites that host terrorist material could infringe human rights.

Max Hill QC, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said 'policing the internet, and controlling social media comes at a very high price if it interferes with the freedom of communication which every citizen enjoys'.

In his first annual report, he noted a huge increase in terrorists being 'remotely radicalised' due to the 'rapid and recent expansion in online communications platforms, which are now used by terrorists'. But he said any controls on what social media firms host could interfere with basic freedoms and force radicals further into the 'dark web' where their activities are harder to monitor.

Britain's terror watchdog warned that policing social media sites could infringe upon human rights, above is a photo posted online by Isis of Jihadi John

The comments are the latest in a series of controversial statements since the barrister took up his post last February.

They came hours after Theresa May said social networks must stop providing a platform for extremist material in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Mr Hill appeared to suggest this could be counter-productive.

He said: 'Where these awful crimes are facilitated by the use of social media, we want to close down the criminals' ability to communicate. And yet, we must recognise that policing the internet, and controlling social media comes at a very high price if it interferes with the freedom of communication which every citizen enjoys, and which is also enshrined in Article Ten of the European Convention on Human Rights.'

Mr Hill said 'to go further' would risk 'unenforceable infringements' and push the evidence of terrorist activity online 'underground'. He added: 'This is uncertain territory. Driving material, however offensive, from open availability into underground spaces online would be counter-productive, if would-be terrorists could still access it.'

Mr Hill, who successfully prosecuted the failed 21/7 suicide bombers, was praised by Home Secretary Amber Rudd for his 'wealth of experience and expertise' on his appointment last year. But he has since courted controversy in a series of statements to the rising consternation of ministers.

Last year, Mr Hill was branded 'horrifyingly dangerous' by security experts for claiming tough new laws to prosecute extremists would be wrong despite a string of jihadist attacks.

Theresa May earlier told the World Economic Forum that social media sites should take responsibility for extremist material that is published and shared online

He also sparked outrage when he suggested that 'naive' militants returning from the Islamic State war zone should be given the chance to be reintegrated into the UK rather than prosecuted.

There was further criticism last November when Mr Hill announced on his blog that he had met Cage, an Islamist group that praised Mohammed Emwazi, the IS executioner nicknamed Jihadi John, as a 'beautiful young man'.

Mr Hill's report yesterday also disclosed that he had met a number of radical groups as part of 'community engagement roundtables'. They include the hardline Muslim Engagement and Development, which has faced accusations of extremism. He also met Palestinian group Friends of Al-Aqsa, whose chairman once publicly denied that Hamas was a terrorist organisation.

The report focused on 2016 but it referenced last year's terror attacks in London and Manchester, adding: 'Some of those who committed terrorist murders on our streets may have reached their murderous state having been influenced by what they read and what they see online, just as much as by whom they meet.'

Mr Hill wrote that until a few years ago 'radicalisers' would 'suborn' young men in person and 'brainwash them into a plan for action'. But now police and MI5 face an 'element of 'remote radicalisation' which is acutely difficult to spot'.

Mr Hill called also for the revision of controversial powers under the 2000 Terrorism Act that allows for travelers passing through UK border posts to be held for nine hours and have their digital devices searched without suspicion of a crime being committed.Pro-Brexit voices are being drowned out on the BBCs news programming, an analysis has claimed.

Only a very small proportion of speakers on Radio 4s Today programme are long-term supporters of leaving the EU, the Civitas think-tank said in a report.

The authors claimed the BBC has been unable to supply an example of a single programme since the June 2016 referendum which has examined the opportunities of Brexit.

Last night the BBC described the analysis as flawed and insisted it was covering the process towards Brexit in a responsible and impartial way.

The Civitas report, entitled The Brussels Broadcasting Corporation?, said that for the past 20 years the BBC has consistently viewed the issue of withdrawing from the EU through the prism of splits in the Conservative Party.

Only a very small proportion of speakers on Radio 4s Today programme are long-term supporters of leaving the EU, the Civitas think-tank said in a report

Of 4,275 guests talking about the EU on Today between 2005 and 2015, only 132 (3.2 per cent) were supporters of leaving. And an analysis of four weeks of the programme in October and November last year found that it carried 97 interviews on EU topics, but only nine were with long-term supporters of Brexit.

Looking at Todays business coverage in late 2016, Civitas found 53 per cent of speakers were anti-Brexit.

In the week of Article 50 being triggered last March, only 6.5 per cent of speakers in Todays coverage were given space to be pro-Brexit, the report said. An analysis of a selection of Radio 4 programmes called the Brexit Collection found it included no attempts to explore the benefits of leaving, and only 23 per cent of contributors were pro-Brexit.

Civitas said pro-Brexit views have been under-represented on flagship BBC news programmes for decades.

In 274 hours of monitored BBC EU coverage between 2002 and 2017, only 14 speakers (0.2 per cent of the total) were Left-wing advocates for leaving the EU. These 14 contributors delivered 1,680 words, adding up to approximately 12 minutes.

In the same period two strongly pro-EU Tories, Ken Clarke and Michael Heseltine, made 28 appearances between them, with contributions totalling 11,208 words  over six times the amount of airtime allocated to all Left-wing Leave supporters.

The authors, David Keighley and Andrew Jubb, wrote: When opinion in favour of leaving the EU has featured, the editorial approach has  at the expense of exploring withdrawal itself  tended heavily towards discrediting and denigrating opposition to the EU as xenophobic.

And an analysis of four weeks of the programme in October and November last year found that it carried 97 interviews on EU topics, but only nine were with long-term supporters of Brexit

The overview provided here is a shocking indictment of the BBCs failure to achieve impartiality.

They called for a judicial review to force the BBC to reform its complaints process.

The BBC said: There have been a number of flawed analyses trying to depict the BBC as favouring one side or other. The reality is were no longer covering the binary choice of a referendum held 18 months ago, were covering the process towards Brexit in a responsible and impartial way independent of political pressure.Grills were warming up across the country this morning as Aussies prepare for all day celebrations

After an early morning workout, keen fitness fans were spotted grabbing a sausage sandwich at the local BBQ

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As early morning ceremonies wind down, celebrations for Australia Day 2018 have kicked off across the country.

Millions of Australians have started warming up their barbecues, putting on their swimming costumes and setting up for the long weekend.

Social media has already been flooded with pictures of excited Aussies at the beach or preparing for a day in the sun.

As the early morning ceremonies wind down, celebrations for Australia Day 2018 have begun across the country

Excited punters have begun warming their barbecues and donning chef's aprons ahead of the national day of celebration

Some BBQ masters even managed to get creative with their food, spelling out 'Happy Australia Day' with their sausages

Donning as many patriotic items as possible is a must on Australia Day, as this family have managed to do

Sydney started the day with a traditional welcome to country in Barangaroo before families got their deck chairs out and opened a few early beverages.

People were seen draped in the Australian flag and layered in patriotic tattoos, both temporary and permanent, as the country begins the first day of a weekend-long celebration.

BBQ kings and queens were spotted behind the grill in the morning, and eager fitness fans loaded up on sausage sandwiches after an early workout.

Some even managed to get creative with their food, spelling out 'Happy Australia Day' with their sausages.

One woman was spotted wearing a Wonder Woman outfit, complete with an Australian flag as her cape and what appears to be an army reserve hat

Punters were eager to get in the water at Cronulla this morning as they began their Australia Day celebrations

With temporary tattoos and patriotic floating devices, this woman got her fair share of surf at Cronulla in Sydney's south

Friends celebrate Australia Day 2018 at the beach with an array of blow up fingers and surfboards in the national flag print

This group is sure to stand out at the beach with their bright blue, Australian flag inspired beach tent

One woman was spotted wearing a Wonder Woman outfit, complete with an Australian flag as her cape and what appears to be an army reserve hat.

Holiday makers on board a luxury cruise ship in Sydney Harbour were treated to a good morning with the Today Show breakfast program.

Sun savvy punters made sure to layer up on the sunscreen - in the national colours of green and gold of course.

Crowds lined the streets across the nation for annual parades and marches.

Holiday makers on board a luxury cruise ship in Sydney Harbour were treated to a good morning with the Today Show breakfast program

Surf lifesavers were also on patrol as festivities began at beaches across the country, urging swimmers to be safe

The annual Australia Day Iron Person competition took place in Sydney's Cronulla in the early morning

Crowds have packed up their picnics and set up camp at beaches and parks across the country to enjoy a day with friends and family.

Boats were decked out with the national flag as plenty took to the water for a day of fishing.

Everyone from surf lifesavers and gyms to local charities added their photos to social media, encouraging everyone to stay safe and enjoy the national holiday.

Early crowds packed up their picnics and set up camp at beaches and parks across the country to enjoy festivitiesMeat from a supplier at the centre of a health scare was served at several chains for 12 days before the public was warned.

It is feared millions of steak, chicken and pork meals dished up this month at pubs and restaurants  and possibly royal palaces  may have been tainted.

Last night MPs demanded to know why the food safety watchdog took so long to alert diners.

Experts questioned the secrecy surrounding the reasons for the recall, which has so far been attributed to serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations.

The Food Standards Agency discovered problems at wholesaler Russell Hume, which supplies at least nine major chains including Wetherspoon and Jamie Olivers restaurants, on January 12.

But the regulator did not issue a public alert until Wednesday. Instead, it left it to Derby-based Russell Hume to warn its customers, which include Hilton hotels, Greene King pubs, and schools and care homes.

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The meat scandal took another turn last night after it emerged that the firm at the centre of the fiasco counted Buckingham Palace (pictured) among its clients

A spokesman for the Jamie Oliver Group said its restaurants had been able to source replacement meat, so the move did not result in shortages for diners

While the firm no longer holds a royal warrant, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace (pictured) and Clarence House last night refused to deny they still source meat from the firm

While the firm no longer holds a royal warrant, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House last night refused to deny they still source meat from the firm.

Wetherspoon learned of the issue on Tuesday when delivery drivers found Russell Hume depots locked up. The pub chain was forced to cancel its popular steak night at all its 900 venues, it is understood.

Russell Hume described the product recall as a precautionary measure because of mislabelling and said there was no reason to believe the product was unsafe to eat.

MPs are demanded to know why the food safety watchdog took so long to alert diners.

Experts questioned the secrecy surrounding the reasons for the recall, which has so far been attributed to serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations.

An FSA source confirmed there were public health concerns over what inspectors had discovered at Russell Humes six processing factories, but said there was no indication that people have become ill.

However, Chris Elliott, food safety professor at Queens University Belfast, said: They will normally say there is no risk to the public  they have not said that here.

The FSA talk about serious non-compliance and food withdrawals, so it appears to me that something very serious is happening.

A notice, spotted on Twitter by Ian Heath, attributed the absence to a 'supplier failure', saying the Aberdeen Angus rump steak, Sirloin steak and gammon would be unavailable

The Derby-based company is believed to supply other pub chains (including Greene King), holiday firms and caterers  as well as a number of care homes and schools

Which firms have been affected by the meat scandal? Wetherspoon  All of the chains 900 pubs and more than 50 hotels across the UK are thought to have been serving steaks and gammon supplied by Russell Hume. Wetherspoon said it stopped serving Russell Hume products on Monday Jamie Oliver  All 32 branches of Jamies Italian are thought to have been serving meat supplied by Russell Hume. It is unclear if the five other restaurants in the celebrity chefs empire were affected. Hilton Hotels  A small number of the hotel giants 41 British branches were affected. Greene King  Said it only served a handful of Russell Hume products across its empire of 3,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels. Marstons  It is not known how many of the chains more than 1,500 pubs were hit. Butlins, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels  The holiday firms ditched a number of meat products being served across their 42 hotels and resorts. Tiger Tiger  Nightclub chain removed Russell Hume products from menus at six of its sites. Advertisement

There have been claims this is an issue of labelling, so it could be about expiry dates. Kath Dalmeny, of food campaign group Sustain, said: It is disgusting to hear that a reputable company such as Russell Hume has been breaching meat hygiene regulations, especially if it means that out-of-date meat may have been supplied to children in schools, and old people in care homes.

Out-of-date meat can make people sick, and in some cases may even be life-threatening. We put our trust in meat companies and food safety inspectors to keep our food and families safe.

Mary Creagh, chairman of the Commons environmental audit committee, called on the FSA to come clean about the situation.

She said: After the horse meat scandal, the Government promised the British public never again. With the Russell Hume meat recall, it looks like relabelling, which is food fraud  has once again hit the UK meat industry.

The FSA should reveal the extent and nature of the recall, and what steps they are taking to restore consumer confidence in the meat sector after this and the 2 Sisters food scandal last year.

Asked if the recall was like 2013s horse meat scandal, one worker at Russell Humes Birmingham plant said last night: No, its not like that.

The latest scandal began at that factory on January 12 when an unannounced inspection uncovered serious hygiene concerns. Inspectors impounded certain products, but did not shut the factory at that stage. Over the next seven days, they widened the inquiry to the firms sites in Liverpool, London, Exeter, Boroughbridge, in Yorkshire, and Inverkeithing, Scotland.

After finding a pattern of poor practices, involving fresh and frozen red meat and poultry, all production and sales by the firm were ordered to be halted on January 19. But meat that had already been sold was not yet recalled.

Russell Hume has been ordered to halt all deliveries after being suspected of 'serious non-compliance' with food regulations (file picture)

A notice spotted by Wetherspoons customers said chicken would replace steak in the mixed grill (file picture

It took until January 23 before the FSA initiated a recall.

Last night it was struggling to explain the delay. An FSA spokesman said its inspectors can only work with the evidence they have and had to follow due process, adding: Once the inspectors saw the pattern of poor practices, then there was no more production. He suggested it took several more days to initiate the recall because of red tape.

Tony Lewis, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: This is deeply worrying  it is essential the FSA provides clarification  the statements made by the respective parties simply do not add up.

Yesterday Hilton said a small number of its hotels were affected and that it acted immediately to dispose of all products from Russell Hume.

The Jamie Oliver Group said it had switched suppliers. The QVC shopping channel, which sells Russell Hume meat, advised customers not to eat any bought in the past six months. None of Russell Humes eight directors commented on the scandal yesterday. Chairman David Holding could not be reached for comment.

The firm said the FSAs actions came as a serious shock. It said: We are all well aware of the strict controls  our practices and compliance have never been challenged like this.

It added that there was never any suggestion of its products causing illness and accused the FSA of creating a very different impression.Aboriginal activists declared Australia didn't deserve a day of celebration and hoped the country 'burns to the ground' at a Melbourne rally.

Tens of thousands flooded Spring Street and Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD to protest against 'Invasion Day', carrying placards and shouting slogans.

They then marched down Bourke Street chanting 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land', 'no pride in genocide' and 'our land, our law'.

Tarneen Onus-Williams (pictured) told the assembled crowd 'f*** Australia, hope it burns to the ground' during one of many speeches

Protesters flood the area around the Victorian Parliament to protest against 'Invasion Day'

Tens of thousands flooded Spring Street and Collins Street in Melbourne's CBD to protest against 'Invasion Day', carrying placards and shouting slogans

Onus-Williams along with other speakers claimed Australia was 'not mature enough' to celebrate itself - even if the date was moved from January 26

Tarneen Onus-Williams told the crowd of thousands 'f**k Australia, hope it burns to the ground' during one of many speeches, according to the Herald Sun.

The rally organiser earlier accused broadcaster Neil Mitchell of being a racist during an awkward interview on live radio.

Elder Tony Birch said Australia was 'not mature enough' to celebrate itself - even if the date was moved from January 26.

'This country does not deserve a day of national celebration in any capacity,' he said.

The rally organiser earlier accused broadcaster Neil Mitchell of being a racist during an awkward interview on live radio

Aboriginal activists declared Australia didn't deserve a day of celebration and hoped the country 'burns to the ground' at a Melbourne rally

Protesters waving indigenous flags, some wearing face paint and holding placards with 'Change the date' messages, marched on the Victorian Parliament

One of these placards encouraged people to 'celebrate survival, not arrival'

The area around Flinders Street station was flooded with protesters in Melbourne

Hundreds of police looked out over the protest, ready to suppress any violent clashes between protesters and far-right activists.

Protesters waving indigenous flags, some wearing face paint and holding placards with 'change the date' messages, marched on the Victorian Parliament.

Other slogans included 'colonisation', 'justice', 'we are still here', 'sovereignty', and 'day of mourning'.

Ms Onus-Williams told The Australian the Melbourne protest was not only just intended to be part of the 'change the date' campaign.

'People think just change the date and its going to be fine,' Ms Onus-Williams told the publication.

'People say theyre celebrating a great country. Celebrating a great country - Australia - has come at a loss for so many people, especially Aboriginal people.

'Most people who think this is a great country are white people.'

They then marched down Bourke Street chanting 'always was, always will be Aboriginal land', 'no pride in genocide' and 'our land, our law'

Other slogans included 'colonisation', 'justice', 'we are still here', 'sovereignty', and 'day of mourning'

The march declared Australia's treatment of Aboriginals to be 'genocide'

This sign oddly declares that Australia doesn't exist as its holder sits outside the Victorian Parliament

Aboriginal elders speak to the massive crowd as placards demand white Australia 'pay the rent'

In Sydney a large group including former Sydney Swans stars Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin gathered at inner-city Redfern's The Block and marched to nearby Victoria Park.

Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally hoped the Sydney Invasion Day rally would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody.

He was grateful for the support of non-Aboriginal Australians and hoped to engage with the general public through the march.

'Our political spectrum around the country, except for maybe the Greens party... ignore the calls of Aboriginal people,' he said.

Elsewhere in Melbourne, a handful of right-wing activists including high-profile demonstrator Neil Erikson was protesting outside a citizenship ceremony.

The six men wearing flags and handing out flyers to new migrants were barred from entering the ceremony at Coburg town hall in Melbourne's north on Friday.

Activists take over the steps of the Victorian Parliament during 'Invasion Day' march

Hundreds of police looked out over the protest, ready to suppress any violent clashes between protesters and far-right activists

The concept of Australia Day being a 'day of mourning' was a popular one

Another banner declared that Australians were living on 'stolen land'

Mr Erikson said the men were protesting the council's decision to remove the phrase 'Australia Day' from the official citizenship ceremony.

Ms Onus-Williams clashed with Neil Mitchell on Tuesday while she was on 3AW radio to promote the protest.

The tension kicked off when Mitchell asked he if her protest group would cooperate with the police or council to minimise disruption.

'Yeah look, we are asserting our sovereign right to walk on our country because we are sovereign people to this land. At the moment we're not organising with police,' Ms Onus-Williams said.

'So people can do things the way they like, and we like to do things we like to do.'

In Sydney a large group including former Sydney Swans stars Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin gathered at inner-city Redfern's The Block and marched to nearby Victoria Park

Protest banner in Redfern speaks out against Aboriginal deaths in custody

Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally hoped the Sydney Invasion Day rally would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody

He was grateful for the support of non-Aboriginal Australians and hoped to engage with the general public through the march

'Our political spectrum around the country, except for maybe the Greens party... ignore the calls of Aboriginal people,' he said

Sydney protesters declare 'no pride in genocide' as they march through Redfern

There appeared to be many white faces in the crowd protesting against Australia Day

Small Aboriginal children were among the hundreds of protesters who swamped Redfern

Aboriginals declare they survived European settlement with placards at the rally

Protesters wear Bob Marley t-shirts and traditional paint while carrying boomerangs

Mitchell asked Ms Onus-Williams if that meant she ignored 'white man's law'.

'On that basis you can say the aboriginal people can do whatever they like and just ignore the law of the land,' he said.

Ms Onus-Williams replied saying 'we have a law of the land already, we do hold our values strong to our heart'.

She refused to answer questions about Koorie Youth Council using taxpayer money to promote the rally and said it was protesting the abolition of Australia Day, not just pushing for the date to be moved.

Mitchell cut in saying: 'you're happy to interview yourself, but that's not the way it works'.

This sign called for the Australian flag to be changed along with date of Australia Day

Hundreds of police looked out over the protest, ready to suppress any violent clashes between protesters and far-right activists.

Many white people were in the crowd protesting Australia Day in Melbourne

Some Aboriginal attended wearing traditional dress and painted in colours

Aboriginal elder in traditional dress addresses the crowd in Melbourne's CBD

Flags, banners, and placards were waved in the crowd, one reading 'f**k celebrating day made of misery'

The interview descended into chaos when Ms Onus-Williams said she would not 'take orders' from Mitchell.

'I won't take orders from a radio host on a racist radio channel,' she said.

A shocked Mitchell said, 'did you just call me a racist?' to which Ms Onus-Williams replied, 'Yes, I called you a racist'.

'You're questioning my legitimacy as a sovereign person of this land,' she said.

Mitchell told her he was offended by the accusation, saying it was 'ugly to throw around the word racist'.

'I'm questioning you not because you're black or yellow or white, but because you're in a position organising a rally which is significant to this town around a significant issue which is the future of Australia Day,' he said.

'It does not make me racist to ask you a bloody question and to call me a racist is damn offensive.

'Please please please don't assume that questioning equates with racism, that really is quite offensive intellectually and morally.'

The Aboriginal flag flies high over the huge protest in Melbourne's CBD

Protesters turned the Victorian Parliament steps into a memorial for slain Aboriginals

'Black lives matter' was another common slogan on signs waved by protesters

A man raises a placard declaring Australia Day to be 'Invasion Day' at the Melbourne rally

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull used his Australia Day address to state the impact of European settlement on Aboriginal Australians had been 'tragic'.

But he praised the nation's history as 'an overwhelmingly bright story' and said 'not many' Australians were in favouring of changing the date of Australia Day.

'It's a great day and a day we celebrate this remarkable nation of ours,' Mr Turnbull said.

'The overwhelming majority of Australians are celebrating Australia Day like we are here today.

'There were many wrongs done in the past which we seek to close today, we seek to close the gap.'

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove urged Australians to embrace the day and celebrate the history and culture of indigenous people as well as the contributions of generations of migrants.A man had a lucky escape after a tractor fell 30 metres down an embankment crushing him under the machine.

Emergency crews rushed to the scene after the incident in Sunshine Coast left him trapped under the mangled wreckage on Thursday evening.

The man, aged in his 30s, is thought to have been slashing grass on a hill when the four-tonne vehicle plunged down the steep slope and flipping over.

The mangled wreckage of the four-tonne tractor after it plunged 30 metres down a steep slope

Police and paramedics were called to the incident in Queensland at around 7.30pm.

On arrival they feared he would not survive because the vehicle had crushed his legs.

His next of kin were called and brought to the scene to see him before the rescue operation was launched.

But once he was freed, crews found his injuries were not as bad as they first feared.

The incident happened when the man was cutting grass in Sunshine Coast, Queensland

Emergency services launched a rescue attempt fearing the man's legs were crushed

'It'll need to be investigated but at this point in time it would appear that he was attempting to slash on the ridgeline there at night time and succumbed to the incline there,' a Queensland Police spokesperson told Channel 9.

'(Taking into account) the terrain that he's in, and the size of the vehicle and how far he's gone down the embankment, he's' very, very lucky.'

The man was taken to hospital in Nambour where he is recovering with non-life threatening injuries.

A spokesman for Queensland Police said the cause of the incident would be investigatedChris Hemsworth plays the leading alpha male, the groups rugged leader, Captain Mitch Nelson

12 Strong (15)

Rating:

Danish director Nicolai Fuglsigs 12 Strong comes at war from an entirely different angle to Last Flag Flying (see left), unashamedly glorifying it in a film that unfolds uncomfortably like a slab of U.S. propaganda, with one entirely superfluous scene included to demonstrate the terrible depravity of the nations enemies.

The film tells the undoubtedly rousing true story of a Special Forces mission in Afghanistan. Shortly after the 9/11 atrocities, the 12-man unit was sent to engage the Taliban and Al Qaeda  a daring attack in alliance with an anti-Taliban Afghan warlord and his men, which concluded, because of the mountainous terrain, on horseback.

Chris Hemsworth plays the leading alpha male, the groups rugged leader, Captain Mitch Nelson, with Michael Shannon and Michael Pena as two of his cohorts. But this is also the sort of film that wouldnt be complete without tear-jerking farewells and homecomings; Hemsworths real-life wife, Elsa Pataky, plays the on-screen Mrs Nelson.

Fuglsig, who was once a war photographer, has a predictably good eye for battle  the skirmishes and ambushes look pretty realistic to me  but perhaps not such a good ear. The script, adapted by Ted Tally and Peter Craig from a book called Horse Soldiers, pre-sents our not-so dirty dozen not merely as intrepid warriors but also philosophers, wits and, of course, loving family men, oozing compassion and testosterone in equal measure.

Theyll adore all this in Pittsburgh; maybe less so in Pontefract.A Labour MP was booed after he proclaimed Jeremy Corbyn would be the 'greatest Prime Minister this country has ever seen.'

Chris Williamson, who quit his post as Shadow Fire Minister a fortnight ago, made the comments during an edition of BBC Question Time from Dumfries in Scotland.

It came during a discussion on the rise of what one audience member called 'extremists' in the Corbyn-supporting Momentum group in the Labour party.

Mr Williamson, the MP for Derby North, disagreed with the label, telling the audience: 'Momentum are not extremists. Absolutely not.

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Chris Williamson, who quit his post as Shadow Fire Minister a fortnight ago, made the comments during an edition of BBC Question Time from Dumfries in Scotland

'If you look at the Labour party now, it's an exercise in democracy.'

He added that current party policies include renationalising utilities and scrapping tuition fees  which he says are in line with what Brits want.

When asked by host David Dimbleby whether he believed MPs who didn't support Mr Corbyn were on the 'wrong tack,' he replied: 'They're not the Labour Party, are they?

'They are a Parliamentary Labour Party.'

He claimed those members were an important, but the party comprised if 600,000 members.

A man in the audience asked: 'If your party is so big and so powerful and coming forward, how come the best you have got to offer is Jeremy Corbyn?'

To this comment, a man in the audience asked: 'If your party is so big and so powerful and coming forward, how come the best you have got to offer is Jeremy Corbyn?'

Mr Williamson responded: 'In my humble opinion, Jeremy Corbyn is the best leader that the Labour Party has ever produced and would be the greatest Prime Minister this country's ever seen.'

Speaking over loud applause and boos, he continued: 'Because he will have a reforming agenda that will make this country work for ordinary people, eradicate poverty and have an economy that actually gives people a stake in society and a decent future, decent pensions, decent public services.

'What is there not to like about that?'

His comments come days after he faced derision for claiming Mr Corbyn was a better leader than Clement Attlee.

In an interview with Russia Today, Mr William said: 'Jeremy Corbyn is the best leader that this party has ever had and I include Clem Attlee in that as well.'

But Labour MPs mocked the claim - pointing out that Mr Attlee's pioneering post-war Government created the NHS and built a generation of social housing, while Mr Corbyn has never even won a General Election.Bill Clinton was not amused when a motorist jokingly asked him about Monica Lewinsky during a chat in Manhattan.

'You the best president man,' the New Yorker is heard telling Clinton.

'Trump gotta go. Trump gotta go Bill Clinton,' the man added.

Clinton is seen waving at the man before giving him a thumbs-up after his remarks about President Donald Trump.

Bill Clinton was not amused when a motorist jokingly asked him about Monica Lewinsky during a chat in Manhattan. 'You the best president man,' the New Yorker is heard telling Clinton

'Trump gotta go Bill Clinton,' the man added. Clinton is seen waving at the man before giving him a thumbs-up (pictured) after his remarks about President Donald Trump

The Lewinsky scandal broke in 1998, when a news report emerged saying then-president Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky, who was a White House intern at the time. Lewinksy (left) with Clinton in the 90s

'Alright, have a nice day. Tell Hillary I said what up Bill Clinton,' the man said as Clinton gave another thumbs up.

And what seemed to be a nice little chat for the former president, turned into quite an uncomfortable situation.

'Best president alive man. Hows Monica?' the man excitedly asks, prompting Clinton to roll up his window as his SUV prepares to pull off.

The Lewinsky scandal broke in 1998, when a news report emerged saying then-president Clinton had an affair with Lewinsky, who was a White House intern at the time.

Clinton first forcefully denied the allegations, saying in January 1998 in a public statement: 'I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me ... I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky.'

Lewinsky testified that she and the president had nine sexual encounters in the Oval Office between November 1995 and March 1997.

When the presidents aides noticed that their boss was spending too much time with Lewinsky in the White House, she was transferred to the Pentagon. It was there that she met a co-worker, Linda Tripp.

Clinton (right with Hillary Clinton) first forcefully denied the allegations, saying in January 1998 (left) in a public statement: 'I want to say one thing to the American people. I want you to listen to me ... I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky'

Lewinsky testified that she and the president had nine sexual encounters in the Oval Office between November 1995 and March 1997

The affair became public after Tripp secretly recorded conversations with her and passed them on to Kenneth Starr, the independent counsel investigating Clinton for his role in the Whitewater deal.

Both Clinton and Lewinsky denied having a sexual relationship under oath when testifying in the Paul Jones lawsuit accusing the then-president of sexual harassment.

Clinton eventually admitted in August 1998 to having an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky, who was an intern at the White House at the time of the affair.

'I know that my public comments and my silence about this matter gave a false impression. I misled people, including even my wife,' he said at the time. 'I deeply regret that.

'Indeed I did have a relationship with Ms. Lewinsky that was not appropriate.

'In fact, it was wrong. It constituted a critical lapse in judgment and a personal failure on my part for which I am solely and completely responsible.'

Clinton became only the second president in US history to be impeached by Congress. He was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.

Lewinsky was later transferred to the Pentagon where she met a co-worker, Linda Tripp. The affair became public after Tripp secretly recorded conversations with her

He eventually admitted in August 1998 to having an inappropriate relationship with Lewinsky, who was an intern at the White House at the time of the affair

After Clintons impeachment, a trial was held in the Senate, where Republicans fell short of the necessary amount of votes to remove him from office.

In the two decades since the scandal, Lewinsky has largely stayed out of the public eye  only to re-emerge in recent years as an advocate for preventing cyber-bullying.

Fox News Channel recently unveiled a new documentary about events that led up to the impeachment of Clinton almost 30 years ago.

The hour-long episode of Scandalous, narrated by actor Bruce McGill, first aired January 21 at 8pm.

Scandalous featured interviews with more than 40 people, among them principals in that saga, including special prosecutor Ken Starr, former Senator Joe Lieberman, current Senator Lindsey Graham, and Linda Tripp.

The documentary focused on the sequence of events that led to the impeachment, including the Whitewater controversy.

Whitewater was a failed Arkansas real estate venture which involved Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Scandalous airs every Sunday at 8pm on the Fox News Channel.He has been on death row since 1985, when he was sentenced to execution for the murder of Mobile police Cpl. Julius Schulte

Madison was convicted of shooting a cop in the back of the head in 1985

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted the execution of an Alabama man convicted of shooting a police officer in the back of the head in 1985.

Vernon Madison, 67, was scheduled to be given the lethal injection at 6pm Thursday night at the Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.

Less than an hour before the execution, the Supreme Court ordered a temporary halt to consider his last-minute appeal. The execution is delayed indefinitely, until the court issues another order.

Madison's lawyers said he shouldn't be executed because he is blind, can't walk without assistance and can't remember the murder or understand his punishment.

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted the execution of Vernon Madison, 67, less than an hour before it was scheduled to consider his appeal. He has suffered several severe strokes which left him with impaired cognitive ability and he developed dementia

During his 30-year incarceration, Vernon has suffered several severe strokes which left him with impaired cognitive ability and he developed dementia.

Doctors cited by lawyers say his IQ is 72, which is considered below average.

Madison had already eaten his last meal - two oranges. He had no other special requests.

The Supreme Court ruled last year that he is smart enough to understand why he is being executed, even if he does not remember it.

He has been on death row since 1985, when he was sentenced to execution for the murder of Mobile police Cpl. Julius Schulte.

Madison (seen left in an undated booking photo) crept up behind Mobile Cpl. Julius Schulte (right) and shot him in the back of the head in April, 1985. Madison was at home arguing with his girlfriend who called the cops. Schulte was the responding officer

Schulte was responding to a domestic call at Madison's ex-girlfriend's home in April 1985 when he was killed.

After initially breaking up the fight, Madison told the police officer he was leaving. Instead, he fetched a pistol and came back to the home and shot Schulte in the back of the head.

A jury sentenced him to life in prison without parole, but the trial judge overrode their decision to sentence him to death.

For decades, Madison and his lawyers have tried to appeal the conviction.

They have claimed racial prejudice and improper jury selection to try to get the case thrown out. His conviction has always been upheld by the courts.

Madison's lawyers say he has an IQ of 72 and does not understand why he is being executed

In 2016, his attorneys at the Equal Justice Initiative won him a stay which prevented his execution at the 11th hour.

They argued that he does not understand why the state is attempting to execute him and that because of his condition, he is incompetent for capital punishment.

His execution will be the first in Alabama in 2018 if it goes ahead.

When the Supreme Court made its decision in November last year, its judges argued that even though Madison may not remember his own crime, he understands the law so much as to understand that anyone who commits murder is punishable by execution.

They argued that this proved mental competency because he understood why he was being executed, even though he did not remember carrying out the murder for which he was being executed.

They also argued that Madison 'understands' that he carried out the crime.

'Testimony from each of the psychologists who examined Madison supported the courts finding that Madison understands both that he was tried and imprisoned for murder and that Alabama will put him to death as punishment for that crime,' they said in their ruling.A desperate search has been launched for a four-year-old boy who wandered from his North Carolina home barefoot.

An Amber Alert was issued for Raul Johnson, who was last seen on foot in Laurinburg.

He is said to have been wearing a white and orange striped shirt with tigers on it, along with white pants printed with rocket ships.

Raul is said to be Indian, with black hair and brown eyes, standing about three feet tall and weighing 38 pounds.

Raul Johnson, 4, was last seen walking away from his North Carolina home on Wednesday. Authorities have no issued an Amber Alert following his disappearance

Authorities said that this wasn't the first time that Raul had walked away from his home. He reportedly went missing for about 25 minutes on Tuesday.

Scotland County Sheriff Ralph Kersey said that about 200 people have been searching for Raul both on the ground and in the air, while a dive team has been dispatched to a nearby pond, WBTV reported Thursday.

Local K-9 units are also being deployed in Johnson's search.

The FBI and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are also involved in the search now.

According to ABC11, Kersey said the hope is to uncover new information about what happened to the child, since searchers 'have pretty much covered all the area that we thought a four-year-old could travel barefoot and we have not left any rock overturned.'

Johnson's mother, Annie Johnson, said that her father was taking care of Raul at the time the child went missing and that he was the one that called 911

Raul's sister, Cheyenne Johnson (left) and his aunt, Kasey Locklear, hold posters of him

Raul was last seen wandering away from his home, barefoot and wearing a tiger t-shirt

About 200 people have been involved in the search for Raul, which has involved people on the ground and in the air. K-9 and dive units have also been employed in the search

Vivian Smiling (left) comforts Bonnie Bearden - Raul's cousin - after Thursday's press conference about Raul's disappearance at the Stewartsville Volunteer Fire Department

Beginning Friday, the Scotland County Sheriff's Department, FBI and SBI will transition from a search-and-rescue effort into an 'investigative approach.'

Raul's mother, Annie Johnson, told ABC11 that her father was taking care of Raul at the time he wandered away and that he called 911 when he discovered the child was missing.

Authorities do not currently believe that foul play was involved, based on the interviews they've conducted with Raul's family members, neighbors or information that's come in from the public.

Anyone with information about Johnson is asked to call the Scotland County Sheriffs Office at (910) 276-3385 or call 911.A fire in Sejong General Hospital in the South Korean city of Miryang has killed at least 37 people and injured more than 100 others.

The blaze is suspected to have started in a first floor emergency room and the cause has not yet been determined.

A fire station official claimed the situation was developing quickly and the death toll was expected to rise further.

Pictures showed a helicopter flying above the building in Miryang, engulfed by heavy grey smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks.

A fire in Sejong General Hospital in the South Korean city of Miryang has killed at least 37 people and injured more than 100 others

The blaze is suspected to have injured around 50 people

Fire Chief Choi Man-Woo said: 'Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room.'

All the patients had been evacuated from the hospital and a nursing home in the same building and the people evacuated are being treated at four other hospitals nearby.

'The victims came both from the hospital and the nursing home. Some died on their way to another hospital.'

A fire station official claimed the situation was developing quickly and the death toll was expected to rise further

Around 200 people were in the Sejong Hospital building when the fire broke out, police said.

The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at an eight-storey fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon - a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

The hospital in Miryang, was engulfed by heavy grey smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucksA man from a tiny village in Alaska became a viral hit on social media after he livestreamed a tsunami warning after midnight on Tuesday.

Larry Pestrikoff, a resident of Ouzinkie, near Kodiak, became a celebrity overnight when his Facebook Live footage of a tsunami that never came generated 141,000 views.

Pestrikoffs livestream broadcast just before 1am on Tuesday was prompted by a tsunami warning triggered by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake off the Alaskan coast.

The 48-year-old janitor recorded live footage of the harbor near his home in anticipation of a massive tidal wave, but it never arrived.

Larry Pestrikoff (left), a resident of Ouzinkie, near Kodiak, became a celebrity overnight when his Facebook Live footage of a tsunami that never came generated 141,000 views

Nonetheless, viewers fell in love with Pestrikoffs narration and his voice, which seemed to have a calming effect.

Many Alaskans were in a panic after receiving the tsunami warnings.

Hundreds of motorists were seen fleeing the coastal areas for high ground just in case of impending disaster.

But Pestrikoffs livestream, which only showed shots of a few lights out in the harbour, turned out to be an important source of information, particularly for the news media.

Pestrikoffs livestream broadcast just before 1am on Tuesday was prompted by a tsunami warning triggered by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake off the Alaskan coast

I didn't expect anything like this at all, he told the Anchorage Daily News.

I've gone live before like at the air show or something up in Anchorage and I think only two or three people might have watched.

Pestrikoff endeared himself to people, so much so that one Nevada resident started a GoFundMe page to help him pay off his debts.

Larry did this kind deed with no preconceived notion of notoriety or fame, wrote Seth Schrenzel of Gerlach, Nevada.

He did it because he was there and he cared. Schrenzel said he wanted to help Pestrikoff after he casually mentioned during the livestream that he needed to pay off credit card debt.

This campaign is designed to give what was not asked, Schrenzel wrote.

Namely, I know viewers of his livestream are appreciative of his effort to show us what was happening on the ground, and are happy to give a little as a show of gratitude.

The 48-year-old janitor recorded live footage of the harbor near his home in anticipation of a massive tidal wave, but it never arrived

In just two days, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $800 to benefit Larrys Fund, nearly reaching the goal of $1,000.

Pestrikoff told the Anchorage Daily News that he was watching a show on Netflix just after 12:30am on Tuesday when the earthquake hit.

He said it felt more like a jiggle.

The tsunami warning triggered sirens in the village, which has a population of 150 people.

The alert said that a tsunami wave could hit Kodiak within 90 minutes.

Pestrikoff told the Anchorage Daily News that he was watching a show on Netflix just after 12:30am on Tuesday when the earthquake hit. He said it felt more like a jiggle

The tsunami warning triggered sirens in the village, which has a population of 150 people. The alert said that a tsunami wave could hit Kodiak within 90 minutes

Hundreds of motorists fled the Alaskan coastal areas and moved to higher ground after the tsunami warning was issued

Kodiak, which is in southern Alaska, is just minutes away from Ouzinkie.

So Pestrikoff took out his cell phone and started livestreaming.

The image that appeared on the screen showed pitch black darkness with just a few lights illuminating the harbour.

During the two-hour livestream, Pestrikoff talked about a variety of topics, like the water levels, his credit card bills, the price of gas, and his dying tomato plant.

He also talked about his daughter.

This video is of me sitting and waiting for a tsunami to roll in, he said in the video.

It's been over an hour and the water hasn't moved.

Pestrikoff said that he never intended for the broadcast to be a lengthy one.

But as his audience grew, he felt obligated to continue.

When his phone battery was dying, people kept saying, Plug your phone in, Larry! Plug your phone in! he said.

Facebook users from as far as Australia, Europe, and Japan tuned in. They complimented him on his voice, which they said was fit for radio.

They said it was soothing, he said. I'm like, OK, glad it helped.

After he granted Fox News permission to use his livestream, he joked: Maybe Donald Trumps watching?

Hello, Mr. President.An FBI agent fatally shot a kidnap victim during a raid early Thursday at a Houston home, authorities said.

FBI spokeswoman Christina Garza said the agent shot the man shortly before 4am during an 'operation' at the home. The man, identified by neighbors to KHOU as Ulises Villadares, died later at a hospital.

Police in Conroe, about 40 miles north of Houston, confirmed the man had been kidnapped and held for ransom.

'The system failed. Whether it was accidental or not, the man is not going home to his family,' Conroe Police Chief Philip Dupuis said.

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Ulises Villadares was kidnapped from his Conroe, Texas home Wednesday morning. Two men, Jimmy Tony Sanchez and Nicholas Chase Cunningham, allegedly abducted him

Villadares was related to Cunningham's (left) wife. Sanchez pictured on the right. Cunningham claimed that Villadares' brother owed him $8,000. Villadares' brother told cops he didn't owe anyone and had actually recently lent money to Cunningham's wife

Villadares was held captive at the home of Cunningham's mistress, Sophia Perez Heath (pictured), police said

Jimmy Tony Sanchez, 38; Nicholas Chase Cunningham, 42; and Sophia Perez Heath, 35, were arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping. The two men also face charges of aggravated robbery.

Police said the men broke into a home in Conroe and held the man and his 12-year-old son captive.

Eventually, they took Villadares with them and left the son tied up, ordering him not to go to the police, it is claimed. The boy was able to escape and went to a neighbor who informed police.

The victim was kidnapped Wednesday morning from this home in Conroe, Texas

Authorities say the two men were actually after the victim's brother, who they said owed him $8,000.

After taking the victim hostage, the kidnappers demanded that his family pay them $20,000 to secure his release.

Villadares' brother told police that he didn't owe anyone money but he did recently loan money to Cunningham's wife, who is a relative, and that she paid him back with a car registered in his name.

Later that night, FBI agents tracked the two kidnappers down to this hotel, but Villadares was nowhere to be seen

The FBI followed cellphone signals to a motel near Houston, where the two male suspects were found and taken into custody.

The suspects directed FBI agents and police officers to a house where the female suspect - Cunningham's mistress - was allegedly holding Villadares captive. Other people, including two children, were also at the home, according to authorities.

Villadares was shot dead by an agent while the FBI were conducting a raid on the home to rescue him. Authorities say he was still bound and gagged when he was fatally shot.

It's unclear what led to the gunfire. Garza said the agent who fired the fatal shot is on administrative leave pending an investigation.A Republican congressman from Pennsylvania who settled a former aide's sexual harassment complaint with taxpayer money has revealed that he will not seek re-election.

The decision came as party officials had begun to search for a replacement candidate.

The complaint by a former aide three decades younger than U.S. Representative Patrick Meehan came to light January 20 in a New York Times report, citing unnamed people.

The accuser's lawyer, Alexis Ronickher, called the allegations 'well-grounded' and a 'serious sexual harassment claim'.

Meehan, 62, is a four-term congressman and former U.S. attorney in Philadelphia.

Meehan (pictured with Paul Ryan), 62, used taxpayer dollars to settle a claim from a former aide. Details were revealed by the New York Times last week

In an effort to fend off the accusation, the married father-of-three had described the woman in an interview as a 'soul mate,' and acknowledged that he had lashed out when he discovered she had begun dating another man. But he contended that he had done nothing wrong and had never sought a romantic relationship with her.

Details of a letter he wrote to her in May have been revealed by the Philadelphia Inquirer. He thanked God in the letter 'for putting [the aide] into my life' and it was signed: 'With all of my heart, Patrick.'

Part of the letter reads: 'You are kind and sensitive and caring and infectious with your laugh. You are and have been a complete partner to me and you have brought me much happiness.'

She apparently texted him back with thankful words 'for your very kind words and for your friendship'.

Meehan's decision came as he faced calls from Democrats and rallies outside his district office demanding his resignation, and as Republicans began to lose confidence that Meehan could win re-election in the closely divided district in moderate southeastern Pennsylvania where Republicans fear an anti-Trump wave.

On Wednesday night, the comedian Stephen Colbert skewered Meehan in a four-minute monologue on his show.

Meehan wrote the former aide a letter this past May signed 'with all of my heart'. In the letter, he thanked God 'for putting [the aide] into my life'

'Unfortunately, recent events concerning my office and the settlement of certain harassment allegations have become a major distraction,' he wrote in a letter to his campaign chairman. 'I need to own it because it is my own conduct that fueled the matter.'

The Times report spurred Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan to call for an Ethics Committee investigation and Meehan's removal from the committee. Ryan also told Meehan to repay the money and the Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether Meehan sexually harassed the woman and misused official resources.

Meehan is the fifth member of Congress to resign or say he won't run again amid a national reckoning over sexual misconduct in the workplace.

The chairman of the Pennsylvania Republican Party, Val DiGiorgio, said Meehan 'made the right decision' for the voters of his district and for himself. DiGiorgio called it a 'sad ending to what was an otherwise noteworthy career of a dedicated public servant leader'.

U.S. Representative Steve Stivers, Republican-Ohio, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, thanked Meehan for his dedication, but said, 'we must always hold ourselves to the highest possible standard - especially while serving in Congress'.

'Unfortunately, recent events concerning my office and the settlement of certain harassment allegations have become a major distraction,' Meehan wrote in a letter about how he will not seek re-election

The former aide made the complaint last summer to the congressional Office of Compliance after Meehan became hostile toward her when she did not reciprocate his romantic interest in her, and she left the job, the Times reported.

The settlement had been kept secret, and Meehan has continually refused to say how much taxpayer money he paid as part of the agreement. Meehan said he followed the advice of House lawyers and Ethics Committee guidance in agreeing to the payment.

He said he had developed strong feelings for the woman in the seven years she had worked for him, and that he reacted badly when he discovered that she had a romantic interest in another man.

He told reporters that while he had struggled with his feelings, he also insisted that he had kept their relationship professional.

Initially, Meehan had said he would run for a fifth term. But even after he aired his side of the story, Republicans quietly looked for other candidates, believing that Meehan could not regain voter confidence after he used taxpayer money to settle the case.

Serving on the Ethics Committee, Meehan has long been seen as an advocate, pushing for protections for domestic violence victims, sponsoring legislation that would mandate the reporting of sexual violence, and he is also a member of a bipartisan task force to end domestic violence.

Meehan represents a badly contorted district criticized as being among the nation's most gerrymandered.

Drawn by Republicans before the 2012 election in a bid to help Meehan win re-election, it is a huge liability for Republicans and could change dramatically in a court-ordered redrawing of Pennsylvania's congressional boundaries that is being contested at the U.S. Supreme Court.

Democrat Hillary Clinton narrowly won the district in the 2016 presidential election, and winning it likely becomes an even bigger target for Democrats animated by anti-Trump fervor in Philadelphia's suburbs, and more difficult for Republicans.A Queensland Police jet carrying senior government officials has made a dramatic emergency landing after plummeting while in mid-air.

The Cessna plane was travelling from Brisbane to Townsville on Friday when it suddenly plunged towards the ground near Bundaberg.

Those onboard - including Police Minister Mark Ryan, Police Commissioner Ian Stewar and Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin - heard loud bangs and could smell smoke in the cabin.

The group which also included Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll and Maritime Safety Queensland Captain Patrick Quirk were travelling to meet Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for an Australia Day event.

A Queensland Police jet carrying senior government officials has made a dramatic emergency landing after plummeting while in mid-air

The group included Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll

The pilots were forced to return the aircraft to the Government Air Wing in Brisbane at a low altitude and speed for an emergency landing, a government spokesman said.

'Commissioner Stewart immediately took charge, reassuring other passengers and directing them to follow emergency procedures as the pilots turned the plane around,' he said.

'The plane took off at 5.50am and was met under emergency landing at the Government Air Wing by several fire appliances and representatives of Brisbane Airport Corporation just after 7am.

'An investigation will be conducted into the cause of the incident.'

They were on their way to meet Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk

Minister Ryan described the incident as a frightening experience.

'But I knew the fantastic and highly experienced pilots of the Government Air Wing were in control,' he said.

'I'm grateful to them for their professionalism, skill, reassurance, and calmness,' Minister Ryan said.

The Premier said she was relieved those onboard were safe.

'That's what is most important,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'Queensland is a big state and air travel is part of doing our job.

'There will be an investigation into what has happened.'

Queensland Police have been contacted for comment.Billionaire businessman, George Soros, called out the Trump administration for being a 'danger to the world'.

The 87-year-old made the comment during a dinner he hosted on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He told his audience that he believes President Donald Trump wants to create a 'mafia state' in the US, but can't because of the strength of the country's underlying institutions. Soros didn't elaborate on what he meant.

Billionaire businessman, George Soros (left), called out the Trump administration for being a 'danger to the world'

'But I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020, or even sooner.' Soros predicted a Democratic 'landslide' in the 2018 elections. Soros is pictured at the dinner giving his speech on Thursday

'I consider the Trump administration a danger to the world,' the billionaire investor said in his speech.

'But I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020, or even sooner.' Soros predicted a Democratic 'landslide' in the 2018 elections.

'I give President Trump credit for motivating his core supporters brillaintly, but for every core supporter he has created a greater number of core opponents who are

The businessman-turned philanthropist has been a consistent critic of Trump who is also in Davos, the first US president to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000.

Trump found a softer way to package his 'America First' agenda he strode through the conference center on his first day in Davos, calling for prosperity and 'great peace'.

'I think the real message is we want great prosperity and we want great peace,' Trump said after holding back-to-back meetings with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Soros has been a consistent critic of Trump who is also in Davos, the first US president to attend since Bill Clinton in 2000. Trump is pictured at the World Economic Forum on Thursday

'And I think that really is the message,' Trump told pool reporters who trailed him at each scheduled meeting at the gathering of bigwigs in the snowy Alpine town.

Trump also renewed his public pitch for investors to pour money into the US.

A lot of people are coming back to the US. 'We are seeing tremendous investment,' he said. 'And today's been a very exciting day, very great day and great for our country,' the president said.

Trump landed on Thursday in Switzerland, where his outsized personality and determination to push an 'America First' agenda was upending the annual Davos conference.

To an extent, the annual confab of billionaires and CEOs was centering around Trump even before Air Force One touched down in Zurich, then flew aboard Marine One to Davos in the Swiss Alps.

Trump is due to address delegates Friday.Advertisement

Australia Day celebrations have exposed a deep national divide, with some joining 'Invasion Day' rallies while others waved flags and celebrated the country's founding only streets away.

Protesters gathered at Redfern in inner-city Sydney to demand the date be moved from January 26, holding signs reading 'No pride in genocide' and 'Invasion Day'.

Meanwhile on the city's beaches and in nearby parks revellers waved Australian flags and celebrated their country's national day with fun and sausage sizzles in the sun.

Australia Day celebrations have exposed a deep national divide, with some joining 'Invasion Day' rallies while others waved flags and celebrated the country's founding only streets away

Protesters gathered at Redfern in inner-city Sydney to demand the date be moved from January 26, holding signs reading 'No pride in genocide' and 'Invasion Day'

'Invasion Day' protests took place across the country, attended by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and supporters

Meanwhile on the city's beaches and in nearby parks revellers waved Australian flags and celebrated their country's national day with fun and sausage sizzles in the sun

People have gathered to make the most of Australia Day spending it outside at the park in the sun

They were joined by a diverse range of groups, from LGBT campaigners with signs saying 'Lesbians against genocide' to Muslim women in hijabs holding Aboriginal flags

At Cronulla Beach the Australian flag was the garment of choice and could be seen being worn as a cap, printed on hats, towels and painted on faces

'Invasion Day' protests took place across the country, attended by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and supporters.

They were joined by a diverse range of groups, from LGBT campaigners with signs saying 'Lesbians against genocide' to Muslim women in hijabs holding Aboriginal flags.

At Cronulla Beach the Australian flag was the garment of choice and could be seen being worn as a cap, printed on hats, towels and painted on faces.

Locals cooked sausages on the barbeque while others went swimming despite the overcast and unseasonably mild weather.

Locals cooked sausages on the barbeque while others went swimming despite the overcast and unseasonably mild weather

Women are pictured wearing the Australian flag as capes while taking a dip at the beach

A group of young people gathered at Cronulla beach pose for a photo holding Australian flags

A group pose for a quick selfie at the beach while others take a dip in the ocean

A woman holds an Aboriginal flag at a demonstration on Australia Day

A man and a woman pose proudly wearing matching t-shirts with the Australian flag emblazoned on them

A group of girls pose for a photo wearing Australian flag headbands

A man holds a sign reading 'White Australia has a black history' in Arabic

A woman holds a sign to 'piss off Mark Latham' at an anti-Australia Day rally

A group of young people hold their Australian flags high as they relax on the beach on Australia Day

A woman with 'beer goggles' on relaxes at the beach with an Australian-flag bucket hat

A man sits on an esky while enjoying a cold Victoria Bitter

A family marches with both the Australian and Indian flags

A protester with a sign reading 'Australia does not exist' at an anti-Australia Day rally

Demonstrators take to the streets in protest against Australia Day

A man wearing a vintage World Series Cricket uniform and an Australian flag top hat sits down with a beer

Demonstrators protesting Australia Day, with a sign in the background reading '26th January Empire Outpost Day'

A man fires up a barbecue in the park while drinking a beer in the park on Australia Day

Protesters holding signs including 'Asian nurses against genocide' and 'Asian students against apartheid'

A protester holds a sign reading 'our pain is more important than your piss up'

Anti-Australia Day protesters hold a sign reading 'LGBT+ for decolonisation' at a rally against the day

Some activists marched for a date change, while others spoke out in favour of abolishing Australia Day altogether until Aboriginal social issues are solved.

'Invasion Day' demonstrators were joined by a diverse group of supporters, including some of Asian background holding placard saying 'Asians against apartheid' and 'No Asian pride in genocide'.

Patriotic beachside celebrations were equally diverse, as Australians from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds came together to celebrate the country's national day.

A woman with an Australian flag draped across her shoulders enters the water for a quick dip

A man raises his fist at an anti-Australia Day rally in front of a coffin with the word 'colonisation' written on it

A man wearing an Australian flag top hat and tie blows up a beach ball, also covered with the Australian flag

Protesters hold a sign reading 'You are on stolen land! Always was, always will be Aboriginal land'

A man wearing budgy smugglers bends over at the beach as others enjoy a snack in the sand on Australia Day

A sign at a protest refers to Australia Day as a 'Day of Mourning'

Two young people wearing matching shirts and shorts pose for a photo on Australia Day

A woman relaxes on a deck chair with a beer in hand at the park on Australia Day

A protester holds a sign reading 'worst date ever' referring to calls to change the date of Australia Day from January 26

Australia Day celebrations have attracted a range of people from many different backgrounds

A person dressed as a stormtrooper from Star Wars holds an Australian flag during a march on Australia Day

A young girl poses for a photo in between two flags while relaxing at a park on Australia DayAboriginal model and activist Aretha Brown has made her mark for the second year in a row during an Invasion Day rally in Melbourne, protesting Australia Day.

The outspoken 17-year-old was filmed addressing the 30,000-strong crowd during Friday's march, giving a powerful speech.

Ms Brown thanked the community for rallying around the protest to change the date of Australia Day, held annually on January 26.

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Aretha Brown, the outspoken Aboriginal 17-year-old was filmed addressing the crowd during Friday's march, giving a powerful speech in front of thousands

Indigenous model and activist, Aretha Brown, 17, made a powerful speech at Melbourne's 'Invasion Day' rally on Friday (pictured at last year's rally)

Ms Brown thanked the community for rallying around the protest to change the date of Australia Day

In the moving moment, the crowd recites 'I see you' back to the young model.

'I wanna say I acknowledge all the mob up in Don Dale and in the detention centres,' Ms Brown said, her voice breaking.

'I see you...we see you,' the crowd chants.

The 17-year-old continued: 'I want to say thank you to all the young, black brothers out here who show us their pride, every time, keeping our culture alive.'

'I want to say thank you to all the Aboriginal queer fellas out here who have two burdens and have to face two types of oppression.'

The Melbourne-based activist rose to prominence during last year's 'Invasion Day' rally, when she gave a speech to 50,000 supporters.

Since then she has been elected 'Prime Minister' at the National Indigenous Youth Parliament.

'Today I speak for all the young Aboriginal fellas out here - we're gonna take everything our elders, and all the people that came before, taught us...we're gonna keep this tradition on,' Ms Brown said on Friday.

In the moving moment, the Melbourne crowd recites 'I see you' back to the young model

The young model was elected 'Prime Minister' at the National Indigenous Youth Parliament after the 2017 rally

'We're gonna keep our culture proud - we're gonna make you mob proud of us.

'We've been working so hard, and at school, and we're gonna do everything we can just to make you more proud, so thank you.'

Her powerful speech came just days after stating Australia Day is the only time of the year that anyone 'gives a s**t' about Indigenous affairs, as it could affect their public holiday.

Amid an increasingly divisive debate over the date of Australia's national day, Ms Brown said January 26 would be better served as a national day of mourning.

'No one really cares about indigenous affairs, if there's a chance that some guy might lose his barbecue then it's suddenly a national debate - everyone wants to talk about it,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

'This is the one time of the year when people actually give a s**t about Indigenous activism, affairs and politics and the only reason they do is because it would affect their public holiday.'

'If I were to talk about the Uluru treaty, or Don Dale throughout the entire year it doesn't get mentioned.'

Ms Brown said the national holiday made her uncomfortable.

'This is the one time of the year when people actually give a s**t about Indigenous activism,' Ms Brown said

'For me it has never been a public holiday - I can't celebrate it and none of my family would ever celebrate it,'' she said.

'Australia Day hasn't even been changed yet - it's the idea that we might need to change the date that freaks people out.'

Ms Brown said being elected as the first female Indigenous Youth Prime Minister, and youngest at 16, was one of her proudest achievements.

'I was so amazed, it was really cool - not only being the youngest but the first female, I just didn't think that was even possible at all, it just shows the level of respect and maturity from the people who elected me,' she said.

While Ms Brown said she knew Australia Day was part of our history and most Australians attributed their 'identity' and 'way of life' with the celebrations on the controversial day, she questioned how hard it was for 'people to step back' and 'look at the other side of it that isn't theirs'.

'The weirdest thing is when I go to supermarkets and there is a little display shelf of Australia Day merchandise. How weird would it be if there was all Aboriginal stuff, people would lose it - they wouldn't be able to handle it,' she said.

Despite her success as a model, she plans to turn her back on the fashion industry and study a degree that will contribute to her activism

Ms Brown said the reaction to her speech last year was positive and she had 'erased' all the memories of the few 'mean, hateful and racist' comments she had received.

'Unfortunately what social media does is it gives legitimacy to people whose opinions aren't worth noting sometimes,' she said.

Despite her success as a model, she plans to turn her back on the fashion industry and study a degree that will contribute to her activism. She finishes high school this year.

'I would like to study race relations - anything that can help me with my activism. Activism fuels me and it's what I am most passionate about,' she said.A senior policeman is fighting for life after he was stabbed twice in the chest when he tried to arrest a child sex offender at a Sydney pub.

The 45-year-old senior detective was wounded by wanted child sex offender Nick Newman at about 3.10pm at Maroubra Junction Hotel on Anzac Parade.

Daily Mail Australia understands Newman, 33, cut his own throat with a knife before he was shot dead in the beer garden of the hotel by another two officers.

The senior detective was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition, and will undergo emergency surgery as doctors battle to save his life.

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A policeman has been stabbed and his attacker shot dead at a pub in Sydney as shocked Australia Day revellers watched on

Wanted child sex offender Nick Newman (pictured) stabbed the senior detective before he was shot dead at the scene by another officer

A dozen police cars and ambulances rushed to the scene on Anzac Parade and shut down the area

A man was seen being escorted from the scene in handcuffs by police shortly after incident

Bar staff were escorted from the building in Maroubra after the shooting on Friday (pictured)

Wanted for child sex offences, Newman, 33, reportedly failed to appear in court two days ago, according to 7 News.

The child sex offender stabbed the senior detective when the 45-year-old and his partner from the sex crime unit stormed the hotel to arrest Newman.

The 33-year-old reportedly began arguing with the detectives before he attacked with a knife, where the 45-year-old's officer shot Newman.

Dramatic video shot by a witness at the scene showed officers with guns draw at a back entrance to the pub, before entering in combat stance.

The officer was seen arriving at the hospital surrounded by concerned colleagues while paramedics worked on him.

The attacker was shot dead by officers on the scene with witnesses saying they heard four or five shots.

Two 18-year-old boys who heard the commotion told Daily Mail Australia it was 'pretty scary'.

'Our friends were inside and we heard the shots so we hurried to see what was going on. There was blood everywhere,' Mackenzie Gibbs said.

The senior officer was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery and is in a critical condition

Another man was seen being marched away from the pub by police but it was not clear why he was arrested.

At least 20 police officers locked down the area, putting up tape and telling nearby businesses to close.

Sales assistant Lara Alexander was working at the nearby Pharmacy 4 Less when she heard 'four or five' gunshots.

'I was vacuuming here at work and I heard gunshots from a couple of doors away. About four or five,' she told Daily Mail Australia.

The officer was seen arriving at the hospital surrounded by concerned colleagues while paramedics worked on him

A large number of police officers were at the scene and were seen talking to people

At least 20 police officers locked down the area, putting up tape and telling nearby businesses to close

A witness told reporters: 'I reckon about four or five shots, easy... bang, bang, bang, bang, bang... we saw blood everywhere... it all just happened so suddenly.'

Noel Whelan has been staying at the Maroubra Junction Hotel for a few months and was shocked when he was ushered out and into the street this afternoon

'I went outside and there were three or four ambulances and a whole bunch of police cars.

'And then I saw someone on a stretcher come out of the pub and another guy in handcuffs.'

Another witness told reporters: 'I reckon about 4 or 5 shots, easy... bang, bang, bang, bang, bang... we saw blood everywhere... it all just happened so suddenly.'

Noel Whelan has been staying at the Maroubra Junction Hotel for a few months and was shocked when he was ushered out and into the street this afternoon.

The Scot said he saw the police officer being brought outside and he 'didn't look very comfortable at all'.

Dramatic video shot by a witness at the scene showed officers with guns draw at a back entrance to the pub, before entering in combat stance

Large number of police congregate outside the Maroubra Junction Hotel

'I knew something was wrong when the police came pouring in. There were sirens coming from everywhere,' he told Daily Mail Australia.

'I heard what could have been a muffled gunshot but didn't think anything of it until I went down stairs and there were police everywhere.'

The Scot stays in Maroubra for six months every year and is saddened by the incident.

'I just want to get back to Europe. I didn't expect anything like this to happen in Australia especially not in Australia Day.'

The homicide squad will now investigate all circumstances surrounding the incident, including the officers shooting the attacker, police said.

The investigation will be independently reviewed and a report prepared for the coroner.

'My thoughts and prayers are with the family and colleagues of the NSW Police officer injured in Maroubra this afternoon,' NSW Police Minister Troy Grant said.

'Thank you to the team at St Vincent's who are caring for him now.'The US Olympics Committee has threatened to decertify USA Gymnastics unless the entire board resigns by Wednesday.

The threat, along with a slew of other mandatory conditions to avoid decertification, came on Thursday in an email from USOC CEO Scott Blackmun to the USA Gymnastics board obtained by USA Today.

It comes amid amid increasing public pressure after disgraced long-time national team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for abusing young female gymnasts.

After condemning him to the rest of his life behind bars, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar: 'I just signed your death warrant'.

Four of the 21 USA Gymnastics board members had already resigned by Thursday, including the chair, vice chair and treasurer.

USOC CEO Scott Blackmun (above) has demanded that the entire USA Gymnastics board resign by Wednesday on threat of immediate decertification

Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for abusing young female gymnasts. The fallout has prompted USOC to demand the entire USA Gymnastics board resign

Blackmun said in his email that he did not individually blame them for the sex abuse scandal, but insisted systemic change was needed.

'We do not base these requirements on any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar's actions,' Blackmun wrote.

'Our position comes from a clear sense that USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding,' he continued.

The deadline for resignation came after a more general call for the board to resign in an open letter from Blackmun earlier in the week.

Blackmun listed a slew of demands in the email to the USA Gymnastics board

Nassar is escorted into the courtroom during his sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to 175 years

Blackmun's email laid out the other following mandatory steps for USA Gymnastics to avoid immediate decertification:

An interim board must be in place by February 28. No one currently serving on the board is eligible to be an interim member except the five athlete representatives.

USA Gymnastics then has 12 months to replace the interim directors. Current board members are not eligible for those seats, either.

Also within 12 months, USA Gymnastics must cooperate with the independent investigation into whether anyone knew about athlete complaints of Nassar's abuse and failed to report them.

The new board must 'substantively discuss' at each of its meetings how the federation is progressing in implementing 70 recommendations made by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels and report back regularly to USOC.

All USA Gymnastics staff and board members must complete SafeSport training offered by the US Center for Safe Sport within three months.

All staff and board members must complete a comprehensive ethics training unit within the next six months.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement posted on its website that the body 'completely embraces the requirements outlined in the (email)'.

Nassar had agreed to serve a minimum sentence of 40 years as part of a plea deal, with that prison time coming after he completes his 60-year federal sentence for child pornography charges

'We understand that the requirements imposed by the letter will help us enhance our ability to build a culture of empowerment throughout the organization, with an increased focus on athlete safety and well-being,' said USA Gymnastics.

The fallout from the Nassar case has continued to spread, with Lou Anna Simon, the president of Michigan State University where Nassar also worked, stepping down late on Wednesday night.

'As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger,' Simon said in her resignation letter.

Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon also resigned from her role as president at the university where Nassar also worked (Simon above in court last Wednesday)

On Thursday, Kevin Martinez, an ESPN executive, became the latest USA Gymnastics board member to resign.

'I joined the board just nine months ago, well after Nassar's departure from USAG, in the hopes of helping to move the organization in a positive direction,' Martinez said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

'That hope for this board is no longer possible so I submitted my resignation.'

The webpage listing USAG's board members had been taken down on Thursday without explanation.

Most of the remaining 17 board members contacted by Reuters either declined to comment or did not return requests for comment.A glamorous mother-of-three who is known for her rev-head lifestyle has just added her dream car to her growing collection.

Natalie Wardell, 46, who has become the unofficial face of Canberra's Summernats car festival, shared a photo of her new ride with her followers.

Taking to Instagram, the NSW Central Coast mother captioned the photo of her new black Monaro CV8 with 'goals accomplished!'.

'I remember seeing this and thinking to myself one day I will own a Monaro,' Mrs Wardell wrote.

Car lover Natalie Wardell (pictured in red with her daughter) is known for her rev-head lifestyle

The NSW Central Coast mother-of-three captioned the photo of her new black Monaro CV8 with 'goals accomplished!'

'I will work 16 hour days to get one and that's what I did.

'[I] slaved my a*** off for some of the deposit and got a loan for the rest! That's one off the bucket list of goals!'

The 46-year-old, who has attended Summernats for 24 years, first made headlines in 2017 after telling how she travels to car events with her identical looking daughters.

Since then, the Wardell family - with husband Brendyn and their three daughters Montana, Tamika and Jazmyne - have been dubbed the 'Car-dashians'.

The Wardell family - with husband Brendyn and their three daughters Montana, Tamika and Jazmyne - have been dubbed the 'Car-dashians'

Mrs Wardell (left) previously explained she doesn't lead the wild life that's portrayed and is instead simply a 'cheetah pyjama-wearing nurse'

Speaking of her new Monaro, Mrs Wardell said she'd 'love a gto' but the black car fit into her 'price range' instead.

'More to life than materialistic s**t, but cars make me happy so if that's what makes my life a lot more enjoyable, who gives a s**t if you want something materialistic right?' she said.

Mrs Wardell previously explained she doesn't lead the wild life that's portrayed and is instead simply a 'cheetah pyjama-wearing nurse'.

'I'm sorry to say but my life is actually pretty boring! I'm a nurse by day, then always head straight home to get into my cheetah PJ (pyjama) pants,' Mrs Wardell wrote earlier this year.

Despite her love of cars, Mrs Wardell dubbed Summernats the #NannaNats, after the festival ruled out the burnout and Miss Summernats competitions.Experts have warned scorching temperatures could lead to fatalities this long weekend as an extreme heatwave sweeps across Australia.

Health officials in Victoria issued the warning as temperatures are expected to rise 46C in central areas of the state on Saturday afternoon.

Parts of South Australia and south-western New South Wales are also expected to nudge past 40C, with Adelaide set to hit 42C on Saturday and Sunday.

An extreme heatwave is sweeping across Australia over the long weekend has experts warning people may die. A beachgoer is pictured soaking up the sun on Friday

The Bureau of Meteorology predicts a heatwave across Victoria, South Australia parts of NSW and Tasmania

Melbourne is set to swelter in 39C temperatures on Sunday as the mercury rises this weekend.

One of the other factors is the high humidity making it feel much hotter and stopping the body's ability to cool itself through sweating.

The Victoria chief health officer Professor Charles Guest has warned people to prepared for the heat.



'Heat kills Australians more than any other national disaster,' he said.

'That's because the core temperature of the body goes up, sweating may go down and then organs may shut down. Heat can be a very dangerous phenomenon.

Melbourne is set to swelter in 39C on Sunday while Adelaide is set for 42C on both Saturday and Sunday

The weekend is set for a scorcher with health officials warning people how to stay cool

'It's important everybody in the community understands how to survive the heat.'

The warnings come as the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) forecast an extreme heatwave for norther parts of Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia.

'Looking in on your elderly neighbours and friends and relations in particular can also help prevent deaths,' Professor Guest said.

'Many people in the community do not know how to prevent heat health effects and making sure they are doing what you're doing can all be helpful behaviours.'

Australians have also been reminded to never leave anyone inside a parked car and can be a 'very dangerous place' where the temperature rises quickly.The news that NBC had fired Matt Lauer back in November came as a shock to most people, but not the disgraced anchor.

Page Six reports that Lauer was well aware that his days were numbered at Today six days before his termination, with a source claiming that he informed a colleague that he was on the way out on Thanksgiving.

'This is going to be my last parade,' Lauer said to the unnamed co-worker while hosting the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

He appeared on just two episodes after that and on November 28, Lauer lost his job after a 'detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace' came across the desk of NBC executives.

Lauer, 60, had done all he could prior to that in an attempt to save his job, going so far as to lie when NBC executives including Chairman Andy Lack and President Noah Oppenheimer asked his about rumors of affairs 'several times.'

Each time he was asked, Lauer would respond: 'I am racking my brains, but I cant think of anything.'

Scroll down for video

Matt Lauer had a feeling he was going to be fired from NBC's Today during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November

'This is going to be my last parade,' the disgraced anchor was reportedly overheard telling a co-worker on November 23. Lauer is pictured during the 91st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2017

Just six days later, Lauer (pictured on Monday) was dropped by NBC following a 'detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace'

Lauer's firing came six weeks after the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke and according to the source, Lauer 'was already being investigated by Variety magazine, but at that point, nobody knew what they had got on him'.

'The Times was calling around, saying they were doing a piece on the culture of the Today show, and The Enquirer was asking about settlements paid to female staff members who had affairs with Matt,' the source told PageSix.

According to the NBC source, no one at NBC News 'had any idea' that Lauer 'was preying on younger staffers' at Today.

It wasn't until Lauer's first accuser came forward the weekend after Thanksgiving that Lauer's colleagues found out about the alleged acts of sexual misconduct.

'She told them [her lawyers] she had a sexual relationship with Matt during the Sochi Olympics in 2014, and it continued when they returned to New York,' the insider told the news site.

'She was a very junior staff member at the time so there was a clear issue of balance of power.'

The source said the woman provided 'irrefutable evidence' believed to be a naked photograph of Lauer. And the accuser also claimed 'that she wasn't the only woman he'd done this tom,' according to PageSix.

On November 28, when Lauer was fired, the source claims that he had 'no idea that this would turn out to be his last day on the show'.

By the afternoon, Lauer's lawyers were meeting with NBC's legal department.

During those discussions, 'Matt was at first unapologetic, defending himself,' claims the source.

'He claimed he'd had three consensual affairs in the 25 years at Today.'

Lauer's firing came six weeks after the Harvey Weinstein scandal broke and according to the source, Lauer 'was already being investigated by Variety magazine, but at that point, nobody knew what they had got on him'

According to the NBC source, no one at NBC News 'had any idea' that Lauer 'was preying on younger staffers' at Today. He's pictured with his wife Annette Roque in 2013

On November 29, Lauer's co-hosts, Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, were made aware of Lauer's termination.

'This is a sad morning here at Today and NBC News,' said a tearful Guthrie while revealing the news at the start of the popular morning show.

Guthrie then read the letter that NBC News Chairman Andrew Lack had sent to employees just moments before, which stated that Lauer's alleged offense may not have been an 'isolated incident'.

'We learned this moments ago, just this morning. As you can imagine, we are devastated. And we are still processing all of this,' said Guthrie said on November 29.

Guthrie maintained her composure throughout the opening segment despite tearing up at times, and at one point was clutching on to co-host Hoda Kotb.

Roque, who Lauer has been married to for 19 years, forced him out of the estate where they live with their three children last weekend, according to Page Six. The Sag Harbor home is pictured

It wasn't until Lauer's first accuser came forward the weekend after Thanksgiving that Lauer's colleagues found out about the alleged acts of sexual misconduct. He is pictured in September 2015 on the show

'Hoda, I mean, you know, for the moment, all we can say is we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner. And he is beloved by many, many people here,' said Guthrie at the time.

'And I'm heartbroken for the brave colleague that came forward to tell her story and any other women who have their own stories to tell.'

Shortly after Lauer released a statement saying he was 'truly sorry'.

According to the source, Lauer is also 'angry because he certainly wasn't the only person in TV doing this, but he has taken the fall'.

The source said the woman provided 'irrefutable evidence' believed to be a naked photograph of Lauer (pictured with his wife)

This move comes months after multiple women came forward to accuse the disgraced anchor of inappropriate sexual behavior.

Last week, Lauer's former co-anchor Ann Curry spoke about her time on Today for the first time, saying their was a culture of verbal sexual harassment on the NBC morning show.

In addition to his North Haven compound, Lauer and his wife own a 40-acre horse farm in Water Mill and a 25-acre Sag Harbpor estate which thyey have been trying to sell for $14.9 million after first putting the house on the market for $18 million in 2016.

Roque lives in the North Haven home with the couple's three children, while Lauer would travel out for the weekends and spend the week in an Upper East Side apartment.

That residence is in the same building as the penthouse where disgraced banker Bernie Madoff lived with his wife Ruth.

Though the Dutch bombshell has yet to file for divorce from Lauer, Page Six reports that it will likely happen soon. The couple are pictured together left in 2012 and right in 1993

This all changed when he was fired from Today, and for the past two months he has been living with his family in North Haven.

Since the allegations of sexual misconduct, broke Lauer has been working tirelessly to save his marriage, a source told Page Six.

Roque is reportedly being 'very cold'.

Lauer's representatives have not yet said if the couples are formally separated, but Roque was seen meeting with divorce lawyers in New York last month.

Lauer was accused of sexually harassing an unnamed former intern while they covered the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

After the initial allegations a number of women came forward with similar allegations.

The scandal could be the last straw for Roque - who filed for divorce from Lauer back in 2006.

At the time she cited 'mental abuse, extreme mental and emotional distress, humiliation, torment and anxiety'.

But she eventually withdrew the filing when he offered her a post-nuptial agreement and millions of dollars.Megyn Kelly's feud with Jane Fonda could make it harder to book guests for her morning show, a new report has claimed.

Multiple talent representatives told the Hollywood Reporter for a report on Wednesday that Kelly's remarks ripping into Fonda earlier this week are making stars nervous about appearing on the show.

'Actors don't trust her,' one rep told the publication.

Director Judd Apatow is scheduled to appear on Megyn Kelly Today on Friday morning, along with folk rock band The Avett Brothers and double-leg amputee dancer Eric Graise.

Representative from NBC did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment from DailyMail.com.

Earlier this week, Kelly shocked NBC executives with her vicious attack on Fonda.

Kelly brought up Fonda's 'Hanoi Jane' episode to argue that the veteran actress was in no position to 'say what's offensive'.

On the attack: Kelly (above on the live Monday episode) tore into Jane Fonda for repeatedly criticizing her over a plastic surgery question she asked the actress, 80, back in September

Oh no she did not: Fonda (above in September after being asked about her plastic surgery by Megyn Kelly) recently spoke about the question in an interview with Variety and on Today

Grudge match: Kelly failed to mention that she herself had run multiple segments on her Fox News show The Kelly File which were highly critical on Fonda (pair above in controversial September clash)

A source told Page Six that the TV host had got approval before going after the actress who'd criticized Kelly for bringing up plastic surgery in a previous interview.

But no-one expected the extent of the tirade, as Kelly announced she was bringing an end to Fonda's 'poor me' routine, and even brought up the 80-year-old star's controversial opposition to the Vietnam war.

NBC staffers were said to be stunned by the hit piece.

'The problem is that nobody at NBC is controlling Megyn,' a source told Page Six. 'They paid her more than $20 million to host the 9am show, and she's been given too much power.

'But the fact remains: You can't say those things, or be so aggressive, on morning TV.'

Executives fear that Kelly's blistering attack on 'Hanoi Jane' could scare off other potential celebrity guests - at a time when the former Fox host was struggling for A-list guests.

'Megyn was already having trouble booking celebrities  so how is she ever going to book other stars if they disagree and she later goes on air later and trashes them?' the insider said.

Variety reported in October that publicists had no desire for their clients to appear on Megyn Kelly Today which had a bumpy start with bungled interviews and poor early ratings.

A 'high-powered publicist' told the magazine: 'I am just not sure what type of celeb interviewer she is.' Another described her and the show as 'awkward.'

Megyn Kelly, seen leaving NBC Studios Wednesday, stunned NBC staffers with her hit piece

Even the celebrities she's already had on are not in any rush to return.

Aside from the beef with Fonda, who has repeatedly taken the host to task for asking about her plastic surgery in September, Will & Grace star Debra Messing has said that regrets her appearance on the show.

She tweeted she was 'dismayed' after Kelly, who was interviewing a Will & Grace superfan, asked: 'Is it true that you became a lawyer -and you became gay - because of Will?' Kelly's attempts at humor swiftly came under fire from gay activists.

Messing also weighed in on Kelly's Fonda comments, tweeting that they were 'disgusting' and 'shameful.'

The ladies of The View also eviscerated Kelly, with host Ann Curry said that she was shocked by the attack.

'We're witnessing what we saw yesterday, a certain amount of meanness that I think is - meanness which we should not tolerate,' said Curry on Tuesday.

Joy Behar was a bit more blunt, saying that Fonda's response to Kelly's comment should have been: 'How much work have you had b****?'

Megyn Kelly was spotted indulging in a little retail shopping hours after she was trashed by the ladies of The View - as NBC ran a pre-taped episode of her show

Kelly was later seen gazing up at a menu board at an ice cream shop in New York City on Tuesday

And Whoopi Goldberg than tried to put everything in perspective by saying: 'If I can forgive you for telling all my friends' black children that Santa is only white, you can step back. Because you made a mistake. You made a mistake. We all make mistakes. You gotta lighten up, babe.'

Kelly took the day off following the controversial piece on Fonda as NBC chose to run a taped episode of Kelly's hour of Today.

It was all planned though, according to a network source who said that it would have been hard to book an audience given the focus of the show on Tuesday - sex trafficking.

'It's a sensitive topic best handled on tape,' added the source, who noted that the decision was made to tape the episode last week.

A representative for the show did not respond to requests for comment.

It has been four months since Megyn Kelly earned the wrath and ire of Jane Fonda for asking the 80-year-old actress about her plastic surgery.

That moment occurred during Kelly's third episode on September 27 when she asked the Oscar-winner about what work she had done in the past.

It prompted a steely Fonda to stare Kelly down and ask: 'We really want to talk about that now?

Coming for Kelly: Ann Curry said the move was petty and called Kelly 'mean,' while Joy Behar said Fonda should have asked: 'How much work have you had b****?'

Since then Fonda has complained about the question to a number of outlets, and even mocked Kelly's question on Today last week during an interview with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb

Fonda was appearing with Lily Tomlin, who said she had known the actress: 'before her first facelift'.

To which Fonda shot back: 'Who are you, Megyn Kelly?'

The comments infuriated Kelly who attacked Fonda for her actions during the Vietnam War four decades ago on her now infamous trip to Hanoi.

She also claimed that the actress had yet to apologize for her 1972 tour of North Vietnam. Fonda has stated multiple times that she regrets ever giving off the impression that she did not support US troops.

'When she first complained publicly after the program, and repeatedly, I chose to say nothing, as my general philosophy is what other people think of me is none of my business,' said Megyn at the end of her program on Monday.

'However, Fonda was at it again last week, including right here on NBC, and then again elsewhere. So it's time to address the poor-me routine.'

'First, some context. Fonda was on to promote a film about aging. For years she has spoken openly about her joy in giving a cultural face to older women,' Kelly told her studio audience.

'Look at her treatment of our military during the Vietnam war, many of our veterans still call her 'Hanoi Jane' ... for shaming troops,' said Kelly (Fonda above in Vietnam)

Going hard: ''She called our POW's 'hypocrites and liars' and referred to their torture as understandable,' Kelly said of Fonda (above an image of Fonda on set)

'Well, the truth is, most older women look nothing like Fonda, who is now 80. And if Fonda really wants to have an honest discussion about older women's cultural face, then her plastic surgery is tough to ignore.'

She continued: 'Fonda herself knows this. She knows this. And that is why, to her credit, she discussed her cosmetic surgery pretty much everywhere before coming on our show.'

'Look, I gave her the chance to empower other women, young and old, on a subject which she purports to know well and she rejected it. That's okay. But I have no regrets about the question,' explained Kelly.

'Nor am I in the market for a lesson from Jane Fonda on what is and is not appropriate. After all, this is a woman whose name is synonymous with outrage.'

That is when Kelly launched into Fox News mode.

Burn: 'Megyn Kelly is a moron - spineless wanna be barbie - she sucks and so does her show,' wrote Rosie O'Donnell

'Look at her treatment of our military during the Vietnam war, many of our veterans still call her 'Hanoi Jane' thanks to her radio broadcasts which attempted to shame American troops. She posed on an anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down our pilots,' stated Kelly.

'She called our POW's 'hypocrites and liars' and referred to their torture as understandable. Even she had to apologize years later for that gun picture - but not for the rest of it.'

She then closed out by saying: 'By the way she still says she's not proud of America. So, the moral indignation is a little much. She put her plastic surgery out there. She said she wanted to discuss the plight of older women in America. And honestly she has no business lecturing anyone on what qualifies as offensive.'

Kelly's claim is inaccurate however. Fonda apologized directly to a group of Vietnam veterans in 2015 while appearing at an event in Maryland.

'Whenever possible I try to sit down with vets and talk with them, because I understand and it makes me sad,' Fonda told those assembled at the Weinberg Center for Arts according to The Frederick News-Post.

'It hurts me and it will to my grave that I made a huge, huge mistake that made a lot of people think I was against the soldiers.'

She later described herself as a 'lightening rod' to many, like to 50 protesters outside the venue that evening who carried signs reading: 'Forgive? Maybe. Forget? Never.'

Fonda then explained: 'This famous person goes and does something that looks like I'm against the troops, which wasn't true, but it looked that way, and I'm a convenient target. So I understand.'

She did not say she regretted travelling to North Vietnam.

Viewers of The Kelly File might recognize Megyn's comments from episodes of the host's Fox News program.

In at least three videos from 2014, Kelly welcomed guests on her program to trash Jane Fonda while also taking some shots of her own at the Oscar winner.

In one interview with Dennis Miller in June of that year, Kelly smiled while saying that 'things went south' for the actress after her role in 'Barbarella.'

She continued to laugh as Miller said that Fonda 'made sense' to him when she played the the title character in that film, a voluptuous space traveler from the planet Earth who spent most of her time in little to no clothing.

'She's not beloved by a large portion of Americans,' said Kelly in that interview.

Just a few months before Kelly and Miller went after Fonda and the host also called out then-first lady Michelle Obama for saying she admired the actress' for being politically savvy.

'The thing is, if she had just said I want to have a body like Jane Fonda when I'm 76 most women would say, 'yeah, me too,'' said Kelly.

'But when she named the political savvy and said she was someone she wanted to live like she crossed over into territory where people would criticize her.'

Kelly incensed many from the liberal base, she would often toy with during her years on Fox News, with those comments on Monday, and a host of celebs quickly came to Fonda's defense.

'Megyn Kelly is a moron - spineless wanna be barbie - she sucks and so does her show,' wrote Rosie O'Donnell.

'What a moron this woman is,' noted Rosanna Arquette.

There was support for Kelly too, with lawyer and columnist Kurt Schlicter responding to Messing's tweet by writing: 'Maybe you should prioritize American heroes, like VADM James Stockdale, who were tortured and sometimes murdered by the communist bastards Hanoi Jane cavorted with, over your Hollywood traitor pal.'

This could be just the controversy Kelly wants though as she tries to drive up viewing figures for the show.

WHY IS JANE FONDA CALLED HANOI JANE? Jane Fonda was one of the most public faces in the anti-war movement throughout the years that the United States was in Vietnam, but drew the outrage of many in 1972 when she traveled to Hanoi in North Vietnam. After touring the area and being heavily photographed with the forces that the US were fighting, Fonda publicly attacked her country for bombing farmland and destroying the dyke system which was crucial to feeding much of the population. The United States denied ever carrying out such an action. Fonda on an antiaircraft gun that would have been used to shoot down and destroy American planes before taking any surviving servicemen captives as POWs It was the photograph of Fonda on an antiaircraft gun that would have been used to shoot down and destroy American planes before taking any surviving servicemen captives as POWs that truly angered millions, and is still a great source of outrage for some veterans. Congress later held hearings to decide if Fonda should be punished for her actions, with many calling her trip an act of treason and the actress a traitor. Fonda recounted the trip in her memoir At the same time, false reports began to surface also claiming that Fonda spoke with POWs in North Vietnam and relayed the information they shared with her to enemy troops. Fonda wrote about the infamous antiaircraft gun photo in her 2005 memoir My Life So Far. 'Someone (I dont remember who) leads me toward the gun, and I sit down, still laughing, still applauding. It all has nothing to do with where I am sitting. I hardly even think about where I am sitting,' said Fonda. 'The cameras flash. I get up, and as I start to walk back to the car with the translator, the implication of what has just happened hits me. Oh, my God. Its going to look like I was trying to shoot down U.S. planes! I plead with him, You have to be sure those photographs are not published. Please, you cant let them be published.' She went on to write: 'I am assured it will be taken care of. I dont know what else to do. It is possible that the Vietnamese had it all planned. I will never know. If they did, can I really blame them? The buck stops here. 'If I was used, I allowed it to happen. It was my mistake, and I have paid and continue to pay a heavy price for it.' AdvertisementA bill proposed in California by Majority Leader Ian Calderon would impose up to a $1,000 fine and six months jail time for waiters offering customers plastic straws because they're bad for the environment

A bill proposed in California would impose up to a $1,000 fine and six months jail time for waiters offering customers plastic straws because they're bad for the environment.

'We need to create awareness around the issue of one-time use plastic straws and its detrimental effects on our landfills, waterways, and oceans,' said Majority Leader Ian Calderon in a press release.

'[The bill] is not ban on plastic straws. It is a small step towards curbing our reliance on these convenience products, which will hopefully contribute to a change in consumer attitudes and usage.'

The bill will prevent sit-down restaurants from offering their customers unsolicited plastic straws, or from serving drinks with them.

'Plastic is a material that lasts forever, yet 33 percent of all plastics are used just once and thrown away,' the release said.

The bill will prevent sit-down restaurants from offering their customers unsolicited plastic straws, or from serving drinks with them

'Only 9 percent of all plastics are recycled, but due to their small size and lack of a resin code, no straws are ever recycled.'

'After their one-time use, non-biodegradable plastic straws often end up in our oceans and waterways where they break down into smaller, micro-size pieces that are discarded into our environment. They are oftentimes mistaken as food by marine life.'

Under the bill, giving unsolicited plastic straws would be a misdemeanor.Having Australia Day on January 26 is a hotly debated issue with several councils boycotting the day.

Radio host Tom Elliott tested the City of Yarra in Melbourne to see if they stood strong on their beliefs.

At 11.30am, the 3AW Drive host went to the main office of the City of Yarra council to see if he could pay his rates.

Tom Elliott (pictured) wanted to test how strongly City of Yarra council backed their anti-Australia Day sentiment after banning the national celebrations

'I can assume is that they're all hard at work inside these offices': Tom Elliott even called the City of Yarra but was met with an automated message

'The City of Yarra doesn't believe in Australia Day so all I can assume is that they're all hard at work inside these offices,' he said in a 3AW video.

Mr Elliott knocked on the office door repeatedly, calling out and even attempting to ring an old door bell.

He tried to call the council but got an automated message explaining the council was closed.

Mr Elliott explained what happened on-air, saying if the City of Yarra doesn't believe in the public holiday then its staff should be working.

He said: 'If you want to say we can't have Australia Day and make a big political statement about it, then have the guts to say ''we will not take the public holiday''.'

Last year a number of Melbourne councils announced they were scrapping traditional Australia Day celebrations.

Last year a number of Melbourne councils announced they were scrapping traditional Australia Day celebrations because of debates over 'Invasion Day'

Many of the councils, including City of Yarra, Moreland City Council and Darebin Council, banned the day and moved celebrations to a different date

Many of the councils, including City of Yarra, Moreland City Council and Darebin Council, banned the day and moved celebrations to a different date after discussions around 'Invasion Day'.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull previously said Australians should be proud to celebrate Australia Day, which has been a national public holiday since 1994.

'They are seeking to take a day which unites Australia and turn it into one which divides us,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia contacted City of Yarra for comment.Judge Aquilina in court on Wednesday for Day 7 of the Larry Nassar hearing

Before I get to sentencing I want to talk about a couple of things. First, I've said what I needed to say to the victims. I have a little bit more to say  you are no longer victims, you are survivors. You're very strong and I've addressed you individually.

Before I say anything further, I don't know if you all know this, and I know that the world is watching. I know this because I am on the bench everyday and this isn't the only heinous crime that appears in this court.

The national crime victimization survey that's done by the Justice Department annually reports that 310 out of every 1,000 assaults are reported to police, which means that two out of three go unreported. The voices of the survivors have asked everyone: Report.

Keep your voice up. Rachel's [Denhollander] voice hopefully will raise these numbers of reports in all of your voices, but that statistic does not include children 12 and under.

One in 10 children will be sexually abused by their 18th birthday. One in seven girls, one in 25 boys by their 18th birthday.

That means that in the United States, I'm not talking about any other country, 400,000 babies born in the U.S. will become victims of child sexual abuse. It stops now. Speak out like these survivors, become part of the army.

I do one case at a time and I really so very much appreciate all of your thank yous. I've read some of the Twitters and Facebooks and all of what's going on in media. I'm not special, I'm doing my job. If you come into my courtroom any Wednesday and watch sentencing, I give everybody a voice. I give defendants a voice, their families when they're here, I give victims a voice. I treat everyone like family because that's the justice system I was raised to believe in.

I came to this country stateless. I'm naturalized. My father's Maltese, my mother's German and I was raised on old country values and my grandmother always told me, my parents always told me, my grandfather always told me, that America is the greatest country. I believe that. That's why I served in the military. That's why I've always done community service. I'm not really well liked because I speak out. I don't have many friends because I speak out. If you ask me a question, you better be ready for the answer.

I speak out because I want change, because I don't believe in hiding the truth. I'm not saying I'm always right but I try.

I also don't believe that one size fits all when it comes to sentencing  another reason I listen.

I know there are some judges who for every crime they give the same punishment. I don't think that's justice.

I believe in individualized sentencing, I follow the constitution, and I believe our system works. I also believe these survivors.

Now there is case law about how I can consider what I can consider and first and foremost my sentence reflects the seven in regard to who a defendant like you sir, but the remainder of you, the 161 others, add to the credibility of those seven. I'm considering everything, everyone, because your crime, all of your crimes, the depth of them, have cut into the core of this community and many communities, and all of the families, and people we don't even know.

And sir, the media has asked me to release your letter. I'm not going to do that. Counsel may object, the media may object. There is some information in this letter that troubles me in regard to the victims and I don't want them re-victimized by the words that you have in here, but I do want to read some of your letter and reason is because I considered it in sentencing as an extension of your apology and whether I believe it or not. So, I want you to hear your words.

I've already read some and I'm not reading every line, but let me begin.

"The federal judge went ballistic at sentencing, since I pled guilty to the state cases and spent 10 percent on federal case and 90 percent on the state cases and civil suits. She gave me 60 years, instead of 5 to 20 years. I pleaded guilty to possession of porn from 9/2004 to 12/2004. Four months. The prosecutor even admitted that I never belonged to any porn sites, any chat rooms, was not on the dark web. Also, they could not prove I viewed it. It was all deleted, of course.

I shared my electronics and I could not prove that. So, for four months of porn possession, from 2004 I was sentenced to 60 years. Not proper, appropriate, fair."

Going down a few lines: "What I did in the state cases was medical. Not sexual. But because of the porn I lost all support, thus another reason for the state guilty plea." Let me move down further.

"So I tried to avoid a trial to save the stress to this community, my family, the victims. Yet look what is happening. It is wrong." Let me move down further.

"I was a good doctor because my treatments worked and those patients that are now speaking out were the same ones that praised and came back over and over, and referred family and friends to see me. The media convinced them that everything I did was wrong and bad. They feel that I broke their trust. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned!

"It is just a complete nightmare. The stories that are being fabricated too sensationalize this! Then the AG would only accept my plea if I said what I did was not medical and was for my own pleasure. They forced me to say that or they were going to trial and not accepting the plea. I wanted to plead no contest. But the AG refused that. I was so manipulated by the AG and now Aquilina, and all I wanted was to minimize stress to everyone like I wrote earlier." Going down a little bit further.

"In addition with the federal case, my medical treatments with the Olympic/national teams were discussed as part of the plea. The FBI investigated them in 2015 and found nothing substantial because it was medical. Now they are seeking the media attention and financial reward."

Aquilina: Would you like to withdraw your plea?

Nassar: No, your honor.

Aquilina: Because you are guilty, aren't you? Are you guilty, sir?

Nassar: I accept my plea, exactly.

Aquilina: The new sign language has become "treatment." These quotes, these air quotes. I will never see them again without thinking of you and your despicable acts. I don't care how they're used. I will always think of quotes and the word "treatment." It was not treatment, what you did. It was not medical. There was no medical evidence that was ever brought.

This letter which comes two months after your plea tells me you that you have not yet owned what you did. that you still think that somehow you are right. That you are a doctor, that you are entitled, that you don't have to listen and that you did treatment!

I wouldn't send my dogs to you, sir.

There is no treatment here. You finally told the truth. Inaction is an action. Silence is indifference. Justice requires action and a voice and that is what has happened here in this court. 168 buckets of water were placed on your so-called match that got out of control.

So, your urges escalated and based on the numbers that we all know go unreported, I cant even guess how many vulnerable women and children and families you actually assaulted.

Your decision to assault was precise, calculated, manipulative, devious, despicable. I dont have to add words because you survivors have said all of that and I dont want to repeat it.

You cant give them back their innocence, their youth. You cant give a father back his life, or one of your victims her life when she took it. You cant return the daughter to the mother, the father to the daughter.

You played on everyones vulnerability. Im not vulnerable, not to you, not to other criminals at that podium. I swore to uphold the constitution and the law and I am well trained. I know exactly what to do. And at this time Im going to do it and I want you to know that as much it was my honor and privilege to hear the sister survivors, it is my honor and privilege to sentence you. Because sir, you do not deserve to walk outside of a prison ever again. You have done nothing to control those urges and anywhere you walk, destruction will occur to those most vulnerable.

Now I am honoring the agreement. Im also honoring whats been requested of me. I want you to know, Im not good at math. I have a cheat sheet. Im only a lawyer. I know that you have gotten a lot of education in physics and math, but I have a cheat sheet.

It is my privilege on counts 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, and 18 and 24 to sentence you to 40 years, and when I look at my cheat sheet, 40 years just so you know, and you can count it off your calendar, is 480 months. The tail end, because I need to send a message to the parole board in the event somehow God is gracious and I know he is, and you survive the 60 years in Federal Court first and then you start on my 40 years, youve gone off the page here as to what Im doing.

My page only goes to 100 years. Sir, Im giving you 175 years which is 2,100 months. Ive just signed your death warrant  I need everyone to be quiet, I still have contempt powers, I told you, Im not nice. I find that you dont get that youre a danger. You remain a danger.

Im a judge that believes in life and rehabilitation when rehabilitation is possible. I have many defendants come back here and show me great things theyve done in their lives after probation, after parole. I dont find thats possible with you. So you will receive jail credit on counts 1, 2, 5, 8, 10, and 18 of 369 days. On count 24, you will have 370 days jail credit. If you are ever out, which is doubtful, you will be required to register with the Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act, complying with all the requirements of that act, in addition to Global Position Monitoring system, you would wear a GPS.

This story is not about me. It never was about me. I hope I opened some doors, but you see Im a little stupid because I thought everybody did what I did and if they didnt, maybe they ought to, but I do this and am happy doing it. And if you dont believe me, the keeper of my words is right by my side and lawyers who are here yes, saying yup Ive waited too long has she lets everybody talk. Sometimes people get upset, I dont care, I get paid the same.

So, as for the media who wants to talk to me, Im not going to be making any statements. I know my office and I may have even  I dont know, it's been a long couple of weeks  conveyed that after this is over, its just not my story. After the appellate period runs, with victims by my side to tell their stories, I might answer some more questions than what I said on the record.

I dont know what more I can possibly say. But Im not going to talk with any media person until after the appeal period. And even then, if you talk with me about this case, I will have survivor with me because it is their story. So I wanted everybody to hear that from me.

I respect all of the media outlets, you have just done a fabulous job here. There hasnt been any commotion or upset by this. And I do believe in the First Amendment, so thank you all for being here because its an important story for the survivors.Gavin Williamson has revealed that Moscow has been photographing power stations

Moscow claimed Gavin Williamson had 'lost his grasp on reason' tonight after the Defence Secretary said Russia was plotting to kill thousands of Britons in a cyber attack.

Mr Williamson has revealed that Moscow has been photographing power stations and may be planning to damage the British economy and infrastructure.

He said that Russian president Vladimir Putin could target interconnectors, which link power between countries, potentially leaving millions of homes without electricity.

The Russian defence ministry ridiculed the claims as Major General Igor Konashenkov said the comments were like something of a Monty Python sketch.

The general told Russian news agency Tass: 'Gavin Williamson in his fiery crusade for military budget money appears to have lost his grasp on reason.

'His fears about Russia getting pictures of power plants and studying the routes of British pipelines are worthy of a comic plot or a Monty Python's Flying Circus sketch.'

In his warning, Mr Williamson said just because the Russian would not land troops in Brighton or Scarborough the threat had not diminished.

He said: 'They are going to be thinking, 'How can we just cause so much pain to Britain?'

'Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country.'

Britain has three gas and four electricity interconnectors. It is believed up to eight million homes will be reliant on the international connections in the next few years.

Russian president Vladimir Putin (above) could target interconnectors - linking power between countries - potentially leaving millions of homes without electricity, Mr Williamson said

The Defence Secretary said the Russians could also launch missiles at the UK.

He said: 'What they are looking at doing is trying to spot vulnerabilities, because what they want to do is they want to know how to strike it, they want to know how they can kill infrastructure and by killing that infrastructure that means hurting Britain and the British people.'

According to Ciaran Martin, chief executive of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre, recent Russian cyber hacks have been on the energy sector.

On Monday the head of the Army said Britain needed to 'keep up' with Putin's growing military strength or see our ability to take action 'massively constrained'.

General Sir Nick Carter told the Royal United Services Institute think-tank: 'The time to address these threats is now, we cannot afford to sit back. Our ability to pre-empt or respond to threats will be eroded if we don't keep up with our adversaries.

'We must take notice of what is going on around us or our ability to take action will be massively constrained.'

According to Ciaran Martin (pictured), chief executive of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre, recent Russian cyber hacks have been on the energy sector

Last week RAF jets had to be scrambled to see off Russian bombers heading for UK airspace, while the number of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic is at its highest since the Cold War.

Many of the underwater cables that link our internet and phone networks to the rest of the world are in the Atlantic.

Last month Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach said: 'Can you imagine a scenario where those cables are cut or disrupted which would immediately and potentially catastrophically affect both our economy and other ways of living.

'Therefore we must continue to develop our maritime forces with our allies to match and understand Russian fleet modernisation. If we don't change with the threats we face, we risk being overmatched.'

In November, Theresa May warned that Russia was meddling in elections and planting fake stories in the media in a bid to 'weaponise information' and sow discord in the West.The film with the most Academy Award nominations this year was inspired by a late writer's work who did not receive any credit, it was claimed on Thursday.

The Shape of Water, the film directed by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, leads the field with an astounding 13 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director, and best original screenplay.

But the son of the late playwright Paul Zindel says that the plot line from the movie is 'obviously derived' from his 1969 play Let Me Hear You Whisper.

David Zindel, Paul Zindel's son, made the claim, which was reported by The Guardian.

The Shape of Water, the film by Mexican director Guillermo del Toro, leads the field with an astounding 13 Oscar nominations, including best picture, best director, and best original screenplay

But the son of the late playwright Paul Zindel (right) says that the plot line from the movie is 'obviously derived' from his 1969 play Let Me Hear You Whisper. The Shape of Water director Guillermo del Toro (left) is denying that he was inspired by Zindel's play

'We are shocked that a major studio could make a film so obviously derived from my late father's work without anyone recognizing it and coming to us for the rights,' said David Zindel, who runs his late father's estate.

The Shape of Water is a film set in the 1960s about a cleaner who falls in love with a sea creature held captive at the Baltimore laboratory where she works.

Let Me Hear You Whisper, a play that was made into a TV special almost 50 years ago, is about a female janitor in a research lab who forms a special bond with a captive dolphin.

In both the movie and the play, the women try to rescue the animals held in the labs.

Sally Hawkins stars as the cleaning lady in del Toro's flick.

Fox Searchlight, through a spokesperson, denied that del Toro stole the idea for his film from Zindel's play.

'Guillermo del Toro has never read nor seen Mr. Zindel's play in any form,' the company said in a statement.

'Mr. del Toro has had a 25 year career during which he has made 10 feature films and has always been very open about acknowledging his influences.

'If the Zindel family has questions about this original work we welcome a conversation with them.'

The similarities are quite striking.

In both the movie and the play, the female cleaner works a night shift in a lab and falls in love with a sea creature being subjected to scientific experiments.

The similarities are quite striking. In both the movie and the play, the female cleaner works a night shift in a lab and falls in love with a sea creature being subjected to scientific experiments. Sally Hawkins is seen above in The Shape of Water

In both works, the cleaner brings food to the animal and dances with a mop in front of the holding tank while a love song plays in the background.

The two main protagonists also learn a special language enabling them to communicate with the sea creatures.

And the labs in which they both work are involved in covert military operations.

Both main characters also learn of evil plans to kill the animals through 'vivisection'  or conducting experiments on live animals for scientific research.

In both the movie and the play, the women form elaborate plans to rescue the animals and free them at sea by sneaking them out in a laundry cart.

Both plots also include another key character  a janitor who befriends the main character and helps rescue the animal.

Hawkins was nominated for best actress while her castmate, Octavia Spencer, is up for a best supporting actress.

While the similarities are uncanny, there are also differences between the film and the play.

Hawkins (above) was nominated for best actress while her castmate, Octavia Spencer, is up for a best supporting actress. While the similarities are uncanny, there are also differences between the film and the play

In the film, the main character, Elisa, is mute and communicates through sign language, while Helen, the protagonist in Zindel's work, speaks.

The film also includes a gay character, played by Richard Jenkins. And the film has a substantially different ending than the play.

Paul Zindel won a Pulitzer Prize for his 1971 play The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.

He died in 2003.

The claim that del Toro took the idea for his movie from Zindel has been discussed on social media for months.

But this is the first time that Zindel's family has gone on the record and agreed with the claim.

'A lot of people are telling us they are struck by the substantial similarities,' David Zindel told The Guardian.

'We are very grateful to Paul Zindel's fans for bringing this to our attention.'Donald Trump has apologised for retweeting videos posted online by Britain First and said he did it because he is a 'big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror'.

The 71-year-old was speaking to Piers Morgan in Davos, Switzerland, and eventually said he would apologise if the far-right group is seen as being 'horrible and racist'.

It comes after Trump landed himself in hot water after he retweeted three clips which purportedly showed 'anti-Muslim' material.

They were initially posted by British nationalist Jayda Fransen, who has been convicted of hate crimes, and Theresa May publicly condemned the President.

US President Donald Trump has now publicly apologised for retweeting videos which were initially posted online by far-right group Britain First

The 71-year-old (left) was asked by Piers Morgan (right) whether he wanted to say sorry and replied: 'I would certainly apologise if you would like me to do that'

Piers Morgan landed the first international interview with Donald Trump since he took office (pictured together in New York in 2010)

Donald Trump retweeted a video which was initially posted online by far-right British nationalist Jayda Fransen, who has been convicted of hate crimes

He was asked about the controversial retweets during the interview, which was aired on Good Morning Britain, and said he did not know who Britain First were when the messages were posted last November.

Trump said that he retweeted the videos because he is a 'big believer in fighting Islamic terror' and also said he is the 'least racist person that anybody's going to meet'.

And just hours after the interview was aired on ITV this morning, Ms Fransen hit back at Morgan and demanded a sit down with him following the 'horrific accusations' he made.

Speaking outside a court in Belfast, where she faced a hate speech charge, she said: 'I have challenged Piers Morgan to sit down with me and to discuss these absolutely horrific accusations that I am a horrible nasty racist - something I wholeheartedly refute.'

If you're telling me they're horrible people, horrible racist people I would certainly apologise if you would like me to do that. President Donald Trump

But Piers quickly replied on Twitter and wrote: 'Here's my apology to her: 'Sorry I wasn't more offensive about you'.'

It comes after the President, who also met Mrs May at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, said: 'I know nothing about them and I know nothing about them today. Other than I read a little bit.

'I guess, again I'm in the United States, so I didn't read as much about it, perhaps it was a big story in Britain, perhaps it was a bit story in the UK.

'But in the United States it wasn't a big story. I did a retweet. When you do your own tweeting, or you do your own social media, it's fine.

'When you do those retweets it can cause problems, because you never know who's doing it to start off with.

'I don't know who they are, I know nothing about them, so I wouldn't be doing that. I am, as I say often, the least racist person that anybody's going to meet.

'Certainly I wasn't endorsing anybody. I knew nothing about them. They had I guess a couple of depictions of radical Islamic terror.

'Radical Islamic terror, whether you like talking about it or not Piers, it's a fact.

'You look at what's going on in UK and you look at what's going on all over the world, you can try and shield it.'

Given the amount of offence, Trump was asked if he regrets the retweets.

He added: 'Look, it was done because I am a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror. This was a depiction of radical Islamic terror.

'Here's what's fair, if you're telling me they're horrible people, horrible racist people I would certainly apologise if you would like me to do that.

'I know nothing about them. I don't want to be involved with [these] people, but you're telling me about these people because I know nothing about these people.'

Trump (pictured during the interview in Switzerland) insisted that he did not know who Britain First were

Morgan (right) asked the President (left) about his relationship with the UK and he said that he is a 'tremendous supporter' of Britain

Trump (right) also met Mrs May (left) during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday

Piers condemned his friend in November, when he urged him to 'stop this madness' after Trump retweeted Britain First

Britain First Deputy Leader Jayda Fransen was pictured arriving at Belfast Laganside Courts today to face charges related to comments made about Islam. She demanded a sit down with Piers following his 'accusations'

Before the interview, the old friends were filmed joking together and Morgan shouted: 'Mr President!'

Trump replied: 'Man, I've missed you. Nice to see you, you doing well?'

When asked if he had been 'busy', Trump responded: 'A little busy but that's okay, it's good to be with you.'

And when they finally sat down to discuss his first year in office, Trump also revealed he has a 'very good' relationship with Mrs May and added that the US 'will come to Britain's defence is anything should happen'.

He added: 'I can tell you I have a very good relationship with your Prime Minister who I just left.

'She's been doing a very good job. We actually have a very good relationship, although a lot of people think we don't.

'I support her, I support a lot of what she does and a lot of what she says and I support you militarily very much.

'We will come to your defence if anything should happen, which hopefully will never happen. I am a tremendous supporter of the UK.'

In November, Mrs May criticised the President for retweeting the three videos, the first of which was captioned: 'Muslim migrant beats up Dutch boy on crutches.'

The second appeared to show a Muslim man destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary while the third video was captioned: 'Islamic mob pushes teenage boy off roof and beats him to death.'

Trump (pictured) insisted that he is the 'least racist person that anybody's going to meet' during the interview

Morgan pushed him for an apology and he eventually said that he would say sorry after he was told the group were 'racist, fascist people'

Responding to suggestions that some figures in the UK would like him to be banned from visiting the country, Trump said: 'I hadn't heard about banning, I think a lot of the people in your country like what I stand for, they respect what I stand for and I do stand for tough borders.'

He added: 'The real me is somebody that loves Britain, loves the UK. I love Scotland.

'One of the biggest problems I have in winning, I won't be able to get back there so often. I would love to go there.

'As you know, before this happened, I would be there a lot. Very special people and a very special place. I don't want to cause any difficulty for your country, that I can tell you.'

Asked what he thought of attacks from his critics, he said: 'I don't care. I don't care. It's just one of those things.'

Morgan spoke live from Davos following the interview and said it was a 'significant climb down by the President'.

He said: 'I think it is significant. A lot of the antagonism I think from people in Britain towards Donald Trump was dramatically fuelled by retweeting one of the leaders of Britain First.

'Donald Trump made it clear to me that when he did these retweets he had no idea who this person was, he had no idea who Britain First was.

'He just thought that the videos, which to him depicted ISIS-like behaviour deserved a retweeted. I questioned him on that.

'I think it was right and proper that he, now he was made aware - and I made him very clearly aware that these are racist, fascist people - that he should apologise and he said look, if they are these people you tell me they are then I would certainly apologise.

'I think that is a significant climb down by the President. I thought it was an interesting exchange, I don't think he really wanted to go to the point of apology. But I kept pushing him and eventually we did get there.'

'The reality is, he has apologised and he has said, I didn't know who these people were.'

Piers added of the interview: 'It's very wide-ranging, we talk about everything from trophy hunting, to Meghan Markle, to Europe, to ISIS, all sorts of stuff.'

Morgan, a MailOnline columnist and editor-at-large for Dailymail.com, is old friends with the US President (pictured with Trump and his family, Donald Trump, Jr., left, and Ivanka Trump, right, in 2008 at the Apprentice finale)

The outspoken columnist for MailOnline has been a big supporter of Trump ever since (pictured together in 2010)

On Friday morning, Morgan said that Trump 'publicly apologised' for retweeting the messages and added that the President said he 'did not know who they were'.

He wrote online: 'President Trump has publicly apologised for retweeting far-right group Britain First.

'Says he didn't know who they were. 'I don't want to be involved with these people. If you're telling me they're horrible racist people. I certainly apologise'.'

Following the outrage caused by the tweets, Trump subsequently pulled out of an expected visit to Britain to open the new US embassy building in London, which lead to speculation of a diplomatic rift.

Trump's appearance in the UK is now not expected until the second half of 2018 - and is likely to be met by protests.

Downing Street said: 'The PM and President concluded by asking officials to work together on finalising the details of a visit by the President to the UK later this year.'

During their 40-minute meeting in Davos, Mrs May also raised the issue of aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, which has a major plant in Northern Ireland and is at the centre of a US trade dispute.

Morgan and Trump became friends while the former News of the World editor, who was working at CNN at the time, after he won the US' Celebrity Apprentice.

Piers said last year: 'I genuinely like him. I have known him through ten years, and saw from The Apprentice he can be charming, funny, smart and his judgment is spot on.

'He loved drama and arguments and making the right decision and being popular.'

The full interview will air on ITV on Sunday evening.

Britain First leader dismisses claims 'master politician' Trump apologised for tweet

Paul Golding (pictured) insisted 'master politician' Trump was 'playing the game'

The leader of Britain First has slammed claims that Donald Trump apologised for retweeting them - and claimed the President knew exactly who his party were.

Paul Golding insisted 'master politician' Trump was 'playing the game' during a TV interview with Piers Morgan.

He also labelled the arrests of himself and Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen in Northern Ireland as an 'outrageous abuse of police powers,' and defended the far-right party against claims of racism.

Golding said of Trump: 'He didn't apologise, he said "if what you're telling me is that they are racists, I would be prepared to apologise" - which isn't exactly an apology.

He added: 'Donald Trump is a master politician, he's playing the game and he knew what he was doing.

'At that point, Jayda had been arrested in Belfast for making a speech criticising Islam and she was being persecuted by the police.

'Trump retweeted three different videos in a row in his way of poking the British Government and asking what they're doing with Jayda.

'The idea that he [Trump] did this without knowing anything about us is preposterous - he retweeted three videos in a row which he's never done before.

'He didn't actually apologise, he said he was prepared to if we were in fact horrible racist people, which we're not.'

Deputy leader Jayda Fransen made a brief appearance in the dock at Belfast Magistrates Court on Friday on two hate charges.

She was charged over a speech made on August 6 at a Northern Ireland Against Terrorism rally.'

Ms Fransen also slammed claims that Trump had apologised, and accused Piers Morgan of misrepresenting her views to Trump on TV.A teenager who was shot in the face during the Kentucky high school shooting that left two dead is in a stable condition and speaking to his family.

Gage Smock, 15, of Gilbertsville, was seriously injured and his girlfriend Bailey Holt was killed when a 15-year-old went on a shooting rampage at Marshall County High School on Tuesday.

Preston Ryan Cope, 15, also died in the attack, while 18 students were injured. Officials say the shooter, who has not yet been named, will be tried as an adult on charges of murder and assault.

On Thursday, Smock's father Gary Wayne Smock, 35, broke down in tears as he told USA Today his son was still in hospital after the critical gunshot wound to the head.

Gage Smock, 15, (right) of Gilbertsville, was seriously injured and his girlfriend Bailey Holt (left) was killed when a 15-year-old went on a shooting rampage at Marshall County High School on Tuesday

The family have shared photographs of their son as he recovers in hospital. In one, he holds up a sign that reads: '#Marshall Strong'

'We're doing as well as can be expected,' he said, adding that doctors did not yet know when Gage could be released. The teen underwent surgery on Thursday and remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Gary, and his wife Larissa Smock, 34, have been at their son's bedside in Nashville since the shooting.

The family have shared photographs of their son as he recovers in hospital. In one, he holds up a sign that reads: '#Marshall Strong.'

The sentiment was echoed across town, including at Calvary Baptist Church in Grand Rivers, where the sign read 'MARSHALL STRONG'.

A vigil was held Thursdays to honor the victims and hundreds gathered amid flickering candles after nightfall.

Nearly 300 people, many with faces visibly etched with pain, thronged a park as firefighters raised a large American flag in the crisp night air.

Many teens, cupping candles in their palms, hugged and looked on somberly. One girl's candle shook in her hands as she sobbed, and others cried when another girl sang 'Amazing Grace.'

'It always happens somewhere else, you know, but this week it was our community,' said Misti Drew, an organizer of the vigil. With faces aglow from the candles, participants lofted banners and some wore T-shirts embossed with the words, 'Marshall Strong.'

Bailey Holt (left), 15, was one of two students who suffered fatal gunshot wounds in Tuesday's shooting rampage at a Kentucky high school. Preston Cope (right), also 15, was rushed to hospital but died of a gunshot wound to the head

Police were seen leading a teen, believed to be the 15-year-old shooter, away in handcuffs after he opened fire on classmates at Marshall County High School in Kentucky on Tuesday morning. The shooter (second right) still has not been identified

Earlier, Vicki Jo Reed painted a 'Marshall Strong' sign on a storefront, and reflected on her grandson's close call.

'This is one of the hardest things for me to ever have to paint,' she said. 'Had a grandson that was in the commons area through the whole thing, and he, like all the other kids, is not handling it very good.'

Reed said her grandson is also 15, like the shooting suspect and their two slain classmates, and is haunted by the horror he saw.

'He wakes up to the gunshots every morning,' Reed said.

'It's small town and they're all coming together for us,' said Smock, who said he is grateful for the support.

Gage also lost his girlfriend Bailey Holt, in the shooting.

'She called me and all I could hear was voices, chaos in the background,' her mother Secret Holt told WKRN on Wednesday.

'She couldn't say anything and I tried to call her name over and over and over and she never responded,' he mother added.

Mrs Holt soon learned that there had been a shooting at her eldest daughter's school, Marshall County High, so she ran to where the kids were being bused to safety.

Secret and Jason Holt lost their 15-year-old daughter Bailey in Tuesday's shooting at Marshall County High School in Kentucky

She says she knew something was wrong when she didn't see the 15-year-old on any of the buses.

'We waited and waited for her to get off the buses and she never did,' Mrs Holt said. 'The principal at North Marshal came and got me, and took us outside and we got in a cop car and they took us to the fire department and told us what had happened.'

Bailey was one of two students killed by the as-yet-unnamed shooter, who is in police custody.

Classmate Preston Cope, also 15, died after being shot in the head.

Bailey's boyfriend was among the 14 others shot in the shooting, but he is expected to make a recovery.

Bailey's father Jason remembers dropping his daughter off at school the morning she was shot.

Bailey's proud parents described her as 'a perfect angel' who wanted to be a nurse

'I took her to school and gave her a kiss and told her I love and she got out of the car,' he said.

Bailey's parents described her to the Today show as 'the best kid ever'.

'She was an angel here on earth,' her dad said. 'She was a perfect angel.'

'She loved everyone. She never had a harsh word to say about anything or anyone,' her mother said.

The sophomore love music, art and helping others, her family said.

'Even though she was 15, she had already decided her career was going to be a labor and delivery nurse,' Mrs Holt said. 'She helped others ... she was just so kind-hearted and the most amazing kid anybody could ever ask for. Her smile could light up the room.'

People attend a vigil for the victims of a fatal shooting at Marshall County High School on Thursday

What's so tragic about her death is that Bailey would have been a friend to the killer, her mother said.

'Whatever that kid had going through his mind, I don't know,' she said. 'But if he needed a friend, I know she would've been a friend to him and talked to him about anything he needed, because that's just the kind of person she was.'

No motive for the shooting has been released, but the step-sister of the shooter took to Facebook, claiming he was 'not a monster' and that he doesn't deserve the death penalty. She added that he was bullied and his parents had recently divorced.

Mrs Holt says she's praying for the victims, as well as the shooter and his family.

Students and community members hold hands in prayer before classes at Paducah Tilghman High School in Paducah on Wednesday for the victims of the nearby shooting

Students are seen above attending the prayer vigil at Life in Christ Church in Marion

'I don't know if I can go to court and see him. I just don't know if I can, but I want him to pay for everything he's done,' she said. 'I also want to pray for him, too, because I know he's probably having a hard time too, but he took our baby. He still took my baby from me.'

The suspect is being held at a regional juvenile jail in Paducah - about a half-hour away from the high school.

Thursday's closed-door hearing for the suspect began a journey through the criminal justice system that is slightly more complicated than it would be if the suspect were an adult charged with the same crimes.

After an initial series of hearings in juvenile court, which is closed to the public and the records sealed under Kentucky law, the case will be presented to a grand jury that next meets on Feb. 13.

The school was placed in lock down and the entrances to the school were blocked off by first responders

Terrified students were later reunited with their parents following the deadly shooting

If the grand jury returns an indictment, the case will move to circuit court, at which point the prosecution would proceed like an ordinary criminal trial. But the boy will have some protections: The law requires that he remain at a juvenile jail, not in the general population of a county facility. And if he's found guilty at trial, he will not face the state's most severe sentences.

Kentucky juries can typically recommend a range of sentences, up to death, for adults convicted of murder.

But the U.S. Supreme Court has barred states from sentencing juveniles to death or to life without parole, finding that children should be treated differently because their still-developing brains leave young people prone to poor judgment.

And Kentucky has been through this before, when a teenager convicted in a school shooting that drew national attention more than two decades ago was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 25 years.

Michael Carneal was 14 in 1997 when he killed three students and injured five at Heath High School in Paducah, not far from Marshall County. Convicted and sentenced in 2001, he's now 34 and eligible for parole in four years, according to state records.Could not establish database connection.

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The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP.Steak will return to JD Wetherspoon next Tuesday after customers were left furious when the pubs were unable to serve any this week.

The chain will reintroduce sirloin steak, rump steak and gammon steak to its 900 pubs across the UK and Republic of Ireland for Steak Club next week.

The three items have been off the menu at the company's pubs since Tuesday after a health scare at Russell Hume, a Derby-based supplier to the pubs and other firms.

Wetherspoon pubs, whose sirloin steak meal is pictured, are reintroducing steak next week

A notice, spotted by customer Ian Heath, attributed the absence to a 'supplier failure', saying the Aberdeen Angus rump steak, Sirloin steak and gammon would be unavailable

Wetherspoon has since cancelled its contract with Russell Hume and is now sourcing its steaks from various new suppliers in Britain and Ireland.

The pub chain's chairman Tim Martin said this morning: 'Firstly we wish to apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused to them.

'However, our decision to stop serving steak from Tuesday, despite limited information from the supplier, was the correct one.

'Steak is one of the most popular dishes on our menu, and we serve around 200,000 per week on average, about half of these on our extremely popular Tuesday Night Steak Club.

'We have now sourced alternative suppliers and our pub staff are once again looking forward to serving the steak dishes from Tuesday, January 30 onwards.

'On Wednesday the FSA reported that they were thoroughly investigating Russell Hume Ltd, but also stressed that there was no indication that people had become ill from eating meat supplied by them. We will continue to monitor the situation.'

Customers reacted with fury on Tuesday night after steak was taken off the menu at the pubs

The Daily Mail reported today how meat from the supplier at the centre of the health scare was unknowingly served at several chains for 12 days before the public was warned.

It is feared millions of steak, chicken and pork meals dished up this month at pubs and restaurants  and possibly royal palaces  may have been tainted.

Which firms have been affected by the meat scandal? Wetherspoon  All of the chains 900 pubs and more than 50 hotels across the UK are thought to have been serving steaks and gammon supplied by Russell Hume. Wetherspoon said it stopped serving Russell Hume products on Monday Jamie Oliver  All 32 branches of Jamies Italian are thought to have been serving meat supplied by Russell Hume. It is unclear if the five other restaurants in the celebrity chefs empire were affected. Hilton Hotels  A small number of the hotel giants 41 British branches were affected. Greene King  Said it only served a handful of Russell Hume products across its empire of 3,000 pubs, restaurants and hotels. Marstons  It is not known how many of the chains more than 1,500 pubs were hit. Butlins, Haven and Warner Leisure Hotels  The holiday firms ditched a number of meat products being served across their 42 hotels and resorts. Tiger Tiger  Nightclub chain removed Russell Hume products from menus at six of its sites. Advertisement

Last night MPs demanded to know why the food safety watchdog took so long to alert diners.

Experts questioned the secrecy surrounding the reasons for the recall, which has so far been attributed to 'serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations'.

The Food Standards Agency discovered problems at wholesaler Russell Hume, which supplies at least nine major chains including Wetherspoon and Jamie Oliver's restaurants, on January 12. But the regulator did not issue a public alert until Wednesday.

Instead, it left it to Derby-based Russell Hume to warn its customers, which include Hilton hotels, Greene King pubs, and schools and care homes.

While the firm no longer holds a royal warrant, Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and Clarence House last night refused to deny they still source meat from the firm.

Wetherspoon learned of the issue on Tuesday when delivery drivers found Russell Hume depots 'locked up'. The pub chain was forced to cancel its popular steak night at all its 900 venues, it is understood.

Russell Hume described the product recall as a 'precautionary measure because of mislabelling' and said there was 'no reason to believe the product was unsafe to eat'.

An FSA source confirmed there were 'public health' concerns over what inspectors had discovered at Russell Hume's six processing factories, but said there was 'no indication that people have become ill'.

However, Chris Elliott, food safety professor at Queen's University Belfast, said: 'They will normally say there is 'no risk to the public'  they have not said that here.

'The FSA talk about 'serious non-compliance' and food withdrawals, so it appears to me that something very serious is happening. There have been claims this is an issue of 'labelling', so it could be about expiry dates.'

A spokesman for the Jamie Oliver Group said its restaurants had been able to source replacement meat, so the move did not result in shortages for diners

While Russell Hume no longer holds a royal warrant, Buckingham Palace (pictured), Kensington Palace and Clarence House last night refused to deny they still source meat from the firm

Kath Dalmeny, of food campaign group Sustain, said: 'It is disgusting to hear that a reputable company such as Russell Hume has been breaching meat hygiene regulations, especially if it means that out-of-date meat may have been supplied to children in schools, and old people in care homes.

How Wetherspoon diners were stunned as the pub chain pulled steak off the menu Wetherspoon customers were left fuming after the pub chain pulled steak from its menu - on steak night. A notice attributed the absence to a 'supplier failure', saying the Aberdeen Angus rump steak, sirloin steak and gammon would be unavailable. It said chicken would replace steak in the mixed grill, adding that alternatives in the steak club menu included pork ribs and quinoa salad with halloumi. Russell Hume said at the time that the 'product recall was a precautionary measure because of mislabelling', adding that it had 'no reason to believe that the product was unsafe to eat'. Former Big Brother contestant Ellie Young tweeted how she went to a Wetherspoon for the Steak Club only to discover they had no steaks. Ian Heath tweeted: 'No steak on 'steak night' at the Old Manor in Bracknell. What exactly is a 'supplier failure'?' A spokesman for Wetherspoon said at the time that it faced a 'supply issue'. But Wetherspoon said it only learned the next day that the Food Standards Agency found 'serious non-compliance with food hygiene regulations' during a surprise inspection of Russell Hume on January 12. Other companies including Butlin's and Jamie Oliver's Italian chain then became caught up in the widespread meat recall by the same supplier. Advertisement

'Out-of-date meat can make people sick, and in some cases may even be life-threatening. We put our trust in meat companies and food safety inspectors to keep our food and families safe.'

Mary Creagh, chairman of the Commons environmental audit committee, called on the FSA to come clean about the situation.

She said: 'After the horse meat scandal, the Government promised the British public 'never again'.'

Ms Creagh said that with the Russell Hume meat recall, 'it looks like relabelling, which is food fraud' may have again hit the UK meat industry.

She continued: 'The FSA should reveal the extent and nature of the recall, and what steps they are taking to restore consumer confidence in the meat sector after this and the 2 Sisters food scandal last year.'

Asked if the recall was like 2013's horse meat scandal, one worker at Russell Hume's Birmingham plant said last night: 'No, it's not like that.'

The latest scandal began at that factory on January 12 when an unannounced inspection uncovered 'serious hygiene concerns'.

Inspectors impounded certain products, but did not shut the factory at that stage.

Over the next seven days, they widened the inquiry to the firm's sites in Liverpool, London, Exeter, Boroughbridge, in Yorkshire, and Inverkeithing, Scotland.

After finding 'a pattern' of 'poor practices', involving fresh and frozen red meat and poultry, all production and sales by the firm were ordered to be halted on January 19. But meat that had already been sold was not yet recalled.

It took until January 23 before the FSA 'initiated' a recall. Last night it was struggling to explain the delay.

Wetherspoon serves around 200,000 steaks per week. Pictured: File photo of one of its pubs

Hilton (file picture) said 'a small number' of its hotels were affected and that it 'acted immediately to dispose of all products' from Russell Hume

An FSA spokesman said its inspectors 'can only work with the evidence they have' and had to follow due process, adding: 'Once the inspectors saw the pattern of poor practices, then there was no more production.'

He suggested it took several more days to initiate the recall because of red tape.

Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said that he wanted to 'apologise to our customers for the inconvenience caused to them'

Tony Lewis, of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: 'This is deeply worrying  it is essential the FSA provides clarification  the statements made by the respective parties simply do not add up.'

Yesterday Hilton said 'a small number' of its hotels were affected and that it 'acted immediately to dispose of all products' from Russell Hume.

The Jamie Oliver Group said it had switched suppliers. The QVC shopping channel, which sells Russell Hume meat, advised customers not to eat any bought in the past six months.

None of Russell Hume's eight directors commented on the scandal yesterday. Chairman David Holding could not be reached for comment.

A spokesman for the firm said the FSA's actions came as a 'serious shock'. It said: 'We are all well aware of the strict controls  our practices and compliance have never been challenged like this.'

It added that there was never any suggestion of its products causing illness and accused the FSA of creating 'a very different impression'.

Additional reporting: Josh White, Claire Duffin, Sean Poulter and Jemma BuckleyAnother New York Daily News editor is under investigation for alleged workplace harassment, at least some of which is said to have involved sexual misconduct.

New York Daily News Sunday managing editor Alexander 'Doc' Jones is now the second senior editor at the newspaper to be investigated over accusations of harassment this week, HuffPost reports.

Three former and current Daily News employees said that Jones had a 'pattern' of behaving inappropriately towards the newsroom's female staff.

New York Daily News Sunday paper managing editor Alexander 'Doc' Jones is now the second high-ranking editor at the newspaper to be investigated over accusations of harassment

Some of the workplace harassment complaints that were lodged against Jones were said to have been sexual and have taken place both inside the office and outside of it.

A former staffer confirmed to HuffPost that among the accusations were claims that Jones forcibly kissed employees.

One ex-Daily News staffer said that Jones approached female employees in 'a way that was not really appropriate.'

One of the female victims of Jones' alleged actions told the New York Post that unwanted kissing occurred after he had arranged off-site meetings for the purpose of giving career advice.

Jones allegedly forcibly kissed female staffers after arranging out of office meetings with them

Earlier in the week, it was reported that Daily News managing editor Rob Moore was being investigated for workplace harassment, based on a complaint that was filed in December

Jones, who has worked for the newspaper for 24 years and is a father of three, is said to have been escorted out of the Daily News headquarters on Thursday.

A spokesperson for Tronc, the Daily News' parent company, told HuffPost on Thursday that Jones is 'still employed' at the newspaper.

On January 22, NPR reported that Daily News managing editor Rob Moore was accused of workplace harassment which was also sexual in nature at times.

Tronc confirmed that an NPR query about a harassment complaint filed in December had sparked the investigation into Moore's behavior.

The Post reported that at least four former female Daily News staffers had filed a complaint against Moore. The complaint was filed anonymously.A migrant meth addict who watched one of his best mates shoot another friend dead in a drug-fuelled frenzy has recalled the sobering moment he realised his life was out-of-control.

The 26-year-old man from Melbourne, known only as Phil, said he began getting involved in into crime and illicit substances as a teenager and continued well into his 20s, news.com.au reports.

But everything changed one night during a house gathering with three of his friends in 2013 - his friend Kara Doyle was fatally shot by one of his guns.

The group had been smoking ice, the drug that had consumed Phil's entire existence since he first tried it as an 18-year-old.

Kara Doyle's (pictured) death sparked Phil into realising he needed to 'stop making excuses' and get himself clean

Doyle died in hospital days after her ice addict boyfriend Mehmet Bugra Torun shot her in the groin with a sawn-off shotgun

'I was at home with a group of friends and at the time I was in the drug scene and I was a bit of a gun nut,' he said. 'I would always have guns in my possession.

'You had four people, two high-powered firearms, the worst narcotic known to man, you're in a concealed space. If you had a camera in that room, you would have seen something bad was going to happen from the start. But in the moment, you don't see it that way.'

It was a moment Phil remembered happening 'very quickly' but it had been haunting him ever since.

'That day is forever stuck with me, it's ingrained in me. It's a constant reminder of my mistakes that I will forever live with,' he said.

Everything changed one night during a house gathering with three of his friends in 2013 where he watched one of his friends get shot by another - forcing him to spiral further out of control

The shooting was a moment Phil remembered happening 'very quickly' but it had haunted him ever since

By age 20, Phil was smoking a gram and a half of ice a day and the seriousness of his involvement in gang-style crime continued to escalate.

Having completed multiple stints in prison for offences relating to drug trafficking, kidnappings and shootings, he said he found it hard to not get swept up on 'the wrong path'.

With his Italian migrant background, he became part of a group of first and second generation migrants committing crimes across the world.

Nowadays, his focus is on becoming a better person and setting a good example for his three children.A teenage girl has been airlifted to hospital with serious facial injuries after an Australia Day celebration at a Manly beach went horribly wrong.

The 15-year-old fell plunged three metres onto bare rocks at Reef Beach, badly hurting her head and face before she was rushed to Sydney Children's Hospital in Randwick.

Emergency services rushed to Bowgowlah just before 1pm on Friday to treat the girl for serious head and facial injuries.

A 15-year-old girl has been airlifted to the hospital after plunging three metres onto bare rocks

A witness to the event told 9NEWS that a group of teenagers were 'partying' on the northern beaches when the incident occurred.

'There was a party with teenagers on a cliff near Reef Beach throwing bottles onto the rocks below,' the witness said. 'One girl then slipped and was seriously injured.'

She is now safely in hospital and her condition has been listed as 'stable'.

She was reportedly 'throwing glass bottles' with friends at Reef Beach when she slipped overA Russian billionaire tycoon has been stripped of half his wealth after allegedly swapping Vladimir Putin's secretive daughter for a London-based socialite, it has been claimed.

Kirill Shamalov has been linked with glamorous Zhanna Volkova after reportedly splitting with the Russian President's rock'n'roll dancing daughter Katerina Tikhonova.

But there are claims the 35-year-old businessman has lost half his wealth as alleged punishment for the 'split'.

He is alleged to have swapped Tikhonova for London-based Volkova, suggested news agency Open Media which highlighted romantic pictures of her dancing with a mystery man at a Valentine's Day party last year.

Russian billionaire tycoon Kirill Shamalov has been stripped of half his wealth after swapping Vladimir Putin's secretive daughter Katerina Tikhonova (pictured in a dance performance) for a London-based socialite, it has been claimed

Shamalov has been linked with glamorous Zhanna Volkova (pictured) after reportedly splitting with the Russian President's rock'n'roll dancing daughter Katerina Tikhonova

There are claims the 35-year-old Shamalov (left) has lost half his wealth as alleged punishment for the 'split'. He has been linked with London-based socialite Volkova (right)

Her suitor's face is deliberately hidden in these and other images.

Neither Shamalov nor Volkova - whose social media suggests she lives in London and was previously married to a senior Moscow city official - has commented on the report.

The Kremlin has adopted its usual policy of refusing to discuss the strongman's family - just as it never confirmed 31-year-old Katerina's 2013 marriage to Shamalov, son of a long-time Putin crony Nikolay Shamalov.

Katerina is best known for her spectacular 'boogie woogie' Acrobatic Rock'n'roll performances in dance competitions yet there have been claims in Moscow that Putin is gradually grooming her as his eventual successor in 2024.

The pair wed in a sumptuous ceremony at Igora ski resort near St Petersburg and the couple rode in a traditional sleigh pulled by three white horses.

He is alleged to have swapped Tikhonova for London-based Volkova, suggested news agency Open Media which highlighted romantic pictures of her dancing with a mystery man at a Valentine's Day party last year. Her suitor's face is deliberately hidden in these and other images

Neither Shamalov nor Volkova (pictured) - whose social media suggests she lives in London and was previously married to a senior Moscow city official - has commented on the report

The Kremlin has adopted its usual policy of refusing to discuss the strongman's family - just as it never confirmed 31-year-old Katerina's (pictured) 2013 marriage to Shamalov, son of a long-time Putin crony Nikolay Shamalov

Comments from Russians say Shamalov, who has been linked with socialite Volkova (pictured) has taken a huge risk in splitting from Putin's daughter

All guests were sworn to secrecy, and no official announcements were made, because Putin forbids discussion of his family matters.

The relationship catapulted Shamalov to billionaire status, but a key element of his wealth was reportedly held in trust as a Putin family member.

The end of her marriage was reported by Bloomberg citing anonymous sources which claimed the split means the tycoon was forced in April last year to divest a 4.3 per cent stake in Sibur gas and petrochemicals giant which he had been awarded ahead of his wedding to the Russian president's younger daughter.

He made 'zero' from the deal, and as a result has lost his billionaire status, it was reported.

Sources close to Shamalov denied this version of events, suggesting he suffered from an unlucky investment, but he declined to comment.

As recently as last year his wealth was put at $1.3 billion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is pictured with his family, hugging daughter Ekaterina

Connections: Shamalov is the son of a long-time Vladimir Putin crony Nikolay Shamalov (pictured)

Now it is estimated at $800 million dollars by Bloomberg but it maybe less because of interest payments on a massive loan, and possible divorce costs, say Moscow reports.

Speculation in Russia has also pointed to an 'epidemic' of divorces in Putin's circle, alleging that in some cases such moves can be made to protect giant family fortunes from new US or EU sanctions.

Comments from Russians say Shamalov has taken a huge risk in splitting from Putin's daughter.

'Shamalov must be have balls of steel,' said one.

'He must be thanking God and all his saints that he is alive and free,' writes another.

Reports last year suggested Putin is quietly grooming Katerina - also known as Ekaterina - for possible 'tsardom' to takeover from him.

Apart from fame as a leading Acrobatic Rock'n'roll dancer in Russia, she has her own business career in charge of key investments for Moscow State University.

Zhanna Volkova is pictured with a mystery man rumoured to be Shamalov in Moscow on June 10 2017

Another picture shows Volkova holding hands with a mystery man rumoured to be the Russian tycoon on September 7 last year

Shamalov has been linked in Russian media to the Moscow socialite Zhanna Volkova, who is said to have a love of Britain

How Katerina Tikhonova is widely reported to be Putin's daughter but neither the president nor the Kremlin will comment about her She is the boogie-woogie dancing daughter of Vladimir Putin who some say could one day take over from the Russian President. Mystery has long surrounded Katerina Tikhonova with the Kremlin having attempted to keep her out of the public eye. The 32-year-old was named as the strongman's child in 2015 by a senior Russian businessman and then in November by a dance colleague - but both later changed their stories. Putin and her mother, Lyudmila Putina, divorced in 2013 and Katerina uses a surname inherited from her grandmother. Mystery has long surrounded Katerina Tikhonova (pictured), the rumoured daughter of Vladimir Putin, with the Kremlin having attempted to keep her out of the public eye While her identity has been widely assumed, it has never been confirmed by Tikhonova herself, her representatives or the Kremlin, which says it does not comment on the private lives of Putin's close relatives. Tikhonova runs publicly-funded projects at Moscow State University and serves as the WRRC's vice president for expansion and marketing. She is a major player in acrobatic rock'n'roll, a niche dance discipline she has competed in and helps manage through senior positions at the WRRC and the Russian national federation. She and Kirill Shamalov wed in a sumptuous ceremony at Igora ski resort near St Petersburg and rode in a traditional sleigh pulled by three white horses. Tikhonova is a major player in acrobatic rock'n'roll, a niche dance discipline she has competed in and helps manage through senior positions at the WRRC and the Russian national federation Katerina Tikhonova, 31, is pictured, second from right, at a dancing conference All guests were sworn to secrecy, and no official announcements were made. However, reports in Russia suggest the couple have since split with Shamalov linked to a Moscow socialite. Tikhonova may be best known for her dancing, but there have been claims in Moscow that Putin is gradually grooming her as his eventual successor in 2024. Reports last year suggested Putin is quietly grooming Katerina - also known as Ekaterina - for possible 'tsardom' to takeover. 'Trying to run a woman through an election campaign in Russia is quite an interesting and modern political experiment,' wrote Natalia Gevorkyan, a Putin biographer. Tikhonova (pictured in a dance performance) runs publicly-funded projects at Moscow State University and serves as the WRRC's vice president for expansion and marketing 'Putin does not have a (male) heir - at least officially - but he has two daughters, and one of them, Ekaterina, has already entered the public space with several huge and costly projects,' she wrote for Radio Svoboda website. 'In 2024, Ekaterina will be 38. In theory, she can take part in the presidential elections and provide a calm time in old age for her father and his closest friends.' Putin has said previously of his daughters from his marriage to ex-wife Lyudmila: 'They are taking the first steps in their careers, but are making good progress. They are not involved in business or politics. 'They have never been "star" children, they have never got pleasure from the spotlight being directed on them. They just live their own lives. 'They live in Russia ... They have never been educated anywhere except Russia. 'I am proud of them, they continue to study and are working. My daughters speak three European languages fluently.' Advertisement

'Trying to run a woman through an election campaign in Russia is quite an interesting and modern political experiment,' wrote Natalia Gevorkyan, a Putin biographer who also appears to hint the president has an undisclosed son without providing more details.

'Putin does not have a (male) heir - at least officially - but he has two daughters, and one of them, Ekaterina, has already entered the public space with several huge and costly projects,' she wrote for Radio Svoboda website.

'In 2024, Ekaterina will be 38. In theory, she can take part in the presidential elections and provide a calm time in old age for her father and his closest friends.'

Putin recently announced he will contest March's Russian presidential election from which a key opposition challenger Alexei Navalny has been banned from standing.

Putin is overwhelming favourite to secure another six year term.

Putin recently announced he will contest March's Russian presidential election from which a key opposition challenger Alexei Navalny has been banned from standing

Under the Russian constitution, he would be disqualified from standing again in 2024, when he will be 71.

Katerina's sister Maria, 32, is reportedly married to a Dutch businessman with whom she has a daughter, making Putin a grandfather.

Putin has said previously of his daughters from his marriage to ex-wife Lyudmila: 'They are taking the first steps in their careers, but are making good progress.

'They are not involved in business or politics. They have never been 'star' children, they have never got pleasure from the spotlight being directed on them. They just live their own lives.

'They live in Russia... They have never been educated anywhere except Russia.

'I am proud of them, they continue to study and are working. My daughters speak three European languages fluently.'A British mother has been warned she faces prosecution because she took 14 hours to go to police when her three-year-old son went missing.

When the 34-year-old woman came searching for her child, a fast food worker told her that officers had rescued her son after he was spotted walking barefoot in pyjamas along a Costa Blanca seafront.

But she allegedly took 12 hours to call police in the holiday resort of Torrevieja - and another two hours to go and pick him up when officers confirmed they had him.

They had urged her to come in immediately as they were about to take him to an emergency care home.

The mother allegedly took 12 hours to call police in the holiday resort of Torrevieja (shown in a stock image above) - and another two hours to go and pick him up when officers confirmed they had him

The extraordinary sequence of events has now ended up with the unnamed woman being reported for an alleged crime of child abandonment and becoming the subject of an ongoing court probe, local paper Diario de Informacion said.

The bizarre incident began at 8.30pm on Wednesday night when the fast food worker who later alerted the mother called police to say a young boy was wandering alone along Torrevieja's promenade wearing just pyjamas and socks.

Police took him away after failing to identify him and confirming no missing alert was out for him - and confirmed he was okay with a hospital check-up while they tried to establish who his parents were.

Local reports said the same worker who had alerted local police spotted a woman 'looking for something' along seafront promenade Paseo Juan Aparacio around 9.30pm the same night - and told her the child was with authorities after confirming she was searching for her son.

Police only got their first call from her at 8.30am yesterday and she took another two hours to turn up to collect her son after being urged to come in immediately because he was about to be placed in temporary care, Diario de Informacion said.

She is said to have told officers when she finally went in that she had failed to arrive earlier because she knew her child was in safe hands with the police after losing sight of him while she was out with a group of friends.

She escaped arrest but has been reported to court officials by the Civil Guard who have taken on the police side of the investigation into the alleged case of child abandonment.

The promenade where the youngster was found is in the heart of Torrevieja town.

It is near the spot where an off-duty police officer arrested a man suspected of trying to abduct a two-year-old girl last September.

Police took him away after failing to identify him and confirming no missing alert was out for him - and confirmed he was okay with a hospital check-up while they tried to establish who his parents were

Local reports at the time said the Spaniard, described as well-built and around 60, ran off with the girl in his arms before dumping her as he was intercepted by holidaymakers waiting near a tourism office alerted by the youngster's screaming relatives.

He was pinned to the ground by the off-duty police officer - and handed over to Civil Guard officers for questioning.

In July 2016 police in Benidorm further up the coast arrested a British holidaymaker accused of abandoning her two nine-year-old twins while out drinking.

One of the boys was taken into a police station by a couple who found him walking alone on the streets of the Costa Blanca resort looking for his AWOL mother.

His twin brother was discovered lying in the door-well of his holiday apartment after crossing town to return to where they were staying.

Police arrested their mother after failing to find any search of her in the area where her children had last seen her - and tracking her down the following morning asleep in bed at her holiday accommodation.

The Civil Guard said early this morning they weren't able to make any immediate comment. No-one from the courts was available for comment.In this shocking footage, Indonesian soldiers proved their worth in front of the United States Secretary of Defence, Jim Mattis, by tearing live snakes apart with their teeth and drinking the animal's blood in a bizarre military display.

The astonishing clip showed soldiers screaming as they chewed on snakes and poured the reptiles' blood all over each other.

The Defence Secretary - whose own nickname is 'Mad Dog' - watched as the comrades flung the snakes around before one crazed fighter bit through a live King Cobra, much to the enjoyment of the audience.

In this shocking footage, Indonesian soldiers proved their worth in front of the United States Secretary of Defence, Jim Mattis, by tearing live snakes apart with their teeth

The theatrical ceremony even featured a blindfolded soldier who shot out a balloon held between the legs of one of his colleagues. At least one shot missed, although no one appeared injured.

To the sounds of beating drums, the Indonesian troops performed a series of gripping martial arts techniques, breaking what appeared to be concrete bricks with their heads.

Wearing a hood to blind him, one knife-wielding fighter slashed away at a cucumber sticking out of his colleague's mouth, coming just inches from striking his nose with the long blade.

The astonishing clip showed soldiers screaming as they chewed on snakes and poured the reptiles' blood all over each other

Mattis appeared to enjoy the display, which came at the end of a three-day visit to Indonesia

At the end of the demonstration, soldiers - along with police dogs - jumped out of helicopters to the theme tune 'Mission Impossible', in a staged hostage rescue operation.

Mattis appeared to enjoy the display, which came at the end of a three-day visit to Indonesia, and spoke about how the Indonesian forces were smart to wear the snakes down before trying to handle them.

'The snakes! Did you see them tire them out and then grab them? The way they were whipping them around - a snake gets tired very quickly,' he sais as he flew to Vietnam.

Indonesian forces have to face jungle conditions on occasions and sometimes encounter snakes.

To the sounds of beating drums, the Indonesian troops performed a series of gripping martial arts techniques

Wearing a hood to blind him, one knife-wielding fighter slashed away at a cucumber sticking out of his colleague's mouth, coming just inches from striking his nose with the long blade

Mattis appreciated the intensity of the training and added: 'You could imagine how much training went into each individual there, that they were able to do that.

'When you watch a force do that, many small things, perfectly, you can imagine that they can also put the bigger things together.

'Even the dogs coming out of those helicopters knew what to do when confronting the terrorist.'

Some of the troops came from Kopassus, Indonesia's elite special forces, a Pentagon spokesman said.

Indonesia hopes Mattis can restore closer U.S. military ties with Kopassus, which have faced restrictions under U.S. law over human rights abuses in the 1990s.

Mattis spoke about how the Indonesian forces were smart to wear the snakes down before trying to handle themIf you live in Illinois, Connecticut or Rhode Island, the chances are you know someone who is not happy. Not happy at all.

Around a quarter of the population living in these regions have described them each as the 'worst possible state to live in', according to a survey.

The map data doesn't explain the nature of the residents' grievances.

Around a quarter of Illinois, Connecticut and Rhode Island residents described their state as the worst possible one to live in, according to a survey

'Worst possible US states to live in' Illinois (21-25% population said)

(21-25% population said) Connecticut (17-20%)

(17-20%) Rhode Island (17-20%)

(17-20%) Louisiana (13-16%)

(13-16%) Mississippi (13-16%) Advertisement

... and where the most satisfied live Utah

Colorado

Wyoming

Texas

North Dakota

Minnesota

Iowa

Wisconsin

New Hampshire

Maine Advertisement

However, classic socio-economic indicators would clearly be relevant - including work-life balance, healthcare, crime levels, education, housing, income and the environment.

While 21-25 per cent of people in the Gallup survey ranked these three states as the 'worst', Louisiana and Mississippi also featured prominently - with 17-20 per cent describing the two southern states as the worst.

Socio-economic factors would have played a part in residents' evaluation of their states. Illinois (pictured, Chicago) ranked among the worst

On a positive note, ten states had only 1-2 per cent of their population who weren't happy: Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire and Maine.

Posters took to Reddit to discuss the findings, including one who said of Connecticut and Rhode Island: 'Poor economy I guess, though everyone in the area has a bit of an inferiority complex from the rest of the country picking on their size.'

Another said: 'Connecticut is low because of the overwhelming tax burden.'

How would you describe the state you live in? Best or one of the best possible Best possible state to Worst possible

states to live in live in state to live in Montana 77% 24% 0% Alaska 77% 27% 4%

Utah 70% 15% 2%

Wyoming 69% 21% 1%

Texas 68% 28% 2%

Hawaii 68% 25% 4%

New Hampshire 67% 13% 1%

North Dakota 66% 21% 2%

Colorado 65% 16% 1%

Vermont 61% 14% 3%

Oregon 61% 13% 3%

Minnesota 61% 13% 2%

Washington 58% 14% 3%

South Dakota 57% 13% 3%

Maine 57% 10% 2%

Iowa 56% 13% 1%

Idaho 54% 11% 3%

Nebraska 52% 10% 3%

California 51% 13% 6%

Wisconsin 49% 8% 2%

Virginia 47% 7% 3%

Tennessee 47% 10% 3%

Florida 46% 11% 4%

Massachusetts 46% 7% 6%

Georgia 41% 9% 3%

New York 41% 9% 12%

Arizona 41% 10% 5%

Delaware 39% 7% 3%

Alabama 39% 10% 7%

South Carolina 39% 10% 7%

Oklahoma 39% 7% 6%

Kentucky 38% 8% 6%

Arkansas 37% 8% 4%

West Virginia 36% 11% 6%

Pennsylvania 34% 6% 3%

Indiana 34% 6% 3%

Kansas 34% 5% 3%

North Carolina 34% 6% 6%

Nevada 33% 9% 7%

Ohio 32% 4% 5%

Connecticut 31% 3% 17%

Missouri 29% 4% 3%

Maryland 29% 5% 9%

New Jersey 28% 6% 10%

New Mexico 28% 5% 7%

Michigan 28% 5% 9%

Louisiana 27% 7% 13%

Mississippi 26% 7% 15%

Illinois 19% 3% 25%

Rhode Island 18% 3% 17%

(Source: Gallup)

For real happiness, go to Boulder, Colorado...

If you want to lead a happy life, Boulder, Colorado, it seems, is the place to be  because it was named as the happiest city in the U.S. last October.

It topped a list of 25 of America's happiest cities, revealed in the book The Blue Zones of Happiness, by National Geographic Explorer Dan Buettner.

Along with National Geographic and Gallup, he developed an index to measure a population's happiness based on 15 metrics including civic engagement, walkability and healthful food options.

Boulder tops the list with walkability, access to nature and sense of community being contributing factors to its residents' happiness.

The metro area of Santa Cruz-Watsonville California came second in the list, followed by Charlottesville, Virginia, Fort Collins, Colorado, and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles-Arroyo Grande in California.

California is clearly a dreamy place to live, as eight of its cities, including the metro areas of San Diego-Carlsbad and San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, make the happiness list.The Project host Waleed Aly is convinced Australians won't be enjoying a national day of celebration on January 26 for much longer.

In a charged discussion during Friday's episode, Aly declared his view on the matter - saying it was inevitable 'change the date' campaigners would soon have their way.

Drawing comparisons between the same-sex marriage debate and how the voice of Australians eventually led to a change in legislation, he said moving the date of Australia Day was 'the next inevitability'.

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Waleed Aly (left) declared his stance on Australia Day - saying it was inevitable 'change the date' campaigners would soon have their way on Friday's episode

Aly is convinced Australians won't be enjoying a national day of celebration on January 26 for much longer

'I reckon this is the new same-sex marriage, this is the next inevitability. Whatever your view on it, I reckon that's where it's heading,' he told the panel.

'Eventually, it will be won,' he stated, with fellow panellists nodding in agreeance.

'Invasion Day' protests took place across the country Friday, attended by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal activists and supporters.

Protesters gathered at Redfern in inner-city Sydney to demand the date be moved from January 26, holding signs reading 'No pride in genocide' and 'Invasion Day'.

A prominent divide was clear as thousands rallied while others took to beaches and parks across the country to enjoy barbecues.

He drew comparisons between the same sex marriage debate and how the voice of Australians eventually led to a change in legislation

Some activists marched for a date change, while others spoke out in favour of abolishing Australia Day altogether until Aboriginal social issues are solved.

'Invasion Day' demonstrators were joined by a diverse group of supporters, including some of Asian background holding placard saying 'Asians against apartheid' and 'No Asian pride in genocide'.

Patriotic beachside celebrations were equally diverse, as Australians from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds came together to celebrate the country's national day.The eldest son of the house of horrors siblings excelled at his community college and had been named to the honor roll for two semesters, school officials said Thursday.

Now in his 20s, he attended Mt San Jacinto College for several years. His mother would bring him to school and wait outside his classes for him, prosecutors said.

He did not earn a degree but was on the president's honor roll in fall 2015 and spring 2016, said college spokeswoman Karin Marriott.

The oldest son of the house of horrors siblings (circled) excelled at his community college and had been named to the honor roll for two semesters, school officials said Thursday

One sibling earned As in many classes, including algebra, guitar, public speaking, English fundamentals and freshman composition

The eldest son (circled) attended classes from 2014 until at least 2016 and sometimes earned 15 credits per semester

One sibling, now in his 20s, attended Mt San Jacinto College (pictured) for several years

A transcript obtained by ABC News showed he attended classes from 2014 until at least 2016 and sometimes earned 15 credits per semester.

He earned As in many classes, including algebra, guitar, public speaking, English fundamentals and freshman composition.

Joe Chermak, who attended a musical performance at the school in May 2016, said he remembered seeing the Turpin family in the audience. The small group of family members took up almost half a row of seats and they were all wearing matching outfits - blue shirts and tan pants, he said.

At first, Chermak said he thought it was a group of kids from another school who came to watch the guitar ensemble with a mix of classical, jazz and musical theater, but then he looked more closely and realized they all seemed very skinny.

'I noticed that one girl was skinny from her arm and pale,' he said.

On Wednesday David Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise, 49, were brought before a judge shackled at the ankles and wrists at Riverside County Court in California on Wednesday, where they were formally banned from seeing their children.

The Turpins, who were both wearing dark suits, went to lengths to try and hide their chains as their lawyers demanded that the video cameras in court did not film the metal shackles.

Louise Turpin even appeared to crack a smile at one point during the hearing.

The couple, who face almost 40 counts including torture, false imprisonment, abuse on a dependent, and child abuse, were in court for a child protection order hearing.

Louise Turpin (pictured) smiled through the child protection order hearing at Riverside County Court

David Turpin (pictured) looked back at his lawyers during the hearing on Wednesday

The Turpins went to lengths to try and hide their chains as they lawyers demanded that the video cameras in court did not film the metal shackles

David Turpin, 57, and his wife Louise, 49, appeared in court in chains today where they were ordered to stay away from the victims

Although both David and Louise Turpin are currently held on $9 million bail each, prosecutors asked for a protective order for their 13 children in case they are released. It would also prevent the victims from visiting their parents in jail, which could potentially influence the case.

During the brief, eight-minute hearing, presided over by Judge Emma Smith, prosecutors asked for the court to ban the Turpins from having direct or indirect contact with any of their children.

Defense attorneys did not oppose the request.

The order, which expires in January 2021, prevents the couple from coming within 100 yards of their kids or making electronic contact with them or even trying to find out where they are staying.

Louise Turpin, right, smiles while consulting with her attorney Jeff Moore after she and her husband, David Turpin, were barred from having any further contact with their 13 children

The couple, who face almost 40 counts including torture, false imprisonment, abuse on a dependent, and child abuse, were in court for a child protection order hearing

The judge also prohibited the couple from owning firearms and ordered them to relinquish any firearms they currently own.

Neither David nor Louise spoke during the hearing but nodded to acknowledge they understood the orders.

Louise was seen smiling while consulting with her attorney Jeff Moore after the order was read.

Meanwhile, their children - who were found severely malnourished - remain hospitalized.

Their parents, who moved to California in 2010, have pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of torture, child abuse, dependent adult abuse and false imprisonment dating. They are due back in court on February 23.

When the couple were charged, prosecutors said the abuse had begun when the family lived in Texas.

The 13 siblings lived at this property in Perris, California after moving from Texas

After their 17-year-old escaped, the police responded quickly, and ended up arresting the parents and taking the 13 children into state custody.

It has emerged the 13 siblings rescued will not live together again, despite pleading with the authorities to stay as a family.

The six Turpin children among the 13 found shackled at their home in Perris have been told that they will be split up into two foster homes.

Meanwhile the seven adults, who have developmental issues, will be sent to an assisted living facility, CBS News reported.

About 20 people from across the U.S had offered to take the seven adult children and six minors to keep them together. They've also raised $200,000 to support their medical expenses and education.

Meanwhile new CCTV footage was released Tuesday showing the children being rescued from the home by police.

David Turpin (L, seated) and Louise Turpin appear in court in Riverside, California

Although both David and Louise Turpin are currently held on $9 million bail each, prosecutors asked for a protective order for their 13 children in case they are released

In the dramatic surveillance footage, the children are seen being being escorted from the house by officers after the arrest of their parents David and wife Louise Turpin, 49.

The video shows police at the scene after the 17-year-old escaped through a window, enacting a plan she had in the works for two years.

Officers escort the youngsters from the home, one of whom is carrying her sibling and another runs to catch up.

Police look on as the children aged from two to 29 flee, and an officer standing on the driveway is seen ushering them to safety in the video.

Details of their harrowing plight have started to emerge since the California couple pleaded not guilty last Thursday to nearly 40 counts including torture, false imprisonment, abuse on a dependent, and child abuse. David faces an additional charge of a lewd act on a child under 14.

They denied the charges despite evidence showing how they kept their 13 children in locked in their rooms, chained to beds and allowing them to shower no more than once a year.

In the grainy footage, one older child can be seen carrying a sibling (pictured in the red circle). Seconds later another child runs behind them appearing to be desperate to catch up. The children are escorted into a police vehicle outside the home

The Turpins also starved their children, their 29-year-old daughter weighed just 82lbs, and taunted them with slices of pie.

Among the most shocking claims of abuse are:

The children were made to stay awake all night and sleep all day, often going to bed at between 4am and 5am

Their only permitted activity was to keep journals - hundreds of which were recovered and will likely be used as evidence

David Turpin is accused of a lewd act against one child - one of his daughters, under the age of 14

The children had been planning to escape for two years before they were rescued

The 17-year-old daughter who raised the alarm left the house with another sibling but that child became frightened and turned back

The parents began using chains and padlocks to tie the children to their beds after one escaped with rope. They would sometimes be chained up for months

One of the older boys was allowed out of the home to attend college classes but his mother accompanied him there, waited for him until it finished then accompanied him home

The couple's youngest child, a two-year-old, was the only one they did not starve

The 29-year-old woman who was rescued weighed just 82 lbs

The children were tied up or beaten if they washed their hands 'above the wrist' because the parents said it amounted to them 'playing in the water'

The Turpins kept toys that were still in their boxes at the house but never gave any to the children

Cadaver dogs are being sent into the home to look for the bodies of any children who did not survive the ordeal and DNA tests are being conducted to determine if any of the children have died and are buried in David and Louise's house of horrors, according to a new report.J. L. BELL is a Massachusetts writer who specializes in (among other things) the start of the American Revolution in and around Boston. He is particularly interested in the experiences of children in 1765-75. He has published scholarly papers and popular articles for both children and adults. He was consultant for an episode of History Detectives, and contributed to a display at Minute Man National Historic Park.A student has slammed organisers of a Cambridge University event for hosting a pagan-themed function because she is Wiccan.

Georgia Humphrey, who is Christ's College's LGBT+ officer, said the festival at Trinity Hall, which has a 'Solstice' theme this year, will anger Druids and other believers.

Ms Humphrey also accused organisers of 'bastardising' the beliefs of a sect of modern day druids, who say the event amounts to sacrilege.

She wrote: 'Lol @ Trinity Hall June Event using a religious holiday as a theme (gross), and not even having it on the right day.

Georgia Humphrey, who is Christ's College's LGBT+ officer, said the event at Trinity Hall, which has a 'Solstice' theme this year, will anger Druids and other believers

'The Solstice is at 11am on the 21st this year kids, not the 20th. Also pls [sic] leave my religion alone.'

She added later: 'I think it's pretty grim to use any religion's festivals as an excuse for a bunch of students to get drunk.'

The student also took exception to the organisers using images of Stonehenge in promotion material, because it is a place of religious significance.

Ms Humphrey also accused organisers of 'bastardising' the beliefs of a sect of modern day druids, who say the event amounts to sacrilege

Writing on social media, she said 'I'm wiccan, which is a branch of paganism.

'We, along with most other branches of paganism (druids, satanists, hedge witches etc) celebrate the solstices every year and are usually the ones hanging out at [sic] stone henge every year in crazy robes and stuff.'

The annual party, one of the most popular fixtures on the Cambridge social calendar, has previously taken on similarly outlandish themes.

WHAT IS WICCA? There are thought to be as many as 11,000 practising Wiccans in England and Wales Wicca is a modern day religious movement drawing on ancient druidry and ritual practices, commonly referred to as pagan witchcraft. It emerged during the early 1900s and began to develop a cult following in England through the teachings of Gerald Gardner, an amateur anthropologist and author. There are thought to be as many as 11,000 practising Wiccans in England and Wales, according to census data. Advertisement

They included the Brothers Grimm, Mardi Gras and Marmalade Skies.

This year's event, which costs 85 to 120 per head, invites students to 'dance through the shortest night into the longest day'.

In an interview with the student newspaper Varsity, Ms Humphrey said of this year's ball 'I was generally annoyed at the theme.

'If I got upset about every instance of someone misrepresenting pagan religions or mocking me for my beliefs I'd never get anything done.

'It does irritate me though that I am subject to this kind of grief over my beliefs pretty much whenever someone discovers this aspect of my life, and then I discover something like this - an event that is using a holiday I celebrate seriously and with religious conviction as merely the theme for a party.

'I hope that it makes them think a little about what decorations and events they have at their June Event, and consider the theme they are working with in careful way.'

In a statement, the organisers said: 'The Trinity Hall June Event is one of the most popular events in May Week.

'We are therefore eminently mindful that guests will come from an array of faiths, cultures, socioeconomic and political backgrounds, and will represent myriad beliefs and traditions.

'Our theme - Solstice (from the Latin 'solstitium', which refers to a stopping of the sun's motion in the sky) - is a celebration of an astronomical phenomenon which has been recognised and celebrated for several millennia across nearly all cultures and continents.

'We recognise the importance of the summer and winter solstice to the Wiccan community.

'Our theme is intended to highlight and celebrate the beauty of an astronomical marvel.

'Our predecessors across the world were awed by the beauty of the solstice and, like so many before and since, we share in their wonder and celebration.

'It has never been our intention to appropriate any aspect of Wiccan practice.

'We wish only to acknowledge and celebrate the beauty of the natural world.

'We invite people of all beliefs to experience the wonder of the summer solstice with us.'Julian Assange is fighting to have a UK warrant for his arrest withdrawn because being holed up in London's Ecuadorian embassy for five years has left him 'depressed'.

The WikiLeaks founder's legal team is arguing that the warrant, issued in 2012 after he allegedly breached bail conditions by seeking asylum in Ecuador's London embassy, has 'lost its purpose'.

Mr Assange complained about having a 'terribly bad tooth, frozen shoulder and depression' in his legal challenge.

It means he could be free as early as next month, with a decision on the outcome due to be made on February 6.

Julian Assange could walk free from London's Ecuadiorian Embassy after his case was adjourned today. A court hearing was told he has suffered from a frozen shoulder, depression and a 'terribly bad tooth'

Today a cat, sporting a blue tie with an hourglass on it, appeared at one of the windows of the embassy

Mr Assange had been facing extradition to Sweden over sex assault claims but the case has since been dropped. His lawyers say the arrest warrant should now no longer apply.

Mr Assange believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.

His lawyers made an application at Westminster Magistrates Court for the UK warrant to be withdrawn.

Mark Summers QC said that the warrant had 'lost its purpose and its function'.

Mr Assange has been holed up since 2012 after skipping bail to avoid extradition to Sweden

Defence papers stated: 'He has spent five-and-a-half years in conditions which, on any view, are akin to imprisonment, without access to adequate medical care or sunlight, in circumstances where his physical and psychological health have deteriorated and are in serious peril.'

Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot said evidence handed to the court concerning Mr Assanges medical problems included 'a terrible bad tooth, frozen shoulder and depression'.

Prosecutor Aaron Watkins said the UK arrest warrant is still valid because Mr Assange has failed to surrender to custody.

'Mr Assange had been released on bail in proceedings; he was under a duty to surrender to the custody of the court and he failed to surrender at the appointed time for him to do so,' he added.

'Therefore a warrant stands.'

He continued: 'The position that Mr Assange contends is absurd - were a defendant effectively to be rewarded with effective immunity by having managed to avoid proceedings sufficiently well that they fell away, for whatever reason.

'The proper approach is that when a discrete, standalone offence of failing to surrender occurs, it always remains open to this court to secure the arrest.'

The 46-year-old recently became a citizen of Ecuador, but the British government said the move did not change his legal status.

Bringing the case against Assange and the long-running monitoring of the embassy building ever since has reportedly cost the British taxpayer around 13million.

Assange has only been seen on the balcony of the embassy as he fears arrest if he leaves

It appears Ecuador's patience with the controversial figure is wearing thin, and the South American country's president Lenin Moreno described him as an 'inherited problem' in a recent television interview.

Last year, Assange angered Mr Moreno by tweeting support for Catalan separatists as an independence referendum caused an uprising in Spain.

Assange's doctors have said that his health is at risk due to his six-year confinement in the embassy.

Medics Sondra S Crosby, Brock Chisholm and Sean Love wrote on The Guardian's website that his confinement has had an impact on his physical and mental health.

They said: 'Our assessment reveals that he has had no access to sunlight, appropriate ventilation or outside space for over five and a half years.'

In May last year, Sweden's top prosecutor said an investigation into allegations that Assange raped a woman during a visit in 2010 had been 'discontinued'.

Assange has received a number of high-profile visitors, including Pamela Anderson

Marianne Ny told a press conference that it was effectively a lost cause because there was no way of getting Assange to properly answer questions.

She said since there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden it was 'no longer proportionate' to maintain a European arrest warrant.

Assange has said he fears he could be extradited to the United States and tried over the leaking of hundreds of thousands of secret US military and diplomatic documents.

Judgment will be given at 2pm on February 6.Chinese volunteers have spent 200 continuous days in a 'lunar lab' in Beijing to help the nation prepare for its goal of putting people on the moon, Chinese state media said on Friday.

The four volunteers, all students, crammed into a 160-square-metre (1,720-square-foot) cabin called 'Yuegong-1' - Lunar Palace - on the campus of Beihang University on July 9 last year and came out today, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The goal of the project 'Yuegong 365', which in itself is one year long, is to test the limits of humans' ability to live in a self-contained space for Beijing's manned moon landing ambition, the official Xinhua news agency said.

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The eight volunteers for the 'Yuegong 365' wave to the camera from inside the 'Yuegong-1' lab on January 26 in Beijing. Four of them are leaving the lab after spending 200 days there, and the other four are replacing them and are due to stay in the sealed space for a further 105 days

Three volunteers look at the plants in the sealed lab to simulate a long-term space mission with no input from the outside world. 'Yuegong-1' cabin is situated in Beijing's Beihang University

Volunteers inspect plants inside the simulated space cabin. The facility treats human waste with a bio-fermentation process, and volunteers grew experimental crops and vegetables with the help of food and waste byproducts. A new team of volunteers were sent into the lab today

Liu Guanghui, one of the volunteers, spoke to a Xinhua reporter through the phone when he was still staying in the lab.

Liu, who is studying for his Master's degree at the aerospace-focused Beihang University, called the experience 'very enriching, challenging and beneficial.'

The experience tested the volunteers to the limit, the module's chief designer Liu Hong told Xinhua.

'Yuegong-1' has been designed and built by Chinese experts for the 'Yuegong 365' project, a year-long effort to help Beijing prepare for its long-term manned moon landing ambition

The 'Lunar Palace' has two plant cultivation modules (one is pictured above on July 9) and a living cabin: 42 square metres (452 square feet) containing four sleeping cubicles, a common room, a bathroom, a waste-treatment room and a room for raising animals

Volunteers speak to the journalists from inside the lunar lab on July 9, 2017. Liu Guanghui (not pictured), one of the volunteers who completed the 200-day stimulative challenge, spoke to a reporter and described the experience to be 'very enriching, challenging and beneficial'

This is especially true on the three occasions when the lab experienced unexpected blackouts, according to Liu.

Liu said the experience 'challenged the system as well as the psychological status of the volunteers, but they withstood the test.'

The facility treats human waste with a bio-fermentation process, and volunteers grew experimental crops and vegetables with the help of food and waste byproducts.

China's moon landing: How Project Yuegong 365 will create a 'lunar palace' China started the year-long 'Yuegong 365' project on May 10, 2017. The project's main equipment, the 'Yuegong-1' simulator, is situated on the campus of Beihang University, a Beijing-based institute specialised in teaching and researching on aerospace technologies. 'Yuegong-1' is the first self-sustaining ecosystem China has designed and built that provides everything humans need to survive in an environment similar to that of a spacecraft in the outer space, according to Chinese website sciencenet.cn. A Chinese worker watches an LCD screen to monitor Chinese volunteers in the sealed, self-contained laboratory simulating a moon-like environment, called 'Yuegong 1' Two men and two women entered for an initial stay of 60 days on May 10, 2017. On July 9, they were relieved by another group of four, who stayed 200 days. The second group of students came out on January 26, 2018, and the initial group will now return for an additional 105, Xinhua said. The newly released volunteers are currently under hospital observation. A Chinese volunteer is pictured talking to journalists through a telephone while staying in 'Yuegong-1', whose name is translated as 'Lunar Palace 1' in English The 'Lunar Palace' has two plant cultivation modules and a living cabin: 42 square metres (452 square feet) containing four sleeping cubicles, a common room, a bathroom, a waste-treatment room and a room for raising animals. During a interview with Reuters, chief designer Liu Hong said they had designed the simulator in a way that the oxygen would be exactly enough to satisfy the humans, the animals, and the organisms that break down the waste materials. Liu also explained that the oxygen would be produced by plants inside the station. A successful 105-day trial was already conducted in 2014. Advertisement

Yang Liwei (right), deputy director general of China Manned Space Agency and China's first man in space, said last July that it would 'not take long' for China's manned mission to the moon to get official approval and funding. Yang was carried into Space by Shenzhou 5 (left)

A Chinese official said in 2016 that China wants to put astronauts on the moon by 2036

Last July, China's state media cited a senior space official who said that it would 'not take long' for China's manned mission to the moon to get official approval and funding.

The statement was made by Yang Liwei, deputy director general of China Manned Space Agency and China's first man in space.

It was the first confirmation that China intended to fund and run a manned lunar programme.

Though no time frame was given, a government official said in 2016 that China wants to put astronauts on the moon by 2036.

Beijing sees its space programme as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature. A pedestrian is pictured walking past a propaganda post in Shanghai

China is pouring billions into its military-run space programme and working to catch up with the United States and Europe, with hopes to have a crewed outpost by 2022.

Russia and the United States have also carried out experiments to simulate conditions for long-term space travel and living on Mars.

Beijing sees the programme as symbolising the country's progress and a marker of its rising global stature, but so far China has largely replicated activities that the US and Soviet Union pioneered decades ago.Qiaoyon Wang was on her way to visit friends in Hull when police stopped her in the eastbound carriageway on the A63 at Hessle on Wednesday

A Chinese tourist has called the police 'cruel' and said they showed 'no mercy' after she was locked in a police cell for 15 hours when she was unable to pay an on-the-spot fine because she was driving too slowly.

Qiaoyon Wang was on her way to visit friends in Hull when police stopped her in the eastbound carriageway on the A63 at Hessle on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old from China said she was 'confused' when a police car flashed its lights at her Ford Focus hire car.

She was unable to pay the 100 fine so taken into a prison cell where she spent 15 hours locked up before appearing in Hull Magistrates' Court.

Speaking through a Mandarin interpreter in the dock, Miss Wang admitted to driving without due care and attention, but later called the police 'a bit cruel and said they 'showed no mercy'.

Prosecution lawyer Andrew Stirling said a police constable in marked police car became concerned about Miss Wang's driving, as she was travelling at 40mph in a 70mph zone.

He said: 'Miss Wang was wandering from lane to lane for no apparent reason. She did also apply her brakes for some reason at that point.'

He added there was disagreement between the police officer and Miss Wang and that the tourist 'wanted to be arrested' as she was unable to pay the fine.

However, Lawrence Watts, mitigating, said she was unable to understand the interpreter provided that was provided by police through 'Language Line' and she may have thought the police car flashing its lights was 'shorthand that implied - please get out of my way'.

Mr Watts said: 'There is no crime in doing less than 70mph on a dual carriageway. There is no entry, so far as I'm aware, in the Highway Code that recognises a headlight flashing in someone's mirror as an acceptable signal from the police.

'Miss Wang accepts that she suffered from a relatively short-term lapse in concentration, and found herself treating the outside lane as if it was the slow lane, because that's of course how she would have driven in her native China. She didn't know what to do and she panicked.'

Janice Petherbridge, Chairman of the Bench, told Miss Wang: 'We have heard what has been said today about the circumstances, and we feel the fact that you have spent approximately 15 hours in custody is sufficient punishment for this offence.

'We therefore make an absolute discharge, which means that will be the end of this matter. Enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Miss Wang, who was four days into her five week trip to the UK when she was arrested, thanked Mrs Petherbridge and was left alone to retrieve her car from four miles away.

She had been visiting friends in Sheffield, where she previously studied, and was making her way to Hull University to meet another group of friends.This is the astonishing moment a jeep slowly crawls up an enormous near-vertical rock.

In this incredible video the 4x4 seems to defy the laws of gravity as it effortlessly drives up at a 90-degree angle.

The jeep is seen scaling the wall in Sand Hollow State Park, Utah. The vehicle is driven straight up and somehow manages to get all the way to the top and safely over the edge.

This is the astonishing moment a jeep slowly crawls up an enormous near-vertical rock

Chuck Converse, 35, drove the 2006 Jeep Wrangler up the red sandstone wall on January 20th.

Chuck says he owes the ease in which he was able to do this to the sandpaper like terrain of Sand Hollow park, the vehicle setup and his skills behind the wheel.

Chuck said: 'I was definitely not scared. I've done it several times, although it is tricky in the rain!'

Chuck named the jeep he was driving 'Project Total Loss' as he rebuilt it after a traffic accident.

Chuck Converse (pictured), 35, drove the 2006 Jeep Wrangler up the red sandstone wall on January 20th

Chuck Converse's Jeep in Sand Hollow Park, Utah. Chuck named the jeep he was driving 'Project Total Loss' as he rebuilt it after a traffic accident

The video has been a hit online clocking up over 600,000 views on Chuck's Instagram page.

Social-media users expressed their amazement at Chuck's skilled driving and his impressive Jeep.

Pat Mac wrote: 'This jeep is so sick omg it looks like it was definitely worth the wait to build it.'

One commented: 'It's kinda funny! I'm sure this is probably a tough obstacle but that freakin giant makes it look like it's not all that tough!'

Meanwhile John Marion said: 'Now that's just absurd.'

Another added: 'What in the world.'

The video has been a hit online clocking up over 600,000 views on Chuck's Instagram pageA Queensland mother thought she had lost 'her whole world' when she received a call saying her daughter had been left in hot bus for over an hour.

Lisa Easton recalled the horrifying moment she was told her 16-month-old child had been forgotten about during Tuesday's 30 degree day.

The distraught mother raced to Goodstart Early Learning Parkwood to find her daughter 'spaced out' and suffering from symptoms of dehydration, Gold Coast bulletin reports.

Police have launched an investigation into a Queensland childcare centre after a one-year-old girl was forgotten about in a hot bus for more than an hour on Tuesday

Ms Easton said she went into panic mode after receiving the call.

'She (the childcare worker) called me and said, 'I'm sorry Lisa I have done something terrible, I left Violet on the bus for a long time I'm so sorry', after those words I went into a complete panic attack.'

She claimed staff had made no attempt to seek medical help for the one-year-old, and instead placed her in a high chair and gave her a sandwich.

The mother rushed Violet to hospital where she was treated for severe dehydration.

The ordeal, described as an 'accident or injury' in an incident report, left the mother 'traumatised' and too emotionally scarred to return to her job, which she had only recently started.

'I'm just shocked, because I put my complete trust in these people and I didn't even think something like this could ever happen,' she said.

'It was such a close call to losing everything, my child is my whole world.'

Ms Easton claimed staff had made no attempt to seek medical help for the one-year-old, and instead placed her in a high chair and gave her a sandwich

She said her daughter had been picked up by the same bus and driver at 8.30am like any other day, and she couldn't understand what went so wrong on Tuesday.

Since the incident, Violet has been behaving 'very clingy', with the mother having sought legal advice and filed complaints with various departments.

Even more horrific, she has received an invoice for the day of the incident.

Police are investigating the childcare worker responsible, who has been suspended from the centre, according to manager Lesley Jones.

Ms Jones described the incident as 'unacceptable', saying she had been cooperating with authorities and providing support to the family.

The centre would also be launching an internal investigation to ensure a similar event won't happen in future.Advertisement

Over 1,500 chefs from around the world have packed into a cathedral to bid farewell to 'pope' of cuisine Paul Bocuse.

'Monsieur Paul', known as much for his culinary flair as for his love of hearty traditional fare, died on Saturday aged 91.

He would probably have preferred a simple ceremony at the small church in the village of Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, but 'that was not possible' given the huge crowds, his son Jerome said.

The ceremony was held instead at Lyon's Saint Jean Cathedral, with two giant screens installed outside for the spillover crowd.

'Monsieur Paul', known as much for his culinary flair as for his love of hearty traditional fare, died on Saturday aged 91. He would probably have preferred a simple ceremony at the small church in the village of Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, but 'that was not possible' given the huge crowds, his son Jerome said. Pictured: Some of the hundreds of chefs who attended his funeral

The ceremony (right) was held instead at Lyon's Saint Jean Cathedral, with two giant screens installed outside for the spillover crowd. Bocuse (left) helped shake up the food world in the 1970s with the Nouvelle Cuisine revolution, sweeping away the rich and heavy sauces of yesteryear in favour of super-fresh ingredients, sleek aesthetics and innovation

Among the chefs attending were Alain Ducasse, whom Bocuse considered his spiritual 'son', the Troisgros brothers, Anne-Sophie Pic and Yannick Alleno. Pictured: His coffin is carried during the ceremony

He routinely did his own shopping at the Lyon market, inspecting the produce available and then planning his dishes for the day. In doing so, he also helped usher in the era of the celebrity chef. Pictured: His acolytes at the funeral

'He was one of the greatest figures of French gastronomy, the General Charles de Gaulle of cuisine,' said French food critic Francois Simon. Pictured: The cathedral, featuring a huge picture of the beloved chef outside

The government was represented by Gerard Collomb (pictured), the interior minister who is a former mayor of Lyon

Jerome Bocuse, the son of late French chef Paul Bocuse, arrives to attend the funeral ceremony of his father at the Saint-Jean cathedral in Lyon

Bocuse routinely did his own shopping at the Lyon market, inspecting the produce available and then planning his dishes for the day. Pictured: His coffin is carried down the cathedral's aisle as chefs look on

Among the chefs attending were Alain Ducasse, whom Bocuse considered his spiritual 'son', the Troisgros brothers, Anne-Sophie Pic and Yannick Alleno.

American Thomas Keller, as well as Daniel Boulud, based in New York, came, as did Hiroyuki Hiramatsu, who heads the Bocuse brasseries in Japan.

The government was represented by Gerard Collomb, the interior minister who is a former mayor of Lyon.

Bocuse helped shake up the food world in the 1970s with the Nouvelle Cuisine revolution, sweeping away the rich and heavy sauces of yesteryear in favour of super-fresh ingredients, sleek aesthetics and innovation.

He routinely did his own shopping at the Lyon market, inspecting the produce available and then planning his dishes for the day.

In doing so, he also helped usher in the era of the celebrity chef.

Paul Bocuse, one of the greatest French chefs of all time, died aged 91, the country's interior minister said on Saturday (pictured in 1987)

'He was one of the greatest figures of French gastronomy, the General Charles de Gaulle of cuisine,' said French food critic Francois Simon.

The heart of his empire, L'Auberge de Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, his father's village inn near Lyon in food-obsessed southeastern France, earned three Michelin stars in 1965, and never lost a single one - a singular achievement.

Bocuse, who had had Parkinson's disease for several years, died in the room above the restaurant, the same one in which he was born.

'Good cooking for me is when you lift up the lid and it smells delicious, and you reach for a second helping,' Bocuse wrote a few years before his illness struck.

A staunch upholder of tradition as well as an innovator, he kept several of his trademark dishes at the Auberge unchanged for decades, including the black truffle soup he created for French president Valery Giscard d'Estaing in 1975.

His status as the giant of haute cuisine owed as much to his showmanship and business sense as it did to his culinary genius.

Dubbed the 'pope' of French cuisine, Bocuse helped shake up the food world in the 1970s with the Nouvelle Cuisine revolution and created the idea of the celebrity chef

Bocuse (pictured in 1976) was France's only chef to keep the Michelin food bible's coveted three-star rating through more than four decades

Bocuse died on Saturday at Collonges-au-Mont-d'or (pictured), the place where he was born and had his restaurant, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement

'His cuisine was built around the classic French repertoire,' said Simon. 'But people came for the emotion, for his banter, his sense of humour.'

Born into a family of cooks since 1765, Bocuse began his apprenticeship at the age of 16 and came to epitomise a certain type of French epicurean - a lover of fine wine, food and women.

Besides his wife Raymonde, Bocuse long maintained relationships with two mistresses.

'I don't regret anything in my life,' Bocuse once said, 'except perhaps the pain I may have caused the women in my life. I hope they will forgive me.'

'Monsieur Paul was France. The pope of gourmets has left us,' tweeted Interior Minister Gerard Collomb, announcing the chef's death after a long battle with Parkinson's disease last week.

He slept in the same room where he was born, and managed to maintain a relationship with his wife Raymonde and at least two lovers.

'I love women and we live too long these days to spend one's entire life with just one,' Bocuse said in 2005.

Paul Bocuse is celebrated with the Legion d'Honneur by then-French President Valery Giscard d'Estaing (right) at a ceremony in 1975

Bocuse, born in 1926 to family who had been cooks since 1765, poses with a waxwork of himself at the Grevin museum in Paris

In a statement, President Macron underlined Bocuse's 'generosity, his respect for traditions as well as his inventiveness', and praised his 'fidelity' to his home town.

Bocuse helped train French and foreign chefs up to his last few days, said Mr Macron, who was not yet born when Bocuse earned his three-star rating.

The French president said: 'French gastronomy loses a mythical figure ... The chefs cry in their kitchens, at the Elysee and everywhere in France.'

Monsieur Paul was named 'chef of the century' by Michelin's rival guide, the Gault-Millau in 1989, and again by The Culinary Institute of America in 2011.

While Bocuse's kitchens were meticulously in order, his personal life was on the unorthodox side.

A mural of Paul Bocuse outside his restaurant L'Auberge de Collonges au Mont D'Or which earned three Michelin stars in 1965 and has never lost them

Bocuse became a driving force behind the Nouvelle Cuisine, sweeping away the rich and heavy sauces of yesteryear in favour of super-fresh ingredients and sleek aesthetics

He acknowledged in a 2005 biography that he had been quietly sharing his life with three women - simultaneously - each with a pivotal role in his life.

'I think cuisine and sex have lots of common points,' Bocuse said in an interview before publication of 'Paul Bocuse: The Sacred Fire.'

'Even if it seems a bit macho, I love women.'

'The Sacred Fire' was written by Eve-Marie Zizza-Lalu - daughter of the most recent woman in his life, Patricia, whom he met in 1972.

Yet it is his wife Raymonde, with whom Bocuse had a daughter, Francoise, who helps watch over his restaurant.

In a book published in 2006 shortly after yet another heart operation, Bocuse was quoted as summing up: 'I have three stars. I have had three bypasses. And I still have three women.'

'Monsieur Paul,' as he was known, was named 'chef of the century' by Michelin's rival guide, the Gault-Millau in 1989, and again by The Culinary Institute of America in 2011

A great upholder of tradition as well as an innovator, several of his trademark dishes at the Auberge remained unchanged for decades

As a young man he worked at the famed La Mere Brazier in Lyon, then spent eight years with one of his culinary idols, Fernand Point, a forerunner of the Nouvelle Cuisine movement.

In 1982, Bocuse opened a restaurant in the France Pavilion in Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida, headed by his son Jerome, also a chef, whom he had with his first mistress Raymone.

In recent years, Bocuse even dabbled in fast food with two outlets in his home base of Lyon.

His Bocuse d'Or, or gold award - an international competition for young chefs - has grown into a major culinary showcase since 1987.

Bocuse claimed the term Nouvelle Cuisine was invented by Gault-Millau to describe food he helped prepare for the maiden flight of the Concorde airliner in 1969.

President Macron praised Bocuse's 'fidelity' to his village of Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, near Lyon, where he was born, created his world-famous restaurant (pictured) and died

A painting depicting Paul Bocuse adorns the wall near the dining room in his three-star Michelin restaurant L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges

In 2007, more than 80 top chefs flew to France from around the world to celebrate his 81st birthday and his legacy (pictured)

Slashing cooking times, paring down menus and paying new attention to health, Nouvelle Cuisine was a craze that fizzled out but left a lasting legacy.

'It was a real revolution,' said Simon. 'They coined a concept that came at exactly the right moment - at a time when gastronomy was a bit dull and heavy, with thick sauces, not sexy at all.'

In 2007, more than 80 top chefs flew to France from around the world to celebrate his 81st birthday and his legacy.

Despite accolades from the world of gastronomy, Bocuse saw a restaurant's reservation book as the real measure of any chef's talent.

'If the restaurant works, if it's full of clients ... whatever the cuisine, he (the chef) is right,' he said.

He is survived by his wife Raymonde, their daughter Francoise and a son, Jerome.President Donald Trump is blasting reports he ordered an aide to fire special counsel Robert Mueller as head of the Russia probe only to back off when his White House lawyer threatened to quit.

Speaking to reporters in his first substantive comments of the day in Davos, where he is preparing to give an 'America First' speech to dignitaries and business honchos, Trump ripped a New York Times report as 'fake news.'

Asked about the Times story, Trump told reporters traveling with him here: 'Fake news. Fake news. Typical New York Times. Fake stories.'

He did not otherwise get into the substance of the report: that he asked White House counsel Don McGahn to fire Mueller last summer amid a series of reports that he was running an aggressive probe of his campaign's Russia contacts and possible obstruction of justice.

Donald Trump has denied reports that he tried to fire special prosecutor Robert Mueller as head of the Russia probe, saying they are 'fake news'

While Trump said it was 'typical' of the New York Times to publish 'fake stories', he seemed to find the media coverage in Switzerland much more to his liking

Trump spoke to reporters in Davos ahead of his address to world leaders on Friday, in which he will push his America First agenda

Trump told McGahn  a former Federal Elections Commission member who served as Trump's campaign lawyer and advisor throughout the campaign  he wanted the overseer of the Russia investigation out, just a month after he was appointed.

But McGahn said he would rather resign then carry out his orders, four people with knowledge of matter told the New York Times.

Trump also took a shot at 2016 rival Hillary Clinton  though he did so in more diplomatic terms than usual in Switzerland.

'I will say this with great conviction, that had the opposing party won, in my opinion, because they would have added additional regulation, I believe the markets would've been down anywhere from 25 to 50 percent,' Trump said after a meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset.

After their bilateral meeting, he also hailed Switzerland as a 'great place.'

'So many friends in Switzerland,' he added.

'You have a lot of our stock,' Trump observed. 'I have helped to make Switzerland even richer, and I'm very happy about that.'

Trump will also tell the economic summit that world nations should be working together toward shared aims, such as the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula

On Friday Trump met with Swiss Federal President Alain Berset, having met with UK Prime Minister Theresa May the day previous

The President also spent time speaking with Rwandan president Paul Kagame. The pair also shook hands, despite Trump alleged 's***hole' countries remark

The report of the June foiled firing is the first time Trump is believed to have tried to oust Mueller since the beginning of the probe into links between Moscow and the president's campaign.

The possibility that Trump might fire Mueller has been a subject of intense speculation as he has obtained guilty pleas from Trump associates and indicted former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort on money laundering and corruption charges.

Trump's comments come after the president said he was happy to be interviewed under oath by Mueller, after it was revealed his investigators grilled Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Trump is due to give a speech at the conference later on Friday in which he will push his America First agenda to the gathering of globalists.

The thrust of his speech will be that 'America is open for business.' Trump will tout his recent tax reforms, growing GDP figures and record highs for the stock market as evidence.

According to a preview that a senior administration official provided to reporters, Trump will use some of the one-world lingo favored by European leaders and industrialists gathered here in Davos - calling for nations to be 'cooperating toward shared goals.'

Trump is the first President to attend the annual summit since Clinton in 2000 and noted as much himself, saying there were crowds 'like we've never seen' at the event

Trump told White House counsel Donald F. McGahn (above) he wanted the overseer of the Russia investigation out, just a month after he was appointed

'He's approaching this as an opportunity to tout America's economic successes,' said the official, adding that the speech is 'in part a way to articulate America's engagement in the world.'

The 15-minute address will also stress that America wants to do business on a global scale and is committed to overseas trade, but on terms that are fair and reciprocal.

Earlier this week, Trump slapped a 30 per cent tax on imported solar panels and another tax on washing machines, though the White House says this is to stop the US market from being undercut.

Trump will then 'issue calls to the international community' to work on areas of common interest, such as combating ISIS and the nuclear threat in North Korea.

Trump will sprinkle his 'America First' address to European leaders and industrialists with some of the one-world lingo favored here in Davos - calling for nations 'cooperating toward shared goals.'

Asked if Trump's comments on trade should be seen as a warning to other countries, a spokesman denied this but said America will be 'enforcing the rules of the road'.

Marine One, carrying Donald Trump, flies in for his second day at the conferenceDonald Trump could get his wish of meeting the Queen - after agreeing with Theresa May that he will visit the UK later this year.

The US president and Prime Minister ordered officials to hammer out plans for a trip as they put on a show of unity in Davos yesterday.

His red-carpet state visit is still on ice, amid concerns about mass protests. But the lower-key 'working visit' is likely to include an encounter with the monarch, potentially over tea at the PM's country residence Chequers.

The schedule will now be worked out by officials after Mr Trump and Mrs May reaffirmed their commitment to the Special Relationship during talks at the World Economic Forum.

The US president stressed the warmth of ties as he met the Prime Minister for talks at the World Economic Forum yesterday

The show of unity came after claims of rising tensions, with reports Mr Trump keeps interrupting the PM on the phone and his state visit invite has turned into a 'nightmare'

The encounter - their first face-to-face meeting since September - was closely scrutinised for signs of friction, after insiders suggested relations have soured. As Mrs May nodded in agreement, Mr Trump said: 'We love your country.'

They heaped praise on each other in a bid to kill off claims of rising tensions, with reports Mr Trump keeps interrupting the PM on the phone and his state visit invite has turned into a 'nightmare'.

There was an extraordinary public row last year after Mr Trump retweeted anti-Muslim posts by a British Far Right group. The leaders have also disagreed about the Iran nuclear deal and the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

A plan for him to come to London to open the new US embassy next month was dramatically dropped, fuelling concerns about a breakdown in the historic alliance.

As the pair posed for photographs at the Swiss ski resort yesterday, Mrs May nodded along when Mr Trump said he wanted to correct 'false rumours' that they did not get on.

'I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot,' he said. 'We love your country.'

He added: 'There is nothing that would happen to you that we won't be there to fight for you  you know that.'

Mrs May replied: 'As you say we had a great discussion today and we continue to have that really special relationship with the United States.

'We stand shoulder to shoulder because we face the same challenges around the world.'

Mrs May said the 'special relationship' continued to matter because 'we are facing the same challenges across the world'.

She said: 'We are working together to defeat those challenges.

MAY 'CAT THAT GOT THE CREAM' AS TRUMP TURNS ON THE CHARM Donald Trump arrived like a prize fighter before 'manspreading' in front of Prime Minister Theresa May, a body language expert has said. Judi James said she was surprised to see the US President displaying 'normal body language' in Davos for the first time in the year she has been studying him. She said that Mr Trump spoke in an 'almost romantic tone' when he referred to supporting Britain's military - and Mrs May looked like 'the cat that got the cream'. Ms James added that Mr Trump displayed 'no underlying signals of impatience' while listening to Mrs May - and noted that he turned to look at her speak. Advertisement

'We are working for a good trade relationship in the future that will be to both our benefit.'

Mrs May said it was 'great to see' the President as they shook hands, with Mr Trump returning the compliment.

He said: 'The Prime Minister and myself have had a really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that but I can tell you I have tremendous respect for the Prime Minster and the job she is doing.

'And I think the feeling is mutual from the standpoint of liking each other a lot.

'So there was a little bit of a false rumour out there and I just wanted to correct it frankly.'

Mr Trump said there would be a 'tremendous increase in trade between our two countries, great for both in terms of jobs'.

'We look forward to that, we are starting that process pretty much as we speak.'

The PM and President were bombarded with questions about when Mr Trump would take up his state visit invite, but he just said they would be 'talking about' the issue.

Downing Street said the visit would be in the 'second half of the year'.

A read-out issued by No10 revealed that in their private discussions the leaders discussed Bombardier, the aircraft firm that is facing punitive tariffs in a dispute with the US authorities. The PM 'reiterated the importance of the company's jobs in Northern Ireland', according to a spokesman.

They also spoke about Iran, where the governments differ on whether to support the deal to stop it developing nuclear weapons.

'The Prime Minister updated the President on the good progress which had been made in the Brexit negotiations so far,' No10 said.

'The two leaders reiterated their desire for a strong trading relationship post-Brexit, which would be in the interests of both countries. 'Kim Jong-un has nearly spent the entire 'slush fund' he inherited from his father on nuclear weapon tests, it has been claimed.

The dictator no longer has enough to run the country and the secretive nation's participation in the Winter Olympic Games is part of a bid to boost its economy, sources claim.

Kim has staged a series of costly nuke trials since taking over as leader after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in 2011.

Kim Jong-un (pictured) has nearly spent the entire 'slush fund' he inherited from his father on nuclear weapon tests, it has been claimed

Kim has staged a series of costly nuke trials since taking over as leader after the death of his father Kim Jong-il (pctured) in 2011

But Chinese sources with links to Pyongyang's ruling elite say the funds the 34-year-old inherited are nearly exhausted, reports Radio Free Asia.

One of the two sources said: 'Due to Kim Jong Un's extravagant spending, the slush fund from his father, Kim Jong Il, is running out.

He added: 'We can speculate that he spent a lot of money from the number of missile [and nuclear weapons] tests he carried out.

'Most of the funding for nuclear weapon and missile development is coming from Kim Jong Un's slush fund.'

The source said Kim Jong-un has also lavished cash on showpiece works including the Ryomyong Street development in Pyongyang and the Masikryong Ski Resort.

Chinese sources with links to Pyongyang's ruling elite say the funds the 34-year-old inherited are nearly exhausted after a wave of nuclear and missile (pictured) tests

The dictator no longer has enough to run the country and the secretive nation's participation in the Winter Olympic Games is part of a bid to boost its economy, sources claim

International sanctions clamping down on North Koreans working abroad may also have had an impact, denting the estimated $500 million funneled into Kim's regime from 100,000 nationals employed overseas, the source said.

The second Chinese source claimed that Pyongyang aims to ease its financial woes by participating in its neighbour South Korea's Winter Olympic Games starting on February 9.

The hope is that it will prompt charity from Seoul - echoing policies from the 1990s and 2000s in which South Korea offered subsidies to the North in exchange for peaceful relations.

He said: 'There will be a warming of relations during the Pyongchang Olympics, but if South Koreas response fails to satisfy Pyongyang, it will ultimately strain North-South ties.'Posted 1/25/18

Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program.

Through CSP, the U.S. Department of Agricultures Natural Furious Tories are demanding Theresa May sacks Philip Hammond if he does not stop 'freelancing' on Brexit.

The Chancellor is facing a huge backlash after he urged a 'modest' break from the EU yesterday.

But despite a slapdown from Downing Street Mr Hammond seemed unrepentant today - saying the government must find a 'middle way' to prevent damage to the economy.

The remarks further infuriated Eurosceptics, who bluntly ordered him to 'put a sock in it' and warned that his interventions were 'hobbling' the PM's ability to negotiate with Brussels.

Despite a slapdown from Downing Street Mr Hammond seemed unrepentant in a Sky News interview today (pictured) - saying the government must find a 'middle way' to prevent damage to the economy.

Brexit Secretary David Davis travelled to Teesside today (pictured) to set out his vision for the Brexit transition period

Mr Davis' intervention is an attempt by the Government to draw a line under the latest round of Tory infighting over Brexit

In a speech today (pictured), Brexit Secretary David Davis moved to reassure colleagues that the UK will regain its 'independence' after we leave the EU

As the row threatened to spiral out of control, Brexit Secretary David Davis moved to reassure colleagues that the UK will regain its 'independence' after we leave the EU.

He admitted that there was a 'diversity of views' among senior Conservatives on ties to Europe, and urged MPs to accept that a transition period was needed to smooth the country's departure from the bloc.

There are fears that disquiet over the Chancellor's behaviour could raise the threat of a leadership contest, with many backbenchers already unhappy at Mrs May's 'timid' approach and 'dull' policy platform.

Dozens of MPs are said to have sent letters to the powerful backbench 1922 Committee, with speculation that numbers are coming close to the 48 needed to trigger a full ballot.

Allies of the PM told MailOnline they believed she would fight on and win a vote of the parliamentary party - but a contest could still be devastating for her authority.

In his speech in Middlesbrough today, Mr Davis insisted that Britain will be able to sign trade deals with other countries during the transition period after leaving the European Union in March 2019.

'As an independent country, no longer a member of the European Union  the United Kingdom will once again have its own trading policy,' he said.

'For the first time in more than 40 years, we will be able to step out and sign new trade deals with old friends, and new allies, around the globe.'

While the UK will replicate the effects of the EU customs union during the 'implementation period' this 'should not preclude us from formally negotiating  or indeed signing  trade agreements'.

Any such deals would enter into force at the end of the implementation period.

Senior backbencher Bernard Jenkin told the BBC's Daily Politics Mrs May was being 'hobbled' because the Cabinet's views did not reflect those of the wider Tory party

Theresa May (pictured meeting Donald Trump in Davos yesterday) is facing the rising threat of a leadership contest amid disquiet among Conservatives about her 'timid' approach and 'dull' policy platform

Mr Davis told MPs on Wednesday that he expected Brussels to resist the UK holding trade talks with other countries during the period because 'there are people within the union who want to restrict any advantage for us'.

Downing Street rebuked Philip Hammond last night after he said he hoped Brexit would only result in the UK and EU moving 'very modestly' apart in trade terms.

The comments by the Chancellor at an event in Davos caused fury among Eurosceptics, who accuse him of fighting a rearguard action to soften Brexit.

Prominent Eurosceptic Jacob Rees-Mogg (file photo) said it was now clear Brexit was 'at risk', as Cabinet Remainers, led by Mr Hammond, attempt to water it down beyond recognition

A Downing Street source said: 'The Government's policy is that we are leaving the single market and the customs union.

'Whilst we want a deep and special economic partnership with the EU after we leave, these could not be described as very modest changes.'

Mr Hammond today refused to withdraw his comments, merely saying he wanted a Brexit 'middle way' which maximised EU market access after the UK has left the bloc.

Speaking in Davos, he told Sky News: 'There are people on both sides of this argument who do not support us in our intention to deliver the Brexit the British people have mandated in a pragmatic way.'

He added: 'We've got to stick to the middle way - which is negotiating the maximum access we can get to European markets.'

Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg said: 'I think this is not a good position for the Chancellor to be in, to be undermining the Prime Minister.'

The MP stopped short of demanding Mr Hammond's immediate resignation, but told the BBC: 'It is of the utmost urgency that he should unite his position with that of the Prime Minister and with that of the Conservative party.'

Tagging Mr Hammond on Twitter, former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson said today: 'No one arguing to sever trade with Europe, but only clean break from Single Market and Customs Union gives freedom to embrace huge opportunities around the world.

'Cabinet Ministers who do not support Government policy and manifesto commitments can always resign.'

Fellow former minister Andrew Percy demanded that Mr Hammond 'put a sock in it'.

'Number 10 should make clear ASAP that the Chancellor's words are not Government policy and if they don't then many backbenches will begin to worry that we are heading towards a Brexit stitch up by Remainers who can't accept the result,' he said.

Senior backbencher Bernard Jenkin told the BBC's Daily Politics: 'The Chancellor is trying to pursue a different policy from the PM...

'This is not some modest change, it is a very substantial change.'

In a clear reference to Mr Hammond, he added: 'I think the PM is a little bit hobbled in that the Cabinet does not reflect the same views as the vast majority of the parliamentary party.'

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt defended Mrs May this morning, saying she was giving 'absolute clarity' on Brexit.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'Anyone who uses the word 'timid' about this Prime Minister is absolutely wrong.

'This is the Prime Minister that gave us absolute clarity after the Brexit vote that we were going to get back control of our laws, our borders, our money - the most profound strategic decision any prime minister has to make in the current circumstances.'

Mr Hunt also played down the row over Mr Hammond's intervention, saying the Chancellor was just making the point that the UK was well-place to negotiate a free trade deal which resulted in 'very limited' changes to its access to EU markets.

One senior supporter of Mrs May played down the prospects of a challenge. 'The fundamentals have not changed. There is no better option,' the MP said.

'Even if there were to be a contest the chances are she would win it.'Some of the biggest investors in Silicon Valley are set to pour millions into controversial app Telegram.

The encrypted messaging service, which has been accused by governments of facilitating terror attacks by allowing jihadis to chat secretly, is offering the chance to buy its own virtual currency called Gram.

Telegram's initial coin offering, or ICO, is trying to raise $1.2billion with $600million by the end of February.

Some of the biggest investors in Silicon Valley are set to pour money in controversial app Telegram (pictured is its logo)

Venture capital firms Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Benchmark and Sequoia Capital have said they want to each invest $20million, insiders told the Financial Times.

Telegram boss Pavel Durov, who also founded Russia's equivalent of Facebook, VKontakte, wants to create a virtual economy inside the app where people in chatrooms can buy and sell items using Gram.

He hopes the app's 170million users can 'provide the critical mass to push cryptocurrencies towards widespread adoption.'

Telegram is planning to build a brand new blockchain for its cryptocurrency called Telegram Open Network (TON) by 2019.

Sources told TechCrunch that TON will be a new, 'third generation' blockchain with superior capabilities, after Bitcoin and Ethereum paved the way.

But some blockchain experts doubt the project will succeed. One cryptocurrency investor told the FT that the app's 'hyperbolic claims' are a 'huge red flag.'

The new way to raise money: What is an ICO? An initial coin offering is a way for victual currency projects to raise money. Instead of giving away equity, the company sells their new cryptocurrency to investors. They can sell this in return for other cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin or for real fiat currency like US dollars, as Telegram is doing. The investors are gambling that the value of the new cryptocurrency will go up and they can sell it later for a healthy profit. The first ICO was for Mastercoin in 2013. Ethereum raised money with an ICO in 2014. By September 2017, $2.3 billion had been raised with around 20 ICOs per month. Advertisement

It comes after British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday accused Telegram of facilitating 'harmful online illegal activity'.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, she said: 'Technology companies still need to go further in stepping up to their responsibilities for dealing with harmful and illegal online activity.

'They simply cannot stand by while their platforms are used to facilitate child abuse, modern slavery or the spreading of terrorist and extremist content.'

She added: 'We need cross-industry responses because smaller platforms can quickly become home to criminals and terrorists. We have seen that happen with Telegram.'

In June Russian's FSB, the successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB, said Telegram provided 'terrorists with the opportunity to create secret chat rooms with a high degree of encryption.'

It said a suicide bomber who blew himself up on the St Petersburg metro on April 3, killing 15 people, had used Telegram to plan the attack with his accomplices.

In July Indonesia's Communications and Information Ministry told Internet service providers in the country to block access to Web messenger Telegram, saying it has been found to be used by terrorists.

And last month Several Iranian news agencies warned Telegram, which accounts for 40 per cent of internet traffic in the country, might soon be shut down after communications minister Mohammad-Javad Azari Jahromi accused one popular channel, Amadnews, of encouraging an 'armed uprising'.

Telegram's ICO is only open to large investors until March when it will open to the public.James Jackson, 12, was the subject of a vile racist letter sent to his mother

A mother was targeted with a vile poison pen letter which labelled her 12-year-old mixed race son a 'half breed'.

Gracy Jackson, 30, from Solihull, West Midlands had the threatening note dropped through her letter box on Wednesday but has no idea who sent it.

The two-page attack appears to be from another mother who wrote that she and 'a few other mothers' were 'gutted' when she heard Gracy's first-born James Jackson would be in the same class as her son.

Littered with insults the letter calls into question how 'good' a Catholic she is, brands her a 'bucket f**** tramp' with an 'old banger car' and 's*** hole home'.

Bizarrely the note also blasted her net curtains and chillingly added 'I know where you live'.

Devastated stay-at-home mother Gracy has slammed the 'cowardly, racist' note and reported it to police.

Gracy said: 'I've no idea who has done this.

'I had just come back from the school run and it had been posted through my door. It was in an envelope with my name on it.

'At first I thought it was a birthday card for my youngest but obviously it wasn't. When I read it I was like 'wow'. I showed it to my mum straight away and she said I should phone the police.

'It's really vile. That's the only way I can describe it.'

The swear-filled letter in full that refers to James using racist remarks such as 'half-breed'

The mother of three, who also has a daughter Isabelle, four, and a one-year-old son Ted with husband Dan Jackson, 30, said she was particularly hurt when the vile letter targeted her eldest son.

Gracy said: 'I can't think who it could be, we keep ourselves to ourselves. My husband Dan volunteers with the sea cadets and my boy goes there but apart from that we don't really socialise with people.

'It refers to my son as a half breed - my son is mixed race. It's a really horrible thing to say about someone, he's really upset about it.

Pictured: Dan and Gracy Jackson, both 30, with James, 12, Ted, one, and Isabelle, four at Christmas

'He shouldn't have to be exposed to language like that by an adult.

'It's the racism against James that has upset me the most, he's a kid.

'We live in a society where he shouldn't have to face that. We faced it years ago but we should be past it now. It's cowardly.'

The note, claiming to be from another mother, read: 'Hi Grace,

'When I found out James was at the same senior school as my son I was gutted and so were a few other mothers.

James, 12, with his sister Isabelle, four (right) and his mother Gracy (left)

'We were going to move our children but you have saved us the trouble. You moved James thank God!'

It continues: 'He will fit in fine with all the other little b******* like him.

'I knew you when you went to scouts and everybody hated you and your half breed son.

'I know where you live. I followed you from your mom's in your old banger. Buy a decent car.

'Can't believe your house what a s*** hole.

'What a mess, who has net curtains. All your row are nice and then there is yours what a mess complete s*** hole. Not surprised how James turned out with a role model like you.

Siblings James Jackson, 12, Ted Jackson, aged one, and Isabelle Jackson, aged four. Their mother Gracy was the subject of a poison pen letter which made racist remarks about eldest son James

'You are a complete mess putting it around from the age of 14. Some catholic you are, you are a bucket f**** tramp and don't pretend you don't know who this is. You know alright.

'You live in a cheap s****y house and drive s*** cars. Your son is a little s***.

'Come and see me whenever.'

Gracy, a practicing Catholic, thinks whoever penned the noted may have made assumptions about her religion because of James's school.

Gracy said: 'If it's someone that is upset with me take it out on me but why go against my son? They could just come to my door and speak to me about it.

'I don't know where they've followed me - is it to or from the school or my kid's playgroup?

James, who is mixed race, was called a 'half-breed' in the racist letter. Pictured right sledging and left his step-dad Dan Jackson

'If they followed me home have they been following me elsewhere? It's really worrying.

'The police think it might be somebody with mental health issues.

'James is asking me 'what if they come back to our house?' He's been scared by it.

'I stayed at my mum's house because I didn't want to stay at mine in case they came back.

'It's been going through his mind that they might come back with a knife or kitted up.

'James would walk home from school by himself but I'm going to pick him up now. I wouldn't want him to be confronted by an adult.'

Gracy took to social media in a bid to catch the culprit.

The post, which describes James as kind-hearted and someone who looks out for others, was shared hundreds of times.

Although nobody has come forward yet she's convinced the person will write another note.

Gracy said: 'it's pretty scummy and the reference to my car as an old banger is odd.

'It actually made me laugh that they put 'PTO' at the bottom.

'When you send a letter abusing someone and it's like 'please turn over so I can read the rest of the abuse' it's very bizarre.'

West Midlands Police have been approached for comment.A widow is suing the NHS for over over half a million pounds after her dentist husband was hit and killed by an ambulance on a blue light call.

Dr Michael Daly, 77, was struck by the wing mirror of the ambulance in Danbury, Essex, in February 2016.

He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, south London, by air ambulance.

Dentist Dr Michael Daly, 77, was struck by the wing mirror of the ambulance in Danbury, Essex, in February 2016. He suffered severe head injuries and was taken to St George's Hospital, in Tooting, south London, by air ambulance

His life support was switched off after he contracted the MRSA bug and suffered a cardiac arrest. Dr Daly's widow, Roseline Daly (left), is suing East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust over the accident

But his life support machine was switched off four months later, after he contracted the MRSA bug and suffered a cardiac arrest.

Ambulance driver Faye Parson was cleared of causing death by careless driving by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court in July last year.

Miss Parson, 41 had denied the charge, saying the elderly dentist had stepped out from behind a van.

Mrs Daly's lawyer, Jenny Kennedy, says in the writ that she is claiming for her 'financial dependency' on Dr Daly and the 'loss of his services as a loving husband'

Mrs Daly, 77, is also claiming for her own psychiatric injuries. The writ says she 'has suffered with an adjustment disorder' due to her husband's death and 'is also suffering PTSD symptoms'

The mother-of-two said she was 'absolutely gutted' by Dr Daly's death and the jury took just 48 minutes to acquit her.

But now, in a civil case, Dr Daly's widow, Roseline Daly, is suing East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust over the accident.

Her lawyer, Jenny Kennedy, says in the writ that she is claiming for her 'financial dependency' on Dr Daly and the 'loss of his services as a loving husband.'

Mrs Daly, 77, is also claiming for her own psychiatric injuries. The writ says she 'has suffered with an adjustment disorder' due to her husband's death and 'is also suffering post-traumatic symptoms.'

The NHS trust's defence to the claim was not available from the court and the contents of the writ have yet to be tested before a judge.

Ms Daly's compensation bid includes claims for the cost of getting a professional to carry out her late husband's DIY and gardening work at their home.

Ambulance driver Faye Parson was cleared of causing death by careless driving by a jury at Chelmsford Crown Court in July last year. Miss Parson, 41 had denied the charge, saying the elderly dentist had stepped out from behind a van

Sam David, 34, a solicitor representing the family, also revealed the sum of money claimed was in excess of half a million pounds.

Giving a rough breakdown of the claim, he said: 'The majority is the continued loss of actual earnings and the pension. He was the breadwinner so the wife has an entitlement to bring a financial dependency claim.

'He was the one that was earning and he was the one who would have continued to earn. The loss of services - that's a claim, it works either way for male or female.

'What we would be saying is that he, as the husband - and he had a history of doing this - did some of the DIY around the house and he was doing some of the gardening and things like that.

'Because he is not there any more you can then claim for some of the provision of getting a professional to do the things he would have done.

'But there's also the claim for the loss of the love and affection of a husband. It's hard to precisely value it but say in claims like this it's typical to allocate several thousands in respect of the loss that a spouse receives.

'This [claim] is above bereavement damages... they are very low so it's kind of to supplement that.

'We are now almost two years on from when this accident occurred and these protracted proceedings have only exacerbated the unimaginable sadness and distress that has been felt by the family since the passing of Dr Daly.'

The claim was lodged at the High Court after East of England Ambulance Trust 'aggressively' denied liability for the accident, he added.

EEAS declined to issue a new statement responding to the High Court writ. A spokesman said: 'As an ambulance service we are here to help save and improve peoples' lives so this has been a tragic case for all involved.

'We are pleased for Faye of the outcome of this case.. This has understandably been a very difficult time for Faye and we will continue to support her over the coming months. Our thoughts remain with Dr Daly's family through what has been, and still is, a very traumatic time.

'Responding to emergency calls and driving under emergency conditions is extremely challenging and all our patient facing staff receive advanced driver training.'A horrified landlord returned home to find a disgusting mess inside their property after a tenant left buckets of used toilet roll and dog poo on the floor.

The property's horrors included a bucket full of excrement, festering rubbish in each room and bin bags stacked in piles on top of the furniture.

One particularly horrendous room may have been used to house a pet after most of floor was left coated with dog mess.

Sammi Watson filmed a shocking video from inside the property, believed to be near Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, which is owned by a friend.

Shocking video footage showed that the house in North Yorkshire was covered in rubbish (left) and used toilet rolls (right)

One of the bedrooms (pictured) was likely to have been used as a room for animals because it was left covered in excrement

She posted the footage online and named the former tenant as a warning to other landlords.

The video has been viewed more 2.5million times and been shared 33,000 times on Facebook.

The video started with a woman opening the door to the kitchen where there are dirty pots and pans left lying everywhere. The sink is full of unwashed dishes.

The previous tenant also left countless bottles of milk and fruit juice and cereal boxes covering the worktops.

There were also several large bin bags on the floor which was full of rubbish.

The shocking video footage then reveals the state of the living room where the furniture is covered with bin bags stacked on top of each other.

There is also rotten food dumped atthe bottom of the stairs.

During the clip, someone says: 'F****** hell. S***. That's just rotten food in there.'

A man replies: 'That's got to be the worst of it. Must be. She's been dumping food.'

The property was full of rubbish which was stacked up inside each room at the house

The woman could barely walk around the home when she recorded the video because there was so much rubbish inside

The same man continued: 'There's no electric, is there?' To which a woman replies, 'She doesn't have a bin, she's not going to have leckie'.

The upstairs bathroom is overflowing into the hall with buckets full of used toilet paper.

A woman can be heard saying: 'S***. Oh my f***ing god.'

The floor is covered in empty plastic bottles and the hallway bannister is lined with empty cans. There are also a clothes horse outside the bathroom.

The same woman comments: 'Look at the state of the toilet.' The man interrupts her to say: 'That's full of dog s*** in there'.

The woman squeezed into a room full of boxes stacked onto a bed and on the floor that has a quarter of the floor cordoned off which is brimming withdog dirt.

The woman gasped when she enters the room and said: 'S***. That is just dog s***. I can't breathe in this s***.'

The woman then tries to move into the bedroom, asking: 'F****** hell. Has she lived in this? Where the f*** has she been sleeping?'

A friend of the home's owner recorded the shocking video clip and posted it online to make other landlords aware of the tenant

There were dozens of empty plastic bottles (left) and huge bin bags piled on top of each other (right)

The video then showed a tower of clothes, plastic bags and bottles that surround a bed. Perhaps the only clear space in the entire house.

The woman tries to move further into the bedroom but is blocked by the mountain of rubbish.

The woman says: 'F****** hell. You can see where she was sleeping because there's the only space, on the bed.'

The man peers into the bedroom and asks: 'How can you live like that?'

They both check the bathroom again and the man commented: 'She can't even be getting washed.'

And the woman asks: 'Where is she even going to the toilet? I won't even try. What if that's not dog s*** but her own s***?'

Before leaving to go back downstairs the women comments: 'This has got to have been building for years, surely.'

Sammi Watson posted the video to Facebook with the message: 'She's left my friend's like this.

'I have no f****** words just please share so no one else gets affected. She works in Middlesbrough.'

The video elicited heated response from those that could bare to sit through it.

Hayley Marshall said: 'That's the worst house I've ever seen. How the hell does anybody live like that. I feel guilty if I haven't hoovered up for a day.

'Absolutely disgusting. I feel for the landlord and the poor people who have to clean it up.'

Maggie Jackson commented: 'She must have lived there a while. That sort of mess doesn't happen in a few weeks or even months.

'Landlord should have done check to make sure she caught it early. Feel for her though.'President Donald Trump sought to mend relations Friday with a key African leader in the aftermath of his controversial comments about African nations, praising the U.S. partnership with Rwanda along the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum.

Trump's meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame came shortly after Trump drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations as 'shithole countries' in dismissing a bipartisan immigration proposal, according to those at the meeting.

The president has denied using that language. Others present insist he did.

On Friday in Davos, Switzerland, he ignored reporters' shouted questions about whether he and Kagame had discussed the incendiary political moment.

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Rwandan President Paul Kagame, left, at the World Economic Forum, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in Davos, Switzerland

Kagame didn't mention the 's***hole' controversy when he tweeted his appreciation for Trump's time on Friday

A poor farmer lives next to a newly constructed exclusive housing community on November 8, 2014 in central Kigali, Rwanda. The country is one of the fastest growing economies on the continent and new hotels, shopping malls, gated communities are being constructed around the city

Trump described having 'tremendous discussions' with Kagame, who is beginning a one-year term as head of the African Union, a 55-member continental body that criticized the U.S. president's remarks. Neither Trump nor Kagame made any mention of the row during brief comments to reporters.

'It really truly is a great honor,' Trump told Kagame, noting his role with the African Union. 'So please give my regards, I know you're going to your first meeting very shortly. Please give my warmest regards. But it's an honor to have you as a friend.'

Trump tweeted after the meeting that it 'was an honor' to meet with Kagame. 'Many great discussions!'

Kagame said they had 'good discussions' on economic and trade issues. He said the African Union is 'looking forward to working with the United States.'

The Rwandan government said Kagame 'observed that many of the world's fastest-growing economies are in Africa, and commended President Trump for the United States' attention to the importance of economic development on the continent.' It said they discussed counterterrorism, U.S.-Africa trade and African Union reform, and 'reaffirmed the pre-eminence of mutual understanding.'

The African Union and several African nations expressed shock and condemnation over Trump's remark, with an African Union spokeswoman saying the organization was 'frankly alarmed.' Dozens of former U.S. ambassadors to African countries wrote Trump expressing 'deep concern' over his comments.

A man sits on a stool by the mud wall of his home in Rwanda weaving banana leaves to make vases in February 2014

U.S. President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame

The State Department hurried to reassure African nations, with the department's Bureau of African Affairs tweeting that 'the United States will continue to robustly, enthusiastically and forcefully engage' with them.

Uganda's president, Yoweri Museveni, countered by expressing his love for Trump and saying he should be praised for not mincing his words.

'I don't know whether he was misquoted or whatever. But he talks to Africans frankly,' Museveni said at the time while addressing African legislators. 'In the world, you cannot survive if you are weak.'

Heads of state are expected to come up with another response to Trump at an African Union summit starting Sunday in Ethiopia. The U.S. will be represented at the gathering by Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard, the U.S. envoy to the AU, instead of the traditional high-level delegation.

Kagame has led his East African nation of 12 million people since the end of its genocide in 1994 in which more than 800,000 people died. He has been praised for the country's economic growth, but human rights groups accuse his government of using state powers to silence opponents.

Rwandan authorities have denied the charges.Bank Governor Mark Carney predicted a 'Gwyneth Paltrow' Brexit today as he forecast a 'conscious recoupling' between Britain and the global economy.

Since the Brexit vote Britain's growth rate has dropped down the global league table - but still beats the grim forecasts of Remain campaigners ahead of polling day.

Mr Carney has repeatedly warned of a transition period as Britain's businesses redirect from being dominated by the EU to different trading opportunities.

Bank Governor Mark Carney predicted a 'Gwyneth Paltrow' Brexit today as he forecast a 'conscious recoupling' between Britain and the global economy

Gwyneth Paltrow famously declared she and then husband Chris Martin had decided to 'consciously uncouple' and get divorced in 2014

He said the UK was suffering from a short-term 'Brexit effect'. He predicted the economy to be down 2 per cent at the end of 2018 compared with what had been expected before the time of the EU referendum in 2016.

However, he said firms which had been putting off investment decisions could start investing again as greater clarity emerges over the likely Brexit settlement.

'What is happening in the UK is effectively the Brexit effect in the short term. And I would underscore ''in the short term'',' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'The world economy is accelerating and we haven't seen that yet.

'But there is the prospect this year, as there is greater clarity with the relationship with Europe and subsequently with the rest of the world, for a conscious recoupling - if I can use that term borrowed from Gwyneth Paltrow - of the UK economy with the global economy.'

Paltrow famously said she and then husband Chris Martin had decided to 'consciously uncouple' and get divorced in 2014.

Mr Carney said the deeper the relationship with the EU after Brexit, the better it would be for the British economy.

'The deeper the relationship with Europe, the deeper the relationship with the rest of the world - and the two are obviously connected, it is a complicated set of negotiations - the better it is going to be over time for the UK economy,' he said.

However, whatever the eventual outcome of the negotiations, he said the Bank had taken steps to ensure that the UK's financial sector was well-placed to cope.

'What we have been doing is to make sure that we are in a position as the UK, with this huge financial sector, that we can withstand any outcome and we can take advantage of any outcome,' he said.

Mr Carney's remarks came before new growth data showed Britain's economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the final three months of 2017, beating expectations

'The Government doesn't have to worry about the impact on the financial sector because it will be able to withstand and support the economy.'

Mr Carney's remarks came before new growth data showed Britain's economy grew by 0.5 per cent in the final three months of 2017, beating expectations.

The surprise figure means the economy grew by 1.8 per cent in 2017 - almost exactly the same as the 1.9 per cent in 2016, which included the referendum. It is the weakest year since 2012.

The economy accelerated through the year and it is the best quarter since the end of 2016.

Britain's dominant services sector grew by 0.6 per cent and there was second successive strong quarter for manufacturing.

The figures will cheer Brexit supporters eager to show the vote to quit the European Union has not damaged the economy.Roger Federer has unleashed on a chair umpire for the second time this week during a dramatic Australian Open semi-final showdown with Hyeon Chung.

The Korean's wide serve to the Swiss champ's backhand in the second set was initially called out, but was overruled shortly after by another umpire.

A clearly frustrated Federer turned to the umpire who said: 'The call did not hinder you. The call was out and you missed the shot.'

In an angry outburst, Federer blasted back and said: 'That's a bulls**** argument, it was during the shot.'

Roger Federer argued the umpire made a call too late, disrupting his concentration and losing him a point

He blasted the chair umpire, saying 'that's a bulls** argument, it was during the shot'

Twenty-one-year-old Chung was trailing 6-1 5-2 to 19-time Grand Slam champion Federer when he walked off court in pain

The umpire disagreed and stuck with the overrule, dismissing Federer's claim that his concentration had been disrupted.

Despite the minor setback, the 36-year-old steamed through the coming sets until Chung eventually retired due to foot blisters at 6-1 5-2.

Federer's bid for a 20th Grand Slam was not once put under threat by Chung, as the South Korean was thoroughly outclassed in Friday's short semi-final.

Federer raced into his 30th major single's final, facing and surviving just one break point before Chung retired hurt.

The umpire disagreed and stuck with the overrule, dismissing Federer's claim that his concentration had been disrupted

Unseeded youngster Chung looked dejected as he wiped sweat from his forehead with a towel while his foot was tended to

The source of Chung's discomfort appeared to be blisters on his left foot, which saw him receive a medical timeout in set two

Chung had treatment on a blistered foot midway through the second set and, despite initially playing on through the pain, he called time on the match after just under 63 minutes of play.

The blistering was not dissimilar to what happened in the Wimbledon final against the man Federer now faces, Croatian Marin Cilic, who on Thursday ousted Kyle Edmund.

It will be their second meeting in the final of the last three Grand Slams, and Federer will be perfectly fresh. He has not dropped a set en route to what is his seventh final at Melbourne Park.

Federer was given an easy workout by the Korean, and it was all over after just 63 minutes, much to the obvious disappointment of the crowd inside Rod Laver Arena.

He battled on for two-and-a-bit more games before eventually calling it a day and waving to the Melbourne crown as he exited

'I know he has had a problem with a blister, I've played with them a lot and they hurt a lot,' said Federer.

'It is better to stop. I'm incredibly happy to be in the final but not like this. He has had such a wonderful tournament.

'His attitude, he was fighting until the end. I knew something was wrong. He has great composure, I think he is going to achieve next level excellence. I can see why he beat Novak (Djokovic) and (Alex) Zverev.'This is the shocking moment a violent brawl erupted outside an Australia Day party, which ended with a man being stabbed in the lung and another getting into a dusty altercation with police.

Incredible footage shows one man, wearing just a pair of shorts, run across the road with a cigarette in hand to knock over a camera tripod.

A police officer rushes towards the him and holds his arm as another three officers assist in Schofields.

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An altercation between party-goers and police took place after a man was stabbed in the back

A group of people became aggravated when they saw a freelance camera being operated near the house party in Schofields, according to NSW Police

The camera operator was assaulted by party-goers after a man, 24, was stabbed at the house on Bridge Street (pictured) Thursday afternoon

A woman in handcuffs was also spotted being held to the ground by a police officer while a paramedic appeared to offering the woman water (pictured)

Two women wearing a fluro tutos were among a number of people who were seen rushing out from a house as the man was appeared to be arrested by police.

Footage shows the man appears to be thrown to the ground by police officers as a scuffle breaks out with a number of officers.

At least four officers are seen holding the man to the dirt ground near a footpath as they handcuff the man.

A woman in handcuffs was also spotted being held to the ground by a police officer while a paramedic appeared to offering the woman water.

More than 14 police officers were at the scene where two men were arrested for hindering police and were taken to Riverstone Police Station.

A 24-year-old man was stabbed in the back at a house party before other men were arrested by police.

Incredible footage shows the moment one man ran across the road with a cigarette in hand to knock over a camera tripod before at least 14 police officers arrived at the scene (pictured)

Two men were arrested for hindering police and were taken to Riverstone Police Station

NSW Ambulance chief inspector Brian Parsell (pictured) said the man was stabbed in the back in the lung area and was transported to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition

NSW Ambulance chief inspector Brian Parsell said the man was stabbed in the back in the lung area and was transported to Westmead Hospital in a serious but stable condition.

A NSW Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia a group of people became aggravated when they saw a freelance camera being operated near a house party 50 kilometres north-west of the city.

The camera operator was assaulted by party-goers after the 24-year-old man was stabbed at the house on Bridge Street Thursday afternoon.

Investigators are still at the scene.Dozens of Israeli Holocaust survivors have begged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to deport thousands of illegal African migrants.

In an open letter written to left-wing newspaper Haaretz on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, the 36 survivors cited their own experience with genocide in defence of the 38,000 migrants.

Their letter explained: 'We, who know precisely what it's like to be refugees, to be homeless and bereft of a state that preserves and protects us from violence and suffering, cannot comprehend how a Jewish government can expel refugees and asylum seekers to a journey of suffering, torment and death.'

On January 3, Netanyahu announced implementation of a plan to deport the migrants who entered Israel illegally - mainly Eritreans and Sudanese - and gave them until the end of March to leave voluntarily or face jail and eventual expulsion by force.

African migrants demonstrate against the Israeli government's policy to forcibly deport refugees and asylum seekers from Israel at a protest in the Israeli city of Herzliya

At the beginning of the month Prime Minister Netanyahu (pictured) called the migrants' presence a threat to Israel's social fabric and Jewish character, and one government minister has referred to them as 'a cancer'

Children from South Sudan hold their hands up against a bus window where an Israeli aid worker had written 'I Love U' on the window as dozens of South Sudanese migrants from the Tel Aviv area are deported from Israel in 2012

He defended his decision at the weekly cabinet meeting last Sunday, denying that the potential deportees were refugees.

'We are acting against illegal migrants who come here not as refugees but for work needs,' he said. 'Israel will continue to offer asylum for genuine refugees and will remove illegal migrants from its midst.'

He did not say to which country they would be sent but Israel tacitly recognises it is too dangerous to return the Sudanese and Eritreans home.

Aid workers and media have named Uganda and Rwanda.

Uganda has publicly denied being a destination.

At the beginning of the month Prime Minister Netanyahu called the migrants' presence a threat to Israel's social fabric and Jewish character, and one government minister has referred to them as 'a cancer'.

A plan was launched to offer African migrants a $3,500 payment from the Israeli government and a free air ticket to return home or go to 'third countries'.

The website of the Aid Organisation for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (ASSAF) says that of 10,000 asylum requests from Eritreans in Israel, only seven have been granted, while one Sudanese has received asylum.

It does not state the number of Sudanese applicants, but government figures from October 2016 list 8,066 Sudan nationals among the migrants.

A 2016 UN commission of inquiry into Eritrea's regime found 'widespread and systematic' crimes against humanity and said an estimated 5,000 people flee the country each month.

The International Criminal Court has indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide linked to his regime's counter-insurgency tactics in the 14-year-old Darfur conflict.

ASSAF says that there are 'thousands' from the Darfur region of western Sudan among those seeking asylum in Israel whose applications have yet to receive an answer.Sub-lieutenant Bruce Clarke was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the daring Operation Foil in the Far East in August 1945 which helped shorten the war with Japan

Tributes have been paid to one of the last surviving crew members of the iconic Second World War midget submarines who has died aged 95.

Heroic Sub-Lieutenant Bruce Clarke was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the daring Operation Foil in the Far East in August 1945 which helped shorten the war with Japan.

He was part of a daring crew of just four men on the XE.5 midget submarine which snuck undetected into Hong Kong harbour to cut the undersea telephone lines running between Hong Kong and Singapore.

Trained diver SLt Clarke left the submarine to place a limpet mine on the target but almost severed his finger after getting it caught in an anchor.

Despite being in excruciating pain he completed his crucial task and the mission was a resounding success, forcing the Japanese to use radio messages which were easier for the Allied codebreakers to intercept.

Japan formally surrendered to the Allies on September 2, just weeks later, after the dropping of two Atomic bombs.

Edinburgh-born SLt Clarke spent time post-war in India and Kenya where he met his wife Joan but settled in Bournemouth, Dorset, in 1967, where he lived until his recent death.

Trained diver SLt Clarke left the submarine to place a limpet mine on the target but almost severed his finger after getting it caught in an anchor. He is pictured visiting the midget submarine preserved at Gosport in 2008

Commanding officer Lieutenant H.P. Westmacott commended S/Lt Clarke for his 'courage' and 'fortitude' during the operation.

He said: 'Whilst trying to clear the grapnel (small anchor), S/Lt Clarke had caught his finger in the cutter, cut it very deeply and fractured the bone.

'It is impossible to praise too highly the courage and fortitude which enabled him to make his entry into the craft in this condition.

'Had he not done so, apart from becoming a prisoner, it is probable the operation would have had to be abandoned for fear of being compromised.'

The son of a naval officer, SLt Clarke was born in Edinburgh in 1922 and joined the navy as a 19-year-old in 1941.

He initially served on destroyers escorting convoys in the North Sea and in the Mediterranean then later took part in Operation Torch, the Allied invasion of Northwest Africa.

The son of a naval officer, SLt Clarke was born in Edinburgh in 1922 and joined the navy as a 19-year-old in 1941. He is pictured far-left

SLt Bruce Clark is pictured overseeing the lifting of a two-man submarine during World War II

In 1943 he volunteered to join the crew of the fledgling Royal Navy midget submarines and undertook training in Scotland.

A small fleet of six XE midget submarines were built in 1944 and they had a crew of just four men, typically a lieutenant in command with a sub-lieutenant as deputy, an engine room mechanic and a seaman.

They carried 20-pound limpet mines which were attached to the target by the qualified diver in the crew.

During Operation Foil, the XE.5 crew were towed into position by the submarine HMS Selene.

How Operations Sabre and Foil shortened the war with Japan by targeting communications cables Operations Sabre and Foil were launched to sever undersea telephone cables that connected Tokyo, Hong Kong, Saigon and Singapore. The aim was to force the Japanese into using radio  meaning their communications would become vulnerable to interception by the allies. Operation Sabre targeted the Hong Kong to Saigon cable and was tasked to submarine XE4. The vessel was towed to within 40 miles of the Mekong Delta by HMS Spearhead. XE4 then scoured the ocean floor for the two telephone cables and eventually snagged one using a grapnel. The submarine managed to drag it around 10 feet off the sea bed and Sub-Lieutenant K.M. Briggs used a cable cutter to sever it. The second cable was later located and cut by Sub-Lieutenant A. Bergius. Operation Foil targeted the cables connecting Hong Kong to Singapore and was tasked to submarine XE5, which was towed into position by HMS Selene. Lurking beneath the waves off Lamma Island, XE5's divers were forced to work in thick mud and under the constant threat of oxygen poisoning. After a number of repeated attempts the seamen were still not completely certain that the cable had been cut. It was not until after the Japanese surrendered on September 2 1945 - following the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki - that it was confirmed the telephone cables had been severed. Advertisement

SLt Clarke was demobilised in 1946 and worked as a tree planter in India before travelling to Kenya where he joined the Overseas Civil Service and met his wife Joan.

They married in 1955 and lived there for another 12 years before relocating to Bournemouth, Dorset, in 1967.

Together, they restored antique china, porcelain and furniture until Joan's death in 1982.

His son-in-law, retired solicitor Kim Orton, 60, who cared for Bruce in the last years of his life, said: 'Bruce never really mentioned the war like so many people of his generation.

An XE class midget submarine now on display at Chatham

An XE class midget submarine on board a Royal Navy vessel during World War II

'He didn't see himself as a hero, just someone doing his duty.

'He was British through and through, proud of his country.

'But he was also an adventurer who went to live in India and Africa after the war.

'We believe he was one of the last surviving midget submarine crew members and his daughter Sue and I are deeply saddened by his loss.'

SLt Clarke was a long-standing Freemason and was chaplain of the Dorset Lodge for many years.

Richard Merritt, Provincial Grand Master for Dorset, said: 'Brother Clarke was typical of so many unsung heroes within the Masonic Order.

'His military career, extreme bravery in the face of the enemy, personal charm and life-long modesty exemplify the principles observed and practised by Freemasons throughout their lives.'A group of Chinese airline passengers waiting to board their plane at a Japanese airport clashed with the police on Wednesday after realising their plane had been cancelled.

The passengers, 175 in total, claimed that they had not been informed of the cancellation by budget airline Jetstar Japan.

It was later revealed that the announcement was only made in Japanese while the majority of the passengers on the plane, bound for Shanghai, only spoke Chinese.

A group of Chinese passengers complains of not being notified that their flight got cancelled

The incident occurred when 175 Chinese passengers were expecting to board Jetstar Japan's flight number GK35, scheduled to fly to Shanghai at 10:15pm.

The plane had to be cancelled due to snowy weather in Shanghai, said Jetstar Japan, a budge airline company.

Five Japanese passengers had also been waiting for the flight, but they left the airport after heard the cancellation announcement in Japanese. Unaware of the situation, the Chinese passengers reportedly carried on waiting.

The Chinese passengers claimed that the airline refused to provide food and overnight accommodation, leaving them stranded at Narita International Airport near Tokyo, according to a post on Tokyo New Youth, circulating on the Chinese social media.

The Chinese embassy in Tokyo said it had to send officers to control the situation. The airline later agreed to provide meals and replacement flight after they negotiated with the airline, according to a statement .

A spokesperson from Jetstar told MailOnline the staff provided meal vouchers, sleeping bags, water and crackers to the passengers. However, the spokesman did not explain if they were provided before or after the Chinese embassy stepped in.

A brawl erupted as a man tries to pass through passport control in departure hall to buy snacks

A Japanese news media reported that the police has arrested a 34-year-old Chinese man

It's understood that the conflict started when a Chinese man was stopped by the airport staff. The New Tokyo Youth post said he wanted to buy snacks from a vending machine on another floor at around 2am.

It caused chaos and the passengers started to argue with the Japanese-speaking staff, as well as airport police.

A video, apparently taken by an onlooker, showed the police taking away one of the passengers. Some officers were tangled with other passengers who were trying to stop them from leaving.

The group started to sing Chinese national anthem as they pushed.

'Please don't be like that,' one of the staff can be heard speaking in Japanese.

Jetstar Japan arranged the passengers to take the next available flight on January 25 night

Jetstar Japan is aware of the incident and apologises to the affected passengers on Weibo

The cause of flight cancellation is due to a serious snow condition in Shanghai Pudong Airport

Narita airport police arrested a 34-year-old man, surnamed Gong, during the clash after he entered a forbidden area of the airport at around 3am, reported Japanese news site Sankei.com.

The Japanese report also stated that two members from Jetstar Japan were injured during the incident, including a 26-year-old woman who had her ankle dislocated.

A spokesperson from Jetstar told MailOnline that the airline 'has worked with local authorities to allow passengers at the gate back into the public area of the airport'.

The carrier did not comment on the allegations that they had failed to provide Chinese translation to the Chinese passengers.

One day later, Jetstar apologised for the inconvenience to the involved passengers on Chinese social media in simplified Chinese.

It's stated that the 175 passengers arrived Shanghai Pudong International Airport at around 1am on January 26.Manchester United's new star signing Alexis Sanchez has dodged a dog ban while staying at a 816-a-night luxury hotel.

The 600,000-a-week winger was allowed to bring his two pet Labradors with him while he finds somewhere to live with his girlfriend - Chilean actress Mayte Rodriguez - having recently switched from North London rivals Arsenal.

And despite the zero tolerance policy on dogs, Sanchez shared a picture of the two pooches Atom and Humber, donning the famous red strip from inside the Lowry Hotel.

He shoots, he paws! Manchester United's 600,000-a-week Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez has been allowed to bring his two pet Labradors with him to the Lowry Hotel in Manchester, while he finds somewhere to live having recently switched from North London rivals Arsenal

Manchester United announced the arrival of Sanchez on Monday evening for a reported 600,000-a-week wages

But one regular hotel guest was left unamused at the special treatment afforded to The Special One - Jose Mourinho's - latest big money buy.

'If he was an average Joe they wouldn't allow it. They can't change the rules just because a celeb is staying,' the guest told The Sun.

The Chilean checked in to one of the five-star hotel's luxury Riverside Suites, similar to the room Mourinho has been living in since his appointment at Old Trafford 18 months ago.

Sanchez is expected to earn 600,000 a week after image rights and bonuses taking home 27m annually before tax.

Sanchez dressed his dogs Atom and Humber in the Manchester United home kit. a young relative was also wearing an 'Alexis' United shirt complete with his number 7

Sanchez's girlfriend Chilean actress Mayte Rodriguez has also joined him, their son and two pet pooches at the Lowry

The Lowry has recently refurbished their half-a-dozen Riverside suites, which typically cost guests an average of 816 a night.

The hotels website states only guide dogs are allowed and staff at reception say no exceptions can be made.

Sanchez offered his Instagram followers a glimpse inside his room on Tuesday night and had dressed up his beloved dogs Atom and Humber in United shirts with 'Alexis 7' on the back.

Given that the suites are 90 square metres - the largest in the city, according to the hotel - Sanchez's pooches will have plenty of room.

Sanchez has checked into one of the Lowry Hotel's luxury Riverside Suites after completing his transfer from Arsenal

The spacious suites feature a large bedroom, lounge and dining area, bathroom, kitchenette and walk-in wardrobe, plus can be connected to an adjoining room for more space

There is a Riverside Suite on each floor of the hotel, all overlooking the adjacent River Irwell, and each is described as having 'the feeling of a stylish private apartment.'

Five of the six rooms can be connected to a deluxe room next door, meaning others can stay. Sanchez's mother is also staying at the hotel as he settles into life at United.

The suites also boast a separate lounge and dining area for four people, bathroom, walk-in wardrobe and a kitchenette for preparing meals.

The six Riverside Suites at the Lowry have recently been refurbished and based on the works of Oldham-born artist Alan Rankle

Guests pay around 816 to stay in one of the Lowry's Riverside Suites ordinarily

The recent upgrades have been inspired by the artworks of the painter Alan Rankle, who was born in nearby Oldham.

The bed headboards are a replica of one of Rankle's works and the rest of the decor is styled accordingly to blend in with it.

Tea and coffee making facilities are included, along with a fridge and coffee machine.

Atom (left) and Humber (right) were escorted to meet their owner at the Lowry Hotel

All six of the rooms are packed with technology, including two Smart TVs, high-speed broadband and two direct-dial telephones with voice messaging. There is also an ethernet dataport and a connection for a fax machine, with guests given the machine itself on request.

RIVERSIDE SUITE FEATURES Walk-in wardrobe

En-suite bathroom with shower

In-room bar

Safe

Tea and coffee-making facilities

Kitchen area

Two direct-dial telephones

Two Smart TVs

High speed internet

Fax connection

Air-conditioning Advertisement

Within the hotel itself guests have access to a gym and spa area, 24-hour room service and a concierge, while all Riverside Suite guests are offered in-suite check in, a bag packing service, valet and a full English breakfast.

If guests so choose, they can enhance their stay with six chocolate-dipped strawberries for 12 or a bottle of champagne for 100.

Much was made of Mourinho's decision to continue staying in the Lowry, located just under three miles from Old Trafford and 12 miles from the Carrington training ground, rather than looks for a house.

But the manager's family are still living in London and Mourinho makes regular trips south to visit them.

Sanchez, having completed his move from Arsenal this week, is expected to look for more permanent accommodation but is well-situated for the time being, seeing as United meet up at the Lowry before every match.The Australian Navy has helped seize more than 900 kilograms of heroin in the Western Indian Ocean, worth more than $270 million.

HMAS Warramunga intercepted a boat carrying the drugs on Wednesday after the vessel was spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft.

The Warramunga has seized and intercepted six vessels carrying drugs since November, according to Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher.

HMAS Warramunga intercepted a boat carrying the drugs on Wednesday after the vessel was spotted by a Royal New Zealand Air Force aircraft Tuesday

More than 900 kilograms of heroin in the Western Indian Ocean was seized, worth more than $270 million

The Air Force P-3K2 aircraft detected a suspicious vessel on January 23 and crew from Royal Australian Navy frigate HMAS Warramunga boarded the boat January 24, ABC News reports.

Commander of Australian Defence Force personnel in the Middle East, Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher, RAN, said the latest sting drew attention to the importance of Australia and New Zealand in maintaining maritime security.

'Warramunga has now interdicted six vessels carrying illegal narcotics since November,' Rear Admiral Hatcher said.

The Air Force P-3K2 aircraft detected a suspicious vessel on January 23 and it was boarded the following day by a HMAS Warramunga crew

Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher, RAN, said the latest sting drew attention to the importance of Australia and New Zealand in maintaining maritime security

'Warramunga has now interdicted six vessels carrying illegal narcotics since November,' Rear Admiral Hatcher said

'This operation highlights the important role played by partner nations, as part of the Combined Maritime Forces, in increasing maritime security in the Middle East and Western Indian Ocean.'

In the past eight weeks, Warramunga's crew has been involved in the seizure of more than 11.5 tonnes of hashish and over one tonne of heroin, valued in excess of $900 million.

The illegal drugs were transferred to Warramunga for disposal at sea.

In the past eight weeks, Warramunga's crew has been involved in the seizure of more than 11.5 tonnes of hashish and over one tonne of heroinPresident Donald Trump is taking a Swiss victory lap, claiming that he has single-handedly revitalized the World Economic Forum with his tax-slashing and regulation-cutting policies.

'The cutting of the regulations was every bit as important as what we did with the tax cuts. But you put them both together, and we have a dynamic country again,' the president said in a CNBC interview that aired Friday morning.

'I mean, everybody's talking. I just came out and some really wonderful people said, "Davos has never been like this." This is like walking into the Academy Awards, except we have more photographers.'

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''This is like walking into the Academy Awards, except we have more photographers,' Donald Trump told CNBC of this year's World Economic Forum

Trump got a rock star reception in the Swiss Alps, and credited his economic policies that slash business regulations and cut taxes

Like a red carpet: A crush of journalists and gawkers showed up to see the Trump show as the president arrived to deliver a speech in Davos on Friday

The president told reporters at the event's main conference hall that the 'tremendous crowd' had largely come to the Swiss Alps to witness the Trump phenomenon up close.

'It's a crowd like they've never had before at Davos,' he said.

Trump boasted that his supply-side economic package has drawn CEOs back to the United States following years of job losses and economic stagnation.

'Toyota's coming in. We talked already about Apple. Apple's coming in with a very big presence. We have many companies  Chrysler is coming in, leaving Mexico and coming back to Michigan,' he beamed on CNBC.

'I mean, how good is that? When was the last time you heard that?'

Journalists and curious onlookers have trailed Trump everywhere, including at Zurich's airport

None of it would have happened, he said, 'without me being here, and without what we've been doing, including regulation [cutting].'

'Businesses couldn't even, they couldn't do anything!' he said, explaining why his administration has peeled back 22 regulations for every new one since Inauguration Day.

'They were totally bound. You'd have to get 16 different approvals from 15 different agencies. ... It was impossible to do business.'

Trump has attracted huge crowds wherever he goes in Switzerland, including a crush of news photographers and groups of Swiss onlookers at the Zurich airport.A Queensland mother accused of killing two of her children and torturing a third allegedly poisoned her eldest son with hillbilly heroin which she slipped into his lemonade.

Police will allege Maree Crabtree put a lethal dose of liquid oxycodone in her son's Sprite cup and forced him to drink it after ordering his last meal at a McDonald's drive through.

She ordered the meal after receiving a text message from the 26-year-old, the Brisbane Times Reports.

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Jonathan Crabtree was allegedly killed by his own mother - who spiked his lemonade with a lethal dose of hillbilly heroin

Police will alleged Maree Crabtree put a lethal dose of liquid oxycodone in her son's drink - after ordering his last meal at a McDonald's drive through

'OK xx can you get me a double quarter pounder with lemonade please xx', Jonathan texted his mum, police claim

'OK xx can you get me a double quarter pounder with lemonade please xx', Jonathan texted his mum, police claim.

Jonathan and his mother had spent the morning at a Brisbane psychologist working through a $200,000 disability claim over his brain injuries which were acquired in a 2015 car accident.

The next day Mrs Crabtree allegedly picked up her son's Centrelink payment before calling triple zero for him.

When police arrived they found the nature of the boy's death 'strikingly similar' to that of his 18-year-old sister Erin in 2012.

When police arrived they found the nature of the boy's death 'strikingly similar'to that of his 18-year-old sister Erin in 2012

The young girl overdosed on the same drug while her family was away on holiday.

Crabree's lawyer, Dave Garratt, has promised to defend all allegations against her - including the torture of a third child and claiming death benefits for the children she allegedly killed.

Police say they searched the home for the lemonade cup but believe the mother disposed of it before calling triple zero.The mother of a 13-year-old boy who watched his sister die when a lorry driver smashed into their car has appealed for drivers to stop using phones at the wheel.

In a video released by Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Police, Kate Goldsmith begged motorists to think twice before using gadgets while driving.

Ms Goldsmith lost her daughter Aimee, 11, in the A34 crash - which was witnessed by her son Jake, who was in the car behind with his father.

Ethan Houghton, left, Aimee Goldsmith, centre, and Josh Houghton, right, died alongside Tracy Houghton in the eight-car pile-up on the A34 near Newbury, Berkshire

Jake watched his sister Aimee, step brothers Ethan, 13, and Josh Houghton, 11, and his father's partner Tracy Houghton, 45, die in the horrific smash.

Ms Goldsmith said: 'He [Jake] was in the car behind. He witnessed his sister dying, his best friend, his best friend's brother and his dad's partner. How do you recover from that?'

'Don't use your mobile phone while you're driving. You'll kill yourself or someone else.'

Aimee Goldsmith (pictured), who wanted to be a vet, was killed along with stepbrothers when returning from a camping trip

Josh (pictured left) and Ethan (pictured right) were killed when lorry driver Kroker became distracted by his mobile phone

From left, Doug Houghton, Kate Goldsmith and Vicki Hopkins discus how they are still living with the consequences of one drivers negligence 16 months after the fatal incident occurred

Also in the video is Ethan and Josh's father Doug Houghton and their auntie Vicki Hopkins.

Mr Houghton said: 'The amount of pain and heartache I've gone through is kind of immeasurable.

'You still see people using their mobile phones. Does it take someone to be killed for people's ideals to change?'

Dashcam footage from Kroker's lorry cab shows him distracted by his mobile phone for between seven and 45 seconds before the fatal crash

The camera then captures the moment Kroker realises he is about to crash into the stationary traffic at 50mph

He attempts to brake and swerve but cannot stop in time and crashes into the traffic jam

Vicki Hopkins said: 'I've lost my nephews who were a big part of my life. People don't understand the impact that this has not only on the immediate family but on the whole family, their friends - hundreds of people.'

The family were tragically killed when a lorry driver, changing music on his phone, crashed into their car.

The driver, Tomasz Kroker hit the vehicle the family were travelling in and they were killed instantly. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Vauxhall was shunted underneath the back of a heavy goods vehicle and crushed to a third of its size

The appeal is part of a week-long enforcement campaign targeting mobile phone use.

Inspector Chris Huggins, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire Road Policing Unit, said: 'We are extremely grateful to the family for supporting our campaign and telling their heart wrenching story and the impact their loss has had on their lives.

'This case highlights the devastating consequences of using a mobile phone at the wheel and what life is like for those families and friends who lose a loved one.

'I hope those people who continue to ignore our warnings listen carefully to this family's message and take note so that no one else has to experience their pain.'Kim Jong-un is trying to attract tourists to North Korea by advertising a luxury resort - built in an area used for missile tests.

The leader made the bizarre announcement as the country prepares to send their athletes to the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

He revealed that the resort would be built in Kangwon province, to the east of which three short-range ballistic missiles landed last year after being fired from the North.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is pictured inspecting an aquarium as he visits the Songdowon international children's camp in Kangwon province

North Korea is desperately trying to boost tourism to prop up the country's struggling economy amid crippling United Nations sanctions.

'When the tourist area is built, it will satisfy the demand of domestic and foreign tourists and will be the most ideal place to link various tourist destinations to the Wonsan-Mt Kumgang international tourist zone,' the country's state-run KCNA news agency said in a statement.

Few details were provided about the resort, but it is said to include a 'famous sandy beach'.

The project will put the country's tourism 'on world level', the statement said.

Kim Jong-un (pictured) has nearly spent the entire 'slush fund' he inherited from his father on nuclear weapon tests, it has been claimed

Kim has staged a series of costly nuke trials since taking over as leader after the death of his father Kim Jong-il in 2011.

He is said to have spent nearly the entire 'slush fund' he inherited from his father on nuclear weapon tests.

Last year, President Trump banned Americans from visiting the communist nation after it tested several intercontinental ballistic missiles.

In 2014, Kim was photographed inspecting an aquarium at a children's camp in Kangwon province where the resort is to be built.

The Songdowon International children's camp, which opened in the 1960s, had undergone a refurbishment.Piers Morgan has today hit back at Britain First deputy leader Jayda Fransen after she demanded an apology from him when he accused her of being 'racist' during his interview with Donald Trump.

Ms Fransen, 31, was in Belfast to attend court for a hate speech charge and said that the journalist 'misled' the President during his questioning.

The 71-year-old was speaking to him in Davos, Switzerland, and was asked about the 'anti-Muslim' videos he retweeted which were originally posted on the far-right group's account.

He eventually said he would apologise after Morgan informed him that the group is considered to be 'racist' in the UK.

Jayda Fransen (pictured) has hit back and challenged Piers to sit down with her to discuss the 'horrific accusations' he made

Piers Morgan hit back and wrote online: 'Sorry I wasn't more offensive about you' after she said he made 'horrific accuastions'

The 71-year-old (left) was asked by Piers Morgan (right) whether he wanted to say sorry and replied: 'I would certainly apologise if you would like me to do that'

But Ms Fransen said Trump had been 'railroaded' into offering to apologise for and she replied: 'In this instance he has completely misled the President of the United States by claiming I am something I am not.

'I have challenged Piers Morgan to sit down with me and to discuss these absolutely horrific accusations that I am a horrible nasty racist - something I wholeheartedly refute.'

But Piers quickly tweeted: 'Here's my apology to her: 'Sorry I wasn't more offensive about you'.'

Meanwhile, the leader of Britain First has slammed claims that Trump apologised for retweeting them - and claimed the President knew exactly who his party were.

Paul Golding insisted 'master politician' Trump was 'playing the game' during a TV interview with Piers Morgan.

Golding said of Trump: 'He didn't apologise, he said "if what you're telling me is that they are racists, I would be prepared to apologise" - which isn't exactly an apology.

He added: 'Donald Trump is a master politician, he's playing the game and he knew what he was doing.

'At that point, Jayda had been arrested in Belfast for making a speech criticising Islam and she was being persecuted by the police.

'Trump retweeted three different videos in a row in his way of poking the British Government and asking what they're doing with Jayda.

'The idea that he [Trump] did this without knowing anything about us is preposterous - he retweeted three videos in a row which he's never done before.

'He didn't actually apologise, he said he was prepared to if we were in fact horrible racist people, which we're not.'

It comes after Trump was publicly criticised after he retweeted three clips which purportedly showed 'anti-Muslim' material in November last year.

They were initially posted by British nationalist Ms Fransen, who has been convicted of hate crimes, and Theresa May condemned the President.

Trump was asked about the controversial retweets during the interview, which was aired on Good Morning Britain, and said he did not know who Britain First were.

US President Donald Trump has now publicly apologised for retweeting videos which were initially posted online by far-right group Britain First

He said that he retweeted the videos because he is a 'big believer in fighting Islamic terror' and also said he is the 'least racist person that anybody's going to meet'.

The President said: 'When you do those retweets it can cause problems, because you never know who's doing it to start off with.

'I don't know who they are, I know nothing about them, so I wouldn't be doing that. I am, as I say often, the least racist person that anybody's going to meet.

'Certainly I wasn't endorsing anybody. I knew nothing about them. They had I guess a couple of depictions of radical Islamic terror.

'Radical Islamic terror, whether you like talking about it or not Piers, it's a fact.

'Here's what's fair, if you're telling me they're horrible people, horrible racist people I would certainly apologise if you would like me to do that.'American author John Updike once said: We are most alive when were in love, and if his words are anything to go by, were most alive on Valentines Day.

Heres all you need to know about Valentines Day 2018, including when it is, who was St Valentine, and why we celebrate the day on February 14.

When is Valentine's Day 2018?

This years Valentines Day is on Wednesday, February 14. It may seem to be an odd one, since the most romantic date on the calendar also marks the first day of Lent 2018, Ash Wednesday.

Along with the first day of Easter falling on April 1, April Fools Day, this is the first time in 73 years that two religious holidays are on the same day as two slightly less serious ones.

Many people associate Valentine's Day with love and gifts but there is a rich history behind it

With presents being a huge part of the romantic celebration, it's never too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day gift ideas.

Greggs Valentine's Day Dinner

In honour of the most romantic day of the year, Greggs has announced that on Valentine's Day, it will turn select shops around the UK into restaurants, complete with music, flowers and mood lighting.

The company said on the OpenTable page for the event: 'The one-night-only menu will be made entirely from your favourite products but given a special Valentines twist. Sausage rolls and romance can go hand in hand.'

Greggs fine dining  Make your Valentines reservation here > https://t.co/0fqce4SjYa pic.twitter.com/8np8L0rMAQ  Greggs (@GreggsOfficial) January 29, 2018

The set meal will consist of four courses and a bottle of prosecco, costing 15 for two. Reservations will open on February 7.

Who was Saint Valentine?

The legend of Saint Valentine is complicated by the fact that its made up of several differing accounts. The Roman Catholic Church recognises Saint Valentine as a real person who died in the third century in Rome.

By this account, Valentine was a priest who was killed when he defied emperor Claudius II. Claudius decided that unattached men made for better soldiers than those with families and partners and thus forbade them to marry.

However, Valentine defied the emperor's diktat and secretly continued to marry young men and women. When Claudius found out, he imprisoned Valentine and ordered him to be put to death.

Another account has it that Valentine refused to renounce his Christianity when ordered to do so by Claudius and was then imprisoned. While in prison, Valentine performed a miracle, healing the jailers blind daughter.

One variation of this legend says that Valentine fell in love with the woman and, before his death, he wrote her a letter that he signed with Your Valentine.

Roses and flowers are typical Valentine's Day gifts people give their loved ones on this day

Who invented Valentine's Day?

One theory is that in the fifth century, Pope Gelasius I wanted to undermine or pre-empt the pagan festival of fertility, Lupercalia, which was celebrated on February 15. So he proclaimed February 14 as Saint Valentines Day, saying the martyr and his deeds were things 'known only to God'.

However, this theory is contested by the academic, Henry Ansgar Kelly, in his text, Chaucer and the cult of Saint Valentine.

Did Chaucer invent Valentine's Day?

Kelly posits that it may have been the medieval English poet Chaucer who created the celebration.

In his poem, Parlement of Foules, Chaucer wrote: For this was on Seynt Valentynes day/Whan every foul cometh ther to chese his make/Of every kinde, that men thynke may.

This was one of the first references that ties Valentines Day with the concept of lover and courtship.

Valentine's Day gifts

One reason for sending cards on Valentines Day is because Saint Valentine, while in prison, is thought to have sent the woman he loved a message that ended with Your Valentine.

The idea of sending anonymous Valentines Day cards dates back to the Victorian times, when cards became mass-produced.

Victoria's Secret model Elsa Hosk celebrates Valentine's Day as part of the new VS campaign

The idea of flowers being associated with love and romance has its roots in many periods in history.

Charles IIs wife is said to have discovered that the King of England was picking flowers in what is now Green Park and giving them to another woman.

Victorians developed an interest in floriagraphy, the language of flowers, and cemented the association between red roses and romance.

Roses were also believed to be one of the favourite flowers of Venus, the goddess of Love.Low lighting, sticky floors, and dirty toilets - New York dive bars are famous for many things, but perhaps not as guardians of the English language.

But enter Trigger Smith, owner of Continental in Manhattan's East Village, who has stepped up to the pass by banning customers from saying the world 'literally'.

Trigger, who has been operating the Astor Place establishment since 1991, put up a sign forbidding use of the term last week, with the aim being to 'stop Kardashianism.'

Trigger Smith, owner of Continental bar in Manhattan's East Village, has banned customers from using the word literally with this tongue-in-cheek sign

The tongue-in-cheek sign informs patrons that anyone caught using the term will be given five minutes to finish their drink before being ejected.

Anyone caught starting a sentence with it 'must leave immediately!'

Speaking with Grub Street, Trigger said that while the poster was meant as a joke, he really is no fan of people using the term.

'It's not just millennials,' he says. 'Now you hear newscasters using 'literally' every three minutes on the Sunday news shows.

'What's annoying is people aren't even aware they're saying it. How could you be so unaware of your words that it's coming out every couple minutes?'

Trigger is also not a fan of other much-used phrases, including 'It's all good,' 'You know what I'm saying?' and 'My bad'.

Continental has made a name for itself over the years as a dive bar staple where Iggy Pop used to drink and where Joey Ramone played his final live show in 2000.

Poll Was the bar right to ban the word 'literally'? Like, totally Not even Was the bar right to ban the word 'literally'? Like, totally 979 votes

Not even 194 votes Now share your opinion





In more recent years it has become better known for its drinks deal of five shots of anything for $10 - although recently upped to $12.

However, the changing face of the neighborhood has seen it declare bankruptcy twice, most recently in 2015, and it is now set to close in the summer.

It's final opening will be on June 30, after which it will be demolished along with the neighboring shops and developed into a 'boutique office building'.

Writing on the bar's website at the time the closure was announced, Trigger said: 'It's truly heartbreaking that we and so many Old Skool places are falling by the wayside but unless you own your building that's how it goes.

'For going on 27 years this Bar has been my life. First as a Rock Club and then as a Dive Bar and I've loved every minute of it.'France's overcrowded prison system is on the brink of mutiny after two weeks of unrest, the jails ombudsman said on Friday, with hardline labour unions vowing no surrender in a showdown with President Emmanuel Macron's government.

The warning from the independent ombudsman follows a second fruitless attempt by Macron's justice minister to buy peace with the wardens, whose work stoppages are slowly paralysing prisons and pushing tensions with prisoners to boiling point.

'If this crisis is not brought to an immediate end, there's no telling what will happen,' said Adeline Hazan, who oversees conditions in France's 188 jails, which house some 70,000 convicts, one of the largest prison populations in Europe.

France's overcrowded prison system is on the brink of mutiny after two weeks of unrest, the jails ombudsman said on Friday. Prison wardens (pictured) block the Maubeuge jail during a nationwide protest on Wednesday

'The situation is extremely tense ... we're on the brink of a blowout.'

Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet, accused of reacting too slowly to frustration among wardens after a spate of attacks by inmates, defended what she called a 'significant' offer of bonuses and improved safety measures.

The proposal, which also includes plans to isolate many Islamist militants and other religiously radicalised inmates from the rest of the prison population, was rejected by two of three labour unions on Thursday.

While Macron himself made a public declaration of confidence in Belloubet, the minister looked to be in difficulty after her proposal, the second in a week, was given short shrift.

Wardens' (pictured in a standoff with French gendarmes) work stoppages are slowly paralysing prisons and pushing tensions with prisoners to boiling point

The leader of the Force Ouvriere union, which has taken the hardest line, said there would be no let-up in the protests even if wardens were punished and their pay was docked for flouting a ban on strikes in the prison service.

Wardens want a change in their public service grade that would give them higher starting salaries, a demand that would cost around 80 million euros a year, FO's Emmanuel Baudin said. 'That's nothing,' he said in an interview on CNews TV.

It compares to a government offer worth 30 million euros from Belloubet, whose hands look tied by Macron's promise to keep a lid on public expenditure.

She told Europe 1 radio that union divisions were making matters more difficult. While the FO and CGT unions both rejected her latest offer, she had not yet had word from UFAP-Unsa, the largest wardens' union.

Wardens (pictured fending off French police) want a change in their public service grade that would give them higher starting salaries

The threat of an extended disruption is weighing on the government, which is broadly seen as having delivered on its promises under Prime Minister Edouard Philippe.

Hazan, the ombudsman, warned that paralysis could lead to mutiny in jails, where three and sometimes four inmates share a cell of less than 10 sq metres (yards).

She said that police, who have been sent in to replace off-work wardens in some locations, were there to maintain security, not tend to prisoners' everyday needs.

'You can't leave inmates without the means to keep clean, take showers, eat and see their families,' she said, adding that many prisoners were simply confined to their cells and unable to get out for a prison-yard walk.A terminally ill police dog received a hero's salute when law enforcement officers gathered in central Arkansas to say their final farewells.

Pajti had served as a K-9 officer since 2013 in Lonoke County, about 20 miles east of Little Rock.

However, a few months ago the dog was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.

The entire team of the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office stood in a line and saluted Pajti and his handler, who was in tears, while the two walked together into the building

A terminally ill police dog, Pajti, received a hero's salute when law enforcement officers gathered in central Arkansas to say their final farewells

When the cancer started spreading Sheriff John Staley made the tough decision to have the K9 put down. 'I mean it's just his energy level you can tell has gone down,' he said.

His handler, Deputy Brooks Grabill, told Little Rock television station KTHV that Pajti's illness advanced rapidly and a veterinarian recommended the dog be euthanized.

On Wednesday, officers from Lonoke County and surrounding agencies drove in a procession with lights and sirens on to accompany Pajti to the shelter where he would be euthanized.

Officers from Lonoke County and surrounding agencies accompanied Pajti to the shelter where he would be euthanized

The dog's his handler, Deputy Brooks Grabill (above), told Little Rock television station KTHV that Pajti's illness advanced rapidly and a veterinarian recommended the dog be euthanized

'Being a canine handler, you're with these dogs 24/7,' Canine Deputy Rob Ruble said. Speaking about Pajti's current and former handlers, Brooks Grable and Tyler Barber, he said 'The bond with them is just outrageous,' Ruble said, as teary-eyed deputies ruffled Pajti's ears and cupped his face in their hands.

'Its like losing a partner. Thats what it is. These guys have lost their partner,' Ruble added.

'We have to show respect to the dogs just like we would any other deputy. They have a badge and an ID just like every other deputy out there. Theyre part of the department, theyre part of our family.'

The entire team of the Lonoke County Sheriffs Office stood in a line and saluted Pajti and his handler, who was in tears, while the two walked together into the building.

'Its like losing a partner. Thats what it is. These guys have lost their partner,' Canine Deputy Rob Ruble said

A final radio call for Pajti said: 'K9 Pajtis 10-7. Attention all units: This is Deputy K9 Pajtis final ride. Deputy K9 Pajti: Thank you for your service to the citizens of Lonoke County and surrounding areas'

A final radio call for Pajti said: 'K9 Pajtis 10-7. Attention all units: This is Deputy K9 Pajtis final ride. Deputy K9 Pajti: Thank you for your service to the citizens of Lonoke County and surrounding areas.'

'Deputy Pajti, you have served in a special manner, and it has been an honor to serve with you. Rest in peace, we will take it from here.'

'He's one of the deputies. It's important because he's one of us,' Grable said. 'Even now when I have to leave him at home over the last couple months, he whines when I walk out the door. It's because he sees me in uniform and he wants to go to work,' he continued.

Pajti had been with the Sheriffs Office since 2013 and touched many lives over his years of service.

'His personality is something that's unbelievable. He could chase after a bad guy and apprehend him, and in the next five minutes that guy could be petting him,' Grabill said.

Speaking about the service in honor of Pajti Sheriff Staley said 'He would be the first one to put his life on the line for us. What I would do for a deputy I'm going to do for him.'Israeli security forces nearly blew up a plane carrying 30 injured children by mistake during a decades-long attempt to assassinate Yasser Arafat, it has been claimed.

Fighter pilots are said to have asked permission to bring down a flight over the Mediterranean on October 23, 1982, believing that the late Palestinian leader was on board.

But the mission was called off as it emerged that the aircraft was carrying wounded Palestinian youngsters on their way from Athens to receive medical treatment in Egypt - and that they were accompanied by Arafat's lookalike younger brother.

The claims have been made in a book which alleges that former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon ordered the military to shoot down civilian airliners while he was minister of defence in the hope of killing Arafat.

Israeli security forces nearly blew up a plane carrying 30 injured children by mistake as part of a series of failed attempts to assassinate Yasser Arafat, it has been claimed. The Palestinian leader is pictured in 1970

Fighter pilots are said to have asked permission to gun down a flight over the Mediterranean on October 23, 1982, believing that the late Palestinian leader was on board. He is pictured, centre, in Beirut just two months before the alleged incident

In an article in the New York Times, adapted from the book, journalist Ronen Bergman said that in just nine weeks between November 1982 and 1983, fighter jets were scrambled 'at least five times' to blow up commercial planes.

But on each occasion, the raids were called off shortly after take off.

Bergman said that when Israel's intelligence agency Mossad reported that Arafat was taking more commercial flights 'Sharon decided that such flights would be legitimate targets'.

However, senior air force commanders obstructed the operations intentionally with some of them considering the orders to be illegal.

One, air force operations chief Aviem Sella, told Bergman how he tried to stop an assassination attempt in a conversation with chief of staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, Lt Gen Rafael Eitan.

He is said to have told Eitan: 'We do not intend to carry this out. It simply will not happen. I understand that the minister of defence is dominant here.

The claims have been made in a book which alleges that former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon (pictured in 1982) ordered the military to shoot down civilian airliners while he was minister of defence in the hope of killing Arafat

Bergman said that when Israel's intelligence agency Mossad reported that Arafat was taking more commercial flights 'Sharon decided that such flights would be legitimate targets'. The former Israeli prime minister is pictured in 2005

'No one dares to stand up to him, and therefore we will make it technically impossible.'

Another, former brigadier general Amos Gilboa, claimed he warned Eitan such an operation could 'ruin the state internationally if it were known that we downed a civilian airliner'.

In his book, 'Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israels Targeted Assassinations', Bergman says there were other plans to kill Arafat.

He said Israelis spent months trying to brainwash a Palestinian into becoming a 'programmed killer' - only for him to hand himself in to police five hours after being released to carry out his operation.

Another failed attempt saw special forces following three Israeli journalists who were in Lebanon to interview Arafat.

Palistinian leader Yasser Arafat (pictured) died in 2004 at the age of 75

But their plan faltered when Arafat became suspicious and ordered his security guards to take 'deceptive countermeasures'. The Israeli operatives promptly lost track of the reporters before they could bomb the meeting.

Another plan was to take out all of the main players in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation by setting up bombs inside a Beirut stadium, it is claimed.

The book suggests leaders were due to gather to celebrate the anniversary of their first operation against Israel.

But the bombing was cancelled at the last minute when a group of Israeli officers demanded that it be aborted, telling senior command: 'You cant just kill a whole stadium.'

Bergman examines the task force - at first codenamed Operation Salt Fish and then Operation Goldfish - that was set up to assassinate the Palistinian leader, who died in 2004 at the age of 75.

But despite trying for decades, Arafat managed to elude Israeli forces.

Bergman wrote: 'Arafat understood that it was not a coincidence that bombs were repeatedly falling on places he was about to enter or had just left, and he kept breaking his routine.'Florida couple Ruth and Lee Huenniger have found a message in a bottle sent to sea by British primary school pupils

A Florida couple have found a message in a bottle sent to sea by British pupils 4,000 miles away in the 1980s.



The letter came from a class of children in Forfar, Scotland who cast the message out into the North Sea while studying a project about pirates.

It was found by Ruth and Lee Huenniger against a chain link fence 500ft from the Atlantic Ocean while they were inspecting street lights after Hurricane Irma hit Florida on September 29.

The pair wrote to the school and to their surprise received a letter back from the retired teacher who taught the class which sent the bottle.

Mrs Huenniger said that the bottle was in remarkable condition for all the distance it had travelled but the couple threw it out - not thinking they would get a response.

She said: 'Lee found it after Hurricane Irma as he was checking for damage along a fence in our homeowner's association.

'It was a large plastic bottle, like a Coke bottle and it was frosted over and you could not see very well inside.

'Lee could not get the top off of it but saw a corner of the paper near the neck of the bottle.

'He was going to put in the recycle bin but decided to cut it open. It was several weeks maybe six before we received a response.

'We threw the original bottle out because we thought we were not going to hear anything else about the note.

The pair found the message in a bottle near their home in Key Largo, Florida

'We were pleasantly surprised when we received the response from the previous teacher at the school that is no longer there.

'The bottle and note was amazingly well preserved to have been in the ocean for so long.'

Retired teacher Fiona Cargill, 60, from Newtyle in Angus, Scotland, is certain that the letter was written by pupils in one of her classes in the 1980s.

She has narrowed it down to one group in particular who had a family link to fishermen in Arbroath which allowed the bottle to go further out into the North Sea.

Ms Cargill, who retired from teaching 18 months ago, said that she would use pirates to strengthen a variety of skills and keep pupils aged around seven interested.

She said: 'It's amazing. I'm sure that it was one of my primary 2/3 classes from the 1980s. I liked to teach a project on pirates because it helped develop a lot of different skills.

'One part of that would involve getting in groups, writing a letter and sending a message in a bottle out to sea and seeing if it ever came back.

'I believe it is one class of primary 2/3 in particular because one of the children was related to a trawlerman in Arbroath who would take the bottle in their boat and throw it a bit further out so that it was less likely to just wash back ashore.

Retired teacher Fiona Cargill (left), 60, from Newtyle, Angus, with a class from the Chapelpark School in Forfar, Angus, in the 1980's

'Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find the pupil who wrote the letter but looking back there's an error where they meant to write 'street' which I found quite amusing.

'Stupidly, I forgot to get them to date the letter which really would have helped in narrowing it down.'

The message was written by pupils from Chapelpark Primary School in Forfar, which closed in 2007 and its pupils relocated to Strathmore and Whitehills Primaries in the town.

It explained that class P2/3 had been learning about pirates and sent the message to see how far it would travel.

The paper used for the letter was wrapped in transpaseal to prevent water damage while it travelled at sea.Michigan State University is facing an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for its handling of the Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal.

Nassar, who worked at Michigan State as a medical doctor, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls and women including Team USA athletes under the guise of medical treatment.

Many of the victims accused the university of mishandling past complaints about Nassar.

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Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting young girls and women including Team USA athletes under the guise of medical treatment

The disgraced doctor was employed by Michigan State University, which has been accused of mishandling complaints against him

Now it is facing investigation for failing to comply with the Clery Act, a federal law requiring colleges and universities receiving federal financial aid to report campus crime statistics and provide a timely warning when concerns arise, Buzzfeed reported.

Federal investigators will review what MSU 'did with every single complaint about Nassar,' as well as how 'campus police handled crime reports dating back to 2011, and how the university worked with USA Gymnastics to protect athletes'.

News of the investigation comes after university President Lou Ann Simon announced her resignation in the fallout over the Nassar scandal.

Multiple members of the Michigan State University Board and an overwhelming amount of state representatives from the Michigan House approved a resolution demanding that Lou Anna Simon resign as president of the school in a 96 - 11 vote.

Uuniversity President Lou Ann Simon announced her resignation in the fallout over the Nassar scandal

There had also resignation calls from other high-ranking Democrats and Republicans in the legislature, the editorial board at the college's newspaper and most of the 156 women who shared their victim impact statements.

In her resignation letter she said: ''The last year and a half has been very difficult for the victims of Larry Nassar, for the university community, and for me personally.

'To the survivors, I can never say enough that I am so sorry that a trusted, renowned physician was really such an evil, evil person who inflicted such harm under the guise of medical treatment. I know that we all share the same resolve to do whatever it takes to avert such tragedies here and elsewhere. '

Lindsey Lemke was among the 150 women who confronted their abuser, disgraced team doctor Larry Nassar, in a Michigan courtroom during his sentencing.

Lindsey Lemke confronted Nassar in court and also accused Simon of cowardice over the scandal

She then addressed more of Nassar's enablers, delivering an impassioned indictment of the doctor's friends and employers, then said to Simon: 'Guess what? You're a coward, too.'

Lemke also made her opinion of Simon clear one day prior when she tweeted: 'Lou Anna Simon told me today that she had no idea who the victims were & their names until today being at court.

'She was there for the last half of the day to see around 10 (maybe) statements. You don't even know the magnitude of people this has reached. You are not a president.'

Nassar's clinic on the university campus was decorated with signed photos of Olympic stars, bolstering his credentials to star-struck athletes and their families.

He counted on his charm and reputation to deflect any questions and was so brazen that he sometimes molested patients in front of their parents, shielding the young girls with his body or a sheet.A teenage hostess at the now-notorious Presidents Club dinner where staff were groped and harassed says she was offered 75,000 to have sex with an elderly businessman.

The 19-year-old was one of more than 100 women brought in to pour drinks and chat to the all-male guests at London's Dorchester Hotel last Thursday.

But she says she will not be working at the 'scary' event again after being treated like a prostitute by one of the businessmen who attended the raucous evening.

A 19-year-old hostess who worked at the Presidents Club dinner says an elderly man treated her like a prostitute and offered 75,000 for sex

The woman said the man tried to spoon feed her chocolate desert at the notorious event

The woman, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Mirror: 'An old man in his 70s beckoned me over and said: "I will offer you 50,000 for sex". When I said I no, he said: "OK then, 75,000".

'He assumed I was a prostitute. I told him my age and he said, "My youngest daughter's older than you  I like that you're young".'

She said the 'creepiest thing' which happened to her was when another man tried to spoon-feed her a chocolate dessert.

She spent the last hour of the event hiding in the toilet as fellow hostesses were groped at an after-party, she said.

The woman was paid 150 for the evening's work, as well as 20 for travel, and was told to sign a non-disclosure order, the use of which has been questioned by Prime Minster in response to the scandal.

Following the disclosures about the event in the Financial Times, charities and businesses sought to dissociate themselves from the Presidents Club, which closed down this week.

A number of charities, including Great Ormond Street Hospital Children's Charity, that have benefited from the 20 million raised by the Presidents Club over more than 30 years said they will now refund previous donations.

The lavish dinner has led to calls for a police investigation and to changes in the law on non disclosure agreements for events staff

MPs Sir Vince Cable, Jo Swinson and Jess Phillips urged police to investigate 'serious and potentially criminal' behaviour, including allegations of pimping and sexual assault of the 140 women working at the event last Thursday.

Businessman David Meller quit his roles at the Department for Education and the Mayor's Fund for London over his involvement in organising the event, as trustee of the Presidents Club.

After it emerged that the auction included lunch with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and tea with Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, the Bank and the Foreign Office made clear that neither man had known about it and would not be honouring the engagements.

Jeremy Corbyn asked Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn to 'step back' from his role as shadow business and international trade spokesman in the upper chamber after he attended the men-only charity event where hostesses were allegedly groped and sexually harassed.

The Labour leader's move will increase pressure on Theresa May to act against Children and Families Minister Nadhim Zahawi, who also attended the dinner.

There is no suggestion that any of the men named here were directly involved in any of the incidents described.

The Presidents Club hired 130 women as hostesses at the annual black-tie fundraiser, which was held at The Dorchester hotel in Mayfair last Thursday (pictured in 2012)

Presidents Club trustee David Meller (left) has stood down from the educational trust that he ran. Lord Jonathan Mendelsohn (right), who was at the event, was asked to stand down from his role in the House of Lords

Theresa May has said she was 'appalled' by reports of the events at the dinner at London's prestigious Dorchester Hotel.

According to the FT, the hostesses at the event were told to wear skimpy black dresses, black underwear and 'sexy' black shoes.

Reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover as part of the paper's investigation, said she was groped several times and other hostesses had suffered similar treatment.

The Charity Commission said it was looking into the allegations 'as a matter of urgency'.

The Dorchester Hotel said it was not aware of any claims following the event and an investigation had been launched.

A spokesman for the Artista agency, which recruited the hostesses, said it was not aware of any claims of sexual harassment but that any complaints would be dealt with promptly and fairly.Disgraced former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer's sister allegedly lodged an insurance claim hours after the 'staged' car crash in October.

Mr Mehajer's sister Aiisha lodged the insurance claim with NRMA for a white Mercedes 4WD as her brother was being treated in Westmead hospital, according to Daily Telegraph.

Just days earlier, the policy on the luxury car had been taken out for $156,780, despite the estimated value reportedly being between $95,000 and $125,000.

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Aiisha Mehajer, sister of disgraced former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer, lodged an insurance claim hours after his alleged 'staged' car crash in October (pictured together)

Aiisha lodged the insurance claim with NRMA for a white Mercedes 4WD as her brother was being treated in Westmead hospital

Police claim Mehajer staged the crash in Lidcombe, south-west Sydney, in October last year in order to avoid facing court over an alleged assault on a taxi driver.

After extensive inquires, invesitgators arrested Mehajer, 31, at a home at Vaucluse, in Sydney's eastern suburbs, on Tuesday.

He was taken to Waverley police station where he was charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiring to cheat and defraud.

Police also arrested Mehajer's friend and business associate, Ahmed Jaghbir, 28, at a home in Lidcombe and also charged him with perverting the course of justice and conspiring to cheat and defraud.

Jaghbir allegedly said he was instructed to arrange the October collision to buy Mehajer some more time before his scheduled court hearing that day, the court heard.

Police claim Mehajer staged the crash in Lidcombe, south-west Sydney, in October last year in order to avoid facing court over an alleged assault on a taxi driver (Mehajer pictured at crash site)

The Mercedes Salim Mehajer was driving when he collided with a Mitsubishi in October

Shortly after the arrests of Mehajer and Jaghbir, investigators arrested Elias Moufferrige, 30, and his wife Malinda Moufferrige, 31, at a home at Lidcombe.

The couple was taken to Auburn police station, where they were charged with conspiring to cheat and defraud in relation to the crash.

They were granted bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on February 12.

Mehajer has remained behind bars since his arrest on Tuesday, after being denied bail by a magistrate on Wednesday morning.

Mehajer was arrested on Tuesday and charged with perverting the course of justice and conspiring to cheat and defraud

Magistrate Jennifer Giles said Mehajer's alleged crime struck 'at the very heart of the criminal justice system' and he had not shown cause as to why his detention was unjustified.

Mehajer had been due to appear in the Downing Centre Local Court in the city on the morning of the crash to face a charge of assaulting a taxi driver.

Pictures taken at the scene show him being pulled from the vehicle and placed into a neck brace, before being treated for neck pain and taken to hospital.

His passenger and the occupants of the Mitsubishi - two women, aged 31 and 32 - were not reported to have been injured during the incident.

Detectives from Flemington Local Area Command commenced an investigation into the collision under Strike Force Reppan, NSW police said on Tuesday.Joel Butcher, 23, pictured outside London's High Court today, took top secret footage from a world-leading visual effects company

A 'daft' young film buff's 'dream job' almost got him jailed after top secret footage he took from a world-leading special effects studio hit the internet.

Joel Butcher, 23, of Nottingham, was sued for contempt of court by Double Negative, whose clients include Walt Disney and Warner Brothers.

The firm's work has featured in multiple recent hit movies including Wonder Woman, Assassin's Creed, the Jason Bourne films and Dunkirk.

Mr Butcher, who worked for the firm in 2016 and 2017, slipped up by 'taking film footage and other items from the company so he could study them for his future education and intended career', his QC Paul Gott told the High Court.

'Wrongly and stupidly', he shared the strictly confidential footage with a friend who, without his knowledge, posted the material online, the barrister said.

But when Double Negative served a court order on him before Christmas, Mr Butcher 'reacted in panic', said Mr Gott.

He falsely claimed in a sworn witness statement that his friend had removed the footage from his computer without his permission. The Soho-based film company took him to the High Court, demanding that he be fined or jailed.

Mr Gott said Mr Butcher admitted swearing a 'false affidavit'  but described him as a 'daft 23-year-old', adding: 'He has been idiotic and very stupid but he has learned a salutary lesson.'

He and his parents had gone through months of mental anguish worrying about the consequences of his actions, the court was told. They had sleepless nights worrying that what he had done might derail his budding film industry career.

Butcher (pictured today with his mother) and his parents have gone through months of mental anguish worrying about the consequences of his actions, the court was told

Locking him up would be to 'use a sledgehammer to crack a pretty small nut', said Mr Gott. He added that the footage has now been expunged from the internet.

As for fining him, Mr Gott told Judge Patrick Curran QC: 'Mr Butcher, from Nottingham, doesn't have two pennies to rub together'.

Mr Butcher studied visual effects at university, the court heard, and his post at Double Negative was meant to be his 'dream job'.

But his 'act of folly' jeopardised his entire future, said the barrister.

Double Negative's QC, Daniel Tatton-Brown, said the company had to carry out a costly investigation to pinpoint the source of the 'leaks'.

It resorted to legal action when 'unauthorised footage and images from films on which it was working started appearing on the internet'.

The work by Double Negative (based above in London's Soho) has featured in multiple recent hit movies including Wonder Woman, Assassin's Creed, the Jason Bourne films and Dunkirk

The material consisted of extracts from studio 'monthlies' - compilations of work in progress produced each month exclusively for internal distribution.

Mr Butcher sat nervously at the back of court, flanked by his parents, as the judge decided to spare him.

Just starting out on his working life, he must have been 'terrified' at the prospect of a prison sentence, the judge said.

'The punishment you have already endured in these months of worry and anxiety about this case seems to me to be entirely sufficient punishment,' he added.

Mr Butcher made his false statement while in a state of 'complete panic' and in an attempt at 'damage limitation'.

And the judge ruled there was no greed or 'commercial motive' behind his actions.

'He acted with the sort of folly that has characterised the behaviour of young men since time immemorial', the judge concluded.A woman who claims she is Charles Manson's daughter has come forward to stake a claim to the serial killer's estate, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Rebecca Evans, 48, says she was given up at birth and placed in foster care before making the shock discovery that Manson was her biological father at age 15.

And having overcome her dark secret, the accountant and part-time actress, exclusively told DailyMail.com that she has every right to fight for a share of the cult leader's 'fortune' and plans to challenge all other claimants.

Rebecca said: 'I am Charles Manson's daughter, I'm a possible heir, it's something I've had to grow to live with.

'I've got as much right as the next person to stake a claim to his estate and I plan to do so. I'm looking for legal representation and want to throw my name in the mix.'

Rebecca, who lives in Los Angeles, is friends with another Manson 'heir', Matthew Roberts, a musician from LA who claims he's the cult leader's son.

She is now joining forces with Roberts, supporting his claim for the Manson estate while also lodging her own.

The pair plan to attend a court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday and Rebecca hopes to submit her name as a potential heir.

Rebecca Evans claims that she is Charles Manson's daughter and is now throwing her hat into the ring for the fight of his remains and estate. She told DailyMail.com: 'It's something I've had to grow to live with. I've got as much right as the next person to stake a claim to his estate'

The 48-year-old is joining forces with another Manson 'heir', Matthew Roberts (pictured), a musician from LA who claims he's the cult leader's son. The pair plan to attend a court hearing in Los Angeles on Friday and Rebecca hopes to submit her name as a potential heir

Rebecca says she was born at the Spahn Ranch and was given up at birth by her mother Andrea Kavakow. She says she discovered who her father was at age 15. Charles Manson (left in August 2017 and right in 2009) died in November

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge must decide which court takes up the separate issues of Manson's remains and his estate, The judge will consider claims from at least three people. Rebecca would be a fourth.

Rebecca lived much of her childhood unaware of the truth to her past.

But at 15 years old, the teen's cherished dream of one day meeting her birth family became a living nightmare when she discovered her father was one of the world's most notorious murderers.

Rebecca had lived with eight different foster families before being adopted at six years old.

She had enjoyed a happy childhood but as she grew older the questions surrounding her past began to nag her.

She began researching her family history through the LA County system and found out she had been taken into care from a place called Spahn Ranch.

Unbeknownst to Rebecca at the time, the rural ranch in the mountains above Chatsworth, California, was the spot where Manson lived with his followers.

'I also reached out to my social worker who was able to get me a copy of my original birth certificate,' she recalls.

'From there I was able to track down my biological mother, a woman called Andrea Kavakow.'

Rebecca said she met with her real mother and the first question she asked was, 'who is my dad?'.

Unbeknownst to Rebecca at the time, the rural ranch in the mountains above Chatsworth, California, was the spot where Manson lived with his followers

Manson and his cult members stayed on the Spahn Ranch (pictured) in the late 60s after the owner George Spahn, then 80, allowed the group to move in rent free, in exchange for housework and sexual favors from young female members of the cult

'When I asked her who my father was, she told me how she had met Charles Manson in the 60s, had started hanging out with him and became one of the members of his group living on the ranch.

'Then she said she believed Charles Manson was my father.

'I instantly knew the name even as a young girl, everybody did.

'I knew he was a killer. I suppose I was in shock - I wasn't angry, I just felt disbelief.'

Sadly the realization she was related to the cult leader had an immediate and lasting affect on Rebecca.

She went on to read with horror about Manson's deranged sect and their gruesome murder of actress Sharon Tate and eight others.

The teenager struggled to process it all.

'I was extremely hurt and confused and I didn't understand why nobody had ever told me,' she explains.

'As I grew up, it was hard to maintain relationships with people, to tell them about my past. I was worried it might scare some people away.

'Because of what he had done, I was scared people would apply that to me.

'I had mixed emotions about it, some good some bad, but it was quite overwhelming.

'I found it difficult to get close to people, to form relationships.

'It was really only in the past few years that I've been able to accept it and start opening up.'

Her anguish is shared by Roberts, 49, who told the world he was Charles Manson's son in 2009.

Rebecca said to DailyMail.com: 'It was really only in the past few years that I've been able to accept it and start opening up'

Manson memorabilia fanatic Michael Channels (left) claims to have Manson's last will and testament signed by the cult leader. The cult leader's long lost 'grandson', MMA fighter and oil rig worker Jason Freeman (right), has also stepped into the fight

Roberts, who was adopted and grew up in Rockford, Illinois, was told that Manson was his real father, after he tracked down his biological mother in 2001.

She told Roberts she was raped by Manson during a drug-fueled orgy nine months before he was born in 1968  but she later claimed it was not rape but 'vigorous sex'.

Rebecca says Roberts is the only person who really understands her pain.

'Matthew and I have talked at length about how it feels to be a child of Charles Manson, he's helped me open up about it,' she said.

'I remember when I found out he was my dad I started looking in the mirror for similarities between me and the pictures of him, but I honestly don't think there are any.

'Matthew on the other hand looks exactly like him.

'I had read about Matthew and wanted to meet him. He plays in a band so I went to a few of his shows and eventually introduced myself.'

Roberts and Rebecca will attend the hearing at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in LA with the hope of making a firm claim on the Manson estate.

At least three parties have so far staked claims to collect Manson's body from the Kern County morgue two months after he died and to take control of any assets, which could include potentially lucrative rights to the use of his image and songs he wrote and any other property.

Manson memorabilia fanatic Michael Channels claims to have Manson's last will and testament signed by the cult leader.

The cult leader's long lost 'grandson', MMA fighter and oil rig worker Jason Freeman, has also stepped into the fight.

Rebecca said she went on to read with horror about Manson's deranged sect and their gruesome murder of actress Sharon Tate (pictured in 1968) and eight others

And Roberts also claims to have a signed will sent to him by Manson from prison via a pen pal.

Rebecca said: 'I know a lot of people have come forward saying they are an heir, but I believe, due to everything I've been told, I have a right to stake a claim.

'I do intend to get legal representation with Matthew Roberts and weigh up my options and we'll take it from there. We want to fight this together.'

Manson and his cult members stayed on the Spahn Ranch in the late 60s after the owner George Spahn, then 80, allowed the group to move in rent free, in exchange for housework and sexual favors from young female members of the cult.

Then, over a five-week period in the summer of 1969, Manson and some of his 'family' members committed a series of nine horrific murders.

Rebecca was born on June 16, 1969, just two months before the ranch was raided by police in August that year.

Victims of the cult included pregnant star Tate  the wife of film director Roman Polanski.

In 1971 Manson, along with Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, Leslie Van Houten and Charles Watson, were convicted of the murders.

Manson was sentenced to death but when California scrapped the death penalty in 1972, it was commuted to life imprisonment.

He died of ill health aged 83 on November 19, 2017 after spending most of his remaining life behind bars at California State Prison in Corcoran.

Roberts (pictured) claims to have a signed will sent to him by Manson from prison via a pen pal

Roberts claims that his Manson will (pictured), dated January 2017, is the rightful will

The document filed by Charles Manson's 'son' Matthew Roberts includes a swastika on Manson's signature

Before Manson died Rebecca had considered trying to visit her 'father' in jail.

'I thought about writing him a letter and visiting him many times,' she confessed.

'I kept getting interested in finding him and talking to him, but then I would get too scared and never went through with it, I was scared of what I'd find.'

Rebecca says she is still haunted by what had been her dark secret.

'I didn't tell anybody when I found out other than my half brother and sister,' she said.

'I was completely in shock and afraid of what people would say or think.

'It's only now I feel more comfortable talking about it.'

But despite all she knows about her serial killer father, Rebecca refuses to condemn Manson.

'I haven't got the right to form an opinion about him or judge him because I never met him,' she said.* The 4th International Competition of Cartoons Aleksandar Klas 2017, Serbia: All cartoonists whose cartoons are selected in the catalog and the exhibition will receive a free copy of the catalog ( Regulation ).

* International Cartoon Contest in Memory of Cartoonist Prof. Atila Ozer 2016, Turkey: The selected cartoons will be published in a catalog. These will be sent at no cost to the participants whose works are : The selected cartoons will be published in a catalog. These will be sent at no cost to the participants whose works are exhibited and published ( Regulation ).Donald Trump attacked political reporters during the World Economic Forum on Friday, and his audience gasped in surprise.

Some journalists in the back of the room let out unmistakable 'boos,' sources said, while billionaires who came to hear Trump preach his prosperity gospel gasped in astonishment.

Others laughed and applauded. A few directed their booing to the media, according to an eyewitness in the room.

The U.S. president has blasted the press since early in his campaign, complaining about 'fake news' reports that depressed his poll numbers and continue to dog his White House tenure.

But Friday marked his first major swipe at them on foreign soil, and some reporters who hadn't heard it before fired back from the peanut gallery.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

FAKE NEWS: Donald Trump lashed out at political reporters Friday in Davos, Switzerland as he fielded questions from World economic Forum executive chairman Klaus Schwab, and the foreign press responded with a smattering of boos

The president joked that some of the TV cameras in the back would stop filming him after he attacked them; some in the crowd directed their audible booing toward the reporters

White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, center and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, second from left, listened to Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland

Trump's address came on the closing day of the World Economic Forum, a confab of heads of state, influential executives, bankers and policy makers

'I've always seemed to get for whatever reason, a disproportionate amount of press or media, and  throughout my whole life  somebody will explain some day why, but I've always gotten a lot,' Trump said, drawing chuckles from savvy business leaders who have watched his bombastic personality fuel his financial rise for decades.

'And as a businessman I was always treated really well by the press. You know, the numbers speak and things happen, but I've always really had a really good press,' trump said.

And it wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be,' he continued, quipping that he could see 'cameras start going off in the back' of the hall.

That's when a quick burst of booing and audible gasps peppered the Davos venue.

None of the major networks broke away from live coverage. The WEF's official video feed, however, which was airing with a slight delay, cut out the booing and resumed afterward.

A pool reporter from The Wall Street Journal wrote that Trump 'notably drew a round of boos when he criticized the media as "vicious".'

But it quickly became clear that it was mainly journalists, not the global elites, who let their scorn fly.

'Foreign journos sitting next to me booed Trump's attack on the press,' a Washington Post reporter in the room tweeted.

Others there described the crowd as 'mesmerized' and 'entranced' by the celebrity president.

Some of the booing came from attendees who directed it at the cameras, another source told DailyMail.com, saying: 'You could see heads turn around and a few people cupping their hands over their mouths, aimed at the reporters.'

The Davos audience was too big for the hall so organizers set up an adjoining room for overflow, and thrill-seekers posed for selfies against a backdrop of Trump on a big screen

Trump's swipe at reporters came after he delivered a speech about American prosperity and the business climate his economic policies have created

Trump quickly moved on to suggest that he had overcome the negative press that he weathers every day in the White House.

'Overall, I mean, the bottom line  somebody said, "Well, they couldn't have been that bad. Here we are, we're president." And I think we're doing a really great job.'

Trump's latest accusation of unfair press came Friday following a New York Times report that Trump intended to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last summer, only to be yanked back when White House Counsel Don McGahn threatened to quit.

'Fake news. Fake news. Typical New York Times. Fake stories,' he said in the morning.

The White House's official transcript of Friday's session notes only 'laughter,' not booing, during Trump's remarks.President Donald Trump will sign a directive mandating the continued operation of the United States' military prison in Guantanamo Bay.

Trump has allowed the prison with a dwindling population of accused terrorists to remain open his first year in office after promising to 'load it up with some bad dudes' when he was a presidential candidate.

He will announce next week that he is formally reversing an Obama-era order authorizing the closure of the detention center, Politico reported.

President Donald Trump will sign a directive mandating the continued operation of the United States' military prison in Guantanamo Bay

Trump has allowed the prison with a dwindling population of accused terrorists to remain open his first year in office after promising to 'load it up with some bad dudes' when he was a presidential candidate

Trump, seen here in Davos, Switzerland, is likely to announce the Gitmo policy in his State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening or sometime before then

The announcement will likely come during Trump's State of the Union Address on Tuesday evening, the news publication said, although it could come a few days earlier or later.

Barack Obama memorably campaigned on the closure of the facility but never was able achieve it. Congress repeatedly rebuffed his efforts to have the foreign combatants transferred to prisons on U.S. soil.

Obama looked to other countries to take the prisoners off the United States' hands, instead, eventually transferring custody of most of the 242 inmates imprisoned at Gitmo, as it's also called, when he took office.

He moved aggressively to fulfill a 2009 executive order dictating the prison be 'closed as soon as practicable' his final year in office, however 41 combatants were still behind bars when he left.

Trump has not added to the prison population since taking office, although he said last year that he would consider sending an Uzbek national who mowed down cyclists and pedestrians in New York there.

'I would certainly consider that, yes. I would certainly consider that. Send him to Gitmo,' Trump told a reporter in November.

The White House backed off the response later that same day, saying Trump 'would support that, but he wasn't necessarily advocating for it.'

His executive order will ask the Pentagon to 'recommend criteria to the President for determining detention disposition outcomes for individuals captured on the battlefield,' Politico reported.

'Currently, the United States employs a number of different options for disposition, including transferring individuals to host governments or pursuing prosecution in a U.S. court. These remain viable options,' a document obtained by the news organization says.

Obama argued for nearly a decade that the prison was a recruitment tool for terrorists and it needed to be closed with haste.

A speech delivered his last year as president characterized the prison as 'contrary to our values' and a 'stain on our broader record' of defending and upholding the rule of law.

Trump, then a Republican candidate for president, told his supporters the following day, 'We're going to load it up with some bad dudes.'

With his inauguration just around the bend, Trump reaffirmed his belief that Guantanamo Bay should remain open.

'There should be no further releases from Gitmo,' he said in Jan. 3. tweet. 'These are extremely dangerous people and should not be allowed back onto the battlefield.'

Obama made one last dispatch of 18 prisoners, however, before the handover.

A draft diplomatic cable obtained by Politico revealed Trump's plans to officially reverse Obama's order that military seek to wind the prison down.

It also said, 'At this time, we are not aware of any plans to bring additional detainees to Guantanamo Bay.'

The cable is said to ask some American diplomats to inform their counterparts of the executive order but ask that foreign governments keep it to themselves until after the president's speech to a joint session of Congress.

'The E.O. does not signal a significant policy shift with respect to detentions' the cable reportedly says. 'Rather, it affirms Guantanamo Bay will continue to remain open and serve as one of several options the United States maintains for the detention of terrorists.'A convicted killer who gunned down two undercover police in cold blood could have been responsible for the attempted murder of two others four years before the fatal attack, police believe.

Victoria police have confirmed Bandali Debs is still a key person of interest in a 1994 shooting in an industrial estate in Hallam, in Melbourne's south east.

According to the Herald Sun Debs may been responsible for firing three shots at Sergeant Allan Beckwith and Constable Jason Bryant before the two men escaped.

Victoria police have confirmed Bandali Debs is still a key person of interest in a 1994 shooting in an industrial estate in Hallam, in Melbourne's south east

The driver of the car was Debs' underling at the time, Jason Ghiller, he was convicted for his part in the crime nine years after it took place.

'One non-homicide matter has been identified that links Debs with a non-fatal shooting incident several years prior to the Silk-Miller murder,' police said.

According to police at the time Ghiller's car was pulled over and as Sgt Beckwith made to get out of the vehicle he noticed the car's passenger already had.

'He looked up and saw that the passenger had already got out of the Nissan and was aiming a handgun straight at him and fired at him. The sergeant threw himself back towards the seat. Two further shots were fired at the vehicle.'

'One non-homicide matter has been identified that links Debs with a non-fatal shooting incident several years prior to the Silk-Miller murder,' police said

Debs murdered Sergeant Gary Silk and Senior Constable Rod Miller on Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin on August 16, 1998.

The officers were shot after pulling the man's car over - they were investigating a string of armed robberies at the time.

Debs had killed before the cold-blooded murder of the police officers, on June 17, 1997 he killed troubled teenager, and prostitute Kristy Mary Harty.

Harty was shot, once, in the back of her head. Her half-naked body was found by bushwalkers near a track where the pair had been having unprotected sex.

In April 1995 sex worker Donna Anne Hicks was shot dead by Debs.This is the adorable moment a giant panda tries a panda cub refuses to let a panda cub go - even though he's not her baby.

The panda cub, named Jingliang, scrambles over the stomach of the female giant panda, Nini, in a bid to get away from her clutches.

Nini wraps her arms around Jingliang and hugs the cub tight at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.

Don't leave me: The pair can be seen snuggling throughout the adorable footage shot at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding

The two pandas relax on wooden beams with bamboo nearby.

Baby Jingliang arrived in July of last year, and weighed only 189 grams when he was born.

At one point, the cub is on the floor - but he is quickly picked up under the armpits and given more cuddles.

Baby Jiang Liang can be seen crawling and scrambling over the giant panda's stomach in the funny footage

Baby Jingliang arrived in July of last year, and weighed only 189 grams when he was born

Online, people were infatuated with the adorable creatures, with one saying: 'Precious, love them.'

Another added that it was amazing that Nini was so loving, despite not being the mother: 'Finally, a loving panda mother... hehe. After watching so many rough and tough panda moms... This big panda deserves an award.'

About 420 giant pandas live in captivity, mostly in their native China, with about 1,860 in the wild.A teacher in Florida has angered parents after making a typo on a homework assignment that spelled a racial slur and then gave a lackluster apology for the 'inconvenience.'

A first grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School in Sanford, Florida, sent home an assignment that used n****r instead of the word bigger.

And when Terry Day's six-year-old daughter, Rosa, came home from school, she didn't know what to think.

'My daughter said to me, she said, "I know that word and I know what that word means, but is this supposed to be on my paper?"' Day told WESH 2.

A first grade teacher at Hamilton Elementary School in Sanford, Florida, sent home an assignment that spelled n****r instead of the word bigger

'My daughter said to me, she said, "I know that word and I know what that word means, but is this supposed to be on my paper?"' Terry Day told WESH 2

Day spoke with the teacher at the school and wasn't impressed with the response she received.

'I said, "Well, you didn't spell-check your word? You didn't proofread your word before you sent that out?" And (the teacher) said, "It is a word." And I didn't like the attitude behind that one,' Day said.

The teacher explained that with the 'B' and 'N' right next to each other, she accidentally typed the latter when she meant to spell bigger.

A school spokesman, Michael Lawrence, said in a statement: 'The district is aware of the unintentional and unfortunate mistake regarding the typo on the spelling words worksheet. The teacher involved has taught at Hamilton Elementary for many years and is extremely remorseful about the situation. The school has already fixed and updated the spelling words list and redistributed to the students in that particular class. In addition, a memo has gone home with students sincerely apologizing for the error.'

The teacher explained that with the 'B' and 'N' right next to each other, she accidentally typed the latter when she meant to spell bigge

But remorse wasn't the reaction Day said the teacher conveyed in a memo she sent home to parents.

'Dear Parents: Please be advised there was a misspelled word on the blue spelling list I sent home yesterday,' the memo states.

'Please throw the blue list away and refer to this list for the next six weeks. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Please contact me if you have any concerns.'

The Seminole County School District said the teacher - who has been working in the district for more than 16 years - would likely not be punished

But the memo doesn't mention the misspelled word, which further angered the mother.

''Inconvenience' means sorry for the bother. So, I mean, it was not apologetic, it was not 'sorry.' Even when I met with her in person, she wasn't sorry, wasn't apologetic, like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I would have removed this.' No! It wasn't like that,' Day added.

Day doesn't feel that the teacher should be punished. Her daughter likes the teacher and Day genuinely believes that it was a mistake but felt an apology was due.

'That bothered me. I was very offended by it,' Day asserted. 'In today's society, it's very prevalent. Racism! It's very prevalent.'

The Seminole County School District said the teacher - who has been working in the district for more than 16 years - would likely not be punished.The backlash against the appointment of Sara Khan as the Government's anti-extremism tsar grew today as 100 Muslim groups united to oppose it.

Ms Khan is due to run the newly created Commission for Countering Extremism from next month but she has been dismissed as a 'mouthpiece for the Home Office'.

The post is intended to be an independent watchdog advising government on the best ways to tackle extremism in Britain.

Ms Khan is co-founder of Inspire, a counter-extremism and human rights organisation. Her website describes her as 'one of the UK's leading Muslim female voices on countering Islamist extremism and promoting human rights'.

The backlash against the appointment of Sara Khan (file image) as the Government's anti-extremism tsar grew today as 100 Muslim groups united to oppose it

A petition to the Home Office signed by 100 Muslim organisations and scholars called for her to be removed from her new role as head of the Commission for Countering Extremism.

The Muslim Council of Britain expressed 'grave concerns' about the appointment.

Harun Khan, secretary general, said: 'The fight against terrorism requires equal partnership between all parties, including Muslim communities.

'This appointment risks sending a clear and alarming message that the Government has no intention of doing so.'

Mohammed Shafiq, chief executive of the Ramadhan Foundation think tank, described Ms Khan's appointment as 'a smack in the face of thousands who view her as part of the problem and not the solution'.

'Appointing someone who is so toxic in the Muslim community frankly makes the Commission useless before it starts,' said Mr Shafiq. 'We call on the Government to reconsider this ill advised appointment.'

Harun Khan, secretary general of Muslim Council of Britain expressed 'grave concerns' about the appointment

Former Tory chairwoman Baroness Warsi led cross-party criticism as she described the move as 'a deeply disturbing appointment'.

She wrote on Twitter: 'Sara is sadly seen by many as simply a creation of and mouthpiece for the Home Office.'

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said: 'The appointment of Sara Khan has drawn cross-party criticism. It seems to be a very ill-advised appointment, based on the widespread perception that she has only come to prominence because of her support for the Government's Prevent strategy.

'It is not an appointment that will build confidence across our communities.'

But a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Ms Khan is 'expertly qualified' to lead the Commission's work and she will 'bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the commission.'

Former Tory chairwoman Baroness Warsi led cross-party criticism as she described the move as 'a deeply disturbing appointment'

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said it was a 'very ill-advised appointment' and urged the Government to think again

Dame Louise Casey praised the 'really important appointment' of Ms Khan.

The Government's former integration tsar told the Press Association: 'She doesn't deny there is a problem...I think she has enormous courage, I think she is fiercely independent.'

Discussing the appointment on Twitter, David Anderson QC, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said: 'I for one will be giving Sara a fair chance, and wishing her the good luck that I suspect she will need!

'The idea that she is a Government stooge is hard to reconcile with her opposition (strongly shared by me) to its ill-advised 2015/16 plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill.'

Plans to set up the commission were announced by Prime Minister Theresa May after the Manchester bombing in May last year - one of five terror attacks to hit Britain in 2017.

The body will be tasked with identifying and challenging all forms of extremism, advising ministers on new policies and promoting 'pluralistic British values'.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd announced Ms Khan's appointment on Wednesday and the Government has insisted she is 'expertly qualified' for the post

Its remit is also expected to include helping train schools and colleges to spot warning signs and ensuring women's rights are upheld.

Announcing the appointment, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'The Commission for Countering Extremism will form a crucial part of this Government's work to stop the scourge of extremism in all its forms and Sara Khan is expertly qualified to lead its important work.

'She will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the commission which will prove vital as it works to identify and challenge extremism and provide independent advice to the Government.'

Ms Khan is expected to take her post in the next month. The appointment is for a period of three years.

Ms Khan said: 'I am excited about getting to work on the Commission. This is about pushing back against those individuals and groups who divide and toxify our society.

'The aim for this first year is to listen, look closely at the evidence and make recommendations. Our study will be a unique look at the real scale of the threat of all forms of extremisms, and shine a light on the work that is going in and out of Government.

'I want to hear from victims, whose voices are often missing from the debate. We know about the hateful marches and poisonous online videos. But what about the harm we cant see?

'I will be reaching out and hearing directly from those brave individuals and groups who are doing vital work standing up to extremists. My message to them is that you are not alone.

'Extremism is an incredibly difficult, challenging issue. We wont always agree  and thats okay. It mustnt stop us from reaching out and engaging. I have made clear I am keen to engage and listen and I look forward to doing precisely that.

'I want us to come together to confront extremists  far right, Islamist or any other. I want to show that the people of this country reject hatred, bigotry and racism and instead chose tolerance, decency and respect.'The heartbroken father of two disabled adult siblings who were allegedly murdered by their mother tried desperately to have his son placed in care after his daughter's death.

Mark Crabtree applied for Jonathan Crabtree, 26, to be placed into adult care following the death of his younger sister Erin, 18, in 2012,Courier Mail reports.

His application was successful but later appealed by his ex wife, Maree Crabtree, 51, who was arrested earlier this week over the deaths of her two children.

Speaking outside his Sydney home Friday, Mr Crabtree lamented he couldn't do more to save his children.

'I loved Erin and Jonathan, of course I do, I've always loved them,' he said.

Gold Coast woman Maree Mavis Crabtree, 51, was arrested on Wednesday morning over the deaths of her disabled children

These are the disabled siblings allegedly murdered by their own mother. Jonathan (right) and Erin (left) Crabtree died five years apart on the Gold Coast

'They're my kids and I'm heartbroken at the death of my kids. It's a horrible situation, it's terrible.'

The distraught father, joined by Queensland police, held deep concerns for Jonathan's welfare following Erin's death, with police even assisting in an application to Queensland's office of the Adult Guardians to place him in care.

But Crabtree launched a successful appeal to have Jonathan back in her care, and despite police revealing their concern for his welfare, he was returned to his mother.

A few months went by before he too was found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Crabtree launched a successful appeal to have Jonathan back in her care, and despite police revealing their concern for his welfare, he was returned to his mother

A few months went by before he too was found dead under suspicious circumstances

Someone close to the investigation into the cause of Erin's death, which was originally thought to be suicide, revealed detectives were desperate for Jonathan to be removed from his mother's care.

'The system failed him,' the source said. 'Erin's death was originally ruled a suicide but there were plenty of people who didn't believe that.'

The 18-year-old's death was still under investigation when Jonathan's body was found at an Upper Coomera home in July last year.

Erin Crabtree, died at a Maudsland home in September, 2012, where the accused was living at the time.

Police will reportedly allege Crabtree slowly poisoned her children over an 'extended period'

Someone close to the investigation revealed detectives were desperate for Jonathon to be removed from his mother's care

Jonathan's death was what sparked a renewed inquest by police which culminated in this week's arrest of Crabtree from a home in Brisbane.

A former partner of Crabtree described her children as 'great kids' and revealed they had been 'healthy' while under his care, the Daily Telegraph reports.

He said his relationship with the accused eventually broke down over financial issues.

Police will allege Crabtree gave Erin a lethal dose of drugs before taking the rest of the family on a cruise holiday, The Australian reported.

In 2012 18-year-old Erin was left behind when Crabtree and Jonathan went on a cruise, despite the teen requiring full-time care

Jonathan's death was what sparked a renewed inquest by police which culminated in this week's arrest of Crabtree from a home in Brisbane

When her son was found dead years later, a suicide note was discovered - but police will allege it was prepared by the mother, according to the publication.

Crabtree had allegedly been administering medication over a period of time, contributing to their conditions, from which she benefited financially.

Detectives allege Crabtree fraudulently received over $550,000 from an insurance payment, before allegedly attempting to receive another $125,000 death benefit and $238,000 permanent disability claim.A brave buffalo fought off a pride of lions then fled back towards its herd  but ran straight into a 4x4 knocking itself out giving the big cats an unexpected dinner!

The 1300 lbs (600kg) bovine had put up a dramatic fight first with a male lion trying to drag it down from behind as six lionesses circled it warily keeping away from its lethal horns.

Then a lioness leapt on the buffalos back but was shaken off again and another lioness replaced the exhausted lion by again attacking from the rear trying to disable it.

A male lion begins the attack on the buffalo, sinking its teeth into the back of its prey

But the buffalo is not going down easily and the male lion begins to tire from its efforts

One of the lionesses takes over as the rest of the pride circle around but she has no luck either

But the buffalo  one of Africas most dangerous and unpredictable animals  managed to shake itself free and turned to run back up the road towards its herd in the distance.

But either disorientated or seeing the 4 x 4 as another threat it ran straight into the front of it with a huge crash and then seconds later fell to the ground apparently concussed.

The pride of hungry lions who had given up on having the buffalo for dinner wasted in no time in spotting the opportunity for a free meal and all pounced on the stricken beast.

The pride in the Maasai Mara reserve in Kenya could not believe their luck and tucked in as the buffalo gave a few dying bellows while the unfortunate tourists reversed away.

The video of the buffalos amazing escape and then fatal own goal was posted by a tourist with Kiliholidays Tours and Safaris Africa on Maasai Mara Sightings You Tube page.

For the buffalo its buffa-blow with the 4 x 4 turned it into a meal for seven lucky lions who thought they were going hungry.

After apparently shaking off the lions, the buffalo heads off towards its herd but fails to notice the 4x4 heading towards it

The unfortunate buffalo is then hit then knocked out by the vehicle and the lions pounceShe's small, she's sassy and a very opinionated viral sensation.

So it should come as no surprise that toddler Mila Stauffer's hilarious rants - about everything from gym-goers, vegetarianism and the 'sham' Cinderella castle at Disneyland - are scripted by her family, who then feed her the lines.

If the three-year-old ever has an Oscar moment, the team she'd need to thank would be, chiefly, her mom, Katie, along with her father Charley and elder sister, 15-year-old Kaitlin.

Katie looks after the Instagram page, producing content for the family's 3.7million followers, in addition to their Facebook and YouTube accounts.

Scroll down for video

Katie Stauffer with her social media sensation daughter Mila. The Arizona toddler has such a powerful internet presence that her mom gave up her job to work full-time managing the family's Instagram page, along with their Facebook and YouTube accounts

Mila, from Arizona, has made numerous videos since she was two, and is famed for her diva antics and general cuteness.

She has even appeared on Daily Mail TV to speak about her viral fame after a clip detailing her first day of preschool earned her more than 2million views in a matter of days.

And such is the demand for the Mila juggernaut that Katie gave up her full-time job as an escrow officer last September to tend to Team Stauffer's social media presence, Buzzfeed reported.

Each video can take anything up to three days to make, with Mila fed the lines by Kaitlin, while photo shoots take from five to 15minutes.

Sponsors require Katie to take a certain number of pictures, which she supplements with regular photos of the family - including Mila's twin sister, Emma - so that her account isn't a sea of advertising.

Katie began making money from Instagram six years ago by sharing photos of her older children - Charles, Finn and Kaitlin - after advertisers started contacting her. The mom-of-five has revealed that, for the videos, Kaitlin feeds lines to Mila (also pictured, with twin sister Emma, and dad Charley)

While the mother-of-five receives income from her work as a 'social influencer', mainly on the Instagram platform - from advertising - it is not known exactly how much she makes.

However, according to an interview she gave to Fox News last November, the family were on the verge of becoming multi-millionaires.

An online tool designed by British company Inkifi to measure how much a single post on Instagram could be worth to brands puts the Stauffers on around $21,000 per post.

Katie began making money from Instagram six years ago by sharing photos of her older children - Charles, Finn and Kaitlin - after advertisers started contacting her.

Mila's hilarious rants - about everything from gym-goers, vegetarianism and the 'sham' Cinderella castle at Disneyland - have been watched by millions

Companies sent her free merchandise, which she then incorporated into her posts.

In the early days, she didn't charge the advertisers until other influencers complained that she was ruining it for them - coupled with the fact her manager advised against posting products on her account for free.

This led to her making deals with the likes of Volvo and Duracell.

The main draw for advertisers, by far, is Mila - but the family has faced a backlash from people who say they are using their daughter to make them money.

'But it's for them [the children],' Katie told Buzzfeed. 'Kids act and get money for it, so what's different?' she concluded, adding they intend to set up a trust for their children.Appetite for trouble: Inmate Joshua Hansen, 25, has been caught trying to smuggle food, alcohol and snacks back into a federal prison after escaping to pick up the treats

A Texas inmates craving for home-cooked food has landed him in a lot of trouble when he was caught sneaking back into a federal prison, after breaking out to pick up his favorite treats.

According to the Jefferson County Sheriffs office, deputies have been tipped off that inmates were escaping from the federal prison in Beaumont and crossing onto private land owned by a local cattle rancher, where they would collect contraband and smuggle it back into lockup.

The sheriffs narcotics investigators and the US Marshals set up surveillance shortly before 6pm on Wednesday and observed a vehicle driving onto the ranchers private property and dropping off a large duffle bag.

At around 7.30pm, according to a statement from the sheriffs office, an inmate was spotted darting from the prison grounds on Knauth Road and grabbing the bag.

Snack attack: Hansen was arrested by deputies in Beaumont, Texas, while carrying a duffel bag packed with home-cooked food and snacks

Protein: On the menu that day was barbecued chicken sausage and fried chicken

All the fixins': There were also Tupperware containers with green beans and another side dish

Bottom's up! To wash it all down with, Hansen also had procured three bottles of brandy and a bottle of whiskey

As the fugitive, identified as 25-year-old Joshua Hansen, was making his way back into the correctional facility with the goods in tow, deputies arrested him.

The sheriffs office said the duffel bag contained a large quantity of home-cooked food, including barbecued chicken sausage, fried chicken and side-dishes, as well as thee bottles of Martell brandy; one bottle of Crown Royal whiskey; dozens of bags of Bugler-brand tobacco, salty snacks, nuts and fruit.

The bag also contained more than 30 grams of marijuana, according to officials.

The ravenous escapee was serving time on narcotics charges. Following his arrest this week, Hansen, form Dallas, was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on additional counts of escape and possession of marijuana.

That's no Alcatraz: Hansen had allegedly walked out of the federal prison in Beaumont, Texas, where such incidents were said to be commonplace

The prison lies next to a cattle ranch, which the inmates have been using a pickup point for contraband

The 25-year-old also had a federal hold placed on him.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Deputy Marcus McLellan has revealed to the Beaumont Enterprise that Hansen's brazen snack run was not a singular incident at the prison; according to the deputy, non-violent offenders and inmates on work release have been known to walk out of the facility to procure contraband 'pretty much since Day 1.'

McLellan said the sheriff's office is now working with other agencies to crack down on this practice, which raises public safety concerns.

Finishing touch: Beside food and drink, deputies also confiscated dozens of packs of Bugler-brand tobacco and marijuana from the inmate

Hansen, who has been serving time on drug charges, has been arrested on counts of escape and marijuana possession

Michael Latta, who owns the ranch next door to the federal prison complex, told the station KFDM that he has been dealing with escapees for 18 years.

He has appealed for help to elected officials and prison wardens, but the convicts continued using his ranch as a pickup point for smuggled goods. Latta said that he has personally caught 15 escapees at gunpoint.

Taxpayer dollars are being used to keep them in there, it's amazing to me that they can just walk out of there whenever they want, said Latta.Supreme Court of Florida. CHARLES LEE, Petitioner, v. STATE OF FLORIDA, Respondent. No. SC14-416 Decided: January 25, 2018

Howard L. Rex Dimmig, II, Public Defender, and Matthew D. Bernstein, Assistant Public Defender, Tenth Judicial Circuit, Bartow, Florida, for Petitioner Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General, Tallahassee, Florida, Marilyn Muir Beccue, and Cerese Crawford Taylor, Assistant Attorneys General, Tampa, Florida, for Respondent

Charles Lee seeks review of the decision of the Second District Court of Appeal in Lee v. State, 130 So. 3d 707 (Fla. 2d DCA 2013), on the ground that it expressly and directly conflicts with a decision of another district court of appeal on a question of law. We have jurisdiction. See art. V,  3(b)(3), Fla. Const.

STATEMENT OF THE CASE AND FACTS

The facts of this case were provided in the Second District's decision as follows:

On the evening of November 21, 1999, Mr. Lee was on a street and got into a disagreement with two people who were in a van attempting to purchase cocaine. The nature of the disagreement is not entirely clear, but there is evidence that Mr. Lee thought he was owed forty dollars. Mr. Lee threatened to shoot the driver if he drove away. When the driver attempted to leave, Mr. Lee carried through with his threat. He shot the driver, who sustained permanent, disabling injuries. Mr. Lee was fifteen years old at the time of these events.

The State filed an information charging Mr. Lee as an adult with attempted murder in the first degree. The information alleged that he did attempt to kill and murder and inflict upon [the victim] mortal wounds by shooting with a firearm. The testimony at trial included testimony from the treating physician about the gunshot wound and the extent of the injury. The jury returned a verdict finding Mr. Lee guilty of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm as charged in the information.

Lee v. State, 130 So. 3d at 708-09.

Lee was originally sentenced to life imprisonment on April 20, 2001. Because section 775.087, Florida Statutes (2000), applied, the trial court classified the offense as a life felony and sentenced Lee to life without parole. Id. at 709. After the United States Supreme Court's decision in Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010), Lee filed a motion to correct illegal sentence, which the trial court granted. Id. At the conclusion of resentencing in 2011, a successor trial judge sentenced Lee to forty years' imprisonment with a twenty-five year minimum mandatory sentence. Id.

On appeal to the Second District Court of Appeal, the district court held that Lee's newly imposed sentence did not violate Graham. Lee, 130 So. 3d at 710 (citing Walle v. State, 99 So. 3d 967 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012), quashed, 41 Fla. L. Weekly S455 (Fla. Sept. 21, 2016)). The Second District denied Lee's remaining claims. Id.

DISCUSSION

Lee raises four issues in this review proceeding. Because the first issue in this case is entirely controlled by this Court's decisions in Kelsey v. State, 206 So. 3d 5 (Fla. 2016), and Johnson v. State, 215 So. 3d 1237 (Fla. 2017), Lee is entitled to be resentenced.

In Kelsey, this Court stated:

After we made clear that Graham does indeed apply to term-of-years sentences, we have declined to require that such sentences must be de facto life sentences for Graham to apply. See, e.g., Guzman v. State, 183 So. 3d 1025, 1026 (Fla. 2016). By using chapter 2014-220 as a guide, we avoid second-guessing the legislative contemplation that resulted in the twenty-year cutoff for judicial review contained in the law.  Because we determine that resentencing is the appropriate remedy, the trial courts may embrace all of the provisions of chapter 2014-220 and are not required to limit themselves to only applying the judicial review provision.

Kelsey v. State, 206 So. 3d at 10-11. Following Kelsey, this Court issued a decision in Johnson, holding:

Post-Henry, we must ensure that a juvenile nonhomicide offender does not receive a sentence that provides for release only at the end of a sentence (e.g. a 45-year sentence with no provision for obtaining early release based on a demonstration of maturity and rehabilitation before the expiration of the imposed term, such as in Kelsey). Secondly, we must ensure that a juvenile nonhomicide offender who is sentenced post-Henry does not receive a sentence which includes early release that is not based on a demonstration of rehabilitation and maturity (i.e. gain time or other programs designed to relieve prison overpopulation). Last, we must ensure that a juvenile nonhomicide offender who is sentenced post-Henry does not receive a sentence that provides for early release at a time beyond his or her natural life (e.g. a 1,000-year sentence that provides parole-eligibility after the offender serves 100 years). To qualify as a meaningful opportunity for early release, a juvenile nonhomicide offender's sentence must meet each of the three parameters described in Henry.

Johnson, 215 So. 3d at 1243 (discussing Henry v. State, 175 So. 3d 675 (Fla. 2015)).

Lee, as was Kelsey, is serving a 40-year sentence for a nonhomicide crime that he committed when he was a juvenile. Like Kelsey, Lee was resentenced after the United States Supreme Court's decision in Graham but before the Florida Legislature passed chapter 2014-220. And, like Kelseyand as noted in JohnsonLee's sentence does not provide him an opportunity to obtain early release based on a demonstration of maturity and rehabilitation before the expiration of the imposed term. Accordingly, Lee is entitled to resentencing under the juvenile sentencing provisions in chapter 2014-220.

We find Lee's second claim without merit. The trial court may, but is not required to under the rule or statute, order an updated PSI. See Fla. R. of Crim. P. 3.710(a);  985.565(3)(c), Florida Statutes (2017); see, e.g., Barber v. State, 293 So. 2d 710, 711 (Fla. 1974) (The requirement of [Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure] 3.710 does not continue or revive upon a second, future occasion of an adjudication of guilt and sentencing for violation of the probation earlier granted which had already fulfilled the mandate of the rule.). Furthermore, because Lee is entitled to be resentenced under the provisions of chapter 2014-220, we decline to address the remaining issues on appeal.

It is so ordered.

Unlike the majority, I believe that a juvenile nonhomicide offender's sentence must violate Graham v. Florida, 560 U.S. 48 (2010), in order for that defendant to be entitled to resentencing pursuant to Graham. See Kelsey v. State, 206 So. 3d 5, 14 (Fla. 2016) (Polston, J., dissenting). Here, because Lee's 40-year sentence is not a life sentence or a de facto life sentence, his sentence does not violate Graham. See Graham, 560 U.S. at 82. Therefore, Lee is not entitled to resentencing. I respectfully dissent.

FOOTNOTES

. The Second District Court of Appeal denied Lee's claim citing Walle v.State, 99 So. 3d 967 (Fla. 2d DCA 2012), quashed, 41 Fla. L. Weekly S455 (Fla. Sept. 21, 2016), which was pending review at this Court.

. Section 775.087 is known colloquially as the 10-20-Life statute.

. Lee argues: (1) that he is entitled to be resentenced pursuant to chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida; (2) that the trial court is required to consider an updated presentence investigation report (PSI); (3) that a minimum mandatory sentence under section 775.087, Florida Statutes, is unconstitutional as applied to him; and (4) that the trial court erred in imposing the 25-year minimum mandatory term because the information did not allege great bodily harm.

QUINCE, J.

LABARGA, C.J., and PARIENTE, J., concur. LEWIS, J., concurs in result. POLSTON, J., dissents with an opinion, in which CANADY and LAWSON, JJ., concur. CANADY and LAWSON, JJ., concur.United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley flatly denied on Thursday that she's having an affair with Donald Trump, throwing a sharp elbow at 'Fire and Fury' author Michael Wolff.

Haley has been at the center of a Washington parlor game over who Wolff was hinting the president was 'f***ing' after he made the explosive claim on an HBO program that the president is currently having an affair.

The former South Carolina governor said during a Politico podcast interview that the rumor, which the author freely fed last week, is 'highly offensive' and 'disgusting.'

'It is absolutely not true,' she fumed.

Wolff said during a taping last week of 'Real Time with Bill Maher' that he omitted an episode from his bombshell-laden book despite being 'absolutely sure' it was true.

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said Thursday that there's zero truth to a rumor about a romantic liaison between her and President Donald Trump

Haley was the subject of Internet gossip after author Michael Wolff suggested that he had buried a subtle reference to a presidential affair toward the end of his 'Fire and Fury' book

Wolff said last week that he had stumbled onto something 'so incendiary' that he only hinted at it in his book because he didn't have enough evidence to spell it out

'It was so incendiary that I just didn't have the ultimate proof,' Wolff explained, later adding that he 'didn't have the "blue dress".'

That was a reference to the semen-stained garment that 1990s White House intern Monica Lewinsky kept as evidence that she had a sexual fling with Bill Clinton.

'You just have to read between the lines,' Wolff told Maher. 'It's toward the end of the book. You'll know it. Now that I've told you, when you hit that paragraph you're going to say, "Bingo".'

Maher asked if the hint was about 'somebody [Trump's] f***ing now.'

'It is,' Wolff responded.

The political Twittersphere quickly erupted with Washington's new guessing game, and settled on a paragraph that claimed Trump 'had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future.'

Wolff claims Trump 'had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future'

Haley said Thursday that Wolff's reporting 'is absolutely not true.'

'I have literally been on Air Force One once, and there were several people in the room when I was there,' she protested.

That was a short hop last July from Washington to Long Island.

'He says that I've been talking a lot with the president in the Oval [Office] about my political future. I've never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him,' Haley said.

Wolff's insinuation, she suggested, is a symptom of the sexist atmosphere successful women endure when they have to dismiss accusations of sleeping their way to the top.

'At every point in my life I've noticed that if you speak your mind, and you're strong about it, and you say what you believe, there is a small percentage of people that resent that. And the way they deal with it is to try and throw arrows  lies or not,' she said.

Haley has only been photographed with President Trump on a few occasions, and had flown on Air Force One just once

There's zero evidence that Haley and Trump (right) have anything besides a professional relationship

Wolff's book has been a commercial success, selling more than 1.7 million copies.

But it's become a critical laughingstock, with political journalists and commentators picking apart his reporting  especially after an appearance this month on MSNBC.

The author was asked whether he had interview recordings that would substantiate his reporting.

'My evidence is the book. Read the book,' he responded.

'If it makes sense to you, if it strikes a chord  if it rings true, it is true.'The biggest zoo in Paris went into lockdown today after around 52 large and potentially very aggressive baboons escaped from their enclosures.

All were seen running amok in the French capitals Zoological Park, in the Vincennes woods, soon after midday, but it is thought just four remain on the loose after 48 of them were recaptured.

Its not known how they got out, but everything is being done to try and get them under control, said a source at the zoo, which opened in 1934.

The whole area has been shut down, with only trained professionals involved in the security operation.

An official at the zoo said the remaining four will soon return since the dominant males have already come back. Pictured: Police on the scene

Fifty-two of the primates got out of Paris's main zoo today, forcing wardens to evacuate visitors while order was restored, the zoo explained. Pictured: A group of the baboons at the zoo in 2015

They include three operatives with rifles who will be able to stun the animals if necessary. Many police and vets are also in attendance. Baboons are large and potentially very aggressive.

Baboons are not naturally a danger, but can attack humans and cause serious injuries if they feel they are being threatened.

The public had been warned the evacuation was necessary because the animals can be unpredictable when stressed.

'They are stronger than us,' officials warned.

An official at the zoo said the remaining four will soon return since the dominant males have already come back.

Some may have escaped into nearby play areas and other recreational facilities, but it is unlikely they have got out of the zoological park itself, which covers 36 acres.

They are almost certainly all in the park woods, but anybody in the area needs to keep a look out, the spokesman added.

Police are seen at the zoo today after an emergency plan was implemented to make sure the monkeys did not come into direct contact with visitors

Nearby roads have been closed down, with checkpoints being set up using police patrol cars.

The alarm was raised late this morning when a vet noticed a baboon in a service corridor.

An emergency plan was immediately triggered just after noon to make sure the monkeys did not come into direct contact with visitors, who included many young children.

Last June, two potentially dangerous and aggressive monkeys managed to escape from their enclosure at Marwell Zoo in Winchester, Hants.

Visitors were barricaded inside building while keepers recaptured the macaques  one of which was pictured casually sitting on top of an enclosure.

Guinea baboons, originated from West Africa, are classified as a 'near threatened' species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Visitors can usually admire them around the zoo's 'Big Rock' that towers over the Bois de Vincennes park, in eastern Paris.

Paris last experienced an animal-on-the-loose alert when a tiger briefly roamed the city after escaping from a circus cage last November. The beast was shot dead.Mijanur Rehnan, 19, posed as a police officer and collected nearly 8,000 from victim William Dickson

A teenager who conned a pensioner out of his life savings by posing as a police courier has escaped jail.

Mijanur Rehman, 19, collected nearly 8,000 from retired journalist William Dickson, claiming he was investigating fraud.

Mr Dickson was warned he could face money laundering charges if he didn't hand over large sums of money to a courier sent to his flat in Notting Hill, west London.

Rehman appeared at his doorstep four times, between July 7 - 10 last year, swindling the pensioner out of nearly 7,870 as well as his bank card.

Mr Dickson said he wore an 'SMS' logo on his jacket, and gave an agreed password for authentication.

Rehman was caught out on his final attempt at the brazen theft, after the victim visited Notting Hill police station and discovered he had been conned.

Plain clothes officers waited at the victim's flat when he went to collect another 4,880 the following day, the Old Bailey heard.

He denied any involvement in the con and claimed he was just doing a friend a favour when he collected the cash.

maintaining his innocence after the jury's conviction following a four day trial.

Sentencing Rehman today the judge, Mr Recorder Malcolm Fortune said: 'You played an important role as the courier of those four occasions.

'The total financial loss to Mr Dickson was at least 7,000, some 870 euros and his bank card.

'He has little hope of being refunded by HSBC or you. I remain concerned by your lack of insight and complete failure to take responsibility.

'The loss had a serious, detrimental effect on William Dickson, an elderly retired gentleman.

'The sentence I pass on each count will be one of 18 months custody to run concurrent, and I shall be suspending that sentence for two years.'

Rehman was given a further 120 hours unpaid work and was ordered to pay 500 compensation to Mr Dickson.

The victim met Rehnan three times and gave him 7,870 before he spoke to staff at an HSBC branch in Notting Hill Gate on July 9 (pictured) and realised he had been conned

Rehman showed little emotion as the sentence was passed, leaving the dock following the hearing.

Prosecutor Simon Ward told jurors at the start of the trial how the victim was tricked by fraudsters posing as police officers working for the fraud department of HSBC bank.

'They pretended people from HSBC were using William Dickson's bank account as a means of laundering cash.

'They got him to take quite large sums of money out of his bank account and hand it over to this defendant who was acting as the courier.'

A man claiming to be 'DCI Robinson' rang Mr Dickson on 7 July and told him he was about to arrest HSBC staff suspected of money laundering.

When the pensioner asked for the inspector's warrant number he was told to dial '161' and was put through to a fraudster posing as 'DC Wallace' who claimed they were both from the Metropolitan Police.

Rehman was caught out on his final attempt at the brazen theft, after the victim visited Notting Hill police station and discovered he had been conned. Plain clothes officers waited at the victim's flat when he went to collect another 4,880 the following day, the Old Bailey heard

The retiree was then passed on to crooks posing as members of HSBC's fraud department.

'He was left with the impression that he was speaking to the fraud team and they confirmed that there was an ongoing investigation,' said Mr Ward.

'From all of that he was given the impression he was dealing with bona fide people.'

Mr Dickson withdrew 5,000 in cash from an HSBC branch in Notting Hill on 7 July and handed it over to Rehman outside his flat later that day, jurors heard.

The victim said he met Rehman, who used the nickname 'Ryo', twice the following day and handed over 2,000 and 870 worth of Euros.

On 9 July he spoke to genuine HSBC staff and realised he had been the victim of a fraud.

The bank contacted the police and two plain clothes officers were sent to Mr Dickson's flat to arrest Rehman when he arrived on 10 July.

Rehman, of Margery Road, Dagenham, east London, denied four counts of fraud and was sentenced to 18 months suspended for two years following conviction.A 17-year-old bridesmaid in China has died after getting seriously drunk during a good friend's wedding.

Her heartbroken family claimed that she had been forced to down alcohol by wedding guests and this was the cause of her death, according to a TV report.

The teenage, surnamed Zhong, was found dead in her hotel room after collapsing at the banquet hall.

Bridesmaid, Zhong, is not feeling well on her friend's wedding banquet in a hotel in China

She then takes a rest on a chair as a friend of her stays next to her to loo after her in the hall

Zhong's friends, including the bride, told Meizhou Television Station that they believed she had died from suffocation. They claimed drunk Zhong had passed out in her bed on her stomach.

The local television station has released the CCTV footage, which captured how Zhong fainted at the wedding and how her friends carried her back to her hotel room.

Zhong's family told the reporter that the wedding took place on the afternoon of January 23. They also claimed that they were notified some five hours after the girl had died.

Two men can be seen carrying Zhong into a lift and she appears to be quite drunk

Zhong falls down again once she steps out from the lift, at least one person can be seen falling

The clip at the hotel showed Zhong sitting down in the hall as her friends were patting on her shoulder.

Later, she fell on the floor and had to be carried by her friends.

She was taken to a hotel room to rest by two men and two women, who were groomsmen and bridesmaids.

From another footage on the hotel room floor, Zhong can be seen collapsing by the lift door.

The four people, who were all under 18 years old, told the reporter that they were not aware of anything suspicious when she fell down.

'We asked her if she was okay and she replied us she was fine,' said one of the groomsmen.

The group claimed they fell asleep after putting Zhong to bed face-down. It was not until the groom's family members asked the hotel staff to open the door when they noticed Zhong was lifeless.

The 17-year-old Zhong was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene.

Zhong's aunt rushed to the hotel when she received the news of her niece's death at around 7pm.

Paramedics arrive the hotel room and confirm the teenage girl is dead and could not be saved

Zhong's aunt tells Meizhou Television that she believed her niece was overdosed by alcohol

The bride, right, and four other friends that was in the room with Zhong, are regretful on this

She filmed the moment when she walked into the room, showing four people sitting at the corner and one on the floor. Zhong can be seen lying on the bed.

The aunt told Meizhou Television that she believed the cause of Zhong's death was related to alcohol overdose, forced by the bridesmaids and groomsmen on the wedding.

She accused the people in the hotel room had not been looking after Zhong.

The four people who took Zhong into the room claimed that they had all fallen sleep as they were all 'drunk and not knowing what they had done'.

One of them believed that the way Zhong was put to bed could have suffocated her, whilst another said they did not take good care of her.

The bride was in disbelief when she heard of the news of Zhong.

'I saw her drinking apple vinegar at the beginning and she said she is good at drinking. No one force her to drink, we don't have any drinking games, it is all with meatballs and eggs,' she told the reporter.

The police are investigating the case and are yet to confirm the cause of Zhong's death.A sheriff's deputy from Arkansas responded to the scene of a fatal crash on Monday only to discover the victim was his son.

Mike Stephen, who also works as the fire chief in Izard County, broke down in tears at the side of the road as realized that 25-year-old Joe Stephens had been killed.

The volunteer firefighter had been driving home to care for his pregnant girlfriend, Jordan May, who is due to give birth on Monday, when he died.

Joe Stephen, 25, was killed on Monday in a head-on collision with another vehicle while traveling home to take care of pregnant girlfriend Jordan May, who is due to give birth Monday

Mike Stephen, who is fire chief of Izard County, Arkansas, but also works as a sheriff's deputy, responded to the crash before learning his son was the victim

Mr Stephen told NBC4 that he was working in his role as a deputy on Monday night when he heard a call go out from neighboring Stone county about a crash.

'I called my lieutenant and said I feel like I need to go to this, it sounds like a bad accident,' Stephen says.

In total, eight members of the Stephen clan attended the scene after learning Joe was involved, all of whom work as emergency responders.

'There was a ball of officers and well all knelt down to pray,' he added.

Two others were also wounded in the crash and were taken to hospital, though their condition is unknown.

The crash happened when Joe's Honda Accord, heading north along the 177 highway, crossed the centre line and collided with a Chevrolet Tahoe coming the other way.

It is not clear what caused him to cross on to the other side of the road, with weather conditions at the time being clear.

A funeral was due to be held for Joe on Friday.

Speaking about Joe's relationship with Jordan, Mike said the pair were 'so happy together'Two Iranian men have been charged with smuggling $16 million worth of opium into Melbourne inside part of a roadworks machine.

Authorities discovered 12.4kg of opium resin in the base of an asphalt compacting machine which arrived by air from Turkey on January 9.

Federal police converged on the planned delivery address at St Albans in Melbourne's west on Thursday, where two men, aged 22 and 38, accepted the machine before driving it to another home at nearby Burnside Heights.

Two Iranian men have been charged after allegedly smuggling $16 million worth of opium into Melbourne inside part of a roadworks machine

Authorities discovered 12.4kg of opium resin in the base of an asphalt compacting machine which arrived by air from Turkey on January 9

They were arrested and charged with importing and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug.

The bust prompted a message from Australian Border Force acting Commander Mark Colbran to the would-be smugglers.

'You will get caught and may face significant time in prison,' he said on Friday.

The Iranian nationals were identified as Nader Khanmohammadi Ahmad Abad, 38, and Saeid Balagar, 22, Herald Sun reports.

Abad had already left for work Thursday when his younger accomplice was arrested, but he was taken into custody later in the day.

Both men were remanded Friday night for file hearings Monday.

They were arrested and charged with importing and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drugA mother-of-five has won an agonising battle to prevent her terminally-ill daughter from being taken away from her and put into care.

Attempts to remove 11-year-old Melody Driscoll from her home 'nearly destroyed' the family following Croydon Council's foster care bid.

The council had written to mother, Karina Driscoll, telling her they were launching legal proceedings to have Melody removed following Mrs Driscoll's fight with King's College Hospital doctors to keep her dying daughter on painkillers.

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A mother has won an agonising battle to prevent her terminally ill daughter from being taken away from her. Attempts to remove 11-year-old Melody Driscoll from her home in Croydon, London 'nearly destroyed' the family, following Croydon Council's foster care bid

Doctors had begun the process of weaning the schoolgirl off morphine and steroids - which control her constant pain - because they feared their use could cause fatal liver damage, the Croydon Advertiser reports.

Mrs Driscoll had been campaigning for her daughter to remain on the painkillers because, without them, she had 'lost her spark' and was enduring extra suffering needlessly.

Melody suffers from Rett Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects brain development and results in severe mental and physical disability.

Her parents, Nigel and Karina Driscoll, are suing the hospital in a bid to get the drugs for their daughter.

This picture shows the agony endured by terminally ill 11-year-old Melody Driscoll as she was weaned off morphine and steroids

They remain terrified that their beloved daughter - who has met Ed Sheeran twice - could go into cardiac arrest from withdrawal.

The couple enlisted help from Charles Da Silva, the lawyer who worked on the Charlie Gard case and were trying to raise 50,000 to cover the legal costs.

But it is now understood social services called off the legal action on January 18 and a meeting was held in which apologies were offered to the family.

Mrs Driscoll told the Advertiser: 'We couldn't believe it. They couldn't stop apologising.

'They said they should never have sent that letter, and said they have not done enough to support us and Melody.

Melody's parents (left, she is pictured with her mum) are terrified that their beloved daughter could go into cardiac arrest from withdrawal

'I felt overwhelmed. I tried to keep it together.

'I said "I don't think you realise the damage you've caused  you could have destroyed my whole family"'.

The court proceedings began after they contacted the council to see if they could provide a social worker for Melody. Instead the couple were given a letter from social services, which read that their ill daughter could be taken into care.

In the letter, doctors say the parents are 'difficult' and say Melody could be at risk from 'significant harm'.

Melody's anguished father Nigel said: 'It's so hard to watch her suffer when we know there is something which could take the pain away in minutes'

The panicked parents said they could not imagine how they would explain to their other children that Melody was to be taken away (pictured: Melody with parents Karina and Nigel Driscoll)

Melody's heartbroken mother, Karina, said: 'I saw the words "foster care" and collapsed. I couldn't read on. We love our children more than anything and we'd never harm a hair on their heads.

'I asked for a social worker because I thought they'd help us do the best for Melody. Now I realise how naive we were. Parents are powerless.

'How do we begin to explain to the other children that Melody might be taken from them?

'The time we have left is so precious and I want her to spend it at home, making memories with her family  and not in agony,' reports the Sunday Mirror.

After contacting the council to see if they could provide a social worker, the couple were given a letter which said Melody could be taken away from them

According to the parents, medics have said Melody is naughty rather than in a huge amount of pain

Karina and Nigel, who live in Croydon, are distraught at seeing their little girl in so much pain.

Melody was not predicted to live beyond the age of five, but is now 11 years old. She is unable to walk or talk.

The child was put on morphine and steroids in 2013, and her family say they saw a massive improvement in her well being.

Karina, who has four other children with husband Nigel, explains: 'I know these drugs might make Melody die sooner but she's already terminally ill so we are going to lose her  we know that.

Melody's mum captured the heartwarming moment Ed paid a surprise visit to Melody at Epsom Hospital in Surrey

'We want as much time with her as we can, but understand that should be about quality, not quantity. I'd rather have one more year with Melody where she was not in pain, than five years of watching her like this.

'How can we be called unfit parents for fighting for that?'

According to the parents, medics have said Melody is naughty rather than in a huge amount of pain.

Pop star Ed Sheeran delighted Melody with hugs and kisses and serenaded her with two songs

Melody's anguished father Nigel, a panel beater, said: 'It's so hard to watch her suffer when we know there is something which could take the pain away in minutes.

'We've been told she already has liver damage because she's been tube-fed for so long but we feel none of the doctors can see the bigger picture.'

A spokesperson for King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust said: 'All decisions taken by our expert clinical team are in our patients' best interests. We are unable to comment further on this case.'

In a statement, Croydon Borough Council said: 'It is always very difficult for all concerned to ensure the right decisions are made for children who have complex health and care needs when there are differing medical options.

'We always seek to work with parents and hear the views of the child and the family.'

To donate to the family's JustGiving page, click here.A 14-year-old student faces charges after allegedly coating her hand in pineapple juice and high-fiving a student who is allergic to the fruit (file photo)

Three teenagers face charges for intentionally exposing a school classmate with a severe pineapple allergy to the fruit, authorities say.

Police in Butler Township allege that a 14-year-old high-fived the 14-year-old victim during lunch period December 13 at Butler Intermediate High School.

The pupil apparently soaked her hand in pineapple juice from a fruit cup, WTXL reports.

The victim went into anaphylactic shock and was taken by ambulance to Butler Memorial Hospital where she was treated and released the same day.

The girl's allergy was well-known and pineapple isn't served during that period but someone had brought it from home, Chief John Hays said.

'There was discussion at the table that it was a bad idea. Other students said: "No, you can't do this. Don't do this,"' Lieutenant Matt Pearson told WTXL.

The suspect was charged in juvenile court with felony aggravated assault, criminal conspiracy, simple assault, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Two other girls, age 13 and 14, face charges of criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

All three students were disciplined by the school as well, the Butler Eagle reports.

Attorney Mike Santicola calls the case a prank and suggests that the defendants were overcharged.Aspiring model Stormiyah Denson-Jackson, 12, was found dead in her dorm. She had won awards in modelling competitions

A devastated mother has blamed teachers after her bullied daughter hanged herself at boarding school.

Stormiyah Denson-Jackson, 12, was found dead in her dorm at SEED Public Charter School of Washington on Tuesday.

Pat Denson today claimed that staff failed to protect her daughter who had won awards in modelling competitions.

She told News4: 'She did tell me that a lot of kids would be bullying her, picking on her. And when she tried to tell the staff, they wouldn't do nothing about it. But when she reacted, they put her as the bully.'

Ms Denson said through tears: 'I sent my baby there to learn, not to die. I just can't understand it.'

She added: 'They're supposed to look in the room and look on the bed to make sure that that child is in her space, every hour on the hour. That's what's supposed to be done. But it wasn't done. My child would be still here. I trusted them people with my child.'

The school said in a statement on Tuesday: 'We are deeply saddened to report that a SEED DC student unexpectedly passed away this morning.

'This is of course a terrible tragedy for the family first and foremost, as well as for the entire SEED Community.

The school said in a statement on Tuesday: 'We are deeply saddened to report that a SEED DC student unexpectedly passed away this morning

'We ask that you respect the privacy of the family and of our community of scholars and teachers in their mourning.'

Some parents threatened to pull their children from the school last night, saying a meeting with staff did nothing to answer their concerns about bullying and a lack of supervision at SEED.

The school responded with another statement: 'The safety and security of our students is our top priority, and we have stringent procedures in place to protect our students.

'Any time an incident is reported, we take all precautions to immediately ensure the students' safety. We then launch a thorough internal investigation, involving the parents of the involved students throughout the process.

'Our protocols are designed to protect not only our students' and families' safety, but their confidentiality, and therefore we cannot comment on any individual incidents. We are constantly reviewing these protocols in order to strengthen them wherever possible.'Labour's Marxist shadow chancellor John McDonnell is staying in a lavish mountain hideaway in Davos while attending the exclusive World Economic Forum.

Mr McDonnell, who is a strident socialist, has been lecturing some of the globe's wealthiest groups and individuals and warned them he was 'preparing for government' and wanted to 'send a message'.

But while castigating the global elite for 'sitting in splendour', Mr McDonnell has been relaxing at the 700-a-night Sunstar Alpine hotel in the Swiss Alps.

Labour's Marxist shadow chancellor John McDonnell, pictured here in Davos, is staying in a lavish mountain hideaway while attending the exclusive World Economic Forum

The 700-a-night Sunstar Alpine hotel in the Swiss Alps boasts fine dining and is one of the plushest establishments in the town

The hotel also boasts the largest indoor pool in Davos which is heated to 28C

Perched 5118ft above sea level, the hotel boasts the largest indoor pool in Davos which is heated to 28C, according to the website Guido Fawkes.

It also features a log cabin sauna and steam room while guests can treat themselves to a 126 'Asian whole-body treatment with hot stones.

It is not clear who paid for the trip and MailOnline has contacted the Labour Party.

Mr McDonnell travelled to Davos for the World Economic Forum, which sees the wealthy and powerful come together.

Berating high-powered guests, he warned that the 'status quo' is coming to an end.

Mr McDonnell is more used to addressing crowds of protesters outside events such as that being held at the Swiss ski resort.

Mr McDonnell had previously berated the global elite and warned them he wanted to 'send a message'

Mr McDonnell travelled to Davos for the World Economic Forum, which sees the wealthy and powerful come together

Wealthy guests can treat themselves to a 126 'Asian whole-body treatment with hot stones

But the result of the general election in June has left business leaders facing the real possibility that he could end up in charge of the Treasury.

The Labour MP told the world's rich and leaders of big corporations to 'pay your taxes'.

'The status quo allows a powerful few here in Davos to sit in splendour whilst the great many lose out,' he said.

'But the status quo is not inevitable. It is the product of a rigged system, and systems can be changed.

'The alternative is a refusal to act that will allow the increasing inequality and injustice that affects the many in our world to continue, to benefit a few among the Davos elite.'

Accountants should have an equivalent of the Hippocratic oath taken by doctors, he suggested.United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ronald TINGLE, Defendant-Appellant. No. 17-1604 Decided: January 25, 2018

Before Bauer, Kanne, and Rovner, Circuit Judges. Matthew J. Lasher, Brian L. Reitz, Bob Wood, Attorneys, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Indianapolis, IN, for Plaintiff-Appellee. Daniel J. Hillis, Attorney, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Springfield, IL, Thomas W. Patton, Attorney, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Peoria, IL, for Defendant-Appellant.

Ronald Tingle was tried and convicted of possessing and distributing methamphetamine and of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. On appeal, he argues that the district court erred when it allowed a government witness to give expert testimony without properly vetting the witness's credentials and when it allowed the same witness to testify regarding the defendant's mental state. Additionally, Tingle argues that he should have been granted access to grand jury materials and that his case should have been dismissed based on prosecutorial vindictiveness. For the reasons that follow, each of these claims fails, and the judgment of the district court is affirmed.

I. Background

The Indiana State Police received information from a confidential informant that defendant, Ronald Tingle, was selling methamphetamine. Through the confidential informant, the police conducted several controlled buys at Tingle's residence. Then the police obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence. During the search, the police discovered 165 grams of methamphetamine, digital scales, $5,520 in cash in the house, and an additional $1,190 on Tingle's person. The police also found eight firearms, including a loaded handgun on top of a desk that contained methamphetamine, scales, and money.

A grand jury returned an indictment charging Tingle with one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and three counts of distribution, as well as a forfeiture allegation. The government offered Tingle a plea deal. During the plea negotiation, the government informed Tingle that if he rejected the offer, the government would seek a superseding indictment adding charges that would increase the mandatory minimum sentence. Tingle rejected the offer, and the government obtained two superseding indictments charging Tingle with additional offenses that increased the possible mandatory minimum sentence. Tingle's counsel filed a motion to dismiss the additional charges based on prosecutorial vindictiveness. The motion was denied.

Tingle filed a pretrial motion seeking disclosure of grand jury testimony, which the district court denied. He also filed a motion to suppress items found in the search, which was denied, and a motion to bar the government from introducing a 1982 drug conviction, which was granted.

At trial, the court told the government that it would not label any witness as an expert witness, pursuant to the judge's courtroom procedures. Despite this procedure, the court gave a final jury instruction on expert witnesses, without identifying which witnesses were considered experts. Tingle and the government agreed to this instruction without objection.

Tingle testified and admitted to possessing the methamphetamine, but denied the distribution allegations. He claimed the drugs were for personal use, explaining that he was planning a year-long boat trip to justify the large quantity. Agent Steele, a DEA agent, testified regarding the amount of drugs and the location of the guns found during the search of Tingle's house. The jury convicted Tingle on all counts. Tingle appeals.

II. Analysis

Tingle raises four issues on appeal: whether the district court allowed an expert witness to testify without properly certifying his credentials; whether Agent Steele improperly testified regarding Tingle's mental state; whether Tingle should have been granted access to grand jury transcripts; and whether the charges should have been dismissed for prosecutorial vindictiveness. For the reasons that follow, each of these claims fails.

A. Whether the district court failed to assess Agent Steele's credentials before allowing him to testify as an expert witness

Before trial, the government notified the court that it intended to introduce expert-witness testimony. It provided information on the experts' qualifications and an explanation of how their testimony would be helpful to the jury. Pursuant to its standard courtroom procedures, the district court refused to label any witnesses as experts. At the conclusion of the trial, however, the district court told the jury that they had heard testimony from expert witnesses. The district court instructed the jury to judge these witnesses' opinions and testimony the same way you judge the testimony of any other witness.(R. 151 at 12.) Tingle and the government agreed to this instruction.

Tingle argues the court allowed Steele to testify as an expert witness without properly examining his credentials or considering whether expert testimony would assist the jury. Because this argument is raised for the first time on appeal, we review the district court's decision to admit Steel's testimony for plain error. United States v. Phillips, 596 F.3d 414, 416 (7th Cir. 2010).

When [f]aced with a proffer of expert scientific testimony  the trial judge must determine at the outset  whether the expert is proposing to testify to (1) scientific knowledge that (2) will assist the trier of fact to understand or determine a fact in issue. Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, 509 U.S. 579, 592, 113 S.Ct. 2786, 125 L.Ed.2d 469 (1993); see also Fed. R. Evid. 702. This entails a preliminary assessment of whether the reasoning or methodology underlying the testimony is scientifically valid and of whether that reasoning or methodology can be applied to the facts in issue. Daubert, 509 U.S. at 59293, 113 S.Ct. 2786. In Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, the Supreme Court clarified that this gatekeeping obligation of the court applies to all expert testimony. 526 U.S. 137, 14749, 119 S.Ct. 1167, 143 L.Ed.2d 238 (1999).

Although the court never held a Daubert hearing, a hearing is unnecessary where the reliability of an expert's methods is properly taken for granted. Id. at 152, 119 S.Ct. 1167. It is clear that Steele was properly qualified to testify as an expert in his field and that his testimony could be helpful to the jury. Steele served as a DEA agent for sixteen years and as a trooper with the Missouri State Highway Patrol for fourteen years. He attended the DEA academy and the Missouri State Highway Patrol Academy. He was involved in many drug cases, including searches of drug suspects' residences and vehicles. Steele explained that his testimony was based on that training and experience. Expertise of this sort is helpful to a jury in a drug distribution case. See United States v. Winbush, 580 F.3d 503, 51011 (7th Cir. 2009). The district court did not err in allowing Steele to testify.

That being said, the district court's practice of not identifying expert witnesses is problematic. The Federal Rules of Evidence and Supreme Court precedent make clear that courts must examine the qualifications of expert witnesses and consider whether the expert's testimony will be helpful to the jury. The district court cannot use such procedures to avoid its gatekeeper responsibility.

B. Whether Agent Steele improperly testified regarding Tingle's mental state

Tingle also argues that the district court erred when it allowed Steele to testify regarding Tingle's mental state. Tingle did not object to this testimony at trial, so the plain error standard of review applies. Phillips, 596 F.3d at 416.

No expert witness may state an opinion as to whether a defendant had a mental state that constitutes an element of the charged crime. Fed. R. Evid. 704(b). Circumstantial evidence regarding a criminal defendant's state of mind, however, is admissible. See Winbush, 580 F.3d at 51112 (noting that direct evidence of intent to distribute is predictably rare, so the government often employs expert testimony). Tingle argues that Steele testified regarding Tingle's mental state when he said that the amount of drugs found in the residence was definitely for distribution (R. 201 at 70) and when he testified that the gun found on top of the desk where the drugs and money were located was utilized as protection by Mr. Tingle to protect himself and/or the methamphetamine and the currency (R. 201 at 7071).

When read in context, Steele's testimony does not speak directly to Tingle's mental state. He compared the quantity of drugs found in the search with the amount of an average user's personal consumption. He also described the proximate location of the gun to the drugs and explained that guns found elsewhere in a house would not typically be considered as used in connection with drugs. True, Steele testified regarding his impression of the evidence in this case instead of speaking generally, but he framed his responses in light of his training and experience.

In Winbush, an FBI agent was asked about various quantities of drugs. 580 F.3d at 512. The agent testified that, from [his] perspective, the discovery of a given quantity of crack cocaine would indicate that an individual should be investigated as a trafficker. Id. The agent further testified that a given quantity of crack cocaine was distribution level  not user level. Id. The court decided the testimony was not an inadmissible opinion on the defendant's intent. Id.

In United States v. Blount, drugs, a scale, and a handgun were found on the defendant's bed during a search of his home. 502 F.3d 674, 676 (7th Cir. 2007). A police officer testified that, given the location of the items, he thought that the gun was likely used to protect the defendant's drug business. Id. at 677. The court concluded that [n]o juror could have believed that [the officer] was using special personal knowledge of [the defendant] rather than assisting the jury to infer [the defendant's] motives from a general trend linking guns and drugs. Id. at 679. Therefore, the court decided, this testimony did not violate Rule 704. Id.

The testimony offered in this case is very similar to the testimony in Winbush and in Blount. Admission of the testimony was not an error, let alone plain error.

C. Whether the district court abused its discretion when it refused Tingle access to the grand jury materials

Tingle filed a pretrial motion seeking disclosure of all grand jury materials. The district court denied the motion. We review the district court's decision not to disclose grand jury materials for abuse of discretion. Walker v. Sheahan, 526 F.3d 973, 97778 (7th Cir. 2008).

Information from a grand jury inquiry is presumptively secret. Fed. R. Crim. P. 6(e). The district court need not allow the defense to examine grand jury materials in the absence of a showing of a particularized need. United States v. Procter & Gamble Co., 356 U.S. 677, 683, 78 S.Ct. 983, 2 L.Ed.2d 1077 (1958); see also Dennis v. United States, 384 U.S. 855, 87072, 86 S.Ct. 1840, 16 L.Ed.2d 973 (1966); Pittsburgh Plate Glass Co. v. United States, 360 U.S. 395, 400, 79 S.Ct. 1237, 3 L.Ed.2d 1323 (1959). To obtain grand jury materials, the moving party must show that the material they seek is needed to avoid a possible injustice in another judicial proceeding, that the need for disclosure is greater than the need for continued secrecy, and that the request is structured to cover only material so needed. Douglas Oil Co. v. Petrol Stops Northwest, 441 U.S. 211, 222, 99 S.Ct. 1667, 60 L.Ed.2d 156 (1979).

Tingle had an opportunity to explain why he should have access to the grand jury materials when he moved for disclosure. He failed to show that his need for disclosure out-weighed the need for secrecy. The district court did not abuse its discretion when it denied the motion.

D. Whether the district court erred when it denied Tingle's motion to dismiss the superseding indictment

Finally, Tingle argues that his due process rights were violated when the prosecutor sought superseding indictments after Tingle rejected the government's plea offers. He argues that the superseding indictments were sought immediately after he rejected the offerthus exercising his constitutional right to a jury trialand that there was no basis for seeking a superseding indictment at that time. Tingle moved to have the charges against him dismissed on this basis. The district court denied his motion without a hearing. We review the district court's legal conclusions de novo and its findings of fact for clear error. United States v. Spears, 159 F.3d 1081, 1086 (7th Cir. 1998).

To obtain an evidentiary hearing on a prosecutorial vindictiveness claim, Tingle needed to show he offer[ed] sufficient evidence to raise a reasonable doubt that the government acted properly in seeking the superseding indictments. United States v. Falcon, 347 F.3d 1000, 1004 (7th Cir. 2003). Prosecutorial vindictiveness is, in some contexts, presumed where a prosecutor takes action that is detrimental to a defendant after the defendant exercises a legal right. United States v. Goodwin, 457 U.S. 368, 373, 102 S.Ct. 2485, 73 L.Ed.2d 74 (1982); Spears, 159 F.3d at 1086. But the Supreme Court has refused to extend the presumption of vindictiveness to pre-trial prosecutorial conduct. Spears, 159 F.3d at 1086. So, no presumption applies here.

The government informed Tingle that it would seek the superseding indictments if he rejected the plea offer. In Alabama v. Smith, the Supreme Court said that a prosecutor may threaten[ ] a defendant with increased charges if he does not plead guilty, and follow[ ] through on that threat if the defendant insists on his right to stand trial. 490 U.S. 794, 802, 109 S.Ct. 2201, 104 L.Ed.2d 865 (1989); see also Goodwin, 457 U.S. at 37879, 102 S.Ct. 2485 (For just as a prosecutor may forgo legitimate charges already brought in an effort to save the time and expense of trial, a prosecutor may file additional charges if an initial expectation that a defendant would plead guilty to lesser charges proves unfounded.). In this case, Tingle was well aware that the prosecutor intended to exercise his authority to file additional charges if the plea offer was not accepted. Tingle's motion to dismiss was properly denied.

III. Conclusion

Although the district court should have labeled Agent Steele an expert witness, Steele had the requisite qualifications to testify as an expert in this case. Steele's testimony, drawn from his training and experiences, provided circumstantial evidence of Tingle's intent to commit the crimes, but Steele did not improperly opine on Tingle's mental state. The district court did not err when it allowed Steele to testify.

Nor did the district court err when it denied Tingle's motion for access to grand jury transcripts without a hearing or when it denied Tingle's motion to dismiss the charges brought against him.

The judgment of the district court is, therefore, AFFIRMED.

Kanne, Circuit Judge.New Jersey judge Wilfredo Benitez allegedly told state troopers 'I'm a f**king judge' during a drink-driving arrest in 2016

A New Jersey judge told state troopers 'I'm a f**king Judge' before threatening to fight the officers during a drink-driving arrest in 2016.

Part-time municipal Judge Wilfredo Benitez who serves the towns of Belleville, East Orange and Bloomfield, New Jersey asked the troopers 'you're not going to give me any courtesy?' as they took him away in handcuffs, according to a complaint filed with a state judicial conduct board.

The incident happened during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 in Teaneck, New Jersey on November 12, 2016.

Two troopers spotted Benitez's car parked on the right shoulder of the interstate where the judge was asleep in the front seat.

After police woke him up, they noticed his eyes were bloodshot and there was a scent of alcohol coming from the car.

Benitez was found not guilty of DWI charge in May, but he now face an ethics investigation

Benitez told the officers he hadn't been drinking or taking any drugs before the stop.

Officers then decided to conduct a field sobriety test at which point Benitez allegedlyasked 'What are you trying to do? I mean, I'm a judge.'

It made no difference. Troops cuffed him on DWI charges and told Benitez that he was under arrest.

'I can't believe you're doing this. I'm not a f**king drug addict. I'm not a drunk! I can't believe you're doing this,' Benitez replied, according to the complaint seen by NBC News.

As the officers locked the handcuffs, the judge then allegedly said: 'I'm a f**king judge.'

The officer then said: 'I'm going to read you the Miranda warning. I'm sure you know it.'

Benitez apparently yelled 'You're wasting your time and you know it. I'll fight you. You know you're being a d***. I will f**king fight you.'

Benitez was ultimately found not guilty of the DWI charge in May, but is still under investigation by the judicial conduct board for allegedly requesting preferential treatment during the stop.

A complaint for the ethics violation was filed on Wednesday. A hearing on the complaint has not yet been publicly announced.Detectives in Fort Worth, Texas, are investigating the death of a 3-year-old boy who shot himself in the head after somehow getting a hold of a shotgun.

The Tarrant County medical examiner's office identified the boy as Jonnie Colon, who passed away form his injury Wednesday night at a home northeast of downtown.

Police and paramedics responded to a home in the 3900 block of Lawnwood Street in east Fort Worth at 9.45pm after getting a 911 call about a shooting.

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A family were getting ready for bed inside this home in east Fort Worth, Texas, when they say three-year-old Jonnie Colon grabbed a cousin's shotgun and fired a round into his head

First responders found Jonnie dead in a back bedroom. Family members told investigators that he discovered the shotgun and accidentally shot himself.

The medical examiner's office later said the toddler did not reside at the apartment complex where the shooting took place. There was no immediate word on what Jonnie was doing at the home.

Colon's mother was transported to a hospital by ambulance after complaining of chest pains, as CBS DFW first reported.

The boy's aunt told NBC DFW that the family, which included adults and other children, were getting ready to turn in for the night when they heard the gunshot from the bedroom.

She also claimed the weapon belonged to Jonnie's older cousin.

Homicide detectives are now working to determine whether Jonnie shot himself, or whether someone else fired the gun.A close friend of the American public relations executive killed by terrorists in Afghanistan shared fears for his own safety with DailyMail.com after a recent attack on him at his home.

Glenn Selig, 50, a spokesman for former Trump campaign adviser, Rick Gates, was shot dead at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul on Saturday.

The death of the married father-of-two was confirmed by his Florida-based business, The Publicity Agency, on Wednesday.

In a statement, his firm's spokesperson said: 'Glenn was in Kabul on a potential success story involving Afghanistan and its steps to battle extremism. The focus was highlighting the country's new president and constructing a democracy forum event for Afghani women.'

He was one of four Americans who were killed in the siege. Another two Americans were injured, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told DailyMail.com. An Afghan official said Thursday at least 25 people were killed in the attack, as conflicting figures emerged of the true death toll.

Selig's friend of 20 years, Jack Burkman, told DailyMail.com that Selig warned him to take care of himself during their final conversation, which was a day after Burkman was attacked by a masked man at his home in Virginia last Tuesday night.

Selig and Burkman both worked for Gates, who with his boss Paul Manafort was charged in October with 12 crimes linked to money laundering and foreign lobbying violations. They have both pleaded not guilty.

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Jack Burkman's close friend of 20 years Glenn Selig was one of four Americans murdered by the Taliban in a terrorist attack at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul, Afghanistan on Saturday. Pictured: Selig with his family at Trump's Inauguration Ball

Aid: Jack Burkman (standing) and Glenn Selig (seated, top right) ran a fundraiser before Christmas for Rick Gates, who made a video screen appearance later in the night

Selig was a spokesman for Rick Gates who is charged with money laundering along with his boss Paul Manafort. Both worked for Trump at the time of the 2016 Republican National Convention (left) but his friend and co-worker Jack Burkman (right) says his murder in Kabul needs further investigation

On Saturday, Taliban terrorists entered the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul and shot dead Selig. He was one of four Americans who were killed in the siege. Another two Americans were injured, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert told DailyMail.com

An Afghan official said Thursday at least 25 people were killed in the attack, as conflicting figures emerged of the true death toll. Pictured: Victims using sheets to flee from the hotel

Burkman said: 'I last spoke to Glenn on Wednesday last week when he was in Dubai. The last words he said to me were 'be careful' because I had been attacked. I didn't know he was connecting to Kabul at the time.'

The Republican lobbyist was assaulted at his home, according to Arlington Police Department, who said they were called to the property after a report of malicious wounding by a caustic agent.

Nobody has been arrested and the investigation is ongoing.

Burkman told DailyMail.com that he was walking from the store around 7.25pm when a masked man jumped from a black SUV parked in his driveway and pepper-sprayed and punched him in the face.

Describing it as a 'professional hit', Burkman added: 'I thought I was going to die. When I saw the mask, then next thing I thought was there would be an automatic weapon and he was going to blow me away.'

He said that his friend's death, so soon after his own assault, had left him 'very suspicious'.

'This attack followed four days after I was attacked,' he said. 'I don't know, maybe the same people who wanted me dead, wanted Glenn dead.

'First of all, they killed relatively few people and they could have killed a lot more. All of it to me is very suspicious  how they [attackers] got in there, who ushered them in?

'It almost has the look of a targeted hit rather than a terrorist attack. I wonder was Glenn the target? Or was Glenn and others the target? I think we need a much deeper investigation than what we're getting.'

Burkman said that he has not shared his fears that the two attacks are linked with the police.

'In Arlington the police are very good but I couldn't really tell them what happened in Afghanistan, I wouldn't think they would be interested,' he said.

The lobbyist has hired full-time, armed security and said he was 'more concerned than ever' about his safety.

Burkman said that he did not know who was behind the attacks but suggested some 'deeper, darker theories'.

'I wonder if there aren't deep, dark elements in the U.S. bureaucracy that don't like what I was doing and by extension, didn't like what Glenn was doing,' he added.

He described Selig as a remarkable man and a close friend.

'I've known Glenn for more than 20 years and I've worked with since the beginning of his firm around ten years ago,' Burkman said. 'Glenn was one of the best people I ever met, he was one of my closest friends.

'I think he was a man without flaw. He was brightest guy in public relations I ever knew, he taught me so much. He brought nothing but good to this world.

'He was a great family man and he was special human being and they don't make people like that.'

Burkman declined to talk about Selig's wife and children, only saying that his son and daughter were teenagers and it was 'terrible for them'.

Selig enjoyed a long media career having worked at one stage as a reporter for Fox 13 in Tampa.

Burkman told DailyMail.com that he was walking from the store around 7.25pm when a masked man jumped from a black SUV parked in his driveway and pepper-sprayed and punched him in the face. Describing it as a 'professional hit', Burkman added: 'I thought I was going to die'

Scene of the crime: Arlington police said they were called to the home after a report of malicious wounding by caustic agent. Nobody has been arrested

A statement issued by his publicity agency read: 'Glenn was a tireless professional, loyal friend and pillar of the community, but most importantly he was a loving husband and wonderful father.

'The loss for his family and friends cannot be measured nor conveyed strongly enough, but we thank everyone for the outpouring of support we have received.'

Selig had flown into Kabul on a commercial flight and was believed to have been met on his arrival by a private, Afghanistan-based security company, Burkman said.

The lobbyist, who was also a client of Selig's firm, was first alerted that his friend may have been caught up in the attack on Saturday, when he received a message from Selig's senior staff.

'They told me he was missing and they hoped to find him. On Sunday, I got a text that he was still missing and that's when I knew something was very wrong. I began to search around, trying to find out everything I could,' Burkman said.

'The last time to my knowledge that anyone spoke to him was about midday on Friday.'

Selig was confirmed dead on Wednesday but Burkman said he had already been prepared for the worst.

'Once it goes 48 hours, there are only so many places you can be,' he said.

The siege began when five gunmen stormed the hotel on Saturday morning, shooting people and setting off suicide bombs.

For 13 hours, they roamed the hotel's halls, shooting guests who hid in their rooms and tried to escape by lowering themselves with knotted bed sheets from their balconies.

Selig had flown into Kabul on a commercial flight and was believed to have been met on his arrival by a private, Afghanistan-based security company, Burkman said

Link: Rick Gates (left) was deputy to Paul Manafort (right), the Trump campaign chairman who he will go on trial with later this year

The gunmen gained entry past private security guards by dressing in military uniform.

A Taliban spokesperson claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was carried out by five of its members. 'Our five fighters, Bilal, Ayubi, Khalil, Bashar and Abid entered the building and conducted the operation that resulted in the death of 10 foreigners and Afghan government officials,' Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, told Al Jazeera.

Some 150 people were either rescued or were able to escape. The siege ended with the terrorists being killed by Afghan soldiers.

AFP independently verified that 15 foreigners -- seven Ukrainians, four Americans, two Venezuelans, one German and one Kazakh -- died in the massacre.

'We have 25 deaths from the Intercontinental Hotel attack in Kabul -- seven Afghans, 13 foreigners and five suspected attackers,' Afghan health ministry spokesman Wahid Majrooh told AFP.

That was hours after he gave a different toll, telling AFP that 25 Afghans had been killed and that 'we don't know about the foreign fatalities'.

An Afghan security official also said 25 people had been killed in the 12-hour attack on Saturday but that figure included three badly burned bodies 'which we believe are of foreigners'.

'To be honest I am not very sure about the final death toll yet,' he said on the condition of anonymity.

Afghan officials have a long history of understating death tolls in high-profile attacks and there is widespread speculation in Kabul that the true death toll in the hotel attack is far higher than what they have said.

The attack comes at a bad time for President Ashraf Ghani whose government was already facing criticism over its failure to improve security in the war-torn country.

An investigation was underway into how the terrorists got past privately-owned Kabul Balkh Safety and Security guards and launch the attack.

Visitors to the upmarket hotel, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the Afghan capital, have described glaring security breaches before the assailants went on a bloody rampage targeting guests, AFP reported. Bags were not checked, scanners did not work and body searches were non-existent, according to witnesses.

During the terrifying ordeal insurgents armed with Kalashnikovs and suicide vests went from room to room searching for foreigners, survivors and a security source have told AFP.Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has mocked the ISIS recruitment method which promises would be jihadists virgins in heaven if they die for Islam.

The south-east Asian nation saw an ISIS-affiliated group seize the southern city of Marawi for five months last year before they were defeated by the army.

Speaking on a trip to India the tough-talking Duterte spoke of the '42 virgins', referring to the concept in Islam that refers to 72 virgins as being an aspect of paradise.

Scroll down for video:

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a trip to India

'It's an ideology that is totally bankrupt, totally empty and the only objectives there are to kill and destroy for nothing, for no reason at all,' Duterte said, Manila Bulletin reported.

'And the come-on is that if you die a martyr, you go to heaven with 42 virgins waiting for you. Well, if I could just make it a come-on also for those who would like to go to my country.

'And I said one of the most is promising virgins when you go to heaven. I'd like to have the virgins here not in heaven. God may not allow it.'

In October last year Marawi was liberated from pro-ISIS militants after a 148 day occupation by them.

Philippine soldiers aboard their armored personnel carrier celebrate after President Rodrigo Duterte declared Marawi City 'liberated'

Soldiers are pictured in front of a bombed-out building while others hoisted a Philippine flag atop a tank

Gunmen occupied parts of the main Islamic city in the predominantly Catholic Philippines on May 23, following a foiled attempt by security forces to arrest their leader Isnilon Hapilon.

Hundreds of foreign and local fighters had laid a partial siege to the city, captured hostages, torched government buildings and patrolled the streets waving ISIS flags.

The siege resulted in the death of 1,189 people including Hapilon, who had declared himself the Emir of ISIS in the Southeast Asian region.

The occupation by the Islamic State loyalists marked the country's biggest internal security crisis in years.

Experts say the government has for years underestimated the extent to which extremism has taken root in impoverished and underdeveloped Muslim areas of the Catholic-majority Philippines.A judge has dismissed charges against a former Bunny Ranch prostitute who admitted undertaking sex work in California.

Alicia Stapleton was accused of working for Fresno policeman Robert Knight who allegedly pimped her out by advertising 'naughty cleaning services' on Craigslist.

The judge dropped the charges because she attended a one-day class and stopped sex work after she entered a conditional plea.

A judge has dismissed charges against former Bunny Ranch prostitute Alicia Stapleton (pictured) who admitted undertaking sex work in California

The Nevada brothel where prostitution is legal, the moonlite bunny ranch

Miss Stapleton - who was known as Allie Marie at the Bunny Ranch brothel in Nevada where prostitution is legal - headed straight to a bar to celebrate her good news on Thursday.

She posted a picture of a cocktail on Facebook with the caption: 'Woohoo party dance party time I won a big one in Fresno courts today - they have dismissed my case.'

A trial for Knight is set for February 27, Abc30 reported.An unauthorized cosmetologist who accidentally killed a student by injecting toxic silicon into her buttocks has been sentenced to jail.

Tamira Mobley, 32, killed 22-year-old Tamara Blaine at a pay-per-hour New York hotel in July 2013.

The student died after the silicone entered her bloodstream and asphyxiated her.

Tamira Mobley (pictured in court Thursday), 32, killed Tamara Blaine, 22, at a pay-per-hour New York hotel in July 2013

Mobley pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and the unauthorized practice of a profession

Victim: Tamara Blaine died after suffering a seizure in a New York hotel, where she had gone for butt enhancement injections

Mobley pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter, second-degree assault and the unauthorized practice of a profession in exchange for one and one third to four years in prison.

A judge ruled that she did not mean to cause harm because she was using the injections on herself as well as her illegal clients.

As she was sentenced on Thursday, she said: 'I wanted to say that Im very, very, very sorry for engaging in this illegal activity. Im so sorry that my actions caused the death of Tamara Blaine.'

In 2012 Mobley was investigated by Inside Edition over claims that she was selling butt injection kits over the Internet for $600.

Home kit: Inside Edition confronted Tamira Mobley in 2012 after allegedly buying silicone injections from her website

'Toxic': Laboratory tests showed the substance in the online kit contained adhesive and was potentially harmful

During an undercover investigation into the dangerous fashion for enhancing buttocks, the news magazine ordered a kit from a website allegedly run by Mobley.

When the $600 kit arrived, it contained 30 giant syringes filled with a substance Mobley's company - Butt Injections Kit - described as 'medical-grade silicone oil'.

When the substance was tested it was found to be an adhesive more commonly used in toothpastes and detergent.

The lab team that tested it said it was not sterile and potentially toxic.

Miss Blaine's mother revealed that her daughter's body laid unclaimed in a city morgue for more than a month after her death.

When Miss Blaine's mother Lola first filed a missing person report days after last seeing her daughter, she was told that because she was an adult and independent, she may have just gone away without telling anyone, the family's lawyer claimed.

Easy access: During an undercover investigation Inside Edition paid $600 for a butt enchancement kit

Questions: Mobley walks away from a reporter after being confronted about her online business

'When I lost her, nobody helped me. When I looked for her, nobody was there for me. Everybody ignored me. Thats just the way it is. I called the police. They didn't do anything,' Lola Blaine told DNA Info.

The first autopsy, at the time of her death, had been inconclusive, but t he missing person case became a homicide investigation in October, when a medical examiner noticed puncture wounds in the victim's buttocks, and found silicone in her blood.

The official cause of death was 'systemic silicone emboly due to a cosmetic silicone injection of the buttocks'.

Mobley was arrested on after security camera footage at the Liberty Inn hotel and credit card records linked her to the room where Miss Blaine was found.

Prosecutors claim Mobley, 28, injected silicone directly into Miss Blaine's veins, which caused a seizure and eventually asphyxiated her.

Home kit: The $600 package came with 30 syringes supposedly filled with silicone

DIY: The butt enhancement kit also contained alcohol swabs and Band-Aids

Loss: The family of Tamara Blaine, who had a five-year-old son, spent a month searching for her before discovering she had diedDefence Secretary Gavin Williamson was ridiculed by a fellow minister today after he confessed to an affair that almost ended his marriage.

Mr Williamson's revelation of the 2004 fling fuelled rumours in Westminster that he is preparing for a leadership bid when Theresa May stands down.

Justice Minister Phillip Lee mocked his colleague today. Some will see it as a signal Tory MPs do not want Mrs May handpicking the Defence Secretary as her successor.

Mr Williamson has been handed two huge promotions by the Prime Minister, driving claims he is grooming the MP to take over.

Gavin Williamson admitted that the brief office romance with a former colleague 'a dreadful mistake' but said his wife Joanne (pictured) had forgiven him

In a statement today, Mr Williamson admitted a brief office romance with a former colleague was 'a dreadful mistake' but said his wife Joanne had forgiven him.

Mr Williamson, 41, who was made Defence Secretary following the resignation of Sir Michael Fallon over sexual harassment claims, insisted the relationship had not gone beyond kissing 'a couple of times'.

It occurred before he embarked on a career in politics but he is understood to have revealed details to party officials when he first ran for selection as an MP more than a decade ago. He has also told Downing Street.

After reading the confession today, Dr Lee tweeted: 'Cards on the table time. I once had a tryst with an exiled princess. We kissed! We were 14.'

Former Lib Dem special adviser Sean Kemp tweeted: 'I can't decide if Gavin Williamson doesn't care how obvious he's being, or if he actually thinks he's being incredibly cunning and nobody has noticed.'

Justice Minister Phillip Lee mocked his colleague today. Some will see it as a signal Tory MPs do not want Mrs May handpicking the Defence Secretary as her successor

After reading the confession today, Dr Lee tweeted: 'Cards on the table time. I once had a tryst with an exiled princess. We kissed! We were 14.'

Mr Williamson told the Daily Mail he became involved with the married woman in 2004, while working as a manager at fireplace manufacturer Elgin & Hall in Yorkshire.

'I had a good relationship with everyone I worked with, but with one person this started to develop into something more,' he said. 'We had to travel together and spent a lot of time in each other's company, the relationship became flirtatious and a couple of times we shared a kiss.

'It never went further than that, but this had a profound impact on us both and those close to us. It was a dreadful mistake and stopped as suddenly as it had started.

'I know that this caused problems for her, as it did for me. And having to explain to Joanne what had happened was one of the most difficult conversations of my life. I'll never truly understand how she found it in her heart to forgive me, but I tell myself every day how lucky I am to be with such an amazing person.'

Mr Williamson was made Defence Secretary by Theresa May (pictured) following the resignation of Sir Michael Fallon over sexual harassment claims

Mr Williamson said he had decided to quit his job as he had not wanted a constant reminder of his infidelity.

Mrs Williamson, a former primary school teacher, gave birth to their first child in late 2004. It was not clear whether her husband's fling took place while she was pregnant.

The couple now have two daughters and the Defence Secretary stresses that his family is central to his life.

'My family means everything to me and I almost threw it away This incident nearly destroyed two marriages,' he said.

'It will always be part of my past, but has not stopped my wife and I from building a wonderful family together.

Mr Williamson is pictured with Sir Gordon Messenger, the Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff (left), and Colonel John Clark (right)

Mr Williamson said he had decided to quit his job as he had not wanted a constant reminder of his infidelity

'I no longer sell fireplaces and have built a career in politics. Family will always be central to what I do and what I believe in.

'It was the experience of nearly losing mine that made me realise how much mine really matters to me.' A year after the fling, Mr Williamson made his first attempt to become an MP.

He unsuccessfully contested Blackpool North and Fleetwood at the 2005 election. As part of the Tory selection process, candidates are asked to declare any peccadilloes from their past.

He became MP for South Staffordshire in 2010 and has had a rapid rise at Westminster. Theresa May appointed him as her Chief Whip on becoming Prime Minister in 2016 as a reward for helping her see off Boris Johnson's bid for the Tory leadership.

Mr Williamson became the youngest Defence Secretary since the role was created during the Second World War, leap-frogging more experienced ministers to take the role in November

Mrs Williamson, a former primary school teacher, gave birth to their first child in late 2004. It was not clear whether her husband's fling took place while she was pregnant

A year later, he helped to broker the deal with the Democratic Unionist Party to boost her fragile Parliamentary majority.

As Chief Whip, Mr Williamson was credited with quashing a leadership plot against Mrs May following her disastrous party conference speech last year.

Mr Williamson outed the ringleader  former Tory chairman Grant Shapps  in the Press and the attempted coup fizzled out.

He was also reported to have been among the senior advisers who told the Prime Minister that Sir Michael Fallon would have to resign over sleaze allegations.

Sir Michael became engulfed in the Westminster sex harasment scandal when a journalist told Downing Street he had attempted to kiss her during a lunch meeting. Mr Williamson then became the youngest Defence Secretary since the role was created during the Second World War, leap-frogging more experienced ministers to take the role in November.

Last night sources said Mr Williamson did not believe his revelation of a fling with a former colleague was a resignation matter and denied there had been any element of sexual harassment in their relationship, although he was senior to her at their firm.

Gavin Williamson statement in full: How I nearly destroyed two marriages Mr Williamson is pictured making his way into 10 Downing Street My family means everything to me and I almost threw it away. In 2004, I worked for a fireplace manufacturing company in Yorkshire. I was married to Joanne, who I met when we both attended Scarborough Sixth Form College. Through work I often spent time away from home visiting customers. Sometimes, I would be accompanied by other employees. I had a good relationship with everyone I worked with, but with one person this started to develop into something more. We had to travel together and spent a lot of time in each others company, the relationship became flirtatious and a couple of times we shared a kiss. It never went further than that, but this had a profound impact on us both and those close to us. It was a dreadful mistake and stopped as suddenly as it had started. I know that this caused problems for her, as it did for me. And having to explain to Joanne what had happened was one of the most difficult conversations of my life. Ill never truly understand how she found it in her heart to forgive me, but I tell myself every day how lucky I am to be with such an amazing person. Going back to work afterwards it could never feel the same as every day would remind me that I had let down the person I love more than anything. Given those difficulties I left my employment selling fireplaces almost immediately. My employer was understanding and we parted on amicable terms. This incident nearly destroyed two marriages. It will always be part of my past, but has not stopped my wife and I from building a wonderful family together. I no longer sell fireplaces and have built a career in politics. Family will always be central to what I do and what I believe in. It was the experience of nearly losing mine that made me realise how much mine really matters to me. Advertisement

Mr Williamson was born to Labour-supporting parents Ray, a local government worker, and Beverley, a job centre worker, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

He met his future wife at Scarborough Sixth Form College before studying social sciences at Bradford University.

He was the national chairman of Conservative Students and became a county councillor in 2001.

He also co-owned a Staffordshire pottery firm and was managing director of an architectural design company. After he was elected an MP in 2010 he was prime minister David Cameron's parliamentary private secretary for three years.

He was made a CBE for political and public service in Mr Cameron's 2016 resignation honours list.

He pledged allegiance to Mrs May when she stood as leader.

As her Chief Whip, he was tasked with enforcing party discipline  this included keeping tabs on any misbehaviour by Tory MPs.

He forged a reputation for cunning and ruthlessness which saw him dubbed 'the baby-faced assassin'. He was also notorious for keeping a pet Mexican tarantula, Cronus, in a glass box on his desk  earning him a rebuke from the Commons authorities.Businessmen at the now-notorious Presidents Club gala may have committed criminal offences, the government's top lawyer has said.

A tidal-wave of claims of sexual impropriety at the secretive club's all-male annual dinner have followed an undercover sting last week.

Hostesses handpicked for their good looks have said they were groped, harassed and treated like prostitutes while serving drinks at London's Dorchester hotel.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright has now waded into the row which has followed the scandal, saying some of the men's actions may have been criminal.

Attorney General Jeremy Wright has said behaviour by businessmen at the Presidents Club ball last week may have been criminal

Three of the 130 hostesses chat to a businessmen outside the event last Thursday night

Mr Wright told The Financial Times: 'What happened on that particular evening was unacceptable. From what I've heard described it's quite possible that criminal offences were committed.'

His comments came as it emerged that police investigated an alleged sexual assault at the event last January - but the complainant did not wish to continue with the case.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'We can confirm that on 22 January 2017 police received a third-party allegation of sexual assault of a female at a hotel on Park Lane on 21 January 2017.

'Police contacted the alleged victim who advised that she did not wish to proceed with the allegation. The investigation was discontinued.'

The force confirmed no complaints have been received about this year's event.

It is feared women may he concerned about coming forward after signing non-disclosure agreements, banning them from telling others what happened.

MPs have urged police to investigate 'potentially criminal' behaviour at last Thursday's event

A number of politicians have called on police to investigate.

Liberal Democrat leader, Vince Cable, and the party's deputy leader, Jo Swinson, said in a joint statement: 'Offences of harassment and pimping appear to have taken place.

'Women must be able to have confidence that perpetrators of sexual harassment, abuse and assault will be brought to book.

'It is fundamental to that confidence that all such allegations are taken seriously and investigated immediately. There can be no place in today's Britain for the behaviour reported, nor for 'secret societies' behind which individual perpetrators can hide.'

And Labour's Jess Phillips tweeted: 'To the men who were at the Presidents Club, if you saw groping and were appalled I give you a nudge to contact the police and give the names and details to the police.'

Reporter Madison Marriage, who went undercover as part of the FT's investigation, said she was groped several times and other hostesses had suffered similar treatment.

Madison Marriage, the reporter who went undercover, said she was groped 'several times'

Bad Girls actress Nicole Faraday today said businessmen have been getting away with 'lewd and disgusting' behaviour at the Presidents Club fundraiser for decades.

She told the MailOnline she was told to wear a sexy black dress before she was pawed and slapped on the bum while she was a hostess at the same event in the 1990s.

Speaking of her experience, she said: 'We were also told that it would be worth our while financially if we stuck around for the after-party and that what we did with them was our business.

'I feel sorry for the other girls who felt that they had to put up with that behaviour.'A college student and her father have been charged with strangling the student's mother to death and staging the scene to make it look like a suicide.

Corning, New York police this week charged 20-year-old Karrie Neurauter, of Syracuse, and 45-year-old Lloyd Neurauter, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, with second-degree murder in the August 28 death of 46-year-old Michele Neurauter.

Karrie, a fourth-year computer engineering student at Rochester Institute of Technology, was arrested at her home in Syracuse on Wednesday, and transferred back to Corning where she is being held without bail.

Karrie Neurauter (left) and her dad Lloyd (right) were arrested Wednesday and charged in the murder of Karrie's mom Michele

Michele Neurauter, 46, was found dead inside her Corning, New York home on August 28

Her father Lloyd was arrested in Princeton, New Jersey on Wednesday as well, after a dramatic confrontation with police in which he threatened to jump off a five-story parking garage. Officers were able to talk him down and take him into custody.

Police say Michele died of strangulation at her Corning home. At first, they said it looks like she had committed suicide, but they changed their position after a months-long investigation.

Police say they had responded to multiple domestic violence calls from Neurauters residence before her death. However, they say her ex never lived there, just Michele and her other 14-year-old daughter.

Officials didnt reveal a possible motive.

Karrie is scheduled to be arraigned Friday afternoon. Her attorney had no comment Friday morning.

Lloyd is awaiting extradition back to New York State.A Danish inventor charged with murdering Swedish journalist Kim Wall used a saw, knife and screwdrivers to hit, cut, and stab her before she died, prosecutors have said.

Peter Madsen, 46, is accused of using a special toolkit to torture 30-year-old Ms Wall on board his home-made submarine before either strangling her or slitting her throat in August last year.

According to the indictment, Madsen pre-planned the murder, and took a saw, knife, tapered screwdrivers and straps to the boat, which he used to tie Wall's head, arms, and legs, Business Insider reported.

He allegedly then dismembered her body, wrapped the parts in plastic bags and dumped them into Copenhagen harbour before scuttling his homemade sub, the UC3 Nautilus.

Peter Madsen, 46, allegedly tied up and tortured 30-year-old journalist Kim Wall on board his submarine in August last year. He is then accused of strangling her or slitting her throat

Journalist Ms Wall had agreed to go along on the maiden voyage of Madsen's submarine in Copenhagen for a story, but disappeared. Her dismembered body parts were later found in the harbour

Madsen admits abusing her corpse but maintains Miss Wall died by accident after a hatch fell on her head while she was on board.

She had agreed to ride along with Madsen for the maiden voyage of his submarine for a story she was writing.

Madsen's trial will begin on March 8, when he will be charged with premeditated murder as well as dismemberment and 'sexual relations other than intercourse of a particularly dangerous nature.' Lawyers will be seeking a life term.

Supporters of the inventor have scrawled 'Free Madsen' on his submarine which is being held near Copenhagen harbour, Swedish newspaper Afton Bladet reports.

Vandals used spray paint to write down the side of the craft, along with the word 'Uskyldig' - which means 'innocent' in Danish.

Prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen said the case is 'very unusual and extremely brutal.'

Ms Wall was last seen on August 10 boarding Madsen's submarine for a trip around Copenhagen harbour.

In the early hours of the following morning Madsen called the coastguard to report the craft was sinking, after which it became apparent Ms Wall was missing.

Madsen initially denied any knowledge of her fate, saying he dropped her off on shore before the submarine ran into trouble.

But he later changed his account, saying she was killed by accident after a heavy hatch fell on her head.

Divers were quickly able to recover the wreck of the Nautilus from the bottom of the harbour, but found no trace of Miss Wall on board except for her underwear.

Her torso was discovered almost two weeks after she was last seen, before her head and legs were discovered in October.

Police technicians board Peter Madsen's submarine UC3 Nautilus on a pier in Copenhagen harbour, Denmark, in August (file photo)

Madsen had initially denied any knowledge of Ms Wall's fate, saying he dropped her off on shore before his submarine sank, but later changed his story (pictured, the pair on board)

Crucially, examiners said the skull bore no evidence of a fracture which would corroborate Madsen's account.

Two arms were then discovered in the same area in November. All the body parts had been weighted down with metal.

Police also found some of Miss Wall's clothes and a knife in one of the bags.

Earlier, prosecutor Jakob Buch-Jepsen told a court custody hearing that a hard disk found in Madsen's workshop contained fetish films in which real women were tortured, decapitated and burned.

Madsen, who is married, denied the hard drive belonged to him and has denied any sexual relationship between himself and Miss Wall.

Prosecutors have previously said they believe Madsen killed Ms Wall as part of a sexual fantasy, and found multiple mutilation wounds to her genitals.

Madsen is a self-taught engineer has successfully launched rockets with the aim of developing private space travel.

He is known for his occasionally foul temper and fallouts with former colleagues.

His homemade submarine Nautilus, launched in 2008, was the biggest private sub ever made when he built it with help from a group of volunteers.

But they became engaged in a long-running dispute over the Nautilus, before members of the board decided to transfer the vessel's ownership to Madsen, according to the sub's website.

In 2015, Madsen sent a text message to two members of the board claiming: 'There is a curse on Nautilus'.

'That curse is me. There will never be peace on Nautilus as long as I exist,' Madsen wrote, according to the volunteers.

Madsen's character is expected to be central to the murder case against him. A verdict is expected on April 25.United States Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit. UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Ricky OLSON, Defendant-Appellant. No. 16-3583 Decided: January 25, 2018

Before Wood, Chief Judge, and Flaum and Kanne, Circuit Judges. Julie Suzanne Pfluger, Attorney, OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, Madison, WI, for Plaintiff-Appellee. Daniel J. Hillis, Attorney, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Springfield, IL, Thomas W. Patton, Attorney, OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL PUBLIC DEFENDER, Peoria, IL, for Defendant-Appellant.

We do not know whether Ricky Olson entered a voluntary and intelligent guilty plea on September 9, 2016, because the district court never asked the right questions. Several weeks earlier, the court had granted Olson's motion to withdraw his guilty plea and to proceed to trial. But matters did not rest there. Instead, on September 9 the district court brought the motion to withdraw the guilty plea back to life (that is, the one it had already disposed of), and this time summarily denied it. The court ultimately sentenced Olson to 180 months of incarceration and 20 years of supervised release. On appeal, Olson complains that the irregular proceedings surrounding his plea failed to comply with the rules of criminal procedure. We agree with him. Because the September 9 proceedings resulted in a new change of plea, which the district court accepted without conducting the colloquy required by Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 11, we reverse and remand.

I

Olson was convicted on charges of distributing sexually explicit photographs of his minor daughter in violation of 18 U.S.C.  2252(a)(2). Our concern, however, is not with the facts that lie behind his conviction, nor is it with any defense he plausibly might raise. It is with the procedure the court followed in obtaining the guilty plea on which it relied. Olson argues that the court committed plain error by re-activating Olson's earlier guilty plea and then accepting that plea without conducting a proper colloquy under Rule 11.

Olson first pleaded guilty to violating section 2252(a)(2) on April 6, 2016. As part of an accompanying plea agreement, he stipulated to conduct charged in three other counts of his indictment and waived the right to appeal his conviction and any sentence of imprisonment of 180 months or less. In exchange, the government promised to dismiss all charges not covered by his guilty plea. Before accepting the plea on April 6, the district court conducted a Rule 11 colloquy. Part of Olson's current appeal is an attack on that exchange as inadequate and plainly erroneous. He directs our attention to a confused discussion about whether the images were sexually explicit as required by section 2252(a)(2). Although Olson eventually conceded that the photographs showed his daughter naked, he repeatedly denied that they were sexually explicit, showed his daughter's vagina or depicted her masturbating, and he stated that he d[id]n't understand the court's questions. Despite this confusion, the court accepted the plea.

At an ex parte hearing on August 26, 2016, Olson moved to withdraw his guilty plea, and his attorney, Peter Moyers, moved to withdraw from representation. The district court orally granted both motions and memorialized its ruling in writing. Olson complained at the hearing that he had not understood the plea agreement, had pleaded under pressure from his attorney, and had not thought that the images were sexually explicit. Moreover, according to Olson, the theft of his glasses while he was in prison had prevented him from reading his plea agreement before signing it. As a result, he asserted, the agreement had been kind of paraphrased for him. Olson further maintained that he had not understood his potential sentence and had not known he would qualify as a sex offender. He displayed confusion over what crimes were covered by his April 6 plea. At one point he even suggested that he had pleaded guilty to four charges that the plea agreement in fact required the government not to pursue. Olson claimed that he had pleaded guilty despite his belief that the photographs were not sexually explicit only after his attorney had flatly instructed him to [p]lead guilty. The DA is just mistaken, we'll hash all that out later. Olson complained that Moyers refused to file objections to the presentence report, warning Olson that, if Moyers did object, the judge would impose a 30-year sentence on Olson. Moyers equated this term to a life sentence or dying in prison. (We stress that none of these allegations about Moyers's performance has been substantiated; we nonetheless present Olson's subjective view because it informed the district court's decision to grant his motion and informs our review of the intelligence and voluntariness of his plea.)

At Olson's request, an additional plea-related hearing took place on September 9. Joe Bugni, rather than Moyers, now represented him. During a brief exchange, Olson stated that he was definitely guilty of one charge and expressed a belief that his best course [was] just to throw [him]self at the mercy of the court. Without further ado, the district court then announced it would move forward with sentencing. At Bugni's prompting, the court also purported to deny the already-granted August 26 motion to withdraw Olson's guilty plea and Moyers's motion to withdraw from representation (though Moyers never reappeared, and Bugni continued to represent Olson). On that occasion, the court did not hold a Rule 11 colloquy or anything resembling one.

The district court sentenced Olson on September 26 and entered final judgment that day. He now appeals both his conviction and sentence. Olson argues that the district court plainly erred by dispensing with a Rule 11 colloquy on September 9, when he indicated his willingness to plead guilty. In the alternative, he asks that we vacate his sentence because of the court's failure to calculate the guidelines range and consider the factors in 18 U.S.C.  3553(a) before imposing a term of supervised release.

II

Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure requires a trial court to address the defendant personally in open court before accepting his guilty plea. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b). During this colloquy, the court must convey specific information about his rights and the consequences of his plea, and it must satisfy itself that he understands those rights. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1). The court also must ensure that the plea is voluntary, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(2), and that it is supported by a factual basis, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(3). While not itself of constitutional dimension, Rule 11 helps to ensure compliance with the constitutional rule that a guilty plea must be knowing and voluntary. McCarthy v. United States, 394 U.S. 459, 465, 467 (1969), superseded on other grounds by rule, Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(h), as recognized in United States v. Cross, 57 F.3d 588, 591 (7th Cir. 1995); see also Boykin v. Alabama, 395 U.S. 238, 24243 (1969). The rule also aids appellate review by creating a contemporary record. McCarthy, 394 U.S. at 465, 467. In order to plead intelligently in the constitutional sense, a defendant must understand not only the nature of the charge  but also that his or her conduct actually falls within the charge. United States v. Frye, 738 F.2d 196, 199 (7th Cir. 1984).

Because Olson raised no objection to the district court's method of proceeding, we review the court's deviation from the strictures of Rule 11(b) for plain error. United States v. Vonn, 535 U.S. 55, 58 (2002); see Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(h). Therefore, Olson bears the burden of showing: (1) an error, (2) that is plain or obvious, (3) that affects his substantial rights, and (4) that seriously affect[s] the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of judicial proceedings. Puckett v. United States, 556 U.S. 129, 135 (2009); United States v. Anderson, 604 F.3d 997, 1002 (7th Cir. 2010).

A

As a preliminary matter, we reject the government's view that Olson entered a guilty plea only once, on April 6. According to the government, rather than enter a new guilty plea on September 9, Olson merely moved to withdraw his August 26 motion to withdraw his April 6 guilty plea. Thus, it reasons, on September 9 the district court simply restored the status quo prior to August 26, i.e., the April 6 guilty plea. Because Olson already had pleaded guilty on April 6 and waived no additional rights on September 9, it continues, the district court did not need to engage in a second, redundant Rule 11 colloquy. See, e.g., United States v. Taylor, 984 F.2d 618, 619 (4th Cir. 1993) (holding no second Rule 11 colloquy mandated when defendant equivocates about his guilty plea after the initial plea hearing). The government further argues that the district court conducted a proper Rule 11 colloquy when Olson entered his guilty plea on April 6. Therefore, it concludes, the district court committed no errorplain or otherwise.

The government's argument fails for a simple reason: Under the circumstances we have outlined, the district court could not reinstate the April 6 plea. When Olson filed the September 9 motion, he did not argue that the district court had granted the August 26 motion in error and that the April 6 plea had been fine all along. Indeed, he is still raising objections to the Rule 11 colloquy that accompanied the April plea. That left the not guilty plea entered on August 26 as the operative baseline. The September 9 motion thus had the effect of changing Olson's plea from not guilty to guilty. In other words, the September 9 statement represented a new guilty plea, to which Rule 11 applied independently. E.g., Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1) (requiring colloquy [b]efore the court accepts a plea of guilty (emphasis added)). In this situation, Rule 11's requirements are mandatory and plain: the court must address the defendant, must inform him of his rights and ensure his understanding, and must  determine that the plea is voluntary. Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(b)(1), (2) (emphasis added). The district court obviously erred by conducting no Rule 11 colloquy on September 9. This satisfies the first two requirements of plain error review.

The next question is whether the court's failure to conduct a Rule 11 colloquy on September 9 prejudiced Olson's substantial rights. When weighing whether a variance from Rule 11 affected substantial rights, see Rule 11(h), we consider whether under the totality of the circumstances, the plea was voluntary and intelligent. Cross, 57 F.3d at 591. To prevail, the appellant must show a reasonable probability that, but for the error, he would not have entered the plea. United States v. Dominguez Benitez, 542 U.S. 74, 83 (2004). This test does not demand incontrovertible proof: as we have explained, [o]ne step  along the way to the defendant's demonstration that the error affected his decision to plead guilty is to look at whether the defendant understood his plea agreement. United States v. Sura, 511 F.3d 654, 662 (7th Cir. 2007).

Citing United States v. Vonn, the government contends that the April 6 colloquy serves as evidence that the omission of a Rule 11 colloquy on September 9 was not prejudicial. The government is correct that we must examine the record as a whole when reviewing a particular Rule 11 violation for plain error. As Vonn observes, under some conditions defendants may be presumed to recall information provided to them prior to the plea proceeding. 535 U.S. at 75. The question is whether that presumption applies here.

In answering this question, we will assume that Vonn applies to the kind of complete omission of a Rule 11 colloquy that occurred on September 9. Yet, Vonn directs us to consider the entire record, which includes not only the September 9 proceedings, but also the April 6 colloquy (itself arguably insufficient in light of Olson's professed confusion about the content of the photographs) and the August 26 hearing. Taken as a whole, this record leaves us with serious concern about the intelligence and voluntariness of Olson's September 9 statements. On August 26, Olson told the court that he had not understood the written plea agreement or the potential sentence, and that he had not believed himself guilty of distributing sexually explicit content. While some of his more cogent objections might have indicated an improved understanding of the consequences of pleading guilty, other statements revealed continued confusion and raised voluntariness concerns. For example, while the court permitted Moyers to withdraw as Olson's attorney, Olson told the court on August 26 that he acted on the advice of prisoners and guards; on September 9 he cited the guidance of fellow inmates. Likewise, while Olson did state that he was definitely guilty of one charge on September 9, he never specified which one. Confronted with this vague statement, we recall Olson's apparent incorrect belief on August 26 that he previously had pleaded guilty to multiple counts and his repeated denial that the images violated section 2252(a)(2). These circumstances give us no confidence that Olson understood what would follow from his guilty plea of September 9.

And these are not the only signs of a process gone awry. When we review the record, further ambiguities appear. Why did Olson plead guilty on September 9? What did he expect to obtain in return, if anything? Did Olson enter a naked plea, unaccompanied by any agreement, or was the April 6 plea agreement still in force despite the August 26 order? Olson's own statement that he wished just to throw [him]self at the mercy of the court would suggest the former possibility; yet, he, the prosecution, and the district court all seem to have assumed that the plea agreement remained in effect. If he acted on this latter assumption, it was unsupported and inadequate to support his plea.

This court has consistently held that a defendant's substantial breach of a plea agreement permits the government to rescind the deal. E.g., United States v. Kelly, 337 F.3d 897, 901 (7th Cir. 2003). We have identified a variety of substantial breaches: for example, absconding before sentencing, United States v. Munoz, 718 F.3d 726, 72930 (7th Cir. 2013), refusing to testify against a co-defendant as promised, United States v. Ataya, 864 F.2d 1324, 1338 (7th Cir. 1988), and failing to comply with an obligation to cooperate with an investigation, Kelly, 337 F.3d at 90102. Olson's decision not to plead guilty, had it stuck, would similarly have robbed the government of the benefit of its bargain and forced it to invest substantial resources in trial preparation. In fact, Olson's August 26 decision to withdraw his guilty plea undermined the agreement's raison d'etre. Therefore, it presumably freed the government to pursue all counts in the indictment. All of this is to say that, as of September 9, Olson might have had no idea of the consequences of his new guilty plea, and thus might not have entered his plea intelligently. When we as judges cannot determine the legal consequences of Olson's plea, we decline to conclude that he could.

The final aspect of our plain error analysis looks to the fairness, integrity, or public reputation of the judicial proceedings. Anderson, 604 F.3d at 1002. Safeguarding these values may require that we reverse a conviction independent of the defendant's innocence. United States v. Olano, 507 U.S. 725, 73637 (1993). Our reasoning in United States v. Sura strongly supports reversing the conviction in Olson's case. In Sura, we held that omitting from a Rule 11 colloquy any discussion of a defendant's waiver of appellate rights in a plea agreement seriously offended judicial values and was enough to set aside the entire, otherwise knowing, plea agreement. 511 F.3d at 663. Olson's potential failure to comprehend the nature of his offense, whether he had committed it, and whether a plea agreement remained effective each justifies setting aside his plea. These are essential aspects of any guilty pleaeven more important than the subsidiary condition of the bargain at issue in Sura. Were we to affirm Olson's conviction and imprisonment under these circumstances, we would undermine confidence in the integrity of the judicial process.

B

Just as we find that Olson did not waive his right to a trial, we hold that he did not waive his right to appeal his conviction. The government first argues that Olson waived this right through an express term in the April 6 plea agreement. Yet an invalid waiver cannot insulate an invalid plea:

Waivers of appeal must stand or fall with the agreements of which they are a part. If the agreement is voluntary, and taken in compliance with Rule 11, then the waiver of appeal must be honored. If the agreement is involuntary or otherwise unenforceable, then the defendant is entitled to appeal.

United States v. Wenger, 58 F.3d 280, 282 (7th Cir. 1995); see also United States v. Sines, 303 F.3d 793, 798 (7th Cir. 2002). Thus, in Sura we permitted an appeal despite a waiver, and ultimately set aside the defendant's underlying guilty plea, because we determined that the plea and related waiver were not intelligently and voluntarily made. 511 F.3d at 65763. The same principle holds here. Olson is entitled to challenge his plea on knowledge and voluntariness grounds despite the plea waiver. As we already have discussed, we have no confidence that Olson again entered into the plea agreement on September 9 and, if so, that he did so knowingly and intelligently.

We also reject the government's contention that Olson waived his appellate rights by supposedly declining an opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea on September 9. As the government notes, while we treat a failure to file a motion to withdraw a guilty plea as a forfeited claim reviewed for plain error, an intentional relinquishment or abandonment of a known right to withdraw a guilty plea is properly characterized as a waiver of that right and not subject to appeal. United States v. Davis, 121 F.3d 335, 338 (7th Cir. 1997). The government argues that Olson's case is just like Davis, which applied the latter standard. In Davis, the defendant had obtained new counsel after pleading guilty. Id. at 336. When the new attorney expressed dissatisfaction with his predecessor's performance, albeit without providing an explanation, the court offered Davis the opportunity to withdraw his guilty plea. Id. After repeated discussion, Davis and his attorney declined that offer, and the case proceeded to sentencing. Id. at 33637. On direct appeal, Davis sought to withdraw his guilty plea, arguing for the first time that his original lawyer was conflicted and that his plea was not voluntary and knowing. Id. at 335. This court treated the issue as waived:

With the advice of counsel and ample opportunity to reflect on the matter, Mr. Davis declined the district court's invitation to withdraw his guilty plea; he is not entitled to a second bite of the apple by raising on appeal the very matter that he told the district court he did not want to raise.

Id. at 33839. The result in Davis was not driven by the defendant's failure to take the opportunity to withdraw his plea. Rather, the defendant, having obtained new representation, deliberately bypassed the chance to withdraw his plea with full knowledge that the guilty plea was tainted by the misconduct of his former attorney. Nothing prevented him from starting anew.

In stark contrast to Davis, when Olson entered a guilty plea on September 9 the district court's Rule 11 errors had not yet been cured. In fact, the district court had yet to commit them. The government's argument to the contrary again rests on the mistaken premise that Olson simply withdrew his August 26 motion and elected to persist with his April 6 plea. We have rejected that characterization of the proceedings. Once the district court ruled on the motion to withdraw the guilty plea on August 26, there was no guilty plea left on the table. On September 9, Olson offered a new guilty plea, but the district court never explored the new plea as required by Rule 11. It never afforded Olson the opportunity to withdraw the September 9 plea, and thus Olson could not have waived his right to do so.

III

Courts' rulings have meaning. Had the district court opted to take Olson's August 26 motion under advisement, then when Olson re-appeared on September 9 and stated that he was willing to admit his guilt we might have a different case. But it did not. It granted his motion to withdraw the guilty plea. At that point both the plea and the accompanying agreement were off the table. When Olson had another change of heart, the district court was obliged to conduct a new Rule 11 inquiry. For all we know, the government might have taken the position that it would not renew the earlier agreement and wished to pursue the additional counts of the indictment. Alternatively, the government might have been willing to pick up where it left off in August.

We Reverse Olson's conviction and Remand his case to the district court for further proceedings consistent with this opinion. Olson must have the opportunity to enter a new plea, either guilty or not guilty, and the government is free to decide whether to pursue a plea agreement. In light of this decision, we have no occasion to consider any procedural short-comings in Olson's sentencing.

FOOTNOTES

. In other circumstances, some of our sister circuits have found a reinstatement to be proper. Because those circumstances differ from those before us, we have no occasion to consider the soundness of those circuits' approach. For instance, in United States v. Farrah, 715 F.2d 1097 (6th Cir. 1983), the defendant initially pleaded guilty pursuant to an oral plea agreement. On the day of sentencing, however, it became clear that there was uncertainty over the maximum possible period of imprisonment. This prompted the district court to permit Farrah to withdraw his guilty plea. Id. at 109798. Later, he pleaded guilty again, this time pursuant to a written plea agreement that called for a maximum of one year in prison. The district court imposed a one-year sentence, whereupon Farrah moved again to withdraw his plea, claiming that he believed that he would receive a four-month sentence. Again, the court allowed him to withdraw his plea, but the government moved for reconsideration of the latter order. Id. at 1098. The court granted the government's motion, and the Sixth Circuit affirmed. Id. at 109899. In that setting, no one argued that a new Rule 11 colloquy was required nor was there any reason for the court sua sponte to consider the issue, given its finding that the defendant was fully aware the second time around that he faced up to a year in prison. Unlike in Olson's case, the district court in Farrah had erred in granting the motion to withdraw in the first place and, by reinstating the guilty plea, simply corrected its own mistake. Id. at 1099; see also United States v. Chant, No. 98-10088, 1999 WL 1021460 (9th Cir. 1999) (unpublished disposition) (affirming reinstatement of a guilty plea following motion for reconsideration because a change in applicable law had rendered a prior order permitting withdrawal erroneous).

Wood, Chief Judge.Umar Ahmed Haque, 25,(seen in a sketch from the Old Bailey on January 16) allegedly planned atrocities across London

A Muslim private school teacher obsessed with the Westminster Bridge attack plotted terror atrocities across London as he made his pupils stage mock shoot-outs with the police, a court heard.

Umar Ahmed Haque, 25, planned massacres at Heathrow Airport, embassies and other London landmarks between late 2016 and early 2017, it is alleged.

Videos of beheadings, dead children, firing squads, buildings exploding, prominent ISIS terrorists and Sunni and Shia Muslims fighting were found on his laptop, recovered on May 17, 2017.

Haque had allegedly shown videos of beheadings and people burning British passports to pupils he taught at the Muslim Lantern of Knowledge private school in Leyton, east London between September 2015 and September 2016.

He had also taught pupils at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, east London, where he made students role play a battle between ISIS and UK police officers.

One of Haques former pupils at the mosque told the Old Bailey: They told me that - to die for Allah makes you a martyr and that he has contacts with ISIS.

He was telling us that he knows a few people from ISIS and then he said to us that he was going to show us videos.

Haque taught pupils at the Ripple Road Mosque in Barking, east London, (pictured in an undated photo provided by the police) where he made students role play a battle between ISIS and UK police officers

He was then shown a video of a boy diagnosed with cancer who was buried but was then dug up by his father.

The boy told the court that Haque said: That would happen to us if we dont pray and become a martyr.

When asked why his teacher showed him these videos, the 14-year-old said: So we can join him. To become ISIS.

The boy had lessons every Thursday and Friday between 6pm and 7pm with Umar Haque, who originally did not trust the boy, but after asking his teacher what he told his other classmates, the alleged terrorist revealed his ISIS ties, the Old Bailey heard.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of a tent erected in Ripple Road Mosque that was shown to the jury at the Old Bailey in London during Haque's trial

Haque made the boy swear on Gods life not to tell anyone, and the student kept his vow because he was terrified, jurors heard.

He then made the boys simulate combat between British police officers and Islamic State fighters.

The pupil said: Some of us were, like, the ISIS, some of us were the police and some of us were drivers.

Some of the people died because of the police that shot them and some of them got away and killed the police.

The boy then explained Haque was trying to explain to them what we would do to the police, jurors heard.

Joel Bennathan QC, defending, said: He said some time in the future there may be a wicked, fascist state where the Muslims will be attacked.

Do you remember that? No, the boy responded.

Videos recovered from Haques laptop were partly played to the jury, showing the black flag often used by ISIS along with the logos of IS media company Al Furqan and provisional IS media company Al Khayr.

Haque is on trial with Nadeem Ilyas Patel, 26, who allegedly plotted with him together to obtain a firearm; Abuthaher Mamun, 19, who allegedly traded in financial options to finance the terror attacks, and Muhammad Abid, 27, who denies failing to disclose information about Haques terror planning.

Umar Haque, Abuthaher Mamun, and Nadeem Patel depicted in a sketch taken during their trial at the Old Bailey on January 16

In covert recordings with Mamun, Haque said: We are here to cause terrorism, we are a death squad sent by Allah, it is alleged.

All four men, from east London, were detained in a string of raids on May 17 after an investigation by MI5 and the Metropolitan Polices Counter Terrorism Command.

Undated handout photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of Ripple Road Mosque interior that was shown to the jury at the Old Bailey

Haque, from Forest Gate, denies two counts of preparing to commit acts of terrorism, one count of dissemination of terrorist publications and one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

He admits to dissemination of terrorist publications, and four counts of collection of information likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Mamun, from Barking, denies preparation of terrorist acts.

Abid, from Manor Park, denies failing to disclose information about Haque.

Patel, from Forest Gate, denies conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He admits possession of a prohibited weapon.

Patel denied that charge but admitted to having a Walther P99 handgun adapted to discharge a noxious liquid or gas.

The trial continues.A mother-of-two has died just three days after being diagnosed with influenza.

Karlie Slaven, 37, a university manager from Indiana, spent last week caring for her son and daughter as they battled the virus.

But as they got better she started feeling sick and on Friday she took herself to the doctor before being sent home to rest.

By Sunday, her flu had progressed to pneumonia, and she passed away at 6.30am on Monday.

Her husband Mike, who was away on temporary deployment with the armed forces at the time, was summoned back to her bedside along with father Karl to say a final goodbye.

Her death comes amid one of the most active flu years on record, with an unprecedented rate of people with influenza this week.

Karlie Slaven, 37, died on Monday just three days after being diagnosed with the flu after spending last week caring for her two children who also had the virus

Karlie went to the doctor Friday when she was diagnosed and sent home, and returned Saturday but her X-rays were clear. By Sunday the condition had developed into pneumonia

On Saturday she returned to the doctor as her condition worsened, but chest X-rays were clear so she was again sent home, WCPO reports.

By Sunday she was forced to call her father to take care of the children, saying she needed to go to hospital immediately.

It was there that doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia, and rushed her into the intensive care unit.

The doctors told the family there was nothing else they could do, and she passed away on Monday at 6.30am.

Karl is now urging everyone to get their flu shots, as Fox59 reports.

A GoFundMe page has also been set up to help raise money for Karlie's funeral.

'This is a painful time for Karlies family and those that knew her,' the post reads.

'Please help us honor Karlies memory by helping to support the future needs and goals of her two children.'

Husband Mike, who was away on temporary deployment with the armed forces, was recalled to be at her bedside, but doctors said there was nothing they could do

Karlie passed away on Monday around 6.30am surrounded by her family

This year's flu is is getting worse, not better, despite hopes we had passed the peak of this year's deadly outbreak, new CDC figures revealed on Friday.

Seven more child flu deaths were recorded last week, bringing the total to 37 this season - but officials believe that number is a wild underestimate.

To brace the spread, schools in at least 11 states are closing to disinfect buildings and quarantine children at home.

Under-18s aren't the only ones suffering: the rate of people with influenza-like illness (ILI) has rocketed past the rate of every other year except the unusual November pandemic of 2009 - even eclipsing the deadly 2014/15 season.

The number of people with influenza-like illness this year (in red) has climbed past every other year, as demonstrated in this new graph from the CDC showing the red line spiking up

The flu is spreading even further in all states except Hawaii, and is set to get worse this week

Hospitalizations are also far higher this year than 2014/15 for every age group except over-65s, who are always the hardest-hit.

Sharing the data on Friday, Dr Jernigan said he is now certain the outbreak is set to get worse this week, rather than dipping down like previous years, as every state bar Hawaii battles the aggressive strain.

He insisted it is not too late to get the flu shot, and urges everyone to do so - but dismissed concerns that pharmacies across the US have run dry of vaccines and medications, insisting providers need to work harder to find the materials.Kansas City cops are searching for a man who shot dead a Missouri woman on her doorstep after her 10-year-old son answered the front door.

LaShonda Myers, 31, was killed Wednesday night in her Kansas City home when the unannounced visitor showed up and asked the boy to fetch his mother.

'His mama came around the corner, and the next thing you know, he said he seen him just pull out and pow, pow. I don`t understand. I really don`t,' said Mynesha Myers, La Shonda's sister.

LaShonda Myers, 31, (pictured) with her son and daughter, worked as a certified nursing assistant

The boy' s aunt said he called 911, but that his mother died at the home.

'I was just at a loss. I felt empty I felt breathless, cause this young lady takes care of her kids. She is not out here in the streets doing anything to make anyone want to do something like this to her, so I just don`t understand,' said Mynesha Myers.

'She really didn't do anything. She was what they call a square. You know, she is not out there partying. She goes to work, takes care of her kids.'

The boy is still suffering from hearing problem caused by the loud gunshots.

In the 911 call, the boy said 'He went upstairs and went looking for me in my mom's room - I could have been an easy target.'

Myers recently ended and abusive relationship, the Kansas City Star reported.

Myers' aunt, Rachel Johnson said of the event, 'No child should have to deal with that.'

Myers was a certified nursing assistant and worked at Myers Nursing and Convalescent Center in Kansas City.

Police have not identified a suspect or motive.The FBI considered moving to appoint a special prosecutor in Hillary Clinton's email probe months before it decided the Department of Justice should not prosecute her.

Officials tossed out U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's name as a possibility, according to texts from March of 2016 between two FBI agents who are in Congress' cross-hairs for derogatory comments they made about President Trump.

Fitzgerald was the special prosecutor who brought charges against Scooter Libby, the chief of staff to former vice president Dick Cheney, as part of the probe into the blown cover of covert agent Valerie Plame. Prior to that he led the prosecution in New York of crime boss John Gambino.

The FBI considered moving to appoint a special prosecutor in Hillary Clinton's email probe months before it decided the Department of Justice should not prosecute her. Officials tossed out U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald's name as a possibility

He went on to prosecute the perpetrators of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and worked on a team investigating Osama bin Laden.

As U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois, Fitzgerald uncovered a ring of corruption around Republican Governor George Ryan. His office also went after aides to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley for mail fraud and corruption in hiring.

Fitzgerald is currently a partner at the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom in Chicago.

The former U.S. attorney ended up as the special prosecutor on the Plame case after Attorney General John Ashcroft recused himself and left his deputy in charge. That man James Comey.

Comey would later be tapped to lead the FBI. In that role he oversaw the bureau's investigations into Hillary Clinton's secret server and into Russia' meddling in the 2016 election.

President Trump fired Comey in May, leading to the appointment of Robert Mueller to lead the Russia investigation.

Newly released texts between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two FBI agents who were reportedly having an extramarital affair, reveal an internal discussion about Comey appointing a special prosecutor in the Clinton case.

Strozk was a top agent on the probe into Clinton's conduct as secretary of state. He and Page initially came under fire for texts during the presidential election in which they disparaged Trump.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has been releasing pages of their conversations that it obtained from the FBI. The exchange about Fitzgerald was in a 384-page batch provided to Congress last week.

A message on March 18 from Strzok to Page says, 'Thought of the perfect person D can bounce this off of'.

'Pat,' he said, 'You got to give me credit if we go with him....And delay briefing him on until I can get back and do it, Late next week or later.'

Page replied, 'We talked about him last night, not for this, but how great he is.'

She then notes that Fitzgerald is in private practice but could come back to the bureau to complete the task.

Strzok reminds that Comey appointed him special prosecutor in the Plame case when he was the deputy AG and that they remain close - Fitzgerald was present at Comey's investiture.

Page later asks if he ever found out why a special prosecutor was being considered.

'Don't think so,' he replied.

Newly released texts between Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two FBI agents who were reportedly having an extramarital affair, reveal an internal discussion about appointing a special prosecutor in Hillary Clinton's secret server case

Their text messages stop after March 18 in the release for nearly two months, so it remains unclear as to why a special prosecutor was under consideration.

It would have been up to the attorney general, Loretta Lynch at the time, to appoint a special prosecutors and she didn't.

Lynch ultimately recused herself from the case after she was caught holding a meeting with Bill Clinton at an airport when both of their planes were on the same tarmac, but that was weeks later.An Iowa woman convicted of murder in the starvation death of her 16-year-old adopted daughter has been sentenced to three life terms.

The consecutive sentences were handed down on Friday to 43-year-old Nicole Finn. She was found guilty last month of first-degree murder of Natalie Finn and three counts of kidnapping for confining Natalie's siblings.

Finn said after Friday's hearing that she intends to appeal the verdict but made no other comment after hearing the sentences.

Locked up for life: Nicole Finn, 43 (pictured left in court Friday) was sentenced to three consecutive life terms for the starvation death of her 16-year-old daughter, Natalie (right)

Not pleased: A judge on Friday called Finn's actions inexcusable and ordered her to not have any contact with her surviving adopted children

Seeking a do-over: Finn said after Friday's hearing that she intends to appeal the verdict

House of horrors: Nicole boarded up some of windows inside the family's home in West Des Moines to stop Natalie and her siblings from going looking for food

Natalie Finn weighed only 85lbs when she died in October 2016, authorities have said.

The teen was found laying on a linoleum floor of their cat-filled home wearing an adult diaper. Her body was covered in bed sore and had almost no fat or muscle left, reported the Des Moines Register.

Skeletal: When Natalie died form cardiac arrest in October 2016, she weighed just 85lbs and hardly had any fat or muscle

Experts testified that her siblings, Mikayla, 14, and Jaden, 15, were at risk of starving to death as well and spent months recovering after Natalie suffered cardiac arrest.

Mikayla testified in court that she had resorted to drinking from a toilet because she was so thirsty.

Judge Karen Romano called Finn's actions inexcusable and ordered her to not have any contact with her surviving adopted children.

'The court cannot imagine what kind of mental trauma these children have suffered,' Romano said.

Finn's ex-husband, Joe Finn II, has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping, neglect or abandonment and child endangerment.

He wasn't living with the rest of the family when Natalie died. His trial is scheduled to begin April 30.

During trial, prosecutors described Nicole as more concerned about her cats, kittens and dogs than her children.

The mother-of-five kept three of her children locked in a filthy bedroom without furniture and didn't allow them regular access to food or a bathroom for months.

Nicole and her husband Joseph (left) were estranged when Natalie died. He was charged with child endangerment and kidnapping and will stand trial in April

The children would at times climb out a window of their home and beg for food from neighbors, prompting Nicole and Joseph to board up the windows.

Neighbors and school officials reported their concerns about Natalie's treatment to state child welfare authorities.

After obtaining a court order and visiting the home, the officials declined to remove the girl or her siblings. A child protective worker was later fired amid inquiries by the Department of Human Services, legislators and the Iowa Office of Ombudsman.

In final arguments, the defense said Nicole was detached from reality and overwhelmed by her parenting duties.Hillary Clinton protected a campaign adviser's job during the 2008 presidential race after he was accused of sexually harassing a 30-year-old female subordinate.

Burns Strider, then 42 and married, was Clinton's 'Director of Faith-Based Outreach' and frequently appeared on religious-themed broadcasts to promote her candidacy.

He was ordered to undergo counseling and docked 'several weeks of pay,' according to The New York Times, but Clinton insisted Strider keep his job even though then-campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle advised her to fire him.

His accuser was moved to a new position.

Strider boasts to this day about his close relationship with the former secretary of state, continuing to call her 'boss', sharing lunches, going to a birthday party and posting a letter from her on Instagram.

Strider boasts to this day about his close relationship with the former secretary of state, continuing to call her 'boss' and posting selfies like this one taken at her 70th birthday party in October 2017

Strider (left) is pictured with Bill and Hillary Clinton and two other people in this undated Instagram photo

Burns Strider was Hillary Clinton's 'faith-based' outreach director when she ran for president in 2008; after a 30-year-old female subordinate accused him of sexual harassment, Clinton refused to fire him and instead reassigned the woman

He and his son Peter attended Clinton's birthday party in October 2017.

'Celebrating a birthday, 2day. My youngest, Pete, joins @HillaryClinton, others & me,' he wrote in a Twitter caption. 'Boss & Pete are all chummy.'

Strider's accuser in 2008 shared an office with him. She complained about unsolicited and inappropriate shoulder-rubbing, kisses on the forehead and suggestive emails.

The Times reported that at least one of those messages came at night, outside of normal working hours.

The woman signed a nondisclosure agreement before working for the Clinton campaign, and hasn't spoken publicly about the episode.

But she took her concerns to Solis Doyle, who urged Clinton to fire Strider.

She kept him on her staff instead.

Strider posted this Instagram picture of him and Clinton having lunch in March 2017, writing: 'Thank you, Madam Secretary (for lunch and catching up, too). B.'

Strider, known as the Democratic Party's 'faith guru,' co-founded the American Values Network, a liberal lobbying group that organizes and amplifies Christian progressives.

As Clinton geared up for her 2016 White House run, he was tapped to run Correct The Record, a pro-Clinton advocacy group created by Media Matters For America founder and Clinton ally David Brock.

There, too, Strider couldn't find his stride. Correct The Record fired him after five months following allegations that he harassed another young woman, the Times reported Friday.

Strider also worked as a senior adviser to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who is currently the House Minority Leader, from 2003 to 2006.

His career in Democratic politics before that also included a stint as an adviser to then-Senator Al Gore.

Patty Solis Doyle was Clinton's campaign manager during the Strider saga and recommended that he should be let go  but Clinton overruled her

Strider, now 52, continues to trade on his relationship with Clinton; he's pictured on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, with an unidentified woman

Insta-boast: After the 2016 campaign Clinton thanked Strider in a personalized signed letter - which he posted on his social media account

A Clinton spokesman sent the Times a statement, through a law firm.

'To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct or harassment. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken. This complaint was no exception,' the statement said.

Clinton has been seen as one of many prominent catalysts for the #MeToo movement, an organic groundswell of women who have come forward in the past year to accuse powerful men of secually harassing and abusing them.

One by one, drip by drip, dozens of accused sexual predators in Hollywood, journalism, the restaurant industry and even the U.S. Senate have seen their high-profile careers end.

The first giant domino to fall, former film mogul Harvey Weinstein, donated and bundled $1.4 million to Clinton's 2016 campaign.

When Bill Clinton faced impeachment nearly two decades ago, Weinstein donated $10,000 to his legal defense fund.

Clinton has been close for decades with Harvey Weinstein, whose career came to a crashing halt at the top of the#MeToo movement's spear

Hillary Clinton condemned Weinstein in 2017, saying she was 'shocked and appalled by the allegations.'

But the actress Lena Dunham contended weeks later that in 2008 she warned Clinton's staff that the Democratic candidate should stay away from him.

'I just want you to know that Harvey's a rapist and this is going to come out at some point,' Dunham said she told the Clinton campaign.

Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill insisted at the time that the 'Girls' star was mis-remembering things.

'We were shocked when we learned what he'd done. It's despicable behavior, and the women that have come forward have shown enormous courage,' he said.

'As to claims about a warning, that's something staff wouldn't forget.'

The Clinton Foundation, Bill and Hillary's family philanthropy, said in October that it would not return money Weinstein has donated in the past.

The foundation's website puts those contribution in a category between $100,000 and $250,000.

Clinton pledged later to give the money to charity  as part of the 10 per cent of her income that she already contributes each year.A convicted rapist who struck again just nine days after being freed was given a 14-year sentence today.

Jermaine Hussie, described by the judge as a 'danger to women', was sentenced to 14 years behind bars with an extended licence of four years for raping a woman with learning difficulties.

The 34-year-old Jamaican had previously been given a six-year jail sentence in July 2014 for the rape and sexual assault of a woman and was released on March 20 last year.

David Polglase, prosecuting, said that eight days later Hussie, calling himself JJ, approached a young mother at Birkenhead bus station and after asking personal questions pestered her into giving him her phone number.

The next evening another young woman, who has learning difficulties, was also approached by him at the bus station and after walking around and chatting they ended up in the car park of the Wirral Christian Centre.

Jermaine Hussie, pictured, was jailed for 14 years after he raped a woman with learning difficulties just nine days after being released on a previous rape conviction

They engaged in consensual kissing but Hussie then raped her twice despite her objections.

The next day she told her support worker what had happened and the police were alerted.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the police circulated details of the attacker on Facebook and the woman he had pestered the day before the rapes contacted officers to help identify him.

Hussie was living in a bail hostel in Great Howard Street, Liverpool, at the time and staff there also assisted police with information about him and he was arrested on May 19.

The defendant denied the rape attack claiming - as he had with the earlier rape offence - that he had been set up and they were malicious allegations.

He claimed that the woman had wanted to have sex with him and had started the sexual activity.

Sentencing Hussie at Liverpool Crown Court (pictured), Judge Conrad said he had been aware the woman he raped was vulnerable, and described him as a 'danger to women'

Jailing Hussie, who stood in the dock shaking his head and muttering 'no', Judge Conrad said he was satisfied that he had been aware she was vulnerable. She had been described as childlike and appearing younger than her age.

He said: 'You have shown no remorse in respect of this or in respect of the previous matter. Your attitude as expressed to the police and the psychiatric report is that you have been set up by the victims concerned.

'That attitude reinforces my view that you represent a danger to women. The evidence in the present case showed that you had earlier been on the prowl in the vicinity looking for a woman to target and engaged one women in conversation thereby making her feel uncomfortable.

'You are, to put it shortly, a danger to women - as evidence by these offences, your record and your attitude.'

Louise Santamera, defending, said that Hussie, who will have to serve two thirds of the custodial term before he can apply for parole, does not accept his conviction.

She said he claims he is a Jamaican national who is here unlawfully after overstaying a visitors visa in 2005 and wants to be deported back. However, his antecedent record shows he was born in London.Tyler Perry is replacing a new van for a Georgia church after their's was stolen before a Sunday service.

Members from the Lighthouse Community Church in Stockbridge, Georgia, said that when they arrived, the only thing left behind were pieces of a shattered window.

The 15-seat van was used to transport the area's children to various church events and was essential in its usage by Lighthouse.

Tyler Perry is replacing a van from the Lighthouse Community Church in Stockbridge, Georgia, after their's was stolen before a Sunday service

Old van: The 15-seat van was used to transport the area's children to various church events and was essential in its usage by Lighthouse. Only pieces of glass from a broken window were left

New van: Smith added that some members will go pick up the vehicle from a nearby dealership

Church administrator Cindy Smith told WSB-TV that after seeing a report from the station, Perry called her to share that he had bought them a new van.

'My phone rang and he said, 'This is Tyler Perry ... I saw the Channel 2 newscast and my heart was broken. So, I bought you a new van,' church administrator Cindy Smith said.

It came as a shock that someone with the recognition of Perry - who is most commonly known for his portrayal of the sassy Madea - would lend a helping hand.

She added: 'For a few minutes I didn't feel like I could put my feet down on the ground.

Church administrator Cindy Smith told WSB-TV that after seeing a report from the station, Perry called her to share that he had bought them a new va

'He is a man with a lot of means and a lot of influence, and he didn't have to do it.'

The sentiment left the church and Smith in awe.

'Just his generosity, his willingness to help us here ... he didnt have to do this, but he took the time to call us and to offer this to us and we're completely in awe and overwhelmed and excited and we know that the Lord touched his heart to do this,' said the woman.

Smith added that some members will go pick up the vehicle from a nearby dealership.The emails between Abdulrahman Alcharbati, 31, pictured, and the social media giant's moderators were read out to a jury, showing how easily he was able to have his suspended account reinstated over and over again

Facebook reactivated the account of a terror suspect no fewer than six times - even as he continued posting sickening ISIS propaganda videos, a court heard yesterday.

The emails between Abdulrahman Alcharbati, 31, and the social media giant's moderators were read out to a jury, showing how easily he was able to have his suspended account reinstated over and over again.

When Alchabarti was arrested months later he was found to be in possession of a detailed bomb-making manual, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

On the first occasion his account, on which he had 6,400 friends and followers, was taken down he was told it would be permanent and would not be reactivated 'for any reason.'

But following a series of angry emails to Facebook - including one which said: 'You will stand in front of the Creator Allah The All Merciful and will have to answer for your doing' - they relented and he was able to keep posting videos glorifying ISIS.

Among the clips he posted was one showing three Syrian soldiers being beaten by a baying mob and dragged to their deaths behind motorbikes in the city of Raqqa.

Between January 24th and February 26th last year he was found to have posted 386 times, with 70 of them found to refer directly to Islamic State and 40 referring to martyrdom in their name.

On February 8th last year, between 1.45am and 10.49am, Alcharbati was found to have posted six videos that were produced by ISIS on his open Facebook page.

The first showed the soldiers being killed while a crowd was 'whipped into a frenzy' by the ISIS killers.

Another video showed child soldiers undergoing training to join ISIS and urged people 'join the caravan of the Caliphate and live under its shelter.'

There was footage of a suicide bomber driving away before detonating a car packed with explosives and the Arabic message 'Drink death with happiness' emblazoned over it.

Another urged those watching: 'Get an American or French Kafir (disbeliever) and whack them with a rock, cut their throat with a knife, crush them with a car, suffocate or poison them, do not fail.'

Police obtained a search warrant on the basis of the videos and arrested Alcharbati at his family home in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, on May 3rd last year.

A search found a mobile phone which had a bomb-making manual downloaded onto it with specific step-by-step instructions on how to make suicide bomber vests, it is alleged.

On December 20th 2016 a Facebook 'community operations analyst' who called himself 'Bobs' first contacted Alcharbati to tell him his account was being permanently disabled

Alcharbati replied by email: 'I was not harming others or threatening anyone through violence. I don't support any violent organisations. I was sharing news regarding the atrocities that is being done in Syria and no one is talking about it or doing any action.

'I was trying to deliver the voice of all those children killed by terrorism of those organisations. I am a very peaceful and respectful member of society and by you disabling my account you have taken from me years of my life.

The case is being heard at Newcastle Crown Court, pictured (stock photo)

'I have work on my account. I have picture of my  continues professionals development that I use to prove for my route to be a Chartered Engineer. By permanently closing my account you have put me in a hard dilemma and you have frozen my career if not destroyed it.

'All I was doing was delivering the voice of those children killed by the terrorist. I was sharing such content to explain to the world the current situation and why there are so many unexplained and unjustified terrorism. Please you have to have some common sense and understand where I come from and what I have been through. '

Facebook replied: 'We've reviewed your account and determined that it hasn't followed the Facebook Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. The violation of these terms has resulted in permanent loss of your account.

'One of our main priorities is the comfort and safety of the people who use Facebook, and we don't allow credible threats to harm others, support for violent organisations or exceedingly graphic content on Facebook.'

However after Alcharbati sent a flurry of emails expressing his outrage at his account being disabled, Facebook relented six times between December 2016 and March 15th last year when his account was finally taken down for good.

Their administrators told him:' After reviewing your appeal we have reactivated your account. Please keep in mind that one of our main priorities is the comfort and safety of the people who use Facebook.

'We do not allow credible threats to harm others, support for violent organisations or let exceedingly graphic content live on Facebook.'

The court heard Alcharbati sent numerous emails complaining the suspension of his account was affecting his freedom of speech and his career.

On January 12th he wrote: 'By closing my Facebook account arbitrarily without any consideration to the consequences you have implemented on me is causing a great financial and social damage to myself, family and career.'

On February 11th he wrote to the administrator: 'So sharing news regarding the continuous onslaught and ethnic cleansing of Muslim Sunnis around the world. And the killing of babies and children is against your terms and conditions?

'You are participating indirectly in these crimes, by covering the truth and hiding evidence that condemn those criminals who kill innocent babies!!

'You have disabled my account completely for more than 6 days!!!! and now I am not allowed to post and expose all those crimes again infants!!!!!!

'Please have come mercy in your hearts Allah will hold you responsible for your actions.'

On February 15th Alcharbati wrote: 'By disabling my post right on Facebook you are participating directly in hiding evidence that condemn those who are involved in ethnic cleansing, children rape (paedophilia), rape of adults, torture and numerous other atrocities that I can't even mention on my message to you.'

He concluded: 'Please have mercy, compassion, morals, dignity and honour and don't be participants in these horrible atrocities because history will not forget and will not forgive.

'And at the end you will stand in front of the Creator Allah The All Merciful and will have to answer for your doing.'

Alcharbati denies six counts of disseminating terrorist material and one count of possessing a document containing information likely to be of use to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

The trial continues.A proposal from President Donald Trump to give 1.8 million illegal immigrants who were brought to the country as children a pathway to citizenship has caused a firestorm on the right and the left ends of the spectrum with both sides finding fault with it.

Breitbart, a right-wing news publication, dubbed Trump 'Amnesty Don' over the immigration framework that also requests $25 billion for the president's wall and border security enhancements.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the plan reads like a 'wishlist that immigration hardliners' wrote, and the proposal flies in the face of what most Americans believe.'

Trump, who is en route to Washington from Davos, said in response that 'DACA has been made increasingly difficult by the fact that Cryin Chuck Schumer took such a beating over the shutdown that he is unable to act on immigration!'

President Donald Trump, who is en route to Washington from Davos, said Friday that 'DACA has been made increasingly difficult by the fact that Cryin Chuck Schumer took such a beating over the shutdown that he is unable to act on immigration!'

Trump ignored complaints from the right that his plan includes a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million illegal immigrants

Earlier in the day Schumer had complained about Trump's plan on Twitter, too

The president is yet to address criticisms coming from his own base over the plan that the White House unexpectedly released Thursday evening.

A day before the White House said it would put its demands to paper on Monday. Trump nudged his chief of staff, John Kelly, at a briefing on Wednesday evening to have something ready by the time he returned from Switzerland.

Kelly briefed lawmakers on the framework in Capitol Hill meetings on Thursday and the White House released a one-page document outlining the president's must-have provisions that night.

At issue for conservatives within Trump's party is the number of Dreamers the White House is proposing to grant citizenship.

The 1.8 million figure included in the White House plan is more than twice the number of people already protected from deportation by the Obama-era 'Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals' (DACA) program.

Trump's concession in the midst of a contentious immigration policy fight would go far further than Obama ever did, extending the nation's broad arms around nearly everyone who was eligible for DACA status but never applied  and welcoming others whose qualifications had been on the margins.

The Senate Democratic leader said the plan reads like a 'wishlist that immigration hardliners' wrote, and the proposal flies in the face of what most Americans believe'

In exchange, Trump expects $25 billion in guaranteed funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall and other border security enhancements.

The result, White House senior advisor Stephen Miller said, is 'a compromise position that we believe ... will get 60 votes in the Senate,' and 'ultimately will lead to passage of a law.'

Democratic senators threw cold water on the White House's position on Friday.

Sen. Cory Booker told 'CBS This Morning' that he would accept stand-alone legislation to protect Dreamers but Trump's proposal is 'offensive' because it uses them as a bargaining chip to get his border wall.

'This is like money for 19th century technology at a time that we could use 21st century technology,' Booker said, which would be less expensive. 'There's not a senator in Congress that doesn't want secure borders but the way this president is going about it seems to be more about a campaign promise and campaign rhetoric than what's best to secure this country.'

President Donald Trump is set to extend a citizenship path to 1.8 million young illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children, a dramatic concession on immigration that's more than twice as generous as Barack Obama's 'DACA' program

Jill Carlson, a member of Columbia County Indivisible, held a sign on Thursday expressing her views on DACA outside Congressman Louis Barletta's local office in Hazleton, Pennsylvania

Trump has previously ruled out the idea of allowing DACA recipients to walk a pathway toward full equality in the United States, saying in September that he was 'not looking at amnesty. We're looking at allowing people to stay here.'

His press secretary signaled a shifting of sands prior to the release of the document when she declined to say what the White House meant when it said it would be willing to give the Dreamers permanent status.

The border wall was among Trump's most loudly touted and oft-repeated campaign promises.

In keeping with precedent on Capitol Hill, the White House is calling the $25 billion cash infusion a 'trust fund' that the Department of Homeland Security could spend on border protection  and that Congress can't divert for other purposes.

Trump's larger immigration reform proposal also includes a plan to limit 'chain migration,' the legal sponsorship of visas by extended family members who already have legal residency status.

Currently practically unlimited across two generations of family members, the policy would shrink eligibility to immediate family members  spouses and minor children.

THE FRAMEWORK: This one-page summary released by the White House outlines the give-and-take Trump's team expects from Congress in order to rework America's immigration system

Trump's package would also put an end to a 'diversity visa lottery' system that recruits legal immigrants  largely at random  on the sole basis of their countries of origin.

Started in 1999, the program's intent was to allow people to enter the United States who were from nations typically 'underrepresented' among the domestic population.

Trump has seized on the lottery as the root cause of death and destruction, citing a man who entered the U.S. under its umbrella and then was accused of plowing a truck through a crowd of New York City pedestrians and cyclists, killing eight.

The expanded citizenship allowance for so-called 'DREAMers' matches exactly a plank in a comprehensive reform proposal promoted by a 'Gang of Six' senators, led by Republicans Lindsey Graham and Jeff Flake, and Democrat Dick Durbin.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday that their overall package was unacceptable to the president and should be considered 'dead on arrival.'

That Gang of Six proposal would have offered an amnesty to about 3 million people who fit loosely under the definition of 'DREAMers,' leaning in the direction of Democrats who aim to wrap as many illegal immigrants as possible into a potential amnesty.

Republicans, on the other hand, have traditionally focused on border security.

Pro-DACA protesters are a common sight on Capitol Hill, and at the White House, including this group egged on by Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin on Sunday  but it may be a Republican president who answers their pleas

32-year-old Trump immigration hardliner Stephen Miller 'led the briefing,' according to an NBC reporter who  like many on Capitol Hill  dispensed with the usual artifice of anonymity and identified the aide who delivered the news from the White House

Illegal immigrants and their supporters demonstrated last year in front of the White House after Trump said he would end DACA unless Congress acted to save it

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a noncommittal statement after the conference call that he hoped both Republicans and Democrats 'will look to this framework for guidance as they work towards an agreement.'

Trump leapt back into the immigration debate Wednesday afternoon before jetting off to the World economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, telling reporters in an impromptu meeting that he would support citizenship for DACA recipients 'over a period of 10 to 12 years.'

Miller on Thursday told congressional aides that this represented 'the most substantial concession' the White House would offer to Democrats.

'The president has indicated a willingness to extend citizenship to 1.8 million individuals as part of this immigration reform package,' a senior administration official said.

'That would be the DACA population, plus individuals who failed to apply for DACA but otherwise met the requirements, as well as adjustments in time-frame that would bring the total maximum population size to 1.8 million.'

Reactions among Republicans in Congress were mixed.

One senior GOP aide who was on the call told DailyMail.com: 'If he can actually push this across the finish line, it will change everything Americans thought they knew about immigrants and immigration, and Republicans will be the team that actually pulled off the Hail Mary.'

Another GOP aide offered a taunt to Chuck Schumer, the leader of Democrats in the Senate: 'Moral high ground, seized. Your move, Chuck.'

A Politico reporter, though, heard a different tune.

'This is the beginning of the end of the GOP majority in the House,' a Republican congressman told the journalist. 'In a year when the Democrats impeach Trump, we can point to this moment.'

Heritage Action, a conservative political committee, said in a statement that it wouldn't support 'any proposal that expands the amnesty-eligible population.'

Trump's proposal 'risks opening Pandora's box,' the group said, and 'should be a non-starter.'

Conservative Arkansas Republican Sen. Tom Cotton signaled that right-wingers might move toward Trump's position, calling his proposal 'generous and humane' as well as 'responsible'

BALL IN YOUR COURT: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says he offered Trump his $25 billion last week before the government shutdown as an inducement to make DACA permanent, but now Trump has made him a counter offer that's far more ambitious

Sen. Tom Cotton, a conservative from Arkansas, signaled that congressional right-wingers could warm to the White House's approach.

'The president's framework is generous and humane, while also being responsible,' Cotton said in a statement. 'It protects those eligible for DACA, who are here through no fault of their own. But it also will prevent us from ending up back here in five years by securing the border and putting an end to extended-family chain migration.'

'The president's willingness to grandfather everyone in the current immigrant backlog also shows hes serious about reaching a bipartisan solution,' he added.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, praised Trump's plan for protecting 'those who were brought here illegally through no fault of their own' while also beefing up the border so 'other young people dont find themselves in the same legal limbo in the future.'

Progressives and other Democrats lost no time in condemning Trump's proposal, and linking it with his controversial aide Miller.

Illinois Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez said: '$25 billion as ransom for Dreamers with cuts to legal immigration and increases to deportations doesn't pass the laugh test.'

Gutierrez said Saturday in the midst of the government shutdown that he would support Trump's wall if the president would 'save' 800,000 DACA recipients from deportation.

'If that is what it is going to take to get 800,000 young men and women and give them a chance to live freely and openly in America, then I'll roll up my sleeves, I'll go down there with bricks and mortar and begin the wall,' he told CNN.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a liberal Democrat, tweeted that Trump's proposal is 'insulting'

'By ending DACA, @realdonaldtrump subjected 800k Dreamers to deportation,' Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren tweeted. 'Now he wants to hold them hostage to Steven Millers anti-immigrant wish list. Its insulting.'

United We Dream, an advocacy group that supports citizenship for the DACA population, said in a statement: 'Lets call this proposal for what it is: a white supremacist ransom note.'

'Our fear, our pain, and our lives must not be used to shackle our parents and ban those seeking refuge; we must not be used to tear apart the moral fabric of this country,' the group added.

The White House expects to publicly unveil its proposal on Monday, a day before Trump delivers his first State of the Union Address.

A White House aide told DailyMail.com on Thursday that funding for Trump's wall is non-negotiable.

'You've been covering him long enough,' the aide said. 'You know he's not about to bend on the wall. And that's going to take a multi-year appropriation from Congress.'

Prototype U.S.-Mexico border walls were erected in San Diego, California last October, ready for evaluation and funding  if Trump can wheedle the money out of Congress

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders this week told people brought to the U.S. as minors  the illegal immigrants protected by DACA  that 'they should storm Capitol Hill and protest there' in order to force lawmakers to embrace a compromise that would help them

One aide familiar with Trump's thinking said Wednesday DACA recipients put into a citizenship queue would be vetted along the line of the requirement of a 'conservative DREAM Act' proposed last September by North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis and other Republicans.

A rigorous background check would be mandatory, including biometric data and criminal database searches. Citizens-to-be under the proposal would also have to pay off any federal tax liabilities they have, and acknowledge that their immigration status can be terminated if they were convicted of a crime while they were protected by DACA.

The Tillis bill mentioned by the aide also called for a renewed background check at the five-year mark, and then another one when citizenship papers are finally submitted.

Other requirements would likely include earning a high school diploma, and then maintaining their 'conditional' status  and a green card  by either holding down a steady job, serving in the military, or graduating from college.

On Monday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders urged people brought to the U.S. as minors  the illegal immigrants protected by DACA  to 'storm Capitol Hill and protest there' in order to force lawmakers to embrace a compromise that would help them.United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit. UNITED STATES of America PlaintiffAppellee v. Randall Tyrell STEWARD, also known as Randall Stewart, also known as Trouble DefendantAppellant No. 16-3886 Decided: January 25, 2018

Before COLLOTON, BENTON, and KELLY, Circuit Judges. Aaron L. Jennen, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Candace L. Taylor, Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Arkansas, Fort Smith, AR, for PlaintiffAppellee. John B. Schisler, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Anna Marie Williams, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Public Defender's Office, Fayetteville, AR, Randall Tyrell Steward, Federal Transfer Center, Oklahoma City, OK, for DefendantAppellant.

Randall Steward pleaded guilty to sex trafficking of a child in violation of 18 U.S.C.  1591. At sentencing, Steward objected to various aspects of the presentence report. The district court sustained some objections, but overruled Steward's objection to the categorization of his prior conviction for Oklahoma voluntary manslaughter, see Okla. Stat. tit. 21,  711(2), as a crime of violence. Using the United States Sentencing Guidelines (USSG) in effect at the time of sentencing, the district court found Steward qualified as a career offender under USSG  4B1.1. The advisory Guidelines range was 151188 months, and the district court sentenced Steward to 151 months of imprisonment. Steward appeals, arguing that his prior voluntary manslaughter conviction is not a crime of violence.

We review de novo a district court's interpretation and application of the guidelines. United States v. Rice, 813 F.3d 704, 705 (8th Cir. 2016). Generally, district courts should apply the Guidelines that are in effect on the date the defendant is sentenced.  Peugh v. United States, 569 U.S. 530, 53738, 133 S.Ct. 2072, 186 L.Ed.2d 84 (2013) (quoting 18 U.S.C.  3553(a)(4)(A)(ii)). However, when the Guidelines have been amended since the offense occurred such that application of the new Guidelines results in a higher sentencing range, the court should apply the Guidelines in effect at the time of the offense, so as not to violate the Ex Post Facto Clause. Id. at 538, 133 S.Ct. 2072. Here, the definition of crime of violence in USSG  4B1.2 was amended between the time Steward committed his offense and the time of his sentencing. As a result, we must examine both the 2015 and 2016 versions of the Guidelines. If Steward's prior offense would qualify as a crime of violence under both versions, there can be no Ex Post Facto Clause violation and we must affirm.

In 2015, the definition of crime of violence in the Guidelines included the same residual clause as did the definition of violent felony in the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA): an offense that involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another.  Beckles v. United States,  U.S. , 137 S.Ct. 886, 890, 197 L.Ed.2d 145 (2017) (quoting USSG  4B1.2(a)(2) (Nov. 2006)). After the Supreme Court held the residual clause to be unconstitutionally vague in the context of the ACCA, see Johnson v. United States,  U.S. , 135 S.Ct. 2551, 2557, 192 L.Ed.2d 569 (2015), the Sentencing Commission amended the Guidelines, removing the residual clause and adding more enumerated offenses. See USSG Supp. App. C, Amend. 798 (effective August 1, 2016). Subsequently, however, in Beckles, the Court held that the Guidelines are not subject to vagueness challenges, thereby confirming the validity of the residual clause under the pre-2016 Guidelines. 137 S.Ct. at 890.

We are persuaded that Oklahoma voluntary manslaughter qualifies as a crime of violence under the 2015 Guidelines. Although the district court determined without doubt that the offense satisfied  4B1.2(a)(1)the force clausewe need not make a force-clause determination because we conclude that Oklahoma voluntary manslaughter qualifies as a crime of violence under the residual clause. Under the 2015 Guidelines, the residual clause was accompanied by commentary that contained illustrative examples of offenses that met its serious potential risk of physical injury to another test. Manslaughter was one of the offenses contained in that list. See USSG  4B1.2, cmt., n.1 (Nov. 2015) ( Crime of violence includes  manslaughter ). The Supreme Court has explained that commentary in the Guidelines Manual that interprets or explains a guideline is authoritative unless it violates the Constitution or a federal statute, or is inconsistent with, or a plainly erroneous reading of, that guideline. Stinson v. United States, 508 U.S. 36, 38, 113 S.Ct. 1913, 123 L.Ed.2d 598 (1993). Thus, under the 2015 Guidelines, manslaughter is effectively an enumerated offense. See United States v. Kosmes, 792 F.3d 973, 975 (8th Cir. 2015) (relying on the commentary to USSG  2L1.2(b)(1) to determine that manslaughter was an enumerated offense); cf. Beckles, 137 S.Ct. at 897 (Ginsburg, J., concurring in the judgment) (explaining that Beckles's as-applied challenge should fail because his prior conviction was expressly designated as a crime of violence by the official commentary).

Therefore, we follow the categorical approach, looking to see whether the state statute defining voluntary manslaughter categorically fits within the generic federal definition of a corresponding crime of violence. Kosmes, 792 F.3d at 975 (quoting United States v. Roblero-Ramirez, 716 F.3d 1122, 1125 (8th Cir. 2013)). [A] state offense is a categorical match with a generic federal offense only if a conviction of the state offense necessarily involved facts equating to the generic federal offense. Id. (quoting Moncrieffe v. Holder, 569 U.S. 184, 190, 133 S.Ct. 1678, 185 L.Ed.2d 727 (2013)) (cleaned up).( By generic federal definition of [voluntary manslaughter], we mean the sense in which the term is now used in the criminal codes of most States.  Id. at 976 (quoting Roblero-Ramirez, 716 F.3d at 1125)).

Oklahoma's criminal code defines the offense of manslaughter through the intersection of three statutory provisions. First, homicide is defined as the killing of one human being by another. Okla. Stat. tit. 21,  691(A). Homicide is then divided into four mutually-exclusive categories: murder, manslaughter, excusable homicide, or justifiable homicide. Id.  692. Each of those categories is subsequently defined, and voluntary manslaughtera further subset of manslaughteris defined as [h]omicide  perpetrated without a design to effect death, and in a heat of passion, but in a cruel and unusual manner, or by means of a dangerous weapon. Id.  711(2). Thus, we must determine whether this compound definition of voluntary manslaughter fits within the generic federal definition of manslaughter. See Kosmes, 792 F.3d at 975.

In Kosmes, we turned to the Model Penal Code for persuasive evidence of what constituted generic federal manslaughter, because the Model Penal Code provides the best generic, contemporary, and modern definition, [and] has been widely adopted. Id. at 977 (quoting United States v. Peterson, 629 F.3d 432, 436 (4th Cir. 2011)). We did so because the crime with which we were concerned, Guam involuntary (or reckless) manslaughter, tracked the Model Penal Code exactly. Compare 9 Guam Code Ann.  16.50a)(1) (Criminal homicide constitutes manslaughter when  it is committed recklessly ) with Model Penal Code  210.3(1)(a) (same). However, Kosmes addressed an issue not relevant to this appeal, as the defendant there raised a then-undecided question about whether a manslaughter statute that only required a mens rea of recklessness could qualify as a crime of violence. 792 F.3d at 97678.

Steward's case, on the other hand, presents a different question. This is becauseunlike involuntary manslaughter, which most often occurs when the defendant lacks the requisite mental state to commit homicide, see Wayne R. LaFave, Substantive Criminal Law  15.4(a) (discussing the lesser mens rea required to commit involuntary manslaughter)voluntary manslaughter functions more like a partial defense to murder, describing conduct undertaken intentionally but in the heat of passion. See LaFave  15.2(a) n.7 & accompanying text (citing, inter alia, Okla. Stat. tit. 21,  711); see also Davis, 268 P.3d at 111 (describing manslaughter as a defense). While the majority of states continue to follow this common law definition, see LaFave  15.2(a), the Model Penal Code has modernized the language, referring to a homicide which would otherwise be murder [that] is committed under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance  Model Penal Code  210.3(1)(b). For our purposes, this linguistic update, from heat of passion to extreme mental or emotional disturbance, makes no difference. Having examined Oklahoma case law, we discern nothing in the state's application and analysis of the voluntary manslaughter statute that demonstrates it departs in any meaningful way from the generic federal definition, and Steward provides none. We further note, by way of confirmation, that Oklahoma's statute is almost identical to the federal crime of voluntary manslaughter. See 18 U.S.C.  1112(a) (Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice  [u]pon a sudden quarrel or heat of passion.); see also Okla. Unif. Jury Inst., 116 P.3d at 148.

Oklahoma manslaughter also qualifies as a crime of violence under the 2016 Guidelineswhich, as of August 1, 2016, made voluntary manslaughter an explicitly enumerated offense. USSG  4B1.2(a)(2) (Aug. 2016). We have already determined that Oklahoma voluntary manslaughter satisfies the generic federal definition of manslaughter. Thus, because Oklahoma voluntary manslaughter qualifies as a crime of violence under both versions of the Guidelines, there is no Ex Post Facto Clause issue as to Steward's sentence, and he was properly sentenced as a career offender.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

FOOTNOTES

. The Honorable Timothy L. Brooks, United States District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas.

. The Oklahoma statute does not label the various types of first-degree manslaughter defined in  711. However, it is clear from the statute that each subsection describes a separate offense with distinct, non-overlapping elements. Cf. Mathis v. United States,  U.S. , 136 S.Ct. 2243, 2248, 195 L.Ed.2d 604 (2016) (describing a statutory provision that define[s] a single crime). The relevant definition in this casecontained in  711(2)is similar to the federal offense of voluntary manslaughter, defined in 18 U.S.C.  1112. See In re Okla. Unif. Jury Inst. for Juvenile Cases, 116 P.3d 119, 148 (Okla. 2005); Campbell v. State, 636 P.2d 352, 357 n.1 (Okla. Crim. App. 1981) (The distinction between murder and voluntary manslaughter is found in the dividing line between malicious action on the one hand and action in the heat of passion on the other ); Morgan v. State, 536 P.2d 952, 954, 959 (Okla. Crim. App. 1975) (describing voluntary manslaughter), overruled on other grounds by Walton v. State, 744 P.2d 977 (Okla. Crim. App. 1987); see also Brown v. State, 777 P.2d 1355, 1357 (Okla. Crim. App. 1989) (referring to heat of passion first degree manslaughter). Likewise,  711(1) describes misdemeanor manslaughter, State v. Ceasar, 237 P.3d 792, 794 (Okla. Crim. App. 2010), and  711(3) describes manslaughter by resisting criminal attempt, Davis v. State, 268 P.3d 86, 116 (Okla. Crim. App. 2011).

. Cleaned up is a new parenthetical used to eliminate unnecessary explanation of non-substantive prior alterations. See Jack Metzler, Cleaning Up Quotations, J. App. Prac. & Process (forthcoming 2018), http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2935374. This parenthetical can be used when extraneous, residual, non-substantive information has been removed, in this case, internal quotation marks, brackets, additional quoting parentheticals and an ellipsis. See also United States v. Reyes, 866 F.3d 316, 321 (5th Cir. 2017).

. Because they only serve to narrow the scope of the offense, both of the listed alternativesin a cruel and unusual manner and by means of a dangerous weapondo not need to be analyzed under Mathis, 136 S.Ct. at 2251 (contrasting elements and means).

. Oklahoma's statute does contain the additional requirement that the defendant have acted without a design to effect death. Okla. Stat. tit. 21,  711(2). However, our review of the case law indicates that that language has been interpreted to further emphasize the necessary level of passion for this quasi-defense to applyin other words, to downgrade the offense from murderrather than as a separate or additional element. See Davis, 268 P.3d at 111 (The heat of passion must render the mind incapable of forming a design to effect death before the defense of manslaughter is established.) (citing Allen v. State, 821 P.2d 371, 374 (Okla. Crim. App. 1991)); Eizember v. State, 164 P.3d 208, 236 (Okla. Crim. App. 2007) (The passion necessary to support a manslaughter instruction must be so great as to render the mind incapable of forming a design to effect death.  (quoting Charm v. State, 924 P.2d 754, 760 (Okla. Crim. App. 1996))); see also Bryson v. Ward, 187 F.3d 1193, 1208 (10th Cir. 1999) (citing Charm, 924 P.2d at 760 for the same proposition).

KELLY, Circuit Judge.Iftikhar Ali, 19, was jailed for more than three years for sending texts glorifying terrorism and downloading a document containing advice on how to sneak abroad to join ISIS

A teenager who sent WhatsApp text messages glorifying terrorism has been locked up for more than three years.

Iftikhar Ali was charged with 12 counts of transmission of a terrorism publication following his arrest in December 2016.

A judge sitting at the Old Bailey heard that the 19-year-old from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, sent the text messages between September and October 2015.

He was arrested on March 10, 2016, over a payment of 140 via Western Union to a man in Turkey, which he claimed in police interviews was for 'charitable purposes'.

After his arrest, counter terrorism officers discovered he had typed 'Kuffar', 'Jihad' and 'Sharia4UK' into his phone so much the terms were stored in the device's user dictionary.

He had also downloaded a 148-page document called 'Advice for those doing Hijrah', which contains advice about how to sneak abroad to join ISIS on his Sony Xperia.

At the time of his arrest, Ali had been living at home and had worked as a shop assistant for Sainsbury's.

In December 2015, Ali had been identified by the Prevent team but he failed to engage with them.

He was friends with convicted terrorist Taha Hussain, who was filmed driving past Windsor Castle shouting 'Allahu akbar' and 'burn in hell'.

The teen, from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had been identified by the Prevent team in December 2015 but he failed to engage with them

Prosecutor Mark Paltenghi previously said: 'It is the Crown's case that although he was young, he had already become a radicalised proponent and supporter of extreme Islamism.'

He was sentenced to three years and six months at a Young Offenders Institution.

Detective Superintendent Nigel Doak, Head of Investigations at CTP South East, said: 'Using social media to share messages which glorify terrorism and spread propaganda which clearly encourages others to commit terrorist acts, is unacceptable.

'It is clear from the evidence that has been presented that Ali had displayed support for Islamist ideology and today's sentencing sends out a strong message that actions such as those carried out by Ali will not be tolerated.

After his arrest, counter terrorism officers discovered he had typed 'Kuffar', 'Jihad' and 'Sharia4UK' into his phone so much the terms were stored in the device's user dictionary

'Officers and staff in Counter Terrorism Policing will continue to identify those responsible for sharing this kind of content, gather evidence and bring them before the courts, so that they may face justice. We will be relentless in our efforts to keep people safe.

'If you have concerns about a loved one then you can seek help either through your local police by calling 101 or visit www.preventtragedies.co.uk for information on how to spot the signs and prevent vulnerable people being targeted.

'We want to prevent potential tragedies and we need the support of communities in doing this.

'If you see or hear something that could be terrorist related, act on your instincts and call the police in confidence on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always dial 999. Visit gov.uk/ACT for more information, including how to report extremist or terrorist content that you come across online.'Thank you, Klaus, very much. It's a privilege to be here at this forum where leaders in business, science, art, diplomacy, and world affairs have gathered for many, many years to discuss how we can advance prosperity, security, and peace.

I'm here today to represent the interests of the American people and to affirm America's friendship and partnership in building a better world.

Like all nations represented at this great forum, America hopes for a future in which everyone can prosper, and every child can grow up free from violence, poverty, and fear.

Over the past year, we have made extraordinary strides in the U.S. We're lifting up forgotten communities, creating exciting new opportunities, and helping every American find their path to the American Dream -- the dream of a great job, a safe home, and a better life for their children.

At the podium: Trump addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos in a 15-minute speech

After years of stagnation, the United States is once again experiencing strong economic growth. The stock market is smashing one record after another, and has added more than $7 trillion in new wealth since my election. Consumer confidence, business confidence, and manufacturing confidence are the highest they have been in many decades.

Since my election, we've created 2.4 million jobs, and that number is going up very, very substantially. Small-business optimism is at an all-time high. New unemployment claims are near the lowest we've seen in almost half a century. African American unemployment has reached the lowest rate ever recorded in the United States, and so has unemployment among Hispanic Americans.

The world is witnessing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America. I'm here to deliver a simple message: There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest, and to grow in the United States. America is open for business, and we are competitive once again.

The American economy is by far the largest in the world, and we've just enacted the most significant tax cuts and reform in American history. We've massively cut taxes for the middle class and small businesses to let working families keep more of their hard-earned money. We lowered our corporate tax rate from 35 percent, all the way down to 21 percent. As a result, millions of workers have received tax cut bonuses from their employers in amounts as large as $3,000.

The tax cut bill is expected to raise the average American's household income by more than $4,000. The world's largest company, Apple, announced plans to bring $245 billion in overseas profits home to America. Their total investment into the United States economy will be more than $350 billion over the next five years.

Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs, and your investments to the United States. This is especially true because we have undertaken the most extensive regulatory reduction ever conceived. Regulation is stealth taxation. The U.S., like many other countries, unelected bureaucrats -- and we have -- believe me, we have them all over the place -- and they've imposed crushing and anti-business and anti-worker regulations on our citizens with no vote, no legislative debate, and no real accountability.

In America, those days are over. I pledged to eliminate two unnecessary regulations for every one new regulation. We have succeeded beyond our highest expectations. Instead of 2 for 1, we have cut 22 burdensome regulations for every 1 new rule. We are freeing our businesses and workers so they can thrive and flourish as never before. We are creating an environment that attracts capital, invites investment, and rewards production.

America is the place to do business. So come to America, where you can innovate, create, and build. I believe in America. As President of the United States, I will always put America first, just like the leaders of other countries should put their country first also.

But America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world. American prosperity has created countless jobs all around the globe, and the drive for excellence, creativity, and innovation in the U.S. has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and far healthier lives.

As the United States pursues domestic reforms to unleash jobs and growth, we are also working to reform the international trading system so that it promotes broadly shared prosperity and rewards to those who play by the rules.

We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others. We support free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal. Because, in the end, unfair trade undermines us all.

The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices, including massive intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, and pervasive state-led economic planning. These and other predatory behaviors are distorting the global markets and harming businesses and workers, not just in the U.S., but around the globe.

Just like we expect the leaders of other countries to protect their interests, as President of the United States, I will always protect the interests of our country, our companies, and our workers.

We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to our trading system. Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade can we create a system that works not just for the U.S. but for all nations.

As I have said, the United States is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial, bilateral trade agreements with all countries. This will include the countries in TPP, which are very important. We have agreements with several of them already. We would consider negotiating with the rest, either individually, or perhaps as a group, if it is in the interests of all.

My administration is also taking swift action in other ways to restore American confidence and independence. We are lifting self-imposed restrictions on energy production to provide affordable power to our citizens and businesses, and to promote energy security for our friends all around the world. No country should be held hostage to a single provider of energy.

America is roaring back, and now is the time to invest in the future of America. We have dramatically cut taxes to make America competitive. We are eliminating burdensome regulations at a record pace. We are reforming the bureaucracy to make it lean, responsive, and accountable. And we are ensuring our laws are enforced fairly.

We have the best colleges and universities in the world, and we have the best workers in the world. Energy is abundant and affordable. There has never been a better time to come to America.

We are also making historic investments in the American military because we cannot have prosperity without security. To make the world safer from rogue regimes, terrorism, and revisionist powers, we are asking our friends and allies to invest in their own defenses and to meet their financial obligations. Our common security requires everyone to contribute their fair share.

My administration is proud to have led historic efforts, at the United Nations Security Council and all around the world, to unite all civilized nations in our campaign of maximum pressure to de-nuke the Korean Peninsula. We continue to call on partners to confront Iran's support for terrorists and block Iran's path to a nuclear weapon.

We're also working with allies and partners to destroy jihadist terrorist organizations such as ISIS, and very successfully so. The United States is leading a very broad coalition to deny terrorists control of their territory and populations, to cut off their funding, and to discredit their wicked ideology.

I am pleased to report that the coalition to defeat ISIS has retaken almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria. There is still more fighting and work to be done and to consolidate our gains. We are committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who want to commit mass murder to our civilian populations. I want to thank those nations represented here today that have joined in these crucial efforts. You are not just securing your own citizens, but saving lives and restoring hope for millions and millions of people.

When it comes to terrorism, we will do whatever is necessary to protect our nation. We will defend our citizens and our borders. We are also securing our immigration system, as a matter of both national and economic security.

America is a cutting-edge economy, but our immigration system is stuck in the past. We must replace our current system of extended-family chain migration with a merit-based system of admissions that selects new arrivals based on their ability to contribute to our economy, to support themselves financially, and to strengthen our country.

In rebuilding America, we are also fully committed to developing our workforce. We are lifting people from dependence to independence, because we know the single best anti-poverty program is a very simple and very beautiful paycheck.

To be successful, it is not enough to invest in our economy. We must invest in our people. When people are forgotten, the world becomes fractured. Only by hearing and responding to the voices of the forgotten can we create a bright future that is truly shared by all.

The nation's greatness is more than the sum of its production. A nation's greatness is the sum of its citizens: the values, pride, love, devotion, and character of the people who call that nation home.

From my first international G7 Summit, to the G20, to the U.N. General Assembly, to APEC, to the World Trade Organization, and today at the World Economic Forum, my administration has not only been present, but has driven our message that we are all stronger when free, sovereign nations cooperate toward shared goals and they cooperate toward shared dreams.

Represented in this room are some of the remarkable citizens from all over the world. You are national leaders, business titans, industry giants, and many of the brightest minds in many fields.

Each of you has the power to change hearts, transform lives, and shape your countries' destinies. With this power comes an obligation, however -- a duty of loyalty to the people, workers, and customers who have made you who you are.

So together, let us resolve to use our power, our resources, and our voices, not just for ourselves, but for our people -- to lift their burdens, to raise their hopes, and to empower their dreams; to protect their families, their communities, their histories, and their futures.

That's what we're doing in America, and the results are totally unmistakable. It's why new businesses and investment are flooding in. It's why our unemployment rate is the lowest it's been in so many decades. It's why America's future has never been brighter.

Today, I am inviting all of you to become part of this incredible future we are building together.

Thank you to our hosts, thank you to the leaders and innovators in the audience. But most importantly, thank you to all of the hardworking men and women who do their duty each and every day, making this a better world for everyone. Together, let us send our love and our gratitude to make them, because they really make our countries run. They make our countries great.

Thank you, and God bless you all. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Thank you very much.

Question and answer: Trump say down with Klaus Schwab after the speech for a brief question and answer sessions

Trump then sat down for a question and answer session with Klaus Schwab, executive chairman of the World Economic Forum.

MR. SCHWAB: Thank you, Mr. President, for this inspiring speech. As it is tradition at the forum, I will ask you one or two questions.

And my first question is, why is the tax reform -- why has it been of such a high priority for your administration?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, first of all, Klaus, I want to congratulate you. This is an incredible group of people. We had dinner last night with about 15 leaders of industry, none of whom I knew, but all of whom I've read about for years. And it was truly an incredible group. But I think I have 15 new friends. So this has been really great what you've done and putting it together, the economic forum.

The tax reform was a dream of a lot of people over many years, but they weren't able to get it done. Many people tried, and Ronald Reagan was really the last to make a meaningful cut and reform. And ours is cutting and reforming. We emphasize cut, but the reform is probably almost as important. We've wanted to do it. It is very tough, politically, to do it. Hard to believe that would be, but it is very, very tough. That's why it hasn't been done in close to 40 years.

And once we got it going, it was going. And the big -- and I wouldn't say a total surprise, but one of the big things that happened and took place is AT&T and some others came out very early and they said they were going to pay thousands and thousands of dollars to people that work for their companies. And you have 300,000, 400,000, 500,000 people working for these companies, and all of a sudden it became like a big waterfall, a big, beautiful waterfall where so many companies are doing it. And even today they just announced many more. But every day they announce more and more. And now it's a fight for who's going to give the most. It started at 1,000, and now we have them up to 3,000.

This is something that we didn't anticipate. Oftentimes in business, things happen that you don't anticipate. Usually that's a bad thing, but this was a good thing. This came out of nowhere. Nobody ever thought of this as a possibility even. It wasn't in the equation. We waited -- we said, wait until February 1st when the checks start coming in. And people, Klaus, have a lot more money in their paycheck -- because it's not just a little money, this is a lot of money for people making a living doing whatever they may be doing.

And we really though February 1st it was going to kick in and everybody was going to be -- well, we haven't even gotten there yet and it's kicked in. And it's had an incredible impact on the stock market and the stock prices. We've set 84 records since my election -- record stock market prices, meaning we hit new highs 84 different times out of a one-year period. And that's a great thing. And in all fairness, that was done before we passed the tax cuts and tax reform.

So what happened is really something special. Then, as you know, and as I just said, Apple came in with $350 billion. And I tell you, I spoke with Tim Cook; I said, Tim, I will never consider this whole great run that we've made complete until you start building plants in the U.S. And I will tell you, this moved up very substantially. But when I heard 350, I thought he was talking -- I thought they were talking $350 million. And, by the way, that's a nice-sized plant. Not the greatest, but not bad. And they said, 'No, sir. It's $350 billion.' I said, that is something.

Well, we have tremendous amounts of money, including my newfound friends from last night -- great companies. They're all investing. When one of the gentlemen said he's putting in $2 billion because of the tax cuts, I said to myself, 'Wow, he's actually the cheap one in the group' -- because they're putting in massive numbers of billions of dollars.

So I think you have a brand-new United States. You have a United States where people from all over the world are looking to come in and invest, and there's just nothing like what's happening.

And I just want to finish by -- I have a group of people that have been so -- I have a whole lot of them, so I won't introduce because then I'll insult at least half of them. But I've had a group of people that worked so hard on this and other things.

And we're really doing -- we had a great first year -- so successful in so many different ways. And there's a tremendous spirit. When you look at all of the different charts and polls, and you see, as an example, African American unemployment at the historic low -- it's never had a period of time like this. Same with Hispanic. Women at a 17-year low. It's very heartwarming to see. But there's a tremendous spirit in the United States. I would say it's a spirit like I have never witnessed before. I've been here for awhile. I have never witnessed the spirit that our country has right now.

So I just want to thank you all, and all those that are pouring billions of dollars into our country, or ten dollars into our country, we thank you very much. Thank you.

MR. SCHWAB: Mr. President, I will ask you, maybe, a personal question. But before doing so, I'd just like to --

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Sounds very interesting.

MR. SCHWAB: -- acknowledge that --

PRESIDENT TRUMP: I didn't know about this one.

MR. SCHWAB: I would like to acknowledge the strong presence of your Cabinet members --

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yes.

MR. SCHWAB: -- who tremendously contributed to the discussions the last (inaudible).

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Good, I would like to do that. That's very nice.

MR. SCHWAB: Yeah. Now --

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Steven, Wilbur, Gary, Robert, even my General and my various other generals, you know. We're making our military protection a little bit better for us too. So thank you very much. Does everybody understand that? I think so. Thank you all for being here.

MR. SCHWAB: Now my, maybe personal, question would be: What experience from your past have been most useful in preparing you for the Presidency?

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, being a businessman has been a great experience for me. I've loved it. I've always loved business. I've always been good at building things, and I've always been successful at making money. I'd buy things that would fail --that would be failures -- and I'd turn them around and try and get them for the right price, and then I'd turn them around and make them successful. And I've been good at it. And that takes a certain ability.

And, you know, historically, I guess, there's never really been a businessman or businessperson elected President. It's always been a general or a politician. Throughout history, it's always been a general -- you had to be a general -- but mostly it was politicians. You never have a businessman.

And then, in all fairness, I was saying to Klaus last night: Had the opposing party to me won -- some of whom you backed, some of the people in the room -- instead of being up almost 50 percent -- the stock market is up since my election almost 50 percent -- rather than that, I believe the stock market from that level, the initial level, would have been down close to 50 percent. That's where we were heading. I really believe that -- because they were going to put on massive new regulations. You couldn't breathe. It was choking our country to death. And I was able to see that, Klaus, as a businessperson.

The other thing is, I've always seemed to get, for whatever reason, a disproportionate amount of press or media. (Laughter.) Throughout my whole life -- somebody will explain someday why -- but I've always gotten a lot. (Laughter.) And as businessman I was always treated really well by the press. The numbers speak and things happen, but I've always really had a very good press. And it wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be. As the cameras start going off in the background. (Laughter.)

But overall -- I mean, the bottom line -- somebody said, well, they couldn't have been that bad because here we are -- we're President. And I think we're doing a really great job with my team. I have a team of just tremendous people, and I think we're doing a very special job. And I really believe it was time, and it was time to do that job, because I don't think the United States would have done very well if it went through four or eight more years of regulation and, really, a very anti-business group of people.

We have a very pro-business group. We have regulations cut to a level -- in the history of our country, Klaus -- this was reported recently. In one year we've cut more regulations in my administration than any other administration in four, eight, or sixteen years, in the one case. We've cut more regulations in one year, and we have a ways to go. I mean, we're probably 50 percent done.

And we're going to have regulation. There's nothing wrong with rules and regulations; you need them. But we've cut more than any administration ever in the history of our country, and we still have a ways to go. So I think between that and the tremendous tax cuts, we've really done something.

And one other thing I said -- and I saw it last night with some of the leaders and the businesspeople -- I think I've been a cheerleader for our country, and everybody representing a company or a country has to be a cheerleader, or no matter what you do, it's just not going to work. And the reason I'm a cheerleader is because it's easy -- because I love our country and I think we're just doing really well.

And we look forward to seeing you in America -- special place -- and where you are is a special place also.

Thank you all very much. I appreciate it. (Applause.)

MR. SCHWAB: Thank you. Thank you very much, Mr. President, for being with us.

The World Economic Forum community, who is assembled here, will be certainly -- and I quote you from the last piece of your remarks -- will be certainly among 'the hardworking men and women who do their duty each and every day making this world a better place for everyone.'

Thank you very much for being with us.

PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you. Thank you very much everybody. Thank you. (Applause.)North Korea violated UN sanctions last year by shipping coal to Russia which was then delivered to South Korea and Japan, Western European intelligence sources said.

The UN Security Council banned North Korean exports of coal on August 5 under sanctions intended to cut off an important source of foreign currency Pyongyang needs to fund its nuclear weapon and missile programmes.

But the secretive Communist state has since shipped coal to the Russian ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk at least three times, where it was unloaded at docks and reloaded onto ships that took it to South Korea or Japan, sources said.

A U.S. security source also confirmed the coal trade via Russia and said it was continuing.

North Korea violated UN sanctions last year by shipping coal to Russia. The UN security council created sanctions intended to cut off an important source of foreign currency Pyongyang needs to fund its nuclear weapon and missile programmes

Asked about the shipments, a U.S. State Department spokesman said: 'It's clear that Russia needs to do more. All UN member states, including Russia, are required to implement sanctions resolutions in good faith and we expect them all to do so.'

A State Department official added: 'There is no more time for excuses. The world is watching Russia's actions closely.

'Russia says it wants better relations with the United States, so Moscow should prove that by cooperating with us, not working against us, on this urgent threat to all nations.'

Two separate routes for the coal were identified by the Western security sources.

The first used vessels from North Korea via Nakhodka, about 53 miles (85km) east of the Russian city of Vladivostok.

One vessel that used this route was the Palau-flagged Jian Fu which Russian port control documents show delivered 17,415 tonnes of coal after sailing from Nampo in North Korea to LLC Port Livadiya in Nakhodka.

Another ship at the same port loaded 20,500 tonnes of coal and headed to the South Korean port of Ulsan, according to Russian port control documents.

Two separate routes for the coal were identified by the Western security sources. The first used vessels from North Korea via Nakhodka (Pictured: Livadiya Port in Nakhodka)

Reuters was unable to reach the operator of the Jian Fu, which was listed in shipping directories as the China-based Sunrise Ship Management. The Nakhodka-based transport agent of the Jian Fu did not respond to written and telephone requests for comment. LLC Port Livadiya did not respond to a written request for comment.

A European security source said: 'Russia's port of Nakhodka is becoming a transhipping hub for North Korean coal.'

The second route took coal via Kholmsk on the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin, north of Japan.

The Rung Ra 2 docked in Kholmsk three times between August 1 and September 12, unloading a total of 15,542 tonnes of coal, while the Ul Ji Bong 6 unloaded a total of 10,068 tonnes of coal on two separate port calls according to the official Russian Information System for State Port Control.

The coal did not pass Russian customs because of the UN sanctions taking effect, but was then loaded at the same dock onto Chinese-operated vessels. Those vessels stated their destination in Russian port control documents as North Korea, according to a source in Sakhalin port administration who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Asked to respond to the report, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Russia abided by international law.

The second used the port in Kholmsh (pictured). A State Department official said: 'Russia says it wants better relations with the United States, so Moscow should prove that by cooperating with us, not working against us, on this urgent threat to all nations'

Mr Peskov told reporters on a conference call: 'Russia is a responsible member of the international community.'

The U.S. Treasury put the owner of one of the ships, the UAL Ji Bong 6, under sanctions for delivering North Korean coal to Kholmsk on September 5 on Wednesday.

Asked about the shipments identified by Reuters, Matthew Oresman, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who advises companies on sanctions, said: 'Based on these facts, there appears to be a violation of the UN Security Council resolution by the parties involved.

'Also those involved in arranging, financing, and carrying out the shipments could likely face U.S. sanctions.'

The United States has led efforts to toughen UN sanctions to force North Korea to give up development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting America.

In Beijing on Friday, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters she did not know anything about the situation but China was clear in its hope that the UN resolutions are followed fully.

China will not allow any Chinese company or individual to do anything that goes against the resolutions and if there is cast-iron proof this is happening, China will handle it seriously and in accordance with the law, she added.A couple have been questioned by police and accused of handing poisoned drinks to workers on a tree felling scheme that has left a city up in arms.

Retired health and safety officer Dr John Unwin and his architect wife Sue said they were astounded to be visited by detectives last Saturday and spoken to voluntarily.

The couple, who have been fighting Sheffield councils moves to fell the beautiful limes outside their Victorian villa as part of a scheme to remove 6,000 trees in the city, even had their kitchen cupboards searched.

Neither has been arrested but Dr Unwin, who handed out the drinks, has been told he may have to attend a police station at a later date.

Retired health and safety officer Dr John Unwin and his architect wife Sue said they were astounded to be visited by detectives last Saturday and spoken to voluntarily

South Yorkshire Police said the accusations against them date from October when the Unwins served two cups of tea and an orange squash to three tree surgeons working near their home on Chatsworth Road in the upmarket suburb of Dore, where houses sell for up to 500,000.

All three men are said to have become violently ill, with one needing hospital treatment.

Dr Unwin, 60, and his 59-year-old wife, who have two grown-up sons, vehemently deny any wrongdoing and insist they served the drinks only as a delaying tactic to frustrate the felling work.

So far, five of the lime trees on the street have been chopped down, with two more to follow. The city council is felling thousands of trees as part of a highways maintenance programme, including healthy species where it says their roots are causing an obstruction or damage.

The couple, who have been fighting Sheffield councils moves to fell beautiful limes outside their Victorian villa, even had their kitchen cupboards searched

Dr Unwin, whose front gates are decorated with the yellow ribbons which have become the symbol of tree protesters in the city, said: Poisoning peoples tea sounds like a plot from an Agatha Christie novel or something involving a Russian dissident  but Sheffields a different place. We dont do that kind of thing.

You couldnt make it up. Im just sorry the police are having to waste their time.

Dr Unwin, who was involved in chemical safety when he worked for the Health and Safety Executive, added: We were astounded to be visited by CID. There were two officers, a man and a woman.

Mrs Unwin said: Even though it allegedly happened so long ago, we never heard anything about it until last Saturday. Its alleged we put something in the drinks which hospitalised one of them and the other two had to take time off work. Im horrified that anyone could do something like that.

The alleged poisoning comes as members of protest group Sheffield Tree Action Group (STAG) were accused of adopting intimidating tactics to disrupt contractors

She added that she and other residents have tried to negotiate with the council over the number of trees being felled. We had a ballot on the street and 80 per cent said they shouldnt be felled, Mrs Unwin said. An independent panel advising the council said they were healthy and should be left but they are going ahead anyway. They said if they compromise for us theyll have to do the same for everyone else.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed details of the investigation. Officers have carried out forensic tests and taken witness statements, but no arrests have been made, a spokesman said.

The alleged poisoning comes as members of protest group Sheffield Tree Action Group (STAG) were accused of adopting intimidating tactics to disrupt contractors, including filming them and subjecting them to verbal abuse while wearing masks to prevent them being identified.

Action group treasurer Professor Chris Rust said last night the claims against Dr and Mrs Unwin were part of a smear campaign to discredit the tree protesters.

He added: The timing of the poisoning allegation being made public is interesting as its exactly when the city council and its contractors are facing allegations of using excessive force to remove protesters from work zones.This is the adorable moment a six-year-old girl helps her disabled sister to take her first steps.

After her mothers waters broke at just 12 weeks pregnant Seren Ricketts was never expected to survive.

But despite the risks, Fay, 32 from Birmingham who battled cervical cancer three months earlier, managed to continue with her pregnancy while on bed rest in hospital.

Seren Ricketts (right) was born with a club foot and arthrogryposis and was told that she was unlikely to ever walk, her mother Fay claims that thanks to her sister Isla (left) she has managed to take her first steps

Isla, six has been by her sister Seren's side since she was born

When Seren was born was she was diagnosed with a club foot and arthrogryposis, a condition that causes pain and stiffness in every joint across the body.

Doctors predicted that the little girl would never walk but two years on Seren has taken her first steps.

This is thanks to an inseparable bond with her sister Isla, six, who has been at her side since she was born.

When their mother Fay was pregnant with Seren but her waters broke at 12 weeks meaning she had to stay on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy

Isla (right) has 'kept the family going' after Fay's difficult pregnancy with Seren (left), her cancer diagnosis and the loss of their father Karl

Faye, a beauty business owner, said: 'I'd fallen pregnant just a few weeks after being treated for cervical cancer.

'After my waters broke at 12 weeks no one thought Seren would survive and we were given the option to terminate.

'But I refused and looking at her now, I couldn't be more proud of her and how much she's achieved.

'Isla dotes on her sister and has always wanted to play with her despite her disabilities.

Isla dotes on her sister and has always wanted to play with her despite her disabilities

'To her she's just like any other two year old and its Isla's encouragement that has given Seren the confidence to start walking.

'After battling cervical cancer in 2014 I had an operation to remove my cervix and it's the reason I had so many complications with Seren.

'Just eight months after she was born my husband, Karl, then 31, died suddenly from a brain haemorrhage.

Doctors didn't know whether Seren would ever hit any milestones as at first, they were unsure how her disability would affect her

Isla and Seren have had an inseparable bond ever since Seren was born

'It was such a heartbreaking time as we were just dealing with Seren and her disabilities and my cancer diagnosis.

'But Isla has kept us going, she was the happy positive light that I needed and together we've battled through.'

Doctors didn't know whether Seren would ever hit any milestones as at first, they were unsure how her disability would affect her.

Fay added: 'Because my waters broke at 12 weeks no one knew whether Seren would survive let alone what complications she'd later face.

Fay says that Seren looks slightly different to other children because she was born early but she doesn't have any genetic conditions

'It was a waiting game once she was born to find out how she'd develop.

'We knew they'd be delays but we were so happy when she started to talk and now that she's walking and even dancing with Isla, it's amazing.

'She looks slightly different to other children her age because she was born earlier but she doesn't have any genetic conditions.'

Faye - who has been cancer free since 2014 - is now sharing her story to give other parents hope.

Seren's mother always knew there would be delays with her milestones but says it is amazing to see her playing and dancing with her sister

Fay said thanks to her daughters she has managed to get through each day

She added: 'After going through cancer, my water breaking at 12 weeks and almost losing Seren, to then lose my husband, Karl, I never thought things would improve.

'But thanks to my daughters I have managed to get through each day at a time.

'Their special bond is unbreakable and Isla loves her sister to bits.

'I'm now in a new relationship and have two successful businesses.

'I want to show anyone else going through a tough time that things do get easier.

'I've never heard of a baby surviving from 12 weeks without any waters but Seren is a little miracle.

'I'm sure with me and Isla at her side that she's continue to prove everyone wrong.'Amanda Knox is charging up to 7,000 to give speeches about the Meredith Kercher murder case.

The American dubbed Foxy Knoxy has embarked on the lecture circuit to talk about how she was cleared twice for the 2007 death.

Miss Kercher, 21, an exchange student from Coulsdon, Surrey, had her throat cut at the apartment in Perugia, Italy, she shared with Knox.

Scroll down for video

Making money: Amanda Knox is charging up to 7,000 to give speeches about how she was cleared twice in the Meredith Kercher murder case

Now the American, 30, has signed with an agency and has appeared several times on the U.S. college circuit, charging up to 7,000, plus expenses.

On Wednesday she told an audience at Roanoke College, Virginia, that she had been cast as a 'she-devil'.

'I believed that didn't matter because only truth mattered,' Knox told the audience at the college on Wednesday night.

'The nonsense spattered about me didn't matter. I thought it just showed that it was a weak case. I still believed there was a light at the end of the tunnel because the truth mattered,' The Roanoke Times quoted her as saying.

Above, Knox when she heard about the acquittal in 2011. Rudy Guede (right) was also tried in a separate trial and found guilty of Kercher's murder. He remains imprisoned

Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito (pictured together above), were initially convicted of Kercher's murder - in what was painted as a sex-game gone wrong

Meredith Kercher was a British student on exchange from the University of Leeds who was murdered in Perugia, Italy, on 1 November 2007

The former prison inmate also addressed the notorious incident when she and her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were captured on camera kissing.

'I didn't think ultimately that this would matter in a courtroom.' she said 'I didn't see that train coming my way, because it never in my wildest nightmares occurred to me that I could be wrongfully convicted.

'When the prosecution and media crafted their story, they created this doppelganger version of me to fit that story.

'Foxy Knoxy, she was the blank slate to which everyone could project their fears, their judgment and their uncertainties. People really liked those stories: the 'man eater,' the 'she-devil.' And they convicted her.

'If I've learned anything, you can't uncover the truth by ignoring the messy reality, and the messy reality of our justice system is that it was filled by and implemented by flawed but mostly well-intentioned people.

'I want to do better. I want to acknowledge the truth. Because the question isn't whether something bad is ever going to happen to you, it's what you're going to do with it.'

The Roanoke Times said that she 'choked back emotions several times as she recounted her story from more than a decade ago when she was an American student studying in Italy and found herself in the international spotlight after she was accused of killing her roommate in a case that inspired gutter headlines'.

On November 1, 2007, Kercher was found beaten and stabbed to death in the apartment she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy, where they were both studying abroad

It described her talk as a 'sober take on the sensational tabloid coverage of her eight-year battle with the Italian legal system and the truth-seeking process that she clung to until Italy's highest court overturned the murder conviction of Knox and her boyfriend in 2015, ending the courtroom drama over the killing of British student Meredith Kercher'.

But the cleared killer's decision to enter the lecture circuit has not been well-received by Frencesco Maresca, the Kercher family's lawyer.

'Knox should think about her life without continuing to return to this sad affair from which she has been the only one to profit, both in terms of fame and money.'

Knox and Kercher were studying abroad in Perugia, Italy on November 1, 2007 when Kercher was found stabbed to death in their apartment after a sex game had apparently gone wrong.

Knox, from Seattle, Washington, and her Italian boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, were originally convicted in Kercher's death But they were acquitted three years later when their defense team proved that there wasn't enough evidence to connect them to the crime.

Rudy Guede was also tried in a separate trial and found guilty of Kercher's murder. He remains imprisoned.Mayor Joy Cooper of Hallandale Beach was arrested Thursday on three felony charges following an undercover FBI investigation

Mayor of Hallandale Beach was arrested Thursday on three felony charges following an undercover FBI investigation.

The Broward State Attorney's Office said in a news release Thursday that Mayor Joy Cooper surrendered on the charges and turned herself in to state prosecutors. Subsequently she was booked into Broward County Jail.

A statement released by the Broward State Attorney's Office said Cooper was charged with 'multiple campaign finance violations' stemming from an FBI undercover operation in May of 2012, including three felonies, reported the Miami Herald.

The felony charges are money laundering, official misconduct and exceeding campaign contribution limits.

Prosecutors say Cooper, a Democrat, also is charged with the misdemeanor soliciting contributions in a government building.

Cooper is pictured here with Rabbi Raphael Tennenhaus (left) and Florida Governor Rick Scott (center) at The Chabad of South Broward in Hallandale, Florida

Investigators say she 'solicited campaign contributions for herself and others in amounts exceeding the legal limits, and caused those contributions to be falsely reported in campaign reports.'

Apparently she also solicited contributions of $1,500 each for then-commissioners William Julian and Anthony Saunders, according to the State Attorney's Office.

The felonies carry maximum prison sentences of five years. The misdemeanor has a maximum one-year prison term.

Her bond was set at $12,000 for the four charges, and she was released Thursday evening, her lawyer said.

Video Courtesy Local 10

Cooper (left) is pictured here with Tomas Lopez (center) in July 9, 2012 at City Hall in Hallandale Beach, Florida

Her attorney, Larry Davis, said he was unsure why Cooper was targeted in the sting.

'We look forward to our day in court, and Mayor Cooper's vindication,' Davis said in a statement.

State prosecutors said undercover agents posing as wealthy land owners had several meetings over several months with Cooper.

Apparently the meetings were documented through audio and video recording.

Cooper has been Hallandale Beach mayor since 2005 and previously served on the city commission beginning in 1999.

Hallandale Beach is south of Fort Lauderdale.Murder suspect James Kauffman, 68, has been found dead in his New Jersey jail cell

Authorities say a New Jersey doctor accused of arranging the murder of his radio host wife to keep her from exposing a drug ring he was running with a biker gang has been found dead in his jail cell, having killed himself.

A spokesman for Hudson County says Dr. James Kauffman, 68, was found dead in his cell at 9:20 a.m. Friday in what authorities termed an apparent suicide at the county jail in Kearney.

They did not release details of how Kauffman is believed to have taken his own life, but say there does not appear to be any indication of foul play.

Kauffman was charged with arranging the 2012 murder of his wife, April, to prevent her from exposing an illegal drug distribution ring he was allegedly running with the Pagans biker gang.

Kauffman had been moved to Hudson County Jail in Kearney, New Jersey, for his protection where he took his own life. He left a six-page suicide note but was not on suicide watch

According to NJ.com, Kauffman suffocated himself and a six-page suicide note was discovered. He was not on suicide watch.

Kauffman didn't hang himself, but instead tied something around his neck and laid face down on his bunk.

As a result, it appeared he was still sleeping and staff doing rounds didn't notice anything wrong until he didn't respond.

Kauffman was next due in court on February 21.

He had only recently been moved to the Hudson County jail for his own safety, authorities said, after they uncovered a plot to kill him.

Kim Pack, step-daughter of James Kauffman and daughter of murder victim April Kauffman, poses with a photo of her late mother, talk-show host April Kauffman

Prosecutors said Kaufmann killed April (pictured) after she learned about his illegal activity and tried to get him to agree to a divorce

April, a radio talk show host was gunned down in her home in May 2012.

Kauffman had long maintained his innocence, a stance his attorney, Louis Barbone, repeated just weeks ago.

Kauffman was charged with murder in addition to racketeering related to the illegal distribution of narcotics through his former medical practice.

An unshaven Kauffman made his initial court appearance earlier this month

Kauffman had also been charged with 1st degree racketeering

The charges, including those relating to his wife's murder-for-hire, came after more than five years of investigation.

Kauffman was arrested last summer following an armed standoff with police at his medical practice.

Authorities said he brandished a handgun as agents executed a search warrant and said, 'I'm not going to jail for this!' A hostage negotiator soon persuaded him to surrender.

April Kauffman's daughter, Kimberly Pack, who had long stated that her stepfather killed her mother, said the death 'forever changed my life.'

Pack had earlier fought a legal battle against her stepfather sparked by his attempts to claim April Kauffman's two life insurance policies.

His claim was turned down because prosecutors couldn't provide a letter saying he wasn't considered a suspect.

The casket of April Kauffman is carried from Beth El Synagogue, in Margate, N.J., after the funeral service Monday May 14, 2012

Police work the scene of the fatal shooting of April Kauffman, a local radio talk show host, businesswoman and community volunteer found dead in her Linwood, N.J.

April was a local businesswoman who hosted weekly talk shows and advocated for military veterans.

61-year-old Ferdinand 'Miserable' Augello, was also charged in the death of Kauffman's 47-year-old wife

She had received a governor's award for outstanding community service a few days before her death.

In the summer of 2011, April Kauffman wanted a divorce and after James Kauffman objected she threatened to expose the a drug ring that he allegedly was involved with.

One of his alleged accomplices, 61-year-old Ferdinand 'Miserable' Augello was was charged with the death of Kauffman's wife.

The man who agreed to do it, Francis Mullholland, was driven to the Kauffman's home, where the doors were left open, and was given a gun, authorities said. April was shot twice, and her body was found by a handyman.

Mullholland said he received about $20,000 in cash for the killing and was later found dead of a drug overdose.

The others implicated in the case include Joseph Mulholland, 52, Beverly Augello, 47, and Glenn Seeler, 37, who are charged with first-degree racketeering.

Paul Pagano, 61, and Tabitha Chapman, 35, were charged with second-degree racketeering.

Joseph Mullholland, left, was suspected of carrying out the shooting. He was found dead from a drug overdose a year after the killing. Glen Seeler, 37, right, was charged with racketeering

Paul Pagano, 61, left, Tabitha Chapman, 35, center and, Beverly Augello, 47, right, were charged with racketeering

For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255Former US Olympic volleyball player Kim Willoughby, 37 (pictured), will not stand trial after being charged with murder and child abuse in the March 2016 death of her three-year-old daughter, Kailia

A judge in Puerto Rico has said there is not enough evidence to charge a former US Olympic volleyball player in the 2016 death of her young daughter.

Authorities said on Friday that 2008 silver medalist Kim Willoughby, 37, had been accused of murder and child abuse

However, Judge Maria del Pilar Vazque declared on Friday that there was no cause for trial despite the charges.

A former US Olympic volleyball player has been charged by police in Puerto Rico in the 2016 death of her young daughter.

At the moment, it is unclear if prosecutor Esteban Miranda will appeal the decision.

In March 2016, Willoughby was allegedly searching for a towel around 9:45am when her three-year-old daughter, Kailia, slipped and hit her head, according to a police report.

CPR was performed, but the toddler was pronounced dead upon her arrival at the Medical Center of Mayaguez.

During the investigation, it was found that the blows she suffered were incompatible with the alleged fall.

'The Forensic Science report showed that the cause of death was not compatible with a fall. On the contrary, the cause of death was a severe corporal blow,' said Commander Janice Rodriguez, of the Criminal Investigation Body of Mayaguez.

Willoughby was a member of the US Olympic team that took home the silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after losing to Brazil in the finals.

Afterwards, she moved to Italy to continue her professional career. She tested positive for nandrolone - a steroid - after a match for her Italian team, Perugia, in April 2009.

In September 2009, it was announced that Willoughby was given a two-year suspension from the Italian Olympic Committee, to end in July 2011, reported the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

Willoughby told police she was searching for a towel around 9.45am when Kailia slipped and hit her head, according to a police report. CPR was performed, but the toddler was pronounced dead upon her arrival at the Medical Center of Mayaguez (Pictured, left, at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and, right, in June 2008 playing for Team USA)

Following that, Willoughby moved to Puerto Rico to play for various teams in the Puerto Rican league. She is currently a member of the Indias de Mayaguez.

This is not Willoughby's first run-in with the law.

In June 2001, Honolulu police charged her with abuse of a family or household member and third-degree assault, both misdemeanors. One month later, Willoughby entered deferred guilty pleas to both charges.

A judge declared that there was a lack of evidence despite an investigation finding that the blows Kailia suffered were incompatible with the alleged fall (Pictured, Willoughby at the 2008 Beijing Olympics)

In September 2008, Willoughby (pictured, in June 2008 playing for Team USA) was arrested for assaulting a woman outside a Honolulu night club in December 2006 and given five years' probation

Five days after police charged Willoughby in the case, the victim filed for a temporary restraining order against her, leading a judge to issue a three-year protective order.

In September 2008, she was arrested for assaulting a woman outside a Honolulu night club in December 2006.

Willoughby allegedly got into an altercation with Sara Daniel at the Pipeline Cafe in Kakaako, causing severe bone fractures to Daniel's face.

Willoughby claimed self-defense, but prosecutor Sherri Chun disagreed, saying: 'This incident was not self-defense. [Willoughby] followed [Daniel] out of the club, and that's when this all happened.'

The volleyball star pleaded no contest in a plea agreement with the state and was sentenced to five years' probation. In January 2012, she was granted an early end to her probation.How long did it take psychiatric patient Daniel Atkins to make a mockery of the decision to release him into the community? Precisely two days. He then proceeded to beat his 71-year-old neighbour to death at his flat in Bromley, South-East London.

The results of an independent investigation into the tragedy, commissioned by NHS England, are about to be made public  but we already know about some of the failures which culminated in the death of retired engineer Ronald Parsons in March 2014.

These failures were laid bare in evidence which emerged at Atkins trial at the Old Bailey the following year. Fatally flawed were the words the judge used to describe his discharge from a mental health unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich  just 48 hours before Mr Parsons was killed.

Over the past 15 years 18 patients have gone on to kill after being left at large by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. Pictured: Jackie Craissati, the controversial psychologist whose report contributed to the decision to free taxi rapist John Warboys, worked at Oxleas as clinical director between 2010 and 2016

Atkins, whod suffered a lifetime of mental health issues, himself told staff that he was not ready for life on the outside. His opinion was ignored.

Atkins mother said he was too ill to leave hospital. Her concerns were not heeded either.

Atkins own psychologist was not even consulted about the decision to release him.

Atkins, in his 30s, was found unfit to plead at his trial because of his severe mental condition and was transferred to Broadmoor maximum security hospital, where he remains today

Mr Parsons never married but was much loved and is missed by his large extended family.

Ron was a quiet and private man who wouldnt hurt a fly, said his nephew Steven Parsons, 60. The circumstances in which he was killed are not something any of us can ever get over.

Yesterday, Steven met health officials to discuss the findings of the inquiry into his uncles death ahead of the publication of a report which will surely reignite the controversy surrounding care in the community.

Sally Hodkin, 58, who was decapitated with a butcher's knife by schizophrenic Nicola Edgington in Bexleyheath, south London, in 2011

But, the Mail can reveal, behind Ronald Parsons death is an even bigger scandal involving the trust which runs the unit where Daniel Atkins was being treated.

Shockingly, over the past 15 years, no fewer than 18 patients  yes, 18  have gone on to kill after being left at large by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. The list of victims breaks the heart. They include a former midwife strangled by her daughter, a father beaten in an alleyway following a row in a pub, a man whose throat was slit by his neighbour and a householder brutally assaulted during a burglary.

And these chilling events took place in just one area of the country, remember. The impact on the victims families is unimaginable.

This figure [18] is far too high and the number is not decreasing, so there is no evidence that Oxleas is learning any lessons from these appalling tragedies, said Julian Hendy, who founded the Hundred Families charity  so called because around 100 families a year in the UK will have a loved one killed by someone with mental illness. His own father was fatally stabbed by a psychotic patient in Bristol in 2007.

The Oxleas cases  Oxleas provides specialist mental health care at 125 sites in the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich  were uncovered in a series of Freedom of Information requests by Mr Hendy and are revealed publicly, by the Mail, for the first time today.

Paul Geddes, 32, was beaten to death with appalling savagery by schizophrenic Nabeel Aljubori during a night-long burglary rampage at his home in Plumstead in 2003

A spotlight was turned on Oxleas in the wake of the furore over Black Cab rapist John Worboys.

The psychologist whose report to the parole board contributed to the decision to free him was named as Jackie Craissati, who used to work for Oxleas. She was based at Oxleas Bracton Centre from 1988 and was clinical director between 2010 and 2016.

Last week, this newspaper reported that she was implicated in the case of one of the 18 Oxleas patients we focus on today. The case in question was Nicola Edgington.

In 2011, Edgington, armed with a stolen butchers cleaver, virtually decapitated grandmother Sally Hodkin as she walked to work in Bexleyheath, South-East London, after Edgington was allowed to leave Bracton. Dr Craissati was later featured in a highly critical 2012 report into the murder of Mrs Hodkin by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Edgington, having been judged well enough to leave Bracton, was moved to a house in Greenwich but Dr Craissati, while not involved in the decision to release her, did not notify police she had moved to the neighbourhood as she should have done.

At least two other patients at the centre of todays revelations were also at Bracton but Dr Craissati was not involved in the decision to release them.

First, some background.

Managing mental health patients is notoriously difficult and potentially dangerous. The shortage of psychiatric beds nationally (dropping from 67,122 in 1987 to 18,353 in 2018) has left the system in crisis, according to experts.

The upshot, they argue, is that there is pressure on dedicated and overworked staff not to admit people to expensive specialist units, and to discharge them as quickly as possible. That applies even if the clients have a history of violence which can leave the public at risk. So, it is a highly stressful and often thankless profession. It is also true that the majority of mentally ill people are never violent and are more likely to be the target of attacks themselves than to attack others.

A spotlight was turned on Oxleas in the wake of the furore over Black Cab rapist John Worboys

Nevertheless, systemic shortcomings, with all the pressure that brings, have been exacerbated by what Julian Hendy and others describe as a culture of optimism.

This culture all too often focuses on successful rehabilitation and has resulted in over-optimistic assessments of high-risk patients and their ability to cope in the real world.

Daniel Atkins, for example, who was diagnosed with a schizo-affective disorder (meaning he experienced symptoms of both schizophrenia and bipolar), was once a poster boy for Oxleas NHS Foundation. He was photographed in the local paper at a jobs fair in Bromley, organised by Oxleas in 2011, championing employment opportunities for people with mental health problems.

When he was under a controlled, regular regime, Atkins knew how to behave, says Mr Parsons, a school caretaker. But as soon as that ended, it was like letting a wild animal out to run amok.

Nowhere, it seems, is the culture of optimism more prevalent than at Oxleass 90-bed Bracton Centre in Dartford. Reached via a gated driveway and surrounded by a metal perimeter fence, it is situated next to a new housing estate and overlooks a primary school.

An alarming study published in the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry back in 1999 found that two-thirds of Bracton patients with schizophrenia  41 out of 63 in total  had reoffended violently within ten years of being discharged. But Julian Hendys research casts serious doubt about how much has changed since then.

The most recent victim is believed to be retired midwife Priscilla Edward, 78. Her lifeless body was found on the floor of her terrace house in Plumstead in 2016. She had been strangled by her 53-year-old daughter, Regina Edwards, who denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the Old Bailey on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

Asked why she did it, she replied: Mum made me a cup of tea, she was trying to be helpful. Edwards then told her she didnt want a drink before wrapping her silk scarf around her mothers neck and throttling her.

Eighteen-year-old Faridon Alizada (pictured) was stabbed to death and two 16-year-olds he was with were wounded in Bexley when they were attacked by Lee James, 32, who was in a drug-induced psychosis

Edwards, a mother of three, had a disturbing record of dangerousness. She had assaulted her mother before, attacked a doctor, threatened to kill her own children, and stabbed one of her daughters in the leg and stomach in 1995 when she was ordered to be detained at the Bracton Centre.

Yet, despite this long history of violence, Regina Edwards, whod also used crack cocaine, was released in 2006.

Like Daniel Atkins, she suffered from a schizo-affective disorder and, in what many might think was an utterly predictable turn of events, she stopped taking her medication. Days later, her mother, described by neighbours as a lovely lady was dead.

Edwards told police she thought her mum was a witch. She has now been returned to hospital.

Len Hodkin is only too familiar with Bracton and Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust. He is the son of Sally Hodkin, who was slaughtered by former Bracton patient Nicola Edgington. Edgington had been detained at Bracton indefinitely for stabbing her own mother nine times in 2005 but was deemed fit for discharge after just three years and released in 2009. Two years later she killed Mrs Hodkin.

Not long afterwards, the Chief Executive of Oxleas, now retired, was made an OBE. How is that possible?, asked Mr Hodkin.

Last year, a report  like the forthcoming one into the death of Ronald Parsons  found that staff at Bracton were too willing to accept Edgingtons version of events and failed to take seriously warnings from her family that she was potentially dangerous.

You get the same issues arising time and time again, said solicitor Mr Hodkin. Poor care plans, a failure to listen to families, taking the patient at face value. Everyone can forgive a mistake, but when identical things keep happening, its really time to have a look at the system.

There doesnt seem to be any accountability. They hide behind patient confidentiality. Reports are anonymised. We said that if they did not include my mothers name in her report, we would take legal action.

Every time there is a patient homicide, as these cases are officially known, an independent statutory inquiry is held. They take an average of four years to see the light of day. So the report into the Priscilla Edwards tragedy in 2016  and those into other more recent victims  have not yet been completed.

Those that have been follow an almost identical pattern: no matter how many apparent criticisms or failures are identified, Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust is invariably absolved of any direct blame or responsibility for the killings.

The same stock phrase, or a similar form of words, is always used: the killing could not have been predicted or prevented.

Whitewash is how some might describe these reports  such as the one into the death in 2013 of wheelchair-bound, 55-year-old Colin Greenway at his ground floor flat in Thamesmead.

Mr Greenway was battered, hit around the head with a flower pot, and had his throat slit. The killer was the person who lived opposite him, 51-year-old Daha Mohamed.

Mohamed arrived in Britain in the Nineties as an asylum seeker from war-torn Somalia. From then on, he suffered prolonged periods of mental illness and was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which was later changed to bipolar disorder.

He had been jailed for attacking his sisters friend and had a history of not taking his medication and becoming violent.

His last in-patient admission was in 2007. He was treated in the community before being discharged entirely from mental health services by Oxleas in October 2012.

Eight months later, he killed Mr Greenway. In 2014, Mohamed pleaded guilty at the Old Bailey to manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility. In an impact statement, Colin Greenways sister Sue Livingston said: My brother didnt have a bad bone in his body. The news of his death has been unbearable for all my brothers and sisters.

The recently published report into what happened, commissioned by NHS England  which refers to Mohamed as Mr X  found that no risk assessment of the threat he posed was carried out before he was discharged.

Father-of-two Richard Price, 23, who did charity work for Great Ormond Street Hospital where he worked, was beaten to death in an alleyway in Bromley in 2009 following an argument in a pub with 38-year-old Jagtar Johal, who was under the care of Oxleas

Also, the report found little effort had been made to obtain his psychiatric history from his sister, his mental health team over-estimated his ability to function independently in the community and failed to recognise the likelihood he would relapse.

But, in spite of all this, the authors concluded: Based upon what was known (and what should have been known) about Mr X (Mohamed) there was little information to suggest that a prediction could be made that he would ever kill anyone as result of his mental illness and any acts or omissions by Oxleas did not constitute any failings that directly caused the circumstances that led to Mr Xs (Mohameds) relapse and consequently the death of Mr Y (Colin Greenway).

It must have come as considerable comfort to Mr Greenwaysfamily to learn that Daha Mohamed was always treated with compassion and respect and received an excellent standard of support.

According to Government-commissioned research, there were 835 killings by people with mental health problems in the 11 years between 2005 and 2015  an average of 76 a year. This figure falls short of that given by Julian Hendy, of the Hundred Families charity, as the statistics quoted only include those who have been treated by mental health specialists in the past 12 months.

We are very disappointed that despite all the lessons that should have been learned from previous cases, patients are still being too hastily discharged from hospital despite their or their families concerns, said Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of mental health charity SANE. This can leave them, and in some cases the general public, at risk.

All the reports we analysed suggest this is the case with Oxleas.

Father-of-two Richard Price, 23, who did charity work for Great Ormond Street Hospital where he worked, was beaten to death in an alleyway in Bromley in 2009 following an argument in a pub with 38-year-old Jagtar Johal.

At the time, Johal, 38, who had a history of violence and drug abuse, was under the care of Oxleas community health team.

Numerous failures culminated in the death of retired engineer 71-year-old Ronald Parsons (pictured) in March 2014

An independent report followed, which stated: Our only criticism is that they (the forensic team) perhaps focused too much on Mr U (Johal) being a potential victim of violence, to the exclusion of considering the risk he posed to others.

Conclusion: As this incident could not have been foreseen or prevented, there were no actions or interventions by the Trusts mental health services that could have prevented its occurrence.

Five months earlier, in Blackheath, Abdullah Barre Jama, 45, was subjected to a frenzied attack with an axe by his cousin and housemate Ahmed Ali just five days after Ali had been released from the mental health unit at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich.

He left a note beside his victims body saying: I told doctors I am not safe.

An internal Oxleas investigation found that Ali, 39, was not thoroughly assessed before leaving hospital. Conclusion: The killing could not have been predicted.

In June 2008, 18-year-old Faridon Alizada was stabbed to death and two 16-year-olds he was with were wounded in Bexley when they were attacked by Lee James, 32, who was in a drug-induced psychosis.

James, a former bare knuckle fighter, had a history of violence and had been receiving treatment from Oxleas psychiatrists for a personality disorder since 1998, including repeated referrals to the Bracton Centre. Conclusion: The killing could not have been predicted or prevented.

Paul Geddes, 32, was beaten to death with appalling savagery by schizophrenic Nabeel Aljubori during a night-long burglary rampage at his home in Plumstead in 2003. Aljubori, 24, had been under the care of Oxleas between November 2001 and December 2002 but no clear recognisable mental illness was diagnosed at that stage.

Conclusion: There was nothing to suggest that this man was likely to present a significant risk to others.

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust issued a statement yesterday in the wake of the issues raised in this article. As an organisation, we provide a wide range of mental and physical health services and we care for more than 30,000 people each month, the statement said.

All serious incidents involving our patients are fully investigated to identify any improvements in care and how we might change our practice to reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.

In addition, independent inquiries are held if a homicide is carried out by a person with mental illness under our care.

The decision to undertake an independent inquiry is made by NHS England, who consider if the person was under the care of specialist mental health services or had been in the six months before the incident.

Where possible, family members of the victim are involved in the inquiry ... each suicide or homicide is a personal tragedy and we know the devastating impact they can have on families and communities.

This will be small comfort to the family of Ronald Parsons.

Whenever this happens, Oxleas say they have changed their procedures from what went on before, said his nephew Steven. But it has happened again and again.

Mr Parsons, as already stated, was briefed by health officials yesterday about the findings of the independent inquiry into his uncles death. But an internal investigation by Oxleas has already concluded that the killing could not have been predicted.An Afghan interpreter who helped save the lives of UK troops trapped by the Taliban in a remote outpost has been denied sanctuary in Britain.

Fardin, 37, served alongside British soldiers for more than a decade but was told he could not come to the UK because he was on the frontline for only ten months, not 12.

This was despite the fact he had been moved to the Afghan capital Kabul by the Army after his brother, also an interpreter, was killed by the Taliban.

His case is the latest in a string of scandals surrounding the Governments policy on Afghan interpreters. Colonel Simon Diggins, the former British defence attache in Kabul, is the latest senior military figure to criticise current rules. I find it unconscionable that the Government is so blind to this glaring injustice, he said.

Fardin, 37, pictured with his face obscured, served alongside British soldiers for more than a decade but was told he could not come to the UK because he was on the frontline for only ten months rather than 12

These people put themselves on the frontline and the way we are treating them is shocking. They are all under threat.

The fact the Taliban havent attacked them yet is because it is a matter of opportunity.

Fardin, whose last name has been withheld to protect his identity, was with 88 soldiers when they were surrounded by up to 500 Taliban fighters in Musa Qala in 2006.

He monitored Taliban radio, providing details of attacks as the men  a mix of Paratroopers and Royal Irish Regiment troops  held out for 56 days. He then helped senior officers broker an extraordinary truce that allowed the outpost to be evacuated.

After the interpreter was moved to Kabul he went on to serve the UK military for more than a decade even after receiving death threats from insurgents.

Yet when he was made redundant in November last year officials told him he did not qualify for resettlement in the UK because he had not served a full year on the frontline.

Fardin was widely praised by British soldiers for his calmness, bravery and ability under fire.

He was also seen in a Channel 4 documentary about the siege of Musa Qala  which was likened to the Battle of Rorkes Drift in 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War  called Heroes of Helmand, the British Armys Great Escape.

Speaking from Kabul, the father-of-five told the Mail: They said I had not been on the frontlines long enough. I was there shoulder-to-shoulder when the Taliban were boasting they would soon be drinking tea in the British base after killing everyone inside.

I was the soldiers eyes and ears during the most dangerous battle of their time here. I would sit beside the intelligence officer and tell him everything the Taliban was saying.

It was the most difficult of times. There were long, fierce attacks every day and night. We slept little and many people thought we were going to die.

The soldiers said it was the most dangerous time they knew.

Fardins brother, Farhad, was shot dead by a Taliban sniper while on patrol in Helmand in September 2008. File photo shows UK troops taking cover during an anti-Taliban operation

Fardins brother, Farhad, was shot dead by a Taliban sniper while on patrol in Helmand in September 2008. It led to Fardin being transferred to a job with UK forces in Kabul because of fears his family could lose a second son.

But the Taliban had found Farhads phone on his body and it contained Fardins personal details, including his phone number. He said: They called and said I too would die and that I was a spy for the British infidel.

Fardin said he spent around ten months on the frontlines during two spells with the Army. Other dangers he faced included being ambushed on a foot patrol and being on a Chinook helicopter hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

The British told me many times that I had helped to save our lives, he said. They were brave men who I am proud to have lived with. They will always be my friends.

The Daily Mails Betrayal of the Brave campaign has highlighted the cases of interpreters who have been abandoned in Afghanistan, including Britains longest-serving Afghan interpreter, Ricky, 34, who served for 16 years but cannot come to the UK for the same reason.

Under the Governments relocation scheme, interpreters have to have served in Helmand to qualify for sanctuary in Britain.

Paddy Ashdown, the former Lib Dem leader and an ex-Royal Marine, said: The Government policy is a disgrace to our nation and has damaged our national honour.

They must change it for Fardin and for all the others who stood alongside our soldiers.

A Government spokesman said: More than 390 former Afghan staff and their families have been relocated to the UK and we expect to relocate more.

We have expert teams in the UK and in Kabul who ensure former Afghan staff who feel threatened are supported.Three in four health trusts are denying hip and knee replacement surgery to patients not in enough pain.

Sufferers are turned away unless they are judged to be in distress for most of the day, unable to sleep or taking painkillers non-stop.

Under the strict rationing rules, some trusts insist patients must be largely incapacitated  in need of a walking stick, a frame or a wheelchair. In other cases the pain must be so intense it is a struggle to carry out basic activities such as washing or dressing.

Three in four NHS trusts are denying hip and knee replacement surgery to patients because they aren't in enough pain (FILE PHOTO)

Campaigners said hip and knee patients were easy targets for cost-cutting.

As a result of funding pressure, preconditions for surgery are becoming a common way to make savings, said Liz McAnulty of the Patients Association.

Restrictions on joint replacement surgery and obliging patients to stop smoking or lose weight before they will be operated on, are becoming ever more frequent. While these may be sensible and desirable actions for people to take, they are not medically necessary, and commissioning groups are increasingly frank that it is all about cost savings.

An average hip replacement costs 9,000 while a knee replacement is slightly cheaper at about 6,500.

But Ian Eardley, senior vice-president of the Royal College of Surgeons, said the savings would prove illusory.

Draconian rules which could deny you an operation Wiltshire: Patients must have intense or severe pain, be largely or wholly incapacitated, and need a walking stick, frame or wheelchair. Otherwise, they must try six months of conservative measures before they can be considered, including wearing shock-absorbing shoes and taking painkillers. Barnsley: Must suffer pain after walking less than 20ft, standing for half an hour or in constant pain for at least 75 per cent of the day. Ashford & Thanet: Pain significantly interfering with patients activities of daily living and their ability to sleep. Should have tried painkillers, walking sticks and adapting their home, by installing handrails for example, for an unspecified length of time beforehand. Scarborough & Ryedale: Patients pain must interfere with their activities of daily living including washing, dressing, lifestyle and sleep. They must also be suffering from a diminished quality of life. Cambridgeshire: Pain must be uncontrolled, intense and persistent and when walking short distances. All patients must try six months of conservative management, including avoiding heavy use of the affected joint, for at least six months. Norfolk: Must have tried conservative measures for at least six months and provide evidence of this in doctors letters. Birmingham & West Midlands: Pain and disability should be sufficiently significant to interfere with daily life or ability to sleep. Vale of York: Must try conservative measures for at least three months including muscle strengthening exercises, taking three types of painkiller and wearing insoles in their shoes. They will be referred for hip and knee replacements afterwards if pain is interfering with their daily living, including washing, dressing and sleep. Advertisement

We recognise the NHS is under increasing financial pressure but this does not excuse these short-sighted rationing policies, he said. Hip surgery is one of the most cost-effective medical treatments available.

Restricting surgery simply delays the inevitable, simultaneously adding to the overall cost, often prolonging the use of pain relief, severely impacting patients quality of life and, particularly among the elderly, increasing the need for social care.

Rejected patients can be told to try installing hand rails at home, perform stretches or buy special shoes.

They will be considered for surgery only when they have tried these measures for at least six months. However many hospitals allow patients to pay for replacements privately  jumping the waiting list.

The rationing policies have come to light following freedom of information requests by the Mail to Englands 207 health trusts, which are now known as clinical commissioning groups.

Of the 184 CCGs that responded, 73 per cent admitted imposing strict pain thresholds. Cambridgeshire and Peterborough states the pain must be so bad the patient would struggle to stand for half an hour. Wiltshire stipulates the use of a walking stick, frame or wheelchair.

Forty-one CCGs said patients must try conservative measures for between three and six months before surgery. These include wearing shock-absorbing shoes, physiotherapy and taking a combination of paracetamol and ibuprofen.

Seventy-seven CCGs said obese patients must try to lose weight before surgery and 31 CCGs said the same of smoking.

If patients meet the criteria  and have tried cheaper treatments for six months  they may have to wait up to another year before their operation can finally take place. The Royal College of Surgeons said instead of arbitrary rules, trusts should leave doctors to decide whether patients need surgery.

The NHS is under severe financial pressure from the ageing population, migration and the toll of lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity and diabetes. In response, NHS England  which runs the health service  has told commissioning groups to make substantial cost savings.

The restrictions for hip and knee replacements are very similar to those previously used by health trusts to deny patients cataract surgery. Trusts were told to abandon these rules by the health watchdog Nice after the Mail exposed cases where patients were being turned away unless they were nearly blind.

Michael Hill (pictured) was told to do muscle-strengthening exercises by his GP despite his knees being in so much pain that he couldn't walk

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG said: Policies are under continuous review, are based on the best possible evidence of effectiveness, and are designed to ensure we can offer the best level of treatment within our budgetary constraints. Wiltshire CCG did not answer a request for comment.

Hip and knee replacements are two of the commonest procedures on the NHS  with 190,000 undertaken each year. They are mostly performed on patients with osteoarthritis, a joint condition which affects a third of adults over 45. Caroline Abrahams of the charity Age UK said: It is deeply concerning that older people are being made to wait for surgery that would help them live independent lives free from pain.

Delaying recommended treatments can cause huge physical and emotional distress, and risk letting peoples health deteriorate while they wait. We recognise that NHS budgets are under huge pressure but it is essential that older people who need operations are able to get them within a reasonable timescale.

I finally had knee surgery... it improved my life overnight

Michael Hill was told to do muscle-strengthening exercises when he went to his GP with severe knee pain.

The retired engineer, who lives in Exmouth, had progressively lost the cartilage on the inner section of both his knees due to age. He said he was in agony and bicycled, because walking was too painful.

Mr Hill (pictured with his wife Jane) had to wait a year for his knee replacement which he said improved his life 'overnight'

He went to his GP in spring 2016 and was sent on a six-week course of knee-strengthening exercises  rather than being referred for an operation. Despite being in agony when standing or walking for short periods, he did not meet the criteria for knee replacements.

He went back to his GP a few months later and was referred to a physiotherapist who agreed his pain was affecting his quality of life.

He was told his first knee would be done at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital in 12 weeks but the date kept being pushed back. At one point Mr Hill rang the hospital to be told the wait had been extended to a year. After searching online, he found another NHS surgical unit in Somerset  which had much shorter waiting times.

He had his first knee replaced in April 2017 and the second in June. Mr Hill, who lives with his wife Jane, a retired nurse, said: My life improved dramatically almost overnight.

He celebrated his 70th birthday by going to Greece by train and travelling for a month in October. He said he never would have been able to do this before the surgery.Privately educated George Fay, pictured, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, sex abuse and committing a criminal sexual act while the woman was 'physically incapable' of consent

DNA belonging to the son of a high-flying British barrister was found on the left breast of a 20-year-old woman he is accused of raping while she slept.

But medical analysts were unable to obtain enough DNA from other samples to link 23-year-old George Fay and the woman, New York Supreme Court heard.

Prosecutors allege Fay attacked the woman as she slept off a drunken tryst with his childhood friend Jack Slye.

Fay, wearing a dark blue suit, pale pink shirt and purple tie, stared intently at criminal analyst Aman Singh as he explained DNA testing.

Mr Singh told the jury that DNA samples had been taken from the woman, Slye and Fay. He said secretion stains found on her breast contained Fay's DNA.

But during cross-examination by Fay's lawyer Daniel Bibb, Mr Singh conceded it was possible the DNA had not been directly transferred from Fay to the woman.

The court had earlier heard how the woman and Slye had consensual sex in the lower level of a bunk bed sometimes slept in by Fay.

Private school educated Fay was spending the summer at the Manhattan home of family friends. He'd been drinking into the early hours of the morning when the alleged attack happened.

Fay, who was born in London, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of rape, sex abuse and committing a criminal sexual act while the woman was 'physically incapable' of giving consent.

His QC father Michael, who sits as a deputy high court judge in the Caribbean and is now based in the British Virgin Islands, is expected to give evidence on his son's behalf as the trial progresses.

Fay's mother Sofia, a partner in a ritzy public relation company, sat at the back of the court.

The wealthy couple maintains homes in the Virgin Islands, the Channel Islands and America. Mr Fay is an honourary member of London's Radcliffe Chambers.

George Fay did not appear particuarly concerned or scared after his arrest, police officer James Cebulski testified.

Fay is pictured with his QC father Michael, who sits as a deputy high court judge in the Caribbean and is now based in the British Virgin Islands

'I wouldn't say concerned. He didn't seem scared,' he said.

As the rookie officer, who had just 10 months experience on the job, prepared the arrest paperwork and mug shot he said he received a call at the police station from QC Michael Fay.

Details of the conversation were not given to the jury of seven men and five women.

Earlier Cebulski's role as the arresting officer was pulled apart by Fay's lawyer Noreen Travers, one of three attorneys representing him.

He conceded that neither he nor three other officers who went to the 18th floor apartment searched the two bedrooms, took photographs or secured evidence like bed sheets.

'You spoke to (the victim) and you were aware that it happened on George Fay's bed but no one collected the sheets?' Miss Travers said.

The officer replied 'No. It depends if the evidence could be useful.'

He also admitted that he did not secure the apartment or see police security tape around the front door.

Troy Queen, the overnight doorman at the Upper Eastside apartment, said Fay started living there in mid June 2016 .

The following month, he greeted him around 3.30am returning from a night out. Asked if he was inebriated, Queen said: 'I would say somewhat. I wouldn't say he was falling down drunk but, based on his mannerisms, he'd had two or three drinks.

The case was heard in front of a jury at New York Supreme Court, pictured (stock photo)

'But he was his usual self, nice and friendly, a little more personable.'

Queen said he lent Fay the spare set of keys to get inside the apartment because his friend had borrowed his key.

 Two hours later he spotted a man and woman he had never seen before having a heated conversation as they got out of the elevator.

'The young lady was emotionally upset, she was in tears, crying,' Queen said. 'She was aggressive verbally. It was her voice, her mannerisms. She asked me where the local police precinct was.'

He said the couple went outside for a while, then she returned and asked him to call the police, saying she had been raped.

'She was very very emotional. She was crying hysterically,' Queen said.

He said offices arrived in five to six minutes and went straight up to Fay's apartment.

'They came down with the defendant three minutes - maybe four - later,' he added. 'He had been placed in custody and escorted from the building.'

The trial is expected to last two weeks.It was the airfare which seemed too good to be true - and as it turned out, it was.

Air New Zealand was forced to cancel tickets for a return flight from Atlanta to Auckland then Sydney offered for just $670 on Tuesday - a quarter of the usual cost.

The airline told customers they would be cancelling the tickets because they had been mistakenly advertised at such a low price.

American Jennifer Lutz bought tickets through travel booking website StudentUniverse but then received a call saying her tickets were no longer valid.

American Jennifer Lutz bought tickets through travel booking website StudentUniverse but then received a call saying her tickets were no longer valid

She then contacted Air New Zealand who told her a 'human error allowed the fares to go out'

Air New Zealand was forced to cancel tickets for a return flight from Atlanta to Auckland offered for just $670 on Tuesday - a quarter of the usual cost

She then contacted Air New Zealand who told her a 'human error allowed the fares to go out', the New Zealand Herald reported.

'I'm really disappointed, mostly because they didn't make any effort to try and rebook or honour the fares,' she said.

'I feel like as a company they could have handled that much, much better. I really have no interest in booking with Air New Zealand again after that experience.'

Frustrated customers took to Twitter to vent after having their supposedly super cheap flights customers.

'What kind of incompetent company is Air New Zealand that cancelled my tickets after 24 hours of being bought,' one person said.

'Air New Zealand very sad to see our dream vacation to New Zealand cancelled less than a month away with zero explanation,' Liz Zellner said.

'[Air New Zealand] how can you just cancel a flight just because I got a good deal on it? You made a mistake. Honour the tickets!,' another disgruntled customer wrote.

Customers who bought their tickets through Expedia received an email saying 'Air New Zealand had an issue with the pricing of their tickets'.

Frustrated customers took to Twitter to vent after having their supposedly super cheap flights customers

Customers who bought their tickets through Expedia received an email saying 'Air New Zealand had an issue with the pricing of their tickets'

'Due to the error, Air New Zealand have taken the decision to cancel all tickets affected by this,' the email read.

'The airline now begun [sic] to process all refunds back for affected tickets to the original form of payment used to make the booking, and the funds will be available to you within ten business days.'

Another customer said an Air New Zealand customer service representative told them they had received more than 1000 calls regarding the ticket cancellation.

In a statement, Air New Zealand said the cheap fares were 'a result of a genuine human error in the data entry process'.

'They have been cancelled and customers will receive a full refund from their travel agent.

'In addition to full refunds any legitimate "out of pocket" expenses that the customers may have incurred will also be reimbursed.'

Another customer said an Air New Zealand customer service representative told them they had received more than 1000 calls regarding the ticket cancellationThe demand for child labor was a result of the boom in industry at the end of the 19th century. Businesses sought immigrant and child workers to complete cheap work.

Many saw children, with their small hands and energy, as ideal employees. The majority sustained broken bones and suffered from stunted growth and curvature of the spine because of the unsafe conditions and worked long hours on poor pay.

But at the turn of the century, some reformists started voicing their concerns over the children's welfare and the negative effects on their education.

Newsboy Hyman Alpert, 12, had been selling newspapers for three years when this photo was taken in March 1909, in New Haven, Connecticut

There were fears the practice would stunt America in years to come because of a high number of overworked, under-educated youths.

Set up in 1904, the National Child Labor Committee worked state by state to lobby legislatures to adopt regulations.

In 1915, its efforts started to focus on the federal level.

In 1916, Congress agreed to pass legislation to protect children and restrictions were placed on the employment of children aged under 14 in factories and shops.

And in 1938, after a series of failed or retracted laws, the Committee supported the Fair Labor Standards Act, which prohibited any interstate commerce of goods made through oppressive child labor.

UNICEF estimates that 168million children aged five to 17 are currently involved in forced labor.

However, globally, the incidence of child labor has decreased from 25 per cent to 10 per cent from 1960 to 2003.In Japan, where old traditions are constantly being updated with new technology, one inn is making use of automated driving technology to offer the latest in hands-free hospitality - self-driving slippers.

Nissan has developed a system for slippers to 'park' themselves at the entrance of the traditional inn at the push of a button, ready for guests to use upon arrival.

Each slipper is equipped with two tiny wheels, a motor and sensors to 'drive' across the wooden lobby floor using Nissan's ProPilot Park technology.

Slippers that move onto your feet using Nissan's ProPilot Park technology, pictured, will be available at a Japanese hotel this March

Nissan is said to already use this technology in the latest version of its all-battery electric Leaf vehicle.

High-tech sensors and cameras allow the car to locate and back into parking spots without any driver input.

Each slipper is equipped with two tiny wheels, a motor and sensors that allow it to 'drive' across the wooden lobby floor and into designated spots, pictured

Using it's ProPilot Park technology the slippers are able to 'park' themselves at the entrance of the inn with just a push of a button, pictured

Floor cushions, pictured, and traditional low tables also have the technology integrated and will be able to wheel themselves into place like the slippers

A simplified version of the technology has been installed at the 'ProPilot Park Ryokan' inn, which is located around 47 miles southwest of Tokyo and famed for its view of Mount Fuji.

Selected guests will be able to experience the technology in March where it is also hoped to reduce staff load.

A Nissan spokesman, Nick Maxfield, said: 'The self-parking slippers are meant to raise awareness of automated driving technologies, and their potential, non-driving applications.'

Floor cushions and traditional low tables also have the technology integrated and will be able to wheel themselves into place like the slippers.

Nissan plans to bring a car that can drive itself on city streets by 2020.

In 2016 the automaker produced self-driving office chairs that were able to neatly roll back into their places when not being used.It appears that no device is safe from hackers nowadays.

Two Bluetooth panic buttons were found to have weak security measures in place that make them vulnerable to exploitation by hackers.

This seems particularly ironic, given that the devices were created for the express purpose of personal safety.

Specifically, Bluetooth panic buttons created by wearable companies Wearsafe and Revolar have some flaws, according to Mark Loveless, a cybersecurity expert at software provider Duo Security.

Cybersecurity expert Mark Loveless discovered a security flaw in two Bluetooth 'panic buttons' made by Wearsafe and Revolar that left them open to being tracked remotely

Both the Wearsafe and Revolar devices were susceptible to a security flaw that allowed them to be tracked using cheap antennas.

It seems that the very technology that would help users in unsafe situations is also the very factor that might put them at risk of dangerous security flaws.

With a push of the panic button, users can quietly notify their friends or family of their location.

The device links to their smartphone via a Bluetooth connection, which enables the system to broadcast the user's location and a warning message to their contacts.

Anyone who knows how a Bluetooth connection works would know that it's also able to be tracked remotely.

The Wearsafe device can be tracked using a free scanner app or inexpensive antenna if you're nearby, Loveless said.

'With a free scanner app on a phone, the Wearsafe device was easily detected as long as you were within close range, and using a laptop along with a larger antenna, one could easily detect the device from longer distances,' Loveless explained.

Someone could track the Wearsafe device up to a quarter mile away if they're willing to shell out $50 on a more powerful antenna, he added.

'It is easy to track the device from a slight distance, which kind of defeats the idea of having a stealth device,' Loveless said.

It's a bit more difficult to track the Revolar device, but it can still be done.

COULD YOUR SAFETY WEARABLE BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HACKERS? Cybersecurity expert Mark Loveless identified several security flaws in Wearsafe and Revolar's Bluetooth panic button devices Both companies specialize in personal safety internet of things devices At CES 2018, Qualcomm and ZTE announced they'd work with Wearsafe to launch a new personal safety devices Wearsafe and Revolar's panic buttons were found to be susceptible to tracking from remote attackers All the attackers have to do is download a free tracking app or a cheap antenna in order to see where your device is located Attackers can track the device because of the Bluetooth connection that links up to your smartphone The Wearsafe device was also able to be shutdown via a denial-of-service attack, Loveless said Denial-of-service attack involves flooding the device with Bluetooth connection requests The only way to turn the device back on is to remove and reinsert the battery Revolar's device wasn't vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks Advertisement

Revolar broadcasts the user's location to a phone for about 30 minutes each hour, which could be just enough time for a tracker to pick up your location.

What's even scarier, the attacker can use this narrow window of time to their advantage.

'The main concern is that the attacker can adjust tactics (disguise, approach from behind, quickly restrain hands, etc.) to address the situation of the victim actually using the device,' Loveless said.

The Wearsafe device was also found to be vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks.

In this case, Loveless flooded Wearsafe's panic button device with a ton of Bluetooth connection requests.

Inundated with requests, the device was unable to reconnect to the user's phone, which rendered the device useless.

The only way to make the device usable again is to complete a 'hard reset,' or to remove and reinsert the battery.

Loveless identified another security vulnerability left the Wearsafe Bluetooth panic button susceptible to denial-of-service attacks that would render the device virtually useless

Revolar's panic button wasn't susceptible to denial-of-service attacks.

Loveless said he contacted both Revolar and Wearsafe to notifty them of the security flaws.

He said Wearsafe addressed the security vulnerabilities, while Revolar never responded.

Interestingly, chip giant Qualcomm and Chinese smartphone maker ZTE announced a partnership with Wearsafe at CES 2018 to create a new set of personal safety wearables.

It's unclear what kind of devices the companies plan to release (a CNet report suggested some kind of modern LifeAlert device).

But it seems that they'll want to take Loveless' security flaws into account this time around.Former Google chief Eric Schmidt has revealed he is 'very concerned' that Russia and China are leading the race on artificial intelligence.

Schmidt flagged the risk of their commercial as well as military aspirations, saying their lead in AI could help them conquer the world.

It follows his warning last year that China will overtake the US in AI by 2025.

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The former Google chief Eric Schmidt (pictured) has revealed he 'very concerned' Russia and China could use AI to get world domination

Speaking at BBC's Tomorrow's World Live at London's Science Museum with Professor Brian Cox, Schmidt, 62, admitted he worries about what rival countries could do with their technology.

'I'm very concerned about this', he said in response to a question from a member of the audience about the AI race between China and Russia.

'I think that both the Russian and the Chinese leaders have recognised the value of this, not just for their commercial aspirations, but also their military aspirations', he told the audience, writes Daily Star.

'It is very, very important that the incredible engines that exist in Europe, and Britain, wherever, United States etc, get more funding for basic research, ethics and so forth', he said.

Schmidt said he would like the US and Europe to deal with Russian competition not by copying their approach but by 'being more like us'.

'Let's outrun them with our own intelligence, rather than any other outcome', he said.

'I'm very concerned about this', Schmidt said in response to a question from a member of the audience about the AI race between China and Russia (stock image)

Last year Schmidt slammed Trump's government for falling behind the Chinese government when it came to AI.

'I'm assuming our [US] lead will continue over the next five years and then that China will catch up extremely quickly,'he told the Center for New American Security's Paul Scharre at the Artificial Intelligence & Global Security Summit on Wednesday, according to Defense One.

'We need to get our act together, as a countryThis is the moment when the [US] government collectively, and private industry, needs to say, 'these technologies are important.'

WHY ARE PEOPLE SO WORRIED ABOUT AI? It is an issue troubling some of the greatest minds in the world at the moment, from Bill Gates to Elon Musk. SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk described AI as our 'biggest existential threat' and likened its development as 'summoning the demon'. He believes super intelligent machines could use humans as pets. Professor Stephen Hawking said it is a 'near certainty' that a major technological disaster will threaten humanity in the next 1,000 to 10,000 years. They could steal jobs More than 60 percent of people fear that robots will lead to there being fewer jobs in the next ten years, according to a 2016 YouGov survey. And 27 percent predict that it will decrease the number of jobs 'a lot' with previous research suggesting admin and service sector workers will be the hardest hit. As well as posing a threat to our jobs, other experts believe AI could 'go rogue' and become too complex for scientists to understand. A quarter of the respondents predicted robots will become part of everyday life in just 11 to 20 years, with 18 percent predicting this will happen within the next decade. They could 'go rogue' Computer scientist Professor Michael Wooldridge said AI machines could become so intricate that engineers don't fully understand how they work. If experts don't understand how AI algorithms function, they won't be able to predict when they fail. This means driverless cars or intelligent robots could make unpredictable 'out of character' decisions during critical moments, which could put people in danger. For instance, the AI behind a driverless car could choose to swerve into pedestrians or crash into barriers instead of deciding to drive sensibly. They could wipe out humanity Some people believe AI will wipe out humans completely. 'Eventually, I think human extinction will probably occur, and technology will likely play a part in this,' DeepMind's Shane Legg said in a recent interview. He singled out artificial intelligence, or AI, as the 'number one risk for this century'. Musk warned that AI poses more of a threat to humanity than North Korea. 'If you're not concerned about AI safety, you should be. Vastly more risk than North Korea,' the 46-year-old wrote on Twitter. 'Nobody likes being regulated, but everything (cars, planes, food, drugs, etc) that's a danger to the public is regulated. AI should be too.' Musk has consistently advocated for governments and private institutions to apply regulations on AI technology. He has argued that controls are necessary in order protect machines from advancing out of human control Advertisement

In July last year, China unveiled its national plan for the future of artificial intelligence.

'By 2020, they will have caught up. By 2025, they will be better than us. By 2030, they will dominate the industries,' Schmidt said.

Trump's 2018 budget request slashes funds for basic science and research by $4.3 billion (3 billion), roughly 13 per cent compared to 2016.

'It feels, as an American, that we are fighting this conflict with one hand behind our back.

The ex-Alphabet boss has previously warned the Chinese are poised to erase the American advantage and that the Trump administration is key in helping them

Earlier in the year Schmidt also revealed he is an 'AI denier'.

'I've taken the position of 'job elimination denier,' he told an audience at MIT according to CNBC.

'I've just decided I'm going to be contrarian, because the data supports me, and it's more fun to be in opposition anyway,' he said.

Still, 'there's no question that there's job dislocation. But there [are] always new solutions,' he said.

'The economic folks would say that you can see the job that's lost, but you very seldom can see the job that's created.'

Artificial Intelligence has been described as a threat that could be 'more dangerous than nukes'.

One group of scientists and entrepreneurs, including Elon Musk and Stephen Hawking, have signed an open letter promising to ensure AI research benefits humanity.

The letter warns that without safeguards on intelligent machines, mankind could be heading for a dark future.

The document, drafted by the Future of Life Institute, said scientists should seek to head off risks that could wipe out mankind.Bill Gates is funding genetic research to help create the 'perfect cow'.

The Microsoft founder wants to create a bovine that will produce more milk than a European cow while still being able to withstand hot temperatures.

He said: 'The impact per dollar we spend is super-high in this area. You can have a cow that is four times as productive with the same survivability.'

The research is part of a 28 million ($40 million) investment by the entrepreneur in the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), which is a non-profit organisation based in Edinburgh.

The money will also be used to develop stronger crops and research diseases which can cause huge economic losses for African farmers

'Cutting-edge' agriculture research in Edinburgh has been backed by Microsoft founder Bill Gates (left). He is pictured here with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt today at Edinburgh University

While it is currently unclear how the cow will be created, Business Insider suggests it maybe via artificial insemination.





Climate scientists have warned that cows could be bad for the environment because of the methane they produce.





However, Gates says they can help mitigate global poverty and starvation.

He said in a blog post last July: 'While there are legitimate questions about whether the world can meet its appetite for animal products without destroying the environment, it's a fact that many poor people rely on cattle for both nutrition and income.'

The funding was announced today during a visit by Gates to Edinburgh University.

The Microsoft founder will be on a joint visit to the University of Edinburgh-based

Mr Gates said: 'For over a billion people living in the world's poorest countries, agriculture and livestock are a lifeline out of poverty.

'The science and research being led by the great minds here in Edinburgh are making huge strides in improving the health and productivity of livestock.

Bill Gates and Britain's International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt (third left) meet vet Andy Hopker (left) and student Vanya Lalljee during an event to launch the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security at the University of Edinburgh

The Microsoft founder wants to create a bovine that will produce more milk than a European cow. Here, Bill Gates is pictured with Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt along with students at Edinburgh University

Bill Gates is is funding genetic research to help create the 'perfect cow'. In this image with Britain's International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt (second left), the billionaire meet students Vanya Lalljee and Jennifer Hunt

The funding, for Edinburgh-based charity GALVmed aims to help make vaccines and medicines and accessible to millions of the world's poorest smallholder farmers. Pictured is Penny Mordaunt at Edinburgh University

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt visits the University of Edinburgh to see how research paid for by the UK is helping develop super crops

Climate scientists have warned that cows could be bad for the environment because of the methane they produce. However, Bill Gates says they can help mitigate global poverty and starvation

'It's great to have the chance to visit the University of Edinburgh with Secretary of State Penny Mordaunt and to see how the UK's leadership in research and innovation doesn't just benefit Britain, but also saves and improves lives in the poorest parts of the world.'

Millions of farmers in Africa, who depend on agriculture to support their families, struggle to grow enough crops to put food on the table because of natural disasters.

Now UK scientists are using their expertise to identify specific genes that help them become more nutritious, grow faster and more resilient to disease and extreme weather.

It is estimated the work will help up to 100 million African farmers lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

WHY ARE COWS BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT? The livestock animals are notorious for creating large amounts of the gas, which is a major contributor to global warming. Each of the farm animals produces the equivalent of three tonnes of carbon dioxide per year and the amount of the animals is increasing with the growing need to feed a booming population. Methane is one of the most potent greenhouse gases, trapping 30 times more heat than the same amount of carbon dioxide. Scientists are investigating how feeding them various diets can make cattle more climate-friendly. They believe feeding seaweed to dairy cows may help and are also using a herb-rich foodstuff called the Lindhof sample. Researchers found a cow's methane emissions were reduced by more than 30 per cent when they ate ocean algae. In research conducted by the University of California, in August, small amounts of it were mixed into the animals' feed and sweetened with molasses to disguise the salty taste. As a result, methane emissions dropped by almost a third. 'I was extremely surprised when I saw the results,' said Professor Ermias Kebreab, the animal scientist who led the study. 'I wasn't expecting it to be that dramatic with a small amount of seaweed.' The team now plans to conduct a further six-month study of a seaweed-infused diet in beef cattle, starting this month. Advertisement

International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who is announcing the research, said: 'Unpredictable flooding, plant diseases and drought are threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of farmers in Africa who struggle to grow enough crops to put food on the table - the urgency of the task is clear.

'That's why UK aid is supporting British scientists to develop new crops that are more productive, more nutritious and more resistant to droughts and flooding, as well as creating new medicines to protect cattle and poultry from devastating disease.

'New ideas, cutting-edge science and innovative partnerships with organisations like the Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation will help Britain create a healthier, more secure and prosperous world for us all.'

At the University of Edinburgh, UK scientists are also researching diseases which cause huge economic losses for African farmers, including Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT).

This disease kills more than three million cattle a year and has been estimated to cost African economies some 4 billion a year.

Scientists believe within the next five years a new drug will be available to treat AAT.

The research, being carried out by CGIAR could, also help British farmers who face similar threats in the future, by identifying responses to diseases before they reach the UK.On January 19, 2018, the results ceremony for the research project titled "Collections and Studies of the Bibliography of Chinese Christian Documents" was held in Shanghai.

Since the approval and initiation in 2012, the project, supported by the National Social Science Fund, has established a database of the bibliography of Chinese Christian documents covering Catholicism before 1840, in the late Qing Dynasty, and the Republic of China, Protestantism in the late Qing Dynasty and the Republic of China, and Eastern Orthodoxy. In addition, the research group received rare documents donated by individuals.

The exhibition focused on "a combination of China and the West" by showing the contributions Chinese Christian intellectuals made to Chinese Christian publications including Catholics like Wu Li, Huang Bolu, Li Wenyu, Ma Xiangbo, and Xu Zongze, and Protestants like Fan Zimei, T. C. Chao, Jia Yuming, and Liu Tingfang. Their works promoted inculturation and contextualization of Chinese Christian theology.



The first series of the book Collected Rare Christian Books and Documents in Chinese was launched on the same day. It collected 16 kinds of documents concerning theology, ecclesiastical history, and religious literature. Most of the information was published for the first time. The second series is under approval.



The Latin text of Thomas Aquinas's Summa Theologica, the book's Chinese translation made by Ludovic Bugli, a Jesuit missionary who preached in China in the early Qing Dynasty, and the translation's copies, and the punctuated texts were put on display.

- Translated by Karen LuoFor centuries people have tried to decipher the meaning of the Voynich manuscript, and now a computer scientist claims to have cracked it using AI.

The 600-year-old document is described as 'the world's most mysterious medieval text', and is full of illustrations of exotic plants, stars, and mysterious human figures.

The 240-page manual's intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers.

But even the cryptographers from Bletchley Park, the team that broke the Nazi enigma code, couldn't make sense of the manuscript.

Now a computer scientist says the manuscript is written in ancient Hebrew and the code involves shuffling the order of letters in each word and dropping the vowels.

While his is still to decipher its full meaning, he believes the first sentence of the text says: 'he made recommendations to the priest, man of the house and me and people.'

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For centuries people have tried to decipher the meaning of the Voynich manuscript (pictured) and now a computer scientist claims to have cracked it using AI

Now, Greg Kondrak, a computer scientist from the University of Alberta, says he has worked out what the language is.

His team used statistical algorithms he believes to be 97 per cent accurate when translating the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights into 380 languages.

Researchers initially hypothesised that the Voynich manuscript was written in Arabic.

After running their algorithms, it turned out that the most likely language was Hebrew.

'That was surprising,' said Dr Kondrak.

'And just saying 'this is Hebrew' is the first step. The next step is how do we decipher it.'

Researchers then tried to come up with an algorithm to decipher that type of scrambled text.

Now a computer scientist says the manuscript is written in ancient Hebrew and the code involves shuffling the order of letters in each word and dropping the vowels. Pictured is a quality control operator working on the document in 2016

WHAT IS THE VOYNICH MANUSCRIPT AND WHAT DOES IT SAY? What is it? The manuscript is widely celebrated among cryptographers and radiocarbon dating suggested it had between written early in the 15th century. It is full of illustrations of exotic plants, stars, and mysterious human figures, as well as many pages written in an unknown text. Over time it has attained an infamous reputation, even featuring in the latest hit computer game Assassin's Creed, as well as in the Indiana Jones novels, when Indiana decoded the Voynich and used it to find the 'Philosopher's Stone'. Some suggest it was the work of Leonardo da Vinci as a boy, or secret Cathars, or the lost tribe of Israel, or most recently Aztecs  some have even proclaimed it was done by aliens. What is the history of the manuscript? The text, which is now held in the Beinecke Library at Yale University, was passed through various owners before it ended up in the hands of a London bookseller called Wilfrid Voynich in 1912. Some claim Voynich was a 'crooked book dealer' who encouraged the 'crackpots and conspiracy theories' that followed. Some claim Voynich pretended it had been written by Roger Bacon. The 240-page manual is full of illustrations of exotic plants, stars, and mysterious human figures, as well as many pages written in an unknown text Bacon was a friar and philosopher from the 13th century who concealed his works with code so the church would not be able to decipher what he had written. But that theory was discarded when the manuscript was carbon dated and found to have originated between 1404 and 1438. What does it say? Up until now the 15th century cryptic work has baffled scholars, cryptographers and codebreakers who have failed to read a single letter of the script or any word of the text. Now, Greg Kondrak, a computer scientist from the University of Alberta, says he has worked out what the language is. He has used statistical algorithms he believes to be 97 per cent accurate when translating the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights into 380 languages. According to their research the first complete sentence reads, 'She made recommendations to the priest, man of the house and me and people.' 'It's a kind of strange sentence to start a manuscript but it definitely makes sense', said Dr Kondrak. He found more than 80 per cent of the words were in a Hebrew dictionary, but researchers did not know if they made sense together. Without historians of ancient Hebrew Dr Kondrak explained the full meaning of the Voynich manuscript is likely to remain a mystery. 'We use human language to communicate with other humans, but computers don't understand this language, because it's designed for people. 'There are so many ambiguous meanings that we don't even realise,' said Mr Kondrak. Advertisement

The book's intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers

After unsuccessfully seeking Hebrew scholars to validate their findings, the scientists turned to Google Translate.

'It came up with a sentence that is grammatical, and you can interpret it,' said Dr Kondrak, 'she made recommendations to the priest, man of the house and me and people'.

'It's a kind of strange sentence to start a manuscript but it definitely makes sense', he said.

Without historians of ancient Hebrew, Dr Kondrak explained that the full meaning of the Voynich manuscript will remain a mystery.

'We use human language to communicate with other humans, but computers don't understand this language, because it's designed for people.

Now a British academic claims the mysterious medieval document identifies herbal remedies and is just a health manual for a wealthy woman looking to treat gynaecological conditions

Even the cryptographers from Bletchley Park, the team that broke the Nazi enigma code, couldn't make sense of the manuscript

'There are so many ambiguous meanings that we don't even realise,' said Dr Kondrak.

The first 72 words in each section include references to 'farmer', 'light', 'air' and 'fire'.

However, Dr Kondrak says there is more to deciphering the document than feeding the manuscript into a computer as it also requires a human to make sense of the syntax.

'Somebody with very good knowledge of Hebrew and who's a historian at the same time could take this evidence and follow this kind of clue.

Dr Kondrak used statistical algorithms he believes to be 97 per cent accurate when translating the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights into 380 languages

The text, now held in the Beinecke Library at Yale University, was passed through various owners before it ended up in the hands of a London bookseller called Wilfrid Voynich in 1912

'Can we look at these texts closely and do some kind of detective work and decipher what can be the message?' he said.

He believes the programme could also be used to translate scripts from ancient Crete.

'There are still ancient scripts that remain undeciphered to this day', he said.

Last year a British academic claimed the document was in fact a health manual for a 'well-to-do' lady looking to treat gynaecological conditions.

Nicholas Gibbs, who is an expert on medieval medical manuscripts, said he came to the conclusion after discovering the text is written in Latin ligatures that outline remedies from standard medical information.

Latin ligatures were 'developed as scriptorial short cuts' and have been used since Greek and Roman times.

For example the common ampersand (&) is developed from a ligature when the Latin letters e and t (spelt 'et' meaning 'and') are combined.

The book's intriguing mix of elegant writing and drawings of strange plants and naked women has some believing it holds magical powers

Last year a British academic claimed the document was in fact a health manual for a 'well-to-do' lady looking to treat gynaecological conditions

Mr Gibbs, who claims to be a professional history researcher, wrote about his work for the Times Literary Supplement.

He wrote by studying medieval Latin 'it became obvious that each character in the Voynich manuscript represented an abbreviated word, and not a letter'.

He found the same 'dominant words' appeared in these medical documents and the Voynich.

However, other experts have cast doubt on Mr Gibbs' claims.

Harvard's Houghton Library curator of early modern books John Overholt tweeted, 'We're not buying this Voynich thing, right?'

Editor of History Today and medievalist Kate Wiles replied 'I've yet to see a medievalist who does. Personally I object to his interpretation of abbreviations.'

In August 2016, Siloe, a small publishing house nestled deep in northern Spain, secured the right to clone the document.

'Touching the Voynich is an experience,' said Juan Jose Garcia, director of Siloe, which is based in Burgos, in the north of Spain.

Nicholas Gibbs who is an expert on medieval medical manuscripts, said the text is written in Latin ligatures that outline remedies from standard medical information. However, other experts have cast doubt on Mr Gibbs' claims

It was widely celebrated among cryptographers and radiocarbon dating suggested it had between written early in the 15th century

'It's a book that has such an aura of mystery that when you see it for the first time... it fills you with an emotion that is very hard to describe.'

Siloe, which specialises in making facsimiles of old manuscripts, has bought the rights to make 898 exact replicas of the Voynich.

The copies will be so faithful that every stain, hole, sewn-up tear in the parchment will be reproduced.

The company always publishes 898 replicas of each work it clones - a number which is a palindrome, or a figure that reads the same backwards or forwards.

The publishing house plans to sell the clones, also known as facsimiles, for 7,000 to 8,000 euros (6,030 to 6,891 or $7,800 to $8,900) apiece once completed - and close to 300 people have already put in pre-orders.The earliest-known specimen of a Homo sapiens dates back to roughly 300,000 years ago.

Though much has changed since then, scientists long believed that our species still retained one common feature - our brains.

It turns out that our brains actually look much different from our ancestors that lived hundreds of thousands of years ago.

Now a team of scientists have discovered, for the first time ever, exactly when our brains began to take on their unique, modern shape.

A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Germany pinpointed the period when the human brain achieved its current form as being between 100,000 and 35,000 years ago.

New research from a team of scientists in Germany pinpoints the exact period when our brains achieved their modern shape. Pictured, a Neanderthal brain (left) appears more elongated than the present-day Homo sapiens (right) brain, which is 'rounder and less overhanging'

By contrast, Neanderthals and 'other archaic Homo individuals' possessed elongated brains.

Neanderthals are our species' closest relative, going extinct tens of thousands of years ago.

Over time, the frontal area of our brains became taller and the parietal areas began to bulge, while the side walls became parallel.

Present-day skulls have a globe-like shape, with a smaller and more delicate facial structure.

Most importantly, the occipital area -- which is located in the back of the head and processes visual information -- 'becomes rounder and less overhanging,' according to the study.

'The brain is arguably the most important organ for the abilities that make us human,' says Simon Neubauer, a co-author of the study.

'We already knew that brain shape must have evolved within our own species, but we were surprised to discover just how recent these changes to brain organization were.'

Two features predominantly contribute to the brain's globular appearance: The bulging of the brain's parietal area and the cerebellum.

Researchers estimate that roughly 100,000 to 35,000 years ago, our brains evolved from an elongated shape to a globe-like shape. The evolution in brain shape coincided with the introduction of new processes like tool building, self-awareness and long-term memory

These areas serve as an 'important hub' of brain organization, responsible for functions like motor control, balance, memory, language, social cognition and the ability to process things around us.

This suggests that evolutionary changes to our brain were key to the evolution of the human condition, the scientists said.

'The evolution of endocranial shape within Homo sapiens suggests evolutionary changes of early brain development -- a critical period for neural wiring and cognitive development,' said Philipp Gunz, a co-author of the study.

The scientists point out that these evolutionary changes were gradual, taking place over tens of thousands of years.

HOW HAS THE SHAPE OF OUR BRAINS EVOLVED OVER TIME? New research suggests key evolutionary changes in our brain shape occurred 100,000-35,000 years ago. Stock image Researchers at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology discovered that key evolutionary changes in our brain shape occurred roughly 100,000 to 35,000 years ago The Homo sapiens brain took on a globe-like shape that's 'rounder and less overhanging' By contrast, our Neanderthal ancestors' brains had a more elongated shape The evolution of our brain shape coincided with major developments in behavior, as Homo sapiens began to: Build tools

Develop a working and long-term memory

Possess self-awareness

Use language

Plan activities

Understand numbers

Pay attention to their surroundings

Develop emotions The brain began to look more like a globe as a result of bulging in the parietal area and the cerebellum Advertisement

Using CT scans, the scientists examined changes in the brain's curvature, surface size and other details to chart gradual changes in its shape.

From that, they determined that our brains reached their present-day variation between 100,000 and 35,000 years ago.

Neubauer told Business Insider that the globular brain shape isn't what caused us to develop those new brain functions.

Instead, Neubauer said the rounder shape is 'related to our modern behavior.'

This latest study follows research from the same team of scientists, published last year, where they discovered that the earliest-known Homo sapiens specimen were 100,000 years older than previously thought.

The oldest fossils date back to 300,000 years ago and were located in Jebel Irhoud, Morocco.

Scans revealed that the bones have similar structure to modern humans.Advertisement

NASA has launched a new mission to study the edge of Earths atmosphere, to obtain an unprecedented look at the effects of space weather.

The SES-14 commercial communications satellite carrying the new Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) instrument blasted off on Thursday from the Guiana Space Centre, in a launch led by Arianespace.

But, not long after take-off, the firm lost touch with the second stage of its Ariane 5 rocket.

Arianespace has since confirmed its established connection with the briefly lost spacecraft after the anomaly, and says both satellites aboard the rocket have reached orbit.

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The SES-14 commercial communications satellite carrying the new Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) instrument blasted off on Thursday from the Guiana Space Centre, in a launch led by Arianespace. The GOLD instrument aboard the SES-14 satellite will closely study the interplay between Earths ionosphere and particles from space

The minor setback means the SES-14 spacecraft will reach geostationary orbit four weeks later than originally planned, according to satellite operator SES.

But, its in good health to carry out its mission.

The GOLD instrument aboard the SES-14 satellite will closely study the interplay between Earths ionosphere and particles from space, according to NASA.

The upper atmosphere is far more variable than previously imagined, but we dont understand the interactions between all the factors involved, said Richard Eastes, GOLD principal investigator at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Thats where GOLD comes in: For the first time, the mission gives us the big picture of how different drivers meet and influence each other.

The minor setback means the SES-14 spacecraft will reach geostationary orbit four weeks later than originally planned, according to SES. But, its in good health to carry out its mission. GOLD will scan the entirety of the Earths disk every half hour, as illustrated above

The region is notoriously difficult to study, and undergoes rapid changes that can occur in as little as an hour.

It responds to both Earth weather and space weather.

The first meteorological satellites revolutionized our understanding of  and ability to predict  terrestrial weather, said Elsayed Talaat, heliophysics chief scientist at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

We anticipate Gold will give us new, similar insight into the dynamics of the upper atmosphere and our planets space environment.

The GOLD instrument is about the size of a mini-fridge, according to NASA. It weighs just 80 pounds.

NASA has launched a new mission to study the edge of Earths atmosphere, to obtain an unprecedented look at the effects of space weather. The GOLD instrument aboard the SES-14 satellite. It's about the size of a mini-fridge, according to NASA

The instrument is an imaging spectrograph, which means it can break light down into its separate wavelengths to measure their intensities.

Its measurements of far ultraviolet light are expected to bring unprecedented insight into the temperature changes around the world under different conditions.

Just like an infrared camera allows you to see how temperatures change with different colors, GOLD images ultraviolet light to provide a map of the Earth that reveals how temperature and atmospheric composition change by location, Eastes said.

WHAT IS NASA'S NEW 'GOLD' MISSION? The GOLD instrument aboard the SES-14 satellite will closely study the interplay between Earths ionosphere and particles from space, according to NASA. It will study the entirety of Earth's disk every half hour. The instrument itself is about the size of a mini-fridge, according to NASA. It weighs just 80 pounds. GOLD is an imaging spectrograph, which means it can break light down into its separate wavelengths to measure their intensities. Its measurements of far ultraviolet light are expected to bring unprecedented insight into the temperature changes around the world under different conditions. The upper atmosphere is far more variable than previously imagined, but we dont understand the interactions between all the factors involved, said Richard Eastes, GOLD principal investigator at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics at the University of Colorado Boulder. Thats where GOLD comes in: For the first time, the mission gives us the big picture of how different drivers meet and influence each other. Advertisement

Scientists will use the data to determine the relative amounts of different particles, including atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen, in the neutral atmosphere.

And, this will allow them to determine the role of these gases in shaping ionospheric conditions.

According to NASA, the instrument will also allow scientists to create the first maps of the upper atmospheres changing temperature and compositions across the Americas.

For years, weve studied Earths upper atmosphere in detail from the ground and low-Earth orbit, Eastes said.

By backing out to geostationary, we can put things in a global context. You can see half the Earth from out there.Technology companies have 'disrupted' the way we shop, communicate, travel and do just about everything in our daily lives.

Now, a pair of robot strippers have their eyes set on disrupting your next lap dance.

The android adult entertainers, dubbed the 'Robo Twins,' grabbed headlines earlier this month when they performed in a Las Vegas gentleman's club at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show.

This weekend, the Robo Twins are making an appearance in New York City when they perform Friday and Saturday night at the Sapphire 39 strip club in midtown Manhattan.

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The famous 'Robo Twins' made their first US appearance in Las Vegas at CES 2018. This weekend, they'll be on stage at an NYC strip club in midtown Manhattan.

HOW CAN YOU GET A LOOK AT THE FAMOUS ROBOT STRIPPERS? The 'Robo Twins' grabbed headlines earlier this month when they performed in Las Vegas at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show Now, the android adult entertainers will perform at the Sapphire 39 strip club in Midtown Manhattan You can check out the Robo Twins on Friday and Saturday night To get in, attendees have to pay a $30 cover It's the last chance to check out the robot strippers before they head back to London The robots were created by British artist Giles Walker, whose pieces typically comment on social issues Advertisement

A $30 cover will gain you entrance to see the sexy robots, which allure onlookers with their gyrating hips and smooth moves sliding up and down stripper poles.

The event description says it will be the Robo Twins' 'only New York appearance' before they 'go across the pond' to London.

The Robo Twins were invited to the New York club after they 'created a lot of interesting debate over in Las Vegas during the CES event at the beginning of the month,' British artist Giles Walker, who created the robotic strippers, explained in an email to Dailymail.com.

'They kind of stole the show down there in fact.'

Don't try to slip the cyborg strippers some Bitcoin, however.

'The Robo Twins prefer cash or credit due to the volatility of cryptocurrency,' Sapphire said in a tweet on Friday.

The pole-dancing robots are made of scrap parts from mannequins, car parts and other rubbish.

Each of Walker's works of art are aimed at commenting on social issues.

British artist Giles Walker's robot strippers are made out of rubbish like scrap mannequins and car parts. They appeared alongside real dancers at the 2018 Consumer Electronics Show

At first glance, it may seem like the robots are are supposed to be a commentary on robotics or job automation.

However, the robots are actually a comment on the nature of surveillance, power and voyeurism.

The robots CCTV heads are a testament to how surveillance cameras seem to be located all around us, especially in Britain.

At the time they were devised, 'Britain was quickly becoming the most watched society in the world with these mechanical peeping Toms appearing on every street corner,' Walker told Dailymail.com.

'We were told that it was for our safety and to reduce crimewhen statistics prove that street lighting is actually a much more effective way of keeping us safe.'

This, combined with the bizarre terminology used to 'sex-up' current events at the time led Walker to the idea of doing the same for a CCTV, he explained.

But the artist also took plenty of inspiration from real strippers.

The Robo Twins sport svelte bodies, towering heels and a lacy garter round their leg that holds fake money.

At the foot of the stripper poles, there are tip buckets with cheeky sayings like 'MIT bound' or 'Need $$$ for batteries.'

The robots were originally created in 2012 by Walker for a show called 'Peepshow.'

The Robo Twins also performed at adult exhibition Sexpo in Melbourne in 2016.

WHO ARE THE POLE-DANCING 'ROBO TWINS'? British artist Giles Walker is the man behind the cyborg strippers, which are made of scrap parts from mannequins, car parts and other rubbish. Each of Walker's works of art are aimed at commenting on social issues. The robots were originally created in 2012 by Mr Walker for a show called 'Peepshow'. Mr Walker has previously hired out the robots for 2,500 ($3,100) at another technology industry event. The android adult entertainers are the creation of a British artist who says they are a comment on surveillance, power and voyeurism. Human dancers performed next to the stripper robots They also performed at the Sexpo trade event in Melbourne in November 2016. 'By placing the CCTV on the body of a pole dancer I am looking at the relationship of voyeurism and power,' Mr Walker told AAP at the time. 'Is she (the stripper) the one with the power, or is it the people watching her?'. At the foot of the stripper poles, there are tip buckets with cheeky sayings like 'MIT bound' or 'Need $$$ for batteries.' Advertisement

Although the robots were meant to be a commentary on surveillance, they ended up attracting some different discussion from attendees at CES.

Walker says the overall response was positive.

But, CES organizers have come under fire in the past for not being more inclusive for women, and critics said Walker's art seemed somewhat sexist.

'Stripper robots together with booth babes and model waitresses are selected deliberately for sex appeal,' MakeLoveNotPorn CEO Cindy Gallop told the Daily Beast at CES 2018.

'They send the cause of gender equality hurtling backward,' she added.

Still, not everyone was turned off by the cyborg strippers.

Peter Feinstein, Sapphire Gentleman Club's managing director, said the exhibition was 'new and unique.'

The Robo Twins sport svelte bodies, towering heels and a lacy garter round their leg that holds fake money. The robots were first created in 2012 for a show called 'Peepshow.'

'It used to be just nerds. But we wanted something more creative that would appeal to both men and women,' Feinstein said.

And, the creator says the debate shows the art is just doing its job.

'I think strong art looks good and inspires debate. It also evolves and reinvents itself. It manages to keep relevant,' Walker told Dailymail.com.

'It will evolve depending on the changing perception of history, the changing society we are living in and the changing environment the work of art finds itself in.'

'The debate they have inspired about the sexism issue within the tech business has been interesting and necessary,' Walker added.First, billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk sold $600,000 worth of Boring Company branded hats.

Now, Musk appears to be selling a $600 flamethrower that bears the name of his tunneling company.

Sleuthy fans of Musk discovered a secretive, password-protected webpage on the Boring Company's website advertising a flamethrower.

The page, which at one time was accessible using the password 'flame,' has an option to pre-order one of the devices and says the item will ship in April.

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Pictured, a prototype of the Boring Company's $600 flamethrower. The device was discovered on a password protected page on the company's website. The page is now inaccessible

It also notes that the flamethrower pictured is a prototype.

'Final production flamethrower will be better,' the page says.

Several Reddit users attempted to figure out the site's password in a thread on Friday, noting that 'hat,' 'flamethrower' and 'siliconsexparty' all didn't work.

Last month, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX tweeted that the Boring Company would create the 'safest flamethrower ever' after selling 50,000 Boring Company hats.

Most people seemed to assume that he was joking.

The billionaire's tunnel-digging firm 'The Boring Company' has presented its plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting. Pictured is an image shared by Musk in October of the firm's test tunnel in Los Angeles Elon Musk shares look inside 'boring Company'' tunnel under LA

'I know it's a little off-brand, but kids love it,' Musk continued in a tweet.

But as the webpage shows, apparently Musk was being totally serious.

Musk, who founded the tunneling company, also sold Boring Company branded hats late last year.

He said the company sold 50,000 of the $20 hats, before the item sold out.

The Boring Company hasn't indicated whether it'll restock the hats.

IS ELON MUSK SELLING A BORING COMPANY FLAMETHROWER? Billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk appears to be selling $600 flamethrowers that bear the name of his tunneling company. The branded Boring Company flamethrowers were briefly available on a secretive, password-protected webpage before being taken down. The page had an option to pre-order one of the devices and said the item would ship in April. It also noted that the flamethrower being pictured is a prototype. 'Final production flamethrower will be better,' the page said. It's unclear whether the Boring Company will actually make the device publicly available. It's unclear if the Boring Company will actually sell the flamethrowers to the public. Elon Musk did follow through on his promise to sell Boring Company hats, however Advertisement

Now it seems the company has moved on to flamethrowers and, based on one Tesla fan's account, it appears that they are real.

Musician D.A. Wallach paid a visit to the Boring Company's test tunnel at the headquarters of Musk's rocket company, SpaceX.

There, he tried out a working version of the Boring Company flamethrower. Though, as the Verge noted, the device appeared to be an Airsoft rifle that was modified to shoot flames.

While Musk faces some production troubles with Tesla, his electric car company, the Boring Company has made significant progress in the last several months.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sold 50,000 Boring Company hats last month. Now, it appears he's doubling down on his promise to sell Boring Company flamethrowers

Earlier this week, the Boring Company presented plans to build a 6.5-mile (10.5 km) shaft under Culver City, California, at a council meeting.

According to the plans, the privately-funded tunnel would carry cars on 'electric skates' at 150 miles per hour (240 kph) to help with LA's 'soul-destroying' congestion.

The proposed route goes through West Los Angeles passing underneath Sepulveda Boulevard through Culver City.Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems.

Apple officially secured a permit to test autonomous vehicles in California on April 14.

Rumours began sweeping the web last year that Apple was toying with the idea of developing its own self-driving car.

But Apple executives have been coy about their interest in the vehicles.

Chief Executive Tim Cook has suggested that Apple wants to move beyond integration of Apple smartphones into vehicle infotainment systems.

Recently, several of Apple's self-driving test cars have been spotted outside the company's Cupertino, California offices.When farm animals escape the slaughterhouse, sanctuaries such Hugletts Wood Farm Animal Sanctuary in East Sussex take them in.

All of their 278 cow, chickens, turkeys and sheep have been rescued from slaughterhouse, markets, dairy and battery farms.

In the sanctuary, animals live in peace until they die naturally from old age.

The owners of the sanctuary, Wenda Shehata and Matthew Sparey, welcome these animals to enjoy the freedom and safety of their 56-acre farm sanctuary.

In the UK, Hugletts is the only farm animal sanctuary that operates a dedicated Cow Protection Program. They maintain a separate herd which comprises special needs and very elderly cows and bullocks.

They include Archie, who is inbred and was born without a tail, partially sighted and deaf in one ear, as well as one of four founding cows, Leena.Nothing can stop beloved performer Maria Venuti from attending events celebrating new citizens on Australia Day this year.

But for the first time in 23 years, the 76-year-old won't be able to 'sing or speak' at celebrations in Strathfield on Friday, following a 'catastrophic' stroke last year.

'Her life doesn't have to stop because she had a stroke. She can still be fabulous and inspire people more than ever,' her daughter Bianca told The Daily Telegraph this week.

'She can still be fabulous': For the first time in 23-years, Maria Venuti won't be able to 'sing or speak' to new citizens on Australia Day following 'catastrophic' stroke

The inspiring actress hopes to prove 'anything is possible,' by ensuring it's business as usual on Friday.

'She just wants to get back out there and help people,' Bianca said.

'She wanted to continue being an Australia Day ambassador and so this year will just be shaking hands and joining in on the anthem.'

Attendees can expect to see the Maria they know and love: wearing an exuberant smile and a flamboyant wardrobe.

Business as usual: She'll still be in attendance at new citizen welcome ceremonies, however - the veteran actress simply wouldn't have it any other way

This year, her signature leopard print wheelchair will make its debut appearance.

'Helping people' is Maria's new goal for 2018, her daughter revealed on Friday.

Bianca and Maria see the next twelve months as an opportunity to get back to what they do best, following a year of recovery.

'She can still be fabulous': 'Her life doesn't have to stop because she had a stroke. She can still be fabulous and inspire people more than ever,' her daughter Bianca said this week

Maria was rushed to hospital in November 2016, after suffering a stroke when a stalker broke into her Sydney home.

'Initially, one of the nurses told me it (the stroke) was catastrophic - 'one of the biggest bleeds I have ever seen'' Bianca told New Idea last year.

She was in a coma at the Royal North Shore Hospital for five-weeks before regaining consciousness.

Stroke scare: Maria was rushed to hospital in November 2016, after suffering a stroke when a stalker broke into her Sydney home

The stroke occurred in early November, when a 38-year-old man entered her house, who was allegedly convinced he was her husband.

Maria is understood to have collapsed just minutes after alerting police of the man at her home around 8.30am.

The man was allegedly still harassing Ms Venuti when officers arrived and had to be Tasered after becoming angry.Kourtney Kardashian might not be baring it all, but she's pretty close to it.

On Thursday, the 38-year-old entrepreneur posted an Instagram photo showing her sexy backside while on vacation in Mexico with boyfriend, Younes Bendjima, 24.

The mother-of-three looked incredible as she kicked back and relaxed in the tropical setting.

Happy woman: Kourtney Kardashian smiled as she bared it all on Thursday in this Instagram photo from her vacation in Punta Mita, Mexico with her beau Younes Bendjima

The Keeping up with the Kardashians star wore a white string bikini and nothing more.

The sizzling photo showed the mother-of-three sitting at a private bar with her back turned to the camera.

The Armenian beauty also flashed a lot of leg by stretching it out over a bar stool and showing its definition.

Enjoying life: The hot brunette looked stunning in her white string bikini

Kourtney previously highlighted her backside on Wednesday with an even more revealing Instagram post.

The reality TV star had on only a skimpy bikini as she dug into her guacamole with chips.

Naughty gal: The eldest Kardashian showed an even more risque photo on Wednesday

This comes days after Kourtney and Younes were spotted at the airport on Sunday.

She had none of her three kids - Mason, Penelope and Reign - in tow.

The two have been on several trips together during their one year relationship, including NYC, Paris and Egypt.

Looking good: The beauty also wore a white bikini with white illesteva sunglasses while in a swimming pool in Punta Mita

In an Instagram snap shared Tuesday, the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star was wearing a white bikini with white illesteva sunglasses while in a swimming pool.

The looker was toned and tanned in the snap as she had one foot in the pool and the other on the border.

Below her was the beach and to the side Bougainvillea plants in full bloom.

There are more images on Snapchat. Kourtney is seen in a black bikini as she has a meal on the beach.

Food for thought: There are more images on Snapchat. Kourtney is seen in a black bikini as she has a meal on the beach

There's her man! The siren also shared this snap of her beau Younes looking at the ocean

Paradise! Their surroundings were absolutely exquisite

Feet on feet: Kourtney captioned this Snapchat image, 'Couple goals'

Cuddle time: The couple cosied up to each other during their Mexican getaway

Younes went shirtless, briefly showing off her chiseled figure while relaxing with his love in the sun.

The duo were spotted reclining on beach chairs together at their luxury digs.

Kourtney leaned to look at something on Younes' phone, craning her neck over the tall, handsome model's shoulder to get a peek at the screen.

There, the eldest Kardashian covered up in a white button up while her other half wore a similar olive style.

Breathtaking: The social media star shared a bird's eye view of the beautiful beach

It's love: Younes and Kourtney side-by-side during Paris Fashion Week in September

Arriving at an airport in Puerto Vallarta, the couple was dressed down.

Kourtney wore a black top with track pants and sunglasses.

Besides her, Younes had on olive green while he carried a bag emblazoned with the letters 'KOURT.'

The couple were similarly understated for their flight back home on Tuesday.

Mother-of-three Kourtney looked comfortable in light-washed denim and a plain black pullover.

Her raven locks looked ultra shiny, styled straight and sleek.

Almost naked: This comes after the siren was seen modeling Calvin Klein lingerie with her siblings Khloe, Kim, Kylie and Kendall

She toted a customized bag at her side while Younes rolled two suitcases through the terminal.

The Algerian talent sported the same faded green sweatshirt he wore during his travels South of the border.

He donned a pair of coveted Yeezy Wave Runner 700 sneakers on foot while his love wore classic white kicks.

The couple's getaway comes on the heels of the siren's brand new campaign for Calvin Klein lingerie, which she shot with her siblings Khloe, Kim, Kylie and Kendall.

Covered up: In this set up, Kim and Khloe have on very little while Kourtney is covered up

Kim looked toned and incredible, though some haters said she looked like an 'alien' due to being Photoshopped.

She wore both black and white bras and panties.

Khloe, who is pregnant with her first child, appeared to have no bump. She is over six months along and the father is Tristan Thompson.

And Kylie, who is also with child, went to great lengths to hide her midsection. She is expecting her first baby with rapper Travis Scott.

Kendall, a Vogue model, was also present.

The Calabasas native was also seen on Sunday's episode of KUWTK complaining about ex Scott Disick, 34.

He had called her at 2am to talk about life and how she finally and bluntly told him that model Bendjima, 24, was her serious boyfriend.

Kourtney told her sisters that the next day she had rushed over to see Scott because he was behaving erratically.

New boyfriend: Kardashian, 38, relayed how she told Scott Disick that she has a new 24-year-old boyfriend during Sunday's episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians

Father of three: Scott called Kourtney at 2am to talk about life and she informed him about new boyfriend Younes Bendjima

But when she got there he acted 'aggressively' toward her and she sat him down for a serious talk about their family's future.

The drama unfolded as Kourtney told Khloe about the phone call from Scott.

'Last night Scott called me at like 2am, he never calls me late at night ever. He was just ranting like ''What are we doing in life? What am I doing What are you doing?''

'I will go ''But what are you doing?'' or then he will say ''But what are you doing? Is it any better?''

Hung up: Kourtney told Khloe how Scott hung up the phone upon hearing she had a boyfriend

'By the end of the conversation I was just like ''I have a boyfriend and he is 24-years-old, it's not the craziest thing that has ever happened in the world.

'And he was like ''He is your boyfriend?'' and then he hung up the phone,' Kourtney said.

Khloe asked her if she had tried to call him back.

'No, I just went to bed,' said Kourtney smiling.

'Cut The. Cord,' said Khloe.

Bed time: The reality star said she didn't call Scott back and went to bed

'Got to do what you have to do. I just thought he knew. I thought how could he not know, we have been to St Tropez and Egypt together. What does he think that I just go on these elaborate trips?'

Khloe told her that Scott - or the rest of the family - would not have assumed anything.

'I thought it was a guy you were dating. Why would we assume anything unless we hear it from you, you cannot assume people know,' said Khloe.

Khloe told the cameras that she was proud of Kourtney for opening up to Scott about her relationship.

Keeping Up With The Kardashians airs Sundays at 9pm on E!. Stream in the UK & Ireland Mondays on hayuLiu Xiaoming [Photo: China Plus]

Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative will be among the highlights of UK Prime Minister Theresa May's upcoming visit to China, said Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to the UK. 2018 will see the China-proposed Initiative making more solid progress, the Ambassador told reporters in a recent interview. CRI's London correspondent Duan Xuelian has more.

Looking forward to Theresa May's official visit to China scheduled from January 31 to February 2, Liu Xiaoming, China's Ambassador to the UK said that the two countries expect to see more cooperation brought about by the Belt and Road Initiative. He observed that there has been growing enthusiasm towards the Initiative from UK government and businesses.

"We've seen advisory bodies being set up and special envoys appointed to help UK businesses better understand and engage in the Belt and Road Initiative. The UK government has pledged more than 30 billion US dollars worth of financial support for companies participating in the Belt and Road projects in Asia. China and UK have also established a bilateral Belt and Road themed investment fund with a preliminary value of one billion US dollars.

During a previous visit to China, UK's Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond regarded his country as the "natural partner" in Belt and Road Initiative. Britain is one of the first countries to have made financial contributions to the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and also the first major Western country to have approved and signed the Guiding Principles on Financing the Development of the Belt and Road projects. Liu Xiaoming explained that the UK enjoys many advantages in cashing in on the Belt and Road Initiative.

"UK's strengths lie in its expertise in the financial and legal sectors. The country also has a long history of trading with countries along the Belt and Road which will play an important role in creating multi-party cooperation platforms."

Liu Xiaoming said that Theresa May's visit will build on the "Golden Era" of China-UK relations which was established during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to the UK in 2015. He quoted statistics to show that trade volumes between the two countries reached 79 billion US dollars in 2017, an increase of nearly 6.2% on last year's numbers and with the UK seeking to build a global vision after Brexit, the two countries will see the "Golden Era" enriched by new opportunities emerging from projects such as those under the Belt and Road framework.

"And so we have reasons to believe that the Belt and Road Initiative will not only provide new growth point for China-UK cooperation, but also help theGolden Era' of China-UK relations to yield more Golden fruits."

It was announced that during her China visit, Theresa May will co-host the bilateral annual prime ministerial meeting with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and she will also travel to other cities including Shanghai and Wuhan. This is Theresa May's first official visit to China since she assumed office in 2016.

For CRI, this is Duan Xuelian in London.Australia remembers Blake Garvey for unceremoniously breaking Sam Frost's heart after proposing to her in the second season of The Bachelor.

But Married At First Sight's Tracey Jewel is hoping to change opinions about the 'love rat', who she previously dated.

She exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia that the reality show recluse was a 'nice, decent guy' during their teenage romance and had even reached out to her years later during her divorce.

Australia's got it wrong! Married At First Sight's Tracey Jewel is hoping to change the tide of opinion about 'love rat' Blake Garvey

The 34-year-old said she and Blake were each other's first relationship and were together during high school.

'(We would) go to the movies and have dinner. He was a lovely boyfriend, I can't fault him in that respect.'

But when it came to spilling on his prowess in the bedroom, she remained coy: 'When it's your first you don't have someone to compare it to right.

'He was a nice, decent guy to me,' she said.

First love: Tracey, 34, said she and Blake were each other's first relationship

Heart breaker: Australia remembers Blake Garvey for unceremoniously breaking Sam Frost's heart after proposing to her in the second season of The Bachelor

The two went their separate ways before university, but crossed paths in 2012 when Blake found out through mutual high school friends that Tracey was going through a divorce.

She said they caught up for dinner and drinks but nothing eventuated between them.

'I really wasn't in the head space for a relationship, and this was before he went on The Bachelor and everything.'

Friendly: Tracey and Blake went their separate ways before university, but crossed paths in 2012 when Blake found out through mutual friends that Tracey was going through a divorce

The single mum, who is part of Perth's elite social circle, added that Blake had at one time been a regular fixture on the party circuit.

The pair would often politely say hello to each other.

'But I haven't heard a boo from him in literally two years. I haven't seen him, haven't heard from him, I don't know where he is, don't even know if he's in Perth.'

Ahead of her debut on Married At First Sight, Tracey admitted that she had joined the show with the encouragement of her girlfriends - even though she had never seen an episode.

'After watching a few episodes I was like "Oh no, what have I gotten myself into,"' she laughed.

Married At First Sight debuts on January 29 at 7.30pm on Channel NineShe's the reality TV star who has found herself unlucky in love since walking away from Geordie Shore.

But seemingly in a bid to rid herself of any male negative energy, Charlotte Crosby joined a bevy of her best girlfriends on board Bond Sands' VIP cruise on Sydney Harbour on Thursday night.

The 27-year-old's tiny coral dress left little to the imagination as she showed off her long legs and ample cleavage, accentuated even more so by the star's towering wedges.

Getting Down Under! Charlotte Crosby looks worse for wear as she parties at the Bondi Sands VIP cruise on Sydney Harbour

Charlotte sported her typically dramatic makeup look, rocking arched brows with a smoky eye and statement pink pout.

The night began in good spirits with Charlotte dancing up a storm with some of the nation's better known influencers on social media.

Seen with a drink in her hand, the ex-girlfriend of Gaz Beadle threw her arms into the air repeatedly throughout the evening as the early 2000s R'n'B music raged on.

Taking a swig! The night began in good spirit with Charlotte dancing up a storm with some of the nation's better known influencers on social media

Hot to trot! Charlotte sported her typically dramatic makeup look, rocking arched brows with a smoky eye and statement pink pout

Hello new man! She was somewhat of a celebrity presence at the event with a multitude of fans taking pictures with her

She was somewhat of a celebrity presence at the event with a multitude of fans taking pictures with her on the seadeck.

And it was easy to see what they were so excited about - Charlotte looked ravishing after recently revealing a trimmer frame.

Telling fans last week she had already lost five pounds, the beauty said that she had 'smashed' her 30-day fitness regime so far.

Enjoy a boogie! And it was easy to see what they were so excited about - Charlotte looked ravishing after recently revealing a trimmer frame

Chatting to the staff: Charlotte could also be seen leaning over the bar

New look, same dance party ways! The beauty unveiled her new look in 2015 during an appearance on This Morning

Charlotte is also no stranger to weight loss struggles, after unflattering bikini snaps in 2014 spurred the star to lose 15 kilos and four dress sizes.

The beauty unveiled her new look in 2015 during an appearance on This Morning.

Charlotte previously told fans she was heading to Australia, posting a snap on Instagram upon arriving in the sunny country.

She wrote: 'Massively jet lagged. No makeup. Slightly sunburnt. Should of defo remembered my sunglasses. But can't stop smiling in my favourite place in the world Australia. I cannot wait to meet the Bondi Sands team tomorrow.'Celebrities including actor Russell Crowe have joined calls to change the date of Australia Day while some are taking part in protests across the country against 'Invasion Day'.

Critics have claimed January 26 should be a day of mourning rather than celebration of the nation that was forged after the First Fleet arrived in Sydney on that date in 1788.

And joining the chorus of those who deem the public holiday 'Invasion Day' are celebrities including Crowe, Magda Szubanski, Osher Gunsberg and Em Rusciano.

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Osher Gunsberg is one of those calling for the date of Australia Day, January 26, to change

'For me, celebrating Jan 26th feels insensitive, dismissive and cruel': Russell Crowe, Osher Gunsberg and Em Rusciano lead the charge of celebrities protesting 'Invasion Day'as Australia Day festivities kick off

Former Sydney Swans stars Michael O'Loughlin (left) and Adam Goodes (middle) at an 'Invasion Day' rally at Redfern, in inner-city Sydney

Oscar-winner Crowe added his voice to the growing opposition to the current date of Australia Day on Thursday, saying he was celebrating the occasion a day early.

'I'm going to say Happy Australia Day today, on a different date,' Russell told his followers on Twitter.

'Take away the contention , let's have a date we can all embrace.'

Outspoken radio host Em Rusciano didn't hold back when it came to echoing the sentiment on Friday.

'For me, celebrating Jan 26th feels insensitive, dismissive and cruel. I'm not ok with the fact that our national day's origins involve the dispossession and slaughter of an entire people,' she wrote on Instagram alongside an image of an Aboriginal flag.

'For those of you thinking our indigenous community should just "get over it" and "move on" because it was so long ago, I ask you to imagine if the same thing was said about Anzac Day. And since when does anyone get to tell victims of horrific crimes that their grief and sadness has an expiration date?

'I truly hope that one day soon, we can change the date to one that is inclusive of ALL Australians.. Especially.. You know.. The first ones.'

'Take away the contention , let's have a date we can all embrace': Russell urged his Twitter followers to change when Australia Day is held, and admitted he was celebrating a day early

'For me, celebrating Jan 26th feels insensitive, dismissive and cruel' Outspoken radio star Em Rusciano didn't hold back when voicing her view, claiming she's 'not ok with the fact that our national day's origins involve the dispossession and slaughter of an entire people'

Greens leader Richard Di Natale has been among those calling for the date of Australia Day to change while Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wants it to stay.

Radio station Triple J has moved its traditional January 26 Hottest 100 countdown to Saturday, while calls have increased to change the nation's flag.

Osher Gunsberg shared a photo of himself alongside an indigenous friend, which featured The Bachelor host wearing a shirt emblazoned with the Aboriginal flag.

He expressed his views in the comments section when questioned about his reasons for sharing the post.

'I will tell you this - right now many people are upset with the way things are and NOT doing something about a problem only makes it worse,' Osher wrote.

In a different comment he wrote: 'I dont need to have blood to know when another human in my community isnt being treated fairly - its that simple.'

'I dont need to have blood to know when another human in my community isnt being treated fairly - its that simple': Osher Gunsberg also expressed his opinion on Instagram

'I will tell you this - right now many people are upset with the way things are': Osher shared images of 'Invasion Day' protests

The Project host Peter Helliar also expressed his support to change the date.

'Australia Day. Time to reflect on what a great country this is & how it can become even greater,' Helliar wrote. 'Personally I am for changing the date so ALL Australians can celebrate our national day. This is not a political opinion. Its simply what I consider to be fair. #ChangeTheDate.'

Indigenous actress Miranda Tapsell shared her love for other people hurting on a day filled with pain for so many.

'Thinking of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders today. I see you. Look after yourselves and give love towards your community on this hard day. Take care of yourselves xx ' the Love Child star wrote.

Elsewhere, Redfern Now star Rarriwuy Hick took to Instagram to share an artwork of Aboriginal woman holding a sign reading 'Always was, always will be Aboriginal land', which former Home And Away star Bonnie Sveen later reposted in support.

'Thinking of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders today': Indigenous actress Miranda Tapsell shared her love for other people hurting on a day filled with pain for so many

Posting to Twitter, Magda Szubanski called for action while expressing her affection for Australia,



'I love this wonderful country. We need a new day, a fresh start to celebrate all that is great and good about this nation,' the actress wrote.

'Not a date that is built on the blood and bones and suffering of our First Nations people. We can do it. then we can all party together.'

Former model Jodhi Meares took to Instagram: 'January 26th is about acknowledgement and respect for the original custodians of Australia #acknowledge.'

'We need a new date': Posting to Twitter, Magda Szubanski called for action while expressing her affection for Australia

Natalie Croker, wife of AFL star Adam Goodes, took the opportunity to call for a change in date as she uploaded a photo side by side with her husband.

'As we celebrate Australia Day today, Id love us to open a conversation on the history of this date and its meaning to our First People.' she captioned the shot.

'Is it more important to us to uphold a 24 year tradition at the expense of marginalising our Indigenous community than changing the date so we can celebrate this beautiful country together as a family?'

She then added in hashtags: '#chooseempathy', '#changethedate' '#australiaday' '#survivalday', '#dayofmourning' and '#treatynow'.

'Is it more important to us to uphold a 24 year tradition at the expense of marginalising our Indigenous community?' Natalie Croker, wife of AFL star Adam Goodes, took the opportunity to call for a change in date in a caption next to a couples selfie

Others joined the chorus, with republican Peter FitzSimons declaring his views on New Zealand TV.

'Most of us feel blessed to be in this country but for a significant body of our people Australia Day is not a celebration of coming together, its dispossession,' he said.

Wearing a Aboriginal flag shirt, Gruen's Todd Sampson wrote on Twitter, 'lets ditch the date and keep the day.'

Meanwhile, acclaimed writer Benjamin Law admitted he was puzzled by the reasons given for not changing the date.

'Slightly baffled by the argument #ChangeTheDate only exists to make white people feel better - given most resisting change are non-Indigenous, and most vocal leaders of change are black,' he Tweeted.

'Non-Indigenous folks: it's not always about us you know.'She had one of the best catwalk presences during her reign as a supermodel in the '80s and '90s.

And on Thursday, Elle Macpherson proved nothing has changed in more than two decades as she stepped out in New York in a Gucci mosaic-styled pantsuit.

On her way to the 21st annual Rising Star Awards, the 53-year-old's age-defying glamour was striking.

A 70s dream! Statuesque Elle 'The Body' Macpherson, 53, looks striking in a floral pantsuit as she attends the Rising Star Awards in New York

The bright blue, textured high-waisted pants and jacket complemented a stunning orange pussy bow blouse (which she left untied) that featured a bold floral pattern.

Mother-of-two Elle added even more colour to her look by carrying a mustard yellow scarf.

She accessorised with a pair of navy blue pumps and sunglasses in the same hue.

Floating in the wind: Her hair was blow dried but otherwise left to its own devices

Lean and long! The towering star looked slimmer than ever and her long legs were almost an accessory themselves

Her hair was effortlessly styled, blow dried but otherwise left to its own devices.

The towering star looked slimmer than ever and her long legs were almost an accessory themselves.

Earlier this month, Elle opened up about her morning routine on her blog Get The Gloss.

On fire! Earlier this month, Elle opened up about her morning routine on her blog Get The Gloss

Starting her day off with 20 minutes of meditation and hot water with lemon, she then progresses to her daily dose of greens powder in a smoothie.

Made with 45 'bio-live wholefood ingredients', she confirmed that the addition has helped boost her 'energy levels, sleep patterns and complexion'.

Elle has two children with French financier Arpad Busson, Flynn, 19, and Aurelius Cy, 14.As a world's top model, she has acquired impeccable style.

And on Thursday, Cindy Crawford looked lovely as she ran errands in Santa Monica.

The 51-year-old was both edgy and chic in a tan and black ensemble.

Style star: On Thursday, Cindy Crawford, 51, looked lovely as she ran errands in Santa Monica

The mother-of-two paired a sleek, V-neck sweater with a set of leather leggings.

Cindy was both classic and comfortable in a pair of pointed toe, ballet flats from Sarah Flint.

The brunette beauty's look was complete with a chic handbag, a bracelet and shades.

Chic yet edgy: The mother-of-two paired a sleek, V-neck sweater with a set of leather leggings, and also wore a pair of flat black shoes from Sarah Flint

Cindy's classic, yet edgy look appeared to have been inspired by her recent trip to Paris.

The stunner was in the French capital attending Fashion Week with daughter Kaia Gerber, 16, and son Presley, 18.

The teens have decided to follow in their mother's modeling footsteps, and have graced the runways of numerous designers.

Proud mom: Earlier this week, Cindy was in Paris supporting daughter Kaia Gerber, 16, and son Presley, 18, during Fashion Week

On February 4, Cindy will hit TV screens again for a remake of famous 1992 Pepsi commercial.

The clip featured a gorgeous, young Cindy arriving at a gas station and purchasing a can of the drink.

Two young boys are watching in awe of the pretty lady.

According to the Washington Post, son Presley will star alongside his mom in the latest ad. It is not known if changes will be made with the modern version.She's famed for her stunning good looks as well as her acting abilities.

And it was clear to see where Sienna Miller, 36, gets her beautiful features from as she cosied up to her mum Jo at Teresa Tarmey's launch party in London on Thursday.

Enjoying a rare public outing together, the mother-daughter duo seemed in good spirits as they smiled for the cameras at the CIROC sponsored bash at London's Mortimer House.

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Great genes: It was clear to see where Sienna Miller, 36, got her beautiful features from as she cosied up to her mum Jo at Teresa Tarmey's launch party in London on Thursday

Sienna was dressed to impress for the party, sheathing her lithe frame in a billowing white shift dress with a sexy key hole cut out across her chest for the launch of Teresa Tarmeys exclusive at home facial system.

Featuring a stylish frayed hemline, the garment also boasted silver sequin detailing across the bodice which complemented her metallic platform heels.

She finished off the look by styling her glossy golden locks in loose waves and boasting a neutral make-up palette that highlighted her natural beauty.

Dazzling: Sienna was dressed to impress for the party, sheathing her lithe frame in a billowing white shift dress with a sexy key hole cut out across her chest

Sienna's South African mother previously worked as a model and reportedly personal assistant to David Bowie before she moved to London to manage a drama school.

Sienna has credited her love of the arts to her mother, explaining: 'Ive wanted to be an actress for as long as I can remember, and I can say I was almost born in the theatre.

'My mum went into labor while she was watching The Nutcracker Suite in New Yorkapparently I was kicking like mad.'

Jo shares Sienna and her sister Savannah with her ex-husband, Ed Miller. Ed went on to marry, then divorce, Dragon's Den star Kelly Hoppen, and Sienna has stayed close to her former stepmother.

Two's company: Sienna Miller cosied up to her best friend Poppy Delevingne at the bash, who kept things casual in a navy oversized coat and large Louis Vuitton handbag

Glamorous gal pals: Sienna was joined by Annabelle Wallis, who dazzled in a purple velvet jumpsuit with a ruffled neckline in a floral print

Stunning: Featuring a stylish frayed hemline, Sienna's dress also boasted silver sequin detailing across the bodice which complemented her metallic platform heels

Two's company: Sienna cosied up to Lady Mary Charteris as they cuddled up to one another

Sienna is a mother herself now, after welcoming daughter, Marlowe Ottoline Layng Sturridge, in July 2012.

The American Sniper actress called off her engagement to Marlowe's father Tom Sturridge in 2015 but are often spotted out together as they continue to co-parent their daughter.

The Journey's End actor was engaged to Sienna for three years and they remain friends.Former Bachelorette 'villain' Ryan Jones has weighed in on Sophie Monk and Stu Laundy's split.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia, the 26-year-old did not at all appear shocked by their decision to call it quits.

'I'm sure they've just realised that they're not right for one another,' he said.

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Told you so!: Former Bachelorette 'villain' Ryan Jones (seen) - who sensationally thrown off the show Sophie Monk - weighs in on her split with Stu Laundy

Despite being unceremoniously booted off the show after admitting he just 'wasn't into' Sophie, Ryan has nothing but kind words for the blonde personality and her former partner.

'I wish them the very best on their quest for love,' he said.

Since leaving the Bachelorette mansion Ryan has boasted about his luck with the ladies on the outside.

In an interview with the Kyle and Jackie O show in October 2017, Ryan joked about how much sex he'd had since being kicked of the show.

When probed by radio co-host Kyle Sandilands to reveal how many women he had slept with the 27-year-old cheekily responded: '50 will do.'

It's time to go: Ryan was unceremoniously booted off the show after hinting he wasn't that into Sophie after the Kiwi admitted he wasn't sure she was 'worth it' because he hardly knew her

Not impressed: Sophie's face said it all after learning that Ryan wouldn't declare his love

Ladies man: Since leaving the Bachelorette mansion Ryan has boasted about his luck with the ladies on the outside

Early Friday morning Sophie, 38, took to Instagram to confirm her split with 44-year-old publican Stu.

'I gave it the best shot I could and my intentions were everything I said I was looking for but unfortunately it just didn't work out,' she wrote.

While Sophie didn't mention Stu by name at all in the lengthy post, she explained she felt she 'owed' Australia an answer because their relationship had played out in front of the nation's eyes.

Farewell, my lover: Early Friday morning Sophie, 38, took to Instagram to confirm her split with 44-year-old publican Stu (seen)

Sad goodbye: In her Instagram message Sophie wrote: 'I gave it the best shot I could and my intentions were everything I said I was looking for but unfortunately it just didn't work out'

'Because I entered this relationship so publicly I know I owe an answer to Australia about my personal life,' she wrote.

Sophie added: 'As much as I respect him we are just very different people.'

The social media confirmation came after a source close to the couple exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that it was over between The Bachelorette lovers.

Stu is yet to comment on the split.Prince Andrew played a key role in ensuring that the brilliant World War I film Journey's End, starring Sam Claflin, Paul Bettany, Toby Jones and Asa Butterfield, made it to cinema screens in this, the centenary of the end of the war.

The film is based on R.C. Sherriff's play about a group of British officers in the trenches on the eve of battle in 1918.

However, the screen rights to the work are controlled by Warner Bros and the studio policy is that no rights are given up unless it's for one of their own projects.

Word of the situation reached the Duke of York, who swung into action. He, and other members of the Royal Family, felt that the 2018 World War I centenary events should include a film.

Prince Andrew (pictured) played a key role in ensuring that the brilliant World War I film Journey's End made it to cinema screens in this, the centenary of the end of the war

Representations were made by the Duke to Josh Berger, the managing director of Warner Bros (and chairman of the British Film Institute), who made the rights available to director Saul Dibb and producers Guy de Beaujeu and Simon Reade.

Dibb gathered a cast led by Claflin, who's superb as a heroic young captain who uses alcohol to help steady his nerves.

His men are played by Bettany, Jones, Stephen Graham, Tom Sturridge and Butterfield  as an officer barely out of his school uniform.

It's the best I've seen Butterfield on screen: watching his baby-faced officer and his fellow soldiers being hurled into the hell of war is heartbreaking.

The film is based on R.C. Sherriff's play about a group of British officers in the trenches on the eve of battle in 1918

Warner Bros told me they were 'happy to grant the rights to make a feature film of this important play, recognising its cultural and historical significance during the 100th anniversary commemorations of World War I'.

Producer de Beaujeu told me the Duke had been made aware of the situation over the film rights back in 2015.

'He understood the great significance of the film being part of the centenary events, and responded really well,' he added.

Prince Andrew, who flew helicopters during the Falklands War, visited the set during filming but declined an invitation to dress up in costume for a cameo role in the trenches.

Journey's End is released next Friday.

Commons meets its darkest hour

The magnificent House of Commons set in Darkest Hour, where I watched Gary Oldman, as Winston Churchill, deliver the great statesman's 'no surrender' speech, has been broken up for scrap.

The chamber filled one of the sound stages at Leavesden studios. I visited one Saturday morning and was so fascinated by the intricate work done by production designer Sarah Greenwood, set decorator Katie Spencer and their teams that I hung about for most of the day.

The magnificent House of Commons set in Darkest Hour has been broken up for scrap

Eric Fellner, who produced the film with Tim Bevan, Douglas Urbanski, Lisa Bruce and Anthony McCarten, told me he stored the set for nine months, but couldn't find a home for it. He approached The Crown, hoping the Netflix drama could use it, but the show was moving into a late Fifties-early Sixties period and the wartime chamber would have been out of date.

'It's such a sad conversation, because I felt deep down that we should have put it somewhere permanently,' Fellner said.

At least Greenwood and Spencer have received Oscar and Bafta nominations for their creation. And they were recognised for their Beauty And The Beast designs, too.

Overall, Darkest Hour received seven Oscar nods, including citations for Oldman, best picture, and costumier Jacqueline Durran (also nominated for Beauty And The Beast).

I mentioned on Twitter that when I was in New York recently, the audience cheered and applauded during a public screening at a cinema on 42nd Street.

'The film's a great visualisation of great leadership,' Fellner said.

Watch out for

Ben Whishaw (as Brutus) and David Morrissey (Mark Antony), who are part of the smashing ensemble cast of Nicholas Hytner's electrifying immersive production of Julius Caesar, previewing now at the new Bridge Theatre, in the shadow of Tower Bridge.

The scorching cast also includes David Calder in the title role; and Michelle Fairley (Gaius Cassius) and Adjoa Andoh (Casca) as pistol-carrying conspirators.

Ben Whishaw and David Morrissey (pictured together, above) are part of the smashing ensemble cast of Nicholas Hytner's electrifying immersive production of Julius Caesar

There's good work, too, from Kit Young as a rock star Octavius.

Hytner has given the play a contemporary political vibe (Calder wore a cap that reminded me of Trump...gave me chills). There's a street band and a few hundred members of the audience promenade in the pit with the actors, on the fringes of the clever set.On Wednesday she wowed the fashion world on the catwalk at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week.

But on Friday, 16-year-old model Kaia Gerber went for a far more casual look as she exited LAX after returning from the European city.

The daughter of modeling royalty Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber looked supremely comfortable in sweatpants and a beanie as she exited the Los Angeles airport.

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Sweat it out! On Friday, 16-year-old model Kaia Gerber went for a casual look as she exited LAX after returning from Paris Fashion Week

The 5'9" beauty slipped into a pair of black Adidas sweatpants, black Converse high top sneakers and a black leather jacket over an olive green hooded sweatshirt for the transatlantic flight.

Gerber wore only minimal makeup for her trip, applying some eyeliner but eschewing any lip color.

The Los Angeles born beauty hid her brunette tresses under a white 'I [HEART] NEW YORK] beanie.

Gerber baby: Kaia is the daughter of modeling royalty Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber

Sweat it out! The 5'9" beauty slipped into a pair of black Adidas sweatpants, black Converse high top sneakers and a black leather jacket over an olive green hooded sweatshirt

Natural beauty: Gerber wore only minimal makeup for her trip, applying some eyeliner but eschewing any lip color

On Wednesday, the model and actress proved that nothing could faze her as she took to the Valentino catwalk clad in an oversized feather adorned hat during Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Wednesday.

Despite no doubt struggling to see beneath the oversized garment, the Sister Cities star proved she was a professional as she stole the show.

For the show, Kaia donned a voluminous hot pink shift dress with an oversized ruffled collar. The garment was teamed with sheer tights, whilst gold barely there heels boosted her model frame.

Keeping with the colourful theme, Kaia bore a slick of lilac lipstick, whilst her peepers were accentuated with smokey eye shadow.

Kaia retained her model posture throughout the show as she walked in front of a star-studded crowd that included the likes of Kate Hudson and Shailene Woodley.

Feather weight: On Wednesday, the model and actress proved that nothing could faze her as she took to the Valentino catwalk clad in an oversized feather adorned hatThey are well-known for their cheeky ways on the Britain's Got Talent judging panel.

Yet Simon Cowell and his glamorous co-stars Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon took things from screen to the town on Thursday evening as they put on a raucous display while departing 34 Mayfair restaurant.

The 58-year-old music mogul was sporting his trademark style - a deeply unbuttoned shirt with lengthy trousers - yet his usually preened style was tarnished by the huge spill around his stomach while his co-stars dramatically tried to navigate the stairs.

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Be careful! Simon Cowell and his glamorous co-stars Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon took things from screen to the town on Thursday evening as they put on a raucous display while departing a plush London restaurant

Simon has been hard at work with Britain's Got Talent since returning from his Barbados break and he still seems to be sporting his Caribbean tan - although his golden glow did little to mask his bleary expression.

In his signature style, the media mogul donned an unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his muscular chest. whilst he also wore black suit trousers.

He was putting on an extremely animated display as he left the eatery in his stained white shirt while trying to manage the stairs with his co-stars on his arms.

In the midst of the departure he gave a warm kiss and hug to Amanda, who went on to say goodbye to Alesha in a similar fashion.

Here come the girls: The 58-year-old music mogul was sporting his trademark style - a deeply unbuttoned shirt with lengthy trousers - yet his typically preened style was tarnished by the huge spill around his stomach while his co-stars dramatically tried to navigate the stairs

Smoking hot! Simon was seen smoking outside the venue alongside his co-stars

Tan-tastic! In his signature style, the media mogul donned an unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his muscular chest. whilst he also wore black suit trousers

Good pals: In the midst of the departure he gave a warm kiss and hug to Amanda, who went on to say goodbye to Alesha in a similar fashion

Steady on their feet: The trio cut glamorous - albeit wonky - figures at the end of the evening

Amanda looked stylish on the outing in a cream blazer that she teamed with a blouse and skinny black jeans.

Keeping her accessories simple, the mother-of-two carried a pewter snakeskin clutch bag, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of barely there black heels.

Also out for the night was Dec, who looked dapper in a grey plaid blazer with a crisp white shirt and black suit trousers.

Having a giggle: The group could not stop laughing as they departed the venue - with Alesha particularly tickled

Bit of all white! Amanda finished off the look by styling her glossy blonde locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features

A vision: Alesha was clad in a bra and high-waisted trousers as she put on a glamorous display

Hugs all around: Simon was greeting his co-stars with warm hugs as they said goodbye

He was joined by his talent manager wife Ali Astall, who looked effortlessly chic in a black suit jacket and trousers teamed with barely there heels.

Injecting some colour into her ensemble, the blonde beauty boasted a red pedicure and slick of scarlet lipstick.

The trio have been working together this month on the new series of Britain's Got Talent, and recently returned from Blackpool where they kicked off this year's auditions.

Taking the plunge: In his signature style, the media mogul, 58, donned an unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his muscular chest. whilst he also wore black suit trousers

Chirpy: Simon seemed in good spirits on the outing and was smiling at passers-by

Glam: Keeping her accessories simple, mother-of-two Amanda carried a pewter snakeskin clutch bag, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of barely there black heels

One member of the team hasn't been able to resume his duties, however, with Britain's Got More Talent host Stephen Mulhern, 40, being struck down with laryngitis.

The veteran TV presenter was put on bed rest by doctors and told fans he would be 'on mute' until the London auditions on Saturday.

Taking to the micro-blogging site, he wrote: 'Thank you so much for all your get well messages. Am still trying to get better and fingers crossed will see lots of you at the BGMT auditions in London a week today. Have a good evening all.'

Two's company: Declan Donnelly was all-smiles as he joined his wife Ali Astall at the bash. He looked dapper in a grey plaid blazer with a crisp white shirt and black suit trousers

Hometime! Dec was beaming despite being without his beloved best pal AntShe has a Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Range Rover sitting in her garage.

And it seems like PR maven Roxy Jacenko has added a bright yellow 570S McLaren Spyder, worth $435,750 according to Cars Guide, to her ostentatious collection.

The 37-year-old and her husband Oliver Curtis, 32, spent Australia Day morning taking their coupe for a spin around Bondi.

Va-va-vroom! It seems like PR maven Roxy Jacenko has added a bright yellow 570S McLaren Spyder, worth $435,750 according to Cars Guide, to her ostentatious collection

The couple stopped for brunch in the beachside suburb, parking next to Harry's Bondi and stopping other caffeine aficionados in their tracks with the bright yellow car.

Oliver appeared to be in high spirits as he stepped out of the luxury car.

The former jailbird opted for a relaxed long weekend look, pairing a beige collared shirt and white shorts.

Stepping out: The 37-year-old and her husband Oliver Curtis, 32, spent Australia Day morning taking their coupe for a spin around Bondi

Luxury coupe: The couple stopped for brunch in the beachside suburb, parking next to Harry's Bondi and stopping other caffeine aficionados on in their tracks with the bright yellow car. Oliver appeared to be in high spirits as he stepped out of the luxury car

Brunch time: The former jailbird opted for a relaxed long weekend look, pairing a beige collared shirt and white shorts teamed the look with Adidas EQT sneakers, wayfarer style sunglasses and a New York Yankees cap

Patient: Roxy wore a short white linen shirt dress that showed off her trim and toned pins and revealed her fading bruise on her right leg, which she got after slipping in the bathroom

He teamed the look with Adidas EQT sneakers, wayfarer style sunglasses and a New York Yankees cap in burgundy, which was turned backwards.

Roxy dressed for the warm weather in a short white linen shirt dress that showed off her trim and toned pins.

The summer dress also revealed her fading bruise on her right leg, which she received after slipping in the bathroom.

Relaxed: Roxy dressed for the warm weather in a short white linen shirt dress

Classy: While she's known for her enormous Hermes Birkin bag collection, the PR guru teamed her weekend outfit with a Chanel purse as they pair stepped out in the luxury car

Brunch date: She teamed her look with a pair of Ray Ban aviator sunglasses as her sandy tresses cascaded down her delicate shoulders

Delish: Upon receiving their order, Roxy took to her Instagram to show fans their delicious breakfast including a selection of seasonal fruit with yoghurt, coffee and a green juice

While she's known for her enormous Hermes Birkin bag collection, the PR guru teamed her weekend outfit with a Chanel purse.

She teamed her look with a pair of Ray Ban aviator sunglasses as her sandy tresses cascaded down her delicate shoulders.

The couple appeared patient as they waited for a spot at the popular Bondi establishment.

Upon receiving their order, Roxy took to her Instagram to show fans their delicious breakfast including a selection of seasonal fruit with yoghurt, coffee and a green juice.

After finishing up their meal, the pair slid back into their McLaren to head back home to enjoy the rest of Australia Day with their kids Pixie, six, and son Hunter, three.

Family time: After finishing up their meal, the pair slid back into their McLaren to head back home to enjoy the rest of Australia Day with their kids Pixie, six, and son Hunter, three

Career woman: Looking back over her career to date when previously speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the publicist reflected on the career risks that helped her achieve success that meant she could afford such luxuries

Hard work: 'From the day I started I took risks and never settled with what would be good enough or what would "do"' she said

Risks: 'I always did and continue to take risks that will see us break the rules and not conform,' she continued

Previously, the blonde PR maven has reflected on how she achieved the success that has afforded her such luxuries.

Looking back over her career to date, the event planner told Daily Mail Australia that taking a chance has helped her business thrive.

'From the day I started I took risks and never settled with what would be good enough or what would "do"' she explained.

'I always did and continue to take risks that will see us break the rules and not conform.'

Lavish: Both Roxy and Oliver are known for enjoying the finer things in life

Lux life: She has a Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Ferrari and Range Rover sitting in her garageShe is one of the most in-demand actresses in Hollywood.

And on Thursday, Megan Fox made sure to give her followers a show as she flaunted her impeccable figure in a red risque lingerie on her Instagram account.

The 31-year-old actress shared the photo alongside the caption: 'With Valentines Day right around the corner I am giving away my lingerie collection from @fredericks_hollywood.'

Red hot! On Thursday, Megan Fox made sure to give her followers a show as she flaunted her impeccable figure in a red risque lingerie on her Instagram account

In the snap, Megan gives a seductive look to the camera as she playfully tousles her long silky brown hair.

The mother-of-three teamed her see-through lace ensemble with sheer nude thigh-high pantyhose.

Megan has been working hard to promote her new lingerie collection, which is exclusively sold at Fredrick's of Hollywood.

The actress turned designer first revealed her project in March, but the collection wasn't released until the holidays.

Her best model: Megan has been working hard to promote her new lingerie collection, which is exclusively sold at Fredrick's of Hollywood

Fashion designer: The actress turned designer first revealed her project in March, but the collection wasn't released until the holidays

In an Instagram video, Megan said the collection's designs were inspired by vibrant shades of colors reminiscent of European travels.

Sharing some of her work for the first time last September, the star posed in a sheer and lace black bustier with matching thigh-high stockings and black bottoms.

The actress and her Beverly Hills, 90210 star husband Brian Austin Green, 44, welcomed their latest addition, son Journey River, in August 2016.

Megan and Brian began dating in 2004 after they met on the set of Hope & Faith when he was 30 and she was 18, and they tied the knot on June 24, 2010.

They raise sons Noah, five, Bodhi, three, and Journey, 17 months, while Brian also has son Kassius, 15, from his relationship with actress Vanessa Marcil, 49.

Doting mom! They raise sons Noah, five, Bodhi, three, and Journey, 17 monthsLast Flag Flying

Rating:

Richard Linklaters last two films were 2014s deservedly acclaimed Boyhood and 2016s rather over-praised Everybody Wants Some!! His next feature, due out later this year, is the highly anticipated Whered You Go, Bernadette, with Cate Blanchett.

In the meantime, Last Flag Flying consolidates his reputation as a film-maker to watch, indeed to cherish. With one or two caveats, I enjoyed it enormously.

Essentially, its a road movie, set in the eastern United States in 2003, while war rages in Iraq. Linklater co-wrote it with the novelist Darryl Ponicsan, on whose book it is based. That makes it, very loosely, a sequel to the 1973 film The Last Detail, which was also based on a Ponicsan novel, starred Jack Nicholson, and was notorious at the time for the most F-words ever uttered on screen.

Last Flag Flying stars Bryan Cranston, Steve Carell and Laurence Fishburne

Like so many road movies, Last Flag Flying occasionally veers in some fanciful directions, but its a thought-provoking, often funny, and at times, deeply moving story.

Steve Carell, again reminding us what a very fine straight actor he is, plays Larry Doc Shepherd, a gentle, rather timid veteran of the Vietnam War, whose naval service ended in disgrace with a Bad Conduct Discharge.

Decades later, he is propelled by a family tragedy to look up a couple of old friends from his service days, whose influence on him back in Vietnam was clearly less than benign.

Bryan Cranston is on rollicking form as one of them, a voluble, cynical bar owner called Sal Nealon. Laurence Fishburne plays the other, Richard Mueller, who has put his hell-raising days behind him to become a clergyman.

Last Flag Flying occasionally veers in some fanciful directions, but its a thought-provoking, often funny, and at times, deeply moving story

Doc wants the two men to accompany him to a military funeral, which brings this distinctly unlikely trio back into uneasy contact with Marine Corps discipline for the first time in years.

That dynamic, mixed with Sals contempt for religion, makes for some lively confrontations, nicely scripted and deliciously performed by three actors at the top of their game.

Cranston dominates, but its Carell who really catches the eye as a man heartrendingly trying to make sense of a harrowing personal calamity.They're the movie star family who enjoy laying low around their Byron Bay abode.

And with the NSW heatwave in full force this summer Chris Hemsworth decided to take his three-year-old son Sasha into the water for a quick surf lesson.

The 34-year-old looked very comfortable in the ocean as the bearded Thor actor, who was wearing a very tight three-quarter length wetsuit, helped his blonde offspring onto a board.

Cowabunga dude! Chris Hemsworth teaches his son Sasha, 3, how to surf while Elsa Pataky plays with their other children on the sand

While things started off a little bit shaky, as Sasha began to get used to the ebb and flow of the waves, he was able to stand up straight - much to the excitement of his dad.

He looked like a mini-me of his famous father as the tot grinned from ear to ear.

Meanwhile, watching on from the sand, was Sasha's mother Elsa Pataky, who was seen cradling the couple's two other children, Tristan, three, and India Rose, five.

We're soaring, flying! He looked like a mini-me of his famous father as the tot grinned from ear to ear

Dad's got it sorted! Chris Hemsworth kept things under control during the lesson

On a roll! While things started off a little bit shaky, Sasha began to get used to the ebb and flow of the waves and stand up straight - much to the excitement of his dad

Wearing a Spell Designs swimsuit and a straw hat, Elsa looked radiant alongside her genetically-blessed brood.

The children held onto the Spanish model's hand lovingly as the 41-year-old mother slipped her purse into the back of her swimsuit in order to grasp them better.

The playful display comes just days after Chris mentioned the possibility of taking the full year off acting in order to be with his family.

Permanent job! The playful display comes just days after Chris mentioned the possibility of taking the full year off acting in order to be with his family

Woops! Sasha can be seen slipping off his long board in the shallows before getting his feet

Gearing up for an athletic finish! Sasha held onto the board tightly as his dad got him positioned onto the board

He told The Times on Wednesday: 'I want to be there more... I want to be able to take the kids to school.'

The family of five reside in Byron Bay, with Chris leaving home for weeks at a time to film his movies or go on their promotional trails.

He said being away from his young family was always tough and his children used to beg him not to leave.

Stunning! Wearing a Spell Designs swimsuit and a straw hat, Elsa looked radiant alongside her genetically-blessed brood

The family of five resides in Byron Bay, with Chris leaving home for weeks at a time to film his movies or go on their promotional trails

Sizzling! Donning a blue and teal one-piece, Elsa sizzled on the sand as she held India Rose

'That was brutal. I'd be walking out of the door and [the kids] would start crying, 'Don't go!' I just couldn't handle it, so I'd be like, 'I'll bring you back a present.' And they're like, 'Oh, OK.' Their mood changes,' he explained.

Now, Chris says with a heavy heart that they've become accustom to his absence and barely bat an eyelid when he leaves.

The former Home And Away actor said he plans to take at least six months off after he finishes shooting new thriller movie Bad Times at the El Royale in Vancouver this year.

'I may even be off all year. Maybe, its time to just cash in and check out and surf for the rest of my life,' he added wistfully.A man who served prison time in Nevada for involuntary manslaughter is facing a misdemeanor battery charge in an attack involving Flavor Flav at a Las Vegas casino.

The 58-year-old rapper and reality television star, whose real name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr., was treated at a hospital after the late Tuesday incident at the South Point, according to police and his lawyer, Kristina Wildeveld.

Alleged attacker, Ugandi Howard, 44, of Las Vegas, was given a summons to appear March 6 in Las Vegas Justice Court, police Officer Laura Meltzer said Thursday.

Casino attack: Flavor Flav, shown in November 2014 in Las Vegas, was hospitalized after being attacked at a casino on Tuesday and police said Thursday his attacker has been cited

Meltzer confirmed that Howard was arrested in Las Vegas in a 1993 slaying case.

He served prison time in Nevada for an involuntary manslaughter conviction in that case and was released in 2005, court and prison records said.

Video aired by website TMZ shows a man punching Drayton amid slot machines on the casino floor.

A message left at a telephone number believed to be associated with Howard was not returned. It was not apparent from records if he has a lawyer.

Assault victim: The hype man, shown last April in New Jersey, was attacked at the South Point casino amid slot machines

Howard's defense attorney in the 1993 slaying case, Steve Wolfson, is now Clark County district attorney. Wolfson said he didn't recall either Howard or details of the case.

Wildeveld characterized the incident as unfortunate and said she doubted her client instigated it. The attorney said Drayton bowls regularly at the casino-hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard several miles (kilometers) south of the Strip.

'Flav is very open and gregarious,' Wildeveld said. 'He has never caused ill will to his fans.'

Fan favorite: Flavor Flav, shown earlier this month in Anaheim, California, was allegedly attacked by Ugandi Howard, 44, who previously served time for involuntary manslaughter

Drayton, whose public persona includes wearing a big clock on a chain around his neck, was inducted with the hip hop group Public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. The group began in the New York area in 1986. Drayton now lives in Las Vegas.

He has faced several criminal cases in recent years, including a felony battery case involving the teenage son of Drayton's longtime girlfriend that was reduced to a misdemeanor and closed in August 2014 with a finding that he completed domestic violence counseling.

Drayton paid fines after pleading guilty in 2016 to separate misdemeanor driving under the influence charges in Las Vegas and nearby Henderson. Both times, he acknowledged having marijuana residue in his system while behind the wheel.

In Nassau County, New York, Drayton was fined a little over $3,600 in 2015 for driving without a license when he was stopped while speeding in January 2014 to his mother's funeral.Chris Klein and his wife Laina Rose are expanding their family.

The parents of 18-month-old Frederick Easton will welcome their second child in 2018.

My beautiful angel @lainarose is making another beautiful angel. Easton is going to be a big brother. 24 weeks along. We are so #blessed, said Chris in a Twitter post.

A new addition! Chris Klein and his wife Laina Rose will welcome their second child in 2018

Family of three: The couple currently share their son 18-month-old Frederick Easton

The announcement comes just a day before the premiere of Chris' new movie The Competitiona romantic comedy about infidelity.

This is his first acting project since 2016.

Klein star in the indie film alongside Thora Birch best known for her roles in Hocus Pocus and American Beauty.

New project: The announcement comes just a day before the premiere of Chris' new movie The Competitiona romantic comedy about infidelity

Laina has worked as a travel agent and casting associate over the years.

The Los Angeles based couple first met at a mutual friends wedding and went on to date for four years before tying the knot in 2015.

Chris and Laina exchanged vows in Montana before 115 guests at the Rainbow Ranch.

Working mom: Laina has worked as a travel agent and casting associate over the years. The family is based in Los Angeles

The Kleins later welcomed their first child in 2016Frederick.

Our hearts are bursting with love and joy, the mom said in an Instagram post on the day her son was born.

The couple should welcome their newest addition to the family come July.An article he wrote a quarter century ago was just unearthed.

And Bradley Cooper, who now makes headlines around the world, seemed in good spirits on Thursday in Los Angeles despite the newspaper item, which detailed his sexual experiences as a teen, made waves.

The 43-year-old flashed a grin while in the Santa Monica suburb of LA as he made his way to his car.

Feeling good: Bradley Cooper was pictured on Thursday stepping out in Santa Monica, California

The movie star sported a gray beanie and blue coat as he hid behind some dark reflective shades.

Bradley, who shares a child with model Irina Shayk, kept his attire low key as he also wore chinos and a white T-shirt.

Bradley Cooper, as an 18-year-old newspaper intern, wrote a piece for the Philadelphia Daily News in May of 1993 about the merits of having friends with benefits, long before the term was a staple in the lexicon.

Feeling fine: The 43-year-old flashed a grin while in the Santa Monica suburb of LA as he made his way to his car

The article was tweeted Tuesday by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Tommy Rowan, who shared a shot of the piece which featured Cooper, then a high school senior, in a tux with his pal, Deborah Landes.

Rowan wrote, 'Intern Bradley Cooper, age 18, wrote in his first @PhillyDailyNews story: "Can best friends who are of the opposite sex hook up with each other without destroying their friendship? In my case, yes . . . so far." Bold.'

The piece, which was titled, 'When Best Friends Cross the Line,' is a first-person essay from the nascent A-lister, about the tricky emotions involving sex with a friend, but without a romantic relationship to base it on.

Way back when: Bradley was 18 when he wrote a piece about his friendship with benefits with high school friend Deborah Landes for the Philadelphia Daily News in May of 1993

The Limitless actor, who's now 43, wrote, 'I know once you take that step over the platonic line everything is supposed to change. Suddenly you start to hate that guy she always told you was hot. But that's not really true in my case.'

He said that while he and his 'best friend ... still talk about other people ... the conversation does get a little more tense' with the added dynamic of a sexual relationship underscoring their talks.

He said the reason why he and Landes were able to make it work was because of the 'great friendship' they had before falling into bed with one another.

Extra, extra! A Philadelphia reporter named Tommy Rowan tweeted a shot of the throwback piece on Tuesday

'We really don't know how to be anything other than best friends,' the four-time Oscar nominee wrote. 'I realize this when people ask me if we are going out. It sounds too weird to even imagine; however, to an outsider, it probably looks as if we are boyfriend and girlfriend.'

The American Sniper actor explained that before they began hooking up, he and Landes 'could never fathom the idea of being more than just friends, especially because she was involved in a relationship with a friend of mine.'

However, Cooper wrote, 'Things began to change' when Landes and her friend parted ways. Eventually, they began talking to one another more and more about the mutual attraction that existed, and progressed to a sexual relationship.

Then and now: A Facebook profile indicated a Utah woman named Deborah Landes Schillinger (R) originally hails from the Philadelphia suburb of Collegeville, Pennsylvania, near where Cooper grew up

She has a type? Deborah's husband Doug Schillinger looks like an A-lister in his his own right, and bares a passing resemblance to Cooper

He lamented about how the times would change after they graduated from high school and moved on to college.

'It is somewhat easy to say everything is cool now, because we are still in school,' said Cooper, who moved onto Villanova University after graduating from Philadelphia's Germantown Academy. 'The real test will probably come when I have to hear about how much fun she's having at the Shore this summer.'

While the world is well aware of how things turned out for Bradley, it appears Deborah has gone on to a happy life as well.

Out and about: Bradley was snapped with partner Irina Shayk in March of 2016

A Facebook profile indicated a woman named Deborah Landes Schillinger, with a maiden name of Deborah Landes - originally hails from the Philadelphia suburb of Collegeville, Pennsylvania. She now resides in a town strongly associated with the film industry: Park City, Utah, where the annual Sundance Film Fesival is currently underway.

According to the social networking site, she is married to a man named Doug Schillinger - who bares more than a passing resemblance to Bradley - and is mother to young sons.

Bradley is in a happy romance with model Irina Shayk, who he shares baby daughter Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper with. Prior to the Russian beauty, he was briefly married to actress Jennifer Esposito, and was in relationships with stars including Avatar actress Zoe Saldana and British model Suki Waterhouse.She's in a happy relationship with actor Jamie Foxx.

But on Thursday, Katie Holmes was spotted solo while attending the Delta Air lines' Grammy event at the Bowery Hotel in New York City.

The 39-year-old actress made sure to turn heads as she donned an elegant sheer black dress on the red carpet.

City chic: On Thursday, Katie Holmes was spotted solo while attending the Delta Airlines' Grammy event in New York City

Katie teamed her dress with black leggings and thigh-high black heel-boots.

The Dawson Creek actress - who just celebrated the show's 20th anniversary- showed off her slim figure by accessorizing her ensemble with a black leather belt tied at the waist.

Katie kept her short dark tresses tousled with her hand as she sported natural makeup to accentuate her youthful glow.

The mother-of-one finished off her red carpet look with gold jewelry and black nail polish on her manicured hands.

Natural beauty: The 39-year-old actress made sure to turn heads as she donned an elegant sheer black dress on the red carpet

Glam! Katie kept her short dark tresses tousled with her hand as she sported natural makeup to accentuate her youthful glow

Back in black! Katie teamed her dress with black leggings and thigh-high black heel-boots

The Batman star has been happily dating fellow actor Jamie since being linked to him in August 2013.

For years they had insisted they were 'just friends' until recently when they were pictured holding hands in public for the first time while they strolled on the beach.

It has been claimed Katie's ex-husband Tom included a clause in her 2012 divorce settlement banning her from publicly dating for five years.

Her romance with Jamie is the first relationship she has embarked on since she split from the Top Gun star in 2012.

The former flames, who share daughter Suri, made headlines when they got engaged in 2005 following just seven weeks of dating and they were together for six years before they parted ways for good.

Elegant: The mother-of-one finished off her red carpet look with gold jewelry and black nail polish on her manicured handsHe stopped traffic on Friday when his flash Mercedes broke down on a busy Sydney road.

And Karl Stefanovic has revealed the embarrassing reason behind his car troubles, calling into 2GB's Ray Hadley Morning Show to explain he had simply run out of petrol.

To make matters worse, Karl was stranded by the side of the road as his girlfriend Jasmine Yarbrough celebrated her 34th birthday with a lavish party.

'Some goose obviously forgot to fill up his car!' Karl Stefanovic reveals the embarrassing reason why his Mercedes broke down

Karl called into the radio host after his car broke down on a busy street in Mosman, leaving traffic backed up for more than an hour.

His badly timed breakdown coincided with celebrations for Jasmine's birthday.

The model turned shoe designer's sister Jade shared a video to Instagram of the party getting underway on Friday afternoon, complete with balloon decorations.

Speaking to Ray on his radio show, Karl made light of his car problems and subsequent traffic issues, blaming the problem on not having enough petrol in his car.

Whoops! Karl's badly timed breakdown coincided with celebrations for Jasmine's birthday

'Don't tell me you've run out of petrol!' Ray was quick to joke that Karl had forgot to put petrol in his luxury Mercedes, but he quickly got defensive at the joke

'Gee I tell you what, the traffic is banked back for a couple of kilometres in either direction I'd be avoiding Rangers Avenue in Mosman if I was you,' Karl said to the cackles of the radio host.

'It is a no-go zone, an absolute parking lot here while some goose obviously forgot to fill up his car,' he added.

'Don't tell me you've run out of petrol!' Ray jibed.

Celebrations: The model turned shoe designer's sister Jade shared a video to Instagram of the party getting underway on Friday afternoon, complete with balloon decorations.

Breaking down with Today? Karl was left red-faced after his luxury Mercedes broke down

Karl quickly got on the defensive: 'I'm making an assessment from outside the vehicle I can't be certain what's happened to the vehicle.'

Trying to push the Today host's buttons, Ray joked: 'Let me help you. There is a fuel gauge in every car, is it on empty?'

However Karl was quick to play along with the gag, saying: 'A what?'

Who you gonna call? The embarrassed-looking television host was busy on the phone making arrangements to have his car towed

Need a hand? Stefanovic's black $200,000 Mercedes coupe conked out on Rangers Ave, just after 11am, leaving him with no option but to pop the bonnet and the hazard lights on

You right, mate? Amused residents joked with Stefanovic that he should have kept his 'trusty Aussie Holden'

The embarrassed-looking television host spent over an hour by the side of a busy Mosman street in Sydney on Friday after his car broke down.

Karl's brand new black $200,000 Mercedes coupe conked out on Rangers Ave, just after 11am, leaving the red-faced presenter with no option but to pop the bonnet and put the hazard lights on.

Amused residents joked with Karl that he should have kept his 'trusty Aussie Holden'.

Waiting game: At one stage police arrived to speak with Karl, but they left soon after being told a tow truck was on its way

Pride and joy: Karl's Mercedes appears to be a source of great pride for the TV presenter

'Yeah thanks, why don't you give me a hand and help me get my car started,' Karl joked with one resident, who offered his sympathy.

At one stage police arrived to speak with Karl but they left soon after being told a tow truck was on its way.

Traffic in the thoroughfare built up at times, with cars unable to get around Karl's broken down sedan.

When drivers spotted the TV host standing beside the car, some beeped their horns and waved.

Back it up! The breakdown caused traffic chaos on the busy Mosman street

Finally! A tow truck driver soon arrived to clear the car from the middle of the street

Dressed in a dark navy suit and white shirt, Karl paced beside the car waiting for help to arrive.

He chatted with a few motorists who stopped to offer support.

A tow truck driver soon arrived to clear the car from the middle of the street.

A clearly relieved looking Karl could be seen bringing his hand to his forehead, before resting his hand on the car's bonnet in an exasperated fashion.

She'll be right: Karl's Mercedes appears to be a source of great pride for the TV presenter.

Karl's Mercedes appears to be a source of great pride for the TV presenter.

Just yesterday he was spotted receiving the VIP treatment at Qantas airline's corporate headquarters in Sydney.

Upon arriving Karl was greeted by a parking attendant who pointed out a specially reserved space where he could park his luxury car.Pete Evans recently returned from a lavish vacation to Bora Bora and a $15,000 'brain upgrade facility' in the United States with wife of one year, Nicola Robinson.

And it appears as though the trip may have been more stressful than first thought, taking to Instagram on Thursday to showcase the bizarre way Nicole lets go of her stresses.

Calling it 'The sweet art of surrender', the 44-year-old's photo showed a 'body magician' Bruce Scott using his feet to lift Nicola up while her head drooped down towards the ground.

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That's different! Pete Evans reveals the VERY bizarre way wife Nicola Robinson like to unwind

'The sweet art of surrender!' Pete captioned the interesting photo.

'Our brother Bruce aka @thebodymagician surly does facilitate a magical, heart opening, Earth Suit aligning practice!

'This is my beautiful wife fulling letting go and allowing Bruce to innately feel into her flow and be guided as to what her body is ready to release,' he continued the lengthy post.

Letting go: 'This is my beautiful wife fulling letting go and allowing Bruce to innately feel into her flow and be guided as to what her body is ready to release,' he continued the lengthy post

New technique: The photo taken by Pete saw Bruce grasping her feet while Nicola arched her back and dropped her head down towards the floor

The photo showed Bruce lying on his back and lifting his legs to 90 degrees while holding up Nicola.

Grasping her feet, Nicola was seen arching her back and dropping her head down towards the floor.

The stunner and step-mum of Chilli, 12, and Indii, 10, sported a striped long-sleeve top and grey UCLA branded sweatpants.



The latest relaxation technique comes after the Paleo enthusiast enjoyed a luxury vacation with the former model in Bora, Bora.

The couple also visited Seattle's 40 Years of Zen Training Centre.

Pete completed a strenuous pre-screening process and qualifying for the $15,000 5-day 'brain upgrade' course.

The program is the brainchild of Albuquerque entrepreneur, 'Bulletproof Coffee' inventor and self-professed 'biohacker' Dave Asprey.

'The idea is simple. Your brain uses electricity. If you turn it into sounds and play them back to your brain, your brain gets new information about how its doing,' he explains on the program's website.He's the 14-year-old wildlife warrior who has spent his entire childhood around exotic animals at Australia Zoo.

And Robert Irwin looked completely at home hanging out with some feathered friends on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday night.

The teenager was all smiles after being rushed to hospital for emergency surgery earlier this month.

Animal encounters: Wildlife warrior Robert Irwin, 14, took to the stage of The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon to showcase a purple toucan and a furry otter, enthralling the live audience

Appearing in high spirits, the teenage wildlife expert chatted with enthralled audience members as he showed off a purple bird.

Attended by a bird handler, the audience burst into a round of applause at the sight of the exotic animal.

Robert also introduced Jimmy to furry otter, the late night host appeared enthralled by the cute animal.

Exotic birdlife: The 14-year-old wildlife expert Robert Irwin showed off a purple toucan to the audience, who burst into a round of applause

The TV appearance comes after Robert started the new year with a trip to the hospital, taking to Instagram to post a snap of himself in a hospital bed after being rushed in for surgery.

'Kicking off the new year with emergency surgery,' the animal enthusiast captioned the image.

Adorable: Robert also introduced Jimmy to furry otter, the late night host appeared enthralled by the cute animal

Despite being hooked up to a drip with a number of medical machines surrounding him, the son of late Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin seemed to be in good spirits.

Robert cheerfully explained: 'Im recovering well and feeling so much better without my pesky appendix!'

Australia Zoo previously Daily Mail Australia that Robert was on the mend following the surgery.

In good form: The TV appearance comes after Robert started the new year with a trip to the hospital

'On New Years Day, Robert suffered appendicitis which resulted in the removal of his appendix,' a representative said.

'He has since been recovering well and will be participating in the daily Wildlife Warriors show at Australia Zoo as much as he can, from January 13th to 21st with Terri and Bindi. Thank you to everyone for their support and well wishes.'She's the fashion forward socialite and partner of shock jock Kyle Sandilands.

And Imogen Anthony got into the spirit of Australia Day on Friday as she partied with Kyle and some of his KIIS FM pals.

The 26-year-old wore her national pride on her sleeve wearing a midriff exposing AC/DC shirt in a photo posted to Instagram.

Gang's all here: Imogen Anthony got into the spirit of Australia Day on Friday as she partied in an AC/DC shirt with boyfriend Kyle Sandilands and some of his KIIS FM pals

The black, sleeveless shirt showed off Imogen's abs and bronzed arms, while she matched with a pair of bright red pants.

Her Australia Day outfit was finished with a black cowboy-style had with a flaming love heart emblazoned across it.

Imogen looked in her party element as she posed close to Kyle, while the radio star's colleagues, decked out in their best Australia Day garb, also soaked up the atmosphere.

Sun kissed: The black, sleeveless shirt showed off Imogen's abs and bronzed arms, while she matched with a pair of bright red pants

Wild west: Her Australia Day outfit was finished with a black cowboy-style had with a flaming love heart emblazoned across it

The Kyle and jackie o show's Intern Pete, aka, Peter Deppeler, almost stole the show from Imogen in the photo,wearing a pair of blue Speedos, an Australia-themed hat umbrella and an oversized flag-emblazoned inflatable hand.

'When the @kiis1065 crew gate crash our house on #AustraliaDay,'Imogen captioned the post. 'bet you can't wait for @kyleandjackie0's return on Monday.'

Imogen's fans were quick to comment on the celebratory photo, with many making mention of Pete's scene stealing appearance.

Meanwhile Imogen took to Instagram prior to the celebrations on Friday with an eye-popping photo of herself posing nude in a cowboy hat, with nothing but soapy water obscuring her breasts from sight.

'When in Rome ... or #Straya': Model Imogen Anthony, 26, posted an eye-popping nude selfie showing off her curves and slender arms to mark Australia Day

She appeared to struggle to explain how the image was relevant to Australia Day, writing in the caption: 'Don't know why popping out of a bath with strategically placed bubbles (the last of mind you) and a blue cowboy hat today is really relevant, but you know...when in Rome ... or #Straya.'

Regardless, Imogen's fans were titillated by the saucy update, with one gushing: 'YOU ARE A GODDESS!! LIKE ARE U EVEN REAL??!!?'

Another added: 'Happy Australia Day Queen Immy xxx.'

'Christina, is that you?' Fans likened Imogen (L) to singer Christina Aguilera (R) after the Instagram star debuted a very dramatic new look to Instagram on Wednesday

The sexy selfie comes after the leggy model traded her blonde locks for a darker hue which saw her fans instantly liken her to pop star Christina Aguilera, 37.

'Hello darkness my old friend,' Imogen captioned.

One fan commented: 'Wow @imogen_anthony u look so much like Christina Aguilera here . Was that intentional ?!!!'

Another asked: Christina, is that you?

Hump day! The exhibitionist girlfriend of Kyle Sandilands spends a lot of time glamming up and stripping down for social media

The Instagram star wore a black bikini top paired with blue jeans and a diamante choker.

She opted for heavy evening makeup consisting of foundation, bronzer, lip liner and smokey eyes.

It comes after Imogen recently set tongues wagging when she left little to the imagination after posing topless in crotchless jeans.

Is this her most outrageous ensemble? It comes after Imogen recently set tongues wagging when she left little to the imagination after posing topless in crotchless jeans

Taking to Instagram, she revealed that not even her 'lenient' boyfriend was impressed with her 'eclectic' style choice.

'My man's usually pretty lenient (as you know) in fact, very encouraging when it comes to my uhh, eclectic style,' she captioned.

'...But God, if I could have recorded the look on his face to show you all when I walked out saying I was wearing these pants like this with nothing else but a g banger (aka 'thong' to the internationals) it was truly hilarious.'

Flaunting her washboard abs and ample assets, Imogen left the skirt, which was attached to the jean bottoms, unzipped and rolled out.

Risque choice: Flaunting her washboard abs and ample assets, Imogen left the skirt that was attached to the jean bottoms unzipped and rolled out

Completing a little bit of DIY herself, the original $130 garment had an extra white cotton piece to ensure modesty - which she removed.

The risque shoot also saw Imogen leave her platinum blonde locks cover her face and styled into natural waves.

And compromising with Kyle's wishes, Imogen did add some extra garments to her ensemble when going out on Saturday night to Flamingo Lounge.

Covering up: And compromising with Kyle's wishes, Imogen did add some extra garments to her ensemble when going out on Saturday night to Flamingo Lounge

Kyle wasn't impressed with Imogen's bare outfit chocie: 'But God, if I could have recorded the look on his face to show you all when I walked out saying I was wearing these pants like this with nothing else but a g banger (aka 'thong' to the internationals) it was truly hilarious'

Wearing silver metallic underpants underneath the skirt, she also donned a tie-dye crop top and a faux fur coat.

And while her undone skirt gained much attention, Imogen's top wasn't far behind.

'I'm his because he gives good head,' it read.She announced her heartbreaking split from Channel Seven newsman Ryan Phelan earlier in the week.

And on Friday, a struggling Samantha X spent the day being consoled by her closest male friends.

Despite it being Australia Day, the 43-year-old former escort appeared more petulant than patriotic, with three pals tasked with putting a smile back onto her famous face.

Puppy love! Samantha's new pooch, Little May, is helping heal her heartbreak

Taking to Instagram, Samantha - who hung her heels up after falling for Ryan - shared a snap that showed her spending Australia Day with her platonic companions.

'In my next life, Im coming back as a gay man, ' she captioned the snap, before tagging the three handsome men.

In the wake of her earth-shattering split, Samantha has also been seeking solace in her new Tenterfield terrier puppy, named Little May, whom she purchased on Thursday.

Helping her smile again! On Friday, a struggling Samantha X spent the day being consoled by her closest male friends in the wake of her split from newsman Ryan Phelan

The Bondi-based blonde was seen cradling the black and white pooch in her arms as she strolled along a beach side street following her trip to the pet shop.

Samantha hasn't shied away from documenting her heartbreak after the the end of her three-month relationship with Ryan was revealed on Tuesday.

The beauty even reached out to BacheloretteSophie Monk early Friday, following the star's split from Stu Laundy.

Hot property: Stunning Samantha is now one of Sydney's most eligible bachelorettes, although it appears she isn't yet ready to spring back onto the dating scene

'When a relationship is public, so is the hurt. To any man or woman going through heartbreak, stay true, stay strong & it's OK not to be OK,' Samantha wrote on Instagram.

'You don't need to be strong all the time. A new puppy helps, so do girlfriends and wine. And this too shall pass. Thinking of you @sophiemonk', she added.

While stunning Samantha is now one of Sydney's most eligible bachelorettes, it appears she isn't yet ready to spring back into dating.

'I will continue to study my masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy and will continue to help and support other women. I will not be going back to escorting, and instead look forward to a bright future helping women be the best they can be with or without a man!' she told Daily Mail Australia.She caused a stir last week when she was seen checking out engagement rings in her native Poland.

And Joanna Krupa enjoyed another date night with her mystery silver fox as they headed to a romantic dinner at West Hollywood hotspot Craig's on Thursday.

The model and reality star, 38, put on a leggy display in a full length black coat as she made her exit from the upmarket eatery - just days after the pair were spotted kissing.

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New beau? Joanna Krupa enjoyed another date night with her mystery silver fox as they headed to a romantic dinner at West Hollywood hotspot Craig's on Thursday

The TV personality elongated her slender physique with pointed-toe black heels, accessorising her look with a matching chain strap bag.

Joanna looked a little bleary-eyed as she made her exit from the eatery on the arm of her dapper mystery man, after previously denying she was seeing anyone.

The beauty was previously linked to American restaurateur Nico Santucci, 50, with the pair being seen out and about over the summer.

A source close to Joanna told MailOnline: 'Joanna and Nico are strictly friends. Joanna is in a relationship but at this stage they want to keep things private.

Romance: The model and reality star, 38, put on a leggy display in a full length black coat as she made her exit from the upmarket eatery - just days after the pair were spotted kissing

Chic: The TV personality elongated her slender physique with pointed-toe black heels, accessorising her look with a matching chain strap bag

'Joanna is not engaged to a film producer but she will say she is super happy but not ready to make it official yet.'

However in October, Joanna hinted that she was single when she spoke to US Weekly and admitted she was focusing on her work.

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.'

Single? Joanna looked a little bleary-eyed as she made her exit from the eatery on the arm of her dapper mystery man, after previously denying she was seeing anyone

On the market: The beauty was previously linked to American restaurateur Nico Santucci, 50, with the pair being seen out and about over the summer

Tongues were set wagging last week, when Joanna was spotted playfully trying on engagement rings in Warsaw, Poland.

Joanna finalised her divorce from Romain Zago in August after four years together, but the beauty insisted they have remained on good terms.

She told MailOnline: '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.'Coco Rocha has revealed she's expecting a baby boy with her husband James Conran.

The pregnant model, 29, confirmed the couple will welcome a son into the world after taking the runway by storm alongside her adorable mini-me daughter Ioni Conran, two, at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Wednesday night.

Posting a sweet video on her Instagram page, the Canadian beauty told her 1.2 million followers: 'Carrying my son in my belly with my daughter @ioniconran by my side, I will never forget this day!

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Oh baby: Coco Rocha has revealed she's expecting a baby boy with her artist husband of seven years James Conran (pictured at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Thursday night)

Coco - real name Mikhaila Rocha - also thanked Jean-Paul Gaultier for giving her the chance to command the catwalk with her little girl.

She added: 'Thank you @jpgaultierofficial for another unforgettable moment on the runway, my heart is so full.'

The model commanded attention at the end of the Jean-Paul Gaultier catwalk in her stunning asymmetric powder blue dress, adorned with a black heart over her chest.

Her hair-raising 'do caught all the attention as the upright curl finished off in an elegant blunt bob.

Happy couple: The pregnant model, 29, confirmed the couple will welcome a son into the world in the coming months (pictured in December 2017)

Coco was soon in good company as she twirled around to reveal her little one in a matching outfit, before quickly sauntering down the isle.

The mother-daughter duo strutted their stuff as they pulled many obscure poses, while the billowing fabric wrapped around Coco's growing baby bump.

Coco previously revealed that some of her friends only found out about her pregnancy when she announced it to her fans on Instagram.

She said: 'It is easier announcing my pregnancy on social media instead of calling people - but on the other hand some friends and family members want to make sure you call them and get that respect of being called first.

'I will never forget this day!': Coco took the runway by storm alongside her adorable mini-me daughter Ioni Conran, two, at Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week on Wednesday night

'There are haters out there, so you either shut them down or remove them from out of your life' she continued.

Coco announced her pregnancy in December by posting a video on Instagram of herself standing in a nursery wearing a full-length, fitted, black evening dress and holding her stomach and standing next to her daughter.

Ioni then jumped out from behind her and shouted: 'Surprise! There's a baby in mummy's tummy!'

She captioned the video: 'Your attention please! @ioniconran has a very important announcement to make!! #babyconran2. (sic)'

Coco had recently admitted she is a lot more selective about the modelling jobs she takes on now she is a mother.

'Your attention please!': Coco announced her pregnancy in December by posting a video on Instagram of herself standing in a nursery, holding her stomach

She said: 'Now that I'm a mom, when it comes to campaigns and editorials, I look at the bigger story.

'I ask if that's a good fit for the Coco brand, should I work with every editorial that comes my way, every brand.

'It's about pinpointing what's good ... I didn't want to be consumed by my career. Now we have a baby girl and that's what grounds me.'

The model doesn't appear to be slowing down despite the impending birth of baby number two, appearing at a number of Paris Fashion Week events, including the 6th annual Sidaction charity gala in the French capital on Thursday.

The Toronto native has been married to artist James Conran since 2010 after the two first met at a party in NYC.Stars of the reality stars are seldom seen in covered-up ensembles.

And Thursday night proved just this as Made In Chelsea's Nicole Hughes opted for a nude bustier while TOWIE's Courtney Green went braless in a plunging top for the What The CYO Launch Party in London.

The 27-year-old Irish beauty looked sensational in the lingerie-inspired top, which provided the initial illusion that she was topless while Courtney, 22, upped the sex appeal in her sizzling top and PVC trousers.

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Ahem! MIC's Nicole Hughes opted for a nude bustier while TOWIE's Courtney Green went braless in a plunging top for the What The CYO Launch Party in London on Thursday evening

Nicola looked sensational for her evening on the town as she went for a sexy look, with the bustier paired with high-waisted burgundy trousers and layered under a monochrome striped blazer to give an edgy touch.

As camera bulbs flashed, the blonde beauty ensured she flashed all her best assets by pulling the blazer off her shoulders to give a glimpse of her bustier.

Her endless legs were displayed to perfection thanks to her sizzling trousers while she lengthened her pins with her staggering pointed ankle boots.

The blonde beauty ensured her beauty regimen was as flawless as her fashion credentials as she styled her centre-parted blonde locks into a bouncy blow-dry while her make-up was dramatic and enhanced her alabaster complexion.

Cheeky! The 27-year-old Irish beauty looked sensational in the lingerie-inspired top, which provided the initial illusion that she was topless

Out and a pout: Nicola looked sensational for her evening on the town as she went for her sexy look, with the bustier paired with high-waisted burgundy trousers and layered under a monochrome striped blazer to give an edgy touch

Not to be outdone, TOWIE starlet Courtney went for an equally-sexy ensemble as she rocked skin-tight PVC trousers beneath her plunging top.

Showing off her perky assets beneath the deeply plunging top while she toughened up her style with the addition of a tough biker jacket.

She wore her chestnut hued locks in a centre parting with bouncy waves teased into the bottom while her make-up was dewy and flawlessly applied.

Sizzling: Not to be outdone, TOWIE starlet Courtney went for an equally-sexy ensemble as she rocked skin-tight PVC trousers beneath her plunging top

Hot stuff! Showing off her perky assets beneath the deeply plunging top while she toughened up her style with the addition of a tough biker jacket

Courtney's outing came after the TOWIE cast have been faced with rumours that a host of stars will be 'culled from the show'.

News that seven stars - including Mike Hassini, Jack Rigden, Jordan Brook, Maddie Hooper and Ruby Lacey - have been axed, led to questions about others.

Courtney's best friend Chloe Green recently reminded viewers that she will be back with a bang in Series 22.

Chloe joined the show in 2016 as Megan McKenna's best friend, and one third of their 'girl band' with BFF Courtney. But the friendship quickly disbanded when Chloe fell out with castmember Amber Turner.

A vision: The blonde beauty ensured her beauty regimen was as flawless as her fashion credentials as she styled her centre-parted blonde locks into a bouncy blow-dry while her make-up was dramatic and enhanced her alabaster complexionModel Winnie Harlow pulled out all the stops when she attended the Warner Music Pre-Grammy Party on Thursday night.

The Canadian model, real name Chantelle Brown-Young, 23, rocked a burnt orange gown that featured semi-sheer patterned cut-outs.

She also added some serious sass in a matching jacket with a vampy oversized fur collar as she posed for snaps at the start of the evening.

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Making an appearance: Winnie Harlow, 23, wore a burnt orange gown with cut-outs and a matching jacket and fur collar as she attended a pre-Grammys party in New York on Thursday

Dominating the fashion world since her stint on America's Next Top Model in 2014, the beauty's slender frame looked incredible on the night.

Her floor-length gown featured a semi-sheer bodice and patterned panels revealing sections of the models skin for the star-studded event.

Highlighting her long dark tresses that were styled in cascading curls, the stunner continued the look with burnt orange eyelids, bold dark lashes and a glossy pink lip.

Fashion icon: The floor-length gown featured a semi-sheer bodice and patterned panels revealing sections of models skin for the star-studded event

Raven beauty: Highlighting her long dark tresses that were styled in cascading curls, the stunner continued the look with burnt orange eyelids, bold dark lashes and a glossy pink lip

The Grammys will take place in New York for the first time in 15 years on Sunday and celebrities will be attending pre-show parties until then.

Putting her best foot forward, Winnie led the model pack at the Warner Music bash as she made her glamorous appearance.

Making regular appearances at high profile fashion events, the model let her stunning complexion, raven locks and incredible bone structure do the talking.

Pre-Grammy's glam: Making regular appearances at high profile fashion events, the model let her stunning complexion, raven locks and incredible bone structure do the talking

Winnie has a skin condition called vitiligo - in which pale white patches form on the skin and she has garnered praise for her striking beauty.

Regularly posting on Instagram to her 2.8 million followers, Winnie has become an spokesperson for the condition as she frequently addresses the topic.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine, she revealed: 'Kids called me a cow and mooed at me. I remember sitting by my window wishing upon the stars that my skin condition would go away.'

Using her model platform to educate on the matter, Winnie's natural beauty and up-front manner has made her a fashion icon.She recently reconciled the bitter feud that she was embroiled in with her actress half-sister Jessie Wallace.

But Danielle Mason's troubles are far from over, after she revealed she has been receiving death threats.

Targeted by one troll online in particular, the former My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding star told the Daily Star: 'I couldnt believe it when I first received them. They have left me in shock. Im now scared to put anything else online.'

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A troubling time: Jessie Wallace's half-sister Danielle Mason increases security and calls police after getting death threats and horrific messages about her children

Danielle, 34, who has two children - Rudy Mason and Delilah Rose Mason-Giles - received the threats after she uploaded a snap of her with her friend Lotan Carter - who appeared last year on Big Brother.

As a result, she was messaged such things as 'f***ing foreigner big fat ugly gypsy w***e. Die b***h' and 'You are f***ing fat ugly w***e you stole Lotan from me and Lizzie so Im going kill you and rip your throat out [sic]'.

The aforementioned Lizzie is believed to be a reference to Lotan's ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Ellison.

She went on: 'They made disgusting threats against my children. All because I put up a picture of me with Lotan. Hes my friend. Whoever it is, theyre obsessed. I just feel so protective of my children now.'

Friends again: Her estrangement from Jessie, 46, lasted a decade, but came to an end last year

Danielle has now increased security around her home and reported the incidents to the police - and donated her fee for her Star interview to charity BulliesOut.

The Daily Star reports that Thames Valley Police are yet to respond to requests for comment.

As well as My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Danielle has also worked as a glamour model. She also appeared on The Jeremy Kyle Show in 2008.

Her estrangement from Jessie, 46, lasted a decade, but came to an end last year.

Good causes: Danielle has now increased security around her home and reported the incidents to the police - and donated her fee for her Star interview to charity BulliesOut

The half-siblings have the same mother - Annette Mason - and were seen together for the first time last summer at Gilgamesh nightclub, London.

The evening was debauched, as Jessie was snapped being carried out of the venue on a bouncers shoulder.

The pair reconciled after their grandfather passed away. A source said at the time that they 'reached out to each other last year and decided to bury the hatchet once and for all'.

They added: 'Theyre both mothers and they want their kids to grow up knowing each other.'She's expecting her first child with rapper Travis Scott in February, with many fans speculating whether or not she had given birth already.

And now Kylie Jenner is putting her birthing plans into action as the 20 year-old prepares for the impending arrival - taking on a discreet Lamaze class online.

According to TMZ, the elusive reality starlet has taken to the web to help with the soothing birthing techniques, with best friend Jordyn Woods as her partner.

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Impending birth? Kylie Jenner is 'learning a Lamaze birthing technique online' with best friend Jordyn Woods as she prepares for the birth of her first child, according to TMZ

Sources told the site that Kylie has enlisted her best friend to help her through the process, buying up baby books to get them both get clued up.

The gossip website also suggested that Kylie wanted her lamaze to remain under the radar, so instead of taking part in a class, the fashionista will instead take lessons off the internet.

Lamaze is a birthing technique that includes breathing, stretching and changing positions throughout childbirth.

BFFs: According to TMZ, the elusive reality starlet has taken to the web to help with the soothing birthing techniques, with best friend Jordyn Woods (left) as her partner

Future parents: The Kylie Lip Kit founder is pregnant with her first child with rapper Travis Scott, though neither has confirmed the news

What is Lamaze? Lamaze is a birthing technique that includes breathing, stretching and changing positions throughout childbirth. According to the Baby Center, 'the Lamaze method, developed by the French obstetrician Ferdinand Lamaze, has been used in the United States since the late '50s and remains one of the most commonly taught types of childbirth classes. 'The typical Lamaze class consists of at least 12 hours of instruction and includes no more than 12 couples. Women are advised to begin a class near the start of their seventh month of pregnancy. 'The goal of Lamaze classes is to "increase women's confidence in their ability to give birth."' Advertisement

Kylie and BFF Jordyn made a rare appearance as she took a stroll at a construction site near her Hidden Hills, California home on Wednesday.

She showed off barely a hint of bump as she wore a black sweat suit leading many to believe she may have already had her baby.

This is the first time the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has been photographed since her baby shower in November.

Kylie has scaled back her social media presence enormously since the summer.

She has only posted older photos or shoulder up shots, like her LOVE cover that was photographed by sister Kendall Jenner.

The beauty has also not appeared on a red carpet since last summer. And she has not appeared on her family's show Keeping Up With The Kardashians in months.

Meanwhile, Jenner's family is still worried that the star is too young to be a mother, a source told People this week.

But despite their concerns, 'they will all support and help her once the baby arrives.'

The source also told the publication: 'Her sisters have tried to give as much advice as possible.'

Although there are doubts, Kylie's older sisters - Kim and Kourtney - already raise three children each and constantly share parenting advice on their pay websites.

Kylie's momager Kris Jenner is also more than happy to share her parental advice with her youngest daughter.

She has already spent thousands of dollars on her baby girl - including a chic white crib which was built at the Lip Kit creator's house last week.She is doing a wonderful job of breaking away from her famous surname to forge a successful career in the modelling industry.

And Iris Law, daughter of actor Jude and Sadie Frost, proved she has the fashion world in the palm of her hands on Wednesday as she attended the Here We Are Burberry Exhibition in the midst of Paris Fashion Week.

The 17-year-old was looking incredibly chic in a pair of culottes in the British brand's trademark check while adding an androgynous touch with a well-tailored black blazer and a simple white vest top underneath.

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Check me out: Iris Law, daughter of actor Jude and Sadie Frost, proved she has the fashion world in the palm of her hands on Wednesday as she attended the Here We Are Burberry Exhibition in the midst of Paris Fashion Week

Iris is shaping up to be a fashion sensation, thanks to her pretty looks, striking features and obvious eye for high style.

At the show, she borrowed from the Nineties with her checked culottes while giving a punk rock edge with a pair of tough biker boots.

Mish-mashing styles, she paired the trendy shorts with a sharp blazer and stacks of gold necklaces for a delicate touch of glamour.

It was reported by the Daily Mail in October that Iris is dating fellow Burberry model Kelvin Bueno, 19, who hails from the Santos district of Sao Paulo.

Striking: The 17-year-old was looking incredibly chic in a pair of culottes in the British brand's trademark check while adding an androgynous touch with a well-tailored black blazer and a simple white vest top underneath

Who's that girl!? Iris certainly boasts a striking resemblance to her mum Sadie (right in 1992)

Speaking last year about her career, Iris said: 'It started with a shoot for Illustrated People, I kind of just rocked up thinking it was a little shoot. I was excited to see how the photos would turn out but I didn't realise it was going to be a reveal type thing.

'Then it dropped and it was on the website and newspapers were picking up on it. My agent, who I'm with now saw that and got in touch. I didn't think anything would come of it.'

Iris first hit headlines when she was just two years old after she bit into an ecstasy pill she found on the floor at a childrens party at Soho House.

Next big thing: Speaking last year about her career, Iris said: 'It started with a shoot for Illustrated People, I kind of just rocked up thinking it was a little shoot. I was excited to see how the photos would turn out but I didn't realise it was going to be a reveal type thing'

Way back when: Iris first hit headlines when she was just two years old after she bit into an ecstasy pill she found on the floor at a childrens party at Soho House (pictured shortly after the incident in 2002)

Her actress and model mother divorced the Talented Mr Ripley star Jude in 2003, allegedly following a wife-swapping episode with designer Pearl Lowe and her husband, drummer Danny Goffey.

Happily, Iris romance with Kelvin has already won the approval of Sadies bohemian mother, Mary, who described them on social media as a gorgeous couple.

Modelling runs in the family, as Iris' older brother Rafferty, 21, who was signed to modelling agency Select Model Management back in 2014 and has since seen his fashion career go from strength-to-strength.She's the Channel Ten newsreader who won boyfriend Lee Elliott's heart on the 2016 season of The Bachelorette.

And Georgia Love found herself somewhat unlucky in the world of love on Friday, after she discovered she was forbidden to kiss Lee on the cheek.

Georgia, who is currently vacationing with Lee in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, took to her Instagram story on Friday to jokingly suggest that Lee chose the destination as PDAs were forbidden by law.

No PDA: Georgia Love found herself somewhat unlucky in the world of amour on Friday, after she discovered she was forbidden to kiss boyfriend Lee Elliott on the cheek during a trip to Dubai.

The photo showed Georgia, clad in a white T-shirt, standing next to Lee in what appeared to be an airport.

Georgia was sporting a look of mild annoyance while, conversely, Lee beamed from ear to ear.

'Just went to kiss him and he reminded me I legally can't do that in public and now it suddenly makes sense why he was so keen to come here,' Georgia captioned the photo.

Lips are sealed: 'Just went to kiss him and he reminded me I legally can't do that in public and now it suddenly makes sense why he was so keen to come here,' Georgia captioned the photo

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates and according to smarttraveller.gov.au, public displays of affection, including kissing, are frowned upon, with the portal suggesting authorities can arrest amorous couples.

In May 2017, Gulf News reported that an unnamed Egyptian man and Moroccan woman were sentenced to one month jail after they were discovered kissing in a service station restroom.

Despite the lack of affection, fans recently speculated that Lee would pop the question on New Year's Eve.

Disgruntled: Georgia was sporting a look of mild annoyance in the photo while, conversely, Lee beamed from ear to ear.

Alongside a photo of the pair posing on the red carpet the night prior, Lee wrote: 'Cheers to New Years my dears! Heres to ringing in the new year with my queen Georgia Love at @togethereventsNYE!'

Followers eager to see them get married speculated that his message was his hint at a possible proposal, including one who posited: 'Ringing in the new year? Do we smell a proposal?'

Another follower chimed in with a similarly hopeful: 'Will we or not see a ring?'She gave birth to her third child in secret at the end of last year, waiting nearly a month before revealing the news publicly at the end of November.

And Luisa Zissman showed that despite having three children she's snapped right back into shape in some racy Instagram posts on Thursday.

The former Apprentice star, 30, took to the photo sharing site to pose two snaps from an exotic location.

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'#GIANTBOOBIES!' Luisa Zissman flaunted her busty assets in a lime bikini and posed in a plunging mesh one-piece... weeks after having third child

In one snap, she took a mirror shot in a one-piece.

The plunging number featured mesh detailing around the sides and down the front, leading to the mum-of-three lamenting the potential sunbathing mishaps that could very well occur in the outfit.

'Did NOT consider tan lines when making this purchase *had to purchase swimsuit now I've had 3 children*,' she captioned the snap.

In another she posed in a lime green bikini top, barely containing her very busty assets.

She captioned it '#GIANTBOOBIES' in a nod to the fact that she is currently breast feeding.

Going au naturel in the photo, she flaunted her flawless sun-kissed complexion in the cheeky selfie.

Back on top form: The plunging number featured mesh detailing around the sides and down the front, leading to the mum-of-three lamenting the potential sunbathing mishaps that could very well occur in the outfit

Baby joy: Luisa welcomed her third child in secret, but decided to announce the news after sparking concern over her 'missing bump'

Luisa revealed she had welcomed a baby girl named Clementine with her husband Andrew Collins, confessing that questions from fans had prompted her to finally make the news public.

The entrepreneur had left fans baffled by posting pictures of herself wearing a figure-hugging blue gown at the Elton John Aids Foundation bash the night before, with her baby bump noticeably absent.

Addressing the speculation, Luisa wrote: 'So many people have messaged me asking if the baby is ok because I chose not to share on my social media, and now my bump has gone!

Big news: The Apprentice star announced, 'she is absolutely perfect & we are totally in love with her. I had her 3.5 weeks ago on Sunday 5th November at 6.56am'

'She is absolutely perfect & we are totally in love with her. I had her 3.5 weeks ago on Sunday 5th November at 6.56am.

'She weighed 7lbs 14oz and we named her Clementine Saskia Collins. #newprincess #mysecretbubble.'

The announcement also included a picture of baby Clementine's hospital crib, lined with a duck print blanket and a toy cat.

Luisa is already mother to Dixie from a previous relationship and Indigo Esme with husband Andrew.

The TV star's fans were quick to congratulate her, and most couldn't believe that she had managed to keep the news secret for so long.

Surprise: The TV star's fans were quick to congratulate her, and most couldn't believe that she had managed to keep the news secret for so long

One of her followers asked, 'Can I ask why you decided not to share that she was born but told us about the pregnancy etc? Not judging just curious ! Congrats tho x'.

Luisa explained: 'I announced pregnancy because everyone said how fat I had gotten, it really upset me knowing I was 5 months pregnant so chose to announce pregnancy.

'Have only announced birth now because obvs bump is gone and ppl have been messaging thinking something bad happened to the baby. Xx'

Revealing that has been focusing on her newborn, Luisa replied to another post, saying: 'I barely told anyone babe. It's been total bliss snuggled up in the warm at home getting to know my newest little lady.'

In June, Luisa revealed to her 433,000 followers that she is set to add to her brood, alongside a picture of two T-shirts and two baby gros - one adorned with the word 'Newbie'.

Yay! Back in June, Luisa has announced she is expecting her third child, a baby girl

Happy days! The 30-year-old entrepreneur took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal to her 433,000 followers that she is set to add to her brood, alongside a picture of two T-shirts and two baby gros - one adorned with the word 'Newbie'

Her sweet announcement came in the form of a picture of four garments including a T-shirt with Queen Luisa adorned on the back with a 00, atop a T-shirt with Princess Dixie 01, Princess Indigo 02 and Princess 03 Newbie.

While she added the simple caption on the shot reading: 'Girl gang', she took to the comment section to pen: 'always wanted girls never boys!'

The businesswoman started dating her husband Andrew Collins in late 2013, a few months after she was propelled into stardom on The Apprentice.

The Irish business tycoon proposed to her with a 1.5million ring in Paris in October 2014 before they tied the knot in France in July 2015. The Milton Keynes native gave birth to their daughter Indigo in August 2016.She welcomed her first child last month.

And Bec Chin is still celebrating the birth of her daughter Savannah Rose, sharing a sweet snap of the pair to Instagram on Friday.

The former Bachelor star posted a photo of her cradling her bundle of joy at the beach, commemorating their first Australia Day together.

'Babys first Australia Day': Former Bachelor star Bec Chin takes newborn daughter Savannah Rose to the beach as she celebrates public holiday

Taking to Instagram, Bec shared a photo of her posing with Savannah Rose at the beach.

Looking every bit the proud mother, the reality TV star explained in the caption that the day held special significance.

'Babys first Australia Day and first day at the beach,' Bec captioned the photo to her 13,000 Instagram followers.

Earlier this month The Bachelor star shared a sweet photo of her with fiance Dean Vee as they took their newborn daughter Savannah Rose on her first family outing.

Baby's day out! Earlier this month The Bachelor star shared a sweet photo of her with fiance Dean Vee as they took their newborn daughter Savannah Rose on her first family outing

Taking to social media, Bec shared a snap of her and Dean smiling as they posed with Savannah Rose.

'1 WEEK TOGETHER AS A FAMILY! And our first time leaving the house since bringing bubba home,' Bec captioned the photo.

The new mum also noted the effort that went into their outing, adding: 'Took us until 4pm and only for 15mins but we got there!'

Reality star: Bec rose to fame after competing unsuccessfully for Sam Wood's affections on the 2015 season of The Bachelor

Cute: Bec took to Instagram to confirm her and Dean had welcomed their bundle of joy

Last month, Bec took to Instagram to confirm her and Dean had welcomed their bundle of joy.

Sharing a sweet black and white snap of Savannah sleeping, Bec could be seen holding her daughter's hand.

'Welcome to the world Savannah Rose Vicelich. Out of our dreams and into our lives 28.12.17,' she captioned the photo.

The couple took their daughter home from the hospital on New Year's Eve and have shared countless snaps of Savannah Rose online.

Adorable: Sharing a sweet black and white snap of Savannah sleeping, Bec could be seen holding her daughter's hand

Bec rose to fame after competing unsuccessfully for Sam Wood's affections on the 2015 season of The Bachelor.

But she wasn't unlucky for love for long, with the nutritionist soon falling in love with hunky personal trainer Dean.

The couple confirmed their pregnancy in June, before getting engaged during a holiday to New Zealand in August.She well known for showing off her incredible body in the raciest of outfits.

And Ex On The Beach star Chloe Goodman wasn't shy about baring all as she continued her winter sunshine break at the Centara Grand Beach Resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui with gorgeous sisters Lauryn and Amelia on Thursday.

The reality babe, 24, poured her enviable physique into an emerald green sequin swimsuit, with a daringly low neckline that gave an eyeful of her ample cleavage.

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Taking plunge: Chloe Goodman wasn't shy about baring all as she continued her winter break at the Centara Grand Beach Resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui on Thursday

A simple black belt wrapped across her hips accentuated her tiny waist, while the high leg of the suit lengthening her legs.

Chloe's glossy chocolate locks were curled into a relaxed beachy wave and she wore a full face of heavy make-up.

Clearly a natural beauty, the Brighton native opted for a minimalist tone for her cosmetics, rocking a glossy pink lip and lashings of mascara.

Looking right at home by the shore, Chloe was flanked by her equally fabulous sisters, who donned their own eye catching swimsuits.

Bikini babes: The Ex On The Beach star, 24, was joined by her glamorous sisters Amelia, 19, and Lauryn, 27, as they strutted their stuff

Amelia, 19, followed in Chloe's footsteps for her raunchy one-piece style, wearing a low cut black swimsuit, embellished with cross-laces across her cleavage.

Her long raven locks were curled into a glossy wave, while her features were heightened with a dramatic taupe lip and heavy mascara.

Lauryn, 27, decked out her ravishing curves in dazzling white two-piece bikini, emblazoned with gold and jewels for an extra touch of glamour.

The social media star wore her ombre locks swept up into a loose ponytail.

Pulling her best model pose, Lauryn paraded her outstanding figure, and emphasised her high cheekbones with heavy make-up.

Stunning: Amelia, 19, followed in Chloe's footsteps for her raunchy one-piece style, wearing a low cut black swimsuit, embellished with cross-laces across her cleavage

The beauties posed for a sassy sister shot, before each putting their best pout forward for their own moment in the spotlight.

It is in the Goodman genes to chase a career in the limelight, with all three choosing to carve careers in showbiz.

Middle sister Chloe, a glamour model, led the way when she starred on the first series of MTV's Ex On The Beach in 2014.

After her first taste for fame, she hit the small screens once again but this time on Celebrity Big Brother in 2015.

The reality star later made her television comeback in 2016 when she appeared on the All Stars edition of the show that made her famous.They welcomed their first child together - his eighth in total - a year ago, before shocking fans when he reportedly had a fling in October.

And despite the intricacies of Mick Jagger's love life, he appears as loved-up as ever with his ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 31, as they enjoyed a low-key dinner at Locanda Verde in Tribeca on Thursday evening.

The 74-year-old Rolling Stones rocker was reportedly romancing Noor Alfallah, a 22-year-old film producer, while his band were touring in Paris, France, for their No Filter tour just two months ago - yet he remains in a relationship with Melanie.

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Happy days: despite the intricacies of Mick Jagger's love life, he appears as loved-up as ever with his ballerina girlfriend Melanie Hamrick, 31, as they enjoyed a low-key dinner at Locanda Verde in Tribeca on Thursday evening

The duo seemed happier than ever as they enjoyed their dinner in the low-key eatery after which they reportedly stayed in the venue up to an hour after closing.

She looked glam in a long grey coat with a black shirt underneath with a crisp red collar while her hair was slicked into a neat hairstyle.

In October news first arose when The Sun reported he enjoyed a number of dates with Noor Alfallah while the group were in Paris, France, for their No Filter tour.

A source told the publication : 'Mick still has his legendary charm but even the band were surprised someone as young and beautiful as Noor came to Paris to see him.

Off we go: The 74-year-old Rolling Stones rocker was reportedly romancing Noor Alfallah, a 22-year-old film producer, while his band were touring in Paris, France, for their No Filter tour just two months ago - yet he remains in a relationship with Melanie

Off we go: The duo seemed happier than ever as they enjoyed their dinner in the low-key eatery after which they reportedly stayed in the venue up to an hour after closing

'They are both single and seemed to have a lot of fun together, so everyone just let them get on with it. Mick is showing absolutely no sign of slowing down. He certainly had a smile on his face and famous twinkle in his eye.

Adding: 'Noor is very confident and well educated so she fitted in well at all the upmarket places they went together.'

Mick is said to have first hooked up with the US-born socialite in a private flat in the suburbs of Paris, with a chauffeur taking the brunette beauty back to her hotel the following day.

Off home: The happy pair were naturally eating in the highest end eatery for their dinner date

On the up: The happy couple enjoyed a low-key outing in New York

A night of revelry: Melanie looked sensational in her long coat and staggering heels

Hometime: Despite their age-gap romance the duo are happier than ever

They enjoyed similar evenings a few days later, as well as three more dates, including dinner at the Caviar Kaspia with the Stones' backing crew and a private meal at La Stresa.

Noor was also in attendance when the band played the city's U Arena. And the day after the gig, the Satisfaction rocker was seen arriving at his new squeeze's hotel.

The pair are believed to have met through a mutual friend, producer Brett Ratner.

Rolling on: The star was looking relaxed as he prepared to head homeHer new fiance better watch out - it seems Paris Hilton has a new love.

The onetime reality star appeared besotted as she posed up for photos with a fellow blonde after arriving in Qatar on Friday.

Luckily for Chris Zylka, the heiress' heart has been stolen by a camel, rather than a rival.

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She's got the hump! Paris Hilton wraps up in robes to ride a camel before hosting a party in Qatar on Friday

Well-known as an animal lover - Paris has so many dogs she built them a two-storey house - the 36-year-old got up close and personal with the beast for a selfie.

Wrapped in robes in a nod to the region's traditional dress, Paris then climbed on the camel for a ride.

She is in the country in a paid gig hosting a party, writing on Instagram: 'Hey Doha, Qatar! Cant wait to see you all Tonight at my party at Black Orchid Doha at the Mondrian Doha Hotel! Going to be an amazing evening!'

While Paris is busy jetting around being paid handsomely to party, her mother Kathy is busy wedding planning.

Quite the ride: The party princess took a ride on the camel for a photo

Paris got engaged to Chris earlier this month and has enlisted her mother to help her plan and prepare for the big day.

Kathy said: 'I love planning weddings - I'm the wedding planner.'

Paris' brother Barron is engaged too and Kathy - who is also planning his wedding - has been talking to his bride-to-be Tessa Grafin von Walderdorff to make sure it is the perfect day.

She added to Life & Style Weekly magazine: 'Everything is kind of specialized and tailored to the person. I asked my daughter-in-law-to-be what the vibe would be. She said, "We may be barefoot." So, theyre all different!'

Party plans! She is in the country in a paid gig hosting a party

Meanwhile, Paris previously revealed she plans to have 'a couple' of weddings.

She said: 'I feel like I want to do a couple [of weddings]... For my 21st birthday, I had five parties, so maybe for the wedding I will have a European one, an American one, one for everyone around the world.'

And Chris added: 'We are going to have dinner with her parents and figure everything out.'

Paris was thrilled when Chris got down on one keen during a holiday to Aspen.

She said at the time: 'I am so excited to be engaged to the love of my life and my best friend. I have never felt so happy, safe and loved. He is perfect for me in every way and showed me that fairytales really do exist.'She was pictured enjoying a wild and raucous night out with her Britain's Got Talent friends on Thursday night.

So it comes as little surprise that she indulged in a little detox therapy on Friday, trying out cupping therapy for the first time and posting the results on Instagram.

The 46-year-old wrote that the experience was 'amazing' and no doubt just what she needed after seriously letting her hair down in style with Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams.

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Just the ticket: Amanda Holden shared her first detoxing cupping experience on Instagram after a raucous night out with Simon Cowell, David Walliams and Alesha Dixon

No wonder she needs a detox: The photo of Amanda comes after she was seen enjoying a boozy night out on the town with her Britain's Got Talent pals

The photo of Amanda's tummy saw her covered in seven glass cups, as her skin was sucked up in each and looked faintly pink from the pressure.

Her toned midriff was visible under all the glass, as she wore a grey top and trousers and covered herself in blankets.

She captioned the photo: 'Just #experienced this amazing #treatment from @theherbalisthealth' and included the hashtag #boughtandpaidfor.

What is Cupping? Cupping is alternative medical therapy that uses special cups to create suction on the skin

Suction cups of various sizes are attached to the skin and draw stagnant blood to the surface

It only takes place for a few minutes, but can help with things such as pain, inflammation, and blood flow

Cups can be made out of glass, bamboo or silicone

Cupping therapy is an ancient Chinese medicine and has been around for thousands of years

Athletes like US swimmer Michael Phelps also use cupping to stay fit and healthy Advertisement

Amanda was previously seen a little worse for wear as she left a restaurant with Simon and Alesha.

They took things from screen to the town on the Thursday evening as they put on a raucous display while departing 34 Mayfair restaurant.

The music mogul was sporting his trademark style - a deeply unbuttoned shirt with lengthy trousers - yet his usually preened style was tarnished by the huge spill around his stomach while his co-stars dramatically tried to navigate the stairs.

Simon has been hard at work with Britain's Got Talent since returning from his Barbados break and he still seems to be sporting his Caribbean tan - although his golden glow did little to mask his bleary expression.

Out and about: Amanda appeared giddy as she left a restaurant with Simon Cowell and their glamorous co-star Alesha Dixon

In his signature style, the media mogul donned an unbuttoned white shirt that showed off his muscular chest, whilst he also wore black suit trousers.

He was putting on an extremely animated display as he left the eatery in his stained white shirt while trying to manage the stairs with his co-stars on his arms.

In the midst of the departure he gave a warm kiss and hug to Amanda, who went on to say goodbye to Alesha in a similar fashion.

Amanda looked stylish on the outing in a cream blazer that she teamed with a blouse and skinny black jeans.

Enjoying their night out: They took things from screen to the town on the Thursday evening as they put on a raucous display while departing 34 Mayfair restaurant

Friendly: Simon was putting on an extremely animated display as he left the eatery in his stained white shirt while trying to manage the stairs with his co-stars on his arms

Keeping her accessories simple, the mother-of-two carried a pewter snakeskin clutch bag, whilst she boosted her frame with a pair of barely there black heels.

Amanda and her second husband Chris have been married for nine years but she recently revealed that he's not always top of the list when it comes to 'alone time'.

Were both so busy,' she told Metro. 'Its about trying to carve out a bit of time for us.'

'We have to explain to the girls that they must go to bed and let us have time alone, which is hard. My poor husband  hes so far down the list.

Always fashionable: Amanda looked stylish on the outing in a cream blazer that she teamed with a blouse and skinny black jeans

But Amanda has previously revealed how she keeps things in their relationship fresh, admitting in 2015 that they have been known to share moments of passion on the sofa.

'Our thing is that we watch a lot of box sets together so that can kill the passion  but during the introduction you can get a few things done in that time,' she revealed.

On fancying her husband, she added: 'When we are on a date night in a restaurant and my husband goes to the loo and comes back in to the room and I'm sitting there having had some wine I think "Phwoar who's that?" and then I realise it's him.

'I'm lucky that I still really fancy my husband.'

Amanda was previously married to entertainer Les Dennis for eight years but has 11-year-old daughter Alexa and five-year-old Hollie with Chris.She recently returned from a family getaway to the Maldives, with her fiance Greg Shepherd and their children, Nelly, three, and Arthur, 10 months.

And Billie Faiers was keen to show off her Essex tan on Friday as she posed for a fashion shoot for her clothing range in London.

The 28-year-old former TOWIE star had her ample cleavage on full display in a plunging polka dot crop top and matching trousers combo as she showcased her best modelling skills.

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Incredible: Billie Faiers continued to showcase her ample cleavage on Friday as she donned a 70s-style polka dot co-ord to shoot her clothing range in London

Going for a 70s-inspired look, Billie styled her blonde tresses into bouncy curls as she showed off her washboard abs in the ensemble, accessorising with gold strappy heels.

The star rocked typically dramatic makeup with the look, sporting a smoky eye and statement red lip, as well as quirky gold hoop earrings.

Ever the professional, Billie was seen maintaining her model pose even as someone touched up her hair and makeup, while another took the street snaps on their phone.

Flawless: Billie put on a stunning display in a matching tie polka dot top and trousers combo, with her blonde tresses in bouncy curls

Gorgeous: Billie was seen strutting her stuff as she posed on the street, with her tan on full display after returning from a Maldives getaway

Show-stopping: Billie added to her elongated look by rocking gold strappy sandals which could just be seen under the loose fitting trousers

Model look: Billie was shooting for her clothing range at In The Style

Jaw-dropping: Billie was always ready for a snap, as her looks were captured on a phone

Billie's look was the latest in a long line of revealing ensembles, after posting a slew of bikini snaps from her Maldives getaway on Instagram.

The beauty appeared to have snapped back into shape ten months after giving birth to son Arthur, and recently defended her decision to document her first pregnancy of her daughter Nelly in TOWIE.

The star claimed that Nellie would tell her if she doesn't want to be on screen, telling FEMAIL: 'I think for us we kind of feel like we've got the best home movies ever, so much is there. She's now getting used to seeing herself.

'The other day I was showing her a magazine and there were pictures of her and she's so intrigued it's hilarious.

Supportive: Billie recently defended her decision to feature her daughter Nelly's birth on TV

Feisty: Billie told Femail: 'I think for us we kind of feel like we've got the best home movies ever, so much is there. She's now getting used to seeing herself'

Little star: She added: 'The other day I was showing her a magazine and there were pictures of her and she's so intrigued it's hilarious'

Proud mum: Billie added that she knew her daughter would say if she didn't want to appear on TV

'She said: ''I can't believe I'm in this book mummy!'' It was really funny. I think when she's older and if she doesn't want to be filmed, I'm not worried because she's definitely very vocal.'

Billie went on to call on other mums to be more supportive of each other, but admitted there would always be those with negative comments to make.

She said: 'I feel like sometimes no matter what you do you can always get criticised. Everyone's going to have an opinion and I think when you are putting yourself out there on social media, you've just got to kind of accept it.'

'Everyone's got their own way of doing things. I think as mums we should all support each other - because everyone's situations are different - and not be so judgmental.'

United: Billie went onto call on other mums to be supportive of each other, though some still have their negative comments to makeKylie Jenner is far along in her first pregnancy.

But the 20-year-old makeup mogul is not set on getting engaged to her baby daddy Travis Scott anytime soon, People claimed on Friday.

'There are no plans for them to get married or even engaged,' a source said about the Keeping Up With The Kardashians star and the rapper.

No rock: Kylie Jenner has no plans to get engaged to Travis Scott, a source told People; here she is seen with the rapper in April

The source added: 'Its not anything that Kylie seems to be focused on.'

Rather she has been decorating the nursery inside her Hidden Hills, California mansion and has reportedly been taking Lamaze classes online.

On Wednesday the star was seen touring a construction site with her mother Kris Jenner and best friend Jordyn Woods.

In hiding: Kylie, who has yet to confirm she is with child, was last seen in public in September

Kylie, who has yet to confirm she is with child, was last seen in public in September.

The Lip Kit founder was seen, however, in a family advertisement for Calvin Klein underwear this week.

The star covered up her mid-section with a blanket and was also blocked by sister Khloe, who is also pregnant with her first child.

Cover up: The Lip Kit founder was seen, however, in a family advertisement for Calvin Klein underwear this week; she is in the middle with Kendall on the left and Kim on the right

Riddle of the bump: Kylie covers up as Khloe, who is also pregnant, holds her tummy and Kim smoulders

Another look: The Life Of Kylie star also hid behind Khloe as they posed with Kim

Meanwhile, Jenner's family is still worried that the star is too young to be a mother, a source told People this week.

But despite their concerns, 'they will all support and help her once the baby arrives.'

The source also told the publication: 'Her sisters have tried to give as much advice as possible.'

Although there are doubts, Kylie's older sisters - Kim and Kourtney - already raise three children each and constantly share parenting advice on their pay websites.

Kylie's momager Kris Jenner is also more than happy to share her parental advice with her youngest daughter.

Tired? Travis shared this Instagram image on Friday with a world emoji in the caption

Before it all happened: The youngest Kardashian-Jenner sister, who was previously in an on-off relationship with Tyga, seen in May

While Kylie and the rest of the Kardashian/Jenner clan have yet to confirm the pregnancy, mother Kris Jenner alluded to it on an episode of their show earlier this month.

Kylie was having problems with a staff member taking photos of her at her home.

During Keeping Up With The Kardashians, Kris said out loud: 'I really feel bad for Kylie because there's always somebody that's trying to exploit a certain situation.'

It's MY time in the spotlight: Kim, who welcomed third child Chicago this month, promoted her new perfume on Friday

Adding: 'To have somebody in her own home trying to snap pictures they shouldn't be snapping is really, really stressful.'

She continued: 'You want to be able to trust the people that you're surrounded by, but we have to really be on alert at all time, and that's extremely upsetting when you feel like you can't be in your own bedroom or bathroom.'

Fans immediately took to social media about the Kris' comments, which seemingly refer to Kylie's pregnancy.Mariah Carey was one sexy leather mama in a motorcycle jacket and sexy matching pencil skirt while out and about in Manhattan on Thursday night.

The 48-year-old mother-of-two - sporting a perky ponytail - paired her edgy leather ensemble with a black scoopneck top, diamonds, a reptilian purse, tights, and knee-high suede boots.

On Monday, the five-time Grammy winner - who boasts 45.5M social media followers - retweeted a video of an entire high school cafeteria singing along to her 2005 hit We Belong Together.

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Perky ponytail: Mariah Carey was one sexy leather mama in a motorcycle jacket and sexy matching pencil skirt while out and about in Manhattan on Thursday night

Easy rider: The 48-year-old mother-of-two paired her edgy leather ensemble with a black scoopneck top, diamonds, a reptilian purse, tights, and knee-high suede boots.

Carey - who graduated from Harborfields High School in 1987 - noted: 'More time than I ever spent in my school's cafeteria LOL!'

Missing from Mariah's side on Thursday was her on/off toyboy Bryan Tanaka, whom she was spotted on a dinner date with Wednesday night at nearby Buddakan.

The native New Yorker first met the 34-year-old back-up dancer when she employed him on her 40-date, $27.9M-grossing Adventures of Mimi Tour way back in 2006.

Missing from the five-time Grammy winner's side was her on/off toyboy Bryan Tanaka, whom she was spotted with at nearby Buddakan on Wednesday (pictured January 17)

'Epic throwback!' Mariah first met the 34-year-old back-up dancer when she employed him on her 40-date, $27.9M-grossing Adventures of Mimi Tour way back in 2006

Mimi enjoyed a family reunion on January 15 when she and ex-husband #2 Nick Cannon brought their six-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe to the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena.

On February 21, the 37-year-old Lip Sync Battle Shorties host will celebrate the first birthday of his third child (son Golden 'Sagon') with Miss Guam 2014, Brittany Bell.

The I Don't songstress has been hard at work on her 15th studio album on her newly-launched record label, Butterfly MC Records, at West Hollywood's Westlake Recording Studios.

'#ThankYouDrKing': The native New Yorker enjoyed a family reunion on January 15 when she and ex-husband #2 Nick Cannon (2-R) brought their six-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe to the Kidspace Children's Museum in Pasadena

'#HappyBaby': On February 21, the 37-year-old Lip Sync Battle Shorties host will celebrate the first birthday of his third child (son Golden 'Sagon') with Miss Guam 2014, Brittany Bell (pictured Thursday)

'I can't give too much away,' the Star actress told Essence in August.

'I hope to work with [French] on this album. He's one of my favorite people to work with. I [also] hope to work with Travis Scott and I'd love to work with Kendrick Lamar too. Who doesn't love Kendrick?'

Mariah isn't scheduled to use her five-octave pipes again publicly until her delayed, five-date The Number 1's Tour kicks off October 7 at New Zealand's Spark Arena in Auckland.

'Missed my 2nd home. Feels good to be back!' The I Don't songstress has been hard at work on her 15th studio album at West Hollywood's Westlake Recording StudiosJessica Rose Moor has accused her estranged husband Nick Knowles of subjecting her to years of 'intimidation, emotional cruelty and physical abuse' amid their divorce battle.

She and the DIY SOS presenter split a year ago, but while their parting appeared to be amicable, Jessica, 30, has now 'broken her silence' on the duo's relationship, as she claims Nick, 55, has 'refused to pay' for their son Eddie's private education.

The blonde beauty, who has battled cervical cancer, took to Twitter to call out her soon-to-be ex-beau in an explosive statement - explaining she has chosen to speak out about the TV star in a bid to fight for her son's schooling rights.

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'It takes a lot to break me': Jessica Rose Moor has accused her estranged husband Nick Knowles of subjecting her to years of 'intimidation, emotional cruelty and physical abuse' amid their divorce battle

Jessica shared a lengthy statement - an open letter about her divorce - to the micro-blogging site, claiming: 'It takes a lot to break me, but he's done it.'

She penned: 'As all parents can relate, children starting school is an incredibly emotional and happy time.

'This year parents, including myself, were invited to make their state school preferences for Gloucestershire by 15 by January 2018 for their child's chosen school.

'I did not submit a submission for Eddie as as it has been long agreed by my (soon to be ex) husband that Eddie would be privately educated - a luxury he is in the position to afford, as he has done for all his other children.

'As such, Eddie is enrolled to start private school this September (a school that me and my husband visited and chose together) except that he won't as I was advised by my husband's solicitor that this offer has been withdrawn.

Drama: She and the DIY SOS presenter split a year ago, but while their parting appeared to be amicable, Jessica, 30, has now 'broken her silence' on the duo's relationship, as she claims Nick, 55, has 'refused to pay' for their son Eddie's (above) private education

Explosive: Jessica shared a lengthy statement - an open letter about her divorce - to the micro-blogging site, claiming: 'It takes a lot to break me, but he's done it.'

'After years of intimidation, emotional cruelty, physical abuse and eventually isolation (that I have kept silent about - of which I have diaries and images), this is the straw that broke the camels back.

'To add insult to injury - like many men in his position of wealth and power he has advised he will not pay any legal fees meaning that I cannot afford to fight for our son's education.

'My husband has also said he will not purchase a house or give a settlement of any kind for us, this is disappointing but not unexpected - some people's generosity is only present in front of the TV cameras.

'Since he was born my sole priority has been Eddie's well being and I felt my silence was in his best interest but now I have to fight, which isn't in my nature, but I'm fighting for my son. What mother wouldn't.'

A representative for Nick declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

Accusing: She penned: 'After years of intimidation, emotional cruelty, physical abuse and eventually isolation (that I have kept silent about - of which I have diaries and images), this is the straw that broke the camels back'

Upset: Jessica claims Nick is 'refusing to pay' for their son Eddie's private schooling, as promised, and 'won't purchase a house or give a settlement of any kind for us'

Amicable: Jessica's statement may come as a shock to fans, as she and Nick appeared to have an amicable divorce, despite the breakdown of their marriage - a representative for Nick declined to comment when approached by MailOnline

Friendly: Just last month, the former couple had enjoyed a holiday to Barbados with their son Eddie, three

Jessica's statement may come as a shock to fans, as she and Nick appeared to have an amicable divorce, despite the breakdown of their marriage. Just last month, the former couple had enjoyed a holiday to Barbados with their son Eddie, three.

Nick and Jessica - who share a 26 year age gap - had married in a ceremony in Rome in 2012, but announced their separation in January 2016, following almost four years of marriage.

He is father to three other children; sons Charlie and Tyrian-J and daughter Tuesday.

Their split was muddied by his fling with Emmerdale star Gemma Oaten and Jessica's shock cancer diagnosis earlier in the year, but he insisted they were happily working on their marriage again and are ensuring their three-year-old son remains their priority.

Jessica had previously credited Nick for 'saving her life' following her cancer battle. In June 2016, Jessica had been diagnosed with stage one cervical cancer and had to have her cervix and pelvic lymph nodes removed.

Separated: Nick and Jessica had married in a ceremony in Rome in 2012, but announced their separation in January 2016, following almost four years of marriage

Following her surgery, Jessica was given the 'all clear', but she had voiced her concerns that her cancer could return.

In an interview with the Sunday Mirror in August 2016, she said: 'I wonder if Im on borrowed time. I have this really morbid feeling. I might have been given the all-clear but its still at the back of my mind it could come back.'

Despite it taking just two months after her diagnosis for her surgery to go ahead, Jessica described her ordeal as 'two months of hell', adding: 'Everyone thinks because youve been given the all-clear its amazing, when actually youre struggling with all these emotions, the physical changes to your body, coming off heavy painkillers and worried about your own mortality still.'

Following her recovery, however, she and Nick had decided to give their marriage another shot, but finally ended things for good last December - nearly a year after she and Nick initially announced their split.

In an interview with Fabulous magazine last year, Jessica had insisted there was 'no hostility' between herself and Nick, as she addressed their separation, explaining: 'We were married and very in love, but communication broke down.

'The important thing is we really tried to make it work, so when we came out of it there wasn't anger or resentment.'

History: Jessica had previously credited Nick for 'saving her life' following her cancer battle - following her recovery, the duo decided to give their marriage another shot before splitting again

Split: Jessica had insisted there was 'no hostility' between herself and Nick, as she addressed their separation, explaining: 'We were married and very in love, but communication broke down'

Nick, meanwhile, had nothing but praise when it came to speaking about his estranged wife Jessica and gushed about their 'fantastic relationship' during an appearance on ITV's Lorraine in November.

He said: 'I can't say enough about Jess. She's the most amazing mum, she's the most amazingly calm human being.'

Since their split, Nick has been linked to string of beauties, including Lark Rise to Candleford actress Olivia Hallinan and former TOWIE star Pascal Craymer, 30- their romance came to an abrupt end and Pascal accused the star of having a 'midlife crisis'.



'I think Pascal got it right when she said I was having a midlife crisis,' Nick joked. 'Look, my relationship with my wife [Jessica Moor] ended two years ago now.

'We made sure we now have the best relationship we can have for our son. But we are both single. And I am dating. I just get on with it on my own.'She recently laughed off claims she was in a relationship with Gorka Marquez.

But Gemma Atkinson did little to dispel rumours on Tuesday as she enjoyed a cosy lunch date with the 27-year-old professional dancer.

The 33-year-old soap star couldn't wipe the smile from her face as she sauntered to the eatery with Gorka, before heading to Leeds Arena for their latest Strictly Come Dancing tour performance.

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Still single? Gemma Atkinson did little to dispel romance rumours on Tuesday as she enjoyed a cosy lunch date with Gorka Marquez in Leeds

The Strictly star cut a low-key figure in a geometric print khaki and black knit.

Swapping her glamorous stage ensembles for the casual outfit, Gemma paired the look with skinny black jeans, soft leather boots and slung a grey rucksack over one shoulder.

The actress tied her long blonde tresses into a messy ponytail and opted for a minimal make-up look for the lunch date.

Meanwhile, Gorka looked dapper in a grey baker boy cap, black aviators, ripped denim jeans and navy converses.

Out and about: The 33-year-old soap star enjoyed a spot of lunch with the Strictly star before heading to Leeds Arena for their latest Strictly Come Dancing tour performance

Cosy display: In the restaurant, the pair put on a tactile display, with the Spanish choreographer reaching over to rest his hand on Gemma's arm, before appearing to briefly hold hands with the star

Happy: Their appearance together comes as rumours are swirling that the pair are now dating

In the restaurant, the pair put on a tactile display, with the Spanish choreographer reaching over to rest his hand on Gemma's arm, before appearing to briefly hold hands with the star.

Their appearance together comes as rumours are swirling that the pair are now dating.

Gemma and Gorka have kept fans talking when it comes to their relationship after being spotted kissing each other goodbye and sharing cosy social media posts together.

Keeping coy: Gemma and Gorka have kept fans talking when it comes to their relationship after being spotted kissing each other goodbye and sharing cosy social media posts together

However, the blonde beauty insisted she is single, despite their close bond.

Addressing the relationship rumours, she told The Sunday Mirror: 'I don't think anything of it.

'I know what's going on in my life so whatever everyone else wants to think I just let them think it because I know.'

Slamming rumours: Addressing the relationship rumours, Gemma told The Sunday Mirror : 'I don't think anything of it'

Casual: The Strictly star cut a low-key figure in a geometric print khaki and black knit while Gorka looked dapper in a grey baker boy cap and ripped denim jeans

Also heading to the arena was Debbie McGee, who looked her usual glamorous self in a soft white pashmina and polka-dot top.

Clutching a coffee in hand, the 59-year-old appeared in high spirits as she fueled herself with caffeine ahead of her performance.

Meanwhile, newly-engaged Alexandra Burke flaunted her sparkling engagement ring as she donned a black puffer jacket and khaki cap.

Chic: Also heading to the arena was Debbie McGee, who looked her usual glamorous self in a soft white pashmina and polka-dot top

Sparkly: Meanwhile, newly-engaged Alexandra Burke flaunted her sparkling engagement ring as she donned a black puffer jacket and khaki cap.

Dapper: AJ Pritchard joined his co-stars as he wrapped up for the chilly weather in a grey beanie and mottled grey coat

AJ Pritchard joined his co-stars as he wrapped up for the chilly weather in a grey beanie and mottled grey coat.

Meanwhile, Giovanni was spotted heading to the venue with his rumoured secret girlfriend Luba Mushtuk.

He was joined by judge Darcey Bussell and professional dancer Oti Mabuse, who bundled up in tailored coats.

Keeping warm: He was joined by judge Darcey Bussell and professional dancer Oti Mabuse, who bundled up in tailored coats

Romance? Meanwhile, Giovanni was spotted heading to the venue with his rumoured secret girlfriend Luba Mushtuk

Flying solo: Professional dancer Kevin Clifton was also seen stepping out in Leeds - he is touring with his latest celebrity partner Susan Calman

Smiling: Kevin was seen sporting his wedding ring despite reports of marital woes with wife Karen Clifton in recent months

Emmerdale's Anthony Quilan's walked hand-in-hand with Strictly siren Dianne Buswell to rehearsals.

The actor, 33, who currently stars as Pete Barton on the ITV soap looked 'smitten' with the red head after being introduced to the pro-dancer by his co-star, Strictly finalist Gemma.

Strictly winner Joe McFadden also looked excited for the performance ahead as he arrived in a stylish black leather jacket.

Loved-up: Emmerdale's Anthony Quilan's walked hand-in-hand with Strictly siren Dianne Buswell to rehearsalsIMG Model Bella Hadid wrapped up in a beige mink fur coat while out and about in Manhattan on Friday.

The 21-year-old equestrian - who relies on stylist Elizabeth Sulcer - paired her controversial outerwear with a matching top, blue jeans featuring darker-shaded calf patches, illesteva sunglasses and black pointed-toe booties.

The half-Jordanian, half-Dutch stunner grew up in wealth and privilege thanks to her millionaire parents, real estate developer Mohamed and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' Yolanda.

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Is she fur-real? IMG Model Bella Hadid wrapped up in a beige mink fur coat while out and about in Manhattan on Friday

Bundled: The 21-year-old equestrian paired her controversial outerwear with a matching top, blue jeans featuring darker-shaded calf patches, and black pointed-toe booties

Bella Insta-storied a snap of the handy 'Heat Up Hadid' transfer kit featuring the Mel Ottenberg-shot cover of 032C magazine's sold-out issue 32.

On Thursday night, the self-described sneakerhead - who boasts 17.6M social media followers - shared a bowling alley snap of herself captioned: 'I don't go to the parties I just meet up for the bowling.'

The homeschooled millennial reunited with her famous 54-year-old mother (born Van den Herik), who covered up in a black turtleneck.

Leggy lady: Her gorgeous gams were on center stage in the tight denim pants

High style: The beauty queen made the streets her personal catwalk

Nepotism: The half-Jordanian, half-Dutch stunner grew up in wealth and privilege thanks to her millionaire parents, real estate developer Mohamed and TRHOBH's Yolanda

'US vs. THEM': Bella Insta-storied a snap of the handy 'Heat Up Hadid' transfer kit featuring the Mel Ottenberg-shot cover of 032C magazine's sold-out issue 32

'I don't go to the parties I just meet up for the bowling': On Thursday night, the self-described sneakerhead shared a bowling alley snap

'Mama Cakes': The homeschooled millennial reunited with her famous 54-year-old mother (born Van den Herik), who covered up in a black turtleneck

Big Apple: Hadid - who photographed four carb-filled pasta dishes - takes '30 pills and self-administers two shots a day in the keester' just to properly function with her Lyme Disease

Hadid - who photographed four carb-filled pasta dishes - takes '30 pills and self-administers two shots a day in the keester' just to properly function with her Lyme Disease, according to InStyle.

Bella just returned from France where she strutted her stuff - and suffered a nip-slip - at the Alexandre Vauthier SS/18 haute couture presentation during Paris Fashion Week.

Meanwhile, the Fyre Festival promoter's rumored boyfriend The Weeknd is competing for best urban contemporary album trophy at the New York-set Grammy Awards airing Sunday on CBS.

Suffered a nip-slip: Bella just returned from France where she strutted her stuff at the Alexandre Vauthier SS/18 haute couture presentation during Paris Fashion WeekTwo young brothers who went missing in Melbourne more than three weeks ago have been found by authorities in Queensland.

Leyvi Summerscales, four, and his brother Lukah Summerscales, aged one, had last been seen at a Lilydale home on January 1 before being located by police in Queensland's Hervey Bay on Thursday afternoon.

Earlier this week Victorian police asked the public to help them find the young siblings, concerned about their welfare and believing they may be in the Geelong area with their parents.Samuel Johnson says he will consider playing Molly Meldrum again if a whopping donation to his charity is put on the table.

The gold Logie winner has vowed to put his acting career on hold until his Love Your Sister charity reaches its goal of raising $10 million for cancer.

But for the right price he could be coaxed out of his hiatus.

That's provided the proceeds would help his fight against the disease which began when his sister Connie, who died last year, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer.

"If a network came to me and said, 'Do you want to reprise your role as Molly?' I'd say no," Johnson said.

"But if they said, 'We want you to reprise your role as Molly and we've got half a million in the kitty for the charity', I might go back on my word then."

Johnson is a finalist to be announced as Australian of the Year on Thursday in Canberra for his work, which through the charity has raised more than $7 million.

After Connie's terminal diagnosis, in 2013 and 2014 he broke the world record for the longest distance on a unicycle - 15,465 kilometres - and raised $1.4 million for the Garvan Research Foundation.

"Our goal is to reach $10 million but we have an ultimate goal of vanquishing cancer and kicking it in the bloody face-hole like it deserves," Johnson said.

"Once I reach the $10 million, I'm not going to stop kicking it in the face-hole am I?"

While his work has been well documented, Johnson is adamant there's more to be done for breast cancer awareness.

"My sister set me a very clear task and that was to remind every single young mum in the land to be breast-aware," he said.

"There's new mums popping up every day. My work will never finish."A Queensland Police jet carrying senior state government officials has been forced to make an emergency landing after plummeting mid-air during a flight from Brisbane to Townsville.

On the plane were Police Minister Mark Ryan, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll and head of Maritime Safety Queensland, Captain Patrick Quirk.

They were travelling to an Australia Day event on Friday when the Cessna aircraft suddenly plunged towards ground near Bundaberg, AAP understands.

The pilots were forced to return the aircraft to the Government Air Wing in Brisbane at a low altitude and speed for an emergency landing, a government spokesman said.Australians Sarah Jane Smith and Katherine Kirk have overcome blustery conditions in the Bahamas to sit among the leading names in the LPGA Tour season opener.

World No.84 Smith's four-under 69 left her tied for second place after the first round alongside Spaniard Luna Sobron Galmes.

They sit just behind outright leader Canadian Brooke Henderson, who posted a bogey-free 68.

Fellow Australian Katherine Kirk and world No.1 Shanshan Feng also navigated the trying weather at Paradise Island to return three-under par 70s.

Only 17 players posted under-par rounds.

"It's was pretty tough, it wasn't too bad early on but right now, it's crazy," Smith said post-round.

"It's pretty hitting all sorts of clubs from numbers you wouldn't even think of. I hit a 9-iron from 88 metres and I didn't even get there."

The Queenslander raced out of the blocks to be three-under after four and shot a round-high six birdies.

But two bogies, including one on her final hole, cost her a chance to enter the second day in front.

Kirk, Australia's second highest-ranked player after Minjie Lee, said she leaned on previous playing experience at the island course when the wind picked up.

"We had perfect weather and barely any wind in the first two days (of practice)," she said.

"I had a game plan from (earlier years). You just have to be a lot smarter with your starting lines and play a little bit more conservative."

Rookie Australian Hannah Green posted a one-over 74 while Su-Hyun Oh has plenty of ground to make up, tied for 46th after shooting 75.Thousands of people have gathered in Redfern to march the streets in support of indigenous rights.

Organiser Ken Canning from Fighting In Resistance Equally said he hoped the Invasion Day rally would draw attention to indigenous deaths in custody and was grateful for the support of non-Aboriginal Australians.

"The idea here is to engage the general public because our political spectrum around the country, except for maybe the Greens party ... ignore the calls of Aboriginal people," he told AAP ahead of the march.Three teenage girls have been arrested and a fourth has been charged following numerous police pursuits of an allegedly stolen car in Sydney's west.

The 16-year-old driver of a white Nissan carrying three young passengers allegedly refused to stop for a random breath test at Doonside at 10pm on Thursday, sparking a police chase that was abandoned when officers lost sight of the car.

At about 11.20pm the car was spotted by police at a random breath testing site in South Penrith, but again the driver took off and a pursuit was initiated then abandoned due to the dangerous speeds of the vehicle.

When the white Nissan was spotted again twenty minutes later at Jordan Springs, police deployed road spikes and the car hit a gutter near Lakeside Parkway before the four girls fled on foot.

Police arrested three girls, aged 13, 15 and 17, who were later released pending further investigations.

The 16-year-old driver has been charged with stealing the car, two police pursuits and driving unlicensed.

She has been refused bail to appear at a children's court on Friday.Several hundred people have gathered on the steps of Parliament House in Adelaide, calling for the date of Australia Day to be changed.

Aboriginal elder Tauto Sansbury told the crowd that recognising the hurt caused by celebrating on the day the first fleet arrived must be the start of a wider conversation.

"People have said there's other issues to deal with, well no there's not," he said.

"This is the first one that breaks down the barriers. Then we can move onto all of the other things that are not right for Aboriginal people."An American family from New Jersey, a pair of Croatian foodies and a Papua New Guinean psychologist are among the 24 people from 14 countries who became Australian at the City of Sydney's harbourside citizenship ceremony on Friday.

Ana and Thomas Vicario arrived in Australia from Croatia five years ago and say they immediately fell in love with the culture, food and people, "what's not to love, people can be of any descent or heritage ... and they come together here and are happy".

Around 250 family, friends and well wishers joined the new Australians at Circular Quay to watch Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore welcome Australia's newest citizens to the country.Aboriginal people are sick of having to justify their existence in their own country and rallying on January 26, Victoria's first indigenous female MP says.

Greens MP Lidia Thorpe has urged the community to learn about the history of January 26, so the country can "heal" and move forward.

"We are sick of having a rally every 26th of January," she told reporters on Friday, during an Australia Day protest on the steps of parliament in Melbourne.

"We are sick of having to justify our existence as Aboriginal people in our own country.

"We want to be part of a nation that celebrates us, but not on the 26th of January."

Ms Thorpe recently received death threats after calling for flags to be flown at half-mast on Australia Day.

She trumped 90 years of Labor reign in her inner-Melbourne seat to win a November by-election.

The Gunnai-Gunditjmara woman said on the night of her victory she was "privileged and honoured" to make history.A man left for dead after being bashed on New Year's Day in Melbourne was robbed as he lay injured on the ground.

The 36-year-old victim was approached on the corner of Elizabeth and Franklin streets about 1.10am on January 1 when a brief argument broke out and the Melbourne man was punched in the head and left on the ground.

An unrelated group of people then took the man's wallet and went on a shopping spree, Victoria Police said on Friday as they continued their hunt for a man and woman believed responsible for the assault and robbery respectively.She's one-third of a slick Aussie country group, while he's the 70s-style rocker fronting his own band but Brooke McClymont and Adam Eckersely have decided to join forces musically.

It means their experience at this year's Tamworth Country Music Festival has changed a lot.

With their own bands to promote and now a new record together, the real-life couple had to hire a German au pair to look after their five-year-old daughter, Tiggy.

"I think she's had a baptism of fire. She started working with us the week before Tamworth," Eckersely told AAP.

The pair are used to coming to the NSW city to promote their music, separately.

McClymont has been visiting for 24 years and on the receiving end of 10 Golden Guitar awards alongside her sisters in the McClymonts.

The Adam Eckersely Band was formed in 2010 and took home the new talent Golden Guitar in 2015.

So finding time to even just be a couple was hard enough at first, let alone fitting in time to work together.

"In the first few years of marriage we didn't see each other a lot. Brooke was touring America and I was back home and then we were touring America together," Eckersely said.

"But marriage did keep us together. If we had just been boyfriend and girlfriend with the amount of times we were away it would have been too easy to go 'you know what, this is too hard'."

"Marriage really was the binding key that kept us through those difficult times together," McClymont added.

It's this candour that the pair have poured into their music, writing and recording their first album together, having finally found a window in their busy schedules.

"This project basically was all about timing because Brooke had a little bit of down time with her sisters having babies," Eckersely said.

"We didn't have a lot of time to muck about so from the time we decided to do it to having the album finished was about five and a half weeks."

The first single they released, Train Wreck, is a good indicator of their honest style. It addresses the question of whether or not they'd have regrets if they happened to split up.

"This song is so us. We're very realistic about it, that's totally us. We're very honest with each other. We tell it like it is," McClymont said.

*The album, Adam & Brooke, will be released on February 9 and the pair will tour the country from then.Australia's Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt has played down the likelihood of Nick Kyrgios competing on all three days during next week's clash with Germany in Brisbane.

The former world No.1 has also urged Kyrgios to carefully consider his schedule to ensure he can continue to perform at a high level after a strong start to the year.

Kyrgios will spearhead the hosts' World Group first-round tie, with Jordan Thompson, John Millman, doubles specialist John Peers and Alex de Minaur named in a five-man team.

Australia's second-highest ranked player Matthew Ebden will also travel with the team and remains in the mix for a late call-up after beating world No.16 John Isner at the Australian Open.

World No.17 Kyrgios will carry the hopes in the singles after a strong campaign at Melbourne Park, brought to an end by third seed Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round.

But Hewitt was unsure whether he'd be willing to put Kyrgios through what could be 15 sets over three days against a German side led by world No.4 Alexander Zverev.

"Right now, I won't rule it out," Hewitt said on Friday.

"But I've got to prepare other guys to play because I just know how hard Davis Cup is, not just physically but mentally.

"For Nick to possibly play 15 sets is not easy.

"So much depends on the scoreline and what happens on day one and then how important that fourth match might be as well. I'd probably, at this stage, prefer to have him fresh for that."

Kyrgios won plenty of admirers with his Open campaign and the 23-year-old credited his time in the Davis Cup fold and its team environment with aiding his development.

According to Hewitt, his next challenge is to work out the optimal schedule to ensure he can continue to chase grand slam success.

"Nick's a different kind of player ... he doesn't need too many warm-up events to play well at big tournaments and over five sets," Hewitt said.

"Sometimes when you're chasing that ranking of getting in the top 10 or getting in the top five, you're getting dollars thrown at you to play in a lot of the smaller tournaments and stuff like that.

"He's just got to sit back and work out what's best for him, his body and his career."A Rebels bikie has been charged with multiple offences after guns and stolen goods were allegedly found during a raid at his Perth home.

Police say they arrested the 33-year-old in a Rockingham shopping centre car park and found he was carrying a loaded handgun and methamphetamine.

They searched his home where officers found a semi-automatic rifle fitted with a silencer, another rifle, $17,000 cash, a stolen jet ski, steroids and other items of interest.

The man has been refused bail to appear in Perth Magistrates Court later on Friday.Australia's men's team have defied a spirited USA comeback to claim a crucial 26-19 win in their opening Sydney 7s clash.

The hosts sprinted to a 19-0 half-time lead against the fleet-footed Americans, but looked to have coughed it up when the visitors levelled proceedings in the second half.

But Australia steadied once finally allowed possession, with Tim Anstee running onto a perfectly timed pass from the ruck to run 80m untouched for the match-winner.

It reversed Australia's 31-14 loss to the US in the most recent World Series leg in Cape Town and puts them in the box seat to top their group after Saturday's games against Canada and Scotland.

Earlier, series leaders New Zealand breezed by Russia 61-0, England beat Spain 22-10, Argentina pipped Kenya 7-5 and second-placed South Africa beat Papua New Guinea 50-0.

And Olympic champions Fiji put on a second-half masterclass to beat Samoa 31-5 in a five-try performance that brought the crowd to life.An investigation is underway to determine what caused a Queensland Police jet carrying senior state government officials to suddenly plummet mid-air.

On the flight on Friday from Brisbane to Townsville were Police Minister Mark Ryan, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Maritime Safety Queensland head Captain Patrick Quirk and a government staffer.

They were due to meet Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at an Australia Day event when the 1999 Cessna Citation 560 suddenly plunged towards the ground near Bundaberg.

It is understood those on board heard a series of loud bangs and could smell smoke inside the cabin at the time of the incident.

The pilots were forced to return to the Government Air Wing in Brisbane where they made an emergency landing, a government spokesman said.

The Public Safety Business Agency, the government department responsible for its aircraft, has submitted a report of the incident to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Australian Transport Safety Bureau, a Queensland Police spokesman said.

Mr Ryan said the frightening experience was caused by "technical issues".

"But I knew the fantastic and highly experienced pilots of the Government Air Wing were in control," he said.

"I'm grateful to them for their professionalism, skill, reassurance, and calmness," Mr Ryan said.The last resident of Sydney's controversial Sirius building isn't leaving quietly, warning the NSW government the city will be the laughing stock of the world if it knocks down the social housing block.

Myra Demetriou became the face of the campaign to save the brutalist Rocks building after the government refused to place it on the State Heritage Register in July 2016.

The state government is now selling the site - which has been used for social housing for more than 30 years - to developers who plan to replace it with hundreds of private apartments.

It was put on the market for about $100 million in December.

One of the groups which have registered an interest in buying the building is Save our Sirius with foundation chairman Shaun Carter vowing to continue the fight to save the block.

As Mrs Demetriou prepares to leave the place she's called home for 10 years, SOS is hosting a farewell morning tea on Saturday for the 91-year-old legally blind woman.

But, she isn't going quietly.

"Can you imagine moving at age 91? It's ridiculous," she says in a video posted by SOS.

"It's ridiculous not to have social housing in the middle of the city. We'd be the laughing stock of the world because every other great city in the world has social housing - London, New York, you name it, they've got it."

Sydney City Lord Mayor Clover Moore and deputy opposition leader Tanya Plibersek will be among the supporters at Mrs Demetriou's send-off.

She will be relocated to an apartment in Pyrmont in February.Caroline Wozniacki's gruelling climb back to the summit could soon be over with the world No.1 ranking up for grabs in her Australian Open final against Simona Halep.

History will be made in Saturday night's title decider if the second-seeded Dane can succeed in her quest for a maiden grand slam crown after twice falling at the final hurdle.

A Wozniacki victory would ensure she leapfrogs Halep to become world No.1 when the new WTA rankings are released on Monday - exactly six years after she last occupied the throne.

That would shatter the record for longest time between stints at No.1 held by Serena Williams, who went five years and 29 days before reclaiming top spot with her 2008 US Open title.

Wozniacki arrived at Flushing Meadows two years ago ranked No.74 after struggling with form and an ongoing ankle injury.

But the two-time US Open runner-up says she never lost belief that she could one day return to the top.

"I always believed in myself," Wozniacki said.

"I had a tough period where I had a few injuries. That was kind of hard and tough mentally. But once I got past that, I knew that if I can stay healthy and I work hard, my game is good enough for it.

"I was just giving myself time. I think if you don't feel like you can go all the way in tournaments, then to me there's no sense in playing.

"So for me it's always I want to be competitive, I want to be the best, and that's why I'm still playing."

That self-belief is certain to be tested by Halep, whose unbelievable counter-punching skills were on full display during an epic semi-final victory over 2016 champion Angelique Kerber.

Herself a two-time grand slam runner-up, the Romanian has been hampered by an ankle injury but hasn't let it stop her from achieving her deepest run at Melbourne Park.

Regardless of the final result, Wozniacki feels she will leave Melbourne with her head held high.

"I don't think I believe in luck," she said.

"Obviously you have to sometimes be a little lucky. But I believe in preparation and effort. I believe if you really put everything into it, eventually things are going to go your way.

"In the end of the day, no matter what happens on Saturday, all I know is that I've given it my best. Win or lose, I'm going to be very proud of my efforts these two weeks."Three people have been charged with affray after they clashed with police in a western Sydney suburb.

On Friday night, police found a 24-year-old man with a stab wound to his back in a Schofields property and he was taken to hospital in a stable condition. He refused to say who had stabbed him.

While police were at the property, a 22-year-old man became aggressive and damaged a cameraman's equipment.

As police moved in to arrest him, several people hindered them, forcing officers to use capsicum spray. A 22-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were arrested.

The two men were bailed to face Blacktown Local Court on February 5 while the woman will face the same court on February 19.Two men have been charged with attempted murder after a 53-year-old man was stabbed in a Sunshine Coast home.

The victim was taken to hospital with chest and neck wounds after the assault at his Yandina house about 11.40pm on Thursday. He remains in a serious condition.

On Friday, police arrested a 35-year-old Conondale man and a 51-year-old Yandina man at a caravan park.

They have been charged with one count each of attempted murder and burglary and will appear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Saturday.Julia Gillard, who has accused her political opponents of gender bias, plans to collaborate with Hillary Clinton to encourage more women to stand for public office.

The former prime minister says she and the former US presidential candidate have shared their views and are determined to change the perception of women leaders.

"I'm hopeful there are some things we can do together in the future on these questions of leadership and gender, bringing to that possibility some of our shared experiences," Ms Gillard told Fairfax Media.Jason Day has blitzed his way back up the Farmers Insurance Open leaderboard while Tiger Woods has plummeted down it midway through day two at Torrey Pines.

Day, the 2015 champion at the famed San Diego course, nailed six birdies on the North course during his opening nine holes of the second round.

After opening with a sloppy 73 on Thursday, the former world No.1 now sits at five-under-par and is only four shots back of the lead.

That is currently held by Ryan Palmer at nine under, while Day's playing partner and world No.2 Jon Rahm joins Tony Finau in a share of second at eight under.

Meanwhile, 14-time major champion Woods' hopes vanished of making his first US PGA Tour cut in more than two years after following his opening 72 with a double-bogey to fall to two over for the tournament.

With the cut line projected at one under, Woods will need a back nine miracle to have a hope at making the weekend rounds during his first PGA Tour event in 12 months.

Next best of the Australians is Cameron Smith, who nearly withdrew on tournament eve with the flu, but is four under and five off the pace courtesy of three birdies during his front nine.

Former Australian Open champion Matt Jones is also in the mix at three under, two shots better than countryman Rod Pampling and Marc Leishman.

Aaron Baddeley is even with the card while recent Australian Open champion Cam Davis is one over and battling to make the cut.Australia Day crowds across NSW were mostly well-behaved, according to police, with only 19 people arrested.

NSW Police launched a high-visibility operation to help oversee the celebrations and extra officers were deployed to the busiest areas, including Sydney Harbour and the city.

Those arrested included a 30-year-old skipper who is accused of being too drunk to be in charge of a vessel, allegedly returning a reading of 0.128 when he was breath tested.

Police say they also found drugs on the boat, believed to be cocaine.

Assistant Commissioner Karen Webb issued a warning to anyone thinking about driving in the aftermath of the festivities on Saturday.

"Officers in both marked and unmarked cars will be conducting random drug and alcohol testing on the state's roads," Ms Webb said in a statement.

"So remember you may still be over the limit in the morning - if you think you might be, don't get behind the wheel."

The skipper will face Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court next month on charges of mid-range drink-driving and drug possession.The US Air Force secretary has backed calls for Australia to participate in the Malabar naval exercises along with India, the United States and Japan.

It has been reported in Indian media that Australia will be invited to this year's war games.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has declined to confirm the report.

In 2007, Australia participated in Exercise Malabar but the Rudd Labor government withdrew after concerns were expressed by China.

However, talks with India to return to the exercises have been ongoing since 2015.

US Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson weighed in on the saga, during her visit to Manila on Friday.

"With respect to Australia's participation in other exercises, Australia is a sovereign country and we encourage its participation and recognise its importance in regional security throughout the region," Secretary Wilson told reporters on a phone hook up.

She declined to discuss whether there would be any changes to the size of the US military personnel and aircraft deployment rotation in Darwin this year.

"We never talk about that in advance," she said.

Meanwhile, the former head of Australia's foreign affairs and trade department is set to hand a report to the Turnbull government in March outlining a possible new economic strategy for India.

Peter Varghese will argue Australia needs to diversify its risk because China and Japan make up 40 per cent of exports, The Australian reports.Foreign Minister Julie Bishop will try to coax the US to rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact.

Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Japan are among the 11 Pacific nations that will official sign the the deal in March.

The agreement was thrown into disarray last year when US President Trump pulled the US out, but he has recently hinted he could be open to the TPP if America received a better deal.

"The agreement has an open architecture and we welcome additional members in the future if they are willing to abide by its principles and play by its rules," Ms Bishop told a G'Day USA event in Los Angeles.

"Australia will encourage US participation."

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is less optimistic the US could change heart.

"I don't expect the United States to join the TPP any time soon - we're certainly not counting on it," Mr Turnbull said on Friday.

The agreement would eliminate more than 98 per cent of tariffs in a trade zone with a combined GDP of $US13.7 trillion.China, which has one aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has been invited to take part in the RIMPAC naval drill

China has been invited to participate in a major US-led naval exercise, Chinese officials said Thursday, despite tensions between Beijing and Washington over activity in the disputed South China Sea.

The Chinese military took part in the RIMPAC drill, billed as the world's largest international naval exercise, for the first time in 2014 and again in 2016.

"We have received the American invitation," Chinese defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters. A Chinese delegation has been sent to the US to discuss logistics, he added.

RIMPAC, which stands for Rim of the Pacific Exercise, is held off Hawaii every other year in June and July.

The invitation comes as tensions remain high between the two world powers over Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China claims most of the waterway -- believed to hold vast oil and gas deposits and through which $5 trillion in trade passes annually -- and has built up islands and military installations in the sea.

Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei also have claims in the sea.

Last weekend Beijing said it had dispatched a warship to drive away a US missile destroyer which had "violated" its sovereignty by sailing close to a shoal in the sea.

American military officials also said Thursday that a US aircraft carrier will port in Vietnam in March, a first for the allies and former foes.

"Freedom of navigation and access in the South China Sea will be critical to (Vietnam) economically, of course, and their security efforts," US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told reporters en route to Vietnam from Indonesia on Wednesday.As Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule drew to a close, students rallied on November 20 to demand the University of Zimbabwe withdraw the doctorate it controversially awarded to his wife, Grace

Zimbabwe's leading university has published the thesis submitted by former first lady Grace Mugabe, who was controversially awarded a doctorate which is now the subject of a fraud investigation.

Grace, whose apparent desire to succeed her 93-year-old husband prompted last year's army takeover that eventually saw Robert Mugabe resign, was awarded a PhD by the University of Zimbabwe in 2014 after just months of study.

Doctorates typically require several years of full-time research and writing.

"We saw the thesis on the website (late Wednesday)... the question is why it took four years to publish," said Ashley Munetsi, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Students' Union.

Zimbabwean anti-corruption investigators said last month they are probing whether Grace fraudulently obtained the degree.

"This is an obvious cover-up and we are not going to rest until the matter is settled. We are calling on the vice-chancellor to account for the degree," said Munetsi.

"If it's found out that the degree was fraudulently awarded, it should be revoked to protect the integrity of the university."

AFP has seen a copy of the 226-page doctoral thesis, titled "The Changing Social Structure and Functions of the Family".

- 'My brain child' -

The work, submitted under Grace's maiden name, was dedicated to "the President of Zimbabwe Comrade Robert Gabriel Mugabe because of his dedication and commitment to the well-being of Zimbabweans".

In the 80,000-word submission, Grace goes into detail about a children's home that bears her name.

"The home was my brain child. The main objective was to provide care for the abandoned, orphaned and vulnerable children," she wrote.

Robert Mugabe resigned as president on November 21, a few days after the military took control of the country.

Grace Mugabe became a key figure in Mugabe's dramatic ouster -- she lost to Emmerson Mnangagwa in the struggle to succeed her 93-year-old husband

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as president days later and both Robert and Grace have kept low profiles since their spectacular reversal of fortune.

During the height of the upheaval, students at UZ boycotted their end of term exams to call for Grace to be stripped of her PhD and Robert to be stripped of the presidency.

Grace was routinely accused of extravagant spending on luxury clothes and international travel, and of involvement in corrupt land deals. She is popularly known as "Gucci Grace", "The First Shopper" or even "DisGrace".Toyota South Africa has announced a recall of more than 700,000 vehicles due to airbag safety concerns

Toyota South Africa Motors said Thursday it had issued a notice to recall more than 700,000 vehicles over airbag safety concerns, with some affected models dating back over 15 years.

The Japanese carmaker said the recall was needed to replace front airbag inflators produced by parts firm Takata that had been found to have a potential for moisture intrusion, which could cause them to burst.

"In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, striking and possibly injuring the occupants in the event of an accident," said a statement.

The company said no injuries or fatalities had been caused by the fault.

A total of 730,000 vehicles were said to be affected, with some of the various models dating back to 2002, according to company spokesman Clynton Yon.

Toyota has a manufacturing plant south of the eastern port city of Durban, where it makes vehicles for the local and export markets.

The faulty airbags, made by Japanese company Takata, have caused some other manufacturers to recall their cars.Firefighters try to put out a fire at a hospital building in Miryang, South Korea, on January 26, 2018

At least 33 people were killed in a blaze at a hospital in South Korea on Friday, firefighters said, with more than 70 injured.

It is the second devastating blaze in just a month in the advanced country, Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Videos posted on social media showed a patient hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter above the hospital in Miryang, and another crawling out of a window to climb down a ladder.

The six-storey structure housed a nursing home as well as the hospital, and the National Fire Agency said 33 people had been killed, with 13 critically injured.

Another 61 suffered light injuries, a spokesman said, adding the death toll could rise further.

Heavy grey smoke rises into the air from a fire at a hospital building in Miryang, South Korea

"Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room," said fire chief Choi Man-Woo, but the cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

All the patients had been brought out, he said, adding that evacuating 15 patients from the intensive care unit on the third floor took longer as firefighters had to wait for medical staff to supervise the process.

"The victims came both from the hospital and the nursing home," he said. "Some died on their way to another hospital."

Video footage and pictures showed the building engulfed by heavy dark smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks.

Survivors were brought out wrapped in blankets, and firefighters picked their way through the blackened shell of the building after the blaze was extinguished.

Around 200 people were in the Sejong Hospital building when the fire broke out, police said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In held an emergency meeting with advisers to discuss response measures, his office said.

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The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon -- a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Friday's fire is South Korea's worst since 2008, when a blaze at a warehouse in the city of Incheon killed 40 workers.

The worst fire ever in modern South Korea was an arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu in 2003 that left 192 people dead and nearly 150 injured.Machines' ability not to only interact with but also to manipulate human beings causes deep suspicions

"Artificial intelligence and robots will kill many jobs."

It's a depressingly blunt statement for anyone to make, but even more so as it is the prediction of Jack Ma, CEO of the Chinese online sales giant Alibaba.

The rise of AI -- its huge potential and fears over its potentially negative consequences -- is just one of the big issues discussed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, along with breaches of personal data and fake news.

But it is probably artificial intelligence and the ability of machines to not only interact with, but manipulate human beings that raises the most suspicion.

Aware of growing governmental and public distrust, the giants of tech are trying to address the issues.

"Technology should always give people new opportunities, not remove them," Ma said.

But when IBM President Ginni Rometty admits that "100 percent of jobs will be somehow affected by technology," it might be a tough sell.

It's not just about jobs.

"People want to trust technology, as long as they know who is behind it," said Neelie Kroes, now a member of the Open Data Institute, after having been for years the European commissioner in charge of digital issues.

In recent months, US-based Uber, which connects individuals with drivers through an application, found itself in the hot seat after several murders perpetrated by its chauffeurs, notably in the United States and in Lebanon.

"You have to remember that the rating of a driver evaluates his driving but cannot predict if he is a serial killer," Uber director Dara Khosrowshahi told a panel at this week's economic gathering in the Swiss resort of Davos.

"In this situation, who is responsible, the individual or the platform?" wondered Rachel Botsman, an expert on the issue and author of the book "Who Can We Trust?"

Uber is the best known example of a fast-growing company with a bruised reputation

Uber is the best known example of a fast-growing company with a bruised reputation: accused of bad working conditions and sexual harassment it has faced chaotic legal proceedings and massive data piracy, which have sapped the firm.

"For a long time, the answer of many digital companies has been to say: we are only the software, the platform, but technology now penetrates every aspect of our lives, our trades, our homes, our relationships," said Zvika Krieger, who leads digital projects for the World Economic Forum, the organiser of the Davos meeting.

"Our response is no longer audible," he said.

- 'Too slow' -

In Davos, there was also concern about Internet giants hoovering up huge amounts of personal data, sometimes illegally and sometimes sharing it with authorities.

"The danger is that we are too slow and that the world is destroying us while we are still asking who really owns our data," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her Davos speech.

In the same way, attitudes towards social networks and search engines are changing.

"The main question is whether Facebook and Google are technology companies or editorial companies, it is a question that remains unresolved," said Martin Sorrell, CEO of the British advertising giant WPP.

Amid the mistrust, Davos heard unique proposals from the digital world, which mostly rejects too much oversight by governments, believing it would stifle innovation.

Marc Benioff, the outspoken CEO and founder of Salesforce, a major cloud services company, called plainly for more regulation of the sector.

"We're the same as any other industry," Benioff told CNBC in Davos.

Much like "financial services, consumer product goods, food -- in technology, the government's going to have to be involved," he said.

Observers hailed what they saw as a change of heart by the titans of tech.

"Regulatory authorities in Europe have been complaining for years that big digital companies are not responding when they're called," said WEF's Zvika Krieger.

"Let's say they're picking up the phone now."Billionaire investor George Soros launched a scathing attack on tech giants at the Davos summit on Thursday, calling them monopolies that could be manipulated by authoritarians to subvert democracy.

During an annual dinner he hosts at the World Economic Forum, held this week in the Swiss alpine resort, Soros turned his sights on a host of subjects including US President Donald Trump and the speculation frenzy surrounding the bitcoin cryptocurrency.

But much of the Hungarian-born financier's ire was reserved for the tech giants of Silicon Valley who, he argued, needed to be more strictly regulated.

Soros predicted that regulation and taxation will soon dethrone Facebook and Google

'Facebook and Google effectively control over half of all internet advertising revenue,' the 87-year-old told diners during a speech.

'They claim that they are merely distributors of information. The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access.'

'The exceptional profitability of these companies is largely a function of their avoiding responsibility for  and avoiding paying for  the content on their platforms,' Soros said.

He predicted that tech giants would 'compromise themselves' to access key markets like China, creating an 'alliance between authoritarian states and these large, data rich IT monopolies.'

'This may well result in a web of totalitarian control the likes of which not even Aldous Huxley or George Orwell could have imagined,' he warned.

Predicting governments would start to more heavily regulate the sector he said: 'The owners of the platform giants consider themselves the masters of the universe, but in fact they are slaves to preserving their dominant position. Davos is a good place to announce that their days are numbered. Regulation and taxation will be their undoing.'

Soros warned that at its current rate, Facebook will run out of new users to join its platform despite it currently growing in size.

'The distinguishing feature of internet platform companies is that they are networks and they enjoy rising marginal returns; that accounts for their phenomenal growth. The network effect is truly unprecedented and transformative, but it is also unsustainable. It took Facebook eight and a half years to reach a billion users and half that time to reach the second billion. At this rate, Facebook will run out of people to convert in less than three years.'

Soros warned that at its current rate, Facebook will run out of new users to join its platform

Known for his legendarily successful currency trading, Soros dismissed bitcoin as a 'typical bubble'.

But he said the cryptocurrency would likely avoid a full crash because authoritarians would still use it to make secret investments abroad.

He described Russia's Vladimir Putin as presiding over a 'mafia state' and called Trump a 'danger to the world'.

But he predicted that the US president's appeal would not last.

'I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020 or even sooner.'

But the investor's traditional Davos predictions do not always pan out.

Last year in Switzerland he warned that the stock market rally would end after Trump's election and that China's growth rate was unsustainable.

China's growth has continued while US stocks are regularly hitting record highs.Madison's lawyers say executing somebody in his condition violates the US constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment

The US Supreme Court granted a last-minute stay of execution late Thursday to an Alabama inmate suffering from dementia.

Vernon Madison, 67, had been scheduled to die by lethal injection for the killing of a police officer in Mobile in 1985.

His lawyers say that over the past two years, he has suffered a series of strokes and now cannot remember the crime for which he was sentenced to death.

They say executing somebody in that condition violates the US constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Justice Clarence Thomas stayed the execution in an order on Thursday, "pending further order" on Madison's appeal.

Madison's lawyers say he is legally blind, has slurred speech, cannot walk on his own and suffers from urinary incontinence.

He has spent more than 30 years on death row.

The jury in his trial recommended life in prison. But the judge overruled it and ordered that Madison be executed.

Under an Alabama law passed in 2017, judges can no longer do that in cases where defendants are eligible for the death penalty.

The European Union on Wednesday issued an urgent appeal in favor of Madison, saying it would be a human rights violation to execute someone in his mental condition.Displaced Iraqi women thread beads at a school in the city of Samarra on January 14, 2018

Threading beads onto a fishing line to make a sparkling ornament, Lamia Rahim is one of dozens of Iraqi women displaced by violence who have turned to handicrafts to support their families.

"It has been some time since we were displaced and my husband can't find work," the mother-of-four told AFP.

"It was down to me to take care of the family."

Rahim, 41, is part of a local initiative set up to help families who fled jihadists and settled in a school in the city of Samarra, 100 kilometres (62 miles) north of Baghdad.

In classrooms that have been turned into workshops, women in headscarves work away busily to make some vital income for their loved ones.

"A hundred and twenty-five women have been trained in crafts, including making bead miniatures," said local radio presenter Iman Ahmad, 51, who set up the project a year ago.

- Eiffel towers -

The crafts the women make have already sold at some local fairs and exhibitions and supporters regularly stop by to bring some assistance.

Ahmad says each month the collective manages to make around $1,000 -- a sum that is quickly divided up between all the members.

A displaced Iraqi woman threads beads at a school in the city of Samarra on January 14, 2018

Among the bead mementoes the women make are miniatures of the Samarra's famed spiral minaret, the famed Ishtar Gate that stood at the entrance to ancient Babylon, and even the Eiffel Tower.

"They help us to live," said Khawla Jarallah, who fled her village near the city of Tikrit when jihadists seized it three years back.

The International Organization for Migration estimates that some 2.5 million people remain displaced in Iraq, even as more than 3.2 million have returned to their homes.

Many were uprooted by the Islamic State group's 2014 rampage across the country and the subsequent bloody fight to push it back.

- 'Living thanks to hope' -

Now the jihadists have been defeated in Iraq, but the bitter legacy of their rise, and the years of violence that swept the country after the 2003 US-led invasion, remain.

A sewing machine whirs away in another room in the school where Fawziya Azzaws sits surrounded by colourful fabric.

She has always loved sewing and now she can turn her passion to her family's benefit -- just when they need it the most.

Bead ornaments made by displaced Iraqi women at a school in the city of Samarra on January 14, 2018

Organiser Ahmad said the work also helps "kill the boredom" of life far from home.

"It is from boredom that problems arise," she said.

Shifa Qaduri, 40, agrees that the initiative is vital for the women both in terms of income and "hope" -- even if life is still a daily struggle.

"The money we receive is not enough to pay for my children's school," she said.

"But where can we go? We carry on living thanks to hope. At the moment we may make $25, but maybe soon it will be $50 or $100."Hawley built a reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on Himalayan mountaineering

American journalist Elizabeth Hawley, whose 50 years chronicling summits and tragedies in the Himalayas earned her the moniker "the Sherlock Holmes of the mountaineering world", died Friday aged 94.

Hawley built a reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on Himalayan mountaineering after moving to Nepal in 1959 as a journalist, where she continued to live up to her death.

"She had a very peaceful death," doctor Prativa Pandey, who looked after Hawley at the end of her life, told AFP.

She passed away at a hospital in Nepal's capital Kathmandu in the early hours of Friday, a week after falling ill with a lung infection. She later likely suffered a stroke, Pandey said.

Hawley founded the Himalayan Database, a meticulous archive of all mountaineering expeditions in Nepal that she managed until five years ago.

Known for ferreting out the truth from climbers claiming to set new records, her word on summits in the fabled mountains was considered final, though she never climbed any peaks herself.

Every climbing season Hawley -- behind the wheel of her 1965 sky-blue VW Beetle -- would drive to mountaineers' hotels in Kathmandu to grill them before and after their expeditions.

"I guess I am quite forceful, I come to the point and if someone thinks they can evade my questions, they can think again," she told AFP in a 2014 interview.

- 'Oracle of Himalayan climbing' -

Billi Bierling, a journalist and climber who took over managing the Himalayan Database in recent years, remembered Hawley as a stickler for accuracy who would keep calling a source until she was satisfied she had the answer.

"The mountaineering world today has lost of its most important pillars. Even though Liz Hawley was never a climber, she never wore crampons, she was interested in the people," Bierling said.

Tributes for Hawley poured in from mountaineers around the world.

Hawley's word on Himalayan ascents was considered final, though she never climbed any peaks herself

"Kathmandu will be a lesser place without her and her original VW beetle," wrote 12-time Everest summiteer Kenton Cool on Twitter, describing her as the "Oracle of Himalayan climbing".

Elizabeth Ann Hawley was born on November 9, 1923 to a Chicago-based chartered accountant and a suffragist.

She attended university in Michigan and promptly moved to Manhattan after graduation in 1946, landing a job as a researcher with Fortune magazine.

The job bored her and she took off to see the world in 1957, finally ending up in Nepal in February 1959, then a Hindu kingdom which had only recently opened its gates to foreign visitors.

Hawley eventually became a correspondent for the Reuters news agency in Nepal and landed her first major scoop during the 1963 US expedition to Everest.

The American military attache offered her access to secret radio communication between Everest base camp and the embassy, enabling her to be the first to file when they reached the summit.

In 2014, Nepal named a 6,182-metre (20,328-foot) mountain in her honour: Peak Hawley in the country's northwest.

"I retire when I die. It might be the same thing," Hawley said in her book "The Nepal Scene", a collection of monthly dispatches she wrote until 2007.Trump was keen to downplay talk of a rift when he met MAy in Davos.

US President Donald Trump has apologised for the first time for retweeting a British far-right group's videos apparently showing Islamist violence, in an ITV interview aired in Britain on Friday.

"If you're telling me they're horrible racist people, I would certainly apologise if you'd like me to do that," he told Good Morning Britain's Piers Morgan during the interview, conducted in Davos on Thursday.

Trump sparked outrage in Britain in November when he retweeted, in quick succession, three anti-Muslim videos posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First who was in 2016 convicted of religiously aggravated harassment of a Muslim woman.

Morgan accused the president of causing "huge anxiety and anger in my country, because Britain First is basically a bunch of racists, fascists".

"Of course I didnt know that," Trump responded in excerpts of the interview aired Friday.

"I know nothing about them (Britain First), I know nothing about them today, other than I read a little bit," he added.

"Certainly I wasn't endorsing anybody. Perhaps it was a big story in the UK, but in the United States it wasn't a big story. I am the least racist person that anybody is going to meet.

Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First, was in 2016 convicted of religiously aggravated harassment of a Muslim woman.

"When you do those retweets they can cause problems because you never know who's doing it to start off with," the president told Morgan.

Trump was less apologetic about tweeting the content of the unverified videos, saying he was a "big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror."

"Radical Islamic terror, whether you like talking about it or not, you look at what's going on in the UK, you look at what's going on all over the world," he said.

- 'I love Britain' -

"It was done because I am a big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror."

The incident caused a huge headache for British Prime Minister Theresa May, who said that Trump was "wrong" to send out the tweets.

Trump responded by tweeting: "don't focus on me, focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom. We are doing just fine!," further souring the "special relationship" between Britain and the US following a series of spats.

However, the two leaders met in Davos on Thursday, and Trump was keen to downplay talk of a rift, with Britain desperate for a trade deal with the US as it leaves the European Union.

"The real me is someone who loves Britain, loves the UK, I love Scotland; very special people and a very special place," he said.

"I don't want to cause any difficulty for your country."

Turning to May, Trump insisted: "We actually have a very good relationship although a lot of people think we don't.

"I support her, I support a lot of what she does and I support you militarily very much. We will come to your defence should anything happen," he told the breakfast news show.

Trump was due to make a state visit to Britain this year, but recently pulled out of a ceremony to open the new US embassy in London following the spats, and after it appeared the visit would be met with protests.

Trump said "I don't care" about the potential protesters, adding: "I think a lot of the people in your country like what I stand for, I do stand for tough borders."

May spoke to the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, with Trump set to deliver his address later Friday.Elections in Thailand will likely fall some time in 2019, deputy prime minister General Prawit says

Thailand's former ruling party on Friday slammed the junta's latest postponement of elections until 2019, accusing the generals of buying time to consolidate support ahead of a return to voting.

The junta has delayed several poll dates since toppling the elected government of Yingluck Shinawatra in 2014 and instituting a ban on all political activity.

Late Thursday, the military government's rubber-stamp parliament voted to change an election law and pave the way for polls to be pushed back from the junta's previously-stated timetable of November 2018.

Elections will likely be delayed for three months and fall some time in 2019, deputy prime minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told reporters on Friday, without giving a clear date.

The move was swiftly panned by the toppled Pheu Thai party, whose various incarnations have won every national election since 2001 but have been taken out by elite-backed coups and court rulings.

Chaturon Chaisang, a former minister and senior Pheu Thai leader, said the junta is trying to position itself for victory ahead of the poll.

"They want time to prepare to make sure they can come back to power after an election," he told AFP.

The military regime, which has yet to lift its ban on political activities, is trying to "weaken all existing parties," Chaturon added, giving room for support to grow for an appointed prime minister or a military-backed party.

Thailand's generals have already enshrined their influence in government for years to come through a new charter that curbs the power of elected politicians and strengthens other arms of government.

The junta-drafted constitution calls for a fully-appointed Upper House, with six spots reserved for military leaders, and a proportional voting system likely to reduce the influence of major parties.

Analysts expect the generals to return to power in the form of a military-allied party, or rely on a charter loophole that could see an unelected premier installed through a parliamentary vote.

The poll postponement comes as the junta takes flak over a corruption scandal centring on deputy premier Prawit, who has been dubbed "the Rolex General" for parading a collection of luxury watches.

Since December, a muckraking Thai-language Facebook page called "CSI LA" has unearthed photos of the junta No. 2 wearing 25 watches collectively worth $1.2 million, including 11 Rolexes, eight Patek Philippes and three Richard Milles.

Prawit says the watches were borrowed from friends but is now being probed by an anti-graft agency for failing to declare the timepieces on his list of assets.

Critics say the junta heavyweight is likely to get off scot-free in a kingdom where impunity for the rich and powerful reigns.Hungary's Timea Babos (R) and France's Kristina Mladenovic pose with the winners' trophy after beating Russia's Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina in their Australian Open women's doubles final, in Melbourne, on January 26, 2018

Fifth seeds Timea Babos and Kristina Mladenovic took out the Australian Open women's doubles title on Friday to be crowned Grand Slam champions for the first time.

The Hungarian-French pairing battled past second seeded Russians Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina 6-4, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena.

"It's an incredible feeling, I was in tears," said an emotional Babos. "It's amazing to play with you," she added of Mladenovic.

It was their first Slam title after going close at Wimbledon in 2014, where they made the final but lost.

Overall, they own three other doubles titles as a team, all won in 2015 -- at Dubai, Marrakech and Rome.England's bowler Chris Woakes, seen during their fourth ODI match against Australia, at Adelaide Oval, on January 26, 2018

Australian captain Steve Smith's decision to bowl paid dividends as England were held to just 196 in the fourth one-day international in Adelaide on Friday.

With the five-match series already in their keeping after winning the first three games, the tourists did well to reach a competitive total following a disastrous start which saw them lose four of their top six batsmen for ducks.

On Australia Day, it was all the home side as the tourists slumped to eight for five in the early overs. Their lowest-ever total of 86 looked in danger until all-rounder Chris Woakes rescued the innings.

It could easily have been six wickets before reaching double figures as well, with captain Eoin Morgan having two near-misses as soon as he came to the crease.

In the end, solid resistance from Woakes (78) along with Morgan and Moeen Ali (33 each) -- and Tom Curran (35) -- enabled England to scramble to a decent total.

Woakes continued his excellent form with the bat in the series, hitting five sixes in the 82 balls he faced before being caught on the boundary off Andrew Tye (3-33).

The rot set in early for England after being sent in by Smith for the second successive match, this time in humid conditions which favoured seam bowlers, as Australia sought to turn around their dreadful recent record of just one win in their past 11 completed matches.

Jason Roy, who got England rolling in the series with a record-breaking 180 in the opening match, fell to the second ball of the innings, caught at point by Smith off the bowling of Hazlewood (3-39) for a duck.

Alex Hales (3) was the second to fall, bowled off his pads by Pat Cummins, who snared a career-best 4-24.

Opener Jonny Bairstow was caught behind from the bowling of Hazlewood for a duck, and Test captain Joe Root also fell without scoring, caught on the fine leg boundary after top-edging a hook shot from the bowling of Cummins.

Jos Buttler, coming off a match-winning century in Sydney, became the fourth batsman dismissed without scoring, caught behind from the bowling of Hazlewood when England had just eight runs on the board.

However, Woakes picked up where he left off in an unbeaten half-century in Sydney, and had good support from the previously out-of-form Ali and number 10 Curran.Trump has been using his attendance at the WEF to tell foreign business leaders that there has never been a better time to invest in the United States.

US President Donald Trump will tell the Davos global elite on Friday that he wants free trade as long as it is "fair and reciprocal", a senior administration official said.

Previewing Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum, the official said the president would embrace "a commitment to free and open markets, but on terms that are fair and reciprocal".

Trump will also, according to the official, promote his drive to cut taxes and regulation, and declare: "America is open for business."

Rather than emphasising his "America First" slogan, the president has been using his attendance at the annual forum in the Swiss Alps to tell foreign business leaders that there has never been a better time to invest in the United States.

But he will also use the speech to say that he expects other countries to enforce laws and trade agreements, the official said, after Washington this week targeted China and South Korea with new tariffs, and as it renegotiates the NAFTA pact with Canada and Mexico.

"The United States will no longer tolerate things like the theft of intellectual property, forced technology transfers, industrial subsidies," the official said, adding that Trump's speech was also about "lifting up the forgotten men and women" left behind by globalisation.There are growing concerns in Hong Kong that academic freedoms are being squeezed by Beijing

Hundreds of Hong Kong students protested Friday as tensions escalate on campuses over compulsory testing of Mandarin -- the dominant language of mainland China.

The first language of Hong Kong is Cantonese and proposals from education chiefs to put more emphasis on learning Mandarin have tapped into fears about the "mainlandisation" of the semi-autonomous city's culture and identity.

Anger has mounted since two students from Baptist University were suspended this week for confronting and swearing at staff over the requirement to pass an exam in Mandarin before being able to graduate.

Their suspension comes as concern grows that academic freedoms are being squeezed by Beijing, and that freedom of speech as a whole is under threat.

Protesters from a range of universities gathered Friday afternoon in a public square at Baptist to support suspended pair Andrew Chan and Lau Tsz-kei, chanting: "Shame on student suppression!"

"Never mind if we have been suspended, but what if it happens to you all?" an emotional Chan told the crowd, wiping away tears.

Lau, who is president of the Baptist student union, admitted they need to reflect on their actions towards staff but said he was "very disappointed" in the university chief's decision to suspend them.

"I never thought he would do this," Lau said.

Lau and Chan were among 30 students who confronted staff in an eight-hour stand-off at the university's language centre last Friday after it was revealed that 70 percent of those who had taken a Mandarin proficiency test had failed.

The test was introduced last year for students seeking exemption from a compulsory course in the language.

Students have highlighted the complexity of the proficiency test questions, and say the marking system was not transparent.

Supporters of compulsory testing say Mandarin skills boost students' career prospects, but many feel they should have the right to choose their own subjects.

Hong Kong enjoys freedoms unseen on the mainland since being handed back to China by Britain in 1997, under a "one country, two systems" deal.

But there are rising concerns that those liberties are under threat.

Universities have increasingly become battlegrounds after the mass Umbrella Movement protests of 2014 demanding democratic reforms.

The rallies, which failed to win concessions, were spearheaded by university student leaders and were an unprecedented rebuke to Beijing.

Since then, appointments of pro-establishment figures to senior university positions have riled students and some staff.

There has also been anger over university officials' opposition to the expression of pro-independence views on campuses.

University chiefs penned a joint statement in September saying freedom of expression was "not absolute" after pro-independence banners popped up at the beginning of term.

The emergence of activists calling for Hong Kong to split from the mainland has infuriated Beijing, with President Xi Jinping saying he will not tolerate challenges to Chinese sovereignty.Japan has a longstanding dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea

China on Friday said it was "strongly dissatisfied" with the opening of a museum in Tokyo devoted to disputed islands, as the Japanese foreign minister prepares to visit Beijing this weekend.

The museum, which opened Thursday and is run by the Japanese government, displays documents and photographs defending Japan's claims over two sets of islands that China and South Korea also see as their own.

Japan has a longstanding dispute with China over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. They are administered by Japan, where they are known as "Senkaku", but also claimed by China, which calls them "Diaoyu".

Tokyo also claims islands in the Sea of Japan that are controlled by South Korea. They are known as "Dokdo" in Korean and "Takeshima" in Japanese.

South Korea immediately demanded the closure of the museum as it denounced Japan's "unjustifiable claims" to its "inherent territory".

China said Friday that the Diaoyu islands have been its "inherent territory since ancient times".

"We are strongly dissatisfied with what the Japan has done, and I want to emphasise that nothing can change the fact that Diaoyu belongs to China," foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing.

"We remain resolute in safeguarding our sovereignty over the Diaoyu islands."

The criticism comes as Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono is set to visit Beijing this weekend for talks with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday.

"We have seen some positive momentum but bilateral relations still face challenges," Hua said.

"We hope that through this visit the two sides can implement the important consensus reached by the two leaders, and promote improvement in the development of bilateral ties."

The two sides are also expected to discuss the North Korean nuclear issue.Daud Khattak says covering the region is like 'walking a tight-rope'

With its Pakistan bureau shut by authorities last week, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Pashto-language station is broadcasting from its headquarters in a distant Prague, waiting for "the dust to settle," according to its senior editor.

The Islamabad office of Radio Mashaal, or Torch in Pashto, targets some 10 million people in areas along Pakistan's border with Afghanistan. It was closed for airing content "against the interest of Pakistan".

The interior ministry said the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) -- Pakistan's top spy agency -- had also found its programmes to be "in line with (a) hostile intelligence agency's agenda".

It is the latest example of the pressures Pakistani journalists face from security forces.

A series of recent high profile abductions and attacks on journalists and activists, including the attempted kidnapping of an award-winning France 24 journalist, have raised fears that the shadowy military establishment is acting with impunity to shrink the space for dissent and free speech.

The official confirmation of ISI's involvement in shuttering Radio Mashaal is a rare acknowledgement of its role in such incidents, in which security forces usually deny involvement.

"We read the charges through social media. We were not informed by any government agent," Daud Khattak, Radio Mashaal's Prague-based senior editor, told AFP on Thursday.

Minutes after the news came through WhatsApp, "police teams arrived at our office in Islamabad and asked our employees to pack up and close the office.

"Later on when I was watching some Pakistani TV channels, they were airing news that we are working for the CIA."

Funded by the US Congress, RFE/RL was founded in 1950 to beam programmes into the communist bloc.

It currently broadcasts in 25 languages and aims to "serve as a 'surrogate' free press in 23 countries where the free flow of information is banned or not fully developed."

Mashaal has over 1.6 million Facebook fans and scored 81 million video views on Facebook and 10 million views on YouTube in 2017.

- 'Walking a tight rope' -

Its closure coincides with heightened tensions between Islamabad and Washington.

President Donald Trump recently froze up to $1.9 billion (1.5 billion euros) in funding to Pakistan in a move designed to force Islamabad to halt its alleged support for the Afghan Taliban and other Islamist groups.

Pakistan has long denied the allegation and accused Washington of dismissing its sacrifices in the war against extremism.

Founded in 2010, Radio Mashaal covers the so-called tribal areas, a sensitive region on both sides of the border with a significant Taliban presence.

The region has been the hardest hit by unrest since 2007 and has seen several large-scale operations by Pakistan's military against extremist groups. Any media reports criticising the army invite a reaction from authorities.

"Covering this (region) it's like walking on a very tight rope. But we did it all the time," Khattak told AFP.

The interior ministry notification posted on the radio's website accused Mashaal of portraying Pakistan as a "failed state" and "a hub of terrorism and safe haven for different militant groups".

- Political awareness -

It also alleged that the station was "distorting facts (to) incite the target population against the state and its institutions", referring to ethnic Pashtuns.

But Khattak, who has 20 years of journalistic experience, said: "We are covering the issues of the tribal areas, from clean drinking water to health facilities to destroyed roads to destroyed schools.

"We are taking the demands of the villages and we are conveying the same demands to the parliamentarians sitting in Islamabad."

"We are creating political awareness among the people about their rights. We didn't do anything bad," added Khattak.

He said Mashaal reporters had been investigated by intelligence agencies over the past two years.

Support has poured in for Radio Mashaal

Support has poured in for Radio Mashaal as Reporters Without Borders, the Committee to Protect Journalists and a host of Pakistani politicians have voiced concern.

"Hundreds of thousands of Pashtuns listen to Radio Mashaal, which provides information to the people," said Pakistani Senator Usman Kakar, secretary general of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party.

"Radio Mashaal is highlighting problems of those people, conducting interviews with them," he said.

While Mashaal's Islamabad bureau chief, four reporters and two dozen stringers are taking a breather, the nine-hours-a-day broadcasts continue from Prague.

Khattak said he hopes "that when the dust has settled, things will return to normal."

"But I'm not sure we'll be able to reopen the office."African migrants demonstrate against the Israeli government's policy to forcibly deport African refugees and asylum seekers from Israel, at a protest on January 22, 2018 in the Israeli city of Herzliya

Israeli Holocaust survivors are pleading with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to cancel his plan to forcefully expel tens of thousands of African migrants, citing their own experiences as outcasts.

"We, who know precisely what it's like to be refugees, to be homeless and bereft of a state that preserves and protects us from violence and suffering, cannot comprehend how a Jewish government can expel refugees and asylum seekers to a journey of suffering, torment and death," the 36 signatories wrote in an open letter published in English by Haaretz newspaper on Friday.

The appeal came on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

On January 3, Netanyahu announced implementation of a plan to deport about 38,000 migrants who entered Israel illegally, mainly Eritreans and Sudanese, and gave them until the end of March to leave voluntarily or face jail and eventual expulsion by force.

He defended his decision at the weekly cabinet meeting last Sunday, denying that the potential deportees were refugees.

"We are acting against illegal migrants who come here not as refugees but for work needs," he said. "Israel will continue to offer asylum for genuine refugees and will remove illegal migrants from its midst."

He did not say to which country they would be sent but Israel tacitly recognises it is too dangerous to return the Sudanese and Eritreans home.

Aid workers and media have named Uganda and Rwanda.

Uganda has publicly denied being a destination.

The website of the Aid Organisation for Refugees and Asylum Seekers in Israel (ASSAF) says that of 10,000 asylum requests from Eritreans in Israel, only seven have been granted, while one Sudanese has received asylum.

It does not state the number of Sudanese applicants, but government figures from October 2016 list 8,066 Sudan nationals among the migrants.

A 2016 UN commission of inquiry into Eritrea's regime found "widespread and systematic" crimes against humanity and said an estimated 5,000 people flee the country each month.

The International Criminal Court has indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide linked to his regime's counter-insurgency tactics in the 14-year-old Darfur conflict.

ASSAF says that there are "thousands" from the Darfur region of western Sudan among those seeking asylum in Israel whose applications have yet to receive an answer.Nearly 80,000 people have been forced to leave their homes around the 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) volcano

Edna Orila has to sidestep human excrement as she looks for a space to sleep in the tiny schoolroom she shares with 55 other people seeking refuge from a spectacular -- but dangerous -- volcano in the Philippines.

Rising majestically above the region, the perfect cone of Mayon has been generating giant cauliflower clouds of superheated ash and bursts of fireworks-like lava for nearly two weeks, with experts warning of more.

A self-described "evacuee since birth", Orila has fled the fury of the volcano more than a dozen times since she was born 53 years ago.

She was only three years old when her parents first brought her to an evacuation centre during an eruption in 1968.

It never gets any easier.

Mayon has been generating giant cauliflower clouds of superheated ash and bursts of fireworks-like lava for nearly two weeks

"It's gruelling here. We are crammed with strangers. There are children, there are elderly," Orila said as she stood in the courtyard of a school in Guinobatan town, where evacuees' washing hung on clothes lines.

"There is a 93-year-old woman who removes her diaper at night and defecates in our room. I have to pass by her. But I try to understand because she is already old and sickly," Orila sighed.

Orila is one of 81,000 people who have been forced to leave their homes around the 2,460-metre (8,070-foot) mountain, which volcanologists say could blow its top -- violently -- any day now.

But as a family of farmers, tilling the rich volcanic soils of Mayon's slopes, they cannot afford to abandon their smallholding and she has left her husband to keep watch.

Many of those forced to flee are crammed into jury-rigged evacuation centres

"I am afraid for him but he must keep watch. We had worked hard for our carabao. It cannot be left behind," she said of their water buffalo, a common draft animal in the Philippines.

"The troops are forcing him to leave but I told him to stay and if the volcano erupts, to just go inside the house and cover his face," she said.

- 'Live to survive' -

Mayon has been spewing ash plumes up to five kilometres high that have turned day into night and blanketed roofs and trees. Residents outside the evacuation zone use facemasks and try to go on with their lives.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology chief Renato Solidum said Friday only about a third of the debris that had swelled the crater has been ejected, meaning: "We have to expect that the activity will continue."

Romina Marasigan, civil defence office spokeswoman, told reporters the government expects it to last three months.

Many of those forced to flee are -- like Orila -- crammed into jury-rigged evacuation centres, where up to 80 people live in a classroom meant for 20 students, with no access to a proper toilet.

The fact that the region has avoided deaths so far is testament to the people's toughness, aid groups say

The result is a sanitation and public health nightmare.

"These are just urinals and are not meant for defecation," said health department nurse Aiden Ocfemia.

With no other way to relieve themselves however, many of the urinals have clogged up, she added.

An elderly evacuee and a child who both arrived at shelters suffering from pneumonia have since died, provincial health officer Antonio Ludovice told reporters Friday.

More than a thousand suffer from coughs and colds, 30 have diarrhoea and four others are down with chickenpox, Ludovice added.

- Vegetable-killer -

In nearby Ligao city, farmer Norberto Leona, 41, also sought refuge in a school where children gleefully bathed in the open near a firetruck delivering tap water.

The acidic volcanic ash has killed the vegetables at his farm, six kilometres from the crater, he said.

Residents outside the evacuation zone use makeshift facemasks as they try to go on with their lives

"This is my sixth time to evacuate. It just keeps happening and I am used to it," he said as he cradled one of his seven children.

Like Orila in the Guinobatan shelter, Leona said it never entered his mind to permanently move his family beyond Mayon's lethal embrace.

"Even if our home is in the danger zone, we have nowhere else to go so we have to tough it out here," he added.It's already a big challenge to get the Syrian regime and the opposition to sit down at the same table

Syria's main opposition group on Saturday said it would boycott Russian peace talks next week in a major blow to Moscow's diplomatic efforts towards resolving the brutal conflict.

The Syrian Negotiation Commission (SNC) accused President Bashar al-Assad's regime and its Russian backers of continuing to rely on military might -- and showing no willingness to enter into honest negotiations -- as the war inched towards its seventh anniversary.

The announcement came after two days of separate UN-backed peace talks came to a close in Vienna, with an end to the war that has killed more than 340,000 people appearing further than ever.

"This round of negotiations was an international test for the regime, and the test ended yesterday (Friday)," the opposition Syrian Negotiation Commission's Nasr al-Hariri told reporters in Vienna Saturday.

In the SNC's initial announcement of a boycott, the group said on its Twitter account Friday night that "Russia has not succeeded in promoting its conference".

"The SNC has decided not to participate at Sochi after marathon negotiations with the UN and representatives of countries involved in Syria," it added.

Dozens of rebel groups had already refused to join the talks in the Black Sea resort next Monday and Tuesday organised by Moscow, and the question of whether the main opposition would attend overshadowed the Vienna talks.

Those talks stretched late into Friday night, with both regime officials and the SNC meeting separately with UN Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura -- who did not strike an especially optimistic tone after the gruelling negotiations.

As with eight previous rounds of failed UN-backed talks in Geneva, there was no sign that the warring sides had met face to face at discussions intended to lay the groundwork for a new post-war constitution.

De Mistura, speaking to reporters early Saturday, admitted there had been a disheartening lack of progress up until now.

"I share the immense frustration of millions of Syrians inside and outside the country at the lack of a political settlement to date," he said.

- Russian ambitions -

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will send his Syria peace negotiator to the conference in Russia next week, a spokesman said in New York Saturday, despite the Syrian opposition's boycott of the meeting.

De Mistura stressed the legitimacy of the UN-led talks over Russia's parallel peace push, however, saying firmly that a political transition for Syria "is to be reached in the UN-led Geneva process".

"I hope that the forthcoming Syrian national dialogue congress in Sochi will contribute to a revived and credible intra-Syrian process under the UN in Geneva," he added.

Ahead of an SNC press conference on Saturday morning there was little detail about why the opposition had ultimately decided to boycott Sochi, though spokesman Yahya al-Aridi earlier described the talks in Vienna as "tough".

Western powers have viewed the Russian peace initiative -- which is also backed by Turkey and Iran -- with suspicion, worrying that Moscow is seeking to undermine the UN-backed talks with an ultimate view to carving out a settlement that strengthens its ally, President Bashar al-Assad.

- 'Black comedy' -

Haid Haid, a consulting research fellow at Chatham House think-tank, said Russia's long-term strategic interests were at play in Sochi.

"They want to present themselves as peace brokers, not only in Syria but in the Middle East in general, a role traditionally carried out by the Americans," Haid told AFP.

"For the Russians to take this role, they have to do what the Americans were not able to do" -- find a solution in Syria, he said.

The Vienna talks were also marked by anger from the regime over a leaked set of political proposals from the United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Britain and France that would involve strengthening the role of Syria's prime minister -- at the expense of Assad's authority.

Top government negotiator Bashar al-Jaafari told reporters it was "tantamount to a black comedy" that these countries were seeking to shape Syria's political future, as Arabic and English versions of the document circulated online.

"All of them have participated in the bloodshed of the Syrian people," he said of the five nations, blasting the US as the country "that created ISIS" and adding that Saudi Arabia was anything but a "beacon of freedom in the east".

burs/ser/pvhTurkey launched operation "Olive Branch" against Kurdish militia in Syria on Saturday

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday threatened to expand Turkey's offensive in Syria against a Kurdish militia, despite rising concern and calls for restraint from the US and other Western allies.

In the seventh day of the operation against the Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia, Erdogan vowed to "clean up" the Syrian city of Manbij.

The United States has raised concerns over the deadly offensive, and analysts say direct military conflict between the two NATO powers is possible since the US has a military presence in Manbij.

Turkey launched operation "Olive Branch" against the YPG on Saturday, supporting Syrian rebels with ground troops, air strikes and artillery fire.

While the YPG is still working closely with Washington against the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in Syria, Ankara views the YPG as a terror organisation allied to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) inside Turkey.

The PKK is blacklisted by Ankara and its Western allies as a terror outfit.

Erdogan vowed in a speech in Ankara that Turkey would "continue our fight until there is no terrorist on our border", but did not elaborate.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed that Turkey would "continue our fight until there is no terrorist on our border"

He said the operation would last until "we reach our goals," adding: "Afterwards we will, as promised, clean up Manbij of terrorists."

But Erdogan and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Friday insisted Turkey was not intending to occupy Afrin and would return the region to its "real" owners.

- US ties 'teetering on brink' -

Tensions between Ankara and Washington are already high but the offensive has added further strain to their relationship. The two sides disagreed about the content of telephone talks between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump on Wednesday.

Washington said Trump had urged Turkey to "limit its military actions" but a Turkish official said the US statement did "not accurately reflect the content" of the call.

Erdogan criticised Turkey's allies, including the United States, which he said called for the operation to be "short" and "limited" in scope, referring to previous interventions.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, Turkish and allied rebel fire has killed 38 civilians in the Syrian enclave of Afrin

"How long has Afghanistan lasted? Nearly 20 years. How long has it (the conflict) lasted in Iraq? Nearly 18 years!" he thundered.

Washington has more than 2,000 special forces and support troops inside Syria, mainly east of the Euphrates in an area also controlled by the YPG but separate from Afrin, which is west of the river.

According to Anthony Skinner, director of MENA at global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, "direct military conflict" between Turkish and US forces is possible because of Erdogan's threats to expand the campaign to Manbij.

"Turkish-US relations are teetering on the brink of a precipice," Skinner added.

The European Union has also expressed concern over the Turkish intervention in Syria, which is further complicating the war that has claimed more than 340,000 lives since 2011.

- 'Nothing is left' -

Turkey continued shelling YPG positions in Afrin on Friday, state-run news agency Anadolu reported.

Speaking to AFP in the Syrian town of Azaz held by pro-Ankara fighters, Syrian rebel Ali Yassin said the goal was "to cleanse this region of terrorists", adding: "We do not want terrorists in our country."

Erdogan said "343 terrorists have been neutralised" during the operation so far. It was not possible to independently verify the toll.

Three Turkish soldiers have been killed since the start of the offensive, while the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said 58 Ankara-backed Syrian rebels and 53 US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and YPG fighters had been killed.

The SDF is an umbrella grouping composed mainly of YPG fighters.

Map of Syria locating the site of Turkish offensives against Kurdish militia

The Observatory has said 38 civilians have been killed mainly as a result of Turkish shelling but Ankara strongly rejects such claims, saying it is doing everything possible to avoid civilian casualties.

Thousands of people have reportedly fled the Afrin region's border towns, many of them to Afrin city, after fleeing Turkish artillery fire.

"The shells hit every neighbourhood, they hit the generators and the bakery. Nothing is left," Merhi Hassan said, after fleeing his native Jandairis, a border town.

- Afrin urges Syria to intervene -

Afrin's executive council on Thursday called on Syria to intervene to stop Turkish planes.

Syrian Kurdish groups, long marginalised in Syria, took advantage of the withdrawal of regime forces from the north at the beginning of the conflict to assert their autonomy from 2012.

Kurdish fighters and government troops have largely stayed away from each other since then, albeit with short-lived clashes in the cities of Hasakeh and Qamishli.

burs-raz/pvhDisplaced Syrians who fled from the town of Jandairis in the southwestern corner of the Afrin border enclave, where Turkey and allied rebels have been conducting an offensive to oust Kurdish militias, sit in a shelter in the city of Afrin

Trapped in a basement for three days with his family as Turkey shelled their northern Syrian hometown, Merhi Hassan fled just in time to escape bombardment that almost killed his elderly father.

The family piled into a rusted pickup truck with whatever they could scavenge from their demolished home and drove north to Afrin, the city at the heart of the Kurdish-held enclave by the same name.

Blinking tears out of his eyes, Hassan clambered out of the small truck in Afrin after the drive from his native Jandairis, a border town.

"The bombardment wouldn't let us sleep. We spent three nights in the basement," said Hassan, a red-and-white scarf wrapped around his head.

The man in his late forties had left the underground shelter to try to convince his elderly father to flee the town with his family.

"He wouldn't accept," Hassan said, until a new round of Turkish bombing hit their neighbourhood and "I had to pull him out from under (shattered) glass."

Turkey and allied Syrian rebels have since Saturday been waging an offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG), which controls the Afrin region.

As part of the push, Ankara has been pounding the canton's border towns with artillery fire and thousands of people have reportedly fled, many of them to Afrin city.

"The shells hit every neighbourhood, they hit the generators and the bakery. Nothing is left," said Hassan.

"Our house is gone. Our neighbour's house is gone. If I hadn't left, I would have died."

- 'We fled barefoot' -

According to the United Nations, more than 300,000 people live in the Afrin canton, including more than 120,000 who have already been displaced at least once.

Those arriving in the city from battered border regions have struggled to find adequate shelter and have settled into squalid conditions.

In one half-finished building, women and children sat cross-legged on mattresses on the earth floor, surrounded by cinderblocks, shoes and camping stoves.

New families were still arriving outside, some pulling kitchen supplies, food and bags of clothes from pickup trucks.

But Zarifa Hussein and her children had no time to pack belongings.

"We didn't bring anything with us. We fled our house barefoot and spent the night in a bomb shelter," said Hussein, who was dressed in multiple layers.

The pregnant woman said a cinderblock even crashed on her back as she ran out of her home.

"In the morning, we went to get our things and found the house demolished," she told AFP.

Another woman came down from the pickup truck angrily waving a pointed sliver of metal in the air.

"As we fled Jandairis, this flew behind us," she said, her hair wrapped in a green and brown scarf.

"May it strike them (attackers) right between the eyes."

- 'Save us from this!' -

In Afrin's main hospital, Arze Sido sat nervously by a hospital bed, where her adult son lay motionless and hooked up to an intravenous drip.

Early this week, Sido and her wounded son, two young daughters and mother-in-law escaped the border town of Midan Akbas and headed southeast to stay with relatives in Afrin.

"I was so scared for my daughters," she told AFP.

Syrians who fled from a town in the southwestern corner of the Afrin enclave, where Turkey and allied rebels have been conducting an offensive to oust Kurdish militias, arrive in the city of Afrin

"My son wanted to grab bread but I told him, come, there's shelling," said Sido, wearing a pale floral headscarf.

"As he was getting it, the Turkish army shelled us. We had to pull him out and bring him to the hospital. He's been here for more than three days now."

Turkey has pressed its offensive despite global calls for de-escalation.

Jumaa Hassan Hassoun, a 56-year-old displaced from Jandairis, said it was time world powers stepped in.

"I left with my children: seven daughters, two boys, and my wife," said the Jandairis native.

"We want our voices to reach the whole world -- save us from this!" he cried.This was the quandary faced by Theresa May when she sat down with Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump said he and May have a "really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that".

Business leaders in Davos have this week offered a broad welcome to controversial tax reforms enacted by Trump's Republicans, which slashed the headline rate of USA corporate tax.

And a year ago, Trump and May traded criticism over his retweets of a far-right group's anti-Muslim videos.

We're working on transactions in terms of economic development, trade, maybe most importantly, military.

The group said on their website that although the banner is not in Davos, they hope Trump will get their message "be it during a flyby through the valley here or through his daily television consumption".

Jared Kushner, Trump's senior adviser and son-in-law, and US Rep. Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina) also attended the meeting but did not speak.

"America First' does mean working with the rest of the world", said Mnuchin, who is leading the largest USA delegation ever to attend the exclusive gathering.

Britain and the U.S. are "joined at the hip" militarily and America will always be ready to "fight for you", he added.

Trump's "America First" agenda and aversion to multilateral trade agreements would seem at odds with a global summit that stresses free trade and worldwide cooperation.

Trump hosted May at the White House days after he took office.

"We're on the same wavelength I think in every respect", he said.

"So the United Kingdom and the USA both do well out of this".

Trump boasted that companies like Apple and its CEO Tim Cook announced big investments into the United States again.

Over a thousand private jets have landed at the Swiss mountain ski resort of Davos, where the planet's elected presidents and unelected financial rulers have gathered for the World Economic Forum. But he recently cancelled a planned trip to London to celebrate the opening off the new USA embassy.

He predicted US-UK trade talks would spark a "tremendous increase" in trade between the two countries.

During their talks Mrs May also raised the issue of aircraft manufacturer Bombardier which has a major plant in Northern Ireland and is at the centre of a United States trade dispute.

While Trump's lofty style, capriciousness and eagerness to wander from the standards of past White House tenants has apparently infused question into USA connections around the world, the president's stridently professional Israel positions have reinforced the bond between the two countries, which sunk to a low point amid the Obama organization.The Indonesian military has sent medical teams to remote locations across the vast region

Worried parents braved long queues and scorching heat in the remote Papuan jungle to get their sick babies treated Friday, as the impoverished region grapples with a deadly measles-and-malnutrition outbreak.

AFP has been able to access the isolated village of Ayam, where houses sit on stilts and the only bare-bones clinic has no modern medical equipment, a few rickety beds, and overwhelmed nurses struggling to cope.

There are no doctors in the community of several hundred which has seen over two dozen cases of measles. Crisscrossed by rivers and swamps, Ayam is a 10-hour boat trip to the nearest major city Timika.

The Indonesian military has sent medical teams to Ayam and other remote locations across the vast region to prevent the spread of what they are calling an "extraordinary" outbreak.

Villagers are also suffering from other health problems like diarrhoea and respiratory infections

Villagers are also suffering from other health problems like diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

"What we really need is medicine and food so our children here can be healthy again... that's what we need now," said 28-year-old father Yunus Komenemar, whose one-year-old son was diagnosed with measles.

Ayam is in the Asmat district where some 800 children have been sickened, while as many as 100 others, mostly toddlers, are feared to have died in the outbreak, which was first made public this month.

Harrowing images from affected communities showed rail-thin children lying on rickety beds with their rib cages exposed and a malnourished girl lying on the floor hooked up to an IV drip.

Ayam's only bare-bones clinic has no modern medical equipment

"I'm sad, I'm angry, and I feel pity," said Norce, a mother of a five-year-old being treated for measles in Agats, another hard-hit community.

In Ayam, nurse Abednego Bakay said his clinic was short of almost everything, including crucial vaccines.

"The equipment here is basic and so we can only try to serve people by giving them medicine" he added.

- 'Too late' -

The head of the military medical teams acknowledged that Jakarta's response was slow.

"Let's be honest, maybe the local and national governments became aware of this (outbreak) too late," Asep Setia Gunawan, the military's medical task force chief, told AFP.

"The conditions here are serious and that's why we are calling this an 'extraordinary' outbreak."

The problems in Ayam and other villages across Papua are a combination of myriad problems including years of national and local government neglect

The problems in Ayam and other villages across Papua are a combination of myriad problems including years of national and local government neglect, a lack of jobs, and logistical hurdles in boosting the quality of life for remote communities, experts said.

They warn that this crisis will be repeated without more action to pull the province out of grinding poverty and end a low-level separatist insurgency fuelled by resentment over poor conditions.

"I hope this crisis will help some people here -- at least those in power -- to change their minds, but if they choose business as usual another crisis will appear next year as well," said Andreas Harsono, a Jakarta-based campaigner for Human Rights Watch.

Ayam is in the Asmat district where some 800 children have been sickened

Komenemar, whose young son was being treated for measles, worried about what will happen when the military leaves Ayam.

"The government is paying more attention, aid is coming in and there are (positive) changes, but we want it to last," he said.

Many Papuans live a semi-nomadic existence and lack proper medical care, schools or other basic services, including access to clean water.

Angelina Sanpai, a mother of six who was waiting to get treatment for her six-month old baby's diarrhoea, said putting food on the table is a daily struggle.

"I'm used to crying because we've got so little food," she said.Long-standing tensions between herdsmen and farmers have flared up again in central Nigeria

Ten people in central Nigeria were killed over two days in violence linked to cattle grazing, part of a months-long crisis that has heightened religious tensions, sources said late Thursday.

In central Plateau state, military taskforce spokesman Major Adam Umar said eight deaths were recorded from tit-for-tat attacks in the rural districts of Bokkos and Bassa on Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Fulani nomadic herder was attacked and killed by sedentary farmers from the Ropp tribe while he was digging out sand to make mud bricks for a home.

"In retaliation members of the Fulani community attacked and killed two persons, including a woman, from the Ropp community," Umar said.

In a separate incident on Tuesday, Umar said, five people were killed in violence between Fulani herders and ethnic Irigwe farmers in Gero village in Bassa district, 80 kilometres (50 miles) away.

In another incident overnight Wednesday, a policeman and a farmer were killed in the eastern-central state of Benue, in an attack on Guma district that was blamed on Fulani herdsmen.

The clashes occurred a day after livestock belonging to the herders were stolen which they blamed on the farmers.

Plateau and Benue state lie in Nigeria's so-called Middle Belt that separates the predominantly Muslim north from the largely Christian south.

It has long been a hotbed of ethnic, sectarian and religious tensions between indigenous farming communities, who are mainly Christian, and the nomadic Hausa/Fulani cattle herders, who are Muslim.

Tensions have boiled over access to land and resources, escalating into a rift that has deepened along nominally religious lines.

The violence has left approximately 100 dead this year in a conflict now more bloody than the Boko Haram jihadist insurgency that President Muhammadu Buhari's administration is increasingly being criticised for failing to contain.Oil-producing Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world

The cash-strapped central African nation of Chad risks bankruptcy unless it implements drastic austerity measures, its finance minister has warned after a backlash against government plans to lower the wages of civil servants.

Civil service salaries in 2017 totalled 376 billion CFA francs (about 600 million euros/$720 million), roughly the equivalent of the combined revenue from income tax and customs duties, according to official figures given to AFP.

"It's worth knowing that over a period of 10 years, the wage bill (of public servants) has increased by 700 percent," Finance and Budget Minister Abdoulaye Fadoul Sabre told journalists late Thursday.

"Today we need to make sacrifices collectively in the hope of redressing state finances and preserve social gains," he said.

"If nothing is done, the public treasury won't even be able to pay wages anymore, regardless of the government or minister in place."

Despite the depleted coffers, Fadoul said civil servant wages would still be paid in January.

However, some employees including teachers could see their bonuses cut by 50 percent under a new finance law, he warned.

Oil-producing Chad is one of the poorest countries in the world. Nearly half of its population lives below the threshold of poverty.

The country is under pressure to cut costs to meet performance targets under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid programme.

Earlier this month, the government was forced to shelve plans to reduce the salaries of state employees after angry opposition from trade unions.War-torn Yemen continues to draw migrants from the Horn of Africa

At least 30 African migrants drowned when their boat capsized off war-torn Yemen this week with reports of gunfire being used against those on board, the United Nations said Friday.

At least 152 Somalis and Ethiopians were aboard the overcrowded vessel which left Aden in southern Yemen on Tuesday, the UN refugee and migration agencies said in a joint statement.

"The vessel is believed to have been operated by unscrupulous smugglers who were attempting to take refugees and migrants to Djibouti, while also trying to extort more money from these refugees and migrants," according to the statement.

The boat turned back and "capsized amid reports of gunfire being used against the passengers", it said, adding that it was working with the Yemeni coast guard to try to establish what happened.

"At least 30 people have died in this tragic incident" which occurred near the coast.

More than 9,200 people have been killed in Yemen since a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in 2015 against Huthi rebels with the aim of restoring the country's internationally recognised government to power.

But the impoverished country continues to draw migrants from the Horn of Africa, many of them seeking work in prosperous Gulf countries further north.

The UN Refugee Agency said it was "outraged" by the latest deaths.

"Prolonged conflict and insecurity in Yemen continues to expose vulnerable refugees and migrants to heightened risks of human rights violations including arbitrary arrest, detention, trafficking and deportation," it said on Twitter.

In August last year, dozens of migrants from Somalia and Ethiopia died after human traffickers forced them off two Yemen-bound boats and into the sea.

Last March, a helicopter opened fire on a vessel carrying more than 140 migrants in the Red Sea off the Yemen coast, killing 42 civilians.

A confidential UN report seen by AFP said the attack was most likely carried out by the Saudi-led coalition.The attack was followed by video and photographs on social networks appearing to show wanted Libyan commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli carrying out summary executions in retaliation

The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Friday condemned a deadly attack on a Benghazi mosque which left at least 37 dead, and renewed calls for the arrest of a wanted Libyan commander.

"These bombings and executions demand both condemnation and a meaningful response", chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

At least 37 people died and scores were wounded after Tuesday's two car bombings outside a mosque frequented by jihadists in Libya's second city Benghazi.

The attack was followed by video and photographs on social networks Wednesday, appearing to show wanted Libyan commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli carrying out summary executions in retaliation.

Bensouda said she was "deeply concerned" by the bombings, but also "appalled" at the reports of the executions of 10 people in front of the mosques.

Witnesses said Werfalli, who is wanted for war crimes by the ICC, had carried out the public executions in revenge for the Tuesday mosque attack.

In one video, a uniformed officer, said to be Werfalli, is seen making the blindfolded suspects in blue prison uniforms kneel in front of him before shooting them one after the other in the head.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Werfalli, accusing him of participating in seven similar incidents between 2016 and 2017 in which 33 people were executed.

The UN Support Mission in Libya has also demanded Werfalli's immediate surrender to the ICC in The Hague.

Bensouda also appealed to military strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose forces control eastern Benghazi and to whom Werfalli is loyal, to work with the Libyan army to arrest the wanted commander.

"The appalling cycle of violence and impunity in Libya cannot be allowed to continue for the sake of the Libyan people," she added.

The ICC, is the world's only permanent war crimes court, seeking to prosecute those behind the worst atrocities where national courts cannot or will not investigate.

The latest violence in Libya came as UN envoy Ghassan Salame held talks in the east with Haftar in efforts to end the political chaos that has gripped the country since longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

A UN-backed unity government based in the capital Tripoli has struggled to assert its authority outside western Libya. Haftar supports a rival administration based in the east.Rwanda's president Paul Kagame has proposed a raft of reforms including appointing a troika of leaders to represent Africa globally

Feted for turning around tiny, conflict-torn Rwanda, President Paul Kagame will have to tackle the far larger task of reforming the African Union as he takes over as chairman at its main annual summit.

The reform agenda proposed by Kagame and backed by AU leadership will dominate a summit in Addis Ababa on Sunday and Monday, where heads of state and government are also expected to make a joint denunciation of Donald Trump's reported slur on their countries.

Representing 55 countries, leaders will also juggle questions crucial to the bloc, such as how to pay its bills and how to address the many crises gripping the continent.

While those issues have a long, familiar history of debate within the AU, analysts and an African diplomat who spoke to AFP say the body is split over the massive reform agenda.

"I think Kagame will do everything possible. He wants to leave his name here," the diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

"At the end of the day, everyone thinks they need to reform, but what is going to happen is going to be very weak."

Kagame, succeeding Guinea's Alpha Conde as AU chairperson for a one-year term, has proposed a raft of reforms including appointing a troika of leaders to represent Africa globally.

While many admire how Kagame has turned his country around and maintained a grip on power since 1994, others resent his efforts to reform the AU -- seen as a lumbering bureaucracy that, to most Africans, is largely irrelevant.

"He's a village chief who had some success in the village," the diplomat said.

"He tried to use the village method in the city and people said 'hello? It doesn't work like that here.'"

- Levy in limbo -

Among the most debated of the reforms is how to make the AU pay for itself.

The AU currently functions mostly due to cash from foreign donors, who give the body 73 percent of its budget, excluding peacekeeping operations.

US President Donald Trump asked Kagame to pass his 'warmest regards' to other African heads of state

Kagame has championed a proposal approved in 2016 to levy a 0.2 percent tax on each country's imports to finance the AU, which would provide the the organisation with $1.2 billion (965 million euros).

That has run into resistance from the continent's five largest economies including Egypt, South Africa and Nigeria, whose contributions alone would make up 48 percent of the AU's budget, said Elissa Jobson, an AU specialist at the International Crisis Group.

"Without those five countries, the levy does not make any sense," Jobson said.

Further complicating matters is opposition from the United States, which says it is concerned the levy violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, said Liesl Louw-Vaudran of the South Africa-based Institute for Security Studies.

The summit is also expected to feature a joint denunciation of reported comments by US President Donald Trump deriding Africa as a continent of "shithole countries."

Trump on Friday asked Kagame to pass his "warmest regards" to other African heads of state, during a meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

But this is unlikely to appease leaders on the continent.

Speaking before the summit opening, the chairperson of the AU commission Moussa Faki condemned the reported slur.

"Africa has not finished digesting the words of the president of the United States, who shocked us profoundly with the message he conveyed of contempt, hatred and desire for marginalisation and exclusion," he told foreign ministers in an address.

- Conflict on the agenda -

Also on the agenda will be the many conflicts criss-crossing the continent, ranging from chaos in Libya and the Central African Republic, jihadist groups in parts of the Sahel and tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon.

In December, war-torn South Sudan agreed to a "revitalisation" of its 2015 peace agreement, but that has been repeatedly violated.

Flashpoints in Africa include Libya, South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo

In Somalia, the AU mission in the country is set to withdraw in December 2020, however serious doubts remain about the ability of Somali forces to ensure their own security, in the face of continued Islamist attacks.

Meanwhile further discussion on the topic of illegal immigration and the existence of slave markets in Libya are expected, coming on the heels of November's EU-Africa summit in Ivory Coast.

And Africa has not been immune from the ongoing split within the Gulf countries. Observers believe Faki and Kagame will attempt to ease these tensions at the summit.Japan's electronic commerce and internet firm Rakuten, whose Tokyo headquarters is seen here, has agreed to a strategic alliance with US retail giant Walmart

US retail giant Walmart and Japanese internet titan Rakuten unveiled a strategic partnership which will include collaboration on digital books in the United States and grocery delivery in Japan.

The two firms will launch a new online grocery delivery service in Japan later this year, and have agreed to a retail alliance making Walmart a key partner on e-books and audiobooks using the Rakuten format Kobo, according to a statement late Thursday.

The deal comes amid a growing international presence by US online giant Amazon, which offers an array of services in different countries including video, e-books and grocery delivery.

"Rakuten is a strong e-commerce business and we're excited to collaborate with the top online shopping destination in Japan," said Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon, who met Rakuten CEO Hiroshi Mikitani in Tokyo to sign the agreement.

"We look forward to expanding our grocery footprint in Japan and launching a new offering of e-books and audiobooks for our customers in the US."

Mikitani said, "As global leaders in e-commerce and offline shopping, Rakuten and Walmart are uniquely positioned to empower our customers around the world with innovative services."

The companies said a joint venture would be established between Japan online grocery delivery service Rakuten and Seiyu GK, a subsidiary of Walmart. The service "Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper" is planned for the latter half of 2018.

The new service will be powered by Rakuten technology, using artificial intelligence "to offer a more personalized merchandise offering," according to the statement.

Additionally, Walmart will the exclusive mass retail partner for the Kobo brand in the US, which includes e-readers and digital applications similar to those of Amazon's Kindle.

Kobo was created in Canada and acquired in 2011 by Rakuten.Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain

Two alpinists who went missing while attempting to climb Pakistan's second-highest mountain Nanga Parbat have been spotted and a rescue mission is to be launched on Saturday, sources said.

Elisabeth Revol, from France, and Polish national Tomek Mackiewicz were seen through binoculars by fellow climbers at the base camp, Karim Shah, a local climber who is in contact with the base camp team told AFP.

"The military has two helicopters ready who will move four Polish mountaineers who are already on a summit on K-2 to Nanga Parbat for the rescue mission," he said.

Shah said Revol was spotted Friday attempting to climb down while Mackiewicz appeared to be crawling due to frostbite.

"They had spent one night outside the camp and the Polish mountaineer has got frostbite and snow blindness so he is not able to climb down," he added.

His account was confirmed by an official from the tour company that arranged the expedition.

Nanga Parbat, in northern Pakistan, is the world's ninth highest mountain at 8,125 metres (26,660 feet).

It was nicknamed "killer mountain" after more than 30 climbers died trying to conquer it before the first successful summit in 1953.

In July last year, a Spaniard and an Argentinian were presumed dead after they went missing while trying to summit Nanga Parbat.US President Donald Trump said there was still work to be done to eliminate the threat posed by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria

US President Donald Trump said Friday that US-backed coalition forces had won back almost 100 percent of territory occupied by the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.

"The coalition to defeat ISIS (IS) has retaken almost 100 percent of the territory once held by these killers in Iraq and Syria," Trump said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"There is still more fighting and work to be done and to consolidate our gains."

IS has been dealt a string of defeats across Iraq and Syria in recent months.

The US-led coalition said on Tuesday it had killed as many as 150 IS fighters in an operation in the middle Euphrates River Valley in Syria, where some remained entrenched.

It said the Syrian Democratic Forces, a US-backed Arab-Kurdish alliance fighting IS, had assisted in target observation prior to the strike.

Kurdish ground forces have played a critical role in defeating IS.

On Wednesday IS claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on Save the Children's office in east Afghanistan that left at least two people dead and 14 others wounded.

"We are committed to ensuring that Afghanistan never again becomes a safe haven for terrorists who want to commit mass murder to our civilian populations," Trump added in his speech.The government in the DR Congo says it is waging "war" against two militias in the troubled east -- the Congolese Yakutumba and the Ugandan Islamist rebels of the Allied Democratic Force

Laden with mattresses, suitcases, solar panels, chairs and plastic buckets, thousands of refugees have crossed into Burundi in the past three days to flee fierce fighting in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi police said Friday.

Nearly 7,000 Congolese have crossed Lake Tanganyika and taken refuge in Burundi since Wednesday as clashes raged between DR Congo government forces and rebels in the troubled eastern province of South Kivu.

"Yesterday, Lake Tanganyika seemed to be completely covered by hundreds of boats of all sizes, packed with refugees and their property, it was quite sight," one rights activist told AFP.

Burundi police said a total of 6,692 people had registered as refugees since Wednesday to escape fighting between the army and the Yakutumba militia, although the flow appeared to have since slowed.

President Joseph Kabila, speaking at a rare press conference, described the security situation in the east, much of which is in the hands of rival militias, as "worrying".

A refugee who crossed into Burundi described "very difficult living conditions" there, adding: "There has been no food or water for the vast majority of us, we don't have any toilets."

There was no immediate comment from the UN refugee agency or the Burundian authorities about the situation.

Congolese people have also been fleeing into neighbouring Uganda

The DR Congo government last week announced it was waging "war" against two militias in the east -- the Yakutumba and the Ugandan Islamist rebels of the Allied Democratic Force (ADF).

The ADF are active in North Kivu while the Congolese Yakutumba are several hundreds of kilometres away in South Kivu. Both regions border Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania.

Rival militia groups have long held sway over large areas in the two provinces, often competing for their rich mineral resources.

burs/mbb/txw/riThe University of Chicago's invitation to former White House strategist Steve Bannon to speak has triggered protest at the campus

A Chicago university's invitation to Donald Trump's former advisor Steve Bannon to speak has sparked backlash from students and faculty urging the school to withdraw its offer.

As of early Friday, 44 professors at the prestigious University of Chicago -- where Trump's predecessor Barack Obama once taught law -- had signed an open letter calling on the invitation to be rescinded.

Hundreds of students also protested Thursday, shouting chants including "stop inviting fascists here," according to the university's student newspaper the Chicago Maroon, which first reported the invitation.

Business professor Luigi Zingales invited Bannon and announced that the former White House strategist had accepted -- though no date had been set.

Zingales said in a Facebook post that while he did not support the views of the hard-line nationalist who sought to shake up US domestic and foreign policy, his views had nevertheless resonated and made an impact on American politics and therefore were worth hearing.

"I can hardly think of a more important issue for new citizens and business leaders of the world than the backlash against globalization and immigration that is taking place not just in America, but in all the Western World," Zingales said.

"Mr. Bannon has come to interpret and represent this backlash in America."

In the open letter, opposing professors said the invitation is misguided and threatens to legitimize positions that "represent neither reasonable speech nor evidence-based and rigorous intellectual inquiry."

"Moreover, he is a founding board member of and, until very recently, had been an executive at the media company Breitbart, espousing the most detestable facets of the so-called 'alt-right' movement," the letter said.

The University of Chicago released a statement saying it supported Zingales's right to invite Bannon and detractors' right to protest, "as part of our commitment to free expression."

Last August firebrand Bannon, the architect of the Republican leader's shock 2016 presidential victory, made a high-profile exit from the White House.

He then found himself isolated after infuriating Trump by making unflattering comments about the president that were recorded in the incendiary book "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," by Michael Wolff.

According to the book, Bannon said that a pre-election meeting involving Trump's eldest son Donald Jr. and a Kremlin-linked Russian lawyer was "treasonous."

Bannon stepped down from Breitbart and lost the support of the Mercer family, wealthy conservative power brokers.Kabila has stayed in office since his two-term constitutional limit expired

DR Congo President Joseph Kabila on Friday stood by the timetable for delayed elections despite demands that he step down ahead of the poll.

"We have to have elections as scheduled," Kabila said at his first press conference since 2012, referring to the date of December 23, 2018 announced last year.

"I note that, on our side, there is a roadmap, and what other people are proposing is nothing, zero, a jump into the void, a leap into the unknown."

During the rare two-hour press conference, in which Kabila made an opening statement then answered questions, he did not respond specifically when asked if he plans to stand for a third term in office -- something that is outlawed by the constitution.

Kabila, 46, has been in power since 2001, at the helm of a regime widely criticised for corruption, repression and incompetence.

His constitutional term in office expired in December 2016 but he stayed on, under laws enabling him to remain office until his successor is elected.

Under a deal brokered on December 31, 2016 by the powerful Catholic Church, Kabila agreed that new elections would be held by the end of 2017.

- String of rallies -

The authorities late last year postponed the election until December 23, 2018, citing what they said were logistical problems in preparing for the vote.

Since then, there has been a string of rallies demanding his departure, each of which has been repressed by the security forces.

A family mourns a relative killed in anti-Kabila protests on New Year's Eve. The crackdown has been sharply criticised by the EU and UN, and placed the regime on collision course with the influential Catholic church

"I would like us to have peaceful elections. Is that what the opposition wants -- question mark?" he said rhetorically.

Kabila said he would soon introduce a law to "reframe" the right to protest for "those who wish to express themselves."

Officially protests have been banned in the country since the bloody days of September 2016, when violence in Kinshasa between youths and security forces left dozens dead.

"I am very attached to democracy but democracy is not a fairground," he added.

The latest violence flared on January 21, when security forces opened fire on Catholic-organised demonstrations, killing six, injuring scores of others and arresting dozens, according to figures released by the UN mission MONUSCO.

- Diplomatic tensions -

The bloodshed has been condemned by the European Union and the United Nations and placed Kabila's regime on a collision course with the influential Catholic church and the country's former colonial power, Belgium.

On Wednesday, the government said it had told Belgium to close its new development agency in the country and shutter a centre, known as the Schengen House, which issues visas on behalf of fellow countries in the EU's border-free zone.

Kabila said Friday the relationship between the government and the UN mission was troubled by a "misunderstanding."

MONUSCO has repeatedly and sharply reminded the DRC authorities of the right to peaceful demonstration and freedom of expression.

It was time to "clarify" the relationship, said Kabila, adding that there could be no "co-management" of the DRC between the UN and the government.

"One gets the impression that their profession is to stay around," he said, recalling that the DRC -- in 2010 -- had "demanded the UN secretary general draw up a plan for withdrawal".

Sprawling, mineral-rich but mired in poverty, DR Congo is in the grip of overlapping political and ethnic crises, and much of the country's east is in the hands of rival militia groups competing over resources.US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said sanctions against Russian officials and firms would continue until Moscow lives up to an agreement to end the fighting in breakaway eastern Ukraine

The United States imposed sanctions Friday on Russian officials who supplied turbines to a power plant in annexed Crimea, as well as several "ministers" from the breakaway region in eastern Ukraine.

The turbines were built by German engineering giant Siemens for delivery to Russia but were later sent to Crimea -- which Russia seized from Ukraine and annexed in 2014 -- by its Russian partner.

No US action has been taken against the Munich-based firm, which says it was not aware the equipment would be diverted and attempted to sue the Russian state energy firm for breach of contract.

Only a handful of Russian allies have recognized Moscow's claim on Crimea, which has not been recognized by the United Nations and which Ukraine, the United States and most of the world reject.

Washington has an existing sanctions law to punish officials and public and private entities who assist in the Russian intervention in Crimea and eastern Ukraine, and regularly updates its blacklist.

On Friday, it was the turn of senior Russian officials involved in the transfer of the turbines, and also several "ministers" from two pro-Russia breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine.

The so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) and Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) rule chunks of eastern Ukraine controlled by the pro-Moscow separatists since a revolt in early 2014.

The West says the separatists are directly backed by Russian forces, who send personnel and weapons, funding and supplies and have allegedly conducted cross-border operations and shelling.

Moscow denies this and has reacted with fury to increased sanctions.

- Fighting continues -

"The US government is committed to maintaining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and to targeting those who attempt to undermine the Minsk agreements," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said.

Under the Minsk agreements, the first of which was signed in 2014, Russia and Ukraine are supposed to support a ceasefire, withdraw heavy weapons and foreign forces, and support electoral reform.

But fighting has continued to greater and lesser degrees, and US officials accuse Vladimir Putin's Kremlin of pulling the strings.

"Those who provide goods, services, or material support to individuals and entities sanctioned by the United States for their activities in Ukraine are engaging in behavior that could expose them to US sanctions," Mnuchin warned.

On Friday, the Donetsk ministers of information, industry, finance, foreign affairs, state security and tax and Lugansk's economic development, labor and energy ministers were added to the US blacklist.

Among the Russians added were Andrei Cherezov, deputy minister of energy, along with senior public and company officials involved in the transfer of the turbines to occupied territory.

Several Russian companies were also designated for operating in Crimea, including Technopromexport -- the subsidiary of state conglomerate Rostec that was unsuccessfully sued by Siemens.

The persons and entities listed cannot do business with Americans -- effectively excluding them from the US financial system -- and any assets they hold under US jurisdiction can be frozen.

Separately, the United States also condemned Russia's ratification of an agreement to set up a joint military force with the Georgian region of South Ossetia, which is also under occupation.

"We do not recognize the legitimacy of this so-called 'treaty,' which does not constitute a valid international agreement," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement.Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has tirelessly campaigned against gender inequality

The great global reckoning with sexual harassment is "long overdue", says acclaimed Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, but the feminist figurehead in Africa hopes it is not "a passing fad".

As the global #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct continues in the wake of the disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein's downfall, the novelist said it should be only the beginning.

"For a long time, women in many parts of the world felt that they couldn't talk about these things because they would not be believed and because there would be many consequences for them," Adichie said in an interview with AFP.

The author of several award-winning books, including "Half of a Yellow Sun", "Purple Hibiscus" and "Americanah", has tirelessly campaigned against gender inequality.

Her viral TEDx talk "We Should All Be Feminists" in 2012 has been viewed more than four million times.

Adichie, who splits her time between Nigeria and the United States, said the #MeToo movement had also provoked debate in Africa -- although not as much as in the West.

"I know that in Nigeria young women followed the news and I also know that suddenly some young women started to talk about their own experiences," Adichie said.

She told the story of a woman who had recently posted on Facebook about a professor who sexually harassed her in medical school.

"To talk about it openly and to name the man who was a professor... that is very unusual," she said.

"It's just one story but for me it is symbolic of what this all movement has brought about."

Being a feminist in Africa means being willing to go against convention, Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says

Being a feminist in Africa means being willing to go against convention, she said.

"There are many women in the African continent who are feminist but who don't use the language of western feminism, who don't even call themselves feminist," she said.

"But in the way that they live their lives, they are feminist because they consider themselves to be fully human and fully equal and they go against conventions."

This includes "single mothers leaving abusive marriages even though they have a lot of family pressure to stay on", as well as "choosing to be ambitious and not apologising about it".

Adichie spoke at a talk on Thursday night in Paris for "La Nuit des Idees" (The Night of Ideas), a series of 170 events in 60 countries across the world on the subject of "Power to the imagination" run by Institut Francais.Lebanese security forces secure the area following a car bomb blast in the southern Lebanese port city of Sidon on January 14, 2018 that wounded an official of the Palestinian movement Hamas

Lebanese authorities on Friday said Israel was involved in a car bomb blast that targeted an official of the Palestinian movement Hamas in southern Lebanon earlier this month.

Mohammad Hamdan was wounded when a bomb placed in his car detonated in the southern port city of Sidon on January 14.

Hamdan did not appear to have a public or political role in Hamas, but according to a Palestinian security source, he was a member of the organisation's security structure.

On Friday, the press office of Lebanese Interior Minister Nouhad Mashnuq said one of the perpetrators had been coordinating with Israel.

In a statement distributed to reporters, it said investigators were able to arrest "one of the main perpetrators of the crime, who confessed to being tasked by Israeli intelligence".

The statement did not specify the suspect's nationality, but said investigators seized "very advanced communications mechanisms from his home, and correspondence between him and his handlers."

Hamas also accused Israel of involvement in the attack against Hamdan.

The Palestinian Islamist group 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.

In 2010, Lebanon sentenced a former security officer to death for collaborating with Israel to assassinate two Islamic Jihad leaders in Sidon.Dozens of immigrants who came to the United States illegally will be in attendance next Tuesday when President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union speech to a joint session of Congress.

The move comes as the White House prepares to unveil its new immigration framework to Congress Monday, one that offers a pathway to citizenship for up to 1.8 million so-called 'Dreamers' who were illegally brought to the country as children.

At least 23 Dreamers will be in the public galleries in the House of Representatives chamber as guests of Democratic lawmakers, according to a list provided Friday by a congressional aide.

One Republican, so far, has indicated that he will follow suit.

Two dozen undocumented immigrants will attend President Trump's State of the Union speech in Congress, at the height of negotiations over the status of hundreds of thousands of immigrants who were brought to the United States illegally as children

Trump, pictured leaving the World Economic Forum on Friday in Switzerland, is proposing to give 1.8 million of these young illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship, dramatically expanding and extending Barack Obama's DACA program

Half a dozen other immigration-related guests will also attend, including congresswoman Debbie Dingell's guest Cindy Garcia, the wife of a father of two who was deported last week.

House Democrat Scott Peters said he was 'honored' to have Karen Bahena, who was brought by her parents from Mexico to California in 2001 when she was eight years old, as his guest to Trump's speech.

Bahena, protected by the previous administration's deferred action that is set to expire on March 5 absent a fix by Congress, graduated from San Diego State University and aspires to be a nurse.

Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo will have a DACA recipient named Adrian in the seat next to him for Tuesday's high-profile speech

'Outstanding contributors to society like Karen should not be forced out of our country,' Peters said in a statement. 'Instead, they should be embraced and celebrated for making the United States a better place.'

The 'Me Too' movement will also be represented at Trump's speech.

At least 10 lawmakers are bringing sexual assault victims or women's rights activists as their guests, according to the list, as the nation experiences a reckoning over sexual misconduct.

Some prominent Democratic lawmakers have already said they will boycott the speech.

The State of the Union speech is an annual event that brings the President of the United States to the opposite end of Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House to speak to a Joint Session Of Congress

Democratic Rep. Scott Peters told San Diego 'DREAMer' Karen Bahena this week that she will be his State of the Union guest

Congressman John Lewis, an American civil rights icon who once marched with Martin Luther King Jr, said he will not attend the January 30 address because Trump used a vulgar slur to describe some countries during a meeting with lawmakers about a possible bipartisan immigration deal.

With the March deadline looming, US lawmakers have struggled to find a solution that passes muster with Democrats and Republicans.

'For a permanent fix to our immigration laws, Congress needs to act,' US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Friday in a speech in Virginia.

'It is time to end the lawlessness and create a system that serves the national interest.'United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley vehemently denied rumors of an affair with President Donald Trump, calling them 'highly offensive'

US Ambassador Nikki Haley has slammed rumors that she was having an affair with President Donald Trump as "highly offensive" and "disgusting."

The rumors stem from author Michael Wolff of the best-seller "Fire and Fury," who suggested in an interview that Trump was having an affair and that the liaison was with someone detailed in his book.

Wolff wrote in his book that Haley, the most high-profile woman in Trump's administration, was positioning herself as the president's heir apparent.

In an interview with Politico's Women Rule podcast on Thursday, Haley shot down talk of being romantically involved with the US president.

"It is absolutely not true," Haley said. "It is highly offensive, and it's disgusting."

She hit back at Wolff's assertion in his book that she was spending a lot of private time with Trump on his presidential plane and in the Oval Office.

"I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there," Haley said.

"He says that I've been talking a lot with the president in the Oval about my political future. I've never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him."

Haley attributed the rumors to sexism from a "small group of men" uneasy with strong-willed women.

"Most men respect women but there is a small group of men, that if you just do your job and you try and do it well and you are outspoken about it, they resent it. And they think the only option is to bring you down," she said.

The former South Carolina governor who backed Trump rival Marco Rubio for the Republican nomination said she and Trump are in agreement on almost all policy issues.

"We get along great, and I agree with almost everything that he has done," she said."These (US) drone attacks and others are wiping out al-Shabaab in good numbers. And that is good to finish with the terrorism," said Francisco Madeira, the chief of the 22,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)

Drone strikes by the United States military are "wiping out" Shabaab militants in Somalia, the head of the African Union mission in the country told AFP in an interview Friday.

The US has stepped up its operations in the war-torn Horn of Africa nation, targeting the Al-Qaeda linked Shabaab, which has fought for the last decade to topple Somalia's internationally backed government, and a separate self-proclaimed branch of the Islamic State.

"These drone attacks and others are wiping out al-Shabaab in good numbers. And that is good to finish with the terrorism," said Francisco Madeira, the chief of the 22,000-strong African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on the sidelines of the AU's summit in the Ethiopian capital.

In recent months, US special forces and the Somali national army have killed scores in air strikes and ground assaults targeting Shabaab, including a Christmas Eve strike that left 13 dead.

The surge in activity comes after President Donald Trump last year loosened constraints on the US military in Somalia, allowing commanders to take action against suspected terrorists when they judge it is needed, without seeking specific White House approval.

The US Africa Command has had to defend itself against allegations that its forces have killed civilians, issuing a statement in November that said no civilians died in a raid three months prior despite media reports to the contrary.

- Possible extension -

Madeira said only that if soldiers were accused of unlawfully killing civilians they would be taken to court. He said that when deaths did occur AMISOM did not have the money to pay reparations to bereaved families.

"We do not have money to pay for this. We have been sharing this with a number of partners, but so far the response has been very, very, very minimal, almost non-existent," he said.

While AMISOM is scheduled to depart Somalia by December 2020, Madeira said an extension of the force's mandate was not out of the question.

"The formation of a fully-fledged, functioning... Somali National Army, it might take a bit longer than that. But we can already have some critical mass of forces that can do the work," he said.

The once 22,000-strong AMISOM force began pulling troops out of Somalia at the end of last year, and Madeira has previously highlighted the need for more support to enable the national army to take over.

Currently, the bloated and largely ineffective Somali army is more a collection of clan militias, with various international militaries providing poorly-coordinated training to different units.

The Shabaab lost its foothold in Mogadishu in 2011, but has continued its fight, and was blamed for the country's worst ever attack in which a truck bombing left over 500 dead in October last year.Bombardied hailed the trade panel's decision as a victory

A bipartisan US trade panel on Friday blocked the government's decision to impose nearly 300 percent punitive tariffs on airplanes manufactured by Canada's Bombardier, in a dispute that has inflamed relations with Ottawa.

The US International Trade Commission voted 4-0 that there was no injury to US manufacturers, which effectively forces President Donald Trump's Commerce Department to reverse course on the retaliatory measures designed to protect Boeing.

The failure to back up the Commerce Department was a rare move by the panel, but it will not release an explanation of its reasoning until March.

Boeing filed a trade complaint after Delta Air Lines placed an order for 75 of the CSeries jets, which can seat between 100 and 150 passengers, and found a receptive ear in the Trump administration, which has ratcheted up adversarial trade actions.

Although none of the planes have been delivered, the Commerce Department ruled that the aircraft benefited from unfair subsidies and were sold below cost, allowing Bombardier to have an advantage over Boeing.

"Today's decision is a victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law. It is also a victory for US airlines and the US traveling public," Bombardier said in a statement shortly after the vote.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said Ottawa was likewise "very pleased" with the ruling.

"The government of Canada will always vigorously defend the Canadian aerospace industry and its workers against protectionist trade policies," she said in a statement.

Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May described the decision as "good news for British industry."

"Bombardier and its innovative workforce play a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy," she wrote on Twitter.

The ruling comes as fraught talks are underway this week in Montreal to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States.

- 'Disappointed' -

Shares in Bombardier jumped higher on the news, finishing up more than 15 percent in Toronto.

Boeing said the company was "disappointed" with the decision by the commission, which "did not recognize the harm that Boeing has suffered from the billions of dollars in illegal government subsidies" Bombardier received.

"Those violations have harmed the US aerospace industry, and we are feeling the effects of those unfair business practices in the market every day," it added.

A Boeing spokesman told AFP the company would review the commission's reasoned decision early next month before deciding future steps.

The company could appeal the ruling in US federal courts.

Bombardier argued that Boeing suffered no harm because it did not offer a comparable sized jet to compete for Delta's business.

Boeing said it was "disappointed" after the US International Trade Commission decision in favor of rival Bombardier

In addition, the Canadian firm has since struck a bargain with European manufacturer Airbus, giving the latter a controlling stake in the CSeries jets and allowing them to be manufactured duty-free in Alabama.

"With this matter behind us, we are moving full speed ahead with finalizing our partnership with Airbus," Bombardier said.

"Integration planning is going well and we look forward to delivering the CSeries to the US market."

"We are happy to see that the ITC concurred with our views," Airbus group CEO Tom Enders told AFP.

"We will carry on full steam with our C series project, focusing on addressing the needs of our airline customers and creating more and new, high-skill manufacturing jobs in the US."

The aircraft case is one of several that have soured the Trump White House's relations with Canada, which last month lodged a wide-ranging complaint with the World Trade Organization, challenging US moves to impose punitive tariffs.

As tensions turned raw last year, the Canadian government scrapped plans to buy 18 Super Hornet fighter jets, which are manufactured by Boeing.

The ITC is an independent federal agency and its commissioners are balanced between Republicans and Democrats, although it currently has only four instead of the usual six members.

Unlike the Commerce Department, ITC investigations determine whether US industry is injured or threatened with harm by the imports in question. Both agencies have to rule in favor before punitive tariffs can take effect.UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (C) lays a wreath in tribute to UN peacekeepers killed in Bangassou in the Central African Republic, in October 2017

The United Nations is in talks with countries that contribute peacekeepers to its mission in the Central African Republic after an investigation found their response to attacks last year fell short, a UN spokesman said Friday.

A special investigation led by a retired general from Benin found "deficiencies" in peacekeeping operations in the southeast of the country from May to August 2017 and presented recommendations, the UN said.

UN peacekeeping officials are in to talks with the troop- and police-contributing countries "to ensure that these measures are implemented," said UN spokesman Farhan Haq.

"If they are not,... peacekeeping will decide at the appropriate time on any further action to be taken," he said.

Troops serving in the MINUSCA force may be sent home if they fail to show improvements, according to UN officials.

The Security Council in November voted to beef up the peacekeeping force with 900 extra troops, bringing the total number of troops and police serving in MINUSCA to about 13,700.

The decision followed a warning from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that the country faced a risk of ethnic cleansing.

In May, the town of Bangassou was attacked by "anti-balaka" militias -- a force that claims to defend Christian communities from mostly Muslim rebels -- who killed many civilians.

In August, similar bloodshed took place at Gambo, about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Bangassou, despite the presence of UN soldiers near both towns. In all, several dozen people were massacred.

There are also concerns about the presence of anti-balaka fighters at a camp for displaced people in Bria, where MINUSCA is providing protection.

The Central African Republic has been struggling to return to stability since the country exploded into bloodshed after the 2013 overthrow of longtime leader Francois Bozize by the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel alliance.

France intervened militarily to push out the Seleka alliance, but the country remains plagued by violence pitting groups competing for control of resources and areas of influence.(CNN Money)  More than $8 of every $10 of wealth created last year went to the richest 1%.

That's according to a new report from Oxfam International, which estimates that the bottom 50% of the world's population saw no increase in wealth.

Oxfam says the trend shows that the global economy is skewed in favor of the rich, rewarding wealth instead of work.

"The billionaire boom is not a sign of a thriving economy but a symptom of a failing economic system," said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International.

The head of the advocacy group argued that the people who "make our clothes, assemble our phones and grow our food" are being exploited in order to enrich corporations and the super wealthy.

The study, released ahead of the World Economic Forum in Davos, was produced using data from Credit Suisse's Global Wealth Databook.

Related: 5 ways the world is pulling apart

The report also highlights the detrimental effects of gender inequality with data that show more men own land, shares and other capital assets than women.

Rising inequality has been a major topic at Davos for years.

Oxfam said Monday that it is time for the global elite to stop talking about inequality and start changing their ways.

"It's hard to find a political or business leader who doesn't say they are worried about inequality. It's even harder to find one who is doing something about it," said Byanyima.

"Many are actively making things worse by slashing taxes and scrapping labor rights," she added.

Related: Thought 2017 was bad? 2018 could be much worse

Oxfam said that governments should focus on policies that would lead to fairer distribution of wealth and stronger workers' rights.

These could include introducing a living wage, supporting labor unions and tackling gender discrimination.

Governments also need to tackle tax avoidance and put limits on shareholder returns and executive pay, Oxfam said. The group argues companies should not issue dividends to shareholders unless they pay their workers a living wage.

Oxfam also said that tax policies should be used to reduce extreme wealth.Yahya al-Aridi, representative for the Syrian Negotiations Commision (SNC), speaks to journalists as he arrives at the United Nations Office in Vienna on January 25, 2018

The main Syrian opposition group said Friday that it will announce on Saturday whether it will attend a "peace congress" in Russia on January 30 that is viewed with unease by Western countries.

"Tomorrow (Saturday) there is going to be a press conference by the head of the SNC and he will give you the decision about Sochi, if there is going to be participation or not," said Syrian Negotiations Commission (SNC) spokesman Yahya al-Aridi.

The comments came at the end of two days of what Aridi called "tough talks" hosted by the United Nations in Vienna.

Like in eight previous rounds in Geneva, the SNC and Syrian government representatives held separate talks with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura but the two delegations did not meet face to face.

Russia, which has helped turn the Syrian war in favour of its ally President Bashar al-Assad, has invited 1,600 people to the Black Sea resort of Sochi to begin hammering out a new constitution for post-war Syria.

The meeting is also backed by Iran and Turkey, two key players in the complex and devastating seven-year-old conflict, but viewed with scepticism by the opposition and Western countries.

They fear it will sideline the UN track and carve out a settlement in favour of Assad.

The United Nations is still considering whether to attend the Sochi conference and will make a decision based on the outcome of the Vienna meetings, spokesman Farhan Haq said Friday.

"We are evaluating the situation as of the end of the talks," Haq told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

"Once they have happened, Mister De Mistura will evaluate what the situation is and we can then evaluate from there what our presence in Sochi may or may not be."

Aridi's comments came ahead of a scheduled news conference by de Mistura in the Austrian capital late Friday.Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno is seen in 2017 ahead of the African Union - European Union summit

Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno on Friday evening reshuffled the government, including the replacement of its public security minister, officials said.

In office since a reshuffle on December 25, public security minister Amadai Abdelkerim is to be replaced by Ahmat Mahamat Bachir, it was announced on national radio.

Bachir held the strategic position from 2014 until he was replaced in late December.

Mahamat Moctar Ali was appointed public service minister, taking over from Mahamat Allahou Taher, according to the radio.

No explanation was given for the new appointments, which come amid public anger over austerity measures imposed by the government in a bid to cope with a severe economic recession.WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump declared late Wednesday he's "looking forward" to being questioned - under oath - in the special counsel's probe of Russian election interference and possible Trump obstruction in the firing of the FBI director.

Trump said he would be willing to answer questions under oath in the interview, which special counsel Robert Mueller has been seeking but which White House officials had not previously confirmed the president would grant.

"I'm looking forward to it, actually," Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House. As for timing, he said, "I guess they're talking about two or three weeks, but I'd love to do it."

President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of mayors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Trump says he's "looking forward" to being interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller. Speaking to reporters, Trump says he'd be willing to answer questions under oath. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, but his probe has expanded to include potential misdeeds by those in Trump's orbit and the president himself. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

He said, as he has repeatedly, that "there's no collusion whatsoever" with the Russians, and he added, "There's no obstruction whatsoever."

The full scope of Mueller's investigation, which involves hundreds of thousands of documents and dozens of witness interviews, is unknown. And there have been no signs that agents aren't continuing to work on ties between Trump's campaign and a Russian effort to tip the 2016 election.

But now that Mueller's team has all but concluded its interviews with current and former Trump officials, and expressed interest in speaking with the president himself, the focus seems to be on the post-inauguration White House. That includes the firing of FBI Director James Comey and discussions preceding the ouster of White House National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

The timing and circumstances of a Trump interview are still being ironed out. But soon it will probably be the president himself who will have to explain to Mueller how his actions don't add up to obstruction of justice. And that conversation will be dominated by questions tied whether he took steps to thwart an FBI investigation.

Asked if he thinks Mueller will be fair, Trump replied: "We're going to find out." He then reiterated that there is "no collusion."

In a potential signal of his defense, Trump suggested that he didn't obstruct - he simply fought back against a false accusation.

So far, witness interviews and the special counsel's document requests make clear Mueller has a keen interest in Comey's May 9 firing and the contents of Comey's private conversations with the president, as well as the ouster months earlier of Flynn and the weeks of conversations leading up to it.

A focus on potential obstruction has been evident almost since Mueller's appointment as special counsel. And recent interviews with administration officials, including Attorney General Jeff Sessions, have shown that Trump is dealing with prosecutors who already have amassed a wealth of knowledge about the events he'll be questioned about.

Prosecutors have interviewed numerous Trump's aides including his closest confidants such as White House Counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

Sessions, who had urged Comey's firing, was interviewed for hours, becoming the highest-ranking Trump administration official known to have submitted to questioning. Mueller also wants to interview former adviser Steve Bannon, who has called Comey's firing perhaps the biggest mistake in "modern political history."

The White House initially said the firing was based on the Justice Department's recommendation and cited as justification a memo that faulted Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But Trump himself said later he was thinking of this "Russia thing" and had intended to fire Comey anyway.

Sessions, the target of the president's ire since he stepped aside last March from the Russia investigation, would have been able to offer close-up insight into the president's thinking ahead of the termination. He also could have been able to speak to the president's relationship with Comey, which Comey documented in a series of memos about conversations with Trump that bothered him.

In one memo, Comey described a January 2017 meeting over dinner at which he said the president asked him to pledge his loyalty. Separately, a person familiar with the conversation said this week that Trump in a meeting last year with Deputy Director Andrew McCabe brought up McCabe's wife's political background following the revelation that she had accepted campaign contributions during a state Senate run from the political action committee of then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a close Clinton ally.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday night that Trump had also asked McCabe whom he voted for in the presidential race. McCabe replied that he did not vote. Trump said Wednesday he did not recall asking that question.

Another of Comey's memos centered on a February conversation at the White House in which he said Trump told him he believed Flynn, the fired national security adviser, was a "good guy" and encouraged Comey to drop an investigation into him. The FBI had interviewed Flynn weeks earlier about whether he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the transition period between the election and the inauguration. Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI during that interview.

Mueller has been investigating the events leading up to Flynn's dismissal from the White House, including how officials responded to information from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates that Flynn had misled them by saying that he had not discussed sanctions. Despite that warning, and despite an FBI interview days after Trump's inauguration, Flynn was not forced to resign until Feb. 13 - the night of media reports about Yates' conversation with McGahn.

Mueller will likely want to know what Trump understood, before asking Comey to let the Flynn investigation go, about Flynn's interview with the FBI - and whether he had made false statements - and about his conversation with the Russian ambassador.

Four people have so far been charged in the Mueller investigation, including Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

___

Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump declared he's "looking forward" to being questioned - under oath - in the special counsel's probe of Russian election interference and Trump's possible obstruction in the firing of the FBI director.

Trump said he would be willing to answer questions under oath in the interview, which special counsel Robert Mueller has been seeking but which White House officials had not previously confirmed the president would grant.

"I'm looking forward to it, actually," Trump said late Wednesday when asked by reporters at the White House. As for timing, he said, "I guess they're talking about two or three weeks, but I'd love to do it."

President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of mayors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

He said, as he has repeatedly, that "there's no collusion whatsoever" with the Russians, and he added, "There's no obstruction whatsoever."

The full scope of Mueller's investigation, which involves more than a million pages of documents and dozens of witness interviews, is unknown. And there have been no signs that agents aren't continuing to work on ties between Trump's campaign and a Russian effort to tip the 2016 election.

But now that Mueller's team has all but concluded its interviews with current and former Trump officials, and expressed interest in speaking with the president himself, the focus seems to be on the post-inauguration White House. That includes the firing of FBI Director James Comey and discussions preceding the ouster of White House national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The timing and circumstances of a Trump interview are still being ironed out. But soon it will probably be the president himself who will have to explain to Mueller how his actions don't add up to obstruction of justice. And that conversation will be dominated by questions tied to whether he took steps to thwart an FBI investigation.

Asked if he thinks Mueller will be fair, Trump replied: "We're going to find out." He then reiterated that there is "no collusion."

In a potential signal of his defense, Trump suggested that he didn't obstruct - he simply fought back against a false accusation.

So far, witness interviews and the special counsel's document requests make clear Mueller has a keen interest in Comey's May 9 firing and the contents of Comey's private conversations with the president, as well as the ouster months earlier of Flynn and the weeks of conversations leading up to it.

On Thursday, a Trump attorney, John Dowd, released a document confirming the White House had provided thousands of pages of documents related to Comey and "issues regarding Michael Flynn and Russia." Those documents were among more than 20,000 pages of materials the White House has provided to Mueller as part of what Dowd's document called "unprecedented" cooperation and transparency. Among some of the documents, Dowd noted, is material the White House considers to be covered by some kind of privilege.

So far, more than 20 White House officials have given voluntary interviews to Mueller. That includes eight employees in the White House counsel's office. In addition, the document notes, about 30 people affiliated with the president's campaign have given interviews to Mueller or congressional committees probing Russian election interference.

In total, the president's campaign has provided more than 1.4 million pages of documents to Mueller. Special counsel spokesman Peter Carr declined to comment on Dowd's document.

A focus on potential obstruction has been evident almost since Mueller's appointment as special counsel. And interviews with administration officials - including White House counsel Don McGahn, former chief of staff Reince Priebus and the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner - have shown that Trump is dealing with prosecutors who already have amassed a wealth of knowledge about the events he'll be questioned about.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had urged Comey's firing, was interviewed for hours last week, becoming the highest-ranking Trump administration official known to have submitted to questioning. Mueller also wants to interview former adviser Steve Bannon, who has called Comey's firing perhaps the biggest mistake in "modern political history."

The White House initially said the firing was based on the Justice Department's recommendation and cited as justification a memo that faulted Comey's handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation. But Trump himself said later he was thinking of this "Russia thing" and had intended to fire Comey anyway.

Sessions, the target of the president's ire since he stepped aside last March from the Russia investigation, would have been able to offer close-up insight into the president's thinking ahead of the termination. He also could have been able to speak to the president's relationship with Comey, which Comey documented in a series of memos about conversations with Trump that bothered him.

In one memo, Comey described a January 2017 meeting over dinner at which he said the president asked him to pledge his loyalty. Separately, a person familiar with the conversation said this week that Trump in a meeting last year with FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe brought up McCabe's wife's political background following the revelation that she had accepted campaign contributions during a state Senate run from the political action committee of then-Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a close Clinton ally.

The Washington Post reported Tuesday night that Trump had also asked McCabe whom he voted for in the presidential race. McCabe replied that he did not vote. Trump said Wednesday he did not recall asking that question.

Another of Comey's memos centered on a February conversation at the White House in which he said Trump told him he believed Flynn, the fired national security adviser, was a "good guy" and encouraged Comey to drop an investigation into him. The FBI had interviewed Flynn weeks earlier about whether he had discussed sanctions with the Russian ambassador during the transition period between the election and the inauguration. Flynn pleaded guilty in December to lying to the FBI during that interview.

Mueller has been investigating the events leading up to Flynn's dismissal from the White House, including how officials responded to information from former acting Attorney General Sally Yates that Flynn had misled them by saying that he had not discussed sanctions. Despite that warning, and despite an FBI interview days after Trump's inauguration, Flynn was not forced to resign until Feb. 13 - the night of media reports about Yates' conversation with McGahn.

Mueller will likely want to know what Trump understood, before asking Comey to let the Flynn investigation go, about Flynn's interview with the FBI - and whether he had made false statements - and about his conversation with the Russian ambassador.

Four people have so far been charged in the Mueller investigation, including Flynn and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Flynn and former campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.

___

Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Jill Colvin contributed to this report.

___

Read the document from Dowd: http://bit.ly/2naD2ZB

___

Follow Eric Tucker and Chad Day on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP and https://www.twitter.com/ChadSDay

President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of mayors in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that modernized strategic bombers will boost Russia's military power.

Speaking on a visit to an aircraft-making plant in Kazan, Putin said the revamped version of the Soviet-designed Tu-160 bomber features new engines and avionics that would significantly enhance its capability.

The Russian leader attended the signing of a 160-billion-ruble (about $2.9 billion) contract that will see the delivery of 10 such planes to the Russian air force.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to employees as he visits an aircraft making plant in Kazan, Russia, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. Putin watched a demonstration flight of a Tu-160 strategic bomber and met with workers. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

He said the upgraded bomber is a "serious step in the development of high-tech industries and strengthening the nation's defense capabilities."

The four-engine supersonic bomber developed in the 1980s is the largest combat plane in the world. During Russia's campaign in Syria, the military used the Tu-160s to launch log-range cruise missiles at militant targets.

Putin also suggested that the plant develop a supersonic passenger jet based on the Tu-160, saying that Russia's vast territory would warrant such a design.

The state-controlled United Aircraft Corp. said in a statement carried by Tass news agency that preliminary work has started on designing such a plane.

The Soviet-designed Tu-144 supersonic passenger jet that rivaled the British-French Concorde saw only a brief service with Aeroflot after Soviet officials decided it was too costly to operate. Concorde entered service in 1976 and operated for 27 years.BEIRUT (AP) - An imprisoned activist in Bahrain has been denied adequate medical care and is being held with extremists, putting his life at risk, a human rights group said Thursday.

Nabeel Rajab was sentenced to two years in prison in July on charges related to TV interviews in which prosecutors allege he disseminated rumors and false news about the situation in Bahrain in a way "that undermines the prestige of the state."

His imprisonment was seen by rights groups as part of a yearslong crackdown on dissent that has seen all political opposition groups disbanded and activists jailed or forced into exile.

Dimitris Christopoulos, the president of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The international human rights umbrella group said Thursday that the life and security of Nabeel Rajab, an imprisoned activist in Bahrain, is at risk because he is denied adequate medical care and is held in the same cell with extremists he criticizes. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

Dimitris Christopoulos, head of the Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, an umbrella group, expressed concern about Rajab's health and safety.

"We have received alarming credible reports about the reliability of the medical care afforded to Rajab and we have reasons to believe that his health conditions are not treated in a very good way," Christopoulos said at a press conference in Beirut.

"So our sources...reveal that Nabeel's safety is at risk and we fear for his life."

Rights groups say Rajab was hospitalized last year because of heart problems and ulcers.

Christopoulos said Rajab, a critic of Bahrain's government as well as extremists, has been made to share a cell with detainees accused of belonging to the Islamic State group.

There was no immediate comment from Bahrain's government on the latest allegations.

The Bahraini Embassy in Britain said it has received similar inquiries about Rajab's health since last year and has responded in detail about his condition.

In earlier statements, the government said it was providing Rajab with the health care he required. Examinations determined he was suffering from a urological and colorectal condition, and a surgery was performed. He was later found to suffer from hypothyroidism, for which he was treated and returned to the prison in October last year.

Rajab faces another trial and up to 15 years in prison on separate charges related to tweets he wrote about alleged torture in Bahraini prisons. He also took to social media to criticize the war in Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition's bombing of rebels there. Bahrain is a member of the coalition.

Shiite cleric Maytham Al Salman of Bahrain Center for Human Rights, speaks during a press conference, in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The Paris-based International Federation for Human Rights, an international human rights umbrella group, said Thursday that the life and security of Nabeel Rajab, an imprisoned activist in Bahrain, is at risk because he is denied adequate medical care and is held in the same cell with extremists he criticizes. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - British Prime Minister Theresa May sought to reaffirm her country's central role in world affairs on Thursday, when she delivered a speech to the World Economic Forum and met with President Donald Trump to dispel any perceptions of tensions between them.

May came to the gathering of the global elites in Davos, Switzerland, amid questions about whether Britain could lose influence on the world stage after it leaves the European Union and doubts about the strength of the relationship with the U.S.

Her meeting with Trump appeared to be an effort by both sides to solidify a relationship that has come under strain. Trump and May last year traded criticism over Trump's tweets of a U.K. far-right group's anti-Muslim videos and Trump canceled a trip to London for the opening of a new U.S. embassy.

President Donald Trump meets with British Prime Minister Theresa May at the World Economic Forum, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, in Davos, Switzerland. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

After the meeting, May said the "special relationship" between the U.S. and U.K. continues. Trump said he and May have a "really great relationship, although some people don't necessarily believe that.

As though to put to bed any tensions about Trump's canceled visit, the two sides agreed to plan a Trump visit to London later this year.

Britain is hoping on good relations with the U.S. to offset somewhat the weaker commercial relations it will have with the EU, a bloc that guarantees no barriers to trade, money or people between its members.

With an eye to the future, May used her speech earlier to focus on Britain's desire to lead in technologies that are already causing profound change.

"The message of our industrial strategy to the world is clear: Britain will be one of the best places in the world in which to start and grow a business," she said.

She also stressed the need to do so in a manner that is fair to society.

She highlighted how modern technology giants like Google and Alibaba were changing the lives of billions of people, but that new technology is also threatening ways of life and jobs. She said government and business both need to help retrain people.

"We need to act decisively to help people benefit from global growth now," she said.

Britain's economy, once one of the fastest in the developed world, is now among the slowest. Some companies are worried of losing access to the EU's single market after Brexit in March 2019.

Earlier, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said that the U.S. is ready to negotiate an "attractive" trade deal with Britain once the country has left the EU.

While within the EU, the U.K. cannot negotiate separate trade deals with other countries. Mnuchin said that once the "U.K. is ready, we are prepared to negotiate an attractive trade deal." He added that Trump has already said Britain will be at the "front of the line" in trade negotiations.

As Britain prepares to negotiate its future relations with the EU, its Treasury chief, Philip Hammond, said that any post-Brexit trade deal with the bloc would have to cover services - particularly finance, a big and lucrative sector for Britain.

"A deal which included goods but did not include services could never be fair. It could never be attractive to the U.K.," he said during a panel in Davos.

The EU does not want to give Britain unfettered access to its single market if it does not also accept free movement of people, among other conditions. The Brexit vote was based in part on a promise to limit EU immigration, so the negotiation on a new trade deal between the EU and Britain is expected to be difficult.

The Davos forum was otherwise dominated by Trump's arrival, with the president saying that his message for the forum was "peace and prosperity." Trump then also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threatened to withhold aid money from the Palestinians until they return to peace talks with Israel.

Trump's decision last year to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital roiled Arab nations and led Palestinians to withdraw from negotiations on the grounds the U.S. can no longer be trusted as an honest broker in the quest for peace.

Trump said that decision has consequences. The U.S., he said, gives "hundreds of millions of dollars" to the Palestinians, and "that money is on the table and that money's not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace."

___

Catherine Lucey and Theodora Tongas in Davos contributed to this report.

British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers a speech during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

British Prime Minister Theresa May, is welcomed to a plenary session during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)PITTSBURGH (AP) - The University of Pittsburgh says a student hospitalized in an "alcohol-related incident" that prompted the suspension of a fraternity was taken to a hospital by friends who determined that he had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol.

The university said "We are grateful that this member of our Pitt family is now safe."

Officials said the incident happened at a Sigma Chi function held off campus last week. It occurred "during recruitment activities, which are expected to be free of alcohol."

The university suspended the fraternity and temporarily barred all Greek life organizations from hosting events with alcohol. Officials say they are working with fraternities and sororities on steps to prevent a recurrence.

Last year, the drinking death of a 19-year-old fraternity pledge at Penn State prompted criminal charges against 26 people.PARK CITY, Utah (AP) - Jada Pinkett Smith is praising Jessica Chastain for fighting for pay equity in Hollywood.

During a diverse storytelling panel at the Sundance Film Festival, Pinkett Smith on Sunday relayed the story that Chastain negotiated raises for both her and actress Octavia Spencer, who are co-starring in an upcoming comedy.

"Jessica stood up for Octavia and I want you to know because they stood together, they got three times what they were asking for as a unit," she said.

Actress Jada Pinkett Smith poses during the premiere of "Skate Kitchen" at the Library Theatre during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)

Pinkett Smith stressed the importance of women in Hollywood working together to stop wage disparity.

"It's nice to go out and march, we can do that. It's nice to wear black at the Golden Globes. But what are we doing behind closed doors? And I got to give our sister Jessica Chastain her props."DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A Republican activist who serves as a governor-appointed member of a state board was fined $250 on Thursday and reprimanded by a state ethics board for failing to disclose her consulting firm earned money from Saudi Arabia for lobbying the federal government.

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board concluded that Connie Schmett made omissions on personal finance disclosure statements as required under state law. She can appeal the board's action and seek a hearing.

Schmett and her husband, Kim, own Schmett & Associates, a consulting firm that collected $103,500 for a Saudi Arabia-funded public relations campaign between October 2016 and September 2017. They lobbied against a federal law that helps an ongoing civil lawsuit brought by victims of the 2011 terrorist attacks over the Saudi kingdom's alleged support for the hijackers. As part of the campaign they recruited veterans to warn Congress that it would have unintended consequences for those serving overseas. At least one veteran said he was not told the lobbying effort was paid for by the Saudis and he confronted Schmett about it in February. She told him to keep it quiet. She told The Associated Press in November that she didn't mislead any veterans and her failure to disclose consulting income was an oversight.

Connie Schmett, 71, is on the powerful Health Facilities Council, which evaluates plans for new hospitals and nursing homes. She's also a trustee of the Iowa Cultural Trust Board, which awards grants.

She omitted her role with Schmett & Associates on disclosure forms for 2015 and 2016. The forms ask whether she had any outside "business, occupation, or profession" or sources of income over $1,000, she checked boxes that said no. She also failed to list income from Social Security and a state retirement fund. She did not disclose income in 2016 from an investment account she inherited, the ethics board said.

The board voted 3-2 to impose the fine and reprimand.

"I think it's a serious omission," said board member Jonathan Roos.

The board found she did not violate state laws regulating conflicts of interest, lobbying restrictions or making political contributions as a state official.

Some board members expressed concern, however, that she donated at least $3,300 to political campaigns or candidates using the name Connie Russell, her name before she was married in 1994, but the board concluded she did not technically violate an Iowa law that require donors to disclose their name and address.

The Schmetts, who live in suburban Des Moines, received state government appointments from former Republican Gov. Terry Branstad and are regulars at the Westside Conservative Club, a group known for hosting presidential candidates. Their firm focuses on federal policy.

They hosted a campaign fundraiser for Gov. Kim Reynolds, and donated money to her campaign.

A campaign disclosure filing last week showed that Reynolds returned a $100 donation from Kim Schmett.

Kim Schmett, 64, is chairman of the Employment Appeal Board, an $80,000-per year judicial position in which he rules on disputes involving unemployment benefits and other matters. He ran for Congress in 2008.

The board found he violated no laws.

Reynolds asked the independent ethics board to review the Shmetts activities.

"The governor is working with the legislature to create a law banning this type of activity to keep it from happening again," said Reynolds's spokeswoman Brenna Smith.

Reynolds said in November she was unaware of their foreign work when she attended the fundraiser and disagreed with the Schmetts' opposition to the law.

The Schmetts' attorney, Rebecca Brommel, declined to comment at the ethics board meeting.

_____

Ryan Foley in Iowa City, Iowa contributed to this report.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 24)  Fraudsters are getting more advanced and brazen in their attacks, targeting major banks to infiltrate more accounts, industry officials have said.

This, as BDO Unibank, Inc.  the country's largest bank in terms of deposits  detected that as much as 11,000 of its accounts were targeted by fraudsters in December. The bank did not disclose the total value of the unauthorized transactions, but they were immediately reversed, just two days after the attack was confirmed.

"The incident affected 11,000 accounts but once we learned about it, we rectified it immediately by crediting back the amounts that were fraudulently transacted on," BDO head for transaction banking Edwin Reyes told CNN Philippines last week.

The Sy-led bank first noticed the suspicious transactions around the December holidays, he recounted. Working with national and international authorities, it was able to establish a pattern: the compromised debit cards were being used for contactless payments in other countries.

"Once we identified it was that particular transaction type, we disabled it," Reyes said.

Investigations are still ongoing to piece together how fraudsters were able to mount the attack but initial findings show they were able to steal account information from the few remaining BDO debit cards still using the magnetic stripe.

"Attackers must have wanted to take advantage of window that was quickly closing," Reyes said. BDO expects to complete its shift to the more secure EMV chip-enabled cards by the end of January.

It wasn't a simple skimming attack, though. Reyes said fraudsters were able to use the debit card numbers by inputting them to decoy mobile payment apps. They they then used the apps to make contactless payments, which don't need PIN codes or signatures as long as the transactions don't go beyond P2,000.

"The suspicious transactions were all in small amounts, but the volume of the transactions was huge," he said.

BDO will now turn over all its findings to the National Bureau of Investigation. Officials welcomed the help of the government to bring the fraudsters to justice and said they would cooperate fully with authorities.

Global threat

The rise of fraudsters isn't just a threat to BDO - or to Philippine banks. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said it serves as a warning to all financial institutions to strengthen their cyber defenses.

"Banks and other organizations globally may be confronted with the same challenge. The threat is real, and the sophistication and seriousness of all these cyberthreats are ever increasing," Mhel Plabasan, who heads the BSP's core information technology group, said in a recent interview.

According to a global study by consultancy Accenture, banks face as much as 85 serious cyber threats a year; a third of them are successful. Another study by Cybersecurity Ventures estimates the world stands to lose up to $6 trillion a year from cybercrime by the year 2021  double the $3 trillion in 2015.

Plabasan said these cyber threats have become the unfortunate consequence of banking going digital. As banking spreads to different platforms - from websites to emails and mobile apps - fraudsters are finding new access points.

The BSP, however, is ready. It was one of the first regulators in Southeast Asia to issue cybersecurity guidelines for banks last November. Among the changes, it requires banks to share information and collaborate on cyber threats. They must also adopt advanced cybersecurity controls, such as a cybersecurity operations center that monitors possible attacks 24/7.

"Our expectation is banks will be able to prevent, respond to, and ultimately recover from all these cyber incidents," Plabasan said.

For BDO's part, it has already beefed up its operations teams, Reyes said. It has also improved its alert systems so they can raise red flags quickly when they detect patterns in suspicious transactions.

"We want to assure our customers we are devoting all our resources so we can to protect them from threats," Reyes said.

BDO also urged customers to formally file fraud complaints so they can be investigated. They can reach the bank through email (callcenter@bdo.com.ph) or phone (631-8000 for domestic, IAC +800-8-631-8000 for international).

Reyes said, "What's important to us is to take care of our customers. We will study each and every complaint. And as we've done in the last incident, we will credit all the accounts affected."FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - When Jeanette McCue found out she was obligated to pay her husband's legal fees in their divorce case, she considered it another "smack in the face."

With her husband in prison after being convicted of attacking her, McCue found herself ensnared by an obscure provision in Kentucky law that obliges victims of domestic violence to pay all divorce-case legal fees when an abusive spouse has been jailed.

Kentucky lawmakers are working to eliminate that burden.

A bill advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday would require the state to start paying the legal costs of jailed abusers in divorce cases.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Whitney Westerfield, a Republican from Hopkinsville, called it "head-scratching" that the provision is still on the books.

"Loopholes like that can sometimes crop up, and it's satisfying when we get to close one," Westerfield said. "And this is a good one to close."

The bill's lead sponsor is Democratic Sen. Morgan McGarvey of Louisville. Westerfield is among a bipartisan group of senators who have signed on as co-sponsors. McGarvey said the bill would change "one of the quirks in our law." He said the measure was the result of McCue's "courageous acts" in reaching out to lawmakers.

McCue told the committee her husband beat her "black and blue" and put a gun to her head in 2016. She said he also had drained their bank account.

"In the process of trying to get divorced, I was told, 'Ma'am, you're going to have to pay for your husband's attorney,'" she said. "That was a smack in the face."

McCue said the legal burden made her feel "victimized" all over again.

McCue said if she hadn't found an attorney whose office was willing to help with the fees, "I may not have divorced him."

"Because where do you go? What do you do? It was a horrible situation."

___

The legislation is Senate Bill 68.CHICAGO (AP) - University of Chicago faculty and students are protesting an invitation to former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon to participate in a debate on immigration and globalization.

The university issued a statement Thursday saying Booth School of Business professor Luigi Zingales invited Bannon. A date for the debate has not been released, and it wasn't immediately clear if Bannon accepted the invitation.

The Chicago Tribune reported nearly two dozen faculty members signed an open letter to university President Robert Zimmer and Provost Daniel Diermeier objecting to the invitation. People representing student groups and community members protested at the business school.

Bannon resigned as executive chairman of the conservative Breitbart News Network this month after criticisms of President Donald Trump and his family quoting Bannon were published in a new book.BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - A class action lawsuit was filed Thursday on behalf of about 600 foreign farmworkers, including some who staged a strike over working conditions at a blueberry farm in northwestern Washington last summer.

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle by farmworker advocate Columbia Legal Services and Schroeter Goldmark & Bender includes 70 workers who were fired after they went on a one-day strike to protest what they said were poor working conditions and lack of medical care for an ill co-worker, The Bellingham Herald reported .

That co-worker, 28-year-old Honesto Silva Ibarra of Mexico, died at Harborview Medical Center Aug. 6. He was among workers brought to Sarbanand Farms near Sumas under the H-2A visa program, which allows farms to hire seasonal laborers when they can't find enough U.S. workers to do the job.

The complaint against Sarbanand Farms, its owner Munger Brothers in California and labor contractor CSI Visa Processing USA alleges violations of federal and state labor laws.

Tom Pedreira, an attorney for Sarbanand and Munger, told the newspaper Thursday that "the companies will vigorously fight the allegations in the complaint, which will be shown to be untrue and without merit."

An email to CSI Visa Processing from The Associated Press wasn't immediately answered.

Columbia Legal Services lawyer Joe Morrison called those brought in under the H-2A visas the "most vulnerable and least protected farmworkers" in the country, saying they had fewer legal rights than workers in the country without permission.

The suit alleges that the workers believed they would be financially harmed unless they followed the company's labor demands.

A top manager at Munger told them once they arrived at Sarbanand that they had to be in the field every day unless they were on their death bed, the lawsuit claims.

Sarbanand Farms fired the men on Aug. 5, after they went on strike. Workers were given one hour to leave under the threat that police and immigration authorities would be called, according to the lawsuit.

The workers' complaints at the time included: not having enough water (or having only warm water) while working in hot weather and smoky conditions because of nearby wildfires; food that was poor-quality or in small portions (workers were charged $12.07 a day for food); and expired visas that had yet to be renewed, despite the farm promising extensions.

Working for 12-hour shifts in such conditions, workers suffered symptoms of heat stress that included dizziness, headaches and partial face paralysis, according to the lawsuit.

In his criticism of the H-2A program, Morrison said flaws included that the visas tied workers to one employer, so they stay for fear of losing the paycheck their families depend on and because they don't want to be blacklisted from future work for complaining about working conditions.

The attorneys who filed the lawsuit don't represent Ibarra's family or estate, Morrison said, nor does the lawsuit allege that his death was caused directly by working conditions.

___

Information from: The Bellingham Herald, http://www.bellinghamherald.comLOS ANGELES (AP) - Authorities say a high-profile Los Angeles attorney who represented former rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight was arrested Thursday on an unspecified warrant.

Los Angeles County sheriff's spokeswoman Nicole Nishida told The Associated Press that Matthew Fletcher was arrested but she did not have any additional details.

She said he was being booked at the county jail's inmate reception center. Jail records show Fletcher, 53, was arrested around 2 p.m. and is being held on $1 million bail.

Authorities could not immediately provide any additional information about the nature of the charges or details about the warrant.

In a court filing in August, prosecutors accused Fletcher and Knight of witness tampering in the rap mogul's pending murder case. They said Knight tried to pay off potential witnesses with his lawyer's help.

A text message sent to Fletcher's cell phone was not immediately returned. A woman who answered the phone at Fletcher's office declined comment and hung up without giving her name.

Fletcher is one of several lawyers who has represented Knight, the Death Row Records co-founder, since he was charged with murder and attempted murder after he ran over two men outside a Compton burger stand in January 2015, killing one of them. Knight has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial later this year.This photo gallery highlights some of the top news images made by Associated Press photographers in Latin America and the Caribbean published in the past week.

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the popular former president of Brazil who is facing a number of corruption charges, suffered a big blow to his plans to run in October's presidential election when an appellate court upheld his conviction in one case.

A Brazilian pet owner rushed his dog to safety after it was hit by a bullet during a shootout between police and gangsters in Rio de Janeiro. A few days earlier in Rio, a car drove onto the crowded seaside boardwalk along Copacabana Beach, killing a baby and injuring 17 people.

In this Jan. 24, 2018 photo, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a rally with his supporters in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Appellate court judges have voted to uphold a graft conviction against da Silva, raising the specter that the former leader won't be able to run for Brazil's top job despite holding a lead in the polls. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Pope Francis returned to the Vatican after visiting Peru on the final leg of his trip to that nation and Chile.

Honduras saw more protests against President Juan Orlando Ordones as opponents refuse to recognize his victory in a disputed election marred by irregularities.

In Venezuela, authorities buried former police officer Oscar Perez and six other members of a rebel group while keeping nearly all their relatives away from the cemetery. Perez and the others were killed in a shootout with security forces.

Bolivians flocked to the opening of the annual two-week Alasitas festival that is held in honor of Ekeko, the god of prosperity.

An unconventional couple in Mexico City is striving to keep up with the dog shelter they run even though they were forced to leave home because of damage from September's earthquake.

The grueling Dakar Rally came to an end in Argentina.

___

This photo gallery was curated by photo editor Tomas Stargardter in Mexico City.

___

AP photographers and photo editors on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP/lists/ap-photographers

In this Jan. 24, 2018. photo, a woman cries during a demonstration in support of Brazilian former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two appellate court judges have voted to uphold a graft conviction against ex-President da Silva, raising the specter that the former leader won't be able to run for Brazil's top job despite holding a lead in the polls. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

In this Jan. 23, 2018 photo, a demonstrator dressed as Batman holds a sign that reads in Portuguese "Lula in Prison" during a protest against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Copacabana beach, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Brazil's political future could be decided this week when a court decides whether a rooftop apartment was slated for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the front runner in polls for October's elections. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

In this Jan. 25, 2018, photo, a youth carries his injured dog Thales, hit by a stray bullet during a heavy exchange between police and alleged drug traffickers at the Rocinha slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to the local news, at least nine people were injured during the shootout, including several police officers. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

In this Jan. 18, 2018 photo, firefighters carry a woman on a stretcher after a car drove into the crowded seaside boardwalk along Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Military police said on Twitter that at least 11 people were injured and that the driver has been taken into custody. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

In this Jan. 20, 2018 photo, Pope Francis greets a blind woman after blessing her as he toured around the Plaza de Armas, in Trujillo, Peru. Francis consoled Peruvians who lost their homes and livelihoods in devastating floods last year, telling them Saturday they can overcome all of life's "storms" by coming together as a community and stamping out the violence that plagues this part of the country. (Vincenzo Pinto/Pool Photo via AP)

In this Jan. 20, 2018 photo, Pope Francis waves from his pope mobile as arrives to celebrate a seaside Mass on Huanchaco Beach, near the city of Trujillo, Peru. Francis travelled Saturday to northern Peru, a region still reeling from devastating floods nearly a year ago. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

In this Jan. 20, 2018 photo, supporters of opposition presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla struggle with military police for possession of a giant Honduran flag at the Policarpo Paz Garcia neighborhood of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Following a disputed election marred by irregularities, incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernandez was declared the victor and will be inaugurated on Jan. 27. The opposition does not recognize Hernandez's victory and are protesting against the result. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio)

In this Jan. 25, 2018 photo, a masked woman holds a machete bearing a handwritten message that reads in Spanish: "Get out JOH" during a protest against Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Hernandez was awarded the electoral win last month despite the disputed vote tally. The opposition plans to continue protesting through his swearing-in Jan. 27. (AP Photo/Fernando Antonio)

In this Jan. 20, 2018 photo, the relatives of Jose Diaz Pimentel, mother Rosa Pimentel, right, and his son Yandribell Diaz and another person, cry during Jose Diaz Pimentel's funeral service at a cemetery in Caracas Venezuela. Jose Diaz Pimentel and Abraham Agostini, members of the rebel group led by Venezuelan former police Oscar Perez, who died at the beginning of the week in an operation of the security forces, were buried in a controlled manner by the authorities and between protests of their Relatives, who were prevented from accessing the cemetery. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

In this Jan. 20, 2018 photo, a person impersonates United States President Donald Trump during a protest in front of the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. Demonstrations against President Trump were planned in several cities across Mexico. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In this Jan. 23, 2018 photo, Andean religious leaders carry urns with burning incense in a procession of the Bolivian deity statue Ekeko, the Bolivian god of prosperity and the central figure of the Alasita miniature fair, in La Paz, Bolivia. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

In this Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 photo, Jair plays with his dogs at their home and dog shelter in Mexico City. The shelter is run by Jair Benavides and his wife Miriam Gutierrez de Velasco, who go by their "dog family" nicknames of Jair Solcan and Miriam Luzcan, which respectively translates to "Sundog" and "Lightdog" in English. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In this Jan. 22, 2018 photo, people's shadows are cast on a wall at sunset in the neighborhood of Chicharrones in Santiago, Cuba. Santiago is the second-largest city of Cuba and the capital city of Santiago de Cuba Province. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)When Jose David Aguilar Moran took over as Honduras' new national police chief last week, he promised to continue reforming a law enforcement agency stained by corruption and complicity with drug cartels.

But a confidential government security report obtained by the Associated Press says Aguilar himself helped a cartel leader pull off the delivery of nearly a ton of cocaine in 2013.

The clandestine haul of more than 1,700 pounds of cocaine was packed inside a tanker truck that, the report says, was being escorted by corrupt police officers to the home of Wilter Blanco, a drug trafficker recently convicted in Florida and now serving a 20-year sentence.

Honduras' new national Police Chief Jose David Aguilar Moran (center) has been accused of helping a cartel leader pull off the delivery of nearly a ton of cocaine in 2013

Aguilar, who at the time was serving as chief of intelligence for Honduras' National Police, intervened after a police official safeguarding the drugs was busted by a lower-ranked officer who had seized the tanker, the report says.

The handcuffed officer called Aguilar, who ordered that the officer and the tanker be set free, says the report which was prepared by the Honduran Security Ministry's Inspector General.

The U.S. street value of the cocaine involved could have topped $20 million.

The incident raises questions about Honduras' much-touted purge of corrupt police and the reliability of the administration of President Juan Orlando Hernandez, a key U.S. ally in the war on drugs.

As he swore in his new police chief, local media reported that Hernandez said Aguilar was chosen 'with the utmost confidence' and would lead 'a National Police that becomes a role model for the region.'

'We are in a process of transforming the National Police, with a huge investment of financial resources,' the president said.

Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, behind second from right, watches the change of command exchange ceremony between his new National Police Chief Jose David Aguilar Moran, left, and outgoing Gen. Felix Villanueva in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, on January 15

The sun sets in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The country in Central America has a population of more than 9 million and is one of the poorest and most violent countries in Latin America

Aguilar, 54, vowed to instruct his officers 'to follow the law and make sure the law is followed,' said local reports.

Asked about the incident, the Honduran government issued a lengthy statement saying that the investigative report is fake and doesn't correspond to any 'official communication from the Honduras Police.'

The AP has not shared the document with the government due to security concerns but described its contents.

The statement also said the allegations against the police high command 'lack veracity' and demanded that the news media verify information before creating 'false scoops' that damage the institution and its employees.

But an ex-member of the National Police with knowledge of the investigation confirmed officials found that top officers conspired to cover up the incident, and that the handcuffed officer was later put on leave.

Three other current and former high-ranking Honduran police officials confirmed elements of the report. All four spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of violent reprisals.

In addition to the report, the AP confirmed the story using other internal memos and a page from Aguilar's personnel file summarizing his alleged participation.

Aguilar did not respond to requests from AP for comment. In public remarks Jan. 15, he said he would work to strengthen cooperation among his nation's police and judicial agencies and make sure that officers serving under him would act with 'respect for human rights.'

The inspector general's office began its inquiry in early 2014, just as the United States was ramping up funding for collaborative anti-drug trafficking efforts in the region.

The inspector general's report blames Aguilar and other commanders for failing to discipline the officers involved and for failing to turn over the investigation to prosecutors and U.S. authorities.

The report alleges that Aguilar and other police officials sat on the case at Blanco's request and never sent it to prosecutors or the American Embassy, 'with the end goal of letting the case expire.'

Honduras Police Chief Gen. Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares, also known as the Tiger, or 'El Tigre,' salutes during an event in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, one year before he was fired on Dec. 19, 2013

Former and current U.S. law enforcement officers and a U.S. prosecutor reviewed the document for AP and said it appeared genuine.

Honduras has been an ally of the United States for decades. The strategically positioned Soto Cano Air Base near Honduras' capital, Tegucigalpa, served as a center for U.S. efforts to beat back pro-communist movements in Central America in the 1980s, and continues to support regional anti-drug efforts and host a U.S. military presence of about 600 troops.

U.S. aid to Honduras has grown since 2014, when the Obama administration determined that it was in U.S. interests to improve security and strengthen governance in Central America.

Since then, Congress has appropriated more than $300 million for Honduras, according to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service.

Honduras, with a population of more than 9 million, is one of the poorest and most violent countries in Latin America.

Much of the country is controlled by criminal gangs. It has endured widespread human rights abuses and impunity at the hands of the police and military for more than a decade. Critics argue that reform efforts backed by the U.S. and the Organization of American States have been ineffective.

And in recent weeks, security forces have shot and killed demonstrators protesting a disputed presidential election that handed Hernandez a second term.

U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Hernandez's re-election last month, and certified the country's progress in protecting human rights and attacking corruption, clearing the way for Honduras to receive millions of dollars in U.S. funds.

In 2012 masked police poured gas on seized cocaine before burning them at a dump on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, after the drugs were seized from a Colombian aircraft that crashed following a chase by government aircraft

The U.S. Senate appropriations committee, however, has put a hold on some of that money.

'There is so much illegal drug money to be made and it is so easy to get away with it, especially if you are in the police force,' U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said earlier this month in reaction to Aguilar's appointment.

'Much more needs to be known about him given the history of the Honduran police and its connections to organized crime, before there can be confidence that he has the integrity to lead that institution.'

Aguilar, a 29-year police veteran, worked his way up, serving as a regional chief along the Caribbean coast and other regions and heading up a national inter-agency security force.

At one point he led a police directorate overseeing planning and 'continuous improvement.'

Earlier this month, Omar Rivera, a member of the government commission responsible for purging corrupt cops, told La Prensa newspaper that Aguilar was a strong candidate because of his 'merits and good performance.'

But a page of Aguilar's personnel file, obtained by the AP, includes a disciplinary record summarizing his participation in the 2013 incident, alleging complicity with organized crime and drug traffickers.

There's no indication any action was taken regarding the allegations against him.

The other key player in the inspector general's report, Blanco, got into drug running as a fisherman, smuggling boat loads of cocaine from one coastal community to another, according to records in the U.S. criminal case against him.

The trafficking grew as Blanco and his armed guards collected shipments of Colombian cocaine on the Honduran shore and took it to his property before it was moved north through Guatemala and Mexico into the U.S., according to a U.S. criminal complaint.

When Blanco knew the DEA was onto him, the complaint said, he tried to negotiate a surrender, communicating on text messages that included, as his profile picture on his BlackBerry, a small plane with kilos of cocaine stacked next to it.

Blanco was arrested in 2016 in Costa Rica and extradited to the U.S. He pleaded guilty to conspiring to move 4,000 pounds of cocaine from Colombia to Honduras during a two-month period.

It was widely reported in Honduras that Blanco's arrest had sparked investigations of dozens of police and other political and criminal justice officials, but nothing about any corruption probes relating to Blanco has been publicly revealed.

His attorney Victor Rocha told AP that in repeated discussions his client never mentioned police collaborating with his drug smuggling operations.

'If Mr. Blanco-Ruiz is deported to his home nation, he may well be murdered shortly thereafter in retaliation for what the Honduran press has erroneously and recklessly alleged as his cooperation,' Rocha said in court documents, using his client's formal last name.

This river snakes through the Mosquitia area near the remote community of Ahuas, Honduras, a region where the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration works with Honduran authorities to fight drug trafficking

Drug trafficking ties within Honduras' law-enforcement and political circles are well documented.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration announced last week that Honduran lawmaker Fredy Renan Najera Montoya faces drug trafficking charges in a New York federal court and the U.S. would seek his extradition.

American authorities claim Najera used his influence to secure safe passage for loads of cocaine flown from Colombia to Honduras and then on to the U.S.

High-ranking Honduran police officials have been accused of ordering assassinations, trafficking cocaine and leading criminal gangs.

At least six former National Police officers are currently facing U.S. criminal charges in a federal court in New York and the DEA says their investigations into Honduras police corruption are still active.

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras declined to comment.

The inspector general's report detailing the investigation into the tanker full of cocaine explains how Blanco held sway over police.

Sources in the La Ceiba police headquarters said that before and after the tanker incident, the regional police chief Jose Rolando Paz Murillo met with Blanco in Paz's office along with other police officials.

At the meetings Blanco handed out thousands of dollars in bribes to make sure police allowed airplanes stuffed with cocaine to land and then the drugs to be transported without interference, according to the investigative report.

Among those who attended such meetings, the report asserts, were Aguilar, as well as the new National Police inspector general, Orlin Javier Cerrato Cruz, and Orbin Alexis Galo Maldonado, the man recently named as Aguilar's top deputy.

In a brief phone conversation Galo denied any knowledge. Cerrato could not be reached for comment.

It was the local head of the tourism police, Grebil Cecilio Giron Miranda, who intercepted the drug-laden truck flanked by 11 police officers in four vehicles, according to the report.

He was on patrol with two other officers when an informant in a rival cartel called to tell him about the tanker full of cocaine, investigators said.

The report says Giron and his patrol took the tanker back to the police station and that, soon after, Paz, the regional police chief, arrived and began threatening Giron and the other arresting officers, telling them he would make sure they lost their jobs.

In June last year, Honduras' President Juan Orlando Hernandez (left) shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Mike Pence during a conference on Prosperity and Security in Central America in Miami, Florida. Honduras has been an U.S. ally for decades

Giron pointed his gun at Paz, forced him to the ground and handcuffed him, according to the report. As the higher-ranking cop's threats escalated, the report says, the officers allowed Paz to make a phone call.

Paz called Aguilar and then passed the phone to Giron. According to the officers' statements, Aguilar told them to immediately release Paz and the tanker full of drugs.

They obeyed and the load of drugs continued on its way to Blanco's home, the report says.

The head of the National Police at the time ordered an investigation, according to the document, but it was scuttled until a new inspector general took over in early 2014.

By the time the report was submitted in late February 2014, the four-month window for police leadership to take action against those involved had passed.

All the police officers named in the report and reached by the AP said they knew nothing about the allegations. The National Police did not make any of its officers available for comment.

According to the report, Paz told the arresting officer that then police director Juan Carlos Bonilla Valladares and another top police official, Hector Ivan Mejia Velasquez, were aware of what was happening with the drugs and that they ordered his release.

Bonilla told AP the documents were fake and Mejia said he didn't know anything about the case.

Paz resigned from the police after his suspension and another assignment, a former National Police official said, and currently serves as a judge in Roatan.

Paz did not return messages left at the court.

The revelations involving the new police leadership come as a special commission says it has given more than 4,000 members of the National Police the boot for reasons ranging from corruption to restructuring and voluntary retirement.

Last year anti-government protesters shouted slogans during a government imposed dusk-to-dawn curfew as they protest purported election fraud in Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Former DEA agent Gary Hale reviewed a copy of the document and said it appears genuine.

'On the face of it, it looks authentic,' said Hale, now a drug policy and Mexico studies scholar at Rice University.

Opposition party politician Maria Luisa Borjas, who ran the National Police's internal affairs division during her long career on the force, said she had seen the inspector general's report and could confirm its authenticity.

'The work that the police purging commission did was of completely no use, a failure,' she said.

'It was more of a source of official protection for people who have been tied to drug trafficking.'WASHINGTON (AP) - When President Donald Trump unveils his plan to beef up the nation's infrastructure plan next month, it will include a crater-sized hole.

The trust fund that pays for most federal highway and transit aid is forecast to go broke in about three years unless the government significantly scales back its transportation spending or comes up with more money. But Trump's infrastructure plan is silent on the looming problem, an administration official familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. The official wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the plan and spoke on condition of anonymity.

Fulfilling a campaign promise, Trump's plan proposes to generate $1 trillion in infrastructure spending over 10 years. But the plan seeks only $200 billion in federal dollars, relying instead on state and local governments and private investors to come up with most of the rest of the money.

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2016, file photo, truck and automobile traffic mix on Interstate 5, headed north through Fife, Wash., near the Port of Tacoma. President Donald Trump's plan to beef up the nation's infrastructure will contain a crater-sized hole when it's unveiled next month. The trust fund that pays for most federal highway and transit aid is forecast to go broke in about three years unless the government significantly scales back its transportation spending or comes up with more money.(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

The administration views the plan as a supplement to current infrastructure spending. The money would be distributed through new types of programs that are designed to generate greater state and local government and private sector spending. Also, there's no guarantee how much of the money will go to transportation projects since the administration is broadly defining infrastructure as everything from building water treatment plants to expanding high-speed Internet access to rural areas.

The administration is open to working with Congress to address the trust fund later, although those conversations haven't yet begun, the official said.

Republican leaders have been waiting to see what the White House will propose. There is wide, bipartisan support for continuing, and even increasing, transportation spending. But most lawmakers have been unwilling so far to back tax increases or spending cuts to pay for it.

The federal government is currently spending $15 billion a year more than the Highway Trust Fund takes in through gasoline and diesel taxes. Authorized trust fund spending for the current federal budget year that ends on Sept. 30 is about $56 billion.

"Addressing the solvency of the Highway Trust Fund is the most important infrastructure issue facing us today," said Bud Wright, executive director of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, which represents state transportation departments.

"A failure to address the long-term solvency of the (trust fund) could mean a 40 percent drop in highway spending in 2021," Wright said. "We're hopeful the president will play a strong leadership role in addressing this challenge."

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week called for a 25-cent, phased-in increase in the federal gas tax to shore up the trust fund. Congress hasn't passed a gas tax increase since 1993, primarily because being associated with a highly visible tax hike felt by most Americans is viewed by many lawmakers as political poison. Asking lawmakers to vote for an increase in an election year seems a stretch. On the other hand, 26 states have raised their own fuel taxes since 2013 without significant political repercussions.

The American Trucking Associations has proposed increasing the wholesale transportation fuels tax by 5 cents a gallon a year over four years - a little less visible than an increase at the pump. That would generate about $340 billion over 10 years, the group estimated.

Passing the administration's infrastructure plan without bolstering the trust fund would amount to "taking one step forward and two steps back," said David Bauer, executive vice president at the American Road & Transportation Builders Association.

Michael Sargent, a transportation and infrastructure expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, said the administration appears to view the trust fund shortfall as "Congress' problem."

And, even if it's not in the infrastructure plan, "a gas tax increase is still on the table - the administration hasn't written it off," he said.

Chris Spear, president of the trucking group, said passage of a tax overhaul bill last month provides lawmakers with political cover if they decide to raise fuel taxes.

"You have a situation where the White House and Congress sent historic amounts of money back to the taxpayer," he said. "We're here to help this president get a bill passed ... but there has to be real dollars in there."

___

Follow Joan Lowy at https://twitter.com/AP_Joan_Lowy and Zeke Miller at https://twitter.com/ZekeJMillerLOS ANGELES (AP) - The fight for the corpse of Charles Manson was thrown out of a Los Angeles court Friday, as another potential heir stepped into the case and the grandson of the cult leader made an emotional plea to a judge.

In a hearing to determine the venue for legal battles over Manson's estate and the disposition of his remains, Jason Freeman, whose father was born by Manson's first wife, echoed the frustration of several parties who have been trying to get control of the notorious criminal's body since he died in November.

"My grandfather has been on ice over 60 days," Freeman blurted in court as he choked up.

FILE - In this 1969 file photo, Charles Manson is escorted to his arraignment on conspiracy-murder charges in connection with the Sharon Tate murder case. A Los Angeles judge on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, will hear arguments on what county should decide who gets the remains of cult leader Manson who orchestrated the 1969 killings of pregnant actress Tate and eight others. Three camps with alleged ties to Manson, who died in Nov. 2017, claim they want to properly bury or dispose of Manson's ashes, though they allege others want to profit off the remains. (AP Photo, File)

Judge David Cowan divided the two dueling Manson cases, deciding that litigation over the potentially lucrative estate should remain in Los Angeles because that's where Manson was living when he was arrested and convicted in the murders of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others.

Cowan said the case over the remains, however, belongs in either in Kings County, where the cult leader was imprisoned or Kern County, where he died at 83 in a Bakersfield hospital Nov. 19. A hearing is already scheduled Wednesday in Bakersfield and the Kern County coroner, which has the body, requested the case be decided there.

Each of the parties that have come to court all have said they want to collect Manson's body so he can be cremated or properly buried, though some have suggested others have less noble motives, such as selling cadaver photos or carving off Manson's tattoos for sale or display.

Freeman, an oil worker and former pro mixed martial arts fighter, said he got to know Manson in the last eight years of his life through phone calls and letters. He said it was not an easy or smooth relationship and that Manson had urged him not to get involved in his affairs, but that he felt it was his mission.

"I'm here to claim my grandfather, have him cremated, spread his ashes and do the right thing," Freeman said. "And put this so-called monster, this historical figure that shouldn't have been blown up as big as it was for all these years, now that he's passed (away), I want to help bury it."

So far, three parties have staked claims in court to collect Manson's body from the morgue and take control of any assets, which could include rights to any property he left behind, the commercial right to use his image or royalties to songs he wrote. Guns N' Roses recorded a Manson song, "Look at Your Game, Girl," and the Beach Boys, who Manson was acquainted with, recorded a variation of a tune he wrote.

Freeman is being challenged by Manson's longtime pen pal, Michael Channels, who holds a will that names him as executor and sole beneficiary.

A lawyer for a purported son of Charles Manson appeared in court Friday for the first time and said he was representing Michael Brunner, whose mother was an early member of the infamous "Manson family." Mary Brunner was in jail when Manson's followers slaughtered Tate and friends, and a wealthy grocer and his wife over two nights in August 1969.

Representatives for another alleged son, Matthew Lentz, who claims he was fathered by Manson during a Wisconsin orgy, have said he would appear in court, but he's been a no-show at two hearings and has yet to file court papers. However, a will purportedly signed by Manson leaving everything to Lentz, his "one living child," was filed with the Kern County coroner.

Attorneys for Freeman, Brunner and Kern County have all questioned the validity of the two wills.

Brunner's lawyer, Daniel Mortensen, said Manson acknowledged his client as a son, but they didn't have a close relationship. He said Brunner, a military veteran, would cremate the remains and dispose of them immediately in a dignified way "that does not appeal to culty people."

"He wants to as quickly as possible end the circus," Mortensen said. "He doesn't want anything ghoulish to go on with the body."

Jason Freeman, Charles Manson's purported grandson, speaks to reporters outside court in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The fight for the corpse of Manson was thrown out of a Los Angeles court Friday as another potential heir stepped into the case. In a hearing to determine the venue for legal battles over Manson's estate and the disposition of his remains, Freeman, whose father was born by Manson's first wife, echoed the frustration of several parties who have been trying to get control of the notorious criminal's body since he died in November. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)

FILE - This Aug. 14, 2017, file photo provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation shows Charles Manson. A Los Angeles judge on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, will hear arguments on what county should decide who gets the remains of Manson who orchestrated the 1969 killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others. Three camps with alleged ties to Manson, who died in Nov. 2017, claim they want to properly bury or dispose of Manson's ashes, though they allege others want to profit off the remains. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation via AP, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2018, file photo, Michael Channels speaks to reporters after a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court. A Los Angeles judge on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, will hear arguments on what county should decide who gets the remains of Charles Manson who orchestrated the 1969 killings of pregnant actress Sharon Tate and eight others. At least three parties, including Channels, have staked claims to collect Manson's body from the Kern County morgue two months after he died and take control of any assets, which could include potentially lucrative rights to the use of his image and songs he wrote and any other property. (AP Photo/Brian Melley, File)

Jason Freeman, Charles Manson's purported grandson, speaks to reporters outside court in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The fight for the corpse of Manson was thrown out of a Los Angeles court Friday as another potential heir stepped into the case. In a hearing to determine the venue for legal battles over Manson's estate and the disposition of his remains, Freeman, whose father was born by Manson's first wife, echoed the frustration of several parties who have been trying to get control of the notorious criminal's body since he died in November. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)

Jason Freeman, center,Charles Manson's purported grandson, speaks to reporters outside court in Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The fight for the corpse of Manson was thrown out of a Los Angeles court Friday as another potential heir stepped into the case. In a hearing to determine the venue for legal battles over Manson's estate and the disposition of his remains, Freeman, whose father was born by Manson's first wife, echoed the frustration of several parties who have been trying to get control of the notorious criminal's body since he died in November. (AP Photo/Brian Melley)SYDNEY (AP) - Australia, New Zealand and Canada topped their pools Friday on the first day of women's competition at the Sydney Rugby Sevens tournament.

Olympic champions Australia were emphatic winners of Pool A, beating Spain 29-0, Papua New Guinea 50-0 and France 43-0. The first-up win over Spain, in which Emma Sykes scored two tries, set the tone for the hosts' day.

"The girls came out firing and it was a really good first game result," Sykes said. "We've still go a lot to learn and a lot to fix up but it as a good first game.

"It was good to get out there and get the first win of the tournament."

New Zealand, led by world women's Player of the Year Portia Woodman, beat Japan 48-7, England 33-12 and the United States 31-0 to top Pool B. Woodman scored four of New Zealand's eight tries in its win over Japan and scored three tries in each of its wins over England and the United States, bringing her career tally to 161.

New Zealand lost to the United States in the quarterfinals of the first leg of the World Series at Dubai in December and was relieved to avenge that loss.

"Finishing on a result like that to the USA, a team that's beaten us twice over the last year or so, shows a lot that our team is coming together," Woodman said. "We just went home (after Dubai) and really focused on the points where they really broke us down.

"They play a really up front, contact game and we knew that they do that but we kind of let them through and didn't make the up front tackles."

England missed out on the quarterfinals when it suffered its second-ever loss to Japan in a World Series match, going down 17-10 in the biggest shock in Pool B.

"We're better than that and we'll regroup," England's Emily Scarratt said. "We have worked really hard since Dubai. We'll come back a lot better."

Canada beat Russia 19-5 to top Pool C after beating Fiji 24-12 and Ireland 24-12. Russia had previously beaten Ireland 19-7 and Fiji 19-12 to make their clash with Canada the pool decider.

Australia will meet Spain again in Saturday's quarterfinals while the United States will play Russia, New Zealand will meet Ireland and Canada will play France.

The men's tournament also began Friday with the first round of matches in pool play.Manila (CNN Philippines Life)  Dog! an audience member excitedly yells out among other crowd suggestions.

The group onstage, whose members range from a 13-year-old high school boy to a 40-something former beauty queen, thanks the audience member for her prompt.

Using the word dog as inspiration, the group starts to make up a scene on the spot  depicting the fictional life of an American presidents abandoned son who ends up naming his dog after his long-lost father. The scene ends when a bell rings, which is followed by a roaring applause and cheers from the crowd.

The scene I just witnessed is but one of the many improvised performances by one of the student groups under the only improv school in the Philippines: Third World Improv (TWI).

***

At first I was hesitant to watch [an improv show] because I thought it was another one of those comedy shows where theyre making pahiya. But when I watched one, na-adik ako and I got so curious because ang galing-galing nila! Putting things together, being spontaneous, quick thinking, and very funny, shares Toto Carandang, a TWI alumnus, with a laugh. Ito pala ang improv.

Improv, or improvisational theatre, is an art form where performers put on shows that are completely unrehearsed, unscripted, and created on the spot. Using audience suggestions to inspire them, they play games or tell stories that have never been done before and will never be done again. To many, the thought alone sounds daunting, but TWI sets out to equip people with the skills and mindset to jump in and do it anyway.

Its no easy task to teach people how to think on their feet (and in front of a crowd, no less), but you wouldnt be able to find a group better suited for the job than Silly Peoples Improv Theatre, or better known as SPIT.

Being Manilas premiere improvisational comedy group with over 15 years of experience, they decided to follow the footsteps of U.S. improv organizations like Second City and opened their own school.

We felt that a legacy would not be complete if we did not pass on what we learned, says co-founder and CEO of Third World Improv, Gabe Mercado.

Third World Improv teaches principles that can be applied in real life, such as learning how to say 'Yes, And,' or accepting whatever comes your way and building on it. Photo by JAY IGNACIO

The organization was founded in 2015, and is the countrys first school for improvisational theatre. From improv 101 and corporate training workshops to a full five-term program, TWI now has over 150 enrolled students and about a dozen improv groups under their organization.

When they offered to have classes, I decided to take the jump and enroll because I was really curious about [the] process. At the same time I thought that I needed to get out of my shell, Carandang adds. I thought that improv would help me become more spontaneous, do something out of the ordinary and different from my usual routine.

But just like improv itself, there were many uncertain things at the beginning of TWI.

We honestly did not know the appetite for something like this, Mercado admits. A lot of people also still dont know what improvisational theatre is. And the ones who do know become very intimidated!

We didnt expect anything! fellow co-founders Monica Cordero-Cruz and Dingdong Rosales add. When we started, we were like, Kahit dalawa lang mag-enroll sa first class, well still push through.

And it was exactly this just dive attitude taken from improv that has taken TWI from uncertain beginnings to being the trailblazers in the Philippine improv scene.

***

You might think that because its a kind of theatre art, improv is best suited for people with performing backgrounds, but a majority of Third World Improv students have only ever performed after enrolling in the school. In fact, it has a surprisingly wide range of members  from students to professors, freelance filmmakers to industrial engineers, fresh-grads to titas of Manila, and even one whole family and the occasional foreigner.

But while all these different types of people are certainly able to perform after the end of a semester, this isnt all Third World Improv is about. The main focus is helping their students improve themselves as people.

When we started the school, it was clear to us na it wasn't going to be a school for performing. It was using improv as a tool for life, Rosales says.

It's not about being a star. It's not about being funny. It's about really getting to know yourself and working well with others as you discover yourself. Funny is just a wonderful side effect, Mercado adds.

The principles of improvisation can really do a lot for the growth of an individual on a personal and organizational level. And coming from our own experience, it has changed so much of us, and later on we saw the effect din sa mga students.

They teach you improv  but it's more than that. Beyond the things you learn about the art form, you learn about the people you're with, you learn communication skills, you learn how to express yourself, agrees Tonchi Mercado, an 18-year-old student and TWI alumnus.

And this is why their tagline, Developing People, is at the heart of what they do. Taken from the fact that Third World countries are developing nations, TWI wanted to use something that people felt was derogatory and claim it as something better. Third World Improv would take the shame out of developing, and make it something to be proud of.

***

You become more original but also more agreeable. You become a team player, you're better able to adjust to the curveballs that life throws at you, says TWI CEO and co-founder Gabe Mercado on the effects of learning improv. Photo by JAY IGNACIO

Perhaps a large proponent of Third World Improvs success is that their students are their product, their proof, and their best marketing.

When a shy young boy suddenly finds the bravery to do something silly onstage, or when a closeted gay man feels comfortable being effeminate in front of others for the first time, people take notice.

It empowers people, Pepe Manikan, a TWI teacher, says. Its an empowering experience to know that you can do something great

just by being yourself, Monica Cordero-Cruz adds.

And indeed, there are many philosophies of improv that, while necessary to improvise well on stage, permeate into the students mindset and help them grow.

Yes, And is probably one of the most important principles of improv. It really teaches you to accept what comes your way and just build on it, Karl Echaluse, a Level 2 student, shares.

Everything is a Gift is another principle that really sticks to many students.

When you say everything is a gift that means everything around you is a source of inspiration, Rayna Reyes, a 29-year-old senior copywriter and Level 4 student comments. You can never run out of creative ideas.

But maybe one tenet of improv that has profoundly helped many of its students is the idea of personal truth  this teaches you that everyones truth is sacred, and when we live by what is true to us, we have everything we need.

Thats what you go back on when you are onstage, that is what you draw upon. So for me, that is at the core of the community. It's easier to be yourself, says Toto Carandang.

Just come as you are, and thats enough. You are enough, Karl Echaluse adds.

***

And maybe this is why, for a majority of TWI students, improv has become more than a hobby or a class, but rather a way of life. Because life itself is a lot like improv  you never know whats going to happen next; TWI students are also equipped with skills to navigate through their day-to-day obstacles.

You become more original but also more agreeable. You become a team player, you're better able to adjust to the curveballs that life throws at you, Mercado says.

Besides more practical applications, several students have found that Third World Improv has helped them with more personal, emotional struggles as well.

Improv helped me a lot, especially because Im undergoing depression and it really helped me alongside my therapy, shares Viola Nunez, a TWI alumnus. A few other Third World Improv students who have opened up out their mental health have also shared the same sentiment  some of whom use it as their main outlet to interact, connect, and express themselves.

For several others, they found it easier to be more open about their sexuality within and because of TWI. For some, it has helped them cope with stressful experiences, overcome fears, and take on new challenges.

Elyss Punsalan, a freelance video producer and cancer survivor, tells me about her experience.

I was coming from a dark place, she shares. I was coming from cancer and chemo, and I wanted something to bring back joy. Once I recovered, parang Okay, Ive been given this new chance to live. What do I want next? And the first thing that came to mind was: I want to be happy again. And it was then, she shares, that she turned to improv. I dont remember laughing as hard as I did during improv.

Many students fall in love with improv theatre because of the community its surrounded by, which is often regarded as a safe space for all. Photo by AIH MENDOZA

You could say that improv is a lot like leaping off a cliff and building your wings on the way down. The good news? You dont do it alone. Trust and teamwork with your scene partners are integral  and this spirit of camaraderie bleeds into life offstage.

So beyond the actual art and craft of improv, many students fall in love with it because of the community its surrounded by.

It's really refreshing and wonderful to be with people from TWI because I feel like you deal with real people and they have no qualms doing silly things, Carandang shares. Were with a bunch of people who are actually brave enough to be vulnerable on and off stage.

Exactly because were taught to be vulnerable and expressive of our personal truths in class, a true and irrevocable sense of trust is created. In fact, many students of Third World Improv have come to regard it as a safe space.

I'm getting to know other people like my classmates, and nag-deepen ang relationship namin sa isa't isa. It's a really good support group to have, Viola adds.

Within the course of TWI, theyve even staged all sorts of different themed shows put on by different sub-groups within the school  an all womens show, an LGBTQ pride show, a tita-tito show, and several fundraiser shows. Theres even a group that stars boys all named Jason.

***

With all that being said, I still often times ask myself: Why do I improvise?

And the answer remains to constantly be that it has given so much to me, and continues to do so. Not only is it where I and countless others have grown to be better versions of ourselves, be it through creativity, communication, or confidence, but its also where we find community  bonds that can only be created through diving into the unknown together and coming out the other side with newfound self-discoveries and unapologetic honesty. Not only is it magical and exciting, but you get to do all this while having an insane amount of fun too.

You can only ever say yes.

***

Third World Improv is holding an Improv for Couples Workshop on Feb. 4, an Improv Camp (Improv 101) in Baguio on Feb. 16-18, and an Improv for Families Workshop on March 11. They will be accepting regular-term Level 1 students in April. Visit the Facebook page for more details.DAVOS, Switzerland (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump's attendance at the World Economic Forum (all times local):

1:45 a.m. (7:45 p.m. EST)

President Donald Trump has returned to Washington after what he says was a "very, very successful trip" to Davos.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters upon arrival at the White House in Washington, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Trump tells reporters as he enters the White House that the World Economic Forum in Switzerland was "really great."

He says, "Many, many people from Davos" are investing in the U.S.

Trump's visit included meetings with word leaders, a dinner with European business leaders and a speech promoting investment in the U.S.

He returns amid swirling questions about reports that he ordered White House lawyer Don McGahn to fire special counsel Robert Mueller last June.

__

6:45 p.m.

President Donald Trump is blaming Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer for complicating negotiations over the fate of hundreds of thousands of young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children.

Trump tweeted Friday that negotiations over the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program have been "made increasingly difficult by the fact that Cryin' Chuck Schumer took such a beating over the shutdown that he is unable to act on immigration!"

Trump announced an end to the DACA program protecting the "Dreamers" last year but gave Congress until March to act.

Senate Democrats prompted a 69-hour government shutdown after they refused to support a funding bill without support for Dreamers. They eventually relented.

Trump is tweeting on his flight home from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

___

3:55 p.m.

President Donald Trump has departed Switzerland after addressing an annual economic summit in the Swiss Alps.

He is due back at the White House late Friday.

Trump in a speech Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos declared America open for business under his leadership. He also tried to assure the wary gathering that economic growth taking place in the U.S. under his "America first" agenda benefits the rest of the world.

Trump also held talks with the leaders of Britain, Israel, Switzerland and Rwanda during the summit, and had dinner with European business executives in the interest of encouraging them to invest in the U.S.

Next week, he delivers his first State of the Union address to the American public.

___

2:40 p.m.

President Donald Trump is airing his long-running critique of the news media at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump says during a question-and-answer session with the forum's founder that it wasn't until he became a politician that he realized "how nasty, how mean, how vicious and how fake the press can be."

His comment prompted some boos and hisses in the room.

Trump was asked by the forum founder Klaus Schwab about how his past experiences prepared him for the presidency.

Trump says a businessman had never been elected president.

He says he was often "treated well" by the news media when he was a New York City developer but that treatment changed when he entered politics.

___

2:35 p.m.

President Donald Trump says he's willing to negotiate trade deals individually or as a group with the countries that remain in a trans-Pacific trade deal that he pulled the U.S. out of after taking office.

Trump said in a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that trade needs to be fair and reciprocal. He says unfair trade "undermines us all."

Trump says the U.S. is prepared to negotiate mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreements with all countries, including those in the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Trump directed his trade representative to withdraw from the sweeping pact that involved the U.S. and 11 other Pacific Rim nations last year.

Trump says he will negotiate "if it is in the interests of all" sides.

___

2:20 p.m.

President Donald Trump is getting a muted response during his speech at the World Economic Forum.

Trump is making his debut appearance before the crowd in Davos on Friday. He drew some applause when he took the podium, but many in the audience kept their hands at their sides, reserving judgment.

As Trump showcased his economic agenda, the audience kept quiet, with no pockets of clapping that other leaders might receive. The president received polite applause when his speech ended.

When Forum chairman Klaus Schwab introduced Trump, he drew some hisses when he said that Trump's leadership could be subject to "misconceptions and biased interpretations."

___

2:15 p.m.

President Donald Trump is showcasing the American economy in his address in Davos, telling financial leaders, "America is the place to do business."

Trump is using his speech to the World Economic Forum in Switzerland to outline his work to overhaul the U.S. tax system and slash regulations.

He says his work is beginning to pay dividends. He's pointing to 2.4 million jobs created since his 2016 election and noting that companies like Apple are planning to invest billions in the U.S.

Trump says he's making progress on giving Americans the dream of a "great job, a safe home" and a "better life" for their children.

___

1:50 p.m.

President Donald Trump plans to say in his Davos address, "America is open for business and we are competitive once again."

The White House is releasing excerpts of Trump's prepared remarks in advance of his speech to the World Economic Forum Friday.

Trump plans to say there "has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States."

He will say that "when the United States grows, so does the world."

Before a global audience, Trump will argue that "America First does not mean America alone."

But he will pledge to "enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to the trading system" to "create a system that works not just for the United States but for all nations."

___

12:10 p.m.

President Donald Trump is meeting with Swiss President Alain Berset on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.

Trump said Friday that his trip had been "exciting" and that he was bringing "good will" back to the United States. He is touting efforts to cut taxes and reduce regulations and says a booming U.S. economy is good for Switzerland.

Trump says, "You have a lot our stock in the United States so I have helped to make Switzerland even richer."

Berset welcomed Trump, saying he appreciated his attendance at the meeting.

Trump is the first sitting president to attend the gathering in Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000.

___

11:25 a.m.

President Donald Trump says he "would certainly apologize" for retweeting anti-Muslim videos from a far-right British group.

Trump tells British journalist Piers Morgan that "I know nothing about" the Britain First group and "would certainly apologize, if you'd like me to do that."

Trump was widely criticized - including by Morgan - for retweeting the videos last year. Morgan pressed Trump on the issue during an interview taped Thursday in Switzerland, where Trump is attending the World Economic Forum.

Morgan released an interview clip on Friday. The full interview is scheduled to air Sunday on ITV.

The president says he retweeted the videos because he is a "big believer in fighting radical Islamic terror."

Trump also tells Morgan that he is "the least racist person anybody's going to meet."

___

11:10 a.m.

President Donald Trump says Rwandan President Paul Kagame (keh-GAH'-may) is a "friend" in the aftermath of Trump's controversial comments about African countries.

The leaders met Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Kagame is beginning a one-year term as head of the African Union, a 55-member continental body.

Trump recently drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations as "shithole countries" in discussing immigration, according to those at the meeting. The president has denied using that language, but others present say he did.

Kagame says he and Trump had "good discussions" on economic and trade issues. He says the African Union is "looking forward to working with the United States."

___

10:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump is bragging about the "tremendous crowd" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He says the gathering has a "crowd like they've never had before." Trump is attending the forum for the first time.

The president spoke to reporters briefly as he arrived at the annual gathering of financial and political leaders.

Trump addresses the summit later Friday. He predicted his message will be "very well received" and that he will note that the U.S. is "doing fantastically well - better than we've done in decades."

The president is also expected to tout recent tax cuts and efforts to slash regulations.

___

10:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump says a New York Times report that he ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller is "fake news."

The president was asked about the report on Friday as he arrived at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump replied: "Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories."

The Times reported that Trump ordered the firing of Mueller last June but backed off after White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to quit.

The newspaper says Trump demanded Mueller's firing just weeks after Mueller was first appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

___

10 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump is looking forward to declaring at the World Economic Forum that America open for business.

Trump addresses the summit on Friday and administration officials who previewed the speech for journalists said the president is expected to tout recent tax cuts and efforts to reduce regulations. Trump will argue that it's a good time for businesses to invest in the United States.

Trump is a critic of multinational trade deals. But he'll stress his commitment to free markets under what he sees as fair terms. He'll also call for international cooperation to take on issues like the threat posed by the Islamic State group and North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

Officials say the speech will project a vision of free nations cooperating on shared goals.

President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One at the Zurich International Airport to fly to Washington, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 in Zurich, Switzerland after attending the Davos World Economic Forum. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

U.S. President Donald Trump, left, speaks during a conversation with the founder of the forum, Klaus Schwab, right, during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)

Participants watch the appearance of U.S. President Donald Trump on screen from an adjacent room, during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Gian Ehrenzeller/Keystone via AP)

US President Donald Trump holds up Swiss newspaper 'Blick' as he arrives at the Congress Center on the last day of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Laurent Gillieron/Keystone via AP)

Swiss Federal President Alain Berset, right, and US President Donald Trump, left, shake hands during a bilateral meeting during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, WEF, in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (Peter Klaunzer/Keystone via AP)

U.S. President Donald Trump arrives during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)WARSAW, Poland (AP) - An undercover expose of Polish neo-Nazis celebrating Adolf Hitler in a nighttime forest ceremony has sparked revulsion in Poland, a country where Nazi Germany murdered millions of people in concentration camps, ghettos and the bombing of cities.

In the week since the television expose was broadcast, political leaders in Poland have condemned the extremists. An investigation has led to the detention of six people and to the confiscation of fascist paraphernalia and ammunition.

There is widespread disbelief that young Poles could celebrate Hitler, who believed that Poles and other Slavs were "Untermenschen," or subhuman, and forced many into labor for Nazi Germany or put to death.

FILE - This is a Sept. 1939 file photo of a young Polish boy returns to what was his home and squats among the ruins during a pause in the German air raids on Warsaw, Poland, World War II. An undercover expose of neo-Nazis in Poland has sparked widespread disgust and shock this week in Poland, a country where Adolf Hitler's regime murdered millions of people in concentration camps, ghettos and the in bombing of cities. (AP Photo/Julien Bryan/File)

The debate was sparked by a report broadcast Jan. 20 by private news station TVN24 that showed members of a Polish neo-Nazi group, Pride and Modernity, celebrating the 128th anniversary of Hitler's birth in a forest at night last spring.

Using hidden cameras, TVN24 captured footage of them preparing for the ceremony by dressing in SS and Wehrmacht uniforms and nailing swastikas to trees.

Mostly young men, they raised a toast to Hitler, whose photo also hung from a tree, praising him and making the stiff-armed "Sieg Heil" salute as a large wooden swastika burned. The ceremony included a birthday cake decorated with a swastika.

The ceremony took place 33 miles (53 kilometers) from Auschwitz, where Nazi Germany killed more than a million people, most of them Jews from across Europe but also many Poles. On Saturday a ceremony will be held at the former death camp to mark the 73rd anniversary of its liberation by Soviet troops.

The denunciations from leaders came swiftly.

Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki called this week for tougher penalties against individuals and organizations convicted of propagating fascism, which he said tramples "the memory of our ancestors and their heroic fight for a Poland that is just and free from hatred."

"Organizations that are using symbols and concepts that glorify and tolerate German Nazism or other totalitarianisms should be outlawed," Morawiecki said.

President Andrzej Duda, asked about the matter while at the World Economic Forum in Davos, said such behavior "must be eradicated with all of our might."

"There is no place in Poland for the glorification of Adolf Hitler, on whose orders six million Polish citizens were murdered," Duda said.

Interior Minister Joachim Brudzinski also strongly condemned the extremists, telling lawmakers in parliament on Thursday that "you have to be a complete idiot to dress up in an SS man's uniform and eat a waffle cake with a swastika in the forest. We will crack down on this!"

But he also faced criticism for seeming to portray them as a marginal phenomenon, even though sociologists and other experts have long been warning of a rise of far-right extremism in Poland.

"In Poland, such toads have to hide in the woods, but in Germany they walk through the center of Berlin," Brudzinski told lawmakers.

Some members of the opposition Civic Platform described his words as a disgrace.LONDON (AP) - A British judge says she will rule next month on whether to scrap a U.K. arrest warrant for the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, a move that would free him to leave the Ecuadorean embassy after more than five years.

Assange's lawyers went to court Friday to argue that the warrant serves no purpose because he is no longer wanted for questioning in Sweden over alleged sex offenses.

Assange has been holed up in Ecuador's London embassy since he took refuge there in June 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden. Swedish prosecutors were investigating allegations of sexual assault and rape made by two women in 2010.

FILE - In this May 19, 2017 file photo, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange greets supporters outside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he has been in self imposed exile since 2012. Lawyers for Julian Assange on Friday Jan. 26, 2018, asked a British court to drop an arrest warrant for Assange, asserting that the warrant had "lost its purpose and its function", after Swedish prosecutors dropped the alleged sex offences case against him. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, FILE)

But prosecutors dropped the case last year, saying there was no prospect of bringing Assange to Sweden in the foreseeable future.

Assange still faces arrest if he leaves the embassy - for jumping bail in 2012.

Lawyer Mark Summers told Westminster Magistrates' Court that the arrest warrant had "lost its purpose and its function."

Assange's attorney's also said in court papers that five years in conditions "akin to imprisonment, without access to adequate medical care or sunlight" had left his mental and physical health "in serious peril."

Judge Emma Arbuthnot said that evidence presented to the court said Assange's health issues included "a terrible bad tooth, frozen shoulder and depression."

British prosecutors are opposing the removal of the warrant, saying Assange shouldn't be immune from the law simply because he has managed to evade justice for a long time.

The judge said she would deliver her ruling on Feb. 6.

If she rules in Assange's favor he will be free to leave the embassy without being arrested on the British warrant.

But Assange suspects there is a secret U.S. indictment against him for WikiLeaks' publication of leaked classified American documents, and that the U.S. authorities will seek his extradition.

Earlier this month Ecuador said it had granted the Australian-born hacker citizenship, as it tried to unblock the stalemate that has kept Assange as its houseguest for five-and-a-half years.

It also asked Britain to grant him diplomatic status. Britain refused, saying "the way to resolve this issue is for Julian Assange to leave the embassy to face justice."

A cat, believed to be owned by Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange, wears a tie as it looks out of a window at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Lawyers for Julian Assange are asking a British court to drop an arrest warrant for Assange, as Swedish prosecutors dropped the alleged sex offences case last year. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

A cat, believed to be owned by Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange, wears a tie as it looks out of a window at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Lawyers for Julian Assange are asking a British court on Friday to drop an arrest warrant for Assange, as Swedish prosecutors dropped the alleged sex offences case last year. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)PLANT CITY, Fla. (AP) - When doctors told a dying Florida teen there's nothing else they can do for him, he started checking off his wish list. Now there's one last item: marrying his high school sweetheart.

On Sunday, Dustin Snyder plans to marry Sierra Siverio in Plant City, which is near Tampa. WTSP reports the community is coming together to make sure the wedding happens, donating everything from the rings to the wedding gown and venue.

The teens met in middle school, but lost touch before reuniting in high school. Synder has battled a form of cancer called synovial sarcoma much of that time.

LifePath Hospice is working to get the flowers and bridesmaids dresses, along with someone to provide drinks and a bar service.

For now, the teens are cherishing every minute together.KABUL Afghanistan (AP) - An Afghan official says a Taliban rocket killed seven people after security forces launched an operation against the militant group in southern Ghazni province.

Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor, said early Friday that the rocket hit a house, killing six children and a man. Three others children were wounded, he said.

Noori says Afghan security forces launched the operation south of the capital Ghazni and during the battle the children went into a shelter in the house for safety. But a Taliban rocket killed the six children and man anyway.

Zabihullah Mujahidand, Taliban apokesman, denied the account and accused the government of killing the civilians in an airstrike.

Noori says the Afghan air force killed 20 Taliban fighters but no civilians.COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A former employee of an Ohio school district has pleaded guilty to stealing bus passes meant for low-income students.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that 63-year-old Mary Cockrell entered the plea Thursday to a felony count of theft in office. She paid $6,200 in restitution and was sentenced to time served.

Cockrell worked for the transportation department of Columbus City Schools in March 2017 when she took a bundle of 100 Central Ohio Transit Authority bus passes.

Columbus police and the Ohio auditor's office investigated after discovering that the monthly passes were being advertised online at a discount. They found that the passes were being sold by Jason Morris, who was dating Cockrell's daughter. Morris pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of receiving stolen property.

___

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.comPARIS (AP) - Hundreds of white-jacketed chefs and other French dignitaries are paying tribute to Paul Bocuse, often referred to as the "pope of French cuisine."

Bocuse died Jan. 20 at 91 in Collonges-au-Mont-d'or, where he was born and had his temple to French gastronomy, L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges.

Renowned chefs lined the pews of the Saint-Jean Cathedral in the culinary mecca of Lyon for Friday's funeral.

Chefs carry the coffin of French Paul Bocuse during a funeral ceremony at the Saint-Jean Cathedral in Lyon, central France, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Hundreds of chefs and French dignitaries are gathering in the culinary mecca of Lyon for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, a master chef who defined French cuisine for more than a half-century and put it on tables around the world. (Philippe Desmazes/Pool Photo via AP)

Speakers celebrated "Monsieur Paul" and his contribution to French cuisine and its global image as both refined and convivial. He was a pioneer in branding his cooking and image, and creating a worldwide restaurant empire.

A fan of butter and fresh produce, Bocuse's specialties included truffle soup topped with a golden bubble of pastry and fricassee of Bresse chicken served in cream with morilles.

FILE - In this March 24, 2011 file French Chef Paul Bocuse poses outside his famed Michelin three-star restaurant L'Auberge du Pont de Collonges in Collonges-au-Mont-d'or, central France. Hundreds of chefs and French dignitaries are gathering in the culinary mecca of Lyon for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, a master chef who defined French cuisine for more than a half-century and put it on tables around the world. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)

French chefs Alain Ducasse, center, Regis Marcon, right, and French chef Yannick Alleno arrive to attend the funeral ceremony for French Paul Bocuse at the Saint-Jean cathedral, in Lyon, central France, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Hundreds of chefs and French dignitaries are gathering in the culinary mecca of Lyon for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, a master chef who defined French cuisine for more than a half-century and put it on tables around the world. (AP Photo/Philippe Desmazes)

French chefs Joel Robuchon, left first row, and Jean-Francois Piege, center left, attend the funeral ceremony for French Paul Bocuse at the Saint-Jean cathedral, in Lyon, central France, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Hundreds of chefs and French dignitaries are gathering in the culinary mecca of Lyon for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, a master chef who defined French cuisine for more than a half-century and put it on tables around the world. (Philippe Desmazes/Pool Photo via AP)

French chefs Regis Marcon, left, Pierre Orsi, 2nd right, Jacques Margui, right, and US chef Thomas Keller, 2nd left, pose before attending the funeral ceremony for French Paul Bocuse at the Saint-Jean cathedral, in Lyon, central France, Friday, Jan . 26, 2018. Hundreds of chefs and French dignitaries are gathering in the culinary mecca of Lyon for the funeral of Paul Bocuse, a master chef who defined French cuisine for more than a half-century and put it on tables around the world. (AP Photo/Philippe Desmazes)BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) - Five Florida high school students are accused of raping a 13-year-old girl.

The Bradenton Herald reports four of the students were arrested Tuesday and were charged with sexual battery, a first-degree felony. The fifth student hasn't been located. They ranged in age from 15 to 18.

According to a probable cause affidavit, the girl snuck out of her house on Aug. 18 to meet up with one of the boys to watch Netflix. A short time later the four other boys arrived.

The girl said she heard the boys talking about her age. She told investigators that one by one, the teens raped her.

The Manatee County Sheriff's Office began investigating Jan. 18 after the girl disclosed she had been attacked.SANAA, Yemen (AP) - Yemeni security officials and witnesses say fighting between Shiite rebel forces and others loyal to Yemen's internationally recognized government in the southwestern city of Taiz has killed at least 48 people on both sides.

They said Friday that fighting intensified earlier this week when forces loyal to President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi attempted regain full control over the city and expel rebel forces surrounding it.

They also said that Saudi-led coalition forces backing Hadi carried out several airstrikes on Houthi-controlled bases. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media, while the witnesses did so for fear of reprisals.

The coalition has been at war with the Iran-backed rebels, known as Houthis, since March 2015 to reinstate Hadi's government.WARSAW, Poland (AP) - The leader of Poland's ruling party says his country will not give in to the European Union in an ongoing conflict over an overhaul of the nation's judicial system.

The European Commission last month denounced Polish laws giving the ruling party greater power over the judiciary, saying they violate fundamental European values. It is threatening a step that could lead to sanctions against Poland.

But Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski said in an interview Friday that the country won't back down.

Kaczynski was quoted by Gazeta Polska as saying "the program of deep changes of our country will not be stopped, just the opposite."

He added that it is impossible to get along with "forces" in the EU that he claimed have exploited Poland for years.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 25)  The Philippines runs the risk of losing the rest of its P15.4 billion (244 million) in development budget from the European Union (EU) after it rejected one aid package in December and looks to turn down yet another this month.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen offered his strongest statement yet about the diplomatic tiff between the two governments, saying a March meeting with Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez would be the delegation's "last attempt" to come to an agreement.

If the government continues to reject what it perceives as conditional aid, Jessen said the EU would likely reallocate that funding to other countries in need of assistance.

"We're still hopeful we will reach an agreement. We have agreed to send a high-level mission to meet with Finance Secretary Dominguez to make a last attempt to see if we can reach an agreement on this," Jessen told CNN Philippines on Thursday.

When asked whether the EU would press for a final decision by then, Jessen said: "You can imagine we cannot have hundreds of millions of euros standing and waiting on a piece of paper, saying maybe we will or maybe we will not spend this amount. There's a point where we have to decide: Are we able to spend this in the Philippines or not?"

The Duterte administration announced in May it would no longer accept EU aid, with the President repeatedly claiming it comes with conditions for the Philippines, particularly on human rights and the rule of law.

READ: PH rejects 6.1 million in EU aid

Despite the public statements, though, the policy was never formalized - until now.

The government "returned unsigned" the documents for the EU's P385-million (6 million) Trade-Related Technical Assistance Program, Jessen said.

He explained, "The Department of Finance (DoF) knew that in order for these documents to take effect, they had to be signed by 2017 and they haven't been signed. So, that amount has been lost for the Philippines."

Two packages rejected

The EU's P695-million (11 million) Sustainable Energy Program is also up for the DOF's approval, but Jessen said even that is likely to miss its upcoming deadline.

The trade assistance would have gone on to help small businesses in the Philippines to compete in the world market. It also funds a team of experts working with the DTI to formulate trade policy.

The energy program, meanwhile, would have funded renewables and supported livelihood programs for rural communities in Mindanao still unconnected to the power grid.

Jessen said it was unfortunate that these programs, targeting critical sectors of the community, would no longer be able to continue.

"Our assistance is not for the government but the people of the Philippines. But of course we can only support the people with the endorsement of the government," he said.

Up for review

The EU allotted the Philippines a total of P20.2 billion (320 million) in development aid from 2014-2020. To date, only P4.8 billion has been used, and the country may yet end up losing the lion's share of the fund.

The EU is conducting a mid-term review of its global aid allocations this May, and Jessen admits the delegation is in a "weak" position to defend its budget in the Philippines.

"A donor like the European Union, you'll have many countries who would try to increase the allocation to their country. And if we have one partner like the Philippines who's not interested, other countries will stand up and say, 'What about us?'"

Regardless, the ambassador doesn't believe the situation is irreversible. Ahead of the pivotal meeting in March, Jessen said, "I hope very much the government and the President will see we don't interfere with foreign policy, we've never done that, and we will certainly not do that with our development assistance."

The EU maintains that the conditions in their agreements are standard for all countries, and they only seek to ensure that the aid funding will be used properly.In a story Jan. 24 about a judge throwing out a lawsuit The Associated Press reported erroneously that a judge said there is evidence that GuideStar had a financial incentive to use the law center's labels. The judge said there is no evidence that GuideStar had a financial incentive to use the law center's labels.

A corrected version of the story is below:

Judge axes lawsuit over site's hate group label on charities

A federal judge in Virginia has thrown out a lawsuit over "hate group" labels that dozens of nonprofit groups received on a website that maintains a database of information about U.S. charities

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN

Associated Press

A federal judge in Virginia has thrown out a lawsuit over "hate group" labels that dozens of nonprofit groups received on a website that maintains a database of information about U.S. charities.

U.S. District Judge Raymond Jackson's ruling Tuesday says the First Amendment protects GuideStar USA Inc.'s "expressive right to comment on social issues."

Liberty Counsel Inc., a Florida-based legal advocacy organization, sued GuideStar last June after the site flagged it and 45 other nonprofits for being labeled as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Liberty Counsel said the label is slanderous and damaged its reputation.

The group also claimed GuideStar's use of the labels was "commercial speech" that violated the Lanham Act, but the judge rejected that argument and dismissed the suit. Jackson said there is no evidence that GuideStar had a financial incentive to use the law center's labels.

"A reasonable person on (GuideStar's) website, reading SPLC's notation, is unlikely to read the notation as advertising a service or proposing a transaction of any kind," the judge wrote. "Therefore, the Court finds that (Guidestar's) statement is not commercial speech."

Mat Staver, Liberty Counsel's founder and chairman, said Wednesday that the group likely will appeal Jackson's ruling. GuideStar's use of the hate group labels "was designed to inflict financial harm because its purpose was to affect the financial transactions of the public," Staver said in a statement.

"This false label applied to non-violent and law-abiding groups must stop," he added.

GuideStar removed the labels from the profile pages of the 46 nonprofits last year. GuideStar said in a statement in June that its decision to remove the labels was driven by its "commitment to objectivity" and concerns for its staff's "wellbeing" after threats directed at its staff.

The list of flagged groups includes one operated by white nationalist Richard Spencer, who popularized the term "alt-right" to describe a fringe movement blending racist, anti-Semitic and anti-immigration views. But it also includes more mainstream, big-budget organizations, such as the Federation for American Immigration Reform, the Family Research Council and the American Family Association.

GuideStar, a self-described "neutral" repository for data on more than 1.6 million active nonprofits, touts itself as the world's largest source of information about charities.

In an interview last year, GuideStar President and CEO Jacob Harold framed the warning labels as a response to the recent rise in "hateful rhetoric" in the U.S. Harold also said the site relied on the law center's list and didn't conduct its own analysis of whether a nonprofit deserves to be labeled a hate group.

Liberty Counsel didn't name the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center as a defendant in its lawsuit against Williamsburg, Virginia-based GuideStar.

In August, a Florida-based evangelical ministry separately sued both GuideStar and the law center in Alabama over its own hate group label. D. James Kennedy Ministries of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, agreed in October to voluntarily dismiss its claims against GuideStar, but it still has discrimination claims pending against the law center and Amazon.com Inc. The suit says Amazon.com excluded the ministry from a donation program because of the hate group label.NEW YORK (AP) - Alicia Keys kicked off Grammy Award week with an award - and was serenaded with "Happy Birthday"

The 15-time Grammy winner and her husband, Swizz Beatz, were both honored Thursday with an honor from the Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing. It was also Keys' 37th birthday and media crews welcomed her on the red carpet with the traditional song.

Keys felt the moment was surreal since she was being honored on her birthday at the Grammys and in her hometown, walking distance from where she grew up in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood.

FILE - In this Feb. 11, 2012 file photo, Alicia Keys performs at the Clive Davis pre-Grammy gala in Beverly Hills, Calif. Davis' gala, held a day before the 2018 Grammy Awards, launched the careers of Whitney Houston and Alicia Keys, and have featured all-stars like Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Smokey Robinson and Carly Simon. He first held the gala 42 years ago. (AP Photo/Vince Bucci, File)

"I'm like, OK, they're going to set up the Grammys, kick it off with my birthday. My husband and I (are being) honored simultaneously in this most prestigious moment, and then we're going to just keep going from there and it's going to be a magnificent week. I do feel like this was made for me," Keys said.

Beatz said it doesn't get much better than being honored with your wife. He called the dual awards "a celebration of her life but also a celebration of our life as creatives."

Keys' hits include "Girl On Fire," ''Fallin,'" "No One," ''A Woman's Worth" and "Superwoman," many of which salute strong women. TV personality Gayle King came to honor Keys and said many of her songs are especially relevant.

"Alicia Keys is very good when it comes to doing women anthems," King said. "She is a walking talking example of what a woman in power should be. She does that every single day. She walks the walk and she talks the talk."

___

For full coverage of awards season, visit: https://apnews.com/tag/AwardsSeasonUNIONTOWN, Pa. (AP) - A 14-year-old boy was arrested and weapons including a semi-automatic rifle and throwing knives were seized from his home after an alleged threat to shoot other students at a Pennsylvania high school, authorities said Friday.

State police in Fayette County say the weapons were found in the teenager's bedroom Thursday night in Henry Clay Township after authorities learned of the threat allegedly made on a school bus against four Uniontown Area High School students.

"He just didn't like them. That's what he said, he didn't like them. What a reason to do something," District Attorney Rich Bower said Friday about the suspect's motive.

This photo shows the exterior of Uniontown Area High School on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in Uniontown, Pa. A 14-year-old boy was arrested and weapons including a semi-automatic rifle and throwing knives were seized from his home after an alleged threat to shoot other students at the Pennsylvania high school, authorities said Friday. (Michael Palm /Herald-Standard via AP)

The teen faces juvenile court charges of terroristic threats and causing or risking a catastrophe.

Bower said police found a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, two machetes, throwing knives, two lever-action rifles, a revolver, and a crossbow with arrows and bulk ammunition.

Uniontown police and state police were in every district school Friday morning, and a state trooper was stationed on the school bus where the alleged attack was discussed, Bower said. Trooper Robert Broadwater said students were checked with hand-held metal detectors as they entered school buildings.

The student who reported the alleged threats wasn't involved in the conversation but "took appropriate action right on the bus ... by recording it," Bower said.

"Fortunately, nothing occurred, nobody got hurt," he said.

Uniontown Area School District Assistant Superintendent Dan Bosnic speaks at a press conference joined by state police, school police and Fayette County District Attorney Rich Bower, third from left, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, in Uniontown, Pa. A 14-year-old boy was arrested and weapons including a semi-automatic rifle and throwing knives were seized from his home after an alleged threat to shoot other students at a Pennsylvania high school, authorities said Friday. (Alyssa Choiniere /Herald-Standard via AP)ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The attorneys general for New York and Minnesota are suing the Trump administration for abruptly cutting off federal funding for health care coverage for more than 800,000 low-income residents in the two states.

New York's Eric Schneiderman and Minnesota's Lori Swanson announced Friday that the lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court accuses the Department of Health and Human Services of withholding more than $1 billion.

The majority of the recipients - more than 700,000 - are in New York state, while most of the funding - $1 billion-plus - went to New York. Minnesota has about 87,000 recipients in the program and received $130 million per year.

The states are the only two with the program created under the Affordable Care Act. Swanson and Schneiderman are both Democrats.LITTLE ORLEANS, Md. (AP) - Maryland State Police say a man who threatened his wife with a gun and then wounded two troopers during a standoff on Friday wasn't shot until he finally came out of his burning house and ignored commands to stop pointing his weapon at officers.

The two state troopers were flown about 120 miles (193 kilometers) to a trauma center in Baltimore, where they were treated for leg wounds and released, while William Charles Mackenzie, 66, was pronounced dead at a hospital in western Maryland.

The confrontation began late Thursday night. The man's wife told officers that they had been arguing when he drew a gun and threatened her, saying "this ends now." They struggled and fell and the gun went off, she said after escaping to a neighbor's house.

Law enforcement agents respond to the scene of standoff on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 in Little Orleans, Md. Maryland State Police say a standoff that ended this morning with a suspect dead and two troopers wounded began with a domestic violence call just before midnight. Officers say the man's wife told police that they were arguing when her husband pulled out a gun and said "this ends today." The police statement says the suspect started a fire as a Tactical Assault Team entered his home and then shot at the troopers, who fired back . (Steven R. Bittner/Cumberland Times-News via AP)

The police response was large, with tactical units of camouflaged and well-armed troopers surrounding the home. The troopers tried to communicate with Mackenzie using a loudspeaker from an armored vehicle, but they said he refused to surrender.

"State police were negotiating with him throughout this whole process to try to end this situation as peacefully as possible," said Ron Snyder, a state police spokesman.

Mazkenzie fired multiple shots from a bedroom window at about 7:30 a.m. Friday, hitting two troopers who were near the perimeter, but officers did not return fire, state police said.

Just after 8:30 a.m., Mackenzie came out of the house, which appeared to be ablaze, and pointed a gun toward police, ignoring commands to drop the weapon. Only then did officers shoot the man, who was pronounced dead at Washington County Regional Medical Center, state police said.

Fire personnel and troopers put out the fire, which police believe Mackenzie started.

Mackenzie had previous legal troubles. In 2014, he was charged with manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance, conspiracy to manufacture a controlled dangerous substance and possession of marijuana. The charges were put on hold indefinitely and no guilty verdict was entered.

Mackenzie's home in Baltimore was in foreclosure proceedings at one point, but he is still listed on state property records as the owner.

Online court records show that Mackenzie accused his wife, Linda Mackenzie, of stealing from him in 2015. She was charged with theft of $10,000 to under $100,000, 3rd-degree burglary and 4th-degree burglary of a dwelling. Court records show prosecutors declined to move forward with the case.

Snyder said the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit is investigating, and will provide its conclusions to the Allegany County State's Attorney's Office for review.

___

Information from: Cumberland (Md.) Times-News, http://www.times-news.com/timesnew.html

Law enforcement agents respond to the scene of standoff on Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 in Little Orleans, Md. Maryland State Police say a standoff that ended this morning with a suspect dead and two troopers wounded began with a domestic violence call just before midnight. Officers say the man's wife told police that they were arguing when her husband pulled out a gun and said "this ends today." The police statement says the suspect started a fire as a Tactical Assault Team entered his home and then shot at the troopers, who fired back . (Steven R. Bittner/Cumberland Times-News via AP)ATLANTA (AP) - Federal authorities are seeking the public's help to locate a 25-year-old woman dubbed the "Freedom Fighter Bandit" who they say is behind a string of bank robberies in Georgia.

The FBI's Atlanta office says the most recent robbery happened Thursday at Hamilton State Bank in Dallas, Georgia, about 30 miles (about 50 kilometers) northwest of Atlanta.

The FBI says Nilsa Marie Urena and a male accomplice walked in at 11:30 a.m. and announced a robbery. The FBI says Urena said she had a bomb and told employees not to call police. Another male suspect drove the getaway car, a champagne-colored sedan.

The FBI says Urena is called the "Freedom Fighter Bandit" because she says she's robbing banks for a cause.

Authorities believe she's behind a series of bank robberies stretching back to October.ELKINS PARK, Pa. (AP) - The founder of the Dead Poets Society of America suffered a fatal heart attack little more than a month after commissioning his own tombstone.

Walter Skold enlisted the son of novelist John Updike to carve a unique tombstone that will be topped with a dancing skeleton and a quill. Michael Updike, who received the poet's deposit last month, said he never expected to be carving the monument so soon.

There was no indication of any premonition of an untimely death before Skold's passing at age 57 on Jan. 20 in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania, Updike said Friday.

FILE- In this Dec. 1, 2017 file photo Walter Skold, left, and gravestone carver Michael Updike discuss the design of Skold's future tombstone, in Newbury, Mass. Skold suffered a heart attack and died in Elkins Park, Pa., on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, where he had recently moved after residing in Freeport, Maine. Skold drew inspiration from his visits to the graves of more than 600 poets for his own tombstone to be carved by the son of novelist John Updike. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

"He was a sweet soul," said Updike, of Newbury, Massachusetts. "He was a kind person with this quirky predilection to poets' graves and death and the macabre."

Known as the "Dead Poets Guy," Skold visited the final resting places of more than 600 poets after launching the Dead Poets Society in 2008 in Maine, drawing inspiration for the name from the 1989 Robin Williams movie.

Along the way, Skold drew attention to bards and poetry while producing a massive repository of information on poets' final resting places.

He also had a sense of humor.

He traveled in a cargo van he dubbed the "Dedgar the Poemobile," sometimes embellishing the dashboard with an Edgar Allan Poe bobblehead.

But he was serious about honoring poets, and he launched a movement to create Dead Poets Remembrance Day on the Sunday closest to Oct. 7, the date Poe died.

"It takes a little chutzpah to say we're starting a holiday," he said in 2010. "But we believe it's a really good idea, and we hope it catches on."

Skold was living in Freeport, Maine, when he left his job as a public school technology teacher to pursue his passions of poetry and photography and to launch the society.

A celebration of Skold's life is being held Saturday in York, Pennsylvania, where his family burial plot is located. There also will be a smaller remembrance in Maine at a later date.

___

Online:

http://deadpoets.typepad.com/

___

This story has been corrected to show that the celebration of life is in York, Pennsylvania, not Elkins Park, Pennsylvania.Authorities say a New Jersey doctor accused of arranging the murder of his radio host wife to keep her from exposing a drug ring he was running with a biker gang has been found dead in his jail cell, having apparently killed himself.

A spokesman for Hudson County says Dr. James Kauffman was found dead in his cell at 9:20 a.m. Friday in what authorities termed an apparent suicide at the county jail in Kearney.

They did not release details of how Kauffman is believed to have taken his own life, but say there does not appear to be any indication of foul play.

Kauffman was charged with arranging the 2012 murder of his wife, April, to prevent her from exposing an illegal drug distribution ring he was running with the Pagans biker gang.ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - Maryland's public colleges and universities would be required to develop stronger policies for reporting and documenting campus hate crimes and bias incidents under a measure introduced in the General Assembly on Friday in response to the stabbing of a black Bowie State University student at the University of Maryland.

Democratic Delegate Angela Angel partly modeled her bill on some actions already taken at the College Park campus in the aftermath of U.S Army 2nd Lt. Richard Collins' death in May, with a goal of seeing those replicated statewide.

For example, the measure calls for a coordinator to take reports and make sure they are posted online for students, faculty and the public to see. The University of Maryland is in the process of hiring such a coordinator.

FILE - This undated photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Richard Collins III. Maryland's public colleges would be required to develop stronger policies for reporting hate crimes and bias incidents, under a measure state lawmakers are considering. It follows the May 2017 death of Collins, an African-American student at Bowie State University who was stabbed at the University of Maryland, College Park by Sean Urbanski, a College Park campus student who is white, and is charged with a hate crime. The bill would require universities to designate a coordinator to take reports and make sure they're posted online for students, faculty and the public. (U.S. Army via AP, File)

"I hope the steps the University of Maryland is taking to make the campus a safe place for all students is expanded to all other universities and colleges in the state, and hopefully other states are able to model this bill to protect their students as well," said Angel's chief of staff, Yanet Amanuel, who was part of a coalition urging stronger measures against hate crimes when she was a student there.

The bill would require that the outcome of such investigations be made public. It also would mandate hate-crime awareness training for freshmen, and electronic alert systems that notify students about campus hate crimes. The measure would require the Maryland Higher Education Commission to submit a report to the General Assembly on the universities' compliance with diversity goals and reporting on hate-bias incidents.

"It seems to be happening in our society more and more - that there's kind of this undercurrent that we're not necessarily paying as close attention to - and then when something bubbles up and a tragedy happens, then we're reactive," Angel said.

"On all of our campuses, we want to put something that's pre-emptive, and that's going to make the universities begin to look at the atmosphere on their campus and take some measures hopefully to make it a safe space for everyone," she added.

Other legislation would apply nationwide.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown of Maryland introduced a bill in Congress aimed at holding university officials accountable by requiring them to inform local law enforcement about any campus hate crimes, and requiring accreditors to assess each university's preventative measures before approving their eligibility to receive federal financial aid payments for students.

Many people learned only after Collins was murdered that racist flyers had been spread around the campus, and a noose had been found inside a fraternity house.

"For example, with the noose, we didn't find out until two weeks later, and I felt like that was something urgent that students should know about," Amanuel said.

University of Maryland President Wallace Loh announced this week that the university is investing more than $3.8 million to encourage a welcoming atmosphere. The effort includes launching a Center for Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education, expanding the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, providing new training for student leaders and workshops for university leaders. A comprehensive campus climate survey also will be conducted every other year.

Collins, who was African American, was days away from graduating from Bowie State, a historically black university. Sean Urbanski, a white student at the College Park campus, allegedly attacked Collins because of his race and has been charged with a hate crime. Urbanski had joined a racist Facebook group several months before the stabbing, according to investigators. His trial is scheduled for July.

___

This story has been corrected to show that the campus climate survey will be conducted every other year, instead of biannually.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26)  Health Secretary Francisco Duque said officials could have waited for the results of clinical trials on dengue vaccine Dengvaxia to know its risks before launching the nationwide immunization program.

"If they had waited for 2017, they would've known they cannot give this Dengvaxia to children who never had dengue in the past," Duque said in a media briefing Thursday.

Duque said the clinical trial by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) was scheduled to end last year. However, the Department of Health under the Aquino administration began to vaccinate children in Metro Manila, Central Luzon, and CALABARZON in April 2016.

"They could've waited. Prudence would've dictated to wait until the Phase 3 clinical trial should've been concluded," he said.

Vaccine manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur said in a November 2017 statement that those who receive Dengvaxia without prior dengue infections face the risk of a severe disease.

More than 837,000 school children received the vaccine before Duque stopped the immunization program last December 1.

From March 2016 to January 24 this year, over 26 children who had Dengvaxia have died. Autopsy reports from both the Health Department and the Public Attorney's Office (PAO), however, maintain there are no conclusive findings to link the vaccine with the deaths.

On Thursday, PAO personnel conducted their 11th autopsy on a deceased child, who received Dengvaxia. PAO Forensics Laboratory consultant Dr. Erwin Erfe said that while there is a pattern, the findings are not conclusive.

However, Erfe advised parents of children who were given Dengvaxia should remain vigilant within six months of their vaccination.

"When children who receive Dengvaxia experience headache fever and abdominal pain or vomiting i-hospitalize na nila, have them checked and observed," he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman asked the RITM to submit all documents related to the trials.

Meanwhile, Duque said Executive Order 674, which establishes the RITM, must be reviewed to include possible conflicts of interest in its research activities in partnership with pharmaceutical companies.

"We probably should stop private manufacturing companies for vaccines and medicines to have anything to do with research activities," he said.

In a January 19 statement, RITM maintained the accuracy of its research, and the safety of its research participants.

"The RITM researchers firmly stand that the clinical trial on the dengue vaccine was responsibly conducted, uncorrupted by any conflict of interests, has provided accurate and unbiased results, and most importantly, has upheld the safety of its research participants more than its scientific goals," the statement read.

CNN Philippines Correspondents Xianne Arcangel and Triciah Terada contributed to this report.NEW YORK (AP) - Social media sleuths had a field day Friday at the expense of Vanity Fair over what appeared to be digital manipulation of the magazine's cover spread on Hollywood that lent what looked to some like a third leg for Reese Witherspoon and an extra hand for Oprah Winfrey.

The magazine responded on Twitter with an apology for an "error" in regard to Winfrey. As for Witherspoon, Vanity Fair said the third leg was actually the lining of her dress.

Vanity Fair did not use the "P'' word - Photoshop - but said the Winfrey image will be updated on the magazine's Web site.

And then there's James Franco, who was excluded from the annual celebration of top stars in Hollywood after accusations of sexual misconduct from five women surfaced.

"We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him," the magazine said in a statement.

Representatives for Franco did not immediately return an email request for comment Friday.

This year's issue, with photos shot by Annie Leibovitz, also features Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Gal Gadot, Jessica Chastain, Robert De Niro, Michael B. Jordan and Claire Foy, among others.

Winfrey and Witherspoon had some fun over the Twitter flurry, with Witherspoon tweeting at Winfrey: "Well...I guess everybody knows now...I have 3 legs. I hope you can still accept me for who I am. ??( and I will never apologize for snuggling @Oprah .. if you get the opportunity, I highly recommend it;)"

To which Winfrey responded: "I accept your 3d leg. As I know you accept my 3d hand??????????????"NEW YORK (AP) - Wynn Resorts is denying multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault by founder Steve Wynn detailed in a Wall Street Journal report that sent shares of the casino company tumbling more than 10 percent Friday.

The paper reported that a number of women say they were harassed or assaulted by the casino mogul and finance chair of the Republican National Committee.

One case led to a $7.5 million settlement with a manicurist, the paper reported. The detailed report relies on interviews with dozens of people who corroborate a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct with female employees.

FILE - This March 15, 2016, file photo, shows casino mogul Steve Wynn at a news conference in Medford, Mass. Wynn Resorts is denying multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault by its founder Steve Wynn, describing it as a smear campaign related to divorce proceedings from his ex-wife. The Wall Street Journal reported Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, that a number of women say they were harassed or assaulted by the casino mogul. Wynn denied the allegations personally in a printed statement. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

The company says it is committed to operating with the "highest ethical standards and maintaining a safe and respectful culture." In a statement sent to The Associated Press, it called the allegations part of a smear campaign related to divorce proceedings from Wynn's ex-wife.

Wynn also denied the allegations personally.

Wynn, who is chairman and CEO of the company he founded, is a titan in Las Vegas and played a major role in the revitalization of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1990s. It was Wynn's company that built the Golden Nugget, The Bellagio and Mirage Resorts in the heart of the town.

A wave of sexual misconduct claims against prominent figures in entertainment, media and politics gained momentum last fall in the aftermath of articles detailing movie producer's Harvey Weinstein's decades of alleged rape and harassment. But Wynn is the first CEO and founder of a major publicly held company to come under scrutiny since the Weinstein allegations surfaced.

There appeared to be immediate business implications for the casino magnate. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission said Friday it is launching a review following the allegations published by the Journal. Spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll said the commission's investigations and enforcement bureau will conduct a regulatory review to determine the appropriate next steps, adding "the suitability and integrity of our gaming licensees is of the utmost importance."

Wynn is building a roughly $2.5 billion resort in the Boston suburb of Everett.

In a lengthy statement, Wynn and his company both attributed the allegations to a campaign led by Wynn's ex-wife, Elaine Wynn.

"The conduct of Elaine during the course of the pending lawsuits has been shocking and deeply disturbing to me personally and as the CEO of Wynn Resorts," Wynn said.

Devon Spurgeon, a spokeswoman for Elaine Wynn, declined to comment on the allegations in the article or Steve Wynn's allegations responding to the article.

In its reporting, The Wall Street Journal stated that none of the alleged victims reached out to the publication. Instead, the newspaper said it sought out more than 150 people who had worked for Wynn, many of whom did not want to go on record for fear of losing their jobs.

The newspaper reported that Wynn's actions were well known enough that employees would sometimes enter fake appointments in the books to help other female workers avoid him. In some cases, female employees in the salon would hide in back rooms if they knew Wynn was on his way to the casino.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. said there has never been a complaint made about Wynn to the company's independent hotline for reporting harassment.

The White House and the Republican National Committee did not respond to requests for comment Friday on Wynn's status as the RNC's finance chair.

Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor, contributing more than $600,000 to GOP causes last year, according to the Federal Election Commission. Among his 2017 beneficiaries are Sen. Dean Heller of Nevada whose re-election campaign received almost $19,000 from Wynn and his wife last year.

Heller, once a sharp critic of President Donald Trump, faces a difficult re-election fight this year in a state Democrat Hillary Clinton carried, but where Republican Danny Tarkanian is challenging him in the June primary. Heller campaign aides did not immediately return messages requesting comment on the contributions.

Since 2013, Wynn has contributed nearly $2.4 million to GOP candidates and party organizations around the country, including 2017 special election winners as well as dozens of state Republican Party committees.

In 2016, Wynn contributed $167,000 to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and made individual donations totaling $5,400 each to Republican Senate campaigns of Alaska's Lisa Murkowski, Florida's Marco Rubio, South Carolina's Tim Scott, Texas' Ted Cruz and Wisconsin's Ron Johnson.

___

Associated Press writers Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, Michelle Price in Salt Lake City, Steve LeBlanc in Boston and Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - A cardiologist has sued some Wichita hospitals and doctors alleging that they performed expensive medical tests and procedures that weren't necessary on patients, including one who underwent 17 heart sonograms in a year.

The federal lawsuit brought by Dr. Mazen Shaheen was initially filed in November 2016 but was not unsealed until Thursday after the Justice Department declined to join in the case. The government retained its right to do so in the future.

"The government's decision to decline should not be construed as a statement about the merits of the case," said Jim Cross, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office.

The lawsuit names Via Christi Health, Inc.; Kansas Heart Hospital LLC; Cardiovascular Consultants of Kansas and doctors, some of whom were named and others not identified. Via Christi Health operates three Via Christi-branded hospitals in Wichita and is also a part owner of Kansas Heart Hospital.

"Via Christi just learned of the filing of this lawsuit," Via Christi said in an emailed statement Friday. "Should this litigation proceed, we intend to vigorously defend the matter, as we are not aware of any merit to the potential allegations."

Kansas Heart Hospital declined comment, and Cardiovascular Consultants did not respond to a phone message.

Shaheen's complaint lists as examples 47 unnamed patients who underwent allegedly unneeded cardiac tests and procedures dating as far back as 2013. He alleges their treatment deviated from medical standards and unnecessarily risked patients' lives and health. Those medically unnecessary procedures included heart stents to keep arteries open, valve replacements and cardiac catherizations in which a tube is inserted into a large blood vessel to examine the heart.

The treatment unnecessarily subjected patients to risks from bleeding, damage to blood vessels caused by the catheter, abnormal heart rhythms, kidney damage, inflection and problems associated with certain medications, according to the lawsuit.

Some patients underwent multiple unnecessary procedures to diagnose and treat them, including some patients who had as many as five cardiac catherizations in a year and one who underwent 17 sonograms of the heart in a single year, the lawsuit contends.

"The Procedures are lucrative procedures for the physicians performing them, and for the hospitals in which they are performed," according to the complaint.

Shaheen also argued that Via Christi improperly diverts patients in need of cardiology consultations from other practices to Cardiovascular Consultants and to two doctors. The lawsuit also alleges Via Christi has a bonus program used in part to incentivize physicians to perform such procedures at its hospitals.

The case alleges violations of the False Claims Act, a federal law which allows whistleblowers who win such lawsuits to share with the government in any money recovered for programs such as Medicare.

Phillip Brownlee, executive director of the Medical Society of Sedgwick County, said Friday he had not heard of a pervasive practice in Wichita of unnecessary procedures on heart patients.

By virtue of his cardiology practice and participation in the Wichita medical community, Shaheen contends in his lawsuit that he was "ideally situated to investigate and uncover the fraudulent conduct" alleged in his lawsuit. As a cardiologist with hospital privileges at the Via Christi and other hospitals, he cited his personal knowledge of how they operate and his interactions with other medical practices in the city.

Shaheen practiced medicine in Wichita from 2009 to 2010, when he left for fellowships at the University of Tennessee and the University of Oklahoma, according to the lawsuit. After completing those fellowships in 2014 he returned to Wichita where he resumed his medical practice specializing in Interventional cardiology. Interventional cardiology is a non-surgical option which uses a catheter to repair narrowed arteries and other parts of the heart.PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The family of an Arizona rancher who was killed by police during the armed occupation of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon alleged in a U.S. lawsuit Friday that he was "deliberately executed by a preplanned government ambush."

The wrongful-death lawsuit filed in Portland on the second anniversary of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum's death seeks at least $5 million in damages for his widow and each of their 12 children. The United States is listed as a defendant, along with the FBI, Oregon State Police, Gov. Kate Brown and others.

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said the agency does not comment on pending litigation. Representatives for the governor and state police did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2016 file photo, Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, left, a rancher from Arizona, talks to reporters at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore. The family of Finicum, an Arizona rancher fatally shot by Oregon State Police during the armed occupation of a national wildlife refuge, alleged in a federal lawsuit Friday, Jan. 26, 2018, that he was "deliberately executed by a preplanned government ambush." The wrongful-death lawsuit filed in Portland on the second anniversary of Finicum's death seeks at least $5 million in damages for his widow plus each of their 12 children. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Finicum served as a spokesman for the armed group led by Ammon and Ryan Bundy that occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in 2016 to oppose federal control of land in the U.S. West and the imprisonment of two ranchers.

Investigators determined that state troopers were justified in shooting Finicum three times in the back after he exited his vehicle at a police roadblock, put his hands in the air and then reached toward a handgun in his inner jacket pocket.

The investigation also found that an FBI agent at the scene failed to disclose that he fired two rounds that missed Finicum. The agent, W. Joseph Astarita, has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice. He is listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

The complaint compares the shooting of a Finicum to the high-profile shooting of a North Korean defector in November 2017. It notes that the North Korean man survived and made it across the border to a friendlier government on the other side.

"The story was captivating, because in the American psyche, the idea of being shot in the back by your own government for trying to cross a border is unthinkable," the lawsuit said.

It claims Finicum was shot "assassination style" while trying to cross from Harney County into Grant County for a meeting with a sheriff who was sympathetic to the ranchers' cause.

Dozens of people took over the remote refuge in southeastern Oregon from Jan. 2 to Feb. 11, 2016. They were allowed to come and go for several weeks as authorities tried to avoid bloodshed seen in past standoffs at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho.

But authorities moved in Jan. 26 when key standoff leaders left the refuge for a community meeting in neighboring Grant County, pulling over two vehicles and arresting the occupiers inside.

Finicum, 54, was driving one vehicle. Video taken by a passenger showed the occupants panicking after authorities stopped the truck.

With his window rolled down, Finicum shouted at officers: "Shoot me, just shoot me! Put the bullet through me."

Finicum then sped off, coming to a roadblock and plowing into a snowbank.

The complaint says more than a dozen current and former Arizona officials wrote a letter to Oregon's governor, asking her to conduct a more transparent investigation into what happened next.

"Defendant has refused," according to the lawsuit.ATLANTA (AP) - A man accused of threatening the staff of U.S. Rep. John Lewis pleaded guilty Friday in federal court.

Dante Antione Rosser, 43, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening a federal official. Rosser's plea agreement calls for a sentence of 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, prosecutor Phyllis Clerk said in court.

Clerk said Rosser made threatening calls - some sexual in nature - to Lewis' offices in Atlanta and Washington from March 2016 through February 2017.

FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 file photo, Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., is interviewed at the Nashville Public Library in Nashville, Tenn. Dante Antione Rosser, a man accused of threatening the staff of U.S. Rep. John Lewis has pleaded guilty in federal court. Rosser pleaded guilty Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 to a charge of threatening a federal official. Prosecutor Phyllis Clerk said Rosser's plea agreement calls for a sentence of 18 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

Court records say the Democratic congressman's Atlanta-based staff members expressed "grave concerns" for their safety after Rosser visited their office and made repeated phone calls.

Rosser made 46 calls over two days in February and demanded the congressman's staff seek "financial reparations" for his family, according to a sworn statement from a U.S. Capitol Police special agent. The statement says Rosser threatened to "splatter their heads all over the ground."

After the case received media attention, the staff at an apartment complex near Atlanta where Rosser had previously lived contacted the FBI to say that he had harassed them for about two years, Clerk told a magistrate judge in July. The threats and harassment increased in intensity, and Rosser even showed up at the leasing office and shouted at the employees, Clerk said.

The recommendation of 18 months in prison is binding if U.S. District Judge Steve Jones accepts the plea agreement. Jones said he wanted to review a presentence report to be completed by a probation officer before accepting the agreement. Sentencing is set for April 23.NEW YORK (AP) - Mark Ruffalo, Lee Daniels, Michael Moore and Whoopi Goldberg are among celebrities who plan to attend an evening of speeches and music at "The People's State of the Union," billed as a "public alternative" to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address.

The event is planned for Monday, the day before Trump's speech, at The Town Hall, an historic venue in Manhattan founded as a meeting spot for suffragists more than 90 years ago.

Among those slated to perform are Andra Day and Common, who will sing their Grammy- and Oscar-nominated song "Stand Up for Something" from the film "Marshall."

FILE - In this Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011 file photo, actor Mark Ruffalo, center, speaks to demonstrators at the Occupy Wall Street encampment in Zuccotti Park before participating in an anti Hydraulic fracturing march in New York. Ruffalo is among celebrities to participate in an evening of speeches and music in New York on Monday, Jan. 29, 2018, a day before President Donald Trump's State of the Union address. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Ruffalo, a vocal progressive, said the evening will be an "inspirational event where activists and influencers join together to articulate a positive vision for our future, and how we're going to win our country back."

Host organizations include unions, organizers of the Women's March and Planned Parenthood. The event will be livestreamed at peoplessotu.org.

Online, Alyssa Milano on Tuesday will launch an initiative, #StateOfTheDream, to support immigrants and raise money for United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led organization.

In a statement, Milano called for social media users to create brief videos describing "your dream for America" and post them at the same time, 9 p.m. EST, with the effort's hashtag. She urged on Twitter: Please join us! Resist and persist with digital counter-programming to Trump's #SOTUBOSTON (AP) - Haitian immigrants and their supporters marched and rallied in downtown Boston on Friday to decry President Donald Trump's recent comments and policies concerning Haitians.

Roughly 200 people came out to City Hall Plaza waving Haitian flags and holding signs critical of the president before marching silently next door to the John F. Kennedy Federal Building that houses many federal agencies.

The gathering was meant as a rebuke of a vulgar comment Trump made about Haiti and African nations during negotiations with congressional leaders over immigration policy, organizers said.

Haitian activists and immigrants protest on City Hall Plaza in Boston, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Haitian community leaders complained last week that the Trump administration's delays in re-registering those living in the U.S. legally through the Temporary Protected Status program would lead to job losses, travel problems and other issues for Haitians. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

"We can stand in the cold because we are fighting for what is right," said Geralde Gabeau, a rally organizer. "We are not going to repeat the words of the president because we are a people of character, grace and dignity."

Organizers also called on the Trump administration to re-examine its decision to terminate temporary protected status for tens of thousands of Haitians. The special status allows foreign nationals to live and work in the United State temporarily when natural disasters or civil wars prevent them from returning to their home countries safely.

Haitians were granted the status following a devastating earthquake that struck the Caribbean island nation in 2010.

It's been renewed a number of times, to the consternation of opponents who say the humanitarian measure was never intended to allow immigrants to establish permanent roots in the U.S.

The status was slated to expire Jan. 19 for Haitians, but the Trump administration automatically extended it through July 2019, after which those on the special status must return to Haiti.

The Rev. Dieufort Fleurissaint, chairman of Haitian Americans United and another rally organizer, said delays in re-registering Haitians for the remainder of the special status already are causing employment problems.

He said many companies are telling Haitian workers this week that they can't return to work until they have updated work permits in hand, a process that federal officials say could take about three months.

"It's a nightmare," Fleurissaint said. "There's a lot of confusion."

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services spokeswoman Joanne Talbot said the agency wasn't aware of any major problems.

It so far has received "less than 10" queries from business owners about the renewal process, but didn't immediately have an estimate for how many it questions or complaints it has fielded from Haitian immigrants, Talbot said.

The agency last week outlined the process for Haitians seeking to re-register for temporary protected status and receive updated documents.

It said that Haitians could simply provide their employers with a copy of the official re-registration announcement as proof their work status remains valid until their new papers arrive.

Dozens of the protesters also criticized Trump for pushing policies they see as a threat to family ties.

Trump has offered to protect young people brought into the country illegally as children in exchange for major changes to legal immigration. He also would eliminate hundreds of thousands of family-related visas. Immigrants would only be allowed to sponsor their spouses and underage children to join them in the U.S., and not their parents, adult children or siblings.

Trump also proposed to end the visa lottery program that benefits people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.

Haitian activists and immigrants protest on City Hall Plaza in Boston, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. Haitian community leaders complained last week that the Trump administration's delays in re-registering those living in the U.S. legally through the Temporary Protected Status program would lead to job losses, travel problems and other issues for Haitians. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)MADRID (AP) - Real Madrid will be without central defender Sergio Ramos and midfielder Isco for Saturday's Spanish league match at Valencia because of injury.

Madrid said on Friday that Ramos has pulled a muscle in his left leg, while Isco has a pinched nerve in his left thigh.

Madrid is in a fight to ensure a top-four finish. It trails third-place Valencia by five points - albeit with a game in hand - and has Villarreal one point behind in fifth.

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos leaves the pitch at the end of the Spanish Copa del Rey quarterfinal second leg soccer match between Real Madrid and Leganes at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2018. Leganes won 2-1(AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Madrid visits Valencia's Mestalla Stadium three days after a shock loss to Leganes sent it tumbling out of the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.GUATEMALA CITY (AP) - Officials in Guatemala say unidentified gunmen have killed a former president of the Supreme Court.

Municipal firefighters in the capital say that 75-year-old Jose Arturo Sierra was shot seven times as he drove in Guatemala City. The Roosevelt Hospital said Friday that Sierra died upon arrival.

The Supreme Court said in a statement that it rejected another act of violence in the country.

Sierra served on the court from 2009 to 2014, as well as on the country's Constitutional Court.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26)  The Philippine National Police (PNP) helped bail out their men involved in a botched operation in Mandaluyong, but an official from the National Police Commission (Napolcom) said this is unfair.

Napolcom Vice Chairman Rogelio Casurao on Friday confirmed the 10 Mandaluyong police involved in a deadly shooting incident posted bail on January 19.

When asked if PNP helped pay the bail of the policemen, Casurao replied, "Yes, they are out on bail, but not at the expense of the PNP because that is supposed to be government money."

Casurao believes the PNP should not have used public funds to help pay the bail.

"I think it's not proper that the PNP should spend for their bail bond. If they (policemen) had to put up bail for their temporary liberty, they have to spend that from their own private funds," he told CNN Philippines in a phone interview.

He said the PNP paid P30,000, by way of insurance premium, for each policeman.

The policemen are facing homicide charges following a botched operation in Mandaluyong last December 28. Responding to another shooting, police gave chase to a car they believed carried the gunman. The van was later discovered as actually rushing a shooting victim to the hospital. Shooting from the police killed one of the civilians in the vehicle, while the first shooting victim died in the hospital.

PNP Chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa had earlier said they were raising bail fund.

"That's our moral responsibility dahil mga tao rin namin iyon [because they are our personnel], and they were performing their duties at the time," Dela Rosa said on January 19.

Dela Rosa defended his men, believing it was an honest mistake.

"Although pumalpak, nagkamali  but still, deep inside them, wala silang ill motive sa ginagawa nilang lakad na iyon," he said.

[Translation: Even though they failed, there was no ill-motive in their operation.]

Casurao said the 10 policemen are in restrictive custody, meaning they cannot leave the PNP headquarters in Quezon City without prior permission from Dela Rosa. He said they policemen are also facing administrative charges before Napolcom.CORNING, N.Y. (AP) - An upstate New York college student has pleaded not guilty in the death of her mother, which prosecutors say was staged to look like a suicide.

Corning police this week charged 20-year-old Karrie Neurauter, of Syracuse, and her father, 45-year-old Lloyd Neurauter, of North Brunswick, New Jersey, with second-degree murder in the August death of 46-year-old Michele Neurauter.

Karrie Neurauter, a student at Rochester Institute of Technology, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon and is being held in county jail without bail. Her attorney had no comment to media. Lloyd Neurauter, Michele Neurauter's ex-husband, is being held in New Jersey pending extradition.

Police say Michele Neurauter died of strangulation at her Corning home. Police say they had previously responded to multiple domestic violence calls there.

Officials didn't reveal a possible motive or method of death.Modernised strategic bombers will boost Russias military power, President Vladimir Putin has said.

Speaking on a visit to an aircraft-making plant in Kazan, Mr Putin said the revamped version of the Soviet-designed Tu-160 bomber features new engines and avionics that would significantly enhance its capability.

The Russian leader attended Thursdays signing of a contract that will see the delivery of 10 such planes to the Russian air force.

Vladimir Putin meeting workers at an aircraft factory in Kazan (Alexei Nikolsky/AP)

He said the upgraded bomber is a serious step in the development of high-tech industries and strengthening the nations defence capabilities.

The four-engine supersonic bomber developed in the 1980s is the largest combat plane in the world.

During Russias campaign in Syria, the military used the Tu-160s to launch long-range cruise missiles at militant targets.Scotlands First Minister has been accused of lying in a television debate over a decision to close a childrens hospital ward.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie claimed Nicola Sturgeon is hiding behind doctors in the closure of the ward at Paisleys Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Speaking at First Ministers Questions, he said: Doctors may have advised her to close the childrens ward at Paisley but they did not force her to lie in that election TV debate.

Is she not ashamed of blaming the doctors for her broken promise?

Willie Rennie at First Ministers Questions (Scottish Parliament/PA)

She responded by calling Mr Rennie a pathetic attention seeker and said at the proposal to close the Royal Alexandra Hospital was not before the government at the time of the television debate in May 2016.

She said: I am sorry if it upsets Willie Rennie but I am not prepared to apologise for listening to the doctors who know best about how to treat sick children in this country.

There was at the time of that debate no proposal on the ward. There had been no clinical evidence presented. That changed in the months that followed.

Both MSPs were rebuked by the Presiding Officer for their language and told to treat each other with respect.

The First Minister also faced questions on the ward closure from Labour leader Richard Leonard.

He asked said: On May 1 2016 the First Minister told Gordon Clark on national television there were no proposals to close the childrens ward at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

Now less than two years later her government is closing the childrens ward down.

Mr Clark is here today in the public gallery so will the First Minister take this opportunity to apologise to Mr Clark for misleading him?

He added this is about her integrity and said people feel betrayed.

Ms Sturgeon said immediately following the debate Labour claimed she had refused to give a guarantee to protect the childrens ward now appear to have changed their position.

She added: As this matter moves forward the interests and health of children will be paramount at all times.Alexis Sanchezs Manchester United debut could come in Somerset after Jose Mourinho confirmed the man he rates as one of the best attacking players in the world will be in his squad to face Yeovil.

Uniteds new number seven completed his move to Old Trafford on Monday in a straight swap deal with Arsenal that saw 35million-rated midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan head in the opposite direction.

Sanchez, 29, will now be part of the group Mourinho takes to Huish Park for a fourth-round tie with the League Two Glovers on Friday night.

Jose Mourinho confirms that @Alexis_Sanchez will be part of #MUFC's squad travelling to Yeovil for Friday nights @EmiratesFACup clash.  Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 25, 2018

In the Premier League he has shown already the quality he has. We got one of the best attacking players in the world, Mourinho said of Sanchez.

I think hes very important for us because we want to have the best possible players.

Should he feature at Yeovil, Mourinho may consider Sanchez for a number of different attacking roles having been impressed by his versatility for Italian side Udinese and Spanish giants Barcelona prior to his 2014 arrival in England.

Manchester United are heading to Football League minnows Yeovil on Friday (Mark Kerton/PA)

Our careers are almost made in the same countries simultaneously, so I know him very, very well, added former Inter Milan and Real Madrid boss Mourinho.

I saw him play on the right, on the left, as a striker and behind the striker, these are Alexis positions.

I saw him play in different tactical systems, with different philosophies of different managers, I saw him (be) successful in every country, with every manager, with every system, in every position.

Having just pulled off one significant coup in the transfer market, Mourinho dismissed the possibility of making another seismic move by bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford from Real Madrid.

The 32-year-old has again been linked with a return to United, the club he left to join Madrid in a then world-record deal in 2009.

Ronaldo and his Madrid team-mates are experiencing an unhappy campaign in Spain as they trail LaLiga leaders Barcelona by 19 points.

I think with the moment Real Madrid is having now, I think I should be the last one to add some fuel to the fire, Mourinho said.

Madrid is on fire, the results are not good and its a club where I worked (for) three years, I care about the club.

I am the last one to add fire so to put some water on the fire, I would say Cristiano is the kind of player that every manager, club wants but only one manager, club can have  (Zinedine) Zidane and Real Madrid, thats my feeling.

By signing Sanchez in a swap deal, Mourinho also bid farewell to Mkhitaryan, one of his first signings at United in the summer of 2016.

Mourinho on Mkhitaryan: United & Arsenal made a fantastic deal, I lost a fantastic player, Mr Wenger lost a fantastic player. Alexis changed from a fantastic club to a giant club & Mkhi changed also for a fantastic club, so it was a great deal for everybody. #mufc #afc  Liam Blackburn (@liamblackburn) January 25, 2018

The Armenian, also 29, has been inconsistent but his old boss is confident he will shine under Arsene Wenger in north London.

United and Arsenal made a fantastic deal, Mourinho said. I lost a fantastic player, Mr Wenger lost a fantastic player. I got a fantastic player, Mr Wenger got a fantastic player.

I believe that Mkhi is going to be even better than he was with us. Why? Because (with) one and a half years in England, the Premier League, adapted, knows Arsenal, the way they play, they think.

Could he perform better with us? Could I take more from his talent? Maybe. Could he give a little bit more also to try to adapt to us? Maybe. But I dont think (about) regrets. Hes in our history, he did important things for us so (there is a) good feeling for everybody.Downing Street has defended the selection of campaigner Sara Khan to lead a new counter-extremism drive.

The Government confirmed on Wednesday that Ms Khan will head up the newly created Commission for Countering Extremism.

Ms Khan, whose official title will be lead commissioner, is co-founder of Inspire, a counter-extremism and human rights organisation.

Co-Director and Founder of Inspire, Sara Khan speaks during the Women in the World conference at Cadogan Hall in London.

Her website describes her as one of the UKs leading Muslim female voices on countering Islamist extremism and promoting human rights.

However, she has been accused of being a mouthpiece for the Government by former Tory chairwoman Baroness Warsi, who described the move as a deeply disturbing appointment.

She wrote on Twitter: Sara is sadly seen by many as simply a creation of and mouthpiece for the Home Office.

2/4

Sara has unfortunately been a strong advocate of the governments policy of disengagement, a policy which many,including members of the police and intelligence services, consider has damaged the important battle to engage Britains Muslim communities  Sayeeda Warsi (@SayeedaWarsi) January 24, 2018

The Muslim Council of Britain expressed grave concerns about the appointment.

Harun Khan, secretary general, said: The fight against terrorism requires equal partnership between all parties, including Muslim communities.

This appointment risks sending a clear and alarming message that the Government has no intention of doing so.

The Muslim Council of Britain responds to the appointment of Sara Khan as Lead for the Commission for Countering Extremism pic.twitter.com/J2EoTGBRBD  MCB (@MuslimCouncil) January 25, 2018

But a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May insisted Ms Khan is expertly qualified to lead the Commissions work and she will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the commission.

Dame Louise Casey praised the really important appointment of Ms Khan.

The Governments former integration tsar told the Press Association: She doesnt deny there is a problemI think she has enormous courage, I think she is fiercely independent.

The idea that she is a Government stooge is hard to reconcile with her opposition (strongly shared by me) to its ill-advised 2015/16 plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill.  David Anderson (@bricksilk) January 25, 2018

Discussing the appointment on Twitter, David Anderson QC, the former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, said: I for one will be giving Sara a fair chance, and wishing her the good luck that I suspect she will need!

The idea that she is a Government stooge is hard to reconcile with her opposition (strongly shared by me) to its ill-advised 2015/16 plans for a Counter-Extremism Bill.

Plans to set up the commission were announced by Prime Minister Theresa May after the Manchester bombing in May last year  one of five terror attacks to hit Britain in 2017.

Leading human rights and counter extremism campaigner Sara Khan selected to lead new Commission for Countering Extremism: https://t.co/e6v8NG3wKf pic.twitter.com/3Ztahpp2Ej  Home Office (@ukhomeoffice) January 24, 2018

The body will be tasked with identifying and challenging all forms of extremism, advising ministers on new policies and promoting pluralistic British values.

Its remit is also expected to include helping train schools and colleges to spot warning signs and ensuring womens rights are upheld.

Announcing the appointment, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: The Commission for Countering Extremism will form a crucial part of this Governments work to stop the scourge of extremism in all its forms and Sara Khan is expertly qualified to lead its important work.

She will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the commission which will prove vital as it works to identify and challenge extremism and provide independent advice to the Government.

Ms Khan is expected to take her post in the next month.

The appointment is for a period of three years.Pay-TV giant Sky has taken another step towards ditching the dish after confirming the rollout of a fibre-optic broadband service as it reported a hike in earnings and revenues.

The group said it would launch a long-awaited broadband service for its channels in Italy followed by Austria this year allowing customers who cannot or do not want to install a satellite dish access to its full TV service.

It will follow with the UK and the rest of its key markets in what it hailed a major development for the group which will give it greater might to compete against online players Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Chief executive Jeremy Darroch cheered an `excellent set of results (Sky/PA)

Details of the plan, first revealed a year ago, came as the group posted a 10% rise in underlying earnings to 1.1 billion for the six months to the end of December as it added 365,000 new customers.

The figures came days after Britains competition watchdog provisionally found that 21st Century Foxs 11.7 billion bid to take full control of Sky was not in the public interest.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the deal would hand Fox owner Rupert Murdoch and his family too much control over UK news media and is looking at remedies before making its final decision by May 1.

Skys interim results showed the groups customer base stands at 22.9 million after the half-year performance, having added 2,000 customers a day.

On a reported basis, operating profits rose 24% to 573 million, while revenues lifted 5% to 6.7 billion thanks to a boom in demand for pay-as-you-go products.

Sky reported an 8% hike in pay-as-you-go products sold, such as one-off films and sporting events including through Now TV, at 20 million in the half-year.

It also announced the launch of a low cost plug-in stick for its Now TV streaming service, in a further move to take on online rivals.

Chief executive Jeremy Darroch cheered an excellent set of results against a difficult consumer market, with household finances under pressure.

He said: This performance reflects the investment choices we have made in recent years, allowing us to more than offset the pressure on consumer spending across Europe.

Looking ahead, we expect the consumer environment to remain challenging, however we remain confident in our strategy and our ability to execute our plans.

Mr Darroch said Sky had continued to keep a lid on costs through efficiency savings, but would remain focused on investing in original content each and every year.

Viewing on Sky channels rose 6%, boosted by the success of its Sky Original productions.

Customer churn also improved, falling to 11.2% from 11.6% a year earlier.

But the results come at a tense time for the broadcaster amid speculation that Sky News may be closed to see the Fox deal approved.

Mr Murdoch  who also owns newspapers including The Times and The Sun  will have to find a way to appease the CMA, which could include spinning Sky News off, protecting its editorial independence, or closing the channel.President Donald Trump has said he is bringing a message of peace and prosperity to an annual economic summit in the Swiss Alps.

Mr Trump arrived in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday for his first appearance at the World Economic Forum.

As he arrived at the summit venue, Mr Trump was asked how he likes Davos and replied that he thinks: Its great.

Donald Trump waves as he arrives at the conference venue in Davos (Michael Probst/AP)

Asked about his message for the gathering of world leaders, business executives and celebrities, Mr Trump said it is about peace and prosperity.

Mr Trumps attendance at the annual gathering for free-trade-loving political and business elites has raised eyebrows, given Mr Trumps protectionist leanings.

He is the first sitting U.S. president to attend the forum since Bill Clinton in 2000.

Mr Trump flew to the town of Davos by helicopter from Zurich, where he arrived on Thursday morning after flying overnight from Washington.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has described domestic abuse as a pernicious problem as the Duchess of Cornwall was shown innovative technology keeping victims safe.

Camilla was given a demonstration of a secret device during a visit to Met Police offices in Lambeth, south London, which uses the latest global tracking and location capabilities to help police locate the person in distress and provide a rapid response.

The Met Commissioner, who joined Camilla for her visit, said domestic abuse was something her force took seriously and that they were getting better and better at dealing with it.

The Duchess of Cornwall, with the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (left), during a visit to the Met Police (Kirsty Wrigglesworth/PA)

Sat at a desk with communications supervisor Steve Vaughan, Camilla watched as he responded to the fictitious alert which brought up a womans location and showed the criminal record of her partner and his car details.

The duchess said to the Met Commissioner: Just seeing it is believing  very impressive.

Since it was launched in the UK in 2011, TecSOS has been adopted by 40 out of 43 UK police forces and has given more 13,000 high-risk domestic abuse victims added security and been activated almost 1,900 times.

Camilla toured the centre where 999 and 101 non-emergency calls from across the capital are taken by staff and chatted to some of those working.

There was a lighter moment when Camilla met staff manning a fundraising tuck shop that donates proceeds to a different charity each month.

Turning to her private secretary who produced Camillas purse she gave 10 for two chocolate bars.

At the end of the visit the Met Commissioner gave a short speech: It means an enormous amount to us that youre taking such a keen interest in the issues of domestic violence, which of course remains a really pernicious problem in our society and in London and something we in the Met take incredibly seriously.

And I think there are lots of signs we are getting better and better and better at dealing  from a police point of view  but there is so much more to do, and the fact youre so interested in this subject and have met colleagues working with the new way of protecting people is really appreciated.

In response, the Duchess praised the work of staff who take emergency calls from those in need: Im thrilled to have come today, Ive learnt a lot.

Till you come and see things, like the 999 calls, I dont think me, as an ordinary member of the public, understand quite what goes on behind the scenes.

I see how much work and how much time goes into it all, and the pressure, the pressure all of you must feel  Im astounded by all the work you do and I can only congratulate you all, you do us all a tremendous service, I dont know what wed do without you.

Earlier Camilla visited a centre in Camberwell, south London, where young victims of sexual abuse are offered a range of support including forensic medical examinations, follow-up sexual healthcare and access to child psychology and advocacy services.

It is one of three specialist units  known as Havens across London, run by Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, caring for victims of sexual assault but is the only one to have a section dedicated to children and young people.

The Duchess was giving a guided tour of the department by consultant paediatrician Dr Andrea Goddard and was shown the room where examinations are carried out and was told about a pioneering interview technique.

Last week for the first time an interview with a child abuse victim was carried out by a child psychologist instead of a police officer, who oversaw the gathering of evidence watching from a control room.

Detective Constable Janine Stevenson, from the Met Polices child abuse and sexual offences command who works with the Haven, said: Psychologists are better at dealing with symptoms of trauma and the effect that it has on the brain. The child can sometimes become re-traumatised whilst talking about their experiences so theyre better placed to conduct the interview.

Before leaving Camilla, who for a number of years has been supporting the work of the police and other professions who deal with sexual assault, praised the work of staff: I think the thing is about rape and sexual abuse, people dont really want to address it, nobody knows about the wonderful work people do behind the scenes. Thats why you should all be applauded for all you do. You dont get enough acclaim. US President Donald Trump has assured Theresa May that we love your country as the pair met at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Mr Trump said he wanted to correct a false rumour of a trans-Atlantic rift  sparked by their earlier spat over his retweeting of videos by far-right group Britain First and his decision not to visit London for the opening of the new US embassy.

Shaking hands with Mrs May before the cameras at the Swiss ski resort, Mr Trump said that they would talk about his mooted state visit to the UK. But neither he nor the Prime Minister gave any clue when it might take place.Irelands corporate tax system has been subjected to unfair criticism over its controversial arrangement with tech giant Apple, the Taoiseach has said.

Attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Leo Varadkar insisted Ireland was a global leader when it came to tax transparency.

In 2016, the European Commission ruled that Apple had not paid enough tax on its corporate profits in Ireland  deeming the complex arrangement in breach of EU state aid rules.

It subsequently ordered the government to claw back around 13 billion euro from the iPhone maker.

The ruling has been disputed by the Irish government and Apple, and both are challenging it in the courts.

Mr Varadkar has defended his governments tax arrangements with Apple (Niall Carson/PA)

Ireland will collect the money prior to those legal challenges, but it will not be spent until a final outcome has been reached.

Confirming that the process of securing the money from Apple would begin in the coming months, the Taoiseach said Ireland had been on the end of unfair press over the furore.

The allegation is that Ireland had some sort of special deal with Apple and we didnt  and we believe we can prove that in the courts, he said.

Mr Varadkar said the case had not made a favourable impact on Irelands international reputation.

It certainly hasnt been helpful, he told Bloomberg TV.

Ireland is a country with a very clear tax policy, we have had it for a very long time now, our corporate tax is 12.5%  its not going up, its not going down  and unlike a lot of other countries there are very few get-out clauses and exceptions and credits.

Other countries have a higher tax rate on paper but actually they collect less and the OECD figures prove that, so it certainly hasnt been helpful.

Ireland has got some bad press as a result of it but I dont think thats fair.

We are really one of the most transparent countries when it comes to tax, the fact we have a rate that is low, simple and transparent.

The Taoiseach said bad press Ireland received was `unfair (Brian Lawless/PA)

Mr Varadkar has been forced to defend Irelands tax regime from critics elsewhere in Europe.

His visit to Davos came amid a push for greater tax harmonisation across the bloc. Mr Varadkar has opposed the concept and insists Ireland will retain tax sovereignty.

The Taoiseach also said he was confident moves by the Trump administration to cut taxes and prioritise US-based companies would not have a significant impact on foreign direct investment in Ireland.

He highlighted that Ireland had many more benefits for investors aside from tax rates  including single market and Euro zone membership, and the fact it was an English-speaking county with a strong talent pool and respected education system.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26)  Albay province will never run out of drinking water for evacuees and other residents in the wake of Mayon volcano's eruptions, Governor Al Francis Bichara said Thursday.

The provincial government of Albay, more than 300 kilometers south of Manila, uses two water filtration and purifying machines that deliver potable water to 52 evacuation centers with the help of Bureau of Fire Protection trucks and the Philippine Red Cross.

Provincial Engineer Dante Baclao said these filtration machines are in Balinad, Polangui, an affected municipality in Albay.

Arnie Claveron, spokesperson of the Legazpi City Water District, also said their water supply comes from barangays Bogna, Pawa and Buyoan which are within the eight-kilometer extended danger zone.

Claveron said water supply is still normal as of press time.

More than 83,000 residents from 56 barangays in Albay have been affected by Mayon's continuing eruptions, which began on January 13. Government agencies have extended nearly 33 million in assistance to the residents.

Predictable eruption pattern?

Mayon has erupted every three to five hours in the past two days. But according to volcanologists, this cannot be used by residents to predict the volcano's activity, which is still at alert Level 4.

Between 6:11 a.m. Thursday to 2:31 a.m. Friday, there were episodes of intense and sporadic lava fountaining from the crater. Mayon then erupted again at 6.20 a.m.

As of Friday morning, authorities estimated 25 million cubic meters of volcanic material were expelled from Mayon, which is roughly 30 percent of its volcanic material capacity.

"First time ito sa history ng Mayon Volcano nagkaroon ng [that there is a] pattern," Cedric Daep of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office said.

Research specialist Paul Alanis said Mayon may still erupt in between the recent three-to-five-hour intervals.

Phivolcs Director Dr. Renato Solidum previously said the volcano is currently undergoing strombolian activity, which means frequent and moderate eruptions are expected.

Bicol-based journalist Rosas Olarte and CNN Philippines Correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.A meticulous and very careful police analyst could not explain how he failed to see a 91-year-old woman with a walking frame in the road as his vehicle fatally collided with her, a court has heard.

Stuart Bodgers walked free from court after a judge was told the incident preyed on the mind of the Greater Manchester Police civilian employee every day and he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Sprightly former dinner lady Joan Pimblett died in hospital a few days after the collision in Heaton Moor Road, Stockport, on the morning of January 27 last year.

Collision victim Joan Pimblett (Greater Manchester Police/PA)

Bodgers, 52, was arrested and interviewed but could not account for how he did not see Mrs Pimblett until it was too late to avoid impact.

Two motorists, one travelling behind Bodgers, clearly saw the great-grandmother crossing the road and slowed down, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.

The subsequent collision investigation found Bodgers was travelling at up to 20mph in a 30mph zone in his Nissan Navara, was not using his mobile phone, was not distracted by any instruments in the car and was not under the influence of drink or drugs.

Judge Paul Lawton said the two motorists were aghast there was no reaction to the pensioners presence and added: It is more than a momentary lapse, it seems to be a sustained lapse in concentration.

The judge said he was at a complete loss to explain the loss of concentration, as were the police and the Crown Prosecution Service.

Mark Rhind, defending, said Bodgers too was struggling to explain how this happened.

Mr Rhind said: His character references show he is a solid, very careful, very methodical, hard-working, law-abiding, decent man of positive good character.

He had a clean driving licence and no previous convictions. Not in any sense a reckless person.

He does a useful job. It is clear he is meticulous. He works for the police as an analyst, doing a job in public service.

This has been an incident which has had a massive and profound effect on Stuart Bodgers and his life. It preys upon his mind every day.

A victim impact statement from Mrs Pimbletts son Colin, who was in court with his two brothers, said the events had had a deep and lasting effect.

Judge Lawton said the fact that Mrs Pimblett was a sprightly lady living an independent life at her age made her loss even more tragic for her family, but he said it would be branded on the consciousness of the defendant for the rest of his life.

He sentenced Bodgers, a man of hitherto impeccable character, to eight months in jail, suspended for two years, and ordered him to perform 100 hours of unpaid work for the community.

The defendant, from Boundary Road, Cheadle, who pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to causing death by careless driving, was also banned from driving for two years.

Following her death, the family of Liverpool-born Mrs Pimblett said: She was an independent and active pensioner with many friends and was frequently seen in the local shops, cafes and restaurants.

Despite her age, she continued to travel, having family both in the UK and across the globe.

She will be sadly missed by both family and friends, tragically taken before her time.The EU will demand that European law continues to apply in the UK during the planned transition period after it leaves the bloc, according to the latest Brussels negotiating guidelines.

The guidance, obtained by Channel 4 News, says any changes to the EU acquis  the accumulated body of case law and legislation  should automatically apply to Britain during the transition, even though it will have no say in the decision-making process.

The confirmation that the UK will have to abide by any new EU laws and rulings by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) during the transition  expected to last almost two years  will heighten the concerns of pro-Brexit Tory MPs.

On Wednesday, Jacob Rees-Mogg, chairman of the influential pro-Brexit European Research Group, clashed publicly with Brexit Secretary David Davis, warning that Britain would be reduced to a vassal state of the EU.

David Davis has clashed with pro-Brexit Tories over transition (PA)

Mr Davis, who is to make a major speech on Friday setting out the Governments approach to the next phase of the negotiations, sought to play down the concerns, arguing that the EU legislative process was so slow there was unlikely to be any major changes during that period.

The document obtained by Channel 4 News, states: The Union acquis should apply to and in the United Kingdom as if it were a member state.

Any changes to the Union acquis should automatically apply to and in the United Kingdom during the transition period.

The guidance, setting out the negotiating mandate for the EUs chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, for the transition talks, is expected to be formally adopted by foreign ministers of the remaining 27 member states in Brussels on Monday.

It states that the full competences of the EU institutions  in particular the ECJ  should be preserved during the transition period, which should not run beyond December 31 2020  21 months after Britain formally leaves the bloc.

It states: The United Kingdom will however no longer participate in or nominate or elect members of the Union institutions, nor participate in the decision-making of the governance of the Union bodies, offices and agencies.Kyle Edmunds superb run at the Australian Open is over after his loss to Marin Cilic in straight sets in the semi-finals on Thursday.

The 23-year-old won five matches to become only the sixth British man in the Open era to reach the last four in singles at a grand slam.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at Edmunds path to the last four.

Close, but no Ferrari for @kyle8edmund 



Q. Fidde told us you're not going to buy a Ferrari with your winnings. Is he right?



KYLE EDMUND: Yeah (smiling), because I'm - yeah, I have a Jaguar deal, so I can't... (Laughter.)#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/G2jxblpn3O  #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2018

First round  beat Kevin Anderson 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4

Even if Edmund had only won one match, it would still have been a notable achievement after he was drawn against 11th seed and US Open finalist Anderson. But he put last seasons struggles to close out tight matches behind him by coming from two sets to one down.

Second round  beat Denis Istomin 6-2 6-2 6-4

Denis Istomin was beaten by Edmund in straight sets (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Edmund followed up his victory over Anderson with a thoroughly comprehensive win against Uzbek Istomin, not facing a single break point. Istomin defeated Novak Djokovic in the second round last year but was no match for the British number two.

Third round  beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 7-6 (7/0) 3-6 4-6 6-0 7-5

When Edmund has time to sit back and reflect on this run, this may be the match he is most proud of. With temperatures peaking above 40C, it was a mental and physical trial against a big-hitting opponent. A 20-minute game on the Basilashvili serve early in the fourth set was crucial.

Fourth round  beat Andreas Seppi 6-7 (4/7) 7-5 6-2 6-3

Edmund began nervously against veteran Italian Seppi, who does not have a big weapon but is a classy player and a good athlete. But from a set and a break down, Edmund turned on the power and seized control.

Quarter-finals  beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4

Edmund was the clear underdog for his debut on Rod Laver Arena but did not look at all overawed against the world number three. He began by breaking the Dimitrov serve in the opening game and, although the Bulgarian hit back to level, Edmund always looked capable of stepping up and did so brilliantly.

Semi-finals  lost to Marin Cilic 6-2 7-6 (7/4) 6-2

Edmund had two chances to break the sixth seeds serve in the opening game and, had he done so, perhaps the outcome could have been different. But Edmund struggled with a hip problem and was ultimately well beaten, although he never stopped fighting.Pakistani officials are investigating whether a suspect arrested over the deaths of eight girls was linked to an international child-porn ring.

The latest development came days after the arrest of Mohammad Imran, 24, in connection with the rape and killing of seven-year-old Zainab Ansari in the city of Kasur.

Zainab was assaulted and her body thrown in a rubbish dump there earlier this month, stirring outrage across Pakistan and bringing to light a string of other abductions and killings by a suspected serial predator.

Her parents were on a pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia when she went missing.

On Tuesday, police officials said the suspect had confessed to the murders. A judge at the Lahore High Court granted the police another week for the investigation.

A van carrying Mohammad Imran who is accused of eight killings (K.M. Choudary/AP)

So far Imran, who will be tried before an anti-terrorism court, has not hired a lawyer to represent him. His trial, according to the Lahore court, is expected to last a week, with daily hearings.

Pakistans chief justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Thursday demanded a report from the investigators after a local TV programme alleged the suspect could be part of a gang that supplied porn videos of children to an international network.

Pakistans interior minister Ahsan Iqbal pledged to arrest all involved in the porn ring.

Zainabs father, Mohammed Amin Ansari, has demanded that his daughters killer be publicly hanged.

However, Pakistani laws do not allow public hangings. Politicians in the upper house of parliament are divided over whether to reinstate public hangings.

There was only one instance in Pakistans 70-year history when convicts were publicly hanged: in 1979, under former dictator Ziaul Haq, four men were executed for killing a boy after assaulting him.Business Secretary Greg Clark has ordered an assessment of the financial resilience of Third Energy before deciding whether to give it the go-ahead to frack in North Yorkshire.

The company is waiting for final approval from the Government to undertake hydraulic fracturing  or fracking  for shale gas at Kirby Misperton, which has been the focus of ongoing protests.

Mr Clark said the 13 technical requirements before final consent for fracking can be given, which cover issues such as environmental protections, planning conditions and monitoring, had been met.

But he said: I also consider that an equivalent assessment should be undertaken of the financial resilience of companies proposing to carry out hydraulic fracturing operations so that stakeholders can have confidence in the companys ability to meet its commitments.

Third Energys financial accounts are overdue, with Mr Clark saying they had yet to submit accounts for the period ending December 2016, despite a statutory deadline of September 2017.

Third Energys bid to frack at Kirby Misperton has prompted ongoing protests (Danny Lawson/PA)

The Business Secretary, who makes the final decision to give the go-ahead on fracking operations in England, said in a written ministerial statement that he had asked the Oil and Gas Authority to seek further financial information including up-to-date accounts from the company.

He also said he had asked the Infrastructure and Projects Authority to assess the financial resilience of the firm, including its ability to fund decommissioning costs.

And he warned: The Government considers that the financial resilience of a company wishing to hydraulically fracture is a relevant consideration.

As a matter of policy, we will therefore look at the financial resilience of all companies wishing to carry out hydraulic fracturing operations alongside their application for hydraulic fracturing consent.

Third Energy secured permission from North Yorkshire County Council in 2016 to use an existing gas well to run test fracks almost two miles underground.

The company had hoped to begin fracking at its KM8 well, which was was sunk for conventional gas extraction in 2013, before the end of 2017.

Third Energys plans are part of efforts by several companies to get the shale gas industry in the UK off the ground, amid hopes it will boost the economy, jobs and energy security.

But opponents of fracking fear it can cause earthquakes, pollute water, lead to damaging development in the countryside and hit house prices, and is not compatible with targets to cut use of fossil fuels to tackle climate change.

Guy Shrubsole, Friends of the Earth campaigner, said: This is further confirmation of the shaky foundations that this industry is built on.

Third Energy are again late filing their accounts and questions remain about their ability to restore their fracking site if it goes wrong, as well as their wider financial health.

He called on the Government to stop backing the shale gas industry.

A spokesman for Third Energy said: After almost four years of planning and preparation, we are delighted that the Secretary of State is satisfied that Third Energy has met all of the thirteen technical requirements set out in section 4A of the Petroleum Act 1998.

Our annual accounts are being finalised and we will now be working with the Infrastructure and Projects Authority and the Oil and Gas Authority towards achieving hydraulic fracturing consent from the Secretary of State.

Ken Cronin, chief executive of industry body UK Onshore Oil and Gas (UKOOG), said: Final ministerial consent for any hydraulic fracturing is part of the robust regulatory regime we work within, and we therefore look forward to Third Energy working with the Oil and Gas Authority and the Infrastructure and Projects Authority to satisfy the additional requirements requested of them.The much-vaunted Special Relationship has not always been easy but more than a year into Donald Trumps presidency he is yet to visit the United Kingdom despite being offered a state visit as he took up residence in the White House.

His recent decision not to cut the ribbon to open the US Embassy in Londons Battersea means that all the presidents meetings with Theresa May to date have taken place outside the UK.

However on Thursday in Davos the US president stressed his countrys love for the UK and hailed the ties between the nations.

Hands were briefly held when Theresa May became the first foreign leader to visit the newly-installed President Donald Trump (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Donald Trump points to a bust of Sir Winston Churchill during an Oval Office meeting with the Prime Minister (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Theresa May walks past Donald Trump during the G7 summit in Taormina, Italy (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Theresa May and Donald Trump keep a low profile during the Hamburg meeting (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

No danger of being crowded out this time, still at Hamburg (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Donald Trump and Theresa May were seated together at the Nato summit in Brussels (Dan Kitwood/PA)

Theresa May and Donald Trump exchange cordialities during a meeting in New York (Stefan Rousseau/PA)US President Donald Trump has said he expects a tremendous increase in trade with the UK as a result of talks which he said were getting under way.

Speaking as he met Prime Minister Theresa May in Davos, Mr Trump sought to kill off suggestions of a rift sparked by her rebuke over his retweet of videos posted by a UK far-right group and his decision not to visit London for the opening of the US embassy.

Declaring that he wanted to correct the false rumour of a transatlantic falling-out, he assured Mrs May: We love your country.

Britain and the US are joined at the hip militarily and America will always be ready to fight for you, he told her.

US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Theresa May meet in Davos (Evan Vucci/AP)

In response to reporters questions, both Mr Trump and Mrs May said they would talk about his mooted state visit to the UK, but neither gave any clues as to when it might take place.

Shaking hands with the president after their bilateral meeting at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort, Mrs May said they had enjoyed a great discussion about the prospects for improved trade relations.

And Mr Trump said he expected trade between the US and UK to increase many times over the coming years.

The trade concepts and discussions that will be taking place are going to lead to tremendous increases in trade between our two countries, which is great for both in terms of jobs, said the president.

We look forward to that and we are starting that process pretty much as we speak.

Mr Trump said he wanted to correct a false rumour of a transatlantic rift  sparked by their earlier spat over his retweeting of videos posted by far-right group Britain First and his decision not to visit London for the opening of the new US embassy.

Meeting Mrs May for talks shortly after her keynote address to the WEF, Mr Trump said: Theres a false rumour out there and I just wanted to correct it, frankly.

We have great respect for everything you are doing and we love your country, we think its truly great.

We are working on transactions in terms of economic development, trade, maybe most importantly military.

We are very much joined at the hip when it comes to the military. We have the same ideas, the same ideals, and theres nothing that would happen to you that we wont be there to fight for you. You know that.

Donald Trump arrives at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland (Gian Ehrenzeller/AP)

Mrs May said she and the president enjoyed a great discussion in their meeting, adding: We continue to have that really special relationship between the UK and the United States, standing shoulder to shoulder because we are facing the same challenges across the world.

As you say, we are working together to defeat those challenges and to meet them. And alongside that, working for a good trade relationship in the future which will be to both our benefits.

So the UK and the US both do well out of this.President Donald Trump has said Palestinians must return to peace talks with Israel to receive US aid money.

Mr Trumps decision last year to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital angered Arab nations and led Palestinians to refuse to negotiate with the US on grounds that America can no longer be an honest broker in the quest for peace.

Palestinians claim east Jerusalem for their future capital.

Donald Trump arriving at the conference venue in Davos (Gian Ehrenzeller/AP)

Mr Trump said US aid to the Palestinians is on the table but they wont get it unless they sit down and negotiate peace.

Mr Trump commented as he opened a meeting with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an economic summit in Davos, Switzerland.

Mr Netanyahu praised Mr Trumps decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israels capital and to move the US Embassy there from Tel Aviv.Thirteen Polish nationals have been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery offences after allegedly exploiting eastern European workers.

West Midlands Police say they carried out early-morning raids after reports of people being brought to the UK to be offered out to work on low pay.

The force continued to say gangmasters received a cut of their wage, which led to the victims  three men and two women  being safeguarded.

West Midlands Police say they carried out early-morning raids in Birmingham (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Officers executed warrants at properties in Farnham Road, Headingly Road, Heath Road South and Westbourne Road in Handsworth, Birmingham, on Thursday.

Nine men and four women  aged 18 to 60  have been arrested on suspicion of slavery offences and are being questioned in custody.

Thirteen people have been arrested on suspicion of modern slavery after early morning raids today (25 January).

Officers carried out swoops on residential premises in Handsworth as part of an investigation into the exploitation of eastern European workers https://t.co/6oR7TYjYTf pic.twitter.com/vIk1EN1ftM  West Midlands Police (@WMPolice) January 25, 2018

Sergeant Phil Poole, from the forces modern slavery investigation team, said: These raids were carried out as a result of intelligence and illustrates our intent to stop cruel individuals making cash off the misery of others.

There is no place for the exploitation of people and we will not hesitate in taking firm and decisive action to stop this.

Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority senior investigating officer Andy Davies said: This was a well-planned and hugely successful operation, and we were proud to assist West Midlands Police with the preparatory work, the arrests and in supporting the alleged victims.

Early indications suggest that a legitimate employment agency may have been infiltrated by an organised criminal gang.

Daniel Collins, senior emergency response officer for the British Red Cross in the West Midlands, said: Our highly-trained staff are providing refreshments, first aid and emotional support to people brought to the rest centre by West Midlands Police.

Red Cross staff will be available to run the rest centre for as long as they are needed.A blockade by French fishermen has disrupted cross-Channel ferry services.

Fishing boats began stopping ferries from entering or leaving the port of Calais in northern France on Thursday morning.

The port is used by thousands of tourists and hauliers every day to travel to and from the UK.

P&O Ferries said its ship Spirit of Britain was delayed by nearly four-and-a-half hours before it was able to leave Calais for Dover at 12.10pm.

The firms chief executive Janette Bell said bringing Calais to a standstill was utterly unacceptable and urged the French authorities to ensure the blockade was cleared without further delay.

She went on: I would like to apologise to every one of our customers and assure them that our dedicated employees will be doing everything they possibly can to help them complete their journeys as soon as possible.

The fishermen are reportedly protesting against electric pulse fishing by other countries.

They claim the method  which involves stunning fish to make them easier to catch  is depleting stocks.

Picture

Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett warned that the impact of the dispute could increase the number of lorries targeted by migrants.

He said: Our concern is that the ensuing backlog will have turned them into sitting ducks for migrant activity.

These people, desperate to reach the UK by whatever means possible, must have thought that all their Christmases had come at once.

We fear greatly for the safety of drivers as lives and livelihoods are put under threat.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: This underlines yet again how strikes in France can cause chaos on our roads in Kent.

President Macron urgently needs to get a grip of the situation and put a stop to the disruption  which is damaging for both the French and British economies.

He called for greater investment in roads leading to Englands Channel ports and more lorry parking facilities to stop roads becoming clogged up.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26)  The formation of the consultative committee to review the Constitution is "a welcome development," Senate President Koko Pimentel and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Friday.

"[That is] part of the executive's effort to review the current constitution," Pimentel said in a text message. "[Legislative] will have its own mechanisms."

Drilon added the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments should continue its hearings, particularly those in Mindanao, Cebu, and Baguio, as well as listen to other resource persons.

President Rodrigo Duterte appointed the 19-member consultative committee on Wednesday, with former Chief Justice Reynato Puno set to lead the team.

"The study [or] report of Puno Commission will be an input in the report of the Constitutional Amendments Committee, and the debates in plenary," said Drilon.

Majority Leader Tito Sotto also revealed he knew about the committee last year. He added, "It can be useful to us."

Related: Duterte creates constitutional review committee, ex-CJ Puno to lead

House Majority Leader Rudy Farinas, however, clarified that the committee is only an advisory body.

"It cannot, and will not work in tandem with the Congress," said Farinas. "Of course, the Congress may consider the committee's recommendations, as well as those of any citizen, and may adopt or not adopt them at all."

House Constitutional Amendments Committee Chair Roger Mercado said his panel welcomed the development. He said recommendations from Puno's committee "definitely provide our Congress with more inputs in the historic drafting of our 'New Philippine Constitution.'"

Related: House to opt for con-con, people's initiative for charter change - solon

The creation of the committee comes amid heated debates on charter change in Congress.

Duterte campaigned on a promise to shift government structure to a federal system where local government units have more autonomy and power. However, critics say a federal system could empower political dynasties or be difficult to economically sustain for poor regions.

CNN Philippines correspondents Joyce Ilas and Cecille Lardizabal contributed to this report.

This is a developing story. Refresh the page for more updates.Courts have wrongfully condemned thousands of people to long jail terms in one of the biggest and most widespread miscarriages of justice ever, MPs have heard.

The accusation came as MPs debated the need for reform of joint enterprise  which for more than 300 years has allowed courts to prosecute more than one individual for the same offence.

In 2016 the Supreme Court ruled that the law on joint enterprise had been wrongly interpreted for more than 30 years.

However, since the ruling, no appeals have been awarded and many new cases with all the hallmarks of the old cases are being successfully prosecuted, Labour MP Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) told ministers.

"We don't use the term 'gangs' to talk about the Bullingdon Club. But we do use 'gangs' when we talk about groups of young men in my constituency". Joint Enterprise creates miscarriages of justice and erodes trust in the criminal justice system.  David Lammy (@DavidLammy) January 25, 2018

Fellow Labour MP Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden) estimated that as many as 4,500 people were currently serving time wrongfully.

Ms Powell went on to say that she feared the cosy club of the criminal justice system was now closing in on itself in order to prevent the issue being fully exposed.

She said: This is potentially one of the biggest and most widespread miscarriages of justice ever to face our justice system.

She added: We can all agree, I think in here today, that the law did indeed take a wrong turn; now that needs putting right.

The establishment is evidently not putting itself right, so Government and Parliament need to act.

We urgently need a review of the use and scope of prosecutions brought under joint enterprise, particularly its disproportionate use against young and black and ethnic minority men.

We also need urgent clarification on the qualification for appeal so we can put right decades of substantial injustices and unsafe convictions leading to many serving life sentences for murders they did not commit.

Delighted to be a sponsor of this important debate on #JointEnterprise today, a cross-party effort led by @LucyMPowell. Current system runs risk of serious injustices  need to take fresh look at law on homicide, as @Law_Commission has been saying for some time. pic.twitter.com/R5vfW2Ov3g  Sir Bob Neill MP (@neill_bob) January 25, 2018

Labour MP Chuka Umunna (Streatham) told ministers that 37% of those serving long sentences for joint enterprise were black, 11 times the proportion of black people in the population.

Labour former minister David Lammy said that in black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, joint enterprise was undermining the sense of justice.

He said: In those communities where 14, 16, 19-year-olds have gone to prison for significant time when its absolutely clear to the community that theyve not committed murder, what it actually does is, it undermines the sense of justice system in the black community.

Labour MP David Lammy addresses the House of Commons during a debate on joint enterprise (PA Wire)

Tory former minister Andrew Mitchell agreed with Mr Lammy and accused the police of associating BAME people with gangs and violent crime.

He said: It is an uneasy and difficult truth that an association may exist, unconscious or otherwise, in the minds of the police, prosecutors and juries between being a young ethic minority male and being in a gang, and therefore being involved in forms of urban violence.

.@LucyMPowell will lead a debate on #JointEnterprise later today. What is it and what impact has it had on the UK criminal system? Our background paper has the details https://t.co/e1Ud0KXRdb pic.twitter.com/0EaSr0tWXK  Commons Library (@commonslibrary) January 25, 2018

For the Government, Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said it was not appropriate to legislate for joint enterprise.

She said: Joint enterprise, as many members have said, is not set out in statute, it has evolved through case law.

Some criticism was made of this by (Mr Lammy), but the evolution of law through the courts has always been an important part of our common law justice system.

In our law the common law has equal weight with that made by statute.

Ms Frazer added: What is needed is for the Supreme Court judgment to be followed, there is no suggestion that the law itself needs changing, its just that it needs to be enforced.A meeting between Theresa May and Donald Trump, a warning from the Defence Secretary over a Russian attack on Britain and an emotional plea from Dame Tessa Jowell all make the front pages on Friday.

Many of the nationals feature a picture of the British Prime Minister sitting side-by-side with US president Mr Trump during talks at the World Economic Forum in Swiss ski resort Davos.

The Times reports that Mr Trump said he wanted to scotch a fake rumour of a rift between Britain and the US, with the pair agreeing the outline of the presidents stripped-down trip to the UK in the summer.

What the papers say - January 26

The paper also reports that Mrs May rebuked Chancellor Philip Hammond after he predicted very modest changes to Britains relationship with the EU after Brexit.

Tomorrow's front page: May turns on Hammond over soft Brexit speech #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/cyBbROSkm3  The Times (@thetimes) January 25, 2018

The Metro carries a photograph of Mrs May and Mr Trump shaking hands, saying their body language showed they have kissed and made up and the special relationship is back on.

The i uses the same snap, and says Mr Trumps trip to Britain will be less prestigious than the state visit originally proposed by Mrs May a year ago.

The Guardian, meanwhile, picks up the story of Mr Hammonds comments on Brexit, and reports that the PMs leadership was under threat as she tried to quell a new Brexit revolt.

Guardian front page, Friday 26 January 2018: Mays leadership under threat as fresh Tory revolt erupts over Brexit pic.twitter.com/bKXisZix1U  The Guardian (@guardian) January 25, 2018

Mr Hammonds speech outraged Eurosceptics, the Financial Times says, reporting that the fragile Conservative party truce on Europe was blown apart.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times UK edition for January 26https://t.co/4jbi8WcYyk pic.twitter.com/kdUmAjb09W  Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 25, 2018

Strong words from Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson make the front of the Daily Telegraph, as he warned Russia could cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths in an attack on Britain that would cripple the UKs energy supply.

And the Daily Mirror reports on a poignant speech by Labour veteran Baroness Jowell, who brought the House of Lords to tears as she spoke of her terminal brain tumour and pleaded for more NHS funding to help fellow sufferers.

The headline reads: Let us live well with cancer not just die from it.

Tomorrow's front page: Let us live well with cancer...not just die from it#tomorrowspaperstodayhttps://t.co/YoQngklXoU pic.twitter.com/aLCUzNYk1k  The Mirror (@DailyMirror) January 25, 2018

Elsewhere, the Sun reports that Laura Plummer, the British woman jailed in Egypt for taking illegal painkillers into the country, is preparing to be freed in the coming days.

Tomorrow's front page: 'Laura Plummer out of jail within 48 hours' pic.twitter.com/e70Dpaif3j  The Sun (@TheSun) January 25, 2018

The Daily Mail claims meat from a supplier at the centre of a health scare was served at several chains for 12 days before the public was warned, while the Express reports that experts have warned diabetes can increase someones chances of being struck down by dementia.Englands top order crumbled in embarrassing fashion as their hopes of a one-day whitewash over Australia hit the rocks in Adelaide.

The tourists, having claimed the series 3-0, came crashing back to earth as Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins exploited a helpful pitch to leave England eight for five on Australia Day.

It's all going wrong here in Adelaide. We are 10/5 after 7 overs.



Scorecard: https://t.co/0vYMWSfBKG pic.twitter.com/fDBrrmuZwn  England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 26, 2018

That included ducks for Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Jos Buttler, leaving an almighty rescue job for Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali.

Englands top order crumbled in embarrassing fashion (Jason OBrien/PA)

After 15 overs they had at least ended the clatter of wickets, with the scoreboard reading 35 for five.A British tourist who died in Argentina has been named as David Minn.

The local civil defence said the 24-year-olds body was discovered on a mountainous hiking trail near the city of Ushuaia, close to the Esmeralda Lagoon.

Defensa Civil Ushuaia said it was an area popular with tourists, and it is believed Mr Minn may have fallen.

The region is close to the Martial mountain range in Tierra del Fuego province in the far south of the country.

The Martial mountains in Terra del Fuego (Google Maps)

A Foreign Office spokesman said: We are supporting the family of a British national who sadly died in Argentina, and we are in contact with the local authorities.At least 37 people were killed when a fire spread through a South Korean hospital on Friday morning.

More than 130 others were injured in one of the deadliest blazes in the country for years.

The dead included three hospital staff and several people in an intensive-care unit for respiratory illnesses.

The fire started in Sejong Hospitals emergency room and had engulfed the first floor when firefighters arrived.

A firefighter inspects the burnt hospital (Kim Dong-mi/Yonhap via AP)

They approached the second floor through the windows to rescue trapped patients, said Choi Man-wu, a fire official in the south-eastern city of Miryang.

He said smoke could have spread quickly through the buildings staircase at the centre, but the flames were extinguished before reaching the third floor.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known. The hospitals operations were suspended after the fire.

A patient is carried to safety (Kim Dong-mi/Yonhap via AP)

All the dead were from the hospitals general ward, while all 94 people being cared for in a nursing ward for the elderly were safely evacuated after the fire, some carried on the backs of firefighters, Mr Choi said.

Ten of the injured are in a critical condition, local medical official Cheon Jae-kyung said in the same televised briefing, suggesting the toll is feared to increase. Fire officials said 131 were injured, 18 of them in serious condition.

Most of the dead were being treated for respiratory diseases in an intensive-care unit on the second floor. Two doctors and nine nurses were working in the emergency room at the time of fire.

Rescue teams remove the bodies of victims (Kim Gu/AP) Yeon/Gyeongnam Domin Ilbo via AP)

Three of the dead worked at the hospital  a doctor who worked in the emergency room and a nurse and nurse assistant on the second floor, said Son Kyung-cheol, head of the foundation that operates the hospital.

Son said in a televised briefing that the hospital did not have sprinklers as it was not required by law.

Most of the 39 deaths appeared to be due to suffocation, with only one suffering burns, said an official at the National Fire Agency.

Videos from local TV networks showed black smoke billowing out of the building and engulfing its entire surface. A rescuer carried on his back an elderly patient covered in a blanket as they escaped the nursing ward.

President Moon Jae-in ordered officials to provide necessary medical support to victims (South Korea Presidential Blue House/Yonhap via AP)

President Moon Jae-in expressed regret over the blaze at an emergency meeting convened with his senior advisers.

He ordered officials to provide necessary medical support to those rescued, find the exact cause of the fire and work out measures to prevent future fires, according to his spokesman Park Su-hyun.

South Korea is one of the fastest-ageing countries in the world and has many nursing hospitals, which are preferred for elderly people who need long-term doctors care.

Several recent fires in South Korea have been fatal.

In late December, 29 people were killed in a building fire in central Seoul, which was the countrys deadliest blaze over the past decade before the hospital fire.

Last weekend, a fire at a Seoul motel killed six people, and police arrested a man who allegedly set it ablaze in anger because he had been denied a room for being heavily drunk.

In 2014, a fire set by an 81-year-old dementia patient killed 21 at another hospital for the elderly.James Franco was removed from Vanity Fairs star-studded Hollywood cover after he was accused of sexual misconduct.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the actor, 39, sat for the Annie Leibovitz photoshoot and was interviewed for the special edition.

But it says Franco was removed digitally before publication, quoting a magazine spokesman as saying: We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him.

James Franco (Jordan Strauss/AP/PA)

12 extraordinary stars, one very momentous year. The 2018 Hollywood portfolio is here: https://t.co/6PfsFsPzK1 pic.twitter.com/MfRsp2y9Z3  VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) January 25, 2018

The Disaster Artist actor was accused of sexual misconduct, in a report in the Los Angeles Times, by five women.

He has denied allegations against him, calling them not accurate.

The Crown star Claire Foy appears alongside a host of big screen heavyweights including Nicole Kidman, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks, Robert De Niro and Harrison Ford on the US magazines annual fold-out cover.

Michael B Jordan, Zendaya, Jessica Chastain, Michael Shannon, Gal Gadot and Vanity Fairs outgoing editor Graydon Carter complete the line-up.

Vanity Fair said it picked this years cover stars based on their influence at a time when the #MeToo movement is in full swing.

Allegations against Franco surfaced in the wake of his Golden Globe win for The Disaster Artist.

He was later snubbed for an Oscar nomination, missing out on a best actor nod for his portrayal of The Rooms eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau.Lawyers for Julian Assange are taking a case to court, arguing that a UK arrest warrant against him has lost its purpose.

The WikiLeaks founder has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than five years after he was wanted for questioning by Swedish prosecutors.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued, but the Swedish prosecutor dropped the investigation last year.

Julian Assange has been at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since August 2012

Mark Summers QC told Westminster Magistrates Court on Friday that the warrant had lost its purpose and its function.

Mr Assange believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.The investigation into the disappearance of RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has cost more than 2.1m

The investigation into the disappearance of RAF gunner Corrie McKeague has cost more than 2.1m in total to date, police said.

Mr McKeague was 23 when he was last seen walking through Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in September 2016 after a night out with friends.

It is thought Mr McKeague may have climbed into a waste bin and was taken away by a bin lorry, prompting an expensive landfill search.

Two searches of a landfill site at Milton near Cambridge last year were conducted by police, with the first search lasting 20 weeks and the second, lasting seven weeks, concluding in December.

A review of the police investigation to date agreed that it was most likely that Mr McKeague ended up in the waste disposal process.

The investigation has cost 1,325,000 plus salary costs of 826,000, Suffolk Police said.

The force added that around 34,000 police officer hours had been spent on the case, not including police staff time or overtime hours.

The total number of police officer overtime hours spent working on the case to date is more than 5,600 hours, costing 235,000.

The investigation to find Mr McKegue has cost 1,325,000 plus salary costs of 826,000, Suffolk Police said

The search for him at the Milton landfill site ended in December after police spent 137 days trawling through more than 7,000 tonnes of rubbish

The girlfriend of missing RAF man Corrie McKeague has shared new photos of their baby daughter as his mother goes 'back to the beginning' to work where he is

This figure excludes overtime that will be paid in January relating to December claims, and the force said data about police staff overtime hours is not held.

A Suffolk Police spokesman said: 'Careful consideration is always given to all decisions regarding the resourcing of any long-running major investigation.'

No trace of Mr McKeague was found during the police searched but they are 'committed to continuing with the inquiry'.

Mr McKeague, from Fife but based at RAF Honington in Suffolk, was last seen on CCTV at 3.25am on September 24, 2016.

Two searches of a landfill site at Milton near Cambridge last year were conducted by police, with the first search lasting 20 weeks and the second, lasting seven weeks, concluding in December

It is thought Mr McKeague may have climbed into a waste bin and was taken away by a bin lorry, prompting an expensive landfill search

His girlfriend, April Oliver, announced in June that the missing serviceman had become a father with the birth of their daughter.

Miss Oliver shared new photos of their baby daughter earlier this week.

The photo's showed their baby daughter Ellie-Louise, sleeping under a blue blanket and another, taken six months ago shortly after she was born.

It comes as Mr McKeague's mother, Nicola Urquhart, said she 'desperately' needs support as she tests out 'every possible scenario' in her efforts to work out what has happened to her son.

April-Louise Oliver, 21, from Fincham in Norfolk, put a photograph on Facebook of their baby daughter Ellie-Louise enjoying a winter walk in a baby carrier and with the words, 'my bean' in December last year

In another photo the baby girl is lying asleep on the floor, sucking her dummy and wearing a green jumperScotlands most senior police officer is to remain on special leave while misconduct allegations against him are investigated.

Watchdogs at the Scottish Police Authority confirmed Chief Constable Phil Gormleys leave of absence  which is kept under regular review  was being continued.

The SPA has written to the Police Scotland chief constable to inform him of the decision.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Phil Gormley (PA)

A statement on its website confirmed: The SPA, through its Complaints and Conduct Committee, has agreed to continue the Chief Constables leave of absence.

Mr Gormley, who denies the allegations against him, has not been on active duty since September, when his leave of absence began.

The SPA board had agreed in November he could return to work  but the then chairman Andrew Flanagan told MSPs on Thursday that when Justice Secretary Michael Matheson was informed, he was told this was a bad decision.

Mr Flanagan stated: It was clear to me that he did not want the Chief Constable to return at that point.

Giving evidence to Holyroods Public Audit Committee, he said he felt he had no choice but to reverse the decision, describing the Cabinet Secretary as being very unhappy about it.

Mr Matheson has previously insisted his concerns about the decision were related to the processes the SPA board followed, saying those investigating the allegations against Mr Gormley and other senior officers had not been informed of this the day before the Chief Constable was due to return to work.

But Mr Flanagans evidence prompted Conservative leader Ruth Davidson to claim Mr Matheson had leaned on the independent SPA, claiming the Cabinet Secretary was absolutely instrumental in preventing the chief constable from returning to work.

Meanwhile Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson accused Mr Matheson of having behaved inappropriately for a Cabinet Secretary, as he called for the Justice Secretary to consider his position.

But First Minister Nicola Sturgeon defended Mr Matheson, claiming it was entirely appropriate for him to have questioned the SPAs decision.

She rejected claims he had leaned on the SPA, telling MSPs at First Ministers Questions: Andrew Flanaganactually said at the committee this morning that he hadnt been requested by the Justice Secretary to change his decision, he had no option in his view but to change his decision because he couldnt answer the most basic questions about the process that had been followed.Julian Assange has complained of a terrible bad tooth, frozen shoulder and depression in a legal challenge to his UK arrest warrant.

The WikiLeaks founder has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than five years after he was wanted for questioning by Swedish prosecutors.

A European Arrest Warrant was issued but the Swedish prosecutor dropped its investigation last year.

Mr Assange believes he faces extradition to the United States for questioning over the activities of WikiLeaks if he leaves the embassy.

Julian Assange has been sheltering in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for more than five years (pa)

His lawyers made an application at Westminster Magistrates Court for the UK warrant to be withdrawn.

Mark Summers QC said on Friday that the warrant had lost its purpose and its function.

Defence papers stated: He has spent five-and-a-half years in conditions which, on any view, are akin to imprisonment, without access to adequate medical care or sunlight, in circumstances where his physical and psychological health have deteriorated and are in serious peril.

Senior district judge Emma Arbuthnot said evidence handed to the court concerning Mr Assanges medical problems included a terrible bad tooth, frozen shoulder and depression.

Prosecutor Aaron Watkins said the UK arrest warrant is still valid because Mr Assange has failed to surrender to custody.

Mr Assange had been released on bail in proceedings; he was under a duty to surrender to the custody of the court and he failed to surrender at the appointed time for him to do so, he added.

Therefore a warrant stands.

He continued: The position that Mr Assange contends is absurd  were a defendant effectively to be rewarded with effective immunity by having managed to avoid proceedings sufficiently well that they fell away, for whatever reason.

The proper approach is that when a discrete, standalone offence of failing to surrender occurs, it always remains open to this court to secure the arrest.

Judgment will be given at 2pm on February 6.Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26)  The Philippine government should stop going after online news agency Rappler, a group of United Nations (UN) human rights experts said.

"We are gravely concerned that the government is moving to revoke Rappler's licence," the three special rapporteurs said in a joint statement, snippets of which were released by the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner on Friday.

"As a matter of human rights law, there is no basis to block it from operating," the experts added.

In a decision dated January 11, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked Rappler's license to operate for supposedly violating the foreign ownership restrictions on mass media outfits.

According to SEC, Rappler "intentionally created an elaborate scheme" to justify the receipt of over $1 million from a foreign investor, Omidyar Network (ON). ON is an investment company owned by eBay auction site founder Pierre Omidyar.

READ: SEC cancels Rappler's license to do business

But the UN experts said the SEC's decision "is at odds" with the government's previous approach to foreign support on local and national media. It said the government in the past accepted that "philanthropic contributions do not amount to foreign ownership."

Rappler has maintained that their foreign investors have no control over its operations. It has until January 27 to appeal the SEC decision before that becomes final and executory. Rappler CEO Maria Ressa said they are ready to take the case all the way to the Supreme Court.

The UN experts are joining other groups in calling out the government for its supposed attempts to silence critical media.

"We are especially concerned that this move against Rappler comes at a time of rising rhetoric against independent voices in the country," the UN experts said.

"We urge the Government to return to its path of protection and promotion of independent media, especially those covering issues in the public interest," they added.

The experts are composed of Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard, Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders Michel Forst and Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression David Kaye.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly lashed out at the UN, particularly Callamard, for comments against his bloody war on drugs.

Gov't: Press freedom alive in PH

The SEC's order against Rappler has gained international attention, with the New York Times publishing an editorial, "After Killing Spree, Is a Free Press Mr. Duterte's Next Victim?"

"Exposing such brazen abuse of power is a hallowed mission of a free press, so it should come as no surprise that authoritarians like Mr. Duterte usually go after independent media," the editorial read.

In a letter to the editor, Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel "Babe" Romualdez denied any political motive behind ordering Rappler's closure.

"The commission's decision is about upholding the law. It has no bearing on the state of press freedom in the Philippines, where thousands of broadcast stations and newspapers continue to operate unhampered," Romualdez said.

Malacanang has repeatedly denied any involvement in the SEC's decision, adding that the "freedom of expression and freedom of the press is very much alive in this country."

A group of lawmakers, however, is proposing an amendment to the free speech clause in the Constitution to make it no longer absolute. They want to protect only the "responsible exercise" of free speech and expression, saying there has been "so much abuse" of this provision.

RELATED: House body wants amendment to free speechA student who planned to travel to Syria to commit terrorist acts after being radicalised in on-line chatrooms has been handed a three-and-a-half-year custodial sentence.

Muslim convert Sandeep Samra, aged 18, became frantic to obtain a new passport after her original travel documents were cancelled, frustrating her hope of going for death in the so-called Islamic State.

Birmingham Crown Court was told Samra, of Alder Road, Coventry, wrote May Allah give me death in the cause in a social media message shortly before her arrest in nearby Old Church Road last July.

The health and social care student, originally from a Sikh background, told the court her jihad would have been working as a nurse in Syria.

Rejecting that claim and jailing Samra, the Recorder of Birmingham, Judge Melbourne Inman QC told the teenager: You were intent on leaving the UK to travel to Syria as quickly as possible.

You were deeply radicalised and in possession of the most extreme material, which you were effectively training yourself to watch given the horrific nature of it.

Fortunately you were found and stopped before you were ever able to in fact travel.

Sandeep Samra, 18, admitted planning to travel to Syria. (West Midlands Police/PA)

The judge, who ordered Samra to serve an extended one-year licence period after her release, praised her family and staff at her former school for involving the police in attempts to halt her radicalisation.

A two-day trial-of-issue was told Samras messages on WhatsApp and the Telegram app suggested she intended to carry out acts of violence in support of Daesh.

In her evidence to the court, Samra, who is from a Sikh family, said she explored the religion further while on remand after deciding Islam, which she still respected, was not something for me.

The teenager pleaded guilty to a single count of engaging in conduct in preparation of terrorist acts by planning to travel to Syria between June 1 last year and July 31.

Opening the Crowns submissions, prosecution QC Sarah Whitehouse told the court: In July 2015, when she was 16 years old, it is apparent from WhatsApp messages found on her telephone that she had become a supporter of Islamic State.

The court heard Samra applied for her first passport in September 2015 but it was handed to the police by the teenagers father a month later, after teachers became concerned and reported her to an anti-extremism team.

The passport was then cancelled but Samra lodged a new application in June 2017, becoming quite frantic as she asked staff at her old school to countersign documents.

Samra was arrested a month later by police who seized her mobile phone, which showed she was making plans to travel.

Videos found on the device and a further handset included one showing an Isis fighter carrying out an execution, while a message was recovered stating that Samra intended to join in with the brothers.Disquiet on the Tory backbenches over Theresa Mays leadership has burst into the open, as a usually loyal MP broke cover to speak out about growing frustration among his colleagues at Westminster.

Wrekin MP Mark Pritchard  who has previously called for ministers showing disloyalty to the Prime Minister to be sacked  warned that Mrs May was coming under fire for taking her allies for granted.

No major revolt on the Tory backbenches. However, there is a growing frustration that Number 10 is not plugged into the views & opinions of many backbench MPs or even interested. The PM is also being criticised for taking her very small group of allies for granted. A big mistake!  Mark Pritchard MP (@MPritchardUK) January 26, 2018

Although he insisted there was no major revolt, his comments come amid reports that a number of MPs have taken the step of writing to the chairman of the backbench 1922 Committee calling for a leadership contest.

And prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg, who chairs the influential Tory European Research Group, warned on Thursday of the May administration taking a timid and cowering approach to EU withdrawal.

(PA Graphics)

Writing on Twitter, Mr Pritchard said: No major revolt on the Tory backbenches. However, there is a growing frustration that Number 10 is not plugged into the views and opinions of many backbench MPs or even interested.

The PM is also being criticised for taking her very small group of allies for granted. A big mistake!

According to The Sun, the number of letters sent to 1922 Committee chairman Sir Graham Brady by backbench MPs has nearly reached the threshold of 48 required to trigger a leadership contest.

Concerns have been voiced by backbenchers over the competence of the Number 10 operation, following the botched snap election of 2017, Mrs Mays ill-fated conference speech and a poorly-received reshuffle.

Theresa Mays chaotic conference speech in October saw her presented with a P45 by prankster Lee Nelson (Peter Byrne/PA)

And there have been complaints of Mrs May failing to listen to views of backbenchers.

One Tory MP, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Press Association: David Cameron was aloof, but exercised patronage with precision to great effect.

Theresa May is aloof but has no clue how to exercise patronage and as a result is rapidly alienating many Tory backbenchers, even some of her friends.

Contacted by the Press Association, Sir Graham refused to comment on how many letters he had received.

But committee insiders denied suggestions that he has resorted to urging Tory MPs to hold off from demanding a contest because he is close to the threshold for triggering one.

Theresa May has already spent longer at 10 Downing Street than two of her predecessors. Infographic by PA Graphics

Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt hit back at Mrs Mays critics, telling the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: Anyone who uses the word timid about this Prime Minister is absolutely wrong.

This is the Prime Minister that gave us absolute clarity after the Brexit vote that we were going to get back control of our laws, our borders, our money  the most profound strategic decision any prime minister has to make in the current circumstances.

Mr Pritchard, who works as a trade envoy for the PM and was last month appointed by her as leader of the UK delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, has previously spoken out against efforts to undermine her.

Speaking to the Shropshire Star after last Octobers conference, he said: Briefing against Theresa May is damaging to Brexit and damaging to Britain. Disloyal ministers should be sacked.Philip Hammond has risked stoking Tory divisions over Europe by saying the UK should seek a middle way in Brexit negotiations in order to maximise access to EU markets.

The Chancellor said there were critics on both sides of the Brexit divide in the Tory party who did not back a pragmatic approach to leaving the European Union (EU).

The comments come after he was rebuked by Downing Street for saying he hoped the UK and the EU would only move very modestly apart in trade terms  although Mr Hammond said he had not spoken to Theresa May since he delivered the speech which triggered the latest round of Tory turmoil.

In a sign of the unrest in Conservative ranks, leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned the Governments timid and cowering approach risked squandering the potential gains of leaving the EU.

However, Mr Hammond insisted the approach to Brexit would not be swayed by Tory rebels on either side of the EU divide.

There are people on both sides of this argument who do not support us in our intention to deliver the Brexit that the British people have mandated in a pragmatic way that protects British businesses and British jobs, he told Sky News.

There are people that wanted to stay in the EU customs union, we reject that argument.

There are people that want us to sever our trade links with Europe and give up this market, we reject their arguments too.

We have got to stick to the middle way, which is negotiating the maximum access we can get to European markets compatible with the red lines we have already set out about repatriating control over our laws, our borders and our money.

Defending his very modest comments, Mr Hammond said: The smaller the changes that happen to our access to market and to frictions at the borders, the better.

In response to Mr Rees-Moggs criticism, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt insisted the Governments approach to Brexit was not timid.

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: Anyone who uses the word timid about this Prime Minister is absolutely wrong.

This is the Prime Minister that gave us absolute clarity after the Brexit vote that we were going to get back control of our laws, our borders, our money  the most profound strategic decision any prime minister has to make in the current circumstances.

"Anybody who uses the word timid about this prime minister is absolutely wrong," says Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. #r4today  BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) January 26, 2018

Mr Hunt said the UK should expect very limited changes  or possibly none at all  to EU market access in a Brexit deal.

We actually start with 100% alignment and that means  and this is the crucial point that he was making  is that we should be able to expect very limited and possibly no changes to market access as a result of the free trade deal we negotiate. That is something we can be very positive about.

In a speech on Friday, Brexit Secretary David Davis will seek to reassure Tory Eurosceptics that the UK will exercise its independence as soon as the country leaves the EU.

He will insist that Britain will be able to sign trade deals with other countries during the transition period after leaving the EU in March 2019, despite being largely tied into Brussels rules during a two-year post-Brexit transition.

Chancellor Philip Hammond has faced a backlash over his Brexit comments (Matt Dunham/PA)

Speaking in Middlesbrough, he will say: As an independent country, no longer a member of the European Union  the United Kingdom will once again have its own trading policy.

For the first time in more than 40 years, we will be able to step out and sign new trade deals with old friends, and new allies, around the globe.

While the UK will replicate the effects of the EU customs union during the implementation period, this should not preclude us from formally negotiating  or indeed signing  trade agreements.

Any such deals would enter into force at the end of the implementation period.Teaching chiefs are demanding a 10% pay rise in 2018 as the first step to restoring wages to an acceptable level.

The EIS, Scotlands largest teaching union, will submit the pay claim to employers and the Scottish Government via the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT).

This will be followed by a social media campaign, highlighting 10 reasons why teachers should be given the substantial rise  including the need to tackle the recruitment crisis in the profession.

The EIS union is calling for a 10% pay rise for teachers (PA)

The Scottish Governments pay policy for 2018-19 proposes a 3% rise for public sectors, but with teachers employed by local authorities their wages are paid by councils.

EIS general secretary Larry Flanagan pledged the union would send a very strong and very clear message to local authorities and the Scottish Government that teachers deserve a substantial pay rise.

The EIS has launched its 2018 Pay Campaign: Value Education, Value Teachers. Today's meeting of EIS Council has also agreed the teachers' pay claim that the EIS will propose via the SNCT - calling for a 10% pay increase for all teachers. See https://t.co/ASiTkd59nc for more info.  EIS (@EISUnion) January 26, 2018

He stated: The Scottish Government has repeatedly said that education is its number one priority, and local authority representatives have also spoken of the importance of teachers in the delivery of high quality education.

Our campaign will reflect this, in urging that the teachers who are central to the provision of education be properly valued and fairly paid for the vital work that they do.

A good first step towards restoring teachers pay to an acceptable level would be the delivery of a 10% pay increase for all teachers in 2018.

Teachers pay has fallen by at least 20% in real terms over the last decade, Mr Flanagan said, adding there was a substantial amount of data in support of their Value Education  Value Teachers campaign.

The union leader said: When increases to pension contributions and national insurance are factored in, Scotlands teachers have suffered a real-terms cut of almost 25% in their take-home pay.

For the teachers who deliver the governments number one priority  the education of our young people  to be so severely undervalued is something that simply cannot continue. It is time for a fair pay rise for all of Scotlands teachers.

EIS president Nicola Fisher, a primary teacher from Glasgow, said: For far too long, Scotlands teachers have been punished for a financial crisis which they did not create.

Austerity and ideologically driven attacks on the public sector from Westminster governments, coupled with financial decisions made here in Scotland, have caused our pay to decline dramatically.

For almost a decade, we have been subject to a succession of pay freezes, pay caps and real-terms pay cuts. This has demoralised the profession, with severe consequences for teacher recruitment and retention.

If our employers and the Scottish Government are serious about valuing education, they also need to value us as teachers. This means paying us a fair wage, which compares favourably to other professions and to teachers in other countries.

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: Teachers pay is a matter for the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) and negotiations for 2018-19 will begin once the unions have formally lodged their pay claims. The Scottish Government will play our part in those discussions.

It should be noted this government was the first in the UK to commit to lift the 1% public sector pay cap, and the teachers pay deal for 2017-18 reflects this commitment.

That deal also commits members of the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT) to undertaking a strategic review of pay and reward to ensure teaching remains an attractive career, and we will play our part in that process.

Councillor Gail Macgregor, resources spokeswoman for the local government body Cosla, said: We have our first meeting on the pay deal for teachers in early February. We got the claim today which we will now take away and carefully consider  obviously taking full cognisance that, as employers, our pay awards have to be both sustainable and affordable.An animal park dedicated to breeding endangered species is celebrating the arrival of a fourth generation black baby rhino.

The three-week-old calf was born at the Port Lympne Reserve, in Kent, and posed for the camera for the first time on Friday.

Born on January 5 to first-time mother Kisima and weighing about 32kg, staff are yet to decide on a name for the calf, a spokeswoman for the reserve said.

His mother, grandmother and great grandmother were all born at the reserve and still live there.

Keepers at the park near Ashford set up CCTV camera in the rhino bedrooms to capture the moment he was born.

Black Rhino Kisima stands with her three-week-old calf (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Paul Beer, head of the Rhino section at the park, said: For a first-time mother Kisima is taking it all in her stride.

As with all births, we were naturally cautious, so we set up cameras to ensure we could keep an eye on progress.

The birth went really well and its always rewarding for the team to watch such special events.

Director Simon Jeffery said the park was thrilled with the birth, adding: Hes strong, healthy, playful and curious.

It wont be long now, before hes ready to venture outside.

The birth is particularly significant for us, as his mother, grandmother and great grandmother were all born here, which means that we are actively helping to save and protect these incredible animals.

The Black Rhino calf explores his surroundings (Gareth Fuller/PA)

The park, which works with conservation charity The Aspinall Foundation, was visited by Prince William in 2012 when they helped three black rhinos back into the wild.

Two of the rhinos have since successfully given birth in the wild at their home on a protected reserve in Tanzania.

Mr Jeffrey added: This youngster is not only significant for us but also for the species.

Black rhinos are critically endangered and have been teetering on the brink of extinction in the wild as they are poached for their horns, which fetch colossal amounts on the black market in

Asia.

The park is home to more than 700 rare and endangered animals, including the largest herd of black rhino in the UK. Visitors can also see gorillas, tigers, lions, leopards, and bears.

It works alongside the Howletts Wild Animal Park in Canterbury and both with the help of The Aspinall Foundation.

As well as black rhinos, the charity has helped to breed other endangered species including gorillas, clouded leopards, gibbons and African elephants.Wigan manager Paul Cook has emphasised the belief he has in his players as the Latics target another FA Cup upset.

The Sky Bet League One leaders host West Ham in the fourth round on Saturday, having seen off the east London clubs fellow Premier League outfit Bournemouth in the previous round.

Cooks men are unbeaten in their last 14 matches in all competitions, and he said ahead of this weekends contest: I wouldnt be suggesting we will beat West Ham, but I certainly have great faith in our squad.

"The players are ready to cope with anything thrown at them."



Paul Cook well prepared for the @EmiratesFACup #wafc pic.twitter.com/iwWvupTEtr  Wigan Athletic (@LaticsOfficial) January 26, 2018

I think the players have proved this season that we can be a match for teams.

I think for West Ham to beat us tomorrow, they will have to play well.

Defeating Bournemouth in a third-round replay was a repeat of what Wigan did as part of their incredible run in the competition in 2013, which finished with a shock victory in the final against Manchester City.

Regarding the attention being paid to that fact, Cook said: I think people will always look for historical things in a cup run, because people do believe in that sort of thing, in fate.

If we win tomorrow, I think everyone will be saying it could be a reality. If were out, it is what it is.

I think the memories are great for Wigan fans.

I think once you climb Everest, it is always something you have done, so for us as a club, those memories will never go away.

Wigan won their FA Cup third-round replay against Bournemouth 3-0 (Martin Rickett/PA).

But the most important thing is that this is a different team, a different year.

Cook feels it is unlikely this cup run could have a significantly negative impact on Wigans promotion bid.

I think here is a debate about teams that do well in cup competitions  they can have dips, for sure, he said.

Cooks men are five points clear at the top of League One (Richard Sellers/EMPICS).

But then you look to your squad strength, the calibre of the players, the mentality.

It is important that the players keep themselves up for every game and that the level of performance stays strong.

I dont think it should get in the way, but only time will tell whether it will.Campaigners against anti-Semitism have called on Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to apologise after he wrote a message for Holocaust Memorial Day which did not mention the Jews.

Writing in a Holocaust Educational Trust memorial book ahead of service in Westminster on Thursday, Mr Corbyn said that the millions who died should never be forgotten.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said his failure to specifically mention the Jewish people was appalling, while the Jewish Leadership Council said it displayed a complete lack of sensitivity.

But Labour insisted that it was clear that Mr Corbyn was referring to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.

A longer message from the Labour leader, printed in a booklet for the service, referred by name to Jewish Holocaust victims, including Anne Frank, as our Jewish brothers and sisters.

In the HET memorial book, Mr Corbyn wrote: We should never forget the Holocaust: The millions who died, the millions displaced and cruel hurt their descendants have suffered.

We should understand the way fascism arose in Germany and the circumstances that gave space for the Nazis to grow.

At this, and at all other times, we should reflect and make sure succeeding generations understand the power of words.

Their power to do immense good and inspire; and their power to promote hate and division.

Let us use their power to educate, to inspire, but above all to build values of trust and respect.

His message sparked controversy on social media, with some Twitter users comparing it to US President Donald Trumps failure to mention the Jews in his Holocaust Memorial Day message in 2017.

Message of support given by Jeremy Corbyn for the Holocaust commemoration service

Simon Johnson, chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, said: It is hard to believe anybody can neglect to mention Jews when writing a Holocaust Memorial Day Message, let alone the leader of the opposition.

Mr Corbyn displays a complete lack of sensitivity to those who survived the atrocities of the Holocaust and its impact on the Jewish community.

And a spokesman for the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism described it as a disgraceful forgetting at a ceremony purposed for remembering, adding; We call on Mr Corbyn to apologise and issue a new statement.

Jonathan Greenblatt, of the US-based Anti-Defamation League, said: To omit any reference to Jews or anti-Semitism in your Holocaust remembrance statement is offensive to us and the millions murdered. Nazi ideology was rooted in hate and anti-Semitism. We can never forget that.

A Labour source said: Jeremy was clearly referring to the millions of Jewish victims of the Holocaust and their descendants.Moscow has hit back at Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson over his warning that Russia could cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths in an attack on Britains energy supply.

The Defence Secretary said Russia had been looking at the UKs critical infrastructure such as power stations and interconnectors that allow the transfer of electricity across borders.

But the Russian defence ministry dismissed the claims  and suggested Mr Williamson had lost his grasp on reason.

Ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov said Mr Williamsons comments were like something from Monty Python.

Gavin Williamson in his fiery crusade for military budget money appears to have lost his grasp on reason, Russian news agency Tass reported Maj Gen Konashenkov as saying.

His fears about Russia getting pictures of power plants and studying the routes of British pipelines are worthy of a comic plot or a Monty Pythons Flying Circus sketch.

Mr Williamson told the Daily Telegraph that Russia was looking at electrical infrastructure because they are saying, these are the ways we can hurt Britain'.

According to the paper, Mr Williamson speculated the threat could be carried out in the form of a cyber attack, from undersea activity or a missile.

Russian president Vladimir Putin (Matt Cardy/PA)

He said: The plan for the Russians wont be for landing craft to appear in the South Bay in Scarborough, and off Brighton Beach.

They are going to be thinking, How can we just cause so much pain to Britain?

Damage its economy, rip its infrastructure apart, actually cause thousands and thousands and thousands of deaths, but actually have an element of creating total chaos within the country.

He said that after causing the chaos, the worlds largest nation would then step back, insisting he believes it is a real threat currently facing Britain.

The warning comes as Mr Williamson aims to complete a defence review  called the Defence Modernisation Programme  by the summer.

On Thursday, the Defence Secretary said that the review isnt aiming to be fiscally neutral as he bids to resist pressure to make further budget cuts.Teachers unions have warned that restricting career breaks will make the profession less attractive.

Amid staff shortage issues, Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) president Joanne Irwin said that limiting the option would make it more difficult to retain secondary teachers.

Some 2,264 teachers are on career breaks of up to five years and advisories are being issued that career breaks can only be granted if a vacancy can be filled.

Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton is to restrict teachers career breaks (Brian Lawless/PA)

You can read my full announcement regarding teacher supply issues here https://t.co/uzpJfb0JAC  Richard Bruton (@RichardbrutonTD) January 26, 2018

But Ms Irwin said: This is yet another ill-advised sticking plaster approach that ignores the urgent need to remedy a much more serious problem.

Restrictions on career breaks seriously risk exacerbating the crisis both in the recruitment and retention of teachers.

The issue of career breaks has emerged as primary schools report difficulties in recruiting substitutes to cover temporary absences and secondary schools report difficulties in recruiting teachers for certain subjects.

Recent figures showed the number of people applying to be teachers has dropped by 62% in the past five years.

But there is also the issue of a two-tier pay system for teachers who qualified since 2011 and large numbers of newly qualified teachers going abroad to work.

Education Minister Richard Bruton said: While a career break is an important option, it is a discretionary scheme which requires the approval of the school.

It has the effect of replacing a permanent position in a school with a temporary one, where a school is left in a position where it can only offer a one-year temporary contract to prospective candidates.

This is not appealing to many teachers given the large number of permanent jobs which are available.

Ms Irwin said the main issue was equal pay.

Pay inequality is the problem, not career breaks, the TUI chief said.

Yet the minister stubbornly and foolishly continues to focus on the symptom rather than the disease.

INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said there was no evidence that schools had difficulties in filling vacancies caused by teachers on career breaks and that it created employment for new entrants.

Stopping breaks would close off those employment opportunities and lead to new entrants being unemployed, Ms Nunan said.

The INTO leader said the ministers proposals would result in a different cohort of teachers going abroad to seek work.

ASTI deputy general secretary Diarmaid de Paor said maternity leave was one of the reasons principals were trying to fill vacancies.

It is good for all of society to support these new families through maternity leave, and also through career breaks in so far as possible, Mr de Paor said.

He added the option of a career break was what helped make teaching an attractive job for many and urged schools to do their best to continue to grant the leave.A new RAF radar facility which can track unidentified military or civilian aircraft will be powered up and ready to operate soon, defence chiefs have been told.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier visited the new 10m Remote Radar Head facility at Saxa Vord, Unst, Shetland, on Friday to inspect its progress.

The radar is expected to improve RAF and NATO understanding of the airspace north of the UK and further out across the Norwegian Sea at a time of heightened Russian military activity.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, visited the Saxa Vord site to inspect its progress.

Defence chiefs say it will see the island return to the role it performed during the 1960s and 70s, when it was used as an early warning radar on NATOs northern flank.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said: We will always protect our skies from Russian aggression.

This radar is a vital part of the UKs defences as we react to intensifying global threats and reinforce our ability to tackle them.

Russias actions are not limited to Europes eastern borders  the threat to British livelihoods is severe and real.

The Saxa Vord radar head will provide key information on aircraft movements to the north of the UK.

It will also feed the nationwide Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) operation which polices international and UK airspace from RAF Lossiemouth in Moray and RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, visited the site of the new 10m Remote Radar Head facility, at Saxa Vord, Unst, Shetland, to inspect its progress.

The remote radar head will be operated remotely by RAF personnel and contractors will only attend the site for maintenance.

During his two-day visit to Shetland, chief of air staff Sir Stephen also toured the adjacent Saxa Vord RAF and Exhibition Centre and met representatives from Shetland Islands Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Sullom Voe and Shetland Space Centre Ltd

He said: Right at the tip of Shetland, Saxa Vord is a very remote site, so Im extremely grateful to the team who have been working hard through the cold of winter, with snow and 120 mph gales, to ensure that the construction has remained on schedule.Bradley Walsh has called on Stormzy to work on a collaboration nearly a year after the duo formed an unlikely friendship at the Brit Awards.

The actor and presenter of The Chase, who joined Instagram this week, posted a video online, and asked the grime artist when they were going to team up.

He wrote: @stormzyofficial whens the collab?! Its about to get #merky.

In the video, the 57-year-old TV star dances along to Stormzys track Blinded By Your Grace  Part 2 in the back of a car.

Here I am, on my way to work, listening to Stormzy, he told his followers.

Keep it real Stormzy! You the man.

Walsh first met Stormzy at the Brit Awards last year, when they embraced each other on the red carpet and called each other legends.

Walsh, who was named the UKs most successful debut artist of 2016 after his album of covers went gold, later joked they could work together on an album covering American composer Nelson Riddle arrangements in grime form.

In October, the pair appeared on The Jonathan Ross Show together, where 24-year-old Stormzy said he would work with Walsh as the TV presenter sang his own version of some of the rappers songs.

Stormzy (Ian West/PA)

Walsh debuted on the social networking site earlier this week after Holly Willoughby convinced him to set up an account at the National Television Awards.

Willoughby was among those who commented on Walshs Stormzy post.

She wrote, along with a crying laughing emoji: You on Instagram is fast becoming one of my favourite things!Police have shown up at a Moscow cinema that screened a satirical film about Soviet leader Josef Stalin in defiance of an official Russian government ban.

The Culture Ministry this week rescinded a permit allowing British writer-director Armando Iannuccis The Death Of Stalin to be shown in cinemas after communists and others criticised it as a mockery of Russian history.

Moscow police did not immediately declare the purpose of their visit to the Pioner theatre, but it followed the ministrys warning that the cinema could face sanctions in line with the law.

Police at the Pioner cinema in Moscow (AP/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Views from a screening in Moscow https://t.co/yOsaul0CTa  Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) January 25, 2018

Pioner had ignored the decision and started screening the film on Thursday.

Showing an unlicensed movie is punishable by a fine.

Stalin remains widely admired in Russia, despite his brutal purges that killed millions.A man has denied killing his date in a speedboat accident on the Thames.

Charlotte Brown, 24, known as Charli, died in hospital after she and Jack Shepherd, 30, ended up in the river.

Police had been called to reports of someone in distress near Wandsworth Bridge at around 11.45pm on December 8 2015.

Shepherd, of Paddington, west London, appeared at the Old Bailey charged with manslaughter.

Jack Shepherd, 30, is charged with the manslaughter of Charlotte Brown (Steve Parsons/PA)

The charge alleges that he unlawfully killed Miss Brown at Butlers Wharf, Wandsworth.

The defendant, who is on unconditional bail, entered his not guilty plea before Judge Richard Marks QC.

Shepherd, who previously lived in Bristol, is due to face a three-week trial at the Old Bailey on July 2.

Miss Brown, a business development consultant from London, has been described as caring and fun-loving by her family.The National Film and Television School (NFTS) will receive the award for outstanding British contribution to cinema at the Baftas next month, it has been announced.

The school, which counts directors Lynne Ramsay and David Yates and animator Nick Park among its alumni, is being recognised for providing training for the next generation of creative talent, many of whom go on to win Baftas themselves.

Nick Park at the premiere of his new film Early Man (Ian West/PA)

Previous recipients of the award, handed out at the star-studded ceremony, include Sir Kenneth Branagh, Sir Derek Jacobi, Sir Ridley and Tony Scott and the Harry Potter movies.

Marc Samuelson, chairman of Baftas film committee, said: I am thrilled that the National Film and Television School will receive this honour.

The NFTS provides a fantastic training ground for the next generation of creative talent  each year many of Baftas talented scholarship recipients receive their training at the school, and an overwhelming number of its students and alumni go on to become Bafta winners and household names.

The NFTS is a truly integral part of our industry, and is hugely deserving of this award.

NFTS student on a film set (Adam Cross)

Dr Jonathan Wardle, director of the school, added: This award is a huge honour.

For almost five decades the NFTS has trained and educated people who go on to power British cinema.

Our graduates have been responsible for some of British film and televisions greatest moments in recent years.

With the generous support from our donors and the wider British film, television and games industries, we will continue to provide the people that ensure the UK remains at the forefront of the creative industries globally for years to come.

Students and alumni have won 129 awards across Baftas various awards ceremonies since it opened in 1971, including 20 at the film awards.

Alumni have also won 10 Oscars and received a further 49 nominations for their feature film work.

Directors Mike Radford, Bill Forsyth and Ben Lewin and documentarian Nick Broomfield were among the first class to attend the school, then known as the National Film School.

The EE British Academy Film Awards will take place on February 18 at the Royal Albert Hall, hosted by Joanna Lumley.Microsoft founder Bill Gates has announced funding for innovative agricultural research in Edinburgh.

Mr Gates joined International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt for an event with staff and students at the University of Edinburgh.

The Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation has funded research into improving livestock health.

Meanwhile the UK Government has announced funding for crop research and innovation, alongside a cash boost for scientific research into livestock genetics.

During a visit to Edinburgh today @BillGates & UK Government Minister @PennyMordaunt are to showcase how communities worldwide are being helped by innovative agricultural research: https://t.co/tovZqeNkij

Join us live on Facebook from 2.30pm.@gatesfoundation @DFID_UK pic.twitter.com/sVQPTLdTzg  The University of Edinburgh (@EdinburghUni) January 26, 2018

The investments are aimed at helping to lift people in developing countries out of hunger and poverty.

The Gates Foundation is providing $40 million over five years for the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed), a public-private partnership which develops livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics and makes them accessible and affordable to millions of the poorest smallholder farmers across Africa and South Asia.

Mr Gates said: In short, if you care about the poor, you should care about agriculture.

And if you care about agriculture, you should care about livestock.

What that means in this context is helping poor farmers get as much as possible out of their animals.

He added: I am proud of the work our foundation has done with UK researchers. So far, weve invested more than $1 billion in UK research institutions.

And today, I am very pleased to announce that weve committed an additional $40 million to GALVmed to continue its work on preventing livestock diseases.

The UK Government is to provide 90 million over three years to international research organisation CGIAR.

The cash will be used to help fund research into the creation of super-crops which are more nutritious and disease resistant.

Ms Mordaunt said: Unpredictable flooding, plant diseases and drought are threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions of farmers in Africa who struggle to grow enough crops to put food on the table  the urgency of the task is clear.

Thats why UK aid is supporting British scientists to develop new crops that are more productive, more nutritious and more resistant to droughts and flooding, as well as creating new medicines to protect cattle and poultry from devastating disease.

New ideas, cutting-edge science and innovative partnerships with organisations like the Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation will help Britain create a healthier, more secure and prosperous world for us all.

Bill Gates and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt at the University of Edinburgh (University of Edinburgh/PA)

Ms Mordaunt also announced a 4 million boost from the Department for International Development for the Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH) which is based in both Edinburgh and Nairobi.

The centre, a joint venture by Edinburgh University, Scotlands Rural College and the CGIAR, is carrying out research aimed at improving the health and productivity of livestock in tropical climates.

While in Edinburgh, Mr Gates was also due to meet First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and hear a presentation on work being carried out as part of the NHS Global Citizenship Programme.The work of Scottish health workers around the world was praised by Bill Gates as he heard about initiatives in Africa.

The philanthropist met First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at St Andrews House in Edinburgh and was given a presentation on the work being carried out by NHS Scotland staff in Zambia, Ethiopia and Malawi.

He said: The Scottish Global Health Collaborative is a really smart idea. We know from the Ebola outbreak that a health crisis somewhere can soon become a health crisis everywhere.

Expertise from countries like the UK was critical in containing that outbreak. It was great to hear how the experience and ideas that Scottish health workers are bringing back from their work in Africa is being used to improve the health service here in Scotland.

The contribution being made by participants in the programme will make a significant difference in the lives of the worlds poorest.

Nicola Sturgeon and Bill Gates heard about health projects in Africa (Jane Barlow/PA)

The First Minister said: I am grateful to each and every one of our nurses, clinicians and even engineers, who often give up their own time to do this life-changing work.

Scotland is an outward-looking country and we will continue to be good global citizens and play our part in the fight against global poverty, inequality and injustice.

That is why we have built strong links with our partner countries Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Pakistan, with a strong commitment to working towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have an incredible record of bringing about substantial change in the worlds poorest countries, empowering them to improve their life chances in a range of ways, from improving healthcare and combating infectious diseases to increasing access to education. It is fantastic that they are interested in hearing about the work that Scotland is also doing.The parents of a teenager who disappeared in 1991 have urged anyone with information about the location of her body to search their conscience and contact police.

John and Marilyn Payne hope a life-changing 100,000 reward from an anonymous funder will encourage potential witnesses to help to trace their daughters remains.

Young mother Nicola Payne, then aged 18, was last seen as she walked across waste ground in the Wood End area of Coventry on December 14 1991.

The latest search is taking place at the citys Coombe Country Park, using ground-penetrating radar by private company Specialist Group International.

Police scoured the same area in November 2016 after receiving credible new information concerning the sighting of two men in the area on the day Nicola disappeared.

Speaking to the media at Coventrys Little Park Street Police Station, Mr and Mrs Payne vowed to never, ever give up hope of finding Nicola, who is believed to have been abducted and killed.

Mrs Payne said: Youve always got to keep positive and hopeful because that will help make things happen  thats just what I believe.

John and Marilyn Payne vowed to `never, ever give up hope of finding Nicola (Joe Giddens/PA)

You think that people that do these things are bad people  and yes they are  but everybody has to have a conscience and at some point you really should look deep into what its telling you  you will have family, children of your own.

How would you feel?

Weve never ever given up, never stopped searching. Everything has always revolved around having her found. I will always try and stay positive that we are going to get our answer.

Mrs Payne said she believed potential witnesses may be terrified at the prospect of coming forward, but would be able to stay safe due to the size of the reward being offered.

Mr Payne added: You just keep praying that one day she will be found. We hope somebody will come forward because we want to know her whereabouts.

Asked what message he would give to anyone with information to help the inquiry, he added: Think in your conscience, do what you can and just let us know.

Police officers search an area of Coombe Country Park in Coventry in 2016 after receiving new witness information relating to the disappearance of Nicola Payne (Joe Giddens/PA)

Superintendent Tom Chisholm, of West Midlands Police, said officers were waiting to speak to a new potential witness identified by investigative reporter Mark Williams-Thomas, who has offered support to the inquiry.

The officer said: I do believe that at the time there were local people who could have come forward that didnt for whatever reason  it may have been fear or otherwise.

There is a significant reward now. The priority for the family and for myself is to recover Nicolas body to allow her to be laid to rest.

Clearly I will always be looking for forensic potential from anything that I find, but the main thrust of today is to recover Nicolas body for her parents.

Two men aged 51 were acquitted of murdering Miss Payne by a jury in November 2015 after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.Theresa May and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan have agreed that civilians must be protected in his countrys offensive against a Kurdish militia in Syria.

The Prime Minister said Britain would continue to support Turkey in tackling the threat posed by the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which is a banned terror group in the UK.

But Turkeys offensive has sparked tensions as it is battling the Kurdish Peoples Protection units (YPG), which it regards as an extension of the PKK but has also been a top US ally in the fight against Islamic State (IS).

Theresa May has urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to protect civilians in his offensive against Kurdish militia in Syria (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Ankara launched its offensive last weekend, attacking the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in the hope of driving out the YPG.

Mrs May telephoned Mr Erdogan on Friday afternoon.

Following their call, a Downing Street spokesman said: The leaders discussed the ongoing Turkish operation in Afrin in Syria, with the Prime Minister recognising the right of Turkey to secure its border.

The Prime Minister and President Erdogan agreed on the need to protect civilians and avoid a deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

The Prime Minister also underlined that the UK would continue to work with Turkey to tackle the threat posed by the PKK more broadly.

The PM also recognised the role Turkey is playing fighting IS in Syria and hosting more than three million refugees from the conflict.

She reiterated her strong belief that Syrias long-term stability can only be secured through a political settlement and restated the importance of UN-led talks in Geneva, the spokesman said.

He added: The Prime Minister and President Erdogan welcomed the continuing industrial collaboration between the UK and Turkey, including through the recent Turkish Airlines deal with Airbus. They agreed to continue to discuss ways to enhance the UKs trade relationship with Turkey as we leave the EU.

The Prime Minister also reaffirmed her strong desire for a resolution to the case against Amnesty International staff.Atdhe Nuhiu scored twice as Sheffield Wednesday beat Reading 3-1 to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

George Boyd was also on target for the hosts with substitute Sam Smith forcing in a late consolation, credited as an own goal for Cameron Dawson.

The Wednesday line-up included Dutch midfielder Joey Pelupessy, who was making his debut after signing from Heracles Almelo.

Sheffield Wednesdays Atdhe Nuhiu celebrates (Mike Egerton/EMPICS)

Reading had a great chance to take the lead after only four minutes when Leandro Bacuna put David Edwards through on goal, but Dawson was off his line smartly to make the save.

Pelupessys name went into referee John Brooks notebook two minutes later when he was booked following a foul on Pelle Clement.

The resulting free-kick, taken by Yann Kermorgant, struck the defensive wall.

Jon Dadi Bodvarssons cross then picked out Kermorgant in the centre but he failed to make proper contact with the ball.

Wednesday took a 29th-minute lead with their first attack of note.

A great ball from Frederico Venancio found Nuhiu, who fired past Anssi Jaakkola with a low shot from the right-hand side of the area.

Jaakkola made a save from Morgan Fox a few minutes later.

The visitors had a chance early in the second half when Garath McClearys cross found Kermorgant whose shot was saved by Dawson.

There was an even better opening for Reading moments later when Dawson spread himself well to keep out Bodvarssons close-range effort.

Wednesday extended their lead when Marco Matias did well to send over a low cross from the left wing and Nuhiu (53) produced a close-range finish.

Bacuna went close to pulling a goal back when his shot from distance beat Dawson but came back off the keepers left-hand post.

Boyd made it 3-0 in the 61st minute, slotting past Jaakkola following indecision in the Reading defence.

Nuhiu, who was aiming to complete a hat-trick, fired wide after meeting a Jack Hunt cross and then failed with an attempted chip.

Kermorgant put an acrobatic effort wide after connecting with a cross from substitute Modou Barrow.

Bacuna then put a free-kick on target, but Dawson was equal to it, making a comfortable save.

Boyd saw his fierce shot turned wide by Jaakkola and Matias put an effort wide following a neat bit of skill.

Reading boss Jaap Stam made a double substitution in the 79th minute, sending on Smith and George Evans in place of Kermorgant and Bacuna.

Liam Moore had a header saved and Bodvarrson shot wide for the visitors.

At the other end, Jaakkola made a near post save from Matias.

Reading pulled a goal back when a deflected cross hit a post and Smith (85) pounced to stab the ball in from close range via the unfortunate Dawson.A Moscow cinema that had been showing a satirical film about Soviet leader Josef Stalin in defiance of an official Russian government ban cancelled further screenings on Friday.

The Pioner cinemas announcement came several hours after Moscow police visited it.

Police did not declare the purpose of their visit, but it followed the Russian Culture Ministrys warning that the cinema could face sanctions including fines.

Russian police visit the Pioner cinema (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

The Culture Ministry on Tuesday rescinded the permit allowing Scottish writer-director Armando Iannuccis The Death of Stalin to be shown in cinemas.

The decision came after communists and others criticised the movie as a mockery of Russian history.

The film was scheduled to premiere in Russia on Thursday, and the Pioner cinema screened it as planned.

Views from a screening in Moscow https://t.co/yOsaul0CTa  Armando Iannucci (@Aiannucci) January 25, 2018

Showing an unlicensed film is punishable by a fine of up to 100,000 rubles (about 1,250) and could lead to a cinemas closure in case of a second violation.

In announcing it was pulling the movie, the cinema said on its Facebook page that pre-purchased tickets would be refunded and for all further questions, we ask you to turn to the Ministry of Culture.Leicester boss Claude Puel is a relatively quiet man now but behind that reserved exterior he still fancies himself as the midfield enforcer he was during his playing days, as Jamie Vardy can attest.

Puels side face Peterborough in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, with Vardy hoping to come up against a graduate from his own V9 Academy in the shape of Posh defender Alex Penny.

However, a robust tackle from his manager in training this week might have put his involvement in doubt.

Leicester manager Claude Puel with Jamie Vardy (Adam Davy)

The gaffer had joined in, as he likes to do, and the ball was between him and me and he actually launched himself in for a tackle, recalled Vardy. I had to move out of the way and I started laughing to myself thinking wow, here we go!'

As a player Puel was a one-club man, making more than 600 appearances for Monaco and winning two Ligue 1 titles and three French Cups.

He won one of each playing under Arsene Wenger, who last season ahead of Arsenals FA Cup clash with Southampton, where Puel was then in charge, recounted a similar tale about his compatriot.

Puel was well known in training to be a good tackler, said the Arsenal boss. Even on the morning of a cup final he could tackle and even if it was the manager then no problem!

Vardy was not surprised to hear about Puels playing style and joked that his manager still thinks he is capable of playing today.

Hes competitive even now. Hes a very hands-on manager and he gets very upset if hes on the losing team in training, said Vardy.

He does like launching himself into a few tackles, though. There was no concern from him whatsoever, thats why I just started laughing. I made sure on the next one when we were shoulder to shoulder that I gave him a little nudge.

But thats what we are like, we train as we play. Although I dont think the gaffer realises he hasnt got a chance of playing himself. He likes to get involved and he still has his playing days in his head.

If you came to the training ground, though, youd see him in the gym and as he still likes to keep himself in shape.

Defenders Robert Huth and Danny Simpson could both be back in the Leicester squad after injury against Peterborough at the ABAX Stadium. Captain Wes Morgan remains out with a hamstring problem, though.More Britons favour a second referendum on European Union membership than oppose another vote, a poll suggests.

A total of 47% of respondents favour having a final say on Brexit once the terms of withdrawal are known, while 34% are against reopening the question, according to the ICM poll for the Guardian.

Excluding the 19% who do not have a view, it gives a 16-point lead in favour of a second referendum.

More Britons favour a second EU referendum than oppose it, a poll suggests

Amid all the uncertainty over Brexit the poll showed that attitudes to Europe in parts of the UK are hardening, with the country becoming more polarised

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage suggested he was 'maybe' coming around to the idea of having a second referendum on EU membership

Overall, the survey found that 51 percent were now in favour of staying in the EU while 49 percent would vote to confirm June 2016's Leave vote

The increase of support comes from both sides of the Brexit debate, with a quarter of leave voters in favour of another poll.

The poll makes clear that Brexit remains a hot potato in Britain, with the country still divided and opinions becoming increasingly bitter and more polarised.

Other findings in the poll reveal mounting concern over the economic damage caused by Brexit with a small majority believing it will also have a negative impact on the 'British way of life'.

Another finding is signs of a rethink among Labour voters, with 9 percent of Labour leave voters now switching to remain and bigger backing for a second vote in Labour marginal constituencies than in other parts of the country.

David Davis has a lot on his place as he negotiates Britain's exit from the EU amid mounting concern over the economic damage caused by Brexit

British Prime Minister Theresa May has insisted that Britain will honour the outcome of the Brexit vote despite the warnings of EU officials

The poll also reveals more evidence of a Brexit generational and geographical divide, with younger voters in particular much more supportive of Britain's continuing to be a member of the EU and older voters more sure than ever that it is best to leave. Likewise, voters in Scotland are more likely to be pro-EU, whereas support for leave remains strong in Wales and the Midlands.

Senior EU figures such as European Council president Donald Tusk have also made clear that Brussels was still open to the UK staying in the union

It comes after former Ukip leader Nigel Farage suggested he was 'maybe' coming around to the idea of having a second referendum on EU membership to settle the issue.

Senior EU figures such as European Council president Donald Tusk have also made clear that Brussels was still open to the UK staying in the union.

Overall, the survey found that 51 percent were now in favour of staying in the EU while 49 percent would vote to confirm June 2016's Leave vote.

ICM polled 5,075 people in a representative sample in mid-January.Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday said he believed that it is important to be long-sighted and clear-headed about the monumental choice facing all Sri Lankans at the upcoming Local Government (LG) election.

Issuing a statement ahead of the LG election, Minister Samaraweera reiterated that it was an election that would decide if democratic institutions and traditions, painstakingly rebuilt since January 2015 would be torn down and laid to waste again.

It is an election that will determine if Sri Lankans will live free or under the yoke of fear, impunity and grotesque abuse of power by a single family and its henchmen. As memory fades and we are embroiled in the politics of the present, it is easy to forget that once, not so many years ago, a government shot and killed its citizens for the crime of demanding clean water, he said.

He said the local government election on February 10 was much more than a regional contest to capture political power in urban and municipal precincts.

It is an old regimes first real attempt to recapture power and restore an old, corrupt and dictatorial order. Disillusioned by the road ahead, which seems fraught with difficulty and the potential for, lost opportunity, this constituency may waver. But I believe it is important to try and build on what has already been achieved and keep the window open for peace and change. I believe it is important to have a long memory, he said.

Minister Samaraweera said we need to ask ourselves, where all the white vans have gone and where have the grease yakas gone?

We must question why the Governments political critics and dissidents are not being thrown in jail. Why journalists are not being abducted or killed. Remember the night races  the gift of an indulgent father who wielded all the power of his presidential office to ensure his Sons could have a good time? Remember the time when young men paid with their lives for the crime of being a rugby rival? Remember how it was impossible to speak openly about the excesses of the ruling family?, he said.SAPPTA calls ban on low quality, foreign pepper transshipments

A breakthrough in the Ceylon black pepper gridlock came this week as Sri Lanka suddenly abolished its long practiced, slow export clearance timeline on its reputed king of spices along with an announcement that the Commerce Minister himself is planning to visit New Delhi to resolve incompatibilities on the reception of Ceylon black pepper in the Indian marketplace.



This pilot initiative is to strengthen the reputation of Ceylon black pepper as well as to support our committed spice exporters, said Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen on Thursday in Colombo.



Minister Bathiudeen, joined by his top officials met members of Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders Association (SAPPTA) of Sri Lanka who explained the latest situation to him on their black pepper sourcing and exports. Member firms of SAPPTA handle exports of no less than 30 spice product-lines. In 2016, Sri Lankas spice exports totalled US$ 264 million, and black pepper exports were at US$ 72 million (declining from 2015s US$ 144 million). The total production of 17000 MT black pepper in Sri Lanka in 2012 surged to 18660 MT in 2014 and has peaked to a huge 25995 MT by last year (2017). Annual local household consumption ranges from 5800 MT to 6000 MT and in 2016, the industrial consumption was at 5312 MT. In 2012, for the first time Ceylon pepper overtook Ceylon cloves to become the second largest spice export of Sri Lanka the leading spice export being Ceylon Cinnamon.



SAPPTA members voiced that the black pepper flowing in the direction of Sri Lanka from other foreign sources have greatly impacted the reputation of Ceylon Black Pepper. We call for your immediate attention on foreign peppers being mixed to Sri Lankan peppers, which is of higher quality, said SAPPTA Chairman Vernon Abeyratne.



Pepper exports of some Lankan companies are of EU Standards. Such mixing of foreign pepper is possible at a different stage of shipping and out of our control, and as a result we passed a resolution calling for the ban of foreign pepper coming to Sri Lanka or impose licensing for such inferior imports to ensure low quality, pesticide ridden stocks do not land here.

Slow pre-shipment process of our domestic pepper exports is an additional issue that prevents our competitiveness on such inferior quality trans-shipments. Indian authorities have imposed a Minimum Import Price for pepper imports to protect their growers due to inferior pepper leaving from countries such as Sri Lanka which is beyond our control, Abeyratne added.



As Sri Lankas premier global trade agency to boost exports, the Department of Commerce (DoC) is performing commendable acts said Minister Bathiudeen.

To strengthen DoCs capacity to conduct investigations prior to issuance of black pepper Certificates of Origin (CoO) I am enlisting, with immediate effect, the Consumer Affairs Authority under my Ministry and its 400 investigation officers with DoC. CAA will handle quality inspection of black pepper packed for export. With immediate effect I also order DoC to process black pepper export applications within 48 hours instead of one to two weeks as done at present. All pepper exporters should submit their export license to DoC with their application so that we can assure organic, high quality of our pepper to global markets. DoC is hereby instructed to inform CAA within 24 hours of receiving each pepper export application so that inspections are promptly completed on location.



I am planning to lead a Lankan spice delegation to India next month to resolve any pending pepper and spice export issues and optimistic of a positive outcome. I invite members of you SAPPTA to join me. Pepper exports to India are taking place under South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and we thank the Government of India for allowing this facility to us where we need to pay only 8 percent import tariff, and zero duty under pepper exported through Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement at that end, due to our high quality. Indian consideration to us is a great support for our pepper sector, the Minister added.



SAPPTA members who met Minister Bathiudeen, with great joy due to his prompt action, thanked him profusely and added their members shall now keenly look forward to join Minister Bathiudeens visit to New Delhi.



Around 60 percent of annual Lankan black pepper exports are headed to India -the rest to other destinations such as EU and USA. Last year an estimated 8700 MT of Ceylon Black Pepper was exported to India (under SAFTA).Beijing, (Hindustan Times), 25 Jan 2018 - The Chinese military on Thursday criticised the Indian Army chiefs remarks referring to Doklam as disputed territory and warned India to learn lessons from last years standoff near the Sikkim border so that similar incidents do not occur in future.



In its first response to Gen Bipin Rawats remarks on the standoff, the Peoples Liberation Army contended Doklam or Donglang is part of China. The PLA also said Rawats comments showed Indian troops had illegally crossed into Donglang.



The 73-day standoff had pitted border troops from the two countries against each other from June to August-end. It ended when both sides agreed to pull back their forces from the area that is under Chinese control but claimed by Bhutan.



I have noticed many of the Indian journalists remarks (on Rawats comments). Donglang is part of China and the remarks of the Indian side also shows the illegal border crossing of the Indian troops is clear in fact and nature, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the PLA and the defence ministry, told a conference.



We hope the Indian side will draw lessons from the incident to avoid similar incidents (being) repeated in the future, he said.Govt. leaders trying to divert peoples attention by making statements about frauds alleged to have happened in past

Bond report lacks some of the evidence which deemed important during recording of evidence

By Lahiru Pothmulla

Former Central Bank Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal said yesterday the government was taking extreme measures to control the damage caused by the Central Bank (CB) bond scam instead of taking action to bring the culprits to book.



He said top leaders of the government including President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and former president Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga are trying to divert people attention to frauds which had allegedly taken place in the past. The government should take action with regard to the fraud which had been proved today instead of pointing finger at alleged fraud incidents. The President and the Premier are vociferous today in making statements over the likelihood of bond irregularities happened from 2008 to 2014, Cabraal told a news briefing organized by the Patriotic Professional Forum in Colombo.



He said the report of the Presidential Commission of Inquiry (PCoI) into Central Bank bond issuance, lacks some of the evidence which deemed important during the recording of evidence.



We respect the PCoI but we would like to highlight some of the points which we think require the attention. The aiding and abetting of the bond scam should also be looked at. The Prime Minister took responsibility of appointing Arjuna Mahendran as CB Governor and utilized the UNP to cover up the scam. The President approved the appointment of Mahendran and dissolved Parliament to protect the Premier, he said.

Referring to the Tilak Marapana committee appointed by the Prime Minister to look into the PCoI report, he said neither PCoI would be able to save the Prime Minister.



Addressing the news briefing, former Securities Exchange Commission Chairman Nalaka Godahewa said there was nothing new in the PCoI report and that it was unlikely that action would be taken against those who are responsible.



Had the Commission investigated intensively into Bank of Ceylon releasing funds at the last minute to the auction, the names of the masterminds could have been revealed, he said.Aries (Mesha):



Mercury due in the 10th House on Jan: 28 where the Sun is already placed assuring bright career prospects and a happier time at work will bring you monetary gains and success in all endeavors. Lagnadhipati Mars Swakshetra in the 8th House assures you of the benefits such as increased wealth, happiness and longevity. However, you are advised to avoid risk-involved activity. Opportunities for foreign travel for academic purposes are likely for those in appropriate circumstances. Time is not favourable for buying or selling lands and other property. Jupiter in the 7th House assures you of the delightful company of friends relatives and cordial relations with all.



Taurus (Vrushabha):



Worries and heavy expenses are likely when Mercury moves in your 9th House on January 28. Poor health and the possibility of incurring debts are indicated by an unfavourable Jupiter in the 6th House. However, Lagnadhipati Venus powerfully posited in the 9th House holding out wealth, health and happiness. Success in educational pursuits too are on the cards. With Mars gaining Swakshetra in the 7th House, even honours and achievements in foreign lands are possible if you are in appropriate circumstances.



Gemini (Mithuna):



A rise in status and popularity and financial stability are held out by Mercury due in your 8th House on Jan: 28 where a strongly placed Venus assures comforts and luxuries, sound health, and relief from worries and miseries. However, watch out for financial losses due to thefts and unforeseen circumstances. Mars in your 6th House is highly favourable. You will win over enemies and gain respect and honour in the society. Success at exams and competitions are also indicated. Jupiter in the 5th House signifies financial gains, happiness from children and marital prospects for bachelors and maidens.



Cancer (Kataka):



In view of the total Lunar Eclipse due to take place beginning 16.41 hours (Colombo time) on Jan: 31, natives are advised not to fix any important event in life for Jan: 31 and for three days ahead and three days after this celestial event which means for a duration of seven days. Prospects of marital problems and domestic troubles are raised by the Sun - Venue  Mercury -Ketu combination in your 7th House. Time is not opportune to go into partnerships either. You are advised to stay away from litigation and property-related issues and transactions.



Leo (Sinha):



Mercury due in the 6th House on Jan: 28 signifies a good income, a good income and cordial relations with colleagues at the workplace. Meanwhile, the Sun strong in the same House holds out a whip hand over enemies and rivals and resourcefulness to overcome obstacles. You may achieve success in litigation in matters related to lands and other property. You are also likely to find yourself in a position to meet challenges with energy and courage and self-confidence thanks to powerful Mars in the 4th House giving rise to effects of Ruchaka Yoga. Honours and recognition are in store for those engaged in the fields of arts and literature.



Virgo (Kanya):



Lagnadhipati Mercury due in the 5th House on Jan:28 indicates a time unfavourable for trading on stocks and shares. Mars in your 3rd House signifies the ability to act with much courage and self-confidence as well as financial gains and short gainful journeys. A rise in career and higher status are in store for natives running Rahu Maha or Antar Dasa. Venus placed in the 5th House with Sun holds out a happy family life, financial gains and a favourable time for artistes. However, stomach related problems are likely due to the adverse influence of the Sun.



Libra (Thula):



Mercury due in the 4th house by Jan: 28 holds out happiness in the family, peace of mind and success in educational pursuits. Time on is auspicious for natives active in politics. A very happy time socially and financial gains are indicated. However, time is not favourable for property-related transactions. You have to resist the inclination to make money by means fair or foul. You may develop an altruistic bent and get drawn to religious activity. A good time professionally and financially is on the cards.



Scorpio (Vrushika):



Misunderstandings and disputes with brothers and co-workers are possible due to Mercury moving into the 3rd House. Time now on is auspicious for foreign travel, higher education and spiritual pursuits, but unfavourable for parents. A very favourable time when successes and achievements will come to you with no effort is ahead with Lagnadhipati Mars in your Lagna. However, avoid taking risks and hasty decisions. Sound health, financial gains and higher status in the society are on the cards thanks to the Sun in your 3rd House.



Sagittarius (Dhanu):



An increase in income and a happy family life are indicated by Mercury due shortly in the 2nd House where Venus is already placed assuring a generally happy and prosperous time. Natives prospecting for gems or other hidden treasures are in for luck. You have to act with restraint, foresight and mindfulness as the Saturn  Mercury continues in your Lagna. A great achievement or a good fortune is possible for those running favourable Dasas. Mars in your 12th House makes it strong with Swakshetra status raising the prospect of unexpected gains.



Capricorn (Makara):



You are likely to develop problems like headache, sore throat, Tonsillitis and hoarseness of voice due to Mercurys unfavourable influence. Time on is not favourable for matrimonial matters except in cases of Rahu being strong at birth. Your Lagna has gained much strength with Venus moving into it to be conjunct with Sun. You will have a good time with friends, relatives and family members. You can look forward to an increase in income with Mars in your Ayasthana fortified with Swakshetra status.



Aquarius (Kumbha):



You are advised to act with restraint, foresight and gumption with a bag of mixed results to be held out by a four-planet combination in your 12th House with Mercury due to enter it on Jan: 24. A happy time at workplace, a possible rise in career and even gainful foreign travel on the cards with a powerful Mars in your 10th House. You can look forward to a better or a steady income due to the favourable Saturn in the 11th House. Financial gains and higher returns from investments too are on the cards.



Pisces (Meena):



The favourable Sun  Venus  Ketu combination in 11th House will get a further boost when Mercury joins it on Jan: 28. You have to be mindful of your health and avoid getting involved in law suits and litigation given Lagnadhipati Jupiter unfavorably placed in your 8th House. You can look forward to an enhanced income and more profits from whatever economic activity you are engaged in thanks to the favourable 11th House. Avoid risk-involved activity and travels as far as possible.New users who download the Nations Trust Banks Nations Mobile Banking App, who register online and perform at least one transaction using the app are automatically entered into a draw to win a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 8.



The draw is being conducted over a period of three months from November 2017 to January 2018 with one lucky winner chosen each month to receive this amazing gift. The lucky winners for November and December were Dishani Fernando and Palihenage Don Shiromi Shalika respectively, each walking away with a brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 8.



The draw was conducted as part of Nations Trust Banks drive to encourage consumers to adopt digital banking and to ultimately realise a sustainable world through a cashless, digital economy that saves time, money and the environment.



Commenting on the initiative, Nations Trust Bank Chief Marketing Officer Shaan Wickremesinghe said: We are always encouraging our customers to adopt new digital technologies. Nations Mobile Banking is one of the most advanced and cutting edge digital banking solutions that is currently available. Therefore, we wanted to randomly reward users and to encourage more people to sign up to Nations Mobile Banking and carry the bank with them in their pockets. We would like to thank all our customers who have signed up for Nations Mobile Banking as they are now truly with us on our journey towards the bankings digital future.



Nations Trust Bank PLC is amongst the top 30 business establishments in Sri Lanka, ranked by Business Today Magazine and is the benchmark for customer convenience, ably providing a host of financial products and services to a wide range of customers. The bank operates 93 branches across the country, boasting an ATM network covering 137 locations plus more than 3,500 ATMs on the Lanka Pay Network and is the issuer and sole acquirer for American Express Cards in Sri Lanka.Seoul (dpa), 26 Jan 2018 -

An investigation has been ordered into a fire that engulfed a hospital in South Korea on Friday, killing dozens of people and injuring scores, local media reported.



At least 37 people were killed and more than 100 were injured in the blaze in the south-eastern city of Miryang, the National Fire Agency told dpa.



The cause of the blaze, which was believed to have broken out early in the morning in the emergency room on the ground floor of the hospital, is not yet known.



The death toll can still increase, since many of the injured are in critical condition, the citys fire department chief, Choi Man Woo, said on Korean television.



There wasnt a sprinkler system in the building, because the hospital was small enough that it wasnt mandatory, according to clinic management.



Thick smoke made it difficult for rescuers to reach the remaining patients inside the hospital, which was mostly occupied by elderly people. Most of the victims were elderly people, who had problems fleeing, local broadcasters reported.



A doctor and two nurses were among the victims, the National Fire Agency said.



Ninety-three patients from an adjoining nursing home were evacuated unhurt, Yonhap said. The fire is the second major deadly blaze in South Korea in recent weeks.



Prime Minister Lee Nak Yon ordered an investigation during a visit to Miryang earlier in the day, the Yonhap news agency reported.The inside of the Church now with the Stained Glass window at the extreme

Saint Pauls Church in Kandy stood the changing times for one hundred and seventy-five years, dedicated to Saint Paul, who was born as Saul.



Paul the Apostle, commonly known as Saint Paul and also known by his Jewish name Saul of Tarsus, was an apostle who taught the gospel of the Christ to the first century world. He was born to Jewish parents in a tribe living in the town of Tarsus.



Later Saint Paul was arrested by Nero, the ruler of Rome. Paul was executed as a lesson to the people, who resisted Roman Empire.



The Church in Kandy was named after St. Paul, the Apostle.



After the British annexed the Kandyan Kingdom, the historic Audience Hall was used for Sunday Service.

But, the Church continued to serve its parishioners and lived in the midst of a religious atmosphere. It still continues its Sunday Services and other ceremonies



Bishop- the second Lord Bishop of Calcutta whose diocese extended to Ceylon. On August 15, 1825, he visited Sri Lanka via the port of Galle.



With Governor Edward Barnes, Bishop Herber visited Kandy on September 14, 1825 - ten years after the British conquered the country.



On September 18, 1825, he held a Confirmation Service at the

Audience Hall.



Bishop Reginald Heber was not satisfied with the use of the Audience Hall as a Church and he informed the Governor that this was out of taste. On the other hand, the Buddhist clergy and the Trustees of the Devales also did not agree with this arrangement.



Taking this opportunity the Legislative Council brought out The Church Ordinance and allowed one thousand five hundred Sterling Pounds for the building of a Church in Kandy. This is the beginning of the St. Pauls Church Kandy. The Church stands in the form of a cross inside of which has no pillars. It is built on Herring Bone architecture with all Satinwood.



The land according to the former Diyawadana Nilame, Neranjan Wijeyaratne, was once a part of the Wel Bodhiya, which is currently the property of Asgiri Mahanayake.



This land was acquired by the Government and it issued a public notice of any objections. The objections were to be personally brought before the Government Agent. No Buddhist monks would make his way at that time and since the time had lapsed, the land was handed over to St. Pauls Church. Under a Sacred Area concept St. Pauls school was removed and twenty acres of land was allocated to the Trustees of St. Pauls Church to re-build a Church at Tennakumbura.



But, over the years it did not materialise. Instead, a Vocational Training Institute was established. The Government of the day did not pursue it further and there stands St. Pauls Church.



The St.Pauls College was demolished and in its place Sumangala College was established with all the students from St. Pauls College taken into the new school, the former Diyawadana Nilame said.

But, the Church continued to serve its parishioners and lived in the midst of a religious atmosphere. It still continues its Sunday Services and other ceremonies.



The exact date of Church building is obscure. The consecration of the present Church building was by Bishop of Colombo Rev. James Chapman on January 25, 1853.



In a note, he says that the Church is 120 feet long and 80 feet wide.



The original building would have been constructed on the lines of English Churches.



Some records indicate the date thirty years before. There are no proper records, except the visit of the Bishop of Calcutta in 1825, Rev. Reginald Heber and his arrival in Kandy with Governor Barnes.



The main Church building, however, had been altered in 1878, 1928 and 1953. It has stood the test of time and also moved with the changing times.



But what the Church lost was the original stained Glass window installed by the widow of a coffee planter Laurence St. George Carey of De Vallon Estate, Pussellawa in 1874.



Sadly the stained glass window was shattered in the 1998 LTTE bomb attack on the Sri Dalada Maligawa.



Yet, it was left to a Buddhist Technician, Ajith Gunasekera to put it back, piece by piece, and restore it.



Today it stands with a few pieces missing with all its glory.



St. Pauls Church is a landmark in the historic town and blends with the heritage aspect giving any visitor the magnanimity of Buddhist principles and the teachings of Buddha.Disgruntled elements were attempting to spread fabricated stories about the Sri Lanka Army with malicious intent, Sri Lanka Army Headquarters said in a media release today.

It has been observed that certain elements with malicious and hidden agendas are currently engaged in criticizing the Si Lanka Army with the motive of demoralizing and misleading soldiers and tarnishing its image, it

In the recent past, some disgruntled elements have been attempting to spread or publish unfounded and fabricated stories in media with regard to incidents like foreign allowances, rations, payments for disabled War Heroes of the Sri Lanka Army," the media release said

It is also regretful to note that some politically-manipulated elements with vested

Interests are found to be behind the regularly organized street protests by disabled War Heroes or members of their families, although their issues have been resolved to a large extent with 100% increase in their pension and disabled payments, it stated.

It further said the Sri Lanka Army had fully committed to the national security and nation- building roles as the most sought after service provider with strict focus on concerns of reconciliation and development.

The SLA appealed to all segments of society to keep the Army off from their machinations and all acts of intentional vilification and public ridicule for the greater benefit of the country. (Sheain Fernandopulle)By Chandeepa Wettasinghe

The World Bank controversy on the Ease of Doing Business Index rankings has spilled over into Sri Lanka with the World Bank contradicting a statement by Central Bank Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy that Sri Lanka would be receiving a higher ranking.



It is nice to know that we might be 89 instead of 111. That was the news today because of issues the World Bank had, Dr. Coomaraswamy said at a seminar organized by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce this week.



When Mirror Business inquired on the matter, he said that with the news of Chile being penalized in the rankings, a revision was on the cards, and that he would be contacting the local World Bank office to see when the revised rankings would be published.



World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer earlier this month said that countriesin particular Chileare discriminated in the rankings for political reasons. The rankings website (www.doingbusiness.org) was down yesterday.



World leaders have expressed outrage following the statement as the rankings heavily influence investor sentiments and global financial flows.



When Mirror Business inquired from the World Bank on the 2018 ranking revision for Sri Lanka, it said that the next update would be for 2019 to be published in October this year.

Doing Business (DB) rankings are reassessed annually and announced around October each year. There has not been any revision to the DB 2018 ranking. Improvements are recorded once final users confirm the positive change. Updated rank will be available in October 2018, a World Bank spokesperson said.

The World Bank further said that it is very supportive of the Government of Sri Lankas efforts to simplify the regulatory environment to enable business development, and has been providing technical assistance to help this effort.



The rankings are benchmarked to data available in June. Sri Lanka has set up eight task forces to reach the top 70 ranks by the 2020 edition.



In a statement on allegations made by Romer, the World Bank said that its methodlogy is impartial and based on ongoing internal and external reviews, with changes made following extensive stakeholder consultations.



However, it said that it is taking the allegations seriously.



In light of the concerns expressed by World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer in the media and our commitment to integrity and transparency, we will conduct an external review of Chiles indicators in the Doing Business report, the World Bank said.



Romer, who is a celebrated economist, was sidelined within the global development lender after internal clashes, and this week resigned after apologizing for his remarks.

WB chief economist quits after Chile comments

REUTERS: Paul Romer stepped down as the World Banks chief economist on Wednesday after he came under fire for saying that Chiles rankings in a closely watched Doing Business report may have been deliberately skewed under socialist President Michelle Bachelet.



Romers resignation, just 15 months after taking the job, was announced in an internal note that was posted by World Bank President Jim Yong Kim and seen by Reuters.



Paul Romer has informed me that he is stepping down from his position as chief economist, effective immediately, Kim said in the announcement.



I appreciated Pauls frankness and honesty, and I know he regrets the circumstances of his departure, Kim said, adding that Romer would return to his position as economics professor at New York University.



Kim said the World Bank would launch a global search for a new chief economist.



Caption Paul Romer

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Jan. 12, Romer apologized to Chile for changes to the reports methodology that he said conveyed the wrong impression about the business environment under Bachelet.



The annual report has long been controversial because it ranks countries based on indicators that grade them on how their government bureaucracies affect, and often limit, their business environments.



Chile currently ranks at 55 out of 190 countries on the list, down from 34 in 2014, the year Bachelet took office. In other recent years its rankings were to 41 in 2015, 48 in 2016 and 57 in 2017, the World Banks reports show.



Romer told the newspaper that the decline resulted from methodological changes, rather than a deterioration of Chiles business environment, and may have been the result of the World Bank staffs political motivations. He told the newspaper he would revise the reports.My beloved sister Daphne Kulasekere was called to eternal rest on the 22nd of January 2017, a year ago, leaving a permanent void for all her loved ones.



Born on the 18th of January 1953, Daphne had her education at Princess of Wales College, Moratuwa. She followed a career in Music (Pianoforte) and obtained professional qualifications from Trinity and Royal College of Music, London.



She started teaching music at the very young age of 19 years for around 15 students. She was actively involved in church work and was the organist of the Methodist Church Suduwella, Moratuwa and a dedicated Sunday School teacher.



She migrated to Canada in 1977 and lived a peaceful life with her family. She was married to Felix (Rohantha) and was blessed with two sons, Travis and Troy.



She was a very famous and much loved music teacher in Calgary and had the privilege of teaching many for more than three decades. She was attached to the Alberta School of Ballet and an appreciation for her dedicated services, the School held its annual concert- 2017 in memory of her.

She was also the organist at the St. Augustines Anglican Church and the United Church in Calgary. The Funeral service was held at Christ Church Elbow Park, Calgary.



I wish to share some of the vivid, wonderful and nostalgic memories of her. We were very close to each other in a wonderful family atmosphere and lived happily under the guidance of caring parents and God almighty. When she started earning, she never failed to give me pocket money. It was she who dropped me off to the University hostel in 1975 with words of encouragement to study hard. She taught me how to ride a bicycle and to drive a car. My memory recalls, the fun we had during Christmas time singing Christmas Carols with family and friends, with my sister on the piano.



My sister never lost the common touch and was devoted to her family members, especially to the relations and friends in need. She was constantly in touch with her family and visited us regularly. The annual Christmas card from her was much awaited by all relations. Throughout her life she epitomized kindness, love and compassion for the needy. I am told by my sons who visited her in Calgary recently, how excited she was to have them at her home. She would look after them as her own and would stay up impatiently until they returned from their evening visits with the cousins.



In 2015, she spent Christmas with my family in Sri Lanka along with Travis her eldest son, and had a wonderful holiday. We had a family and friends get-together and as usual she was on the piano entertaining us all with Christmas hymns, songs and oldies that brings us fond memories.



Further, I was really moved by her very friendly approach towards my little granddaughters who still talk high of Daphne Achcha. In spite of her own declining health condition, she had played the piano, one last time, at the cancer hospital during the Christmas of 2016, entertaining the patients and its staff. Though we were apart, we never felt it, as we were constantly in touch with each other. My several visits to her home in Calgary too brought us much closer. Her love, affection and dedication to the family is admirable and exceptional. A thanksgiving service in her memory was held on the 1st April 2017 at the Suduwella Methodist church with a large gathering and an inspirational message was delivered by our cousin Ivor Poobalan. I take this opportunity to thank all those who attended the service. She was a loving daughter to our parents late Justin and Charlotte, a caring sister both to me and my brother Bernel (deceased) and a very loving and affectionate mother to her sons Travis & Troy - she truly was an inspiration.



We all miss her so very much! I thank God for her life and it is my belief that we will meet each other again on that beautiful shore.

DENVER BRIAN COOREYPage Content

Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa, Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, and the European Commission's First Vice-President, Frans Timmermans, will share their views on the future of the European Union with regional and local leaders in separate debates on 31 January and 1 February. Their speeches will be the political centrepieces of the European Committee of the Regions' (CoR) first plenary in 2018, during which the EU's assembly of local and regional politicians will also set out its views on the future EU budget as well as  amongst others  the EU's cohesion and mobility policy.

The future of Europe and how to pave the way to economic growth (31 January)

The former Mayor of Lisbon and CoR member, Prime Minister Antonio Costa, will discuss the reforms he will be advocating in the European Council on the future direction of the EU. In recent months, he has called for a new set-up of European convergence policy. The CoR will also adopt a resolution on the European Commission's Annual Growth Survey 2018 arguing EU economic growth in the EU is being held back from an under-appreciation of regions and regional disparity and stress the need for EU regional investment - cohesion policy  to remain the EU's main investment tool.

How to involve local and regional governments in better EU law-making (31 January)

Frans Timmermans will also address the CoR on 31 January, setting out the European Commission's 2018 working programme. The debate comes just a few days after the first meeting of the new "Task Force on Subsidiarity and Proportionality" , which is led by the Commission's First Vice-President, and is working to improve the way local and regional authorities are involved in EU-law making. Linked to this, the CoR has tabled a resolution which could show a "Subsidiarity political red card" to the Commission's proposal of diverting resources allocated to cohesion policy 2014-2020 to fund a programme aimed at supporting structural reforms in member states.

EU budget and regional investment after 2020: the view of regions and cities (1 February)

Tomislav Donchev, Deputy Prime Minister of Bulgaria, will set out Bulgaria's six month EU Presidency priorities which comes at the beginning of complex negotiations on the next EU budget. With the future of EU regional investment high on the priorities for local and regional governments, the CoR will debate the Multiannual Financial Framework post-2020  the budgetary plan for the next generation of EU policies ahead of the European Commission's proposals expected in May. Marek Wozniak (PL/EPP), Marshal of the Wielkopolska region, will then present his opinion on the ' Reflection paper on the Future of EU Finances' .

During the plenary, CoR members will also adopt other opinions related to cohesion policy:

Europe on the move (1 February)

"Europe on the Move" is a wide-ranging set of European Commission initiatives that seeks to help modernise EU mobility and transport. CoR members will discuss the local and regional implications of the first series of eight legislative initiatives specifically targeted on road transport. Ivan Zagar (SI/EPP), Mayor of Slovenska Bistrica, presents his draft opinion on "P romoting seamless mobility solutions" focusing on road tolls to better reflect the actual cost of road transport. The second opinion, whose rapporteur is Spyros Spyridon (GR/EPP) of Poros council, considers " Labour aspects of road transport" .

Other opinions to be adopted:

Practical information:

Where: Paul Henri Spaak building  Hemicycle, European Parliament

When: 31 January, 3pm-9pm  1 February, 9am-1pm

 See the plenary's agenda & documents

 Watch the plenary streamed live on the CoR's website

 Plenary Session media programme

Contact: PresseCdr@cor.europa.euThis item is available in full to subscribers.

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Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.Total collections under GST in Nov had slipped for second straight month to Rs 80,808 cr, from over Rs 83,000 cr in Oct.

New Delhi: Halting two months of decline, the GST collections gathered momentum in December, rising to Rs 86,703 crore.

"Total revenue Collections under GST for the month of December 2017 (received in December 2017/January up to January 24, 2018) has been Rs 86,703 crores till January 24 2018," the Finance Ministry said in a tweet.

Total collections under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in November had slipped for the second straight month to Rs 80,808 crore, from over Rs 83,000 crore in October. In September, it was over Rs 92,150 crore

The ministry further said that one crore taxpayers have been registered under GST till January 24, of which 17.11 lakh are composition dealers who are required to file returns every quarter.

As many as 56.30 lakh GSTR 3B returns have been filed for December, it said.

For the composition dealers, for the July-September quarter, the last date of filing GSTR 4 Return was December 24, it said. A total of 8.10 lakh returns were filed by them amounting to Rs 335.86 crore.

For the October-December quarter, the last date for filing GSTR 4 return was January 18, and a total of 9.25 lakh returns were filed by composition dealers paying a sum of Rs 421.35 crore, it added.There are 21 public sector banks which together have market share of 70 per cent. (Representational image)

New Delhi: Public sector banks (PSBs) have kick-started the review of their overseas operations by identifying 41 units for "rationalisation" as part of the larger reform process, a top official said on Thursday.

Rationalisation could be in terms of consolidation of operations, trimming of staff strength, exiting some of the non-core and non-profit activities or closing down some of unviable overseas offices.

"Many banks entered the overseas markets. This activity has to be looked into. Banks have started the process already and about 41 operations they have decided to rationalise," Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar told PTI.

The government on Wednesday announced that it will infuse an unprecedented Rs 88,139 crore capital in 20 PSBs before March 31 to boost lending and revive growth. It also unveiled steps to tackle the bad loan problem which has reached record levels.

The recapitalisation would be dependent on performance and reforms, it had said, adding that banks will have to adopt the differentiated business strategy and exit from non-core businesses and focus on their core competencies.

"It is not everybody does everything. It is better if they focus on their core competencies and build on that. They should rather aspire for leadership in their identified market segments as per core competence rather than playing second fiddle," he said.

Going forward, each bank will adopt a board approved policy as per its core strength and monetise their non-core activity, he said, adding that many banks have identified various non-core assets and started monetising them.

PNB has already announced its intension to close down representative offices in Australia and China. For example, Bank of India last year exited its entire 5 per cent holding in credit bureau TransUnion Cibil via a sale of shares to US based TransUnion International.

Besides, Union Bank of India sold sell 40 per cent stake in its mutual fund business to Dai-ichi Life Insurance Company of Japan. Earlier, Union Bank had tied up with KBC Participations Rental SA to form KBC Asset Management Company, where the Belgian firm held 49 per cent in the asset management business.

Later, in September 2016, KBC sold its entire stake in mutual fund to Union Bank of India. There are 21 public sector banks which together have market share of 70 per cent.

Kumar further said that each PSU is an article of faith and the government stands behind each PSBs with unequivocal commitment as the largest shareholder.

"So depositors money is safe. Each PSBs would be maintaining regulatory capital and have healthy networth and core capital," he added.Ministry will begin registering the unorganised workers across the country by the beginning of the next fiscal. (Photo: DC)

New Delhi: The labour ministry will begin a drive in April to register over 47 crore unorganised sector workers and provide them with Unorganised Worker Index Number or UWIN Card, bringing them under the social security net, according to an official source.

It wants to complete the exercise by the end of next fiscal, before going to the polls in 2019, so that these workers are covered under the social security code proposed by the ministry.

"The ministry will begin registering the unorganised workers across the country by the beginning of the next fiscal (April-March, 2018-19)) to provide them benefits of various social security schemes run by retirement fund body EPFO and state health insurer ESIC," the official source said.

The UWIN Card would have unique number which would be seeded with Aadhaar to provide all benefits of social security schemes at one stop, he added.

"Labour Code on Social Security and Welfare is at the consultation stage and could be a reality by the time registration of informal workers is complete," he said.

The ministry has already initiated a pilot on the UWIN Cards to test the efficacy of the system, he said, adding that it is satisfied with the results.

The source said that the only issue is that as to who would pay the matching contribution for informal sector workers under the schemes run by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC). Under these schemes, apart from employees, the employers also contribute to social security scheme accounts.

The government, said the source, will have to find some mechanism for informal sector workers as there would not be any employer to contribute for the schemes.

The source said that the under the new code, the issue of contribution by employer is likely to be sorted out. The code provides that in case of an informal or non- employee worker, the 'principal employer' could be the said worker himself.

Therefore, once the code is enacted, there would not be any hindrance of having 'principal employer' to subscribe the social security schemes run by the EPFO and ESIC for the informal sector workers.

The Code on Social Security & Welfare will combine all the existing 15 laws related to social security including EPF & MP Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Employees Compensation Act, Unorganised Social Security Act, and various Welfare Cess/Fund Acts.Mumbai: After a lot of controversies, Ranveer Singh starrer 'Padmaavat' has finally hit the screens. The actor, who is popular for his non-stop energy, balances out his personal and professional commitments quite well.

Amid 'Padmaavat' promotions and his busy work schedule, Ranveer recently attended his cousin brother's cocktail party. In a candid picture the actor is seen dancing his heart out at the party. Check out the picture here:

Ranveer Singh is immensely happy with the kind of appreciation he is getting for his villainous act in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Padmaavat'. The actor shared a heartfelt note on Twitter to expressed the gratitude to the director and the fans.

Singh is currently shooting for Zoya Akhtar's 'Gully Boy' alongside Alia Bhatt. He will soon start working on Rohit Shetty's action-comedy 'Simmba' and Kabir Khan's Kapil Dev biopic ''83'.Megastar Mammootty's upcoming film Peranbu in national award winner Raam's direction is being premiered at the 47th International Film Festival of Rotterdam.

Megastar Mammootty's upcoming film Peranbu in national award winner Raam's direction is being premiered at the 47th International Film Festival of Rotterdam. Besides Mammootty who plays a taxi driver, the film features national award winner child artiste Sadhana, Anjali and transgender Anjali Ameer in supporting cast.

The technical crew of the film includes Yuvan Shankar Raja for music and Vairamuthu penning the lyrics, Theni Easwar wielding the camera and A Sreekar Prasad for editing. Peranbu is a bilingual produced by P.L. Thenappan under his banner Sri Rajalakshmi Films to release in Tamil as well as Malayalam.The last time Malayalis saw Nikhila Vimal was as Kabani in the 2015 film Love 24x7. Her growth from the nervous girl to the confident TV reporter in the movie somewhat resembles her real life progress. After making her debut as a heroine with Dileep, Nikhila signed up for a Tamil movie opposite actor-director M. Sasikumar, followed by two more from Tamil and two from Telugu, including the remake of Oru Vadakkan Selfie. Now, after a short while, she is back to Malayalam, playing a classical dancer in Aravindante Athithikal.

The natural first query is why the break. And she replies, The break in Malayalam was not something I planned. In fact, movies too came to me out of the blue. I never had dreamt of becoming an actress. When Kabani got noticed, the first offer came from Tamil and she grabbed Vetrivel. The team took her on board their next project Kidaari, again with Sasikumar. Then happened her first Telugu movie Meda Meeda Abbayi, the Vadakkan Selfie remake, with Allari Naresh. I have been getting offers from Malayalam in between, but I wasnt sure I could do justice to mature characters. I am childish and always choose roles in my comfort zone. I cant do a heavy character that I am not confident of pulling off.

It was the same thought that made her reject the lead role in Ramante Edenthottam. Nikhila surprises saying she has no regrets. I am glad that I didnt take it up. Anu Sithara played Malini to such perfection. I wouldnt have been able to carry it off with grace, she says. So what made her choose Aravindante Athithikal? The character Varada is a dancer and I could relate well to her, she says. Dance, to Nikhila, is a legacy. Her mother Kalamandalam Vimala Devi is a dance teacher who ensured that her daughter got trained in bharatanatyam, kuchipudi and Keralanatanam. I have learned dance forms but dont call me a dancer. I dont perform regularly and I dont practise like a dancer, she says.

In Aravindante Athithikal, directed by M. Mohanan, Varada has come for her arangettam in Mookambika Temple and stays in the lodge run by Vineeth Sreenivasans character. Vijayaraghavan plays my dad and Prem Kumar plays my uncle. Its an ensemble cast with actors like Urvashi, Shanti Krishna, KPAC Lalitha, Sreenivasan, Sreejaya and Aju Varghese. The shooting was so much fun. It was a great experience. Whenever I was confused about how to express and what to say, Vineeth helped me with suggestions and tips. Such a nice person he is, treating everyone with respect, she recalls.

The shooting will wind up in a week and the movie might hit the screens in March or April. Before that she has two film releases coming up  Tamil movie Ranga with Sibiraj and Telugu film Gayathri starring Mohan Babu. Life has never been a planned route for Nikhila. A graduate in Botany, she left studies midway when films came. Now, she has joined the University of Madras for post graduation in Women Studies. I hope to continue my studies. I have been missing it so much, she concludes.The stage is set for the bilingual remake of Kannada superhit U-Turn. While Samantha is on board to reprise the role of a journalist played by Shraddha Srinath in the original, the latest is that Rahul Ravindran and Aadhi Pinisetty have been roped in for the crucial roles of a cop, and Samanthas love interest and colleague respectively.

Confirming the news about his role, Rahul, who loved the Kannada mystery-thriller, shares, The thing that excited me most about the film was the fact that Pawan, who directed the Kannada film, will be helming this as well. Its going to be a blast working with Sam, who is one of my favourite people!

While theres no confirmation from Aadhi, sources close to the film unit reveal that the actor is as excited to be on board.

Notably, all the three actors are familiar names in both Telugu and Tamil cinema, which will be a huge advantage for the bilingual. Shooting of the film begins in February.Researchers were targeted with inflammable devices, false accusations of paedophilia and packages claimed to have been contaminated with AIDS virus (Photo: Pixabay)

Two members of an animal rights group aimed to shut down Cambridge animal testing laboratory by scaring staff and suppliers.

In a shocking incident, two members of an animal rights group have been sentenced for their roles in decade-long intimidation where researchers were targeted with inflammable devices, false accusations of paedophilia and packages claimed to have been contaminated with AIDS virus.

The husband-wife duo of Sven Van Hasselt and Natasha Simpkins were part of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty (Shac), which aimed to shut down a British animal testing company by terrorising its staff, suppliers, and business partners across Europe.

Van Hasselt, 31, was jailed for five years and Simpkins, 30, was given a two-year prison sentence suspended for two years after they admitted conspiracy to blackmail at Winchester Crown Court.

The duos aim was to put HLS out of business by harassing supply companies into cutting ties with it.

The series of attacks, which happened in France, Switzerland and Germany during 2008 and 2009, included paint stripper being daubed on cars and graffiti sprayed at employees homes warning: Drop HLS or you will be dead.A New York City bar has had enough of the word "literally" and has decided to ban its customers from using the word.

Continental, bar in the city's East Village has posted a sign on its door to warn people before they come in that they can say anything but this one word.

"Sorry but if you say the word literally inside continental you have five minutes to finish your drink and then you must leave," reads the sign posted on the window.

It further declares: "If you actually start a sentence with I literally you must leave immediately!!!"

East Village bar the Continental expounds on their (tongue-in-cheek) ban on the word literally. Their stated goal now is to stop Kardashianism. cc: @edenbrower pic.twitter.com/iI0N41qCgt  evgrieve (@evgrieve) January 24, 2018

The Independent reported, the bar feels "literally" is the most overused, annoying word in the English language and we will not tolerate it. Stop Kardashianism now!

What was not clear was the whether or not the correct use of the word is acceptable to say in the bar.

People who saw the tweet had strong reactions to the idea of a bar making such a bizarre rule.

Here's some of what they had to say:

Three exclamation marks and an overused "actually" that doesn't need to be there? Hypocrisy thy name is The Continental.  Carole29 (@Carole29) January 25, 2018

Cool, so never spending money here! Though, even if they didn't have this sign I'm sure the bartender with the vest and waxed mustache would be enough of a warning anyway...  Katie (@katiefustich) January 24, 2018In 2014, Nepal named a 6,182-metre (20,328-foot) mountain in her honour: Peak Hawley in the country's northwest. (Photo: AFP)

Kathmandu: American journalist Elizabeth Hawley, whose fifty years chronicling summits and tragedies in the Himalayas earned her the moniker "the Sherlock Holmes of the mountaineering world", died Friday aged 94.

Hawley built a reputation as one of the most authoritative voices on Himalayan mountaineering after moving to Nepal in 1959 as a journalist, where she continued to live up to her death.

"She had a very peaceful death," Dr Prativa Pandey, who looked after Hawley at the end of her life, told AFP.

She passed away at a hospital in Nepal's capital Kathmandu in the early hours of Friday, a week after falling ill with a lung infection. She later likely suffered a stroke, Dr Pandey said.

Hawley founded the Himalayan Database, a meticulous archive of all summits in Nepal's mountains that she managed until five years ago.

Known for ferreting out the truth from climbers claiming to set new records, her word on summits in the fabled mountains was considered final, though she never climbed any peaks herself.

Every climbing season Hawley -- behind the wheel of her 1965 sky-blue VW Beetle -- would drive to mountaineers' hotels in Kathmandu to grill them before and after their expeditions.

"I guess I am quite forceful, I come to the point and if someone thinks they can evade my questions, they can think again," she told AFP in a 2014 interview.

Elizabeth Ann Hawley was born on November 9, 1923 to a Chicago-based chartered accountant and a suffragist.

She attended university in Michigan and promptly moved to Manhattan after graduation in 1946, landing a job as a researcher with Fortune magazine.

The job bored her and she took off to see the world in 1957, finally ending up in Nepal in February 1959, then a Hindu kingdom which had only recently opened its gates to foreign visitors.

Hawley eventually became a correspondent for the Reuters news agency in Nepal and landed her first major scoop during the 1963 US expedition to Everest.

The American military attache offered her access to secret radio communication between Everest base camp and the embassy, enabling her to be the first to file when they reached the summit.

In 2014, Nepal named a 6,182-metre (20,328-foot) mountain in her honour: Peak Hawley in the country's northwest.

"I retire when I die. It might be the same thing," Hawley said in her book "The Nepal Scene", a collection of monthly dispatches she wrote until 2007.He changed his name to Ramesh with the help of those certificates and posing as the doctor married another woman from Karampudi.

Guntur: The Guntur Rural police on Thursday arrested a fake doctor who had married several women and deceived them. Ch Veeranjaneyulu also known as Rayaventi Ramesh Babu and Ranavoina Ramesh Babu from Mallavaram of J Pangalur Mandal, Prakasam district, got his MBBS certificate issued by NTR University of Health Sciences and changed his name and used the same certificate to cheat people and women posing as a qualified doctor. Addressing a press meet at Guntur on Thursday, Guntur rural SP, ChV Appala Naidu, said that accused Veeranjaneyulu had completed his B.Sc degree and joined an Eye Care center at Inkollu as technician and worked for nine years. The accused had married a woman from Inkollu in 2002.

He had then shunned his first wife by claiming cancer and shifted to Guntur where he started working as a medical representative in 2006. While travelling in Prasanthi Express, he had found a MBBS and Diploma in Anesthesiology certificates with Medical Council of India registration by the name of Ranavoina Ramesh Babu. He changed his name to Ramesh with the help of those certificates and posing as the doctor married another woman from Karampudi.

After deserting his wife in 2015, he started working as doctor in the Andhra Sugar Factory at Tanuku. Prior to this, he also worked in Piduguralla.The highlight of the parade was the motorcycle contingent, 'Seema Bhawani', comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade. (Photo: Twitter | @airnewsalerts)

New Delhi: Marching contingents, strategic defence weaponry and colourful tableaux were on display as India celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand parade watched by thousands of people along with 10 ASEAN leaders who attended the event as chief guests, in a historic first.

Signifying India's fast growing strategic ties with ASEAN, leaders of all the 10 countries of the powerful bloc attended the parade at the majestic Rajpath which showcased the country's military might and cultural diversity.

Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands of spectators who witnessed the nearly one-and-half-hour-long parade that marched down the eight-kilometre stretch from the Rajpath to the Red Fort amid an unprecedented security cover.

The ASEAN leaders, who are in Delhi to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi at the Republic Day parade making it an unprecedented event.

Read Also: 69th Republic Day: India's military might, cultural splendour before ASEAN heads

The parade was commanded by Lt General Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding, Headquarters Delhi Area. The supreme commander of the Indian armed forces President Ram Nath Kovind took the salute at the parade.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Prime Minister of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and Cambodian Premier Hun Sen also watched the grand parade.

They were seen sharing light moments with each other and capturing memories in their cameras.

Most of the ministers of the Modi government, including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister JP Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan, were present on the occasion.

They were seen applauding the tableaux of their respective states.

Congress President Rahul Gandhi also attended the parade. He was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congress leaders and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

India's former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and deputy chief minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia were also present on the occasion.

President Ram Nath Kovind awarded India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra posthumously to Indian Air Force (IAF) Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the majestic Rajpath.

Also Read: Ashok Chakra awarded to IAF commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously

At Rajpath there was a march past at the ceremony by the Army personnel carrying the ASEAN flag. The Army personnel also carried the flags of the 10 ASEAN nations in the parade.

Twenty three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, rolled down the Rajpath.

Tableaux from 14 states and union territories showcased the historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.

The highlight of the parade was the motorcycle contingent, 'Seema Bhawani', comprising women personnel of the BSF that showcased their skills for the first time at the parade.

The Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK), Brahmos Missile System, Weapon Locating Radar (Swathi), Bridge Laying Tank T-72, Mobile Base Transceiver Station and Akash Weapon System were also showcased at the parade.

The marching contingent of the Army included horse-mounted columns of the 61st Cavalry, the Punjab Regiment, Maratha Light Infantry, the Dogra Regiment, Ladakh Scouts, the Regiment of Artillery and 123 Infantry Battalion -- Territorial Army (Grenadiers).

The marching contingent of the Navy, comprising 144 young sailors, was led by Lieutenant Tushar Gautam, while the Indian Air Force contingent, comprising 144 men, was led by Squadran Leader Attal Singh Shekhon.

The paramilitary and other auxiliary civil forces, including the Border Security Force also marched on the Rajpath.

Camel Contingents, Indian Coast Guard, Sashastra Seema Bal, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, the Delhi Police, National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme were also among the marching contingents at the parade.

There were a number of interesting Tableaux that rolled down Rajpath.

This year the Indian Navy's Tableau showcased the theme 'Indian Navy: Combat Ready Force for National Security'.

Also Read: Clad in colourful safa, Modi walks down Rajpath, greets people after R-Day parade

The Navy also showcased its Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020, while the Defence Development and Research Organisation exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system.

The theme of the Indian Air Force Tableau was 'Indian Air Force Encouraging Indigenisation' which displayed models of the Tejas Multirole Fighter Aircraft, Rudra Helicopter, Arudhra Radar and the Akash missile system.

The tableau of All India Radio (AIR) featuring Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat', was one of the many firsts this year.

An Income Tax (I-T) Department tableau, about special anti-black money drive launched post-demonetisation, that rolled down Rajpath was also on the list of many firsts.

On behalf of the Central government, 61 tribal guests from various parts of the country had been invited to witness the Republic Day celebrations.

15 of the 18 children who won the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade. Three children, including two girls, have received the award posthumously.

Of the 18 children, seven are girls and 11 are boys.

In the children's section, over 800 boys and girls drawn from three schools in Delhi along with a group of school children from Nagpur and Dimapur, performed colourful dances on different themes.

The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of IAF aircraft.

The flypast commenced with the 'Rudra' formation comprising three ALH Mk IV WSI helicopters in 'Vic' formation, followed by the 'Hercules' formation comprising three C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.

Trailing them were the 'Netra' which is an Airborne Early Warning and Control System Aircraft also known as 'Eye in the Sky'.

'Netra' was followed by the 'Globe formation' comprising one C-17 Globemaster flanked by two Su-30 MKIs among others.

Minutes before the parade began, the Prime Minister, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air force paid tributes at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the war memorial at India Gate where an eternal flame burns in memory of those who laid down their lives defending the frontiers of the nation.

As per tradition, after unfurling the national flag, the national anthem was played followed by a 21 gun salute.

A massive ground-to-air security apparatus was put in place in the national capital, turning the city into a virtually impregnable fortress.

The ceremony ended with the playing of the national anthem and the release of thousands of balloons.

Modi and President Kovind also waved to the crowd after the conclusion of the ceremony and were greeted with loud cheers.Hyderabad: The Prime Ministers Office (PMO) has asked the Andhra Pradesh government to send subject wise status reports on assurances given in the AP Reorganisation Act.

This is said to be on the orders of the Prime Minister who recently met AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu who has been pressing for the full implementation of the Reorganisation Act

In the last three-and-a-half years, the Centre has implemented some of the assurances given in the bfirucaton Act, but many have yet to be implemented.

In the recent meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Naidu reportedly said that if the assurances and promises are fulfilled in a specific span of time, there will be some scope for the state to recover from the huge losses it suffered due to the bifurcation.

The AP government has already sent the PMO six reports relating to the 9th and 10th scheduled institutions, AP Bhavan assets division, special package, AP Finance Corporation, Polavaram project, and delimitation of Assembly constituencies. Other reports are under preparation.

In the reports, the AP government has asked the Centre to complete the Polavaram project by 2019. Regarding AP Bhavan, the state government pointed out that though there is a very clear provision for dividing AP Bhavan in New Delhi, and the home ministry has already clarified that the property is divisible, the division has yet to take place.

About the division of assets in the 9th and 10th Schedule of the Act, the AP government said that the home ministry had issued orders against the Supreme Court orders.

The state government said in the report it sent: When an order contrary to the judgement was passed by the ministry of home affairs on the division of all the assets and liabilities of AP State Council of Higher Education, the AP government has specifically addressed a communication to the ministry of home affairs to withdraw the order and pass fresh orders in accordance with the judgement of Supreme Court, but the action of home affairs is still pending.

The state government said if the home ministry does not pass fresh orders in accordance with the Supreme Court judgement, it has no option but to file a contempt petition against the home ministry in the Supreme Court.

Mr Naidu has said in meetings with senior officials that Mr Modi may solve some of the issues as he had reacted positively when Mr Naidu submitted his memorandum.

If speculations of early elections to the Lok Sabha come true, Mr Modi may think it worth his while to keep his ally in AP happy, and for Mr Naidu, this would be a good time to press his demands.KAKINADA: A number of government and private institutions took out processions and rallies on the eve of National Voters Day. East Godavari District Collector Karthikeya Misra said that voters should exercise their right while youth who have completed 18 years should enrol as voters.

Participating as chief guest in a National Voters Day celebration at JNTUK Alumni Auditorium on Thursday, the collector said that in a democratic country, voters should elect right leaders to help the nation as well as the state develop as per the aspirations of voters. He exhorted teachers to guide the students for better future.

Superintendent of Police Vishal Gunni said that voters should understand the responsibility they have of choosing right leaders for the state and nation who could protect democracy and elect responsible leaders through their vote. He said that efforts have been made by the revenue and police departments for fair and free voting during times of the elections and the voters should use their right to vote freely.

The JNTUK Vice-Chancellor V.S.S. Kumar said that failing to vote would affect the democracy and voters should know the value of vote. Joint Collector A. Mallikarjuna said that voting percentage should increase every time, this would be possible through active participation of voters. Mr Misra felicitated senior voters and the newly enrolled voters and handed over voter cards to new voters and administered pledge.

Earlier the Joint Collector A.Mallikarjuna flagged off the rally organized from Bhanugudi Center to JNTUK for creating awareness among the people on voters' day.

In West Godavari, the District Collector K.Bhaskar exhorted the voters to exercise their vote without meeting without any getting temptations. He inaugurated the 2k run at Eluru on the eve of National Voters Day. He said that the voter should understand the power of vote and become a part strengthening the nation. He said that If the voter sell his vote at Rs.100 or Rs.200, he should face his adverse impacts for five years. Many of the school students and different sections of the people participated in the 2k run. At Narasapuram, the Sub-Collector Sumit Kumar Gandhi said that the nation's future is in the hands of the youth.New Delhi: India celebrated its 69th Republic Day today with a splendrous display of its military might and cultural heritage on New Delhis ceremonial heart, the Rajpath.

The parade was watched -- as chief guests -- by ten heads of states of the ASEAN or Association of South East Asian Nations, a first since the parade began its journey in 1950.

The ASEAN chiefs from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Brunei sat on a 100-foot stage enclosed in bullet-proof glass. The stage this year is three times than last year.

The parade was presided over by President Ram Nath Kovind, flanked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministers, top leaders from political parties and senior government officials.

LIVE updates from the Republic Day parade

11:59 am: Prime Minister walks down Rajpath to greet people on the 69th Republic Day

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:43 am: Sukhoi-30 of Indian Air Force execute the Trishul manoeuvre

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:47 am: Tri-colour balloons set free in the sky

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:42 am: National anthem played with President Ram Nath Kovind saluting the national flag

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:40 am: Five Jaguar deep penetration strike aircraft in 'Arrowhead' formation at the height of 300 meter and a speed of 780 kilometer per hour

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:32 am: The much-awaited and the centre of attraction at the Republic Day parade - Fly past presented by the Indian Air Force at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:31 am: Spectacular Bike stunt: Lotus formation by the BSF bikers at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:28 am: The members of the special women bikers' squad have been specially chosen by the Border Security Force (BSF) trainers and are aged between 25-30 years. They have been selected from various combat ranks of the force

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:26 am: Bike stunt performed for the first time by all-women contingent from any force at the 69th Republic Day parade. The group led by Sub-Inspector Stanzin Noryang, 28, from Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region, stunned the annual event. The women squad has been named Seema Bhavani or the border braves. "Like a Durga they guard our borders and that is why we have named them Seema Bavani," explains their instructor, Deputy Commandant Ramesh Chandra

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:26 am: 113 women bikers in the BSF team at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Doordarshan)

11:24 am: Shikshit Bharat Sashakat Bharat - Educated India, Empowered India, a performance at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:21 am: Sangrai Mog Dance performed by the North East Zone Culture Centre in Dimapur at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:14 am: Performances by school students at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:10 am: Children's Pageant: Bharat Ke Rang leaves the audience spellbound with their performace at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:09 am: National Bravery Award winning children at Rajpath in New Delhi. 18 children, seven girls and 11 boys were awarded

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:07 am: Income Tax Department - Clean Money tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:05 am: Indian Council of Agricultural research - Mishrit Kheti, Khushiyon ki Kheti tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:04 am: The 69th Republic Day parade also sees tableau by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports - Khelo India

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:03 am: Ministry of Tribal Affairs - Uchit Dam Hak Se Mang tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:01 am: Gujarat - Century of Sabarmati Ashram tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Screengrab)

11:00 am: Manipur - Khamba Thoibi tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:59 am: Himachal Pradesh - Kye Monastery tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:58 am: The tableau of Punjab showcased Sangat and Pangat at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:58 am: Tableau of Assam showcases traditional masks of the Satras at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:57 am: Kerala - Kettukazhcha tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:57 am: Chhattisgarh - Ramgarh's Ancient Amphitheater tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:56 am: Lakshadweep - Island of joy tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath

(Photo: Sreengrab)

10:55 am: Madhya Pradesh - Sanchi a key Buddhist centre the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Twitter | @AkashvaniAIR)

10:54 am: Maharashtra - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Twitter | @AkashvaniAIR)

10:53 am: Livelihood of Jammu and Kashmir tableau displayed at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:52 am: Uttarakhand - Rural Tourism tableau at the the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:51 am: Tableau of the state of Tripura at the 69th Republic Day parade at Rajpath, New Delhi

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:48 am: Karnataka - Wild life tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: ANI)

10:47 am: The ASEAN - Education and Trade tableau at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: @AkashvaniAIR)

10:45 am: All India Radio (AIR) tableau or India's National Broadcaster at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Twitter | Doordarshan)

10:44 am: Pipe and Drum band marching at the 69th Republic Day parade

Pipe and Drum band marching at the 69th Republic Day parade 10:44 am: The Akash weapon system of 27 Air Defence Regiment (Amritsar Air Field), led by Captain Shikha Yadav and Captain Mohammad Yunis Khan at 69th Republic Day parade

The Akash weapon system of 27 Air Defence Regiment (Amritsar Air Field), led by Captain Shikha Yadav and Captain Mohammad Yunis Khan #RepublicDay pic.twitter.com/afw7iocd1y  ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018

10:43 am: National Cadet Corps (NCC) Girls Band at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Sreengrab)

10:42 am: National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Band at the 69th Republic Day parade

National Cadet Corps (NCC) Boys Band at the 69th Republic Day parade 10:40 am: Delhi Police band playing the 'Delhi Police' song at the 69th Republic Day parade

Delhi Police band playing the 'Delhi Police' song at the 69th Republic Day parade 10:39 am: Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) marching to the tune 'Sare Jahan Se Achha Hindustan Hamara' at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Sreengrab)

10:36 am: Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Band seen playing Sashastra Seema Bal Song the 69th Republic Day parade

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) Band seen playing Sashastra Seema Bal Song the 69th Republic Day parade 10:35 am: Border Security Force (BSF) Camel Contingent 'Ships of the Desert' at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Screengrab)

10:33 am: Weapon locating radar SWATHI displayed at the 69th Republic Day parade. An indigenous radar which can simultaneously track upto seven targets

(Photo: ANI)

10:28 am: The Air Force tableau displayed at the 69th Republic Day Parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:28 am: Air Force band at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:26 am: Tableau of Armed force veterans at 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:19 am: President Ram Nath Kovind salutes the marching parade at 69th Republic Day parade

(Twitter: BJP)

10:17 am: Akash surface to air missile displayed at the 69th Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

10:15 am: ASEAN flag bearer contingent at the Republic Day parade. Flags being carried by a contingent of the Rajputana Rifles regiment

(Photo: ANI)

10:13 am: 69th Republic Day parade begins with the display of T-90 tankers

(Photo: Doordarshan)



Read Also: Ashok Chakra awarded to IAF commando Jyoti Prakash Nirala posthumously

10:05 am: Ashoka Chakra awarded to Late Air Force Commando JP Nirala, who lost his life in Bandipora encounter. President Ram Nath Kovind presents award to JP Nirala's mother and wife

(Photo: ANI)

10:02 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets President Ram Nath Kovind as they get on stage ahead of the 69th Republic Day celebrations

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:59 am: Myanmar head of state, Aung San Suu Kyi at the 69th Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath in New Delhi

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:56 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives ASEAN leaders at Rajpath as they join as chief guests for the 69th Republic Day celebrations

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:47 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives ASEAN leaders at Rajpath as they arrive for the Republic Day parade. In a first, leaders of the 10 ASEAN nations join as the chief guest for the parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:44 am: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh among others present at Rajpath for the 69th Republic Day celebrations

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Rajnath Singh among others present at Rajpath for the 69th Republic Day celebrations 09:42 am: President Ram Nath Kovind arrives at Rajpath ahead of the Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:41 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Rajpath ahead of the Republic Day parade

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:38 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Rajpath. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman welcomes the Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Rajpath. Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman welcomes the Prime Minister 09:27 am: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lay wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti

(Photo: Doordarshan)

09:26 am: Ahead of the Republic Day parade 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to soldiers who died in the line of duty

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays tributes to martyrs at Amar Jawan Jyoti. (Photo: Screengrab)

Tableaux from 14 States and Union territories, nine Central Ministries, Departments and Central Paramilitary Force will present the varied historical, art and cultural heritage of the country.

The grand finale of the parade will be a fly past by the Air Force. C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster, Su-30 MKIs, LCA Tejas will be among the aircraft that will fly in different formations.

Security has been beefed in the national capital for the Republic Day. Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters have been deployed to keep a watch on the eight-km-long parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort.

Read Also: Delhi traffic police issues advisory ahead of Republic Day parade

Nearly 60,000 security personnel drawn from the Delhi Police and central security forces have been deployed in Central Delhi. Snipers have been stationed on top of high-rise buildings while scores of CCTV cameras are keeping a tight vigil on people's movements on the parade route.

No commercial flights will land and take off at the Indira Gandhi International Airport from 10:35 am to 12:15 pm.

What is special about the 69th Republic Day parade

Unlike the rest of the years, the Republic Day parade will be little different this year.The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the majestic Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day. (Photo: ANI)

New Delhi: President Ram Nath Kovind, on Friday, awarded India's highest peacetime military decoration Ashok Chakra posthumously to Indian Air Force (IAF) Garud commando Corporal Jyoti Prakash Nirala, who laid down his life after gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir.

The award was received by Corporal Nirala's wife Sushmanand and his mother Malti Devi at the majestic Rajpath.

After presenting the award, President Ram Nath Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief.

After presenting the award, President Ram Nath Kovind was seen wiping his face and eyes with his handkerchief. (Photo: Screengrab)

Corporal Nirala was part of a Garud Special Forces Unit of the IAF, a detachment of which was attached to a Rashtriya Rifles battalion under the aegis of 'Op Rakshak' in Jammu and Kashmir.

On November 18, 2017, an offensive was launched in Chanderger village of Bandipora district based on specific intelligence. The Garud detachment covertly approached the target house where the terrorists were hiding and laid a close quarter ambush.

"Corporal Nirala, displaying exceptional battle craft, positioned himself close to the approach of the hideout, thus cutting off all possibilities of an escape by the terrorists.

"Laying the ambush at such close quarters demanded a very high degree of courage and professional acumen," according to a statement by the Defence Ministry.

While the detachment laid in wait, six terrorists hiding in the house, rushed out, shooting and lobbing grenades at the Garuds.

"Corporal Nirala, disregarding personal safety and displaying indomitable courage, retaliated with effective lethal fire and gunned down two category 'A' terrorists and injured two others," the statement said.

In the violent exchange of fire, Corporal Nirala was hit by a volley of small arms fire. Despite being critically injured, he continued the retaliatory fire.

Nirala succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds.

The gunfight resulted in the killing of six terrorists.

"Corporal Nirala exhibited most conspicuous gallantry in fighting with terrorists and made supreme sacrifice," it added.

(Photo: (Photo: Twitter | @airnewsalerts)Nellore: Auto rickshaw drivers have been ruling the roost at Nellore Railway Station following the reluctance of the operators of city buses to run services from the station to different parts of the city.

Though police are trying to bring some discipline to contain overcharging through prepaid system, the auto drivers fall in line as long as police are around and resort to their old practices once the police are out of sight.

After noticing this police officials started imposing fines wherever they receive complaints from the public. When contacted, Nellore SP P.H.D. Ramakrishna said their men are present during peak hours to man the prepaid auto system and there are plans to post police round the clock.

He said they will introduce the prepaid system at the eastern side of the station also once they have enough force. Mr Ramakrishna added they are going to direct all the town buses passing through Atmakur bus stand to touch the railway station for the benefit of the passengers.

Meanwhile, passengers have been demanding to extend the Memu trains operating from Chennai to Nellore up to Bitragunta and also demanding for a halt to Garib Rath, Rajadhani, Sathabdi and Tamil Nadu express at Nellore.

A regular commuter and former deputy director of consumer affairs, Government of India, A.K. Khan has alleged that Bitragunta  Chennai passenger is being sidelined various stations to allow other express and superfast trains to pass and it is taking six and half hours to reach Chennai.

He appealed the railway authorities to convert it as fast passenger or express train. Mr Khan has also questioned the rationale behind halting Garib Rath from Chennai to Delhi at Gudur and Ongole ignoring Nellore, which is a Corporation and district headquarters.

He underlined the need to halt all trains heading to North and Northeast at Nellore while pointing to fast pace of industrial development in the region.

Speaking to this newspaper, Railway Station manager Anthony Jayraj said halting of Rajadhani, Garib Rath, Sathabdi and other superfast trains is under the purview of railway minister. Nellore member of Parliament Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy is pursuing the matter, he added.Despite facing criticism from the Sangh Parivar that it is pampering the minorities, the DMK too has used the temple revenue to fund welfare schemes, in the past. (Representational image)

CHENNAI: The several thousands of temples that dot the landscape of Tamil Nadu have been serving as Kamadhenu to the successive Dravidian parties that have been ruling the state for over five decades, especially in ensuring funds flow for numerous welfare schemes including marriage assistance scheme. Despite this, the extent of revenue earned by temples continues to remain a mystery.

Despite facing criticism from the Sangh Parivar that it is pampering the minorities, the DMK too has used the temple revenue to fund welfare schemes, in the past.

With temple priests not being paid their salaries and unable to assess the extent of revenue generated by each temple, the Kovil Pusarikal Nala Sangam has demanded the state government to constitute a special committee to probe the temple revenue.

About 25,000 temples out of over 38,000 temples under the ambit of TN Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR & CE) department have been projecting an annual revenue of about Rs 10,000 till date maintaining the status quo since they were brought under the administrative control of the HR & CE about four decades ago.

This has forced the village temple priests to step up the demand for auditing temple funds and disclosing the accounts to the public. They truth, they said, should be brought out.

The conference of the Kovil Pusarikal Nala Sangam (Temple Pujari welfare association) which was held recently in Salem under the chairmanship of its state president P. Vasu, has urged the state government to take note of the situation and initiate a detailed probe and ensure justice. The funds apart, the priests of those temples have been working without salaries for many months together.

Further, another issue that has been a cause for great concern to the temple priests is the financial aid of `1 lakh each provided along with public contribution to village temples - some of the ancient ones, to conduct single puja under the oru kala puja scheme.

The amount is deposited into the bank accounts of about 13,000 temples which lacked funds to perform a puja a day to enable them to conduct the puja on daily basis. But over the years many of them managed to generate revenue and do not require the aid from the government. So, this assistance could be diverted to those temples which deserve the funds, a priest said.According to Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, the scam occurred between 2012 and 2016 and accrued a loss of Rs 3,000 crore to states exchequer.

CHENNAI: Sending shock waves in the state administration, Arappor Iyakkam, an activist organisation, on Thursday exposed a whopping Rs 3,000 crore coal scam allegedly involving former electricity minister and Tangedco (Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation) chairman and managing director.

According to Jayaram Venkatesan, convener of Arappor Iyakkam, the scam occurred between 2012 and 2016 and accrued a loss of Rs 3,000 crore to states exchequer.

Former electricity minister Natham R. Viswanathan and former Tangedco chairman and managing director Gnanadesikan conspired with private companies in importing lower grade coal for higher grade coal from Indonesia, Jayaram Venkatesan alleged, here on Thursday.

Arappor Iyakkam, which has access to copies of all tender documents and purchase orders of the coal imported between 2012 and 2016 through RTI, said there is a 25 per cent difference between the market price and the purchase cost.

Jayaram also added that the Tangedco called bids for importing coal with the quality of 6,000 Kcal/kg as gross calorific value (air dried basis) specification. The gross calorific value (air dried basis) of 6,000 Kcal/kg is equivalent to gross calorific value (as received basis) of 5,500 Kcal/kg. This technical point has been misused to create a huge loss, he said.

During the period, Tamil Nadu had imported 2.44 crore metric tonnes at a cost of Rs 12,250 crore. Of the total imported, 49 per cent (1.19 crore metric tonne) coal had been purchased through Singapore based Adani Global Pvt Ltd.

When considering ocean freight charge, FOB price and other charges, the loss to the exchequer in importing of coal works out to be between `1,730 crore (best case scenario) and `3,025 crore (worst case scenario). Also, the invoices were routed through other countries, to increase the cost of the coal, Jayaram alleged.

Arappor Iyakkam also raised alarm by pointing out that the malpractice had occurred throughout the country and the loss is estimated at `30,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore. Court directed special investigation team (SIT) should be formed to investigate the scam, as the conspiracy of many is involved, Jayaram urged.

The allegations came in tandem with CBI registering a case against a similar scam involving the import of coal from Indonesia by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), on Tuesday. It is said that similar modus operandi had been used in NTPC scam also. Efforts of Deccan Chronicle to reach out to Natham R. Viswanathan to get his comments on the allegations went futile. However, Gnanadesikan debunked the allegation and said Tangedco is a board managed company and transparency was maintained in floating tenders during his tenure as CMD of Tangedco.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Shiv Sena 'will change their mind', as it is now clear that the Congress and the NCP are firmly on one side as they look to rally around a strong Opposition. (Photo: File | PTI)

Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has dismissed alliance partner Shiv Senas decision to go it alone in the 2019 general and Assembly elections, saying the Sena would be the worst loser in that case.

They will change their mind, Fadnavis told NDTV, as it is now clear that the Congress and the NCP are firmly on one side as they look to rally around a strong Opposition.

Shiv Sena is quite wise politically, Fadnavis said and added that a united Congress-NCP will cause more damage to them than to the BJP.

A few days ago, the Shiv Senas national executive decided to go on its own in the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Maharasthra in 2019.

Read Also: Shiv Sena to contest 2019 polls alone, says BJP uses power to demoralise

A pact of 25 years, the equation between the BJP and the Shiv Sena changed in 2014 when the BJP  which was till then a junior partner  won most Parliament seats in the state. Months later, it became the single-largest party in the 288-seat Assembly, winning 122.

In the last three years, the Shiv Sena has kept up a strident tone against Prime Minister Narendra Modis polices as well as lobbing a few at Fadnavis himself.All India Radio tableau on display at Rajpath during the 69th Republic Day Parade, in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

New Delhi: Colourful tableaux, disciplined parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day as patriotic fervour gripped the nation on the 69th Republic Day which passed off peacefully amid tight security.

Governors unfurled the tricolour in their respective states and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

Kashmir

In Kashmir, all Republic Day programmes, including the main event in Srinagar, were uneventful amid heightened security measures in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.

"The Republic Day functions at all district headquarters passed off peacefully," a senior police officer said.

(Photo: PTI)

Dehradun

In Dehradun, Uttarakhand Governor K K Paul hoisted the tricolour and reminded the citizens the Constitution has enlisted fundamental duties alongside the Fundamental Rights.

Uttar Pradesh

In Uttar Pradesh, energy and patriotism marked the celebrations with the main function being held at the state capital Lucknow. At Vidhan Bhawan, Governor Ram Naik took the salute of the parades put up by the army, central forces and school children.

The Governor on the occasion asked people to re-dedicate themselves to the service of the nation.

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh

V P Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and the administrator of UT Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag in Pathankot, while Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the tricolour in Ambala.

Bihar

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the tricolour at the famous Gandhi Maidan at Patna on the occasion and said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

The government will take measures to empower the youth and the marginalized sections of the society, he said, after taking a salute at the marchpast by contingents of Bihar police and central armed forces.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Later in the day, the CM hoisted the flag at his official residence and at a "Mahadalit Tola" in Punpun block of rural Patna.

The tricolour was also unfurled at the offices of political parties like the BJP, the Congress, the RJD and the JD(U) besides government establishments and educational institutions.

Jharkhand

In neighbouring Jharkhand, after unfurling the tricolour Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is second only to Gujarat in terms of growth rate in the country.

West Bengal

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi hoisted the tricolor at Red Road in Kolkata. He also presided over an hour-long march past of the armed forces, police forces and civilians, including school students.

Assam

Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

Hoisting the tricolour on the occasion, Mukhi said, "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore."

Maharashtra

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the day.

Tableaux on P-21 surface-to-surface missile, surface-to-air missile, Rakshak Bulletproof vehicle, Mahila Suraksha Pathak vehicle, Jalyukta Shivar scheme, were a part of the parade.

Telangana

In Telangana, Governor E S L Narasimhan in his Republic Day speech said the state government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year.

Goa

While, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said although tourism was generating revenue in the state, it has also brought with it issues like narcotics and human trafficking.

"The government is committed to fight these evils. I am hopeful that joint efforts by the people and the government will weed out these evils from the state," she said at the Republic Day function in the state capital of Panaji.

Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh

In his speech, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said the collective efforts of law-enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the more peaceful states of the country.

While in his speech, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra exhorted the people to contribute to the remarkable growth plan being carried out by the state government to put the state in the highest-growth trajectory.

Odisha

The day was celebrated across Odisha amid tight security as Governor S C Jamir unfurled the tricolour on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the state capital.

Tripura

In his speech, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy congratulated the people for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold democratic values under all circumstances.

Karnataka

In Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala urged the people to build a strong nation on patriotic sentiments and scientific temperament as he addressed the gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the historic Manekshaw Parade ground.

Tamil Nadu

Governor Banwarilal Purohit led the 69th Republic Day celebrations in Tamil Nadu, unfurling the Indian tricolour at the Marina to mark the occasion. Members of the armed forces and uniformed personnel took out an impressive march past on Kamaraj Salai along the famous Marina beach here, even as a good number of public had turned up to witness the proceedings.

(Photo: PTI)

Cultural shows depicting India's diversity were presented by college students and artistes, while the state government showcased its schemes and projects covering various departments by way of floats.

The floats predominantly featured the pictures of late Chief Ministers and AIADMK stalwarts, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa, besides those of the incumbent, K Palanisamy.

(Photo: PTI)

Kerala

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam expressed concern over some youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

A ceremonial parade was held at thenaval base, Southern Naval Command (SNC) in Kochi to commemorate the nation's 69th Republic Day.

The parade was reviewed by Vice Admiral AR Karve, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (FOC-in-C), Southern Naval Command and comprised 24 platoons including six armed platoons.Hyderabad: Cyberabad police has launched a massive search operation for a three-year-old boy from Jeedimetla who accompanied his mother to a jatara and had been missing since Tuesday evening.

More than 10 teams have been deployed to search for the boy, Gurram Udaytej. Jeedimetla police has booked a case of kidnapping though Udaytejs parents said they did not have any enmity or issue with anyone.

Udaytej is the only son of Bikshapathi and Sabitha from Medak district, who have settled in Dilsukh-nagar. Bikshapathi is a part-time driver with a private firm. On Tuesday evening, Sabitha along with her two sisters and children went for the Chittaramma jatara in neighbouring Gajulara-maram.

At a stall, the women asked the boys to wait when they were purchasing some things. Afterwards, they found the two boys missing and traced Varun a few metres away. But Udaytej was missing.

He can clearly tell his name and also that of his parents and school, said Mr Bikshapathi. Based on his complaint, a kidnap case was registered.

Balanagar ACP T. Govardhan said though the boy went missing, a kidnap case was booked as he was a minor. A search was on at railway and bus stations and all exit points of the city.Hyderabad: Women activists from the city lodged a complaint with the crime police against film director Ram Gopal Varma and his upcoming film, God, Sex and Truth (GST), on Thursday, alleging that the film was against the interests of women.

Cultural activist Devi and other women alleged that casting an American adult star Mia Malkova itself showed women in a bad light and that the trailer which was released recently was obscene.

Devi has also alleged that Varma passed derogatory comments on her and other women when they protested against the movie.

A case was booked under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act and other relevant Sections of the IPC, said an official from CCS.Hyderabad: The Karni Sena here in Telangana called off its protest against the release of the film Padmaavat on Thursday.

Three days ago director Sanjay Leela Bansali showed the film to the head of another militant Hindutva organisation, the Sri Ram Yuva Sena, who was satisfied with the cuts made by the director.

The BJP MP from Goshamahal, Raja Singh, said there would be no protests, but he still requests people not to watch the film.

The movie released in a majority of multiplexes and single screen theatres on Thursday without trouble.

Mr Singh said the movie was seen by Pramod Muthalik, head of the Sri Ram Yuva Sena, who informed me that all objectionable scenes pointed out by the Rajput community have been deleted. The movie does not show anything which could hurt the sentiments of the community. I have not watched the movie yet. Also, since the Central Board of Film Certification has cleared it and the Supreme Court has given a stay on the ban, the community in Hyderabad decided to withdraw its protest.The lake conservationists are skeptical about transferring of the lakes to minor irrigation department calling the act as a complete violation of 74th Amendment of the constitution, which empowers local government bodies.

Bengaluru: Lack of expertise in the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangare Palike (BBMP) were cited as one of the reasons for transfer of the custody of all the lakes to the Minor Irrigation Department.

Though the official notice in this regard is yet to be released, the Minor Irrigation Minister T.B. Jayachandra said, The chief minister who held a meeting with the minor irrigation department ordered the handing of lakes to the department. An official order is yet to come in this regard.

The lake conservationists are skeptical about transferring of the lakes to minor irrigation department calling the act as a complete violation of 74th Amendment of the constitution, which empowers local government bodies.

Ram Prasad, co-founder, Friends of Lake said, Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had toiled a lot for the act and his son Rahul Gandhi is trying to undo this. With this move, the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) will become redundant.

He further explained that the KLCDA is better off with the environment ministry rather than merging with the irrigation ministry. The Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) BBMP lakes, Jagannath Rao, has clarified that they are yet to receive such an order from the state government. As far as funds are concerned, the state government is providing the aid to rejuvenate the lakes, he added.

Over 167 lakes are with the BBMP and 33 with the BDA. However, in 2016 more than 100 lakes were transferred to the Palike by the BDA. The Karnataka Lake Development Authority which oversees the protection of the lakes in the city has only four lakes under its custody.

KLCDA straddles the lake issues with only 14 members when the agency requires 96 members. The environmentalists suspect that the lake authority in the past has taken stringent action against the encroachers and stopped road projects which were earlier designed on the lake bed.

Prasad emphasizes that the KLCDA act should be strengthened. BBMP too has done exemplary job as far as lakes are concerned and it should be empowered. If the lakes have to come under roof, BBMP should be the roof and funds should be given to the palike for lakes development. Moreover, the city lakes have nothing to do with irrigation, he pointed out.The January 5 order of the high court had created much hue and cry in the Naxal-affected state, as a large number of accused continued to languish in jails despite getting bail. (Photo: File)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Chhattisgarh High Court to modify in ten days its order directing all trial courts in the state to mandatorily accept copies of Aadhaar card for releasing an accused on bail.

The January 5 order of the high court had created much hue and cry in the Naxal-affected state, as a large number of accused continued to languish in jails despite getting bail, but not getting release warrants due to delay in verification of Aadhaar and revenue records or surety papers by the police.

With the situation aggravating, a Bilaspur district judge wrote a letter to the High Court on January 10 apprising it about the problems being faced due to the January 5 order, including non-grant of bail to those accused even of petty offences.

The high court took the letter of the district judge on record and instituted another case to deal with the situation.

Further hearing of the high court is scheduled on January 29.

On Thursday, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud disposed of a petition filed by advocate Peeyush Bhatia challenging the high court order and terming it as against the orders of the top court and the fundamental rights of citizens.

"We have been apprised by the counsel appearing for the Chhattisgarh Bar Council that it has filed an application for modification of the directions issued by the High Court...", the bench said.

It said, "we would request the high court to deal with the application as per law within a span of ten days hence".

Advocate Manohar Pratap, appearing for Advocate Bhatia, said the high court order had resulted in the breach of fundamental rights and liberty of citizens, which would be handheld in the domain of the executive as there was no independent machinery to verify the details of Aadhaar.

Advocate Pratap sought a stay on the order of high court saying it was creating lot of difficulties for the people.

Advocate Bhatia, who was also present, said since the state was affected by Left-wing extremism, the policemen were taking the help of CRPF to reach remote areas to verify the credentials of the accused who get bail and his sureties.

He said that due to practical problems faced by the authorities in verifying and scrutinising revenue records, the accused person has to remain in jail as his release warrant is not issued.

Advocate Rajesh Pandey, appearing for state Bar Council, said the high court has agreed to modify its January 5 order and the matter should be referred back to it.

The top court bench then said the high court should modify its order within ten days and disposed of the petition.

The high court had issued the guidelines while dealing with a case in which an advocate's clerk had stood surety for an accused to secure bail and fudged the revenue record of another individual by pasting his own picture.

It had said the menace of submission of sureties by fictitious persons to secure bail of an accused needed to be controlled and regulated by all trial courts of state and the trial court should necessarily obtain copy of the Aadhaar Card of the accused as well as of the surety.

The high court had directed all trial courts to verify the genuineness of the Aadhaar card of the accused and the surety along with the revenue papers within one week of submission. It had directed the trial courts to lodge an FIR if the revenue or surety papers or the Aadhaar card was found to be forged.

It had even warned judicial officers of disciplinary action if no certification is found on the order sheets of the cases, besides directing revenue officers and the Station House Officers to cooperate with the trial court in the course of verification of the records.Minister for IT Nara Lokesh, Union minister Suresh Prabhu and others at the CII meeting at Davos on Thursday.

Vijayawada: Technology in the state is playing a key role and the government had implemented real-time governance across the state, said IT minister Nara Lokesh.

Addressing a conclave on economic growth in the new digital world in Davos on Wednesday, Mr Lokesh cited the viable opportunities in the state for industrial development in the presence of Union minister Suresh Prabhu.

Mr Lokesh said the role of technology in governance and in industrial development, if ignored, will take us back. He pointed out that the highest usage of technology in governance is done by AP by providing Inte-rnet, Wi-Fi, telephone and television only for `149 per month. He also mentioned about providing Internet facility to rural Andhra with the help of Google Ex.

Mr Lokesh expressed hope that the state would be in number one position in ease of doing business this year as they have been in the first position since the inception of the state. The state has developed a redressal system whereby government itself calls the public to find out their grievances. He opined there is need of transformation in the service sector to grab the opportunities.

Union minister Suresh Prabhu lauded the AP government initiatives in using technology in industrial growth which was far ahead to other states and became role model to the nation.Vijayawada: The 2nd international conference on Smart Computing and Informatics (SCI) scheduled to begin on Jan. 27 in the city aims to provide a uniform platform for advanced and multi-disciplinary research towards the design of smart computing and informatics. The theme on a broader sense focuses on various innovation paradigms in system knowledge, intelligence, and sustainability that may be applied to provide realistic solutions to various problems in society, environments and industry.

The two-day conference is being organised under the joint aegis of the Department of CSE and Department of IT. It will be held at Prasad V. Potluri Siddhartha Institute of Technology (PVPSIT) and sponsored by Springer- Germany and Computer Society of India (CSI), which will also take up the publication of proceedings.

The convener of PVPSIT, Boyapati Sreeramulu said: Renowned professors from across the globe involved in cutting-edge research in smart computing are expected to present their works at the conference.

Around 100 research scholars, researching in emerging fields, are expected to take part in the conference.VIJAYAWADA: The Chief Minister, Mr N Chandrababu Naidu, launched Dalita Tejam, a TD programme focusing on the development of the Dalits, immediately after reaching home from the Davos tour. The CM who could not attend the Republic Day celebrations reached the city on Friday evening.

At the launch of the Dalita Tejam programme, Mr Naidu said that the programme was inspired by the teachings of the Father of the Constitution Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the late NTR. Mr Naidu said that it was Dr Ambedkar who had brought light to everyones lives and added that it was the late NTR who had provided reservation for the Dalits.

He recalled that the late NTR had said the Backward Classes were the foundation of the party and that he had closely worked with freedom fighter and Dalit leader, the late Babu Jagjivan Ram. Mr Naidu said it was NDA that had given the Bharat Ratna award to Babu Jagjivan Ram and not the Congress.

The Chief Minister spoke about supporting Balayogi as Lok Sabha Speaker, and said that TD had appointed Mahendranath as finance minister for the first time and reiterated that it was only the TD government that meted out justice to the scheduled castes.

The Chief Minister also said that the government will work hard for the development of the scheduled castes but for this unity amongst the Dalits was important. Assuring them of his partys support, he also urged the TD cadre to support and move forward under the leadership of Dalits.

The CM committed to providing `40,000 through Chandranna Pelli kanuka and completing the backlog. He mentioned about `9,500 crore worth SC sub-plan being implemented and assured that the TD would support the Dalit children in competitive examinations.

CM misses Republic Day

The Chief Minister, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, could not make it to the Republic Day celebrations thanks to the delay of his flight to Vijayawada. As per the schedule, Mr Naidu was to reach Vijayawada early on Friday morning by 7 am. But the deteriorating weather conditions had forced him to break his journey and stay back in Abu Dhabi. He reached home only on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, different opinions were expressed in his absence. The general consensus was that the CM should have tried coming on Thursday in view of the Republic Day celebration of Friday. In his absence, Mr Naidus wife Ms N. Bhuvaneswari attended Republic Day celebrations. Prior to the participation, Ms Bhuvaneswari hoisted the National Flag at the CMs residence in Undavalli.

This has been the first time that a Chief Minister of AP was not present for Republic Day. Neither in unified AP nor post bifurcation. The Chief Minister, Mr Naidu had also planned his schedule to attend the celebrations. He had started his return journey from Davos Thursday itself to reach Vijayawada by Friday morning. According to the schedule, he should have participated in the flag hoisting along with the Governor at 11.25 am. But with unfavorable weather conditions, Mr Naidu had to stay back in Abu Dhabi. With this, the Republic Day celebrations continued in the absence of the Chief Minister.

The Deputy Chief Minister received the Governor in the absence of the Chief Minister. Along with Deputy Chief Minister, Minister Kamineni Srinivas, Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, Kala Venkata Rao, Kollu Ravindra, Sidda Raghava Rao and others also participated in the Republic Day celebrations.

Ms Bhuvaneswari along with her grandson Devansh attended the celebrations. Devansh became the special attraction in the programme. Even at Chief Ministers residence in Undavalli, Ms Bhuvaneswari hoisted the National Flag in the Chief Ministers absence. She garlanded the photo frame of Gandhiji and distributed sweets.

The Chief Minister thought of attending the Governors home celebrations in Hyderabad, but even that programme got canceled.Bengaluru: A survey conducted by Lokniti-CSDS, an independent research organisation would certainly bring cheer to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as a whopping 49 per cent people chose Congress over the nearest BJP which drew only 27 percent backing, and the JD (S), 20 per cent support. To add to this is the approval rating of the CM. As many as 34 per cent of respondents want Siddaramaiah as chief minister after the assembly elections. Surprisingly, the BJP's CM candidate B.S. Yeddyurappa stands third with a mere 14 per cent while the JD (S)' H.D. Kumaraswamy got 19 per cent votes for the CM post. Curiously, Congress' leader in Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge got a traction among respondents with 10 per cent backing him.

As part of the Mood of the Nation Survey, Lokniti-CSDS conducted an additional exercise to perceive the mood of people of Karnataka which will go to the assembly polls in three-to-four months. This survey focused on four major areas: performance of the incumbent government, who the respondents would prefer as the next chief minister, the important issues to be kept in mind while voting and finally, which party they would vote for in the assembly elections.

In the category of satisfaction, Bengaluru gives a thumbs down to the government with 55 per cent respondents said they were somewhat dissatisfied. Overall, only 11 per cent said they were fully satisfied and 46 percent said they were somewhat satisfied. The Congress party seems to have better image in smaller towns and cities which is the opposite of the trend in Bengaluru. The level of satisfaction was clearly much higher among non-dominant backward castes, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and high level of satisfaction was shown by the respondents from southern Karnataka, Mumbai and Hyderabad-Karnataka.

The survey was conducted under the overall guidance of national co-ordinator of Lokniti, Dr Sandeep Shastri pro vice-chancellor of Jain, a deemed to be university.

For the question on who would they prefer as the chief minister, no names were suggested, Dr Shastri clarified. Women tended to support Mr Siddaramaiah more than his nearest rivals and he was more popular in smaller towns and cities. Mr Kumaraswamy got more backing in Bengaluru city while Mr Yeddyurappa's support was uniform across rural and urban areas. He got greater support among Lingayats while Mr Kumaraswamy got more among Vokkaligas. Mr Kharge was mentioned more frequently by respondents from SC and other social groups. Among the issues, nearly a quarter said they would go by the track record of performance of the ruling party and that of the opposition.

Rural respondents gave more weightage on agriculture related issues, that is 11 per cent while those from the urban areas focused on development issues such as unemployment and price rise that is six percent.

Interestingly, in Karnataka nearly 47 per cent voters said they would vote for the Congress if Lok Sabha elections were held today and the BJP got the support of 27 per cent respondents and the Janata Dal (Secular), 20.Withdrawing itself from the electronics market would mean leaving a place vacant in for its contemporaries like Sony Corp, Sharp Corp and Kyocera Corp to fill in.

One of Japans leading electronic company Fujitsu Ltd seems to be in talks about selling its mobile phone business to Polaris Capital Group, an investment fund.

Withdrawing itself from the electronics market would mean leaving a place vacant in for its contemporaries like Sony Corp, Sharp Corp and Kyocera Corp to fill in.

The deal which is in the process right now indicates that the Polaris group will be going on to take majority stake in Fujitsus mobile phone unit, which has a market value of around $365 million to $456 million.

An official statement about this merger can be expected sometime by the end of January 2018. With such reports floating around in the international market, Fujitsu has said that no decision has been made on how large a stake is being negotiated.

This is not the first electronic company which has been resorting to help. Thanks to the rise of Apple and Samsung, many of these makers had to actually shut shop.

Adding to this, the numerous options which the Chinese companies have given to the global consumers have totally eaten into the market which could have proved to be a safe haven for the Japanese sellers.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.The security firms said that the process does not compromise product security. (Representational Image)

SAP, Symantec and McAfee have reportedly allowed Russian authorities study, understand and review the software used by the US government.

According to a report by Reuters, the practice potentially jeopardizes the security of computer networks in at least a dozen federal agencies, US lawmakers and security experts said. It involves more companies and a broader swath of the government than previously reported.

In order to sell in the Russian market, the tech companies let a Russian defence agency scour the inner workings, or source code, of some of their products. Russian authorities say the reviews are necessary to detect flaws that could be exploited by hackers.

But those same products protect some of the most sensitive areas of the US government, including the Pentagon, NASA, the State Department, the FBI and the intelligence community, against hacking by sophisticated cyber adversaries like Russia.

The security firms said that any source code reviews were conducted under the software makers supervision in secure facilities where the code could not be removed or altered. The process does not compromise product security, they said. Amid growing concerns over the process, Symantec and McAfee no longer allow such reviews and Micro Focus moved to sharply restrict them late last year.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.The Trump administration on Thursday slapped sanctions on four Taliban and two Haqqani network leaders for terrorist activities and said Pakistan must work with the US to deny the terror groups safe haven on its soil and target their funding. (Photo: File)

Washington: The Trump administration on Thursday slapped sanctions on four Taliban and two Haqqani network leaders for terrorist activities and said Pakistan must work with the US to deny the terror groups safe haven on its soil and target their funding.

The four Taliban leaders include Abdul Samad Sani, Abdul Qadeer Basir, Abdul Baseer, Hafiz Mohammed Popalzai, and Maulawi Inayatullah, while Haqqani network leaders as Faqir Muhammad and Gula Khan Hamidi.

All six have been designated as global terrorists by the US' Department of Treasury.

As a result, all property and interests in property of these persons subject to US jurisdiction are blocked, and US citizens are prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

"We are targeting six individuals related to the Taliban or Haqqani Network who have been involved in attacks on coalition troops, smuggling of individuals, or financing these terrorist groups," said Sigal Mandelker, Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.

He said the action supports President Donald Trump's South Asia Strategy by disrupting terrorist organisations and publically exposing individuals who facilitate their activities.

"The Pakistani government must work with us to deny the Taliban and the Haqqani Network sanctuary and to aggressively target their terrorist fund raising," Mr Mandelker said.

In early 2017, Sani sent weapons to Taliban members who later attacked an Afghan National Police (ANP) patrol resulting in the death of an ANP officer and the wounding of two others.

In June, 2015, Sani was a member of the 'Taliban Senior Shura' and had received funding to purchase supplies and ammunition for Taliban commanders and fighters engaged in combat in Afghanistan.

In March, 2015, he was personally involved in appointing special representatives to serve as Taliban fundraisers abroad.

Sani served as the Taliban's deputy finance commissioner, and also as the governor for the Afghan Central Bank during the Taliban regime.

In the fall of 2017, Baseer provided Taliban commanders with tens of thousands of dollars for attacks in Kunar province of Afghanistan.

In early 2016, he hosted meetings with leaders of the Taliban to convince them to support the then supreme leader of the Taliban Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansur. In 2009, he served as the treasurer for the Taliban in Peshawar, Pakistan.

Baseer was the financial advisor to the Taliban's Peshawar Military Council and head of the Taliban's Peshawar Financial Commission in early 2010.

He personally delivers money from the Taliban's leadership Shura to Taliban groups throughout Pakistan.

During the Taliban regime, he was the general consul of the Taliban in Islamabad in Pakistan, and according to the United Nations, he also served as the Taliban regime's military attache at the Taliban embassy in Islamabad.

Popalzai has served for several years at the Taliban Finance Commission and was in-charge of the Taliban's finances for southern and western Afghanistan, including Qandahar, Helmand, Nimroz, Herat, Zabul, Uruzgan, and Farah provinces.

In mid-2011, the Taliban was paid 10 million euros for the release of hostages that it was holding. The Taliban arranged for money to be deposited into an account at an Afghan bank in Qandahar, Afghanistan. The account, which ultimately belonged to Ishakzai, was held in a false name.

Popalzai travelled to Qandahar city to retrieve the money and return to Quetta, Pakistan to give the same to Ishakzai.

Inayatullah has been a Taliban military affairs member in charge of multiple Afghan provinces, and was a member of the Taliban Peshawar Shura.

In late 2016, Inayatullah operated as the overall Taliban member responsible for attacks against Afghan and coalition forces in Kabul.

He provided financial support and other materials for the attack planners.

As of late 2013, Inayatullah, as the Taliban's military commission deputy leader, procured weapons, ammunition, and supplies for operations in Kunar Province in Afghanistan.

In addition, he received a large sum of money from a contact and gave it to a courier to provide it to al-Qaeda militants.

For several years, Faqir has been a major fundraiser for the Haqqani Network.

He was designated for assisting in, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or financial or other services to or in support of, the Haqqani Network, as well as for acting for or on behalf of the Haqqani Network.

As of July, 2015, Hamidi facilitated communication between a Haqqani Network official and a Haqqani Network contact in Syria and, as of mid-2014, he was relied upon to faithfully translate communications between Haqqani Network officials and a Haqqani Network contact in Syria.

In September, 2014, Hamidi agreed to facilitate travel for a Haqqani Network-affiliated Uzbek extremist and his associates from Pakistan to Turkey.

In July, 2014, he likely facilitated the transfer of funds from the Haqqani Network to a Pakistan-based Uzbek extremist.

In early 2014, Hamidi was an honoured representative of the Haqqani Network in meetings with various Syrian faction leaders in Syria.

During the same time, he planned to send funds to Germans located with the Haqqani Network in Pakistan.

In the fall of 2013, Hamidi coordinated with now-deceased senior Haqqani Network official and SDGT Nasiruddin Haqqani on the travel of an associate to Turkey.

In mid-2013, he sent approximately USD 21,000 to a senior Haqqani Network official.London: US President Donald Trump has apologised for the first time for retweeting a British far-right groups videos apparently showing Islamist violence, in an ITV interview aired in Britain on Friday.

If youre telling me theyre horrible racist people, I would certainly apologise if youd like me to do that, he told Good Morning Britains Piers Morgan during the interview, conducted in Davos on Friday.

Mr Trump sparked outrage in Britain in November when he retweeted, in quick succession, three anti-Muslim videos posted by Jayda Fransen, the deputy leader of Britain First who was in 2016 convicted of religiously aggravated harassment of a Muslim woman.

Morgan accused the President of causing huge anxiety and anger in my country, because Britain First is basically a bunch of racists, fascists. Of course I didnt know that, Mr Trump responded in excerpts of the interview aired on Friday. I know nothing about them (Britain First), I know nothing about them today, other than I read a little bit, he added. Certainly I wasnt endorsing anybody. Perhaps it was a big story in the UK, but in the United States it wasnt a big story. I am the least racist person that anybody is going to meet.

When you do those retweets they can cause problems because you never know whos doing it to start off with, he said. Meanwhile, Mr Trump is refusing to visit the UK, unless Prime Minister Theresa May bans protests. He would not be coming to the UK, until she could promise him a warm welcome, he said.The death toll rose rapidly throughout the morning, as those initially pulled from the blaze succumbed to their injuries. (Photo: AP)

Seoul: A huge fire tore through a South Korean hospital Friday killing at least 41 people, the government said, in the country's worst blaze for 15 years.

More than 80 others were hurt in the fire, which comes just weeks before thousands of athletes and foreign visitors are expected in the country for the Winter Olympics.

Videos posted on social media showed a patient hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter above the hospital in Miryang, in the far south, and another crawling out of a window to climb down a ladder.

The six-storey structure housed a nursing home as well as the hospital.

The death toll rose rapidly throughout the morning, as those initially pulled from the blaze succumbed to their injuries.

By lunchtime, it had hit 41, according to the presidential Blue House.

"Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room," said fire chief Choi Man-Woo.

All the patients had been brought out, he said, adding that evacuating 15 sick people from the intensive care unit on the third floor took longer as firefighters had to wait for medical staff to supervise the process.

All those who died were in the hospital, he said.

"Many victims were from the first and second floors of the hospital... some died on their way to another hospital," he said.

Video footage and pictures showed the building engulfed by thick, dark smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks.

Survivors were brought out wrapped in blankets, and firefighters picked their way through the blackened shell of the building after the blaze was extinguished.

Around 200 people were in the Sejong Hospital when the fire erupted, police said.

Jang Yeong-Jae, a surviving patient, said he was on the second floor when nurses screamed "Fire!" in the hallway and urged people to leave through the emergency exits.

"But when I opened the exit door, the whole stairway was filled with dark smoke and I couldn't see a thing," he told Seoul's major daily JoongAng Ilbo.

"Everybody was running around in panic, falling over and screaming as smoke filled the rooms," he was quoted as saying. Jang tore open window screens and escaped on a ladder erected by firefighters.

"There were so many aged patients on other floors... I wonder if they escaped safely," JoongAng quoted Jang's wife as saying.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In called an emergency meeting with advisers, and demanded an immediate probe into the cause of the blaze.

The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon -- a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Friday's accident is South Korea's worst fire disaster since 2003, when an arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu killed 192 people.Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, raised in South Yorkshire and has regularly made common cause with 'Kashmiri Pakistanis', is leading the campaign that will involve five billboard vans traversing the streets of London. (Photo: Facebook/Lord Nazir Ahmed)

London: One of the first British Muslims to be appointed to the House of Lords on Thursday launched a protest campaign against India, claiming that minorities in the country are not safe.

Lord Nazir Ahmed, who was born in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, raised in South Yorkshire and has regularly made common cause with "Kashmiri Pakistanis", is leading the campaign that will involve five billboard vans traversing the streets of London.

On Friday, a group led by the politician will gather outside the Indian High Commission in London.

"It will be a peaceful demonstration by a small gathering because we cannot have very large numbers outside the High Commission," he said.

The Indian High Commission in London said it has raised its concerns with the UK authorities, but the billboard vans are private vehicles and therefore not directly under state control.

Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Dinesh Sharma, who was in London to attend the Education World Forum earlier this week, dismissed the protest as "fringe elements" keen to foment trouble.

Meanwhile, some pro-India groups have also organised a 'Chalo India House' demonstration in London to "celebrate India's Republic Day by opposing anti-India lobbyists".The Indo-Pacific region will be indispensable to India's future, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in almost-identical articles published in 27 newspapers in 10 South-East Asian nations on Friday.



"Indians have always looked east to see the nurturing sunrise and the light of opportunities. Now, as before, the East, or the Indo-Pacific Region, will be indispensable to India's future and our common destiny. The ASEAN-India partnership will play a defining role in both," Modi wrote in op-ed articles published in 10 different languages.

The prime minister apparently signaled India's long-term plan to expand its strategic footprints in the Indo-Pacific to counter what New Delhi perceives as hegemonic aspirations of China in the region.

"Today in New Delhi, ASEAN and India renew their pledge for the journey ahead," Modi wrote even as leaders of 10 South-East Asian nations attended India's 69th Republic Day ceremony as guests of honour.

They joined him and President Ram Nath Kovind to watch glimpses of the country's military prowess and cultural diversity on the Rajpath.

New Delhi's unprecedented move to invite all the ASEAN leaders to attend the Republic Day ceremony itself was aimed at putting on display and strengthening India's engagement with South East Asia - a region, which is often perceived as a backyard to China.

"For India, most of our major partners and markets - from ASEAN and East Asia to North America - lie to the east. South-East Asia, our neighbours by land and sea, has been the springboard of our Look East policy and, for the past three years, the Act East policy," he wrote.

Modi's op-ed, titled 'Shared Values, Common Destiny', was published not only in English, but also in Cambodian, Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Malay, Vietnamese, Burmese, Thai, Lao, Mandarin and Tamil.

The 'Shared Values, Common Identity' was also the theme of the ASEAN-India commemorative summit, which was held here on Thursday to mark the 25th anniversary of New Delhi's engagement with the bloc.

"India and the ASEAN nations have relations free of contests and claims," the prime minster wrote.

He tacitly put India's ties with the ASEAN in contrast with the territorial dispute between China and most of the South East Asian nations, particularly over South China Sea.

The South China Sea has been at the centre of China's territorial dispute with Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia and Philippines.

"We have a common vision for the future, built on a commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in the sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement," wrote the prime minister.



The newly introduced harbour cruise "Mumbai Maiden" by Thane-based SSR Marine Services Pvt. Ltd., in collaboration with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) will let you see the city like never before. The city's first coastline cruise, made its maiden voyage from Bandra jetty with its first crew of joyriders.





In a two-hours-plus sail experience at an Indian-built 66 metres long, 15 metres wide passenger ship, one can go below the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link, see three forts of Bandra, Mahim and Worli, see a wide variety of birds like Sea Gulls and have a view of Mumbai's beautiful skyline.





"It is something new that we have a started in Mumbai when people can board a high-class ship and enjoy," Sanjeev Agarwal, the owner and Chief Engineer of SSR Marine Services, told Deccan Herald.





"Its uniqueait's something newathe skyline of Mumbai is impressive and looks great from the sea ," said Captain RA Kumar, as he welcomes the guests to the bridge of the vessel.





The ship has two levels and the upper deck, which can accommodate approximately 285 passengers and crew members. As of now, the cruise fare is Rs 1,600 per person.

Do you know that the length of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link is 63 times the height of the Qutub Minar in Delhi. Or for that matter, its weight is equivalent to 50,000 African elephants and the length of the steel wires used is equivalent to the ciMumbaircumference of the earth? Besides do you know that there are several forts that dot the coastline of Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region?Siddaganga mutt seer centenarian Dr Shivakumara Swamiji was admitted to the Bengaluru BGS hospital early Friday morning for cold and lung congestion.



The 110-year-old seer suffered from wheezing on Thursday night. And yet, he performed his daily religious ritual (Ishtalinga Pooja) early Friday morning in the same state, before leaving Tumakuru for Bengaluru, mutt sources said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking, the country's highest civilian honor the 'Bharat Ratna', be conferred on the Siddaganga seer Dr Shivakumara Swamiji.

"The 600-year-old mutt has given to society many a great seer. The incumbent one Shivakumara Swamiji who has been vested with the responsibility of running the mutt since 1941, has served causes of the poor and needy by cutting across caste barriers," the CM has stated in the letter.India on Friday showcased its military prowess and a slice of its rich cultural heritage to the leaders of the ten South East Asian nations in a grandiose 90-minute long parade to mark the 69th Republic Day.



The early morning fog, however, was a bit of spoilsport as the Army Aviation had to cancel its welcome flight in which five Mi-17 helicopters were to fly over the Rajpath carrying the national and Asean flags and the ensign of the three services.

The rest of the parade went as planned during which the central boulevard not only came alive with a dazzling display of Indian's military powers but also witnessed a signature of India's defence production capabilities as indigenous Aakash air defence missile, Brahmos cruise missile and a replica of aircraft carrier Vikrant was on display.

The top leadership of the 10 ASEAN nations a most of them having strategic ties with India a watched the parade.

Breaking away from the tradition, the South Asian bloc was invited as the chief guests for the Republic Day parade to commemorate the silver jubilee of India's diplomatic engagement with Asean.

Led by Lt Gen Asit Mistry, General Officer Commanding of Delhi area, the parade began with a special marching contingent in which soldiers from the Rajputana Rifles carried the flags of the 10 nations and that of the Asean.

In the tableau section, the Ministry of External Affairs presented two floats Indian's long-standing trade and education links with the South East Asia and the rich cultural heritage of these nations.

The foreign leaders had a summit meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day before and attended the At-Home at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on the Republic Day.

The mechanised columns included Indian Army's T-90 tank (Bhishma), Ballway Machine Pikate (II/IIK) armoured vehicle, Brahmos cruise missile, indigenous weapon locating radar (Swathi), bridge laying tank T-72, mobile base transceiver station and Akash air defence missile.

The maximum cheers from the crowd, who braved the early morning chills, was reserved for the Border Security Force's Seema Bhawani a a 106 member team of the women bikers, who performed dare-devil stunts all along the 13 km route of the parade that ended at the Red Fort.

At the end, IAF presented the show stopper with the low-level formation flying of the helicopters and transport aircraft while the MiG-29, Su-30 MKI, Tejas Light Combat Aircraft and Jaguar combat jets pierced the sky.

For the first time, armed chopper Rudra participated in the Republic Day flypast.A Pune-based woman, alleged to be a suicide bomber, was detained by Jammu and Kashmir Police Thursday night from South Kashmir, police said.



"We had an input about a suspect. Fortunately, after working on all the leads, we were able to apprehend the suspect late last night," Additional Director General of Police Munir Khan told reporters here.



Refusing to give any further details, Khan, who is also holding the post of Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Range), said, "We will be talking to her (suspect) and we will be talking to our sister agencies. We will be covering every other lead to know what the facts are. After doing proper investigation, we will come to any conclusion."



Central intelligence agencies had sounded to the state police that a woman from Pune, identified as Sadiya Anwar Shaikh, had shifted herself to Kashmir Valley and was in regular touch with ISIS operatives, officials said.



A high alert was sounded in the valley two days ahead of Republic Day and a message was circulated that "there is a strong input" that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the Republic Day parade in Kashmir.



"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of ANEs (anti-national elements)," the message, circulated on 23 January, read.



Shaikh had been questioned by the Pune Anti-Terrorism Squad in 2015, when it came to notice that she had been radicalised after coming in contact with ISIS supporters abroad.



She was planning to travel to Syria, the ATS had then claimed. The woman, a Class XI student at a Pune college, was subsequently sent for a de-radicalisation programme by the ATS.Karanataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah who addressed the people of Karnataka on the occasion of Republic Day on All India Radio (AIR), On Friday, said that the Indian Constitution is his religion (Dharma) and making the ideals in the Constitution a reality, his political vision (Raja Dharma).



"The Constitution is the soul of a democratic nation. Of late, a few people have been criticizing it and have gone public saying that they will make changes in it. All democratically inclined people must raise a united voice against such anti-Constitution groups and I will join them," the chief minister said.

He said the vision that Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution had for a secular and well developed nation is his beacon in running the government in the State.

Wishing all people of the state a happy Republic Day, Siddaramaiah said that his government has striven to ensure social, economic and political justice to all. In order to ensure equal employment opportunities, the government had also launched several schemes.

The chief minister said that his government had launched several schemes to ensure food, health, education, housing and employment benefits the last person in the state. All these schemes are secular and not intended to benefit any caste or creed specifically.

As a result, the agricultural and industrial production had seen a sharp rise. Many pro-women programs had ensured self-reliance among women of the state, he added.Congress president Rahul Gandhi attended the Republic Day Parade at the Rajpath here today, a day after the party complained that its leader was relegated to a seat in the fourth row.



Gandhi was seen sitting in the middle rows and chatting with senior Congressman and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

A Congress leader had yesterday alleged that by not allocating a seat to the Congress president in the front row, the Modi government was resorting to "cheap politics".

Congress sources said the party president had always been seated in the front row since Independence.Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy said that neither the Congress party, nor the government, had called for the Karnataka bandh that was observed in the state on Thursday, January 25.



Retorting to BJP's accusations that the bandh was sponsored by the government, Reddy cautioned BJP leaders to speak with responsibility.

After Amit Shah took over as BJP National President, 10 bandhs have been called for in the state, he added.

He said that the pro-Kannada and farmer outfits had called Thursday's bandh because of the confusion created over the Mahadayi water sharing dispute by State BJP President B S Yedyurappa, Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and Amit Shah.

He said leaders like Vatal Nagaraj who called for the bandh had no links with the Congress. "Vatal Paksha and its associate organisations have observed many bandhs. Have they consulted us or the BJP when it was in power in the state?" Reddy questioned.

Reddy said that he was not sure whether any organisation would observe a bandh when AICC Rahul Gandhi is in Bengaluru.

"I will ask these organisations not to protest or call a bandh when Prime Minister Modi is in Bengaluru (February 4). But will they heed my plea?" quipped the minister.On the second day of Jaipur Literature Festival several B'wood film makers and actors supported the controversial film 'Padmaavat', which is facing protests from Rajput outfits across country.



A day after the release of Padmaavat, film maker Vishal Bhardwaj extended his support to Sanjay Leela Bhansali. He said, "There's is nothing illegal or unlawful scene shown in the movie". He also urged that the state should stop the people from taking the law in their hands. "Even after the Supreme Court's order people are indulging in violent protests, which is very scary," Bharadwaj added.



He also urged that member of parliaments from the film industry should raise the issue. He claimed that the film fraternity stands with Bhansali. Also while condemning the attack on a school bus in Gurugram , Bharadwaj said politicians should also show their support. Bhardwaj was speaker at a session "Revolutionary poets: On Hamlet, Haider and Shakespeare's ability to speak truth to power."



Similar views were presented by Nandita Das who said that a handful of people cannot decide what rest of the country should watch.



"One is free to express his opinion but it should be done in democratic way. If one doesn't like a movie or a book it doesn't allow him to resort to vandalism" Nandita told media after her session at JLF "Manto: The man and the leged." She also said that a society can only progress when there is a space to agree and disagree with each other.



Without naming the film Padmaavat, director Anurag Kashyap while hinting out at Rajasthani people said, "While researching for my film Gulaal, I found that the people in Rajasthan live in the past and they are not progressing," said Kashyap. All three sessions witnessed a jam packed audience.Many skipped a heartbeat, several sat with their eyes and mouth wide open, some were left gasping for breath for the daredevilry on motorcycles, but at the end, they won the hearts.

The 'Seema Bhavani' - the 106-member team from the Border Security Force (BSF) riding 26 350cc Royal Enfield bullets - created history on Friday by becoming the first all-women team to perform biking stunts during the Republic Day parade in the national capital.

The BSF and army motorcycle teams perform on alternate years in the parade.

The team led by Sub-Inspector Stanzin Noryang performed stunning stunts from "fish riding, side riding, 'faulaad', peacock to 'saptarishi'" in front of President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders from 10 Asean countries and thousands of spectators assembled on Rajpath.

The dignitaries, especially the President, seemed excited about the performance, and the spectators experienced some thrilling moments.

The women bikers, aged between 25-30 years, train for hours every day.

The stunts began with Noryang, who is from Ladakh, saluting the President while balancing herself atop her motorcycle.

Two women constables then came balancing themselves on a single motorcycle in the form of a fish.

Other stunts included "bullfighting" by two women constables and "peacock" formation by six bikers on a single bullet.

Seven others displayed their fine balancing act on a motorcycle by displaying the "windmill" formation.

The show culminated with the "flag march pyramid" where 29 women deftly balanced themselves on seven motorcycles, carrying the tricolour and chanting 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' as they passed in front of the dais.Amid sharp differences with General Secretary Sitaram Yechury over party's relationship with Congress, CPM Polit Bureau member Prakash Karat has sought to downplay the division within, saying reducing discussions in various fora to "personality clashes" was wrong.



In a signed article in Peoples Democracy, which he edits, Karat, who is vehemently against any link with Congress, put the blame on media for arriving at "motivated and distorted conclusions" on inner-party discussions and depicting it as intense factionalism between his supporters and Yechury.



The article in the party mouthpiece, which is aimed at projecting a united face, comes days after the Central Committee rejected Yechury's line of having an understanding with secular parties, including Congress, in the fight against BJP. Subsequent media interactions by both Yechury and his predecessor Karat after the CC meeting had betrayed the divisions within the party.

It also comes days after Karat said that Yechury, whose line is dubbed "pro-Congress", did not offer to resign after his line was rejected by the Central Committee, only to be contradicted by the General Secretary who finds "contradictions". Yechury had made it clear that it was "untenable" for him to continue as General Secretary in such a scenario.

With a section viewing his line as being "pro-BJP", Karat has not mentioned about Congress even once in his article. However, he said the country is faced with the "serious consequences" of the BJP-RSS taking over the reins of the state and it was natural that the party discussed a tactical line which can fight the BJP and mobilise people to defeat the BJP.

"Interest and concern about the political line to be adopted by the CPM stems from the widespread desire of secular and democratic minded people that an effective unity be forged to take on the BJP. The political-tactical line that the party Congress will adopt will meet this concern. Based on the political line, the party will adopt concrete election tactics for the forthcoming Assembly and Lok Sabha elections," he said.



As the battle moves to the party Congress where a final call will be taken, the differences are likely to intensify in the coming days with the Karat faction trying to stall a second term for Yechury. Political analysts said that the Karat faction would like to deny a second term for Yechury, as he was chosen as General Secretary in the 2015 of party Congress against the wishes of Polit Bureau and Central Committee.The medical fraternity in the coastal region is shocked over the recent order of the Bengaluru II Additional District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum which ordered a Neurologist to pay Rs 70,000 towards medical expenses, Rs 10,000 towards mental agony, and Rs 10,000 towards litigation expenses, after holding him guilty citing drug reaction as negligence by the doctor.



The neurologist, in his defence, had told the court that he diagnosed the 9-year-old patient's actual disorder, called Seizure Disorder, and prescribed a drug recommended by various medical bodies as per the patient's body weight. The doctor said that he had also explained to the patient and her father about the probable side effects of the drug.

However, when the girl was admitted to St Martha's Hospital where she received medical treatment from February 1 to 14, 2014, for which her father Shivaraju spent nearly Rs 1 lakh, the doctor at Martha's Hospital gave a letter that categorically stated that the girl was admitted because she suffered from Steven Johnson Syndrome after taking T. Carbaona Zepine. "Thus, as a result of the negligence on the part of the previous doctor in giving wrong and high dosage of the tablet, the daughter suffered physically and mentally. The complainant had suffered financially apart from mental harassment," said the petition before the forum.

Meanwhile, Plastic Surgeon and Association of Medical Consultants (AMC) Medicolegal Cell convenor Dr Satish Bhat said that if the consumer forum's order is right in every way, then should not the drug be withdrawn from the market, as a public safety initiative?

"Why are the pharmacies stocking such a dangerous drug and why are the pharma still manufacturing them, and more importantly, why is the government allowing both the production and sale of such a drug?" he sought to know.

Stating that the child, who was treated for fits in January 2014, developed a skin reaction with fever that later needed hospitalisation and the expenses mounted to Rs 1,00,000, Dr Bhat pointed out that the forum did not even find any lapse in either the choice of the drug or dosage. "Had the doctor missed either the drug history or had not informed the family about the possibility of drug reaction, it is indeed a genuine lapse," he said and added that the drug complication is something the doctor knows may happen (one in 1,000 cases), injury to the girl resulted from an omission in the legal duty of the doctor to ensure due care, is simply outrageous.

"What makes the order ridiculous is that, for any qualified doctor, even if a patient dies following treatment, so long as all safety precautions are taken, the doctor is completely protected from any legal action by a special provision in law created for this very purpose - IPC 88," he said.

"The Forum also missed the crucial step of including a medical expert in the deliberations, even though none of the Forum members had any exposure to the profession," Dr Bhat pointed out.

While the Forum may have been swayed by sympathy to the child's suffering, the implications of the order are simply terrible, the AMC in a statement said that a medical expert would have immediately made the Forum realise that the child needs anti-epilepsy drugs for a few years even after the Judgement.

"If the orders are followed and drugs stopped completely, as there is no drug with 100% safety from side effects - will the Forum be responsible for any uncontrolled fits that she may develop? Can the Forum cause direct harm to a young girl, the very person it claims to protect?" the doctors sought to know.

Referring to the Forum order, the doctors said that the repercussions for the medical fraternity and healthcare are even more atrocious. "Should doctors stop prescribing drugs completely, to follow the legal guidelines, and save themselves from risk of litigation in case of complication," the AMC sought to know and added: While the doctor undoubtedly needs to appeal against this order, it will not be surprising if he quietly accepts to pay the compensation to save himself from the mental agony and harassment of further legal proceedings.

The authorities concerned need to wake up to such incidents and review the working of Consumer Forums in medical matters, the AMC opined and stressed the need to include a medical expert in the proceedings/forum or setting up a separate Medical Tribunal to handle such cases which are the logical options to consider urgently.Congress leaders were furious at the Modi government as party President Rahul Gandhi was made to sit in the sixth row in the VIP enclosure to watch the Republic Day parade roll down the Rajpath Friday morning.



Gandhi was seen seated next to leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad with their posse of security personnel standing in the aisle as President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and heads of state and governments from 10 Asean nations took a seat on a special podium.

However, Gandhi was given a seat in the second row at the 'At Home' function hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Gandhi and Modi were also seen greeting each other as they came face-to-face in Rashtrapati Bhawan.

At the Republic Day parade, the first row in the VIP enclosure was taken by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur, former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, BJP President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Agriculture Minister Radhamohan Singh among others.

An angry Congress alleged breach of protocol and "deliberate humiliation" of Gandhi in front of world leaders.

Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Modi government's "cheap politics" was at display when it broke tradition and denied Gandhi a front-row seat at the parade.

"The arrogant rulers deliberately seated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the fourth row, then sixth row, on Republic Day, discarding all convention. For us celebrating the Republic is above all," he said.

Congress leaders were also angry at the government for not arranging meetings of Gandhi with the heads of state/government of the 10 Asean nations. They recalled that the government had also prevented a meeting between Gandhi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the eve of Republic Day, Gandhi wrote an open letter to people asking them to defend the Constitution and its treasured commitment to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.

The Congress president said everyone must remember the Indian Constitution and the commitment it made to citizens. "On this Republic day, let us renew our lifelong pledge to protect our Constitution, the keystone of our cherished Republic, and to defend it as one people, whenever it is endangered," he said.Terming the government's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN a big success, SpiceJet chief Ajay Singh has said the airline has not taken the viability gap funding so far as the routes operated by it under the scheme are financially viable on their own.



UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) aims to connect unserved and under-served airports as well as make flying more affordable for the masses.

SpiceJet has bagged routes in the first and second rounds of bidding under the scheme.

"On UDAN, our philosophy at SpiceJet is that wherever viability gap funding (VGF) is not required, we will not take it because the government should use the money where it is required," Singh told PTI in an interview.

"So far this has proved to be right because all the sectors we are flying as yet are financially viable without that viability gap funding," he said.

Airlines participating in the scheme are extended VGF -- which is shared by the respective state government and the Centre -- as well as certain other incentives.

The Centre contributes 80 percent of the VGF amount, while the remaining comes from the state governments concerned and in the case of north-eastern states and union territories, the sharing ratio is 90:10.

The SpiceJet chairman and managing director said UDAN has been a big success as so many unused airports in smaller cities are now coming into use.

"We have noticed that people from smaller cities do not want to travel to another city to take a flight and they would rather want to fly from their own town," Singh said.

On Wednesday, the civil aviation ministry announced awarding 325 more routes to airlines as well as helicopter operators in the second round of bidding under UDAN.

In the first round, a total of 128 routes were awarded to five players.

The budget carrier operates an average of 402 flights daily to 51 destinations, including seven international ones. It has a fleet of 38 Boeing 737NG and 22 Bombardier Q-400s.A woman allegedly depressed for giving birth to a third daughter, strangled her one-month-old baby before committing suicide herself, police said today.



The incident that took place yesterday at Rajendra Park area in Chandu village was informed to the police by woman's husband, they said.

Police said the victim was found hanging to a ceiling fan by her mother-in-law.

"The victim's mother-in-law was doing household chores and had called her for help, but after getting no response, she peeped through the window of her room and saw her hanging," a police official said.

According to the statement lodged by the woman's husband, her wife was suffering from depression over the birth of the third daughter. He said the woman wanted to have a boy this time.

A case has been registered and police is investigating the matter for further details, the official said.President Donald Trump on Friday offered "America's friendship and partnership" to the world in his debut appearance before the global business elite in Davos, arguing: "America First does not mean America alone."



"The world is experiencing the resurgence of a strong and prosperous America. America is open for business and we are competitive once again," he added in a speech to the World Economic Forum.



Trump told his audience of politicians and leaders of industry, technology and finance that the United States was more attractive than ever to foreign investment under his year-old presidency.



But he warned: "We cannot have free and open trade if some countries exploit the system at the expense of others.



"We support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal. The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices."Several places in Rajasthan witnessed peaceful protests against Padmaavat on the second day after its all-India release.



The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh, however, was not released in Rajasthan.

Karni Sena and other Rajput outfits protested outside film halls in Jaipur and Udaipur, but unlike on Thursday, no violent clashes were witnessed in the state.

"No violent incident was reported in the state on Friday," Additional Director General of Police N R K Reddy said.

Karni Sena had announced that they will not protest considering the Republic Day celebrations.



Its patron, Lokendra Singh Kalvi, had said that the 'janta curfew' will be imposed in the afternoon when the Republic Day celebrations are over.Five months after the Doklam crisis, India and China on Friday revived the ceremonial border personnel meetings (BPM) between local army commanders on the disputed boundary.

Two such gatherings took place at Daulat Beig Oldie and Chusul in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.

In both meetings, both sides maintained their commitments to maintain peace along the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) and uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the two countries to maintain peace and tranquility along the boundary.

From the Indian side, the delegation was headed by a Brigadier-rank officer, while the People's Liberation Army team was led by a senior colonel.

The previous three BPMs, supposed to have been on August 1, August 15 and October 1, did not take place because of the Doklam stand-off, during which border-guarding troops from the two armies stood face-to-face for 72 days on a disputed territory inside Bhutan.

The crisis ended on August 28, on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China.

While there was no ceremonial BPM on August 15, sweets were exchanged between the two sides.

There was no ceremonial meetings on October 1 - the Chinese national day - as China didn't send an invite.

Another BPM, that was to take place on August 1, also didn't happen due to the lack of any initiative from China.

With the tension now palpably lower on the LAC, Beijing responded positively to India's proposal of holding a BPM on the Republic Day.

"The ceremonial border personnel meeting was marked by saluting the Indian flag by members of the delegations from both sides. It was followed by a ceremonial address by the delegation leaders. Delegations at both places interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment," said an official from the Northern Command.

At Chusul, a game of archery was also played between the two sides.The state government has contributed IT exports worth Rs 3 lakh crore during 2017 and accounts for 35% of bio-tech industry revenue of the country, Governor Vajubhai Vala said.



The Governor was delivering his Republic Day speech after unfurling the National Flag at Manekshaw Parade Ground here.

Noting that Karnataka stands first among other states for the second time in a row in attracting investments, he said Bengaluru is one of the top five innovation hubs in the world.

The march past that followed the Governor's speech had platoons from the Border Security Force, Indian Air Force, CRPF and others.

The teams from states like Goa and Puducherry also took part in the march with the former getting a special prize.

For the first time, a team from KSRTC's Security and Vigilance Department participated. NCC cadets, scouts and guides and teams from a dozen schools marched with pride and vied for the prize.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joined the Governor in presenting the 'Sarvottam Seva Award' to 12 officials in various posts in recognition of their performance.

Kalaripayattu and equestrian stunts added thrills to the cultural extravaganza. The martial art was on full display by 12 members of the Madras Regimental Centre, Tamil Nadu.

The daredevils of Shweta Ashwa team from Corps of Military Police, Uttar Pradesh, were back and brought with them some hair-raising bike stunts, adding a tinge of anxiety to the excitement.

The team started with a scissor-crossing stunt where streams of bikes from four corners cross each other with precision.

The equestrian team from ASC Centre and College added to the treat by showing off their skills. The four-member team was led by international rider Hawaldhar Singh.Last week, India became the 43rd member of the Australia Group, one of the four elite technology export control groups, the other three being MTCR (Missile Technology Control Regime), Wassenaar Arrangement and the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). India became a member of the MTCR and Wassenaar Arrangement in 2016 and 2017 respectively.



India's entry into the Australia Group on January 19, 2018 didn't surprise international relations observers as this was on expected lines. Joining three elite groups in three consecutive years is being considered a big 'diplomatic win', but the biggest hurdle is in the path of the most important of these control regimes - the NSG.

The NSG is a 48-member group of nuclear supplier countries that seeks to stem the proliferation of nuclear weapons through the implementation of two sets of guidelines for nuclear exports and nuclear-related exports. Last year, China, which is a member of the NSG, stonewalled India's entry into this group.

India's path into three of the four technology control regimes was relatively smooth because China is not a member of the MTCR, Australia Group or Wassenaar Arrangement. But gaining entry into the NSG will still be an uphill task because China's position on the matter hasn't changed since the NSG plenary meeting last year.

Officially, at least, Chinese objection is ostensibly based on a principle a that India is not a signatory to the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) and hence an exception cannot be made for New Delhi alone to become a part of a body which requires its members to have signed the 1968 treaty.

On the other hand, India has maintained its stand clearly that its desire to be part of all export control groups showcases its already strong 'non-proliferation' credentials. Secondly, the fact that none of the member countries of these regimes except China have thwarted New Delhi's entry into the groupings shows India's 'acceptance' to all other states in the system despite their knowing the fact that India is not a signatory to the NPT and is unlikely to sign it in the future.

India's position on the issue makes it clear that the Chinese objection is misguided. Why can't China bring itself to trust India while all the other members of the grouping do? The view in New Delhi is that China, by trying to block India's entry into NSG, is satisfying "other ends" than the non-proliferation principle - that China is objecting perhaps because it does not want India to become a part of the NSG since that would be, in a way, symbolic of India's rise in the international system, which China is loath to acknowledge.

Entry into such a group indeed has great 'symbolic value'. China sees India as a potential rival and its rise in the Indian Ocean region can prove detrimental to China's hegemonic ambitions. Moreover, India's increasing proximity to the US and its decision to join the 'QUAD' - the US-India-Japan-Australia Quadrilateral Security Dialogue - has alarmed China.

Judged by its allies

With these recent developments, India is no longer being perceived as a 'non-aligned' nation by many countries, including China. Beijing is also looking into who India's 'allies' are and whether they can prove detrimental to China's objectives and ambitions as a major player in the international system or not.

The answer seems to be 'yes'. India is being judged by who its allies are. Secondly, geography is playing its role in the Chinese stand on India. India and China are neighbours that share a very long border. Had India and China not been neighbours or had India or China been located in different parts of the world, either the objection wouldn't have been raised or the nature of these objections would have been different.

There is always a competition between two major powers, and that competition heightens if they happen to be neighbours. This is the case with India and China, India being an 'emerging power' and China being a 'rising power' at around the same time and competing with each other for influence, if not to become the most powerful state, in the same region. While India is trying to catch up with China, the latter is trying to increase the 'power gap' between itself and India.

The reason why China objects to India's entry into the NSG or to India's ambition to gain a seat in the UN Security Council is that it fears that this 'power gap' which currently exists between the two countries would shrink if India achieves either or both. India's rise in the recent past has shown a real potential for this gap to be bridged in the future.

Given these realities, while India's persistent diplomatic effort in the recent past has raised expectations among many that India will sooner or later break into the NSG, China will do everything possible to prevent it. If despite China's opposition India does manage to get into the NSG, that would be the power politics equivalent of pulling a rabbit out of one's hat.

(The writer is Junior Research Fellow, School of International Studies, JNU)After hospitals, the state government is planning to open Indira canteens in schools and colleges, including private ones.



Speaking after the launch of 20 mobile Indira canteens at the Vidhana Soudha here on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the subsidised eateries would be opened in educational institutions across Karnataka to provide affordable food to students.

He criticised those opposing the project. "Only people who don't know the pain of hunger will speak ill of this project and try to create obstacles. These people have no shame to indulge in such frivolous matters," he said. "We want to build a hunger-free and malnourishment-free Karnataka, and Indira Canteen is the solution for that."

N Manjunath Prasad, Commissioner, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), said they would conduct a study on the number of schools where the canteens could be opened. "We will find out if we need to open static or mobile canteens," he said. "Whatever be the political compulsion, what matters the most is the joy of seeing the poor eat healthy and affordable meals."

The mobile canteens will be run on a trial basis until February 1. The trial period will help the staff get familiar with the demands of the job. A total of 24 mobile Indira canteens will function from February 1 onwards.

Bengaluru Development and Town Planning Minister K J George, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee working president Dinesh Gundu Rao, Mayor R Sampath Raj and Manoj Rajan, Special Commissioner (Indira Canteens), BBMP, were present on the occasion.A 35-year-old lawyer from Amruthahalli died instantly after a truck transporting paper reams crashed into his car on the Yelahanka service road, North Bengaluru, on Friday night.



The traffic police identified the deceased as Ranjith Kumar and said he was returning from work. The truck was overloaded and its driver fled soon after the accident. Police used a crane to pull the deceased out of the car. Further investigations are underway.The Karnataka State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights has sought the help of ministers Umashree and K J George to build pink toilets for women and girls in all districts.



In a letter to the ministers and district commissioners, the panel referred to a pilot project of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) under which they installed hi-tech pink toilets in South Delhi, especially for women and girls.

The NCPCR had apparently written to all state commissions to work on implementing the project in their respective states. The KSCPCR has written to the ministers and district officials seeking their help to construct the exclusive toilets.

The information about the location of these toilets will be available in a mobile application. The toilets will be open round the clock and have women attendees. They will also have vending machines to dispense sanitary napkins at subsidised rates. They will also have space to rest and will be furnished with ramps for the disabled.A day after BJP national president Amit Shah said 'Siddaramaiah' and 'corruption' were synonymous, a twitter war broke out between the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Friday.



Shah, who attacked the Siddaramaiah-led government at the BJP rally in Mysuru on Thursday, also tweeted that the Congress government had "crossed all limits of corruption".

In reply to Shah's tweet, Siddaramaiah said that the BJP leader was making outdated speeches and was ill informed about the Mahadayi issue.

Siddaramaiah followed this with his 'jail bird' taunt. "Says an ex-jail bird who chose another former jail bird to be his party's CM candidate for our Karnataka election. Can he present facts about the so called corruption charges against me or my Govt? Just telling lies won't help. People will not believe his jumlas (lies)," he tweeted.

Here, Siddaramaiah was referring to Shah's imprisonment in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case and BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa's imprisonment in the denotification case.

It was at this juncture that Sadananda Gowda jumped into the fray and tweeted, "Congress (I) was formed by ex jail bird who became ex prime minister of the country for corruption. Her son ex prime minister would have permanently remained as jail bird for Bofors corruption. But, sadly your party sponsored terrorism assassinated him. Need more list sir?"

The ex-prime minister Gowda referring to was Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi. While Indira was imprisoned for the Emergency excesses; her son, according to Gowda, would have served a jail term in the Bofors scam, if not for his death.

Later, Siddaramaiah and Gowda sparred in Kannada.

Siddaramaiah: "Can the Union Minister for Statistics, who is defending his national president Amit Shah, explain how his (Shah) son's property increased 16,000 times over in just three years?"

Gowda: "Since you have tabled several budgets, I thought you knew the difference between annual turnover and net profit. You are dependent on your lackey for state intelligence. Little wonder that you are making such ill informed statements."

Siddaramaiah: "From Railway Ministry to Law Ministry to Statistics Ministry. This is the reward given to you by your prime minister and party president. What does your future hold if you don't support Shah?"

Gowda: "I treat both my mother and my party equally. It is my responsibility to discharge my duty as a loyal party worker. Posts are irrelevant. You will not understand this as you are not indebted to the party that groomed you. Nothing in this world is permanent. You already know this."JD(S) state president H D Kumaraswamy has announced that he will make a minority leader his deputy (chief minister), if his party comes to power after the Assembly polls.



The fact, however is that the JD(S) lacks even a single influential Muslim leader, who can help swing votes in its favour.

Having lost a majority of its minority leaders one after the other, the JD(S) is now making a desperate bid to woo disgruntled Muslim leaders from the Congress.

One among the prominent minority leaders who has been approached by the JD(S) is Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tanveer Sait, the MLA from Narasimharaja in Mysuru.

The party has dangled the deputy chief minister post to Sait. According to party insiders, the JD(S) has been trying to woo Sait for the last three months. "Sait has been feeling neglected in the Congress for a while now. Recently, he was removed as the district-in-charge minister of Raichur as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is playing favourites. Though he has been given a Cabinet berth, Sait feels that he is not given a free hand to run his department," said sources.

Sources said that Sait briefly considered the JD(S) offer, before rejecting it. "He has burnt bridges with the Muslim leaders in his own constituency. But if he defects to JD(S), the Vokkaliga votes might help him scrape through to victory. Though he has said no, we are still keeping in touch with him -- along with two other Muslim leaders," the JD(S) source added.

While the JD(S) has been in continuous talks with Congress leader C M Ibrahim, it has also held talks with Rajya Sabha member and former Union Minister for Minorities Affairs K Rahman Khan, said a leader.

For the last one year Ibrahim has been in frequent touch with JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda. Recently too, he visited Gowda's residence on Sankranti. While he has demanded the party state president post, the JD(S) has assured him an "important decision making" role.

Ibrahim who had served as JD(S) state president in the 1990s, had later migrated to the Congress along with Siddaramaiah. He is now upset with Siddaramaiah for being denied a Cabinet berth.

Ibrahim is nursing hopes that the JD(S) will make him a minister, if the party comes to power.

The JD(S) started luring the Muslim leaders of the Congress, after the exit of its MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan.

Khan, along with Gangavathi MLA Iqbal Ansari, are last of the 'vote fetchers' to have quit the JD(S). After the demise of party loyalist Mirajuddin Patel and, former MLC Abdul Azeem deserted the party to join the BJP, Shakeel Nawaz, JD(S) minority wing state president, too quit the party in 2016.

The party is now left with little known leaders such as Zafrulla Khan, B M Farooq and Danish Ali, who don't hold much sway over the community voters.With the rush for party tickets heating up, sitting Lok Sabha and Legislative Council members from the ruling Congress and the Opposition BJP are making a beeline to contest the upcoming Assembly elections.



BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa, a Lok Sabha member from Shimoga, has already declared that he would contest the Assembly polls from the Shikaripura constituency. According to sources, party MPs B Sriramulu and Shobha Karandlaje are aspiring a return to state politics. Similarly, Pratap Simha wants to try his luck in the Assembly polls.

Bellary MP Sriramulu, who is known to wield significant clout in Ballari region, has lined himself up for the B Form from the Bellary Assembly (ST Reserve) constituency, which he vacated after his Lok Sabha win. Simha, who represents Mysore-Kodagu in the Lok Sabha, is said to be vying for the Hunsur Assembly constituency. Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Shobha is also aspiring to contest the upcoming polls from a seat in Bengaluru, sources say. The BJP central leadership, however, is wary of fielding MPs, except Yeddyurappa who is the the party's chief ministerial face.

BJP MLC K S Eshwarappa is said to be an aspirant from the Shimoga constituency, whereas another MLC V Somanna has announced his intention to contest from the Hanur seat in Chamarajanagar district.

Congress' Chikkodi MP Prakash Hukkeri is said to be planning to field his son Ganesh from the Lok Sabha seat in 2019, while he wants to contest the Assembly polls.

At least eight Congress MLCs are keen on contesting the Assembly polls, it is said. This includes Motamma (Mudigere), Planning Minister M R Seetharam (Malleswaram), G Raghu Achar (Chitradurga), V S Ugrappa, Rizwan Arshad and R B Thimmapur. There is a contest between Byrathi Suresh and Transport Minister H M Revanna for the ticket (B Form) to the Hebbal seat. Revanna unsuccessfully contested from the constituency in 2008.

Arshad, for instance, has told the party leadership that he is keen on contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Bangalore Central constituency, where he lost in 2014. "But if the party wants to field me in the Assembly polls, I will contest," he said.

The Congress has 34 members in the 75-member Legislative Council. That there are over half-a-dozen members wanting to contest the Assembly polls could render the party's position precarious in the Upper House.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who visited the ailing Siddaganga Mutt seer Shivakumar Swami at hospital on Friday, said the 110-year-old seer had not only recognised him but also spoken to him.

Siddaramaiah, who met the seer before he was wheeled into operation theatre for surgery, told reporters that doctors at the hospital had told him that Shivakumara Swami's condition was "stable".

"The seer came down with fever and cough late last night. I've been told that his condition is stable. He recognised me and even asked me what time I came in. He also asked me thrice if I had taken the 'prasada'. The doctors and the Mutt will take a call on when he should be discharged," he added.

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George and Bengaluru Mayor Sampath Raj accompanied Siddaramaiah to the hospital. Later in the day, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa and Energy Minister D K Shivakumar also visited the seer at the hospital.

Siddaramiah had on Thursday written to prime minister urging him to confer the Bharat Ratna on the seer. A few days ago, BJP leader S M Krishna too had made the same proposition to Modi.A day after BJP national president Amit Shah tore into the Congress government in the state, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah hit back at him by saying that the BJP leader, instead of uttering lies in Karnataka, should reprimand BJP governments condoning rioters opposing the release of film 'Padmaavat'.

Siddaramaiah said that the Centre and the saffron party leadership had turned a blind eye to the continued violence in BJP-ruled states in north India over the film.

He said that the rioters had even violated the Supreme Court ruling. "Instead of reprimanding the chief ministers of these states, Shah came all the way to Mysuru to utter lies. Shah is from Gujarat. I'm the son of Kannada soil. If he criticises me, the people of Karnataka will not remain silent. The more he attacks, the more it will work in my favour," he added.

On BJP's charges that the ruling party was trying to obstruct Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Karnataka on February 4, Siddaramaiah said that his government needn't resort to such "cheap tactics".The state government's attempts to withdraw the cases registered against people of the minority communities in connection with communal riots in the state, has kicked up a political storm with the opposition BJP branding the Siddaramaiah government 'anti-Hindu'.

The office of the director general and inspector general of police (DG&IGP) on Thursday (January 25) wrote to the police chiefs of various districts including Mangaluru and Belagavi seeking their opinion on withdrawing such cases.

On January 2, the office of the DG&IGP had sought the local police officials to clarify their stand on withdrawing such cases booked against "innocent" minority community members in various police stations between 2013 and 2017.

The letter was sent to senior police officials of Tumakuru, Kolar, Ramanagaram, Chikkaballapur, Mysuru, Hassan, Kodagu, Chamarajanagar, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Haveri, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Udupi, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Bidar and Yadgiri.

Another letter was written on January 19. However, as there was no response to that letter, the top cop's office sent a reminder. The district police was asked to furnish necessary documents pertaining to these cases.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, said that the government was mulling over withdrawing cases against pro-Kannada activists, farmers and others, and not just those registered against minorities. He said that the government will take a final call only after taking the Home department's opinion.

Condemning the government's stance, BJP MP Shobha Karandlaje said that the move was "dangerous to democracy".

"Why can't Siddaramaiah withdraw cases registered against innocent Hindus also? By withdrawing cases registered against jihadists, you are allowing communal violence and further killings of Hindus," she said. BJP general secretary Muralidhar Rao alleged that Siddaramaiah was behind the killings of BJP workers.

"He has now directed the police to withdraw communal-related cases registered against minorities. His intention is to create trouble during the elections. Siddaramaiah is with those supporting terrorists and encouraging illegal entry of Bangladeshis into Bengaluru," he added.Sentencing for Carmel Valley horse ranch owner Christian Clews on charges of possession and distribution of child pornography has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, at the federal courthouse in downtown San Diego.The sentencing hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 1, but Clews requested the continuance because his attorney, Jennifer Wirsching, will be in Texas on that date for sentencing in another case.

U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw will sentence Clews on the two counts, to which Clews pleaded guilty in July. Clews faces a maximum sentence of 40 years in prison on the charges. However, he could receive less time in prison under a plea agreement with prosecutors.

Sabraw also denied a motion by Clews to receive unredacted statements from witnesses who allege that he sexually abused or exploited them when they were minors. Prosecutors blacked out the names and contact information of the witnesses, who are now adult women, due to the sexual nature of the allegations and the witnesses fear of retribution by the defendant or others. Clews attorneys argued, unsuccessfully, that they needed the names and contact information to properly defend their client

Prosecutors plan to introduce the witness statements at the sentencing hearing in an effort to enhance Clews sentence.By Simon Calder

26 January 2018

(The Independent)  The executive mayor of Cape Town has warned citizens and prospective visitors that the city is very likely to run out of water in April. After two years of drought which saw rain at about one-third of normal levels, reservoirs supplying the city are running dry. Calls to limit individual consumption to 87 litres per day have, say the authorities, been ignored by three-fifths of the people living in greater Cape Town  which has 3.7 million people.The mayor, Patricia de Lille, said: It is quite unbelievable that a majority of people do not seem to care and are sending all of us headlong towards Day Zero. That is the date on which the city runs dry. It was initially set at 21 April 2018, but has since been moved forward to 12 April 2018.Day Zero is the day that almost all of the taps in the city will be turned off and we will have to queue for water, says the city council.For tourists as well as locals, coping with the water shortage is becoming a daily struggle. Water pressure has been reduced to limit consumption and water leaks, and cuts in the supply are becoming more common. Alistair Coy, a British visitor to Cape Town, tweeted footage of one of the reservoirs supplying the city. He called the crisis an impending disaster in one of the worlds greatest cities, and predicted Day Zero will arrive in March.Four million citizens will be expected to collect 25 litres per person from one of 200 collection points, he said. A true nightmare scenario is developing before our very eyes.Jamie Bowden, a long-stay UK visitor to the city, told The Independent: The water crisis is the only topic of conversation. Arriving passengers at Cape Town airport are met with a huge banner on the drive out of the airport imploring visitors to shower for just two minutes. []Four new desalination plants are under construction in and around Cape Town, but three are running behind schedule and none is likely to be ready by Day Zero. Desalination ships are also being prepared. Meanwhile a black market in drinking water is taking shape, according to Mr Bowden: I went to a warehouse that stocks large plastic water containers and the place is just being stripped every day. New supplies are coming by lorry every day from Johannesburg and they are gone in a couple of hours.A spring used by a brewery in the Newlands area of the city has become a popular place for citizens  and organised gangs  to get additional water.Its clear that the guys turning up in vans full of 25-litre containers are not doing it for their personal use, said Mr Bowden. For enterprising gangs this is South Africas bitcoin. They know the value of stored fresh drinking water will soar in coming weeks and getting thousands of litres of it now for free is likely to be extremely profitable. [more]Save my User ID and Password

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Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site.Subscriber content preview

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE

Associated Press

SACRAMENTO, Calif.  Gov. Jerry Brown celebrated California's economic and environmental progress while issuing a dire warning about dangers from climate change and the threat of nuclear war during his final State of the State address Thursday after four terms leading the nation's most populous state.

Our world, our way of life, our system of governance  all are at immediate and genuine risk, Brown told the Legislature, citing endless new weapons systems, growing antagonism among nations, the poison of our politics, climate change.





. . .Subscriber content preview

BOISE, Idaho (AP)  The state has begun renovating the first building of the former HP Inc. campus in Boise as Idaho agencies prepare to move into the new office space later this year.

Workers have started removing tile and carpet embedded with asbestos from parts of the building that have been vacant for years, KTVB-TV reported.





. . .Subscriber content preview

SAO PAULO (AP)  Brazil is making it easier and cheaper for Americans to apply for a visa following a decline in the number of visitors from the U.S. in recent years.

Starting Thursday, Americans can complete the visa process completely online, instead of visiting a consulate or paying an expeditor to do so. The price of the visa will drop from $160 to $40.





. . .And what lie is that???.....Are you saying Hillary was investigated??..... Technically that is true, but that is exactly what this whole scandal is about....It is,and it was clear a year and a half ago that the investigation was a sham ..there was no investigation .... It was decided before Peter Strzok sat down with the Queen that it was already determined she would get a pass...It is established fact that Peter Strzok had the charge changed from "gross negligence" to "extreme carelessness"..... in other words "A friggin' Cover-up" ....The question now is "Who ordered the Cover-up??" and "why did they do it??"....Was this all just the doings of a couple of rogue FBI Agents or was the order sent down all the way from the White House??



What is your defense for being so effin' dense....Mr. "I hate Moore"??Libertarian Guy said: Oh, ok. So all the sexual harassment in Hollywood, the corporate world, and Congress should just be dismissed and ignored because they aren't President.



I'm sure all the victims agree with your position. Click to expand...

And I'm still waiting for the outrage from the frightwing, especially the evangelicals over Trumps actions. Three wives, cheated on all of them. Five children by different women. Admitted to sexual assault. Slept with a porn star, and according to a new report tried to make it a threesome with a second porn star WHILE HE WAS MARRIED and his WIFE was at home with his new born son.OH WAIT, you and all those evangelicals KNEW MOST OF THIS BEFORE YOU ELECTED HIM PRESIDENT !!!Sorry but any moral high ground the right may have held is now null and void. You have absolutely NO RIGHT to point fingers and feign outrage.It's like that scene in Casablanca where Cpt Renault closes the cafe' and when Rick asks why Renault says he's "SHOCKED to find out there's gambling going on, SHOCKED I TELL YOU !!! Just as the croupier hands him his winnings !!!AAAWWWWWWWW Jesus you're ODS is still alive and well huh ?????



Do I need to remind you that the president CAN NOT REWRITE THE TAX CODE all by himself ??? If that were the case we wouldn't have had to watch for weeks as congress worked on the new tax plan. So the truth it, except for some green energy credits pushed by Obama, the VAST MAJORITY of tax loopholes were already in place before Obama took office.



Since 2000, about 200 Fortune 500 companies have had at least one year where, even though they made substantial profits, they paid ZERO in taxes. Many have had multiple years where they paid little or no taxes. There are 18 companies that have paid zero taxes for a decade. As I said the vast majority of the loopholes have been in place for years. Decades in some cases.



The rest of the story is they are holding more than a TRILLION DOLLARS in off shore accounts. As long as that money stays off shore they don't pay taxes on it.



If you don't like the fact that GE, Exxon and dozens of other companies paid little or no taxes, CALL YOUR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN. Or do I need to remind you REPUBLICANS ran congress for more than a decade before Obama was elected.Sir Suma Chakrabarti says Ukrainian leadership must take on vested interests

The President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Sir Suma Chakrabarti said on Thursday that modernising and reforming Ukraines institutions and ways of governing had required political courage over the last four years.

In a panel discussion with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Sir Suma said there should be no let up now in continuing with the drive for better governance even with elections approaching in 2019.

The assault on vested interests must continue, he said. You have shown you have the courage to do this, he told the Ukrainian leader.

Speaking as the head of the largest single investor in Ukraine, the EBRD President said: We will support you in this endeavour.

The EBRD has invested a total of 12 billion in Ukraine since the start of operations there 25 years ago. Some 3.5 billion of this amount has flowed to the country in the last four years, Sir Suma noted.

The EBRD President said the EBRD had backed its investments with support for reforms. With the support of the European Union, the EBRD had introduced reform support teams into key ministries.

The Bank was also helping to transform the energy group Naftogaz into a company that Ukraine can finally take pride in.

Sir Suma told the audience at the event at Ukraine House in Davos, that the EBRDs work aimed to strengthen Ukraine across a number of key areas, making the economy more resilient, competitive, greener, more inclusive, more integrated and better governed.

The EBRD President highlighted progress in these areas. A financial sector clean-up, and consolidation and recapitalisation had made Ukraines banks more resilient, while the energy sector had benefited from the diversification of gas imports and reforms.

There had been progress on competitiveness, but more could be achieved if state-owned enterprises had less of a grip on the economy.

He noted Ukraine continued to be one of the worlds most energy-intensive countries, three times more so than the EU average, and he said the country should focus on energy efficiency, diversifying energy sources and improving municipal services and infrastructure.

The EBRD praised the Ukrainian Health Ministrys recent steps to remove discriminatory conditions for womens employment. But he said Ukraine needed to do more to encourage a generation of women to attain technical qualifications relevant to high-value sectors.

The EBRD President referred specifically to the need for further improvements in governance. Progress had been made but corruption was still a barrier to foreign direct investment, he said.

The establishment of anti-corruption institutions could make an important contribution to increasing transparency in the economy.

The EBRD had been happy to contribute to this with its support for the creation of a Business Ombudsman, an office which provides a forum for companies to challenge unfair treatment.

It would be particularly important to create an anti-corruption court that met the very international standards that Ukrainians were so keen to attain, the EBRD President said.Philosophy of law professor Maria Elosegui (San Sebastian, 1957), the new Spanish judge at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), has linked homosexuality to different diseases in books, articles and interviews. She has also argued that transsexual people should subject themselves to "psychological and psychiatric" therapies.

Her doctrine is developed in the book Ten Issues on Gender: Men and Women before Reproductive Rights, published in 2002, and in many different interviews and opinion articles published by conservative journals and magazines -some of them, very recently-.

In an interview about one of her books, published by the Opus Dei-related website almudi.org, Elosegui reaches the conclusion that homosexual people always end up developing different kinds of diseases: "To many, biological sex and gender, that is social roles, are no related, so we could construct our sexual identity with our back to our biological sex. In my book, we see that this construction of sexual identity is possible thanks to human freedom and because human beings are not determined by biology. But just because we can do it (always within certain boundaries, because we cannot change our male or female DNA), it doesnt mean that the balance is positive. It will affect the construction of personality, so the result is not irrelevant. Those who construct and perform their sexual behaviour according to their biological sex will develop healthy and balanced behaviour. Those who insist on going against their biology will develop different diseases. Thats clear".

In that same interview, this philosophy of law professor regrets that the "manipulation" of the concept of "gender, carried out by certain ideologies" has conditioned different conferences at the United Nations and their reports on the relations between men and women. Elosegui regrets that "antagonistic movements such as Anglo-Saxon liberalism or Marxism ended up joining forces to fight for the same objectives", meaning the relations between the two sexes.

Elosegui, who has written that she doesnt express herself "explicitly and originally against gay ideology", has also rejected the use of the word "marriage" for same-sex unions. She did so during a long disquisition on civil law, into which, according to her, "the liberal ideology has also penetrated".

The following is another of her answers during the interview: "Civil law is pretty raw. It concerns patrimonial issues and the rights of patrimonial succession. That is why it must regulate the sexual relationships that lead to descendants. The rest simply doesnt concern civil law because it doesnt have public consequences. It is true that liberal ideology has also penetrated civil law and that explains recent movements that tried to bring homosexual unions to the same legal status as heterosexual ones. But, despite everything, no European legal system has called those relationships "matrimonies", even when they have tried to provide them with some legal protections which I think are just within certain limits".

In many of her articles and published texts, the new ECHR judge has advocated for the fight against the gender pay gap, as well as for the incorporation of women into administrative public spaces and into the private sector, but not as a way of emancipation but in pursuit of greater diversity in society, the market and the State. "Women today cannot be emancipated from anything," she replied to a journalist of that Opus-related publication.

In another article published in the Peruvian newspaper El Comercio on May 26, 2014, Elosegui discusses the decision of Perus Constitutional Court to overrule sex change in the civil registry to a transsexual person who underwent surgery in Spain. She goes through the different legislation in several countries and compares the requirements to change somebodys sex in the civil registries.

The university professor questions whether state-funded surgery is a better answer for a transsexual person and suggests that "psychological and psychiatric therapies" could be a solution, basing on "many scientific journals" that supposedly support this claim.

The following is Eloseguis quote in the Peruvian newspaper: "In Spain, trans people influenced the Spanish legislation of 2007 so that it doesnt require previous transsexual surgery. There is no agreement regarding which therapy is most effective. Several recent scientific articles advocate for psychological and psychiatric therapies, with testimonies of trans people supporting this idea".

The jurist chosen by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from the shortlist of three candidates sent by the Spanish government has worked for over 30 years on the issues of racism and has a lot of articles published on the subject. Elosegui was one of the experts who worked on a draft of the Organic Law for Equality between Women and Men, passed by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapateros administration.

Promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases

In another book entitled The face of violence. Beyond the pain of women, published in 2002 by the Icaria publishing house, the new ECHR judge co-writes a chapter with university professor Carmen Marcuello, who advocates for "gender sexual relations". Elosegui argues that fidelity is the most important value for a couples happiness, "both for men and even more for women", and she mentions "numerous studies [not detailed] on homosexual behaviour, which is known to be more compulsive and leading to a greater number of partners, even though these people have such great emotional needs, to the extent that the well-known German gay sociologist has written that faithful gay friendship is a myth".

In the same chapter, the university professor argues that promiscuity as a lifestyle, which she defines as "the implementation of a male model: the model of unquenchable orgasms" has led "not only to the rise of sexually transmitted diseases, but also to the appearance and rise of psychosexual diseases and what has been called "family disease, in a society such as the American one, where far too many children sleep at night without a father in the house."

Elosegui goes on: "If the individual comes to a halt or goes back to first or second phase, he makes use of masturbation or pornography, or rather this fixation translates into promiscuity and resorts to prostitution. Thus, the use of pornography and promiscuity are symptoms of the psychosexual profile that requires diagnosisand has recently been called Syndrome of Sex Addiction (Echebura), becoming an object of studies and the appearance of centres specialised in its treatment. The distress and vital disruption expressed by these individuals are another issue to analyse".

Elosegui also develops his idea of using condoms in one of his articles. In a 1999 article entitled The UN approves the control of the population, under another name, the professor of Philosophy of Law states: "It is not explained that the condom is not effective against other sexually transmitted diseases more frequent than AIDS, as gonorrhea, syphilis, herpes, pelvic infections, etc. And also that the condom does not protect against sexual abuse in itself, but can encourage the rapist, who finds a way to avoid pregnancy in the victim "

The university professor chosen for the ECHR has expressed these ideas publicly along the past three decades. In an article she wrote in 1995, entitled Two sexes, how many genders?, she questions the right of homosexual people to have relationships freely. The following is a paragraph included in the text published in the extreme Catholic magazine Aceprensa: "Cancellation of the difference between the male and female genders is a characteristic of the fourth model. As the early radical feminism proposed, the objective is to achieve absolute equality between men and women. For this purpose, it is necessary not only to eliminate male privilege but also to control biological conditioning. This would be achieved when women held absolute control over reproduction, including abortion. This would lead to complete sexual freedom, which would imply the right of the individual to have sexual intercourse with other people, regardless of their sex or condition".

In order to distance herself from these theories, Elosegui argues: "In my opinion, one thing is to have tasks that can be performed equally by a man or a woman, and another thing is the existence of androgynous or neutral sexual identities and personalities. Because an individual cannot be separated from his or her body and is therefore a sexual being who always develops his or her qualities regarding the aspects of his or her sex".

In her articles, Elosegui defends "a relationship model that does not identify sex with gender but admits that not all social stereotypes attributed to one sex or the other are merely a cultural construction that can be changed, because some of them have stronger biological roots, so they are inexorably linked to sexual distinction".

"Illegal abortion does not translate into more women dead"

In another article published in 2003, Ignorance is not secular, Elosegui asserts: "It is not true that illegal abortion translates into more women dead. For example, in Ireland abortion is illegal and the number of women who die because of clandestine abortions is not higher than Americas, a country with legalised abortion that still has the highest numbers of death caused by abortion complications".

In other articles, Elosegui attacks public policies of "population control" such as legalised abortion and the fact that these policies have been promoted by the UN. In the 1999 article The pill, five years later, she critises a UN organization that supports related NGOs, which she says represented "certain type of radical feminism, anachronistic in their countries of origin".

"Regarding contraceptive methods, they are trying to coin the term emergency contraception, that is the use of a pill after having sexual intercourse with the objective of avoiding unwanted pregnancies. This contraceptive method prevents the implantation of the fertilised egg (which is ultimately an embryo) in the uterus", wrote Elosegui.

In the same article, one paragraph below, she critises that the UN conferences have advocated for sexual education in third world countries and for access to family planning for minors without their parents consent, bearing in mind that the WHO considers children over 10 years of age teenagers: "They intend to include sexual education in the school curriculum without the parents consent. The obstinate insistence of the US representative in eliminating the reference to parents from the document led to tense moments. Ironically enough, representatives of "the Group of 77" asked the American representative what her country had against parents. As a matter of fact, the El Cairo document establishes that it is primarily the parents right, duty and responsibility to educate teenagers regarding sexuality and procreation".

In the same article, she adds: "Along the same lines, they carried out a campaign to prevent the Holy See from having advisory status in the UN meetings. The Holy See cannot be pressured by other powers and will not remain silent, which is a nuisance to those who wish to impose their opinions".

Contributing to the interrogantes.net weblog, the university professor critised those who state that the inclusion of religion as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum is unconstitutional: "Those who now argue that teaching religion in schools is unconstitutional, because they defend a state model that is not in force and they do it against the opinion of the majority of the Spanish society, should learn to be good losers and use the democratic tools to demand their legitimate aspirations, in legal dissent."

The University of Zaragoza professor has also dedicated part of her work to defend the rights of minority groups. Since 2013, she is part of a commission against racism and intolerance at the Council of Europe.

This Tuesday, Elosegui got 114 votes from the Parliamentary Assembly, while the other two candidates, Jose Martin y Perez de Nanclares -director of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs- and Francisco Perez de los Cobos -former president of the Constitutional Court- got 76 and 37, respectively. Thus, Elosegui was elected as Spanish judge at the ECHR until 2026. The victory of the candidate best known to the Council of Europe -thanks to her work in one of the commissions- is an important setback for the government, who supported Perez de los Cobos.

After being nominated for the ECHR, Elosegui was interviewed by the Aragonese newspaper El Heraldo, where she denounced a new "xenophobia based on fears, that attacks Islam, when many of these boys [refugees] are vulnerable and are being used". When asked about the accusations of ill-will regarding the assimilation of immigrants, Elosegui replied: "Immigrants create networks in order to feel supported. Belgium and Germany have very successful inclusive policies, while France has more ghettos".

In this recent interview, Elosegui agreed with the decision of the ECHR to overrule the Parot Doctrine, which -she says- "even if it was carried out through legislation, it wasnt fair".

Translation: Lucia Balducciby Josiah Schmidt

In early October, Rachel Fehr of Colorado and Anne Dahlhauser of Storm Lake, Iowa received messages from a man in France, which would connect their family history to events in Europe that took place over seventy years ago. At first, Rachel and Anne were skeptical about the authenticity of the messages, concerned it might be part of a scam. The Frenchman, named Frederic Rombi, stated that he was trying to return an American military dogtag to its rightful owner.

A friend of Frederics had found the dogtag several years ago, and it had become a favorite key chain of Frederics. As it turned out, the dog tag that Frederic held had once belonged to Arthur Art Schmidt (1917-2004), the grandfather of Rachel and Anne, and the father of John Schmidt.

Art Schmidts story began on the Fred and Emma (Messner) Schmidt family farm, in the Kossuth County countryside between West Bend and Ottosen, Iowa. He was the second oldest of fifteen children. By 1940, Art and some of his oldest siblings had relocated to Elgin, Illinois to find work during the Great Depression. It was in Elgin that Art got engaged to Alma Laura Rein (1916-2000).

On Monday, February 10th, 1941, as war raged in Europe, Art anticipated a possible American entry into the conflict almost a full year before Pearl Harbor. The 54?, 166 lb., 23-year-old man went to Chicago and enlisted as a warrant officer in the US Army. He would be joined by his brothers, Orville, Delbert, Alvin Swede, and Lester Skip.

After enlisting, Art trained at Fort Ord near Monterey, California and was subsequently stationed with the Third Infantry Division at the Presidio of Monterey. The Third Infantry Division, with its blue and white striped diagonal symbol, had a meritorious reputation from World War I, when it had become known as the Rock of the Marne. They were also known as the Frisco Guard, due to their proximity to San Francisco.

What was originally supposed to be a 1-year commitment became an indefinite commitment when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. They were moved off base to the foothills around San Francisco, and told that their service would be required for the duration of the war, which would turn out to be about four more years.

The Third Infantry Division was one of the most mobile units in World War 2, and earned the nickname, the gypsy troops. They were the only division in the war that fought on every single European front. While most units in World War 1 had seen front line action for two or three weeks, the Third Infantry Division were on the front line for hundreds of days, often going months without a break. The pressures of living under machine gun, sniper, and shell fire were compounded by malnutrition, cold, rain, mud, and disease.

The stresses took their toll on Art, whoin 1945wrote home saying, I know I am certainly ready to throw in my towel right now. But guess we still havent seen enough. Maybe we have to go stark raving mad before well ever be given a break, and then it wont make much difference any more.

Art coped by forging lasting friendships with other troops, becoming a hand-to-hand combat instructor, and keeping a pet bull snake in his tent and shirt (the bull snake protected the men from rattlesnakes).

Arts division fought ashore in French Morocco on November 8th, 1942 and battled their way through Africa, capturing Casablanca in the process. They won the Tunisian campaign in May of 1943, and two months later landed at the beaches of Licata, fighting 38 straight days, taking Palermo, until they marched 90 miles over 3 days into Massina to finish the campaign for Sicily. The Third proceeded to battle for 58 consecutive days in southern Italy, rested for two months, and engaged in 65 consecutive days of exceptionally bloody campaigning at Anzio. At Anzio, they succeeded in holding the pivotal beachhead, crossing the Volurno River, and clearing the way for the march into Rome. With scarcely time to recuperate, the Third landed at St. Tropez on the French Riviera and surged northward into southern France and the Vosges Mountains. They pushed the Germans back for 130 days.

Among their many noteworthy feats was the ambushing of a column of 2,000 German vehicles that resulted in 900 German prisoners and 900 German deaths. These victories were won at high costs, with over 40,000 men having passed through the Third between 1942-1944, where a division usually claimed 15,000 men. As the Americans pushed the German troops toward Germany, they liberated the village of Eulmont near Nancy, France, on September 23rd, 1944. It was here, in the midst of the fighting, that Art Schmidt dropped his dog tag and lost it in the mud behind a home.

By November of 1944, the Americans arrived at the outskirts of a town in east France called Saint-Di-des-Vosges, or St. Die for short. The town, on the banks of the Meurthe River, was an old town rich in history. It had been named after a seventh century hermitic monk, St. Deodatus of Nevers. The town, population 17,500 (1944), also contained an eleventh century cathedral, and had long been known for its lumber, weaving, hosiery, and tiling industries. When the Americans neared St. Die, they noticed an eerie stillness about the town, seeing no onenot even animalsin the vicinity. Sensing a trap, they held back, continuing to survey the town from afar. In the dark night, they began to see a few German troops (actually Slavic men pressed into service of the German army) moving suspiciously around the houses. Unbeknownst to the Americans, the enemy was going from house to house and dousing the buildings in gasoline.

Five days earlier, the Germans had begun the evacuation of the town, deporting all 943 of the 16- to 45-year-old men to Mannheim. The following morning, most of the remaining inhabitants had been expelled from the town and the houses had been looted. The next three days saw the Germans destruction of the infrastructure in and around the town. On the night of November 13th, the fire was lit. It spread from block to block, engulfing the town in a wall of flame that was said to have turned night into day.

Over the next few days, whenever the fires would begin to wane, the Germans would return to the town to reignite them and demolish certain buildings entirely. The arson was ostensibly in retaliation for French resistance to the occupying German troops. On November 18th, the Germans returned one last time to the ruins, shooting ten survivors and departing permanently. The emptying and destruction of the town entailed the deaths of 10,585 inhabitants, the complete destruction of 40 buildings and 400 businesses, the partial destruction of 1,200, and damage to over 2,000 structures. On November 23rd, 1944, the Third Infantry Division, and a handful of other divisions, entered St. Die to reestablish order and help the townspeople begin the process of rebuilding. It was here that Art Schmidt was field commissioned as a Lieutenant.

The Third Infantry Division continued onto the Rhine near Strasbourg a few days later, and maintained defensive positions for two months. They cleared the Colmar Pocket on January 23rd, 1945, advanced into Germany in March, and then captured the cities of Nuremberg, Augsburg, and Munich in late April. When the war ended, they had made it all the way to Salzburg.

Art Schmidt returned home to Illinois in August of 1945, where he promptly married his fiancee Alma and received his honorable discharge at Fort Sheridan (in the middle of their Chicago honeymoon).

About sixty years later, an inhabitant of Eulmont, France noticed Arts dog tag embedded in the soil in the backyard of her home. The homeowner gave the dog tag to her friend, Frederic Rombi of St. Die. Frederic held onto it for several years, believing it belonged to a soldier who had gone missing in action. Curiosity got the better of Frederic, and he decided to do some investigating. He matched the identity of the dog tags original owner to Art Schmidts record in the US Archives, and then matched the US Archives record to Arts 2004 newspaper obituary (provided by the Kane County Sheriffs Office and the Kane County Veterans Assistance Commission) where Arts children and grandchildren were named.

Apparently, my name was too common to track down but my girls names not so bad, said Arts son, John Schmidt.

Since reaching out to the Schmidts, Frederic has become good friends and penpals with John Schmidt, who was elated to have the dog tag returned to his family.

The returned dog tag was accompanied by a letter from Frederic Rombi, which stated: Its with great honor and pride that I send you back your fathers WWII dog tag. I am so proud to share this part of history with a heros family. It is thanks to women and men like your father that we live in a free Europe.

Knowing how special the dog tag had been to Frederic, John returned the favor by having two replica dog tags made, which contained Arts info as well as a thank you note from John.

CREDITS: Schmidt family photos are courtesy of John Schmidt; French photos are courtesy of Frederic Rombi. Information about Art Schmidt was provided by John Schmidt.US former Assistant Secretary of State was stalemated

Denying PKK-YPG relation on TRT Worlds on-air interview, former US deputy assistant secretary of state,Mark Kimmitt caused tense moments on studio.

US Former Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, Mark Kimmit has joined Trt Worlds on-air interview on Thursday.

Kimmitt passed over commentators question about hanged portraits of PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan in Raqqa.

Former Assistant Secretary denied that US is supporting PKK/YPG terror organizations by saying If it was indisputable then the United States military would be in a violation of Title 18 of the United States Code. We would be in effect providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization.





Kimmitt relapsed into silence when it was asked if US knows about YPG was using Daesh militants for support, and continued saying that US would be using YPG elements as part of a stabilization force inside the area.

US former Assistant Secretary of State was stalematedHarvey Weinstein was once a celebrated movie giant that helped launch the careers of various actors and actresses who are now A-list celebrities. Now, the movie mogul is a sham of who he once was as his past alleged sexual crimes where exposed four months ago.

Since an expose article was written about Weinstein, the producer is facing more than 80 allegations of sexual misconduct. Weinstein has denied these accusations but more women continue to speak out against him.

The latest actress to name Weinstein as a sexual predator is Anne Heche.

Heche Vs. Weinstein

Heche alleges that she was let go from a project after Weinstein exposed his penis to her and wanted the actress to perform oral sex on him.

"The fact is, I was fired from a job that I had been hired for in Miramax. The repercussions of standing up for yourself were as deep and targeted as some of the scars of the women who actually got more physically, unfortunately, involved," Heche stated.

Heche didn't elaborate on what the project was but she did state that Weinstein threatened her after she refused to partake in any sexual activity with him. She continued that Weinstein would not prey on older women and would often target women that were young and impressionable.

"He hits on me when I'm 19, 20, 21, 22, vulnerable, scared, frightened. And that doesn't mean it's not going to happen anymore, but it sure as hell got a kick in the pants the last couple of months," the actress continued.

The John Q actress, who claimed in the past that she was abused by her father, also stated that if she didn't go through that experience, she would not have the strength to stand up to Weinstein.

Weinstein's Downfall

After the allegations against Weinstein broke, the producer began to suffer the repercussions of his alleged disgusting deeds. Weinstein's wife, Georgina Chapman, left him, and is reportedly planning to divorce him.

Weinstein was also let go from Miramax and was expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Directors Guild of America. Numerous celebrities and political figures publicly distanced themselves from him and Weinstein is currently "seeking treatment" in a rehabilitation center in Arizona.

Weinstein's public downfall also began the "Weinstein effect" where various other actors, including Kevin Spacey and Dustin Hoffman, were accused of similar crimes.Selena Gomez is determined to convince her mother, Mandy Teefey, to give her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Justin Bieber, a second chance.

Months after reconciling their previously troubled relationship, Gomez and Bieber are going strong and prepared to make amends with Teefey through therapy. That said, Teefey is reportedly having a hard time letting go of the past.

Selenas family will never forget how appallingly Justin treated her, a source told Radar Online on Jan. 25. It breaks Selenas heart that her mom still cant forgive Justin and accept him in her life, even though shes begged her mom to give him a chance.

As fans of Jelena may recall, Gomez and Bieber were on and off for years, and Bieber often stepped out with other women, including Hailey Baldwin and Chantel Jeffries. Then in August 2016, they came to blows in a major way as Bieber accused Gomez of using him for attention, and she accused him of cheating on her on a number of occasions.

Although Gomez and Bieber kept their distance for over a year after their Instagram feud, they ultimately reunited as Gomez's romance with The Weeknd faded out. Now, Gomez is putting her trust in therapy as their relationship continues.

According to Radar Online, Gomez's plan is for Teefey and Bieber to meet with a therapist and work through their issues.

Selena will be there for some sessions, but not others," the insider said.

Gomez's trouble with her mother became evident at the end of last year after Teefey was allegedly hospitalized after a fight over her daughter's new relationship. Then a short time later, Gomez and Teefey further confirmed their feud when they unfollowed each other on social media.

As Gomez and Teefey's relationship continues to be strained, Bieber's relationship with his own mother, Patti Mallette, appears to be in a great place. Earlier this month, they traveled together to the Maldives for a family vacation.

It serves as a display of what hes hoping Selena can achieve with her mother someday, an insider told Hollywood Life of Bieber's interaction with his mother. He feels terrible for Selena that her mother wont accept him, and sympathizes with her and what shes dealing with."Kim Kardashian is not allowed to have babies anymore, well at least she thinks so. On Wednesday, Jan. 24, sources claimed that the mother of three was already asking her surrogate to carry her fourth child.

The source stated that the reality star was talking about asking her surrogate to carry her next baby even before her Chicago West was born.

Well, Kim is shooting down those rumors.

On Wednesday night, the 37-year-old took to Twitter to state that it was fake news.

fake news https://t.co/fDgVpXO8at  Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) January 25, 2018

No More Babies At The Moment

Kardashian responded to a site called, Daily Mail Celebrity, after they posted that she has already asked her gestational carrier if she wants to carry another baby. Us Weekly also ran a similar report claiming that she definitely asked the surrogate if she'd be willing to have another child for them.

"It's unlikely she's already planning a new baby this early on," a source told E! News.

As previously reported, Kimye welcomed their third child on Jan. 15th. The reality star took to her official website to confirm the news. She thanked her surrogate for making her dreams come true with the greatest gift ever. Kim also mentioned that North and Saint West were really excited to welcome their new baby sister.

In the past, Kardashian has been open about her pregnancy struggles.

The KKW Beauty dealt with issues during both of her pregnancies with North and Saint. Doctors told her that she would be unable to carry another child due to preeclampsia and placenta accreta. The high-risk conditions were not safe for her or the baby's health, which led her and Kanye to opt for a surrogate. After exploring several options and having a thorough background check, Kim confirmed that she and Kanye have found a surrogate in October 2017.

Now that Chicago has finally arrived, an insider stated that the Kim and Kanye are content with three kids at the moment. The insider also stated that Kim wants more kids but she and Kanye haven't started acting or planning on it.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star also took to her official website to confirm the name of their new baby girl. On Jan. 19th, Kim posted a photo of the name Chicago West in bold letters. She also took to Twitter to reveal that they would call her Chi.Academy Awards fans will not be seeing actor Casey Affleck present the Best Actress award at the ceremony this year.

Affleck Stays Home

The Academy Award winner has not only confirmed that he would not present an award, but he will also be not at the Dolby Theatre at all.

A representative of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences revealed that Affleck signaled to them that he declined his invitation to the movie industry's most prominent celebration.

"We appreciate the decision to keep the focus on the show and the great work of this year," said an Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences spokesperson.

If Affleck would have participated at this year's Oscars, he could have announced that Sally Hawkins, Frances McDormand, Margot Robbie, Saoirse Ronan, or Meryl Streep would have taken home the golden statue for Best Actress.

Just Like Franco

The Manchester by the Sea actor is following the same rule that James Franco used a few weeks ago at the Critics' Choice Awards. Franco decided not to attend the awards show following sexual harassment allegations came to life. Scarlett Johansson even demanded Franco to give her back a Time's Up movement pin at the event.

Franco won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical for his work in The Disaster Artist. The Disaster Artist followed the behind the scenes filming process of Tommy Wiseau's cult classic hit: The Room.

Affleck's Dark Past

When the younger Affleck won the Best Actor award last year, the win was considered controversial.

Producer Amanda White and cinematographer Magdalena Gorka came forward to reveal that Affleck sexually assaulted them during the production of his 2010 film I'm Still Here. Also, the two women filed sexual harassment lawsuits against the Ocean's 11 actor. Both women also charged him with "unwelcome physical advances." Affleck denied the charges and both lawsuits were resolved out of court.

"It was settled to the satisfaction of all. I was hurt and upset---I am sure all were-but I am over it. It was an unfortunate situation---mostly for the innocent bystanders of the families of those involved," Affleck told The New York Times.

Late night host Jimmy Kimmel is scheduled to return to host the 90th Academy Awards on Sunday, March 4. ABC Television Network is expected to air the ceremony.Scheana Marie recently weighed in on the often-troubled romance between Jax Taylor and his girlfriend of nearly three years, Kentucky native Brittany Cartwright.

As Taylor and Cartwright continue to face backlash, him for cheating and her for taking him back, Scheana Marie spoke out, claiming that despite their rocky sixth season of Vanderpump Rules, they are currently doing much better.

Theyre doing really, really well. Its obviously been an insanely hard time for Jax after his dad passed away. But shes right by his side and shes been there for him," Scheana Marie explained to Life & Style magazine during an interview on Wednesday, Jan. 24. "I think sometimes really s--tty, bad situations can bring people closer together. And I think thats what this has done."

Scheana Marie even suggested that instead of looking down on Taylor and Cartwright, people should be looking up to them for coming out of a negative situation and getting to a better place.

At the start of the sixth season of Vanderpump Rules, Taylor admitted to cheating on Cartwright after two years of dating with former SUR Restaurant employee Faith Stowers, who has frequently appeared as a guest star on the show in recent years.

Continuing on to Life & Style magazine, Scheana Marie said that in addition to Taylor's father's recent death, Cartwright also went through some personal struggles that had nothing to do with her romance with Taylor.

There were things going on in her life, too. Despite him doing a terrible thing, they still were being there for each other, she continued. There were things that were bigger than what was going on in their lives.

Currently, Taylor and Cartwright are enjoying each other's company in Orlando, Florida, where they recently visited the Disney World resort in honor of Cartwright's birthday.

As for Scheana Marie, she has been single for the past several months after splitting from actor Robert Parks-Valletta last August, after just months of dating.

To see more of Scheana Marie, Brittany Cartwright, Jax Taylor, and the rest of the cast, including Ariana Madix, Tom Sandoval, Kristen Doute, Katie Maloney, Tom Schwartz, James Kennedy, Lala Kent, and Lisa Vanderpump, don't miss new episodes of the sixth season of Vanderpump Rules on Mondays on Bravo TV at 9 p.m.It looks like Marion "Suge" Knight won't be the only one that will be behind bars, his team may go down with him, too.

According to TMZ, two of Knight's former attorneys are currently in prison for allegedly trying to bribe witnesses in his still-pending murder trial.

On Friday, Matthew Fletcher and Thaddeus Culpepper were taken into custody five months after they were accused of persuading witnesses to help Knight plead non-guilty in his trial.

Lawyers Buying Client's Freedom

In January 2015, Knight was involved in a hit-and-run incident that left his friend Terry Carter, co-founder of Heavyweight Records, dead, and filmmaker Cle Sloan hospitalized in Compton, California.

Witnesses claimed that the rap mogul followed the men after an argument on the Straight Outta Compton film set to a burger stand parking lot and the collision seemed intentional. However, Knight's attorney believed that the hit helped his client's self-defense claims.

Fletcher reportedly tried to pay witnesses who were at the burger joint to say they saw victims and others with a gun. In 2015, a series of alleged phone calls between Fletcher, Knight's fiancee, and his business partner suggest that the trio were considering fabricating the testimony.

In one phone call, Fletcher stated that he would pay any amount of money to the bikers that were present at the scene.

"If we can get the two or three versions from the bikers on tape and we can get ... we're done," Fletcher said.

Fletcher could also be heard mentioning that $20,000 or $25,000 would be a fair investment. Fletcher immediately denied the claims and stated that he was suggesting that the bikers' cell phones be used to Knight's defense.

Fletcher also allegedly leaked a sealed surveillance video of Knight's truck running over the two men. Although Fletcher denied the accusations, the video appeared on TMZ the day after he decided to take on Knight as a client.

Culpepper also allegedly tried to pay an informant to say he was present during the incident and would testify in Knight's favor.

Both Fletcher and Culpepper are currently being held on $1 million bail.

Knight's murder trial, which was originally set to begin on Jan. 8, has been pushed back until later this year. The Death Row Records CEO has gone through several lawyers including Fletcher and Culpepper, former prosecutor Stephen L. Schwartz, and Thomas Mesereau, the current attorney of screen icon Bill Cosy who is facing trial for sexual allegations.Adult film star Stormy Daniels has become the talk of social media. Daniels first made headlines for her alleged affair with President Trump.

Daniels' Talk Show Appearance

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is expected to make her first talk show appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The adult film star is scheduled to sit down with the 2018 Oscars host for an exclusive conversation.

The exclusive interview will be on Tuesday, Jan. 30, which is expected to air after President Trump delivers the State of the Union.

Did She Have An Affair?

Days before Daniels agreed to sit down with Kimmel, she broke her silence with investigative news magazine Inside Edition. The show sat down with Daniels on Jan. 25 and asked the adult film star if she had an affair with President Trump. Daniels only smirked in response to the direct question.

According to the Wall Street Journal, Daniels supposedly met the former The Apprentice host in 2006 when the future U.S. President was vacationing at Lake Tahoe. During the time they had their alleged affair, the future First Lady and President Trump's third wife, Melania, recently gave birth to the couple's first and only child, Barron.

Years after the alleged affair, The Wall Street Journal revealed that Daniels was paid $130,000 in hush money in Oct. 2016. Daniels received the money from future President Trump through a Trump Organization representative, lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen gave Daniels the cash after she agreed not to publicly go forward with her alleged sexual affair with the Republican Presidential Candidate during the last months of the 2016 Presidential Election.

If Daniels did not accept the hush money, she would have broken her story to ABC morning news program: Good Morning America.

Kimmel's Grudge Against President Trump

When Daniels sits down with the ABC late night host on Tuesday, audiences might see Kimmel give some of his best anti-President Trump commentary.

Kimmel has been an outspoken critic of President Trump's policies and even raised his voice in the children's health care fight, when his youngest son, Billy, had to have two open heart surgeries. He also raised concerns to Congress when they were debating to fund the Children's Health Insurance Program. On the Dec. 11, 2017 show, Kimmel tearfully pleaded to his viewers to call Congress and to fund CHIP.

"Once again I am asking you. Billy is asking you....to make phone calls. Jam the house and senate phones and tell them to take a break from tax cuts for a minute and fully fund CHIP immediately," said Kimmel.

Kimmel's exclusive interview with Daniels is scheduled to compete against his CBS late time rival, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, who has confirmed that he will air a live episode of his show after President Trump speaks. Recently, Colbert commented that President Trump and Daniels' alleged affair reminded him of The Shape of Water's romance.Letters

COVID It is ironic the Federal Government appointees are blaming the unvaccinated U.S. citizens for the new COVID-19 explosion. When at the same time, people  900,000 so far and going up  are crossing the southern border, coming in hot with COVID in their body. Government appointees sprinkle these people into the interior of the U.S.

Safety At Rural Road Intersections Crawford County Farm Bureau Board of Directors wants to remind everyone when traveling on rural roads to slow down at intersections, especially where there is tall corn.

A plea for a plea To the Editor, Mr. Schauer and Ms. Creasman wrote a pitiful plea to their followers (Times News July 14) to be Silent No More. Their call to action for support of 

In response to the July 14 Letter to the Editor by Harrison County Chair and Vice-Chair. It was a relief to read the recent Letter to the Editor submitted by Benjamin Schauer and Jan Creasman. Their letter strongly outlined our current political climate, but did so in a respectful manner. They asked the reader to think, rather than telling the reader what to think.

Dig Deeper After my last editorial in this paper on the extreme property tax increases being forced on Harrison County taxpayers, I was tipped off to dig deeper into what really is going on with our County Assessor and Boards.

Read more lettersThe city of Armstrong faced five prohibited practice complaints before the Iowa Public Employee Relations Board filed May 31. Preston DeBoer, northwest Iowa representative for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) dismissed the complaints Jan. 18.

DeBoer said the matters of unions and collective bargaining are often misunderstood and misrepresented in the general public.

DeBoer said, The Prohibited Practice complaints filed with PERB were dismissed by me as part of an agreement between the parties, whereby the city agreed to resume/finish negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement.

DeBoer said one union member remains in the collective bargaining unit. The city and the union member drafted a final agreement in advance of the Jan. 16 city council special open meeting. The vote was 4 to 1 to formally approve the agreement.

There are three city employees included (covered) in the collective bargaining unit. There was one voting member remaining who was signed with AFSCME prior to Jan. 16, though all members are represented by the agreement under state code. The other two city employees signed with AFSCME as union members Jan. 16, after the union contract was finalized, DeBoer said.

Rumors circulated in Armstrong and beyond which implied if one of the union members lost his job, he would be allowed to bump another employee from his or her position under the union contract.

DeBoer said, There are no provisions or agreements [to this effect] and non-member employees would not be asked or required to sign such an agreement as it would violate state code that requires organizations such as AFSCME to represent all bargaining unit members whether they have signed with AFSCME (paid dues) or not.

In a city government like Armstrong with a small number of employees, why have a union, citizens of Armstrong had asked.

DeBoer said, Public employees in Iowa have the right to organize a collective bargaining unit regardless of size as long as the required percentage of the defined group votes in favor of creating a unionall employees included in the unit are covered under the terms of the contract with the employer, not just those who choose to pay dues. The only differences are that those that choose not to pay dues are not involved in the decision making processes or the election of the union officials of their [local, state, or international] union.

DeBoer defined the word collective as used in collective bargaining. Collective refers to employee benefits for all employees, not just the dues paying members. Collective means the option for any employee to choose to join and participate in the work of the union or not to join or participate without giving up the benefits that union member work hard for an pay for to ensure their right to do so.

The Armstrong contract is effective Feb. 1, 2018, and will become public information available through the PERB website in the near future, DeBoer said.

The next scheduled meeting of the Armstrong city council is Feb. 12.Morocco has been a leading force behind finding a solution to the continents pressing issues including migration, sustainable development and peace and security. The next African summit that is to take place at the end of January will see Rabat present a new agenda on migration in Africa along with the Kingdoms admission to African Unions most important body  the Peace and Security Council.

The North African country has been emerging as a leader across the continent by giving example on how to address the issue of migration. Rabat has been promoting initiatives aimed at reaching a paradigm change in how migration is tackled in Africa. Its guiding principle is to depart from the security approach in addressing migration issue in favor of a humanistic approach focusing on opportunities and common management.

To consolidate views and common approached on migration across Africa, Morocco had discussed the issue earlier this month with South Africa, which had shown converging views on addressing migratory pressures following an approach of south-south cooperation and solidarity.

Many migrants from sub-Saharan Africa use the Ceuta border fence to leave Morocco and arrive in the Spanish North African enclave. In March 2017, Morocco was faced with a sudden influx of migrants trying to reach Europe via Spains Ceuta. The number reached 1,000 people already in the first three months of last year compared to around 1,000 for the entire 2016.

It is estimated that between 25,000 and 40,000 sub-Saharan African migrants are living in Morocco at the moment, many of whom intend to continue on to Europe. Morocco has worked closely with Europe to regularize migrants there and block them from reaching Europe via Spain along the so-called Western Mediterranean route to Europe.World elite is gathering in Davos for the annual World Economic Forum  a platform that engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

The European Union is being represented by many of its leaders but the speech of German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the importance of rejecting isolationism stood out on yesterdays agenda (24 January). Chancellor Merkel made it clear that isolationism and protectionism were not solutions to the economic challenges facing countries around the world. She added that she was open-minded about what kind of partnership the EU would develop with the UK when Brexit is materialized but noted that there would not be any compromise on the EUs core principles.

Her French counterpart, President Emmanuel Macron in turn brought up the issue of Europes environmental leadership. He said that he wanted to make France a model in the fight against climate change, as one of five pillars in his plans to reform the economy. He added that this was a huge advantage in terms of attractiveness and competitiveness. Talent will come where it is good to live. We can create a lot of jobs with such a strategy, he said.

Across the bloc, the economic perceptions are already turning against coal: more than half of the EUs 619 coal-powered plants are losing money. A combination of rapidly decreasing prices for renewable resources and air pollution laws are pushing them out of business. President Macron also called for the EU, which already opened the worlds first carbon trading market, to go a little bit further and create a floor price for CO2.Wanted: Skilled dancers who can step into the first rehearsal ready to learn choreography without the basics being spelling out for them.

Thats what the Woodlawn Theatre and The Public Theater of San Antonio (formerly The Playhouse San Antonio) are looking for as they prep for the tap-intensive Anything Goes and the pretty-much-everything intensive Newsies, respectively.

Both theaters are taking a proactive approach to making sure the shows will be filled with the dance talent required. Christopher Rodriguez, executive and artistic director of the Woodlawn, suggested that the theater offer adult tap classes to help hoofers with rusty skills get up to speed. And George Green, CEO and artistic director at The Public, reached out to Ballet San Antonio and suggested a partnership.

Anything Goes comes up first. The 1934 musical, which follows romantic and other shenanigans aboard an ocean liner bound for England, opens April 13. Auditions are Feb. 4 and 10.

Carla Sankey, who is choreographing the show and led the tap classes, thought offering the sessions was a good idea in theory, but she wasnt sure many people would actually turn out.

Its hard to get adults to commit, she said.

To counteract that, she approached the sessions strategically. Classes began right after the holidays, when the shine was still on all those New Years resolutions to try new stuff or get more exercise. She also decided to offer just four classes with no commitment required, making it a little easier for those unsure about whether a weekly dance class was doable.

The wisdom of that approach was clear at the first class, which drew 30 students of all ages who filled every available bit of floor in the theaters dance studio.

We were smushed, she said.

Midway through the second class, she split the group in half, with beginners on one side and more experienced dancers on the other. It was pretty clear which was which: The dancers moved more smoothly, and most took clear joy in what they were doing. Many on the other side moved a little more gingerly, and their eyes were focused either on their own feet or on Sankeys as she demonstrated what she wanted.

Some were there expressly to prep for auditions. Sankey offered no guarantees that anyone in the class would be cast, though, she said, those who came and polished their skills would have a leg up.

Brian Hodges, a Woodlawn regular who most recently gave an utterly charming performance in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, said he had learned enough working on that show to fake a little tap, but he wanted to go into Anything Goes auditions with more actual technique.

Fernando Del Bosque, 46, said the chance to take a class alongside people like Hodges, whom hes enjoyed watching onstage, was a big motivator.

Im here to have fun, he said.

Actor Michael Cooling, 62, was a serious dancer in his 20s but gave it up to work as a stage manager. Hes been wanting to take tap for a while, and was delighted when he heard about Sankeys classes.

I dont feel like Im done with dance yet, he said after the second session.

The next round of dance classes starts Thursday. Jazz will be covered that day; ballet on Feb. 8; tap on Feb. 15 and hip-hop on Feb. 22. The sessions cost $15 a pop or $40 for all four.

Sankey polled her tap students to see what they wanted. Beyond February, some future sessions may be pegged to future productions.

I feel like we are here for the CPAs, nurses and school teachers who cant (perform on stage) professionally, she said. We are here for the people that have real jobs, but want to get out there and just jump in for a little bit. But why not be good at it?

Those who are just looking to work up a sweat will be welcome, too, she said.

When you can dance instead of jog, its so much better, she said.

A few miles away at The Public, work on Newsies is still in the preliminary stages. The production, the first time the big-buzz musical will be staged by a San Antonio company, is slated to open the theaters 2018-19 season in September.

The musical is adapted from the 1992 Disney movie based on the real-life newsboy strike of 1899.

Large-scale musicals are nothing new to the theater. But this show requires some more advanced skills right from the get-go.

Newsies is a massive, massive dance production, said Green, who is directing the show. Youre talking about an ensemble of around 30, and of those 30, there need to be 20 to 24 who can dance. And I dont mean move  I mean dance. So the show itself isnt just your typical Broadway-style show. You need to be able to find dancers that can be engaging and yet technically sound throughout the entire show.

The show is big in every sense, which makes it that much more important to make sure that dancers are ready to go at the very beginning without having to make the time to teach basics.

In essence, were trying to be as efficient as we can in the rehearsal process, Green said. And then we want the patrons to have a great experience with dance.

Thats why he reached out to Ballet San Antonio. The show will be a co-production with the dance company.

Details are being nailed down on how the partnership will work. Not all of the dancers in the show will come from the ballet, Green said.

San Antonio has several strong dancers, and we are a going to have an open call for additional dancers, he said. Right now, we are looking at somewhere around 10 ballet men joining us, so theres ample opportunity for others to work alongside these amazing professionals as well.

dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinENThe last time anyone won three straight elections in U.S. District 23, Rep. Will Hurd was still an agent in the CIA. Fourteen years and two redistricting rounds later, hes seeking to defend the seat, which Democrats see as one of the few competitive Texas districts this year.

Four Democrats vying to deny Hurd a third term, Judy Canales, Jay Hulings, Gina Ortiz Jones and Rick Trevino, mostly agreed in their ideological stances during a meeting Thursday with the Express-News editorial board, differing instead on how they would approach the issues in Congress. Angela Angie Villescaz, a fifth Democratic candidate, did not attend.

But when the topic of health care arose, the candidates staked out contrasting views.

We agree on a lot of issues. This is one where there are some slight disagreements, said Hulings, who wants to take a different tack than a single-payer government-funded system. I think Rick has been trying to convince me on Medicare for All for awhile now.

Hulings, a former federal prosecutor, questioned how the government would account for the tax increase needed to pay for a single-payer system, and how the transition could be managed. He wants to build toward a universal health care system, he said, by using the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a foundation.

Canales, an Eagle Pass resident who most recently served as executive director of the USDA Farm Service Agencys Texas office, said she also wants to expand the ACA, while stressing the importance of funding community health clinics in the district.

Trevino pointed out that some other countries already provide universal coverage. He contended that market-based solutions dont work, arguing that certain laws allow insurance companies to benefit unfairly from peoples health problems, including one that exempts the insurance business from some anti-trust legislation.

This is a choice that our society has made, to live with people that are uninsured, and to allow people to profiteer off people getting sick, said Trevino, a Bernie Sanders delegate at the 2016 Democratic National Convention

Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer, said she also supports a single-payer system.

We have to have the moral courage to say everyone in this country deserves health care, everyone in this country deserves to be healthy enough to take care of themselves, their family, their aging parents, said Jones.

The candidates also discussed how they would have handled the recent government shutdown, with none of them supporting Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumers agreement to tie border wall funding to the legislation. Canales called the idea a non-starter.

We should go back to regular order, she said. This last-minute notion of repetitive continuing resolutions is appalling, and Congress needs to do their job.

Trevino said the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program is worth shutting the government down over, calling it a cop out to vote based on a promise from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Congress voted to reopen the federal government after Democrats got McConnell to publicly commit to addressing DACA.

Jones blamed long-term issues for the way Congress operates, calling out Hurds vote to defund DACA in 2015.

This goes back much, much further than just the last two weeks, she said. I supported not compromising on this particular issue. I'm looking at the long game. When we make a promise to people in this country, we have to honor that promise.

Hulings, who said he would not have supported shutting down the government, blamed Republicans for not standing up to their base on the issue. He said Democrats should fight for a clean DREAM Act that provides a path to citizenship, but they shouldn't be "playing around with the government."

If you put that bill on the floor tomorrow, it would get a majority in both houses, Hulings said. It would not get a majority of Republicans, probably, which is why it's not getting to the floor. That's a real shame.  They're not even allowing a vote because they don't want to anger their base. That's not a party that should be governing anymore.

The area on which the candidates ubiquitously agreed was in their objection to Hurd, whom they attacked for promoting a record of bipartisanship despite voting in line with President Trump on most issues.

Hurd votes in accordance with Trumps position 96.9 percent of the time, as outlined by fivethirtyeight.coms Trump score tracking model. Thats similar to other Republican House members, with only one lawmaker aligning with Trump less than 90 percent of the time.

Though the figure might appear alarming to Republican voters who dont support Trump, Rice University political scientist Mark Jones said citing the figure outside the context of other Texas GOP lawmakers is a little disingenuous. A better takeaway from the model, Jones said, is the wide margin between Hurds actual support for Trump and how often the model projects him to back the president, based on the presidents margin of victory in the district in 2016.

That just shows hes in a more difficult position than most Republicans, in that hes in a district that went for Hillary (Clinton) but elected a Republican to the House, Mark Jones said.

For all four candidates in the room, that was exactly the point.

He seems to lease out his bipartisan support to any Democrat who needs it, Trevino said, citing, among a few examples, Hurds bipartisan road trip with Democratic Rep. (and U.S. Senate candidate) Beto ORourke.

He understands that this district does want at least the appearance of bipartisanship, Hulings added. So some of this is a bit of a show.

Hurds campaign manager, Justin Hollis, responded in a statement.

Will Hurd has had 12 bipartisan bills signed into law by a Democratic and Republican President, Hollis said. His hard work speaks for itself. These Democratic challengers would only accomplish what Nancy Pelosi tells them to."

Canales called Hurd a one-trick pony on his expertise in the area of cybersecurity, for which he was appointed chair of a House subcommittee during his freshman term.

He receives accolades for that, Canales said. And I'm saying, how does that help my community of Eagle Pass?

Hurd faces a primary challenge from Uvalde-based dentist Alma Arredondo-Lynch.

jscherer@express-news.net | Twitter: @jaspschererWanna buy a cardboard cutout of John Wayne? How about a chuckwagon? They are among about 2,400 props, antiques, artifacts, toys and trinkets on sale this weekend at Alamo Village, the set of John Waynes epic 1960 movie The Alamo and other films and television shows.

Although the sale appears to signal a further decline in activity at the set for film production and tourism, the person in charge of the sale would not speculate on the sites future.

The mock-up Old West town is part of a family ranch 120 miles west of San Antonio where raising cattle and hunting are the main activities.

Joanie Sellers Edwards, owner of the Nest Estate Sale Services, cautioned that fans of Waynes Academy Best Picture-nominated film on the 1836 siege and battle in San Antonio will not find prop guns, swords and uniforms from the movie. But there are some unsigned set photos, a ladder, table, cart and some books and pottery.

On movie sets, they would rent wagons and other props and return them. So when John Waynes company, Batjac Productions, made The Alamo, they rented everything from Hollywood, then sent it all back, said Edwards, whose Weatherford company is handling the sale for the Dallas-area family that owns the ranch.

All the items will have prices and be sold on a first-come, first-served basis from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Prospective buyers are asked to register with the company by email or via a Liquidation of Alamo Village Facebook page. The set and its buildings are not part of the sale.

We dont want tourists coming out, said Edwards, who expected more than 1,000 artists, collectors and other prospective buyers.

Scripts from the 1989 television miniseries Lonesome Dove and other productions filmed on the set near Brackettville will be on sale. Items were priced on their apparent face value, since theres no documentation on their use in movies.

Theres no paper trail that says this wagon was used in Lonesome Dove, Edwards said.

Some things, including jewelry and 80 pairs of moccasins, will be sold in lots. The sale list includes Alamo Village T-shirts, church pews, toys, display cases, belt buckles, cannon replicas, antique keys, spurs and guns, and the late family matriarch Virginia Shahans collection of Native American arrowheads, spear tips and stone tools.

Richard Curilla, the sites historian, creative director and production liaison, said it will be sad to see the props leave, since he helped production companies arrange to have many of them built. The 500-acre set has accommodated about 40 major film and TV productions and hundreds of commercials, documentaries and music videos.

It was open to the public for decades, hosting hayrides, weddings, staged gunfights and other family-oriented activities, but has been closed since 2010.

I understand the need of the family to liquidate, but it really hurts to watch, said Curilla, who began working there full-time in 1988.

The last major movie shot there was The Man who Came Back, released in 2008. Last year, a crew spent a few days there shooting Cruzado, an independent film set in Texas in 1883.

Rancher James T. Happy Shahan persuaded Wayne in the 1950s to film his directorial debut on the 18,000-acre ranch. Both chose sturdy materials to create a durable set during a two-year construction, with jails, saloons, a bank and other structures common to a frontier town, along with a replica of the mission-era Alamo church as it appeared in 1836. The IMAX movie, Alamo  The Price of Freedom, was shot there in 1987.

Waynes movie has been criticized for inaccurately depicting the early morning Alamo battle as a daytime conflict, on a set that looked more like an arid western town than the lush Spanish colonial village of San Antonio. It popularized the 1836 siege and battle, building on a following forged by the 1955 Disney film, Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier.

In a 2015 interview, John Farkis, author of Not Thinkin Just Rememberin The Making of John Waynes The Alamo. said he began researching the movie after visiting Alamo Village 20 years earlier. He concluded that Wayne worked actively for 14 years to make the film as a patriotic tribute to Americans who served in World War II because studio executives had not allowed him to enlist.

James Shahan died in 1996, passing the site on to his wife, Virginia, who died in 2009, leaving it to her daughter, Jamie Rains. A Corpus Christi businessman had hoped in recent years to raise $8 million to buy the site and upgrade it as an Old West theme park, but was unable to secure financing.

shuddleston@express-news.netA man accused of stealing a bike and riding it onto Loop 410 is dead after pulling a knife during a struggle with officers Thursday evening, police said.

Police Chief William McManus said the man, who was in his 20s, had stolen the BMX bike at about 6:30 p.m. from the Target at the Park North shopping center.

The security of the store tried to stop him, couldnt (and) called the police, McManus said.

The man was spotted by passing officers near Loop 410 East at San Pedro Avenue as he was making his way to the entrance of the highway among traffic.

After riding a short ways, he actually went up on the freeway, McManus said. We had three police cars behind him by that time, blocking traffic.

After riding on the highway for a couple of minutes, one officer went in front of the bicyclist and got him off the bike just west of the McCullough Avenue overpass, near the boots at North Star Mall, he said.

Thats when a struggle ensued between the man and three officers trying to subdue him, the chief said. The man then pulled out a knife and cut one of the officers hand.

The knife was big enough to kill someone, McManus said.

When the knife came out, one officer backed off and fired a single shot into the mans abdomen, the chief said.

The man died at the scene, police said.

McManus said the officer who fired the shot was a 15-year-veteran and will be placed on administrative duty as police investigate the shooting.

The officer whose hand was cut was taken to a hospital for treatment.

A call to Target about the incident was redirected to the companys corporate spokespeople, who didnt answer Thursday night.

Police said a backpack that was found next to the mans body belonged to him, but they didnt say what was inside it.

The incident shut the eastbound lanes of 410, and they werent reopened till 10 p.m. Traffic was backed up just beyond Jackson-Keller Road at that time.

McManus said several vehicles that were stopped on the highway just before the scene of the shooting were held there, as their occupants were witnesses to the shooting.

Some of them are better witnesses than others, McManus said. They saw some things; others didnt actually see the shooting.

SAPD officers were involved in a police pursuit Monday when U.S. marshals shot 32-year-old John Carlos Alvear after he crashed in front of a home in the 200 block of Chevy Chase Drive. Alvear was wanted on three felony warrants, including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, evading arrested and assault family violence.

Thursdays shooting came more than a month after a woman, who was a wanted felon and a suspect in a car theft, was fatally struck by gunfire from Bexar County deputies at the Pecan Grove Manufactured Home Community off FM 78 on the banks of Cibolo Creek. Kameron Prescott, 6, was killed by a stray bullet that went through the mobile home he lived in.

In June 2016, a shoplifting suspect identified as Manuel Madrid, 42, was fatally struck by a car while he ran across Loop 410 at Ray Ellison Boulevard in an attempt to evade police.

Police said an officer had driven to the other side to wait for him to run under the overpass, but instead he ran onto the highway itself.

jbeltran@express-news.netHOUSTON  A pair of AH-64D Apache helicopters on a mock close-air support mission banked over the Wallisville Tactical Training Area, a swampy home to alligators, deer and hawks near Interstate 10 on the Trinity River, and took aim at a small wooden bridge.

That they were even flying Wednesday was a small miracle. Several years ago, the Army planned to move the Texas Army National Guards 18 attack gunships into the active-duty force. The idea was to replace all of the Apaches in the National Guard and Army Reserve with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.

It sparked an uproar in Houston and other Guard units nationwide, and was settled only after a national commission studied the matter. Not everyone in the guard and reserve kept their helicopters, but Texas did.

People are relieved. We got word of it, there was no New Years celebration, shooting guns up in the air, said Lt. Col. Derrek Hryhorchuk, the battalions commander and a gunship veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan with 3,000 flying hours. Its been a long, hard battle.

The Army has decided to keep the Texas Guards 1-149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion equipped with Apaches. Twelve of them are at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston and another six are based in Mississippi. Some, but not all, are the Longbow type, with a more sophisticated targeting system.

The restructuring decision also kept the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team in Houston. The unit has about 3,500 soldiers, two-thirds of whom would have been lost under the proposal.

The decisions underscore the Pentagons faith in the ability of Texans to deploy since the 49th Armored Division became the first National Guard unit to command multinational troops in Bosnia 17 years ago. Since then, 12 GIs in the Texas Guard  the nations largest with 21,292 soldiers and airmen  have been killed as units routinely went to war.

It is absolutely a vote of confidence, Brig. Gen. Tracy Norris, the Texas Army National Guard commander, said of the decision. The Texas Guard, every time theyve been called upon, has accepted a mission. We have all different types of force structures that were able to do that for the National Guard and the Army and the nation.

Now Playing: A look at two gunships on a close-air support training mission 20 minutes east of their base at Clear Lake. Video: San Antonio Express-News

The Armys Aviation Restructure Initiative was a response to budget pressures that included the congressional sequester. Lt. Col. Travis Walters, a Texas Guard spokesman, noted that guard units in other states were downsizing at the time but in Texas, they are well postured for future expansion with strength numbers at 107 percent of those authorized.

Because of our strength, the National Guard Bureau will undoubtedly continue to heavily rely on us to execute current missions, like flying the Apaches, and to take on new missions, both foreign and domestic, Walters said.

More Information 1-149th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion Six Apaches fly out of Tupelo, Mississippi while 12 operate from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston. History: It arrived as the 1st Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment on April 1, 1986, but several months later became a combat unit at Ellington. Two companies initially flew UH-1 Hueys and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters out of Houston, with a third stationed at Martindale Army Airfield in San Antonio. That unit, Charlie Company, was transferred to Ellington in 1989 after the battalion began using AH-1 Cobra gunships. The battalion acquired its AH-64 Apaches in 1991. Strength: The Texas Guard has 18,087 soldiers and 3,205 airmen. The 1-149th has 340 soldiers, 97 maintainers and 70 pilots. Deployments: Tuzla, Bosnia, February 2003-September 2003. Eight AH-64A Apaches and maintenance personnel perform peacekeeping duties. Tuzla, Bosnia, September 2003-April 2004 - The unit served as an aviation task force headquarters, and included attack, assault, medevac and maintenance companies. Balad, Iraq, August 2006-July 2007 - Deployed 24 Apaches, and flew more than 2,400 missions and 18,000 combat hours. The battalion received the Valorous Unit Award, the equivalent of a Silver Star, for providing close-air support to soldiers and Marines. Tarin Kowt, Afghanistan, March-November 2013 - The battalion logged more than 700 missions and 2,500 combat hours. See More Collapse

Headquartered in Austins Camp Mabry, the guard takes pride in its many wartime missions, one of which sent a medevac unit from Martindale Army Airfield in San Antonio to Iraq in 2008. Some guard leaders saw the Armys plans for swapping gunships for more utilitarian helicopters as a betrayal of part-time soldiers who had been equal partners with the active-duty force in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Army countered that it was a cost-effective option that strengthened its readiness.

Congress ordered the National Commission on the Future of the Army to review the matter, which ultimately decided that a handful of guard units should keep their Apaches, including the 149th. The Army Reserves 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment in Conroe got Blackhawks in exchange for Apaches  the deal the Texas Guard dreaded.

One of the Armys arguments for the swap was that Black Hawks could be used to rescue people from floods and fires, but the aircraft the Conroe unit received lacked such basic rescue equipment as hoists, water buckets and radios, which prompted an exchange of letters between U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, a Republican whose district borders the northern edge of Houston, and Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, who heads the Army Reserve Command.

In order to ensure the 1st Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment is prepared for future disasters, I ask for your support in assigning a standing mission number for storm and fire rescue operations, Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, wrote Luckey on Dec. 1. He also suggested the Army provide the hoists, buckets and radios.

Luckey made no promises in a Dec. 27 reply.

As always, despite the outstanding performance of our soldiers and units, there are lessons to be learned from challenges of this nature, he wrote, vowing that the reserve would maintain an agile federal force that is able to move anywhere on short notice. He said he had directed staff to talk with Bradys office to discuss any lingering concerns you may have.

So far, the meeting hasnt happened.

What we have is kind of a battle for resources, said John Goheen, spokesman for the National Guard Association of the United States. Resources get scarce, decisions are made, you get the haves and have nots, but in this particular situation Army Guard pilots, Army Guard leaders, had some very, very strong arguments in terms of their experience and their cost effectiveness during tough fiscal times.

The commission praised the initial Army proposal as a well-crafted plan that would cut hundreds of helicopters in the active-duty, guard and reserve, saying it kept costs down while maintaining a reasonable level of wartime capacity. The plan also would have created four more Black Hawk battalions in the National Guard, retiring all OH-58 Kiowa Warrior reconnaissance helicopters and using UH-72A Lakotas for initial training.

Commissioners expressed concerns, however, that the loss of Apaches in the guard would lead to a lack of wartime surge capacity with no way to back up the active-duty force in a crisis. Prior to the initiative, 700 pilots in the reserve component flew Apaches, training at home and flying combat in the war zone. The commissions report noted that many Apaches were grounded in 1999 because of transmission problems and that reserve units provided replacements until the problem could be fixed.

The panel also said the initiative exacerbated the lack of unity between Regular Army and National Guard forces and would further reduce the connective tissue that binds the Regular Army and Army National Guard together. The commission finally suggested giving the Army 20 Apache battalions and leaving four in the guard, each equipped with 18 aircraft.

Army Secretary Mark Esper earlier this month ordered that Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Utah could keep their Apaches. Pennsylvania, Idaho, Missouri and Arizona lost theirs.

Morale in the 149th is high. Norris, the Texas Guard commander, thinks Houston will get its additional six helicopters in time. Another deployment is in the works, officials said, but they couldnt say when or where.

Going to war matters to the battalion, which earned a Valorous Unit Award for providing close air support to troops battling insurgents for control of Ramadi, Iraq, in 2006-07. The award is the equivalent of a Silver Star for a unit.

The National Guard is no longer the junior varsity, said Hryhorchuk, 50, of Houston. Were on the varsity.

sigc@express-news.netIf the Republican race for U.S. District 21 came down to which candidate loves Donald Trump the most, we could call off the primary right now and hand the nomination to Robert Stovall.

Most of the competitors in the 18-candidate primary field say complimentary things about the president, for obvious reasons. Even if Trumps national approval ratings have languished below 40 percent for most of the past year, youd best not bash him in a GOP primary unless you derive masochistic pleasure out of being booed off the stage at candidate forums.

Stovall, the former Bexar County GOP chairman, stands out in this field, however, because he isnt merely complimentary or polite when it comes to Trump. He is effusive, gushing, worshipful and fully committed to hitching his wagon to Trumps brash rhetoric, nationalist agenda and stated determination to drain the (political) swamp in Washington D.C.

Nowhere is that Trump love more in evidence than on Stovalls debut campaign ad, which he rolled out Wednesday.

In the 30-second video, Stovall stands knee-deep in the middle of a swamp, wearing fishing waders and a white Make America Great Again cap. Within two seconds, he reverently invokes Trumps name:

Im Robert Stovall and like President Trump, I realize the swamp is the problem. Im running for Congress to help President Trump get rid of the establishment politicians who have failed to support his agenda.

While we see a montage of Stovall traipsing through the swamp, bantering with a voter and hanging out at his flower shop, two key messages pop up on the screen: Will Drain the Swamp and Supports President Trumps Agenda.

At the end of the video, Stovall again appears in the swamp, brandishing a shotgun, which he dramatically cocks while delivering the obligatory announcement that he approved the ad.

Theres a lot to unpack here: If you hate swamps, why would you want to wade in the middle of one? Where did that shotgun come from? And where can I get myself some of those sweet waders?

While we ponder those important questions, its worth mentioning that Stovalls admiration for Trump  unlike the clenched-jaw nods of appreciation from some of the other District 21 candidates  is genuine and long-standing.

He lauded Trump from the moment that the New York mogul declared his candidacy in June 2015, consistently arguing that the country could benefit from a president with a business background. When Ted Cruz, this states junior U.S. senator (and Trumps most serious GOP rival) refused to endorse Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention, Stovall took umbrage with Cruz.

Last week, at an Express-News editorial board meeting, Stovall echoed Trumps braggadocio talking points. Stovall said Trumps cabinet appointments were second to none and spoke about this countrys undeniably robust economic news from 2017 as though Trump had pulled off a miracle.

The last administration was telling us that the new normal was under 2 percent growth in this country and we were probably not going to see that again, Stovall said. Its just unbelievable to me to see that we have a business guy in there that has done big things and been very successful, and the results are astounding and theyre going to continue.

Theres some serious overstatement happening here.

Its true that we had 3.1 percent annualized growth in the second quarter of 2017, followed up by a quarter of 3.2 percent. Its also true, however, that this is basically an extension of the positive economic reports that we saw over the last three years of Barack Obamas administration.

Consider that in the third quarter of 2014, we had 5.2 percent annualized growth, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In 2015, we had the strongest full-year growth this country had experienced since 2005, at just under 3 percent. In the third quarter of 2016, we had 2.8 percent growth.

Also, keep in mind that unemployment, which reached 10.2 percent during October of 2009 (Obamas first year in office) had dropped all the way to 4.6 percent by November 2016, the month that Obamas successor was elected.

So the economic news from 2017 was good, but not astounding.

But Stovalls loyalty to Trump is personal as well as political. Stovalls old friend, web-design entrepreneur Brad Parscale, served as Trumps digital director and is now working on Stovalls campaign. Parscale will be the special guest at a Friday night reception for Stovall at the Club at Sonterra.

It will be a swamp-draining Trump love-fest, to be sure.

ggarcia@express-news.net

@gilgamesh470First Selectman Mike Tetreau has been unanimously elected to serve as chairman of the Connecticut Metropolitan Council of Governments (MetroCOG). He previously served as the secretary.

MetroCOG is a multi-discipline, regional planning organization with six member communities  Fairfield, Bridgeport, Easton, Trumbull, Monroe, and Stratford. The chief elected official of each member municipality serves as part of the governing body of the council.

As one of nine planning regions in the state, MetroCOG is responsible for planning, project management, services and programs related to transportation, economic development, land use, housing, public facilities, open space, environment, and energy for the region.

Fairfield has benefited from MetroCOGs support, advocacy and assistance with funding on many important projects over the years. Recent examples include the Black Rock Turnpike Safety Study; pedestrian improvements to King Highway; partial or full bridge replacements; and resurfacing/safety improvements along the Merritt Parkway.

Additionally, many town departments cross reference key data and provide information to the public using a Geographic Information System (GIS), a mapping technology that allows interaction with a variety of maps and data sources. Fairfields GIS is provided by MetroCOG and funded through the State of Connecticut Office of Policy and Management.

Five Fairfield natives have been named to the deans list at the University of New Hampshire for the fall semester.

Highest honors are awarded to students who earn a semester grade-point average of 3.85 or better out of a possible 4.0. Students with a 3.65 to 3.84 average are awarded high honors and students whose GPA is 3.5 through 3.64 are awarded honors.

Kathryn Sondheim and Justin Wang made the list with high honors and Maggie Stopa, Erika Zadravec and William Goodchild earned honors.

Dean College announced Ben Kruse, of Fairfield, has earned a place on the deans list for the fall semester.

Siena College named Pamela Harrison, of Fairfield, Christina Noeldechen, of Southport, and Kate Scimeca, of Fairfield, to the deans list for the fall semester.

Also from Fairfield, Gregory Beckwith, was named to the Siena College Presidents List for the fall semester. The Presidents List requires a 3.9 GPA or higher.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced Nicholas Mears, of Fairfield, a member of the class of 2019 majoring in physics, was named to the universitys deans list for academic excellence for the fall semester.

The criteria for the WPI deans list differs from that of most other universities as WPI does not compute a GPA. Instead, WPI defines the deans list by the amount of work completed at the A level in courses and projects.

Fairfield natives have been named to the University of Delaware deans list for the fall semester: John Cogan, Jennifer Hoffman, Alexa Tillis, Kristen Young, Paul Arancio, Katherine Kovaleski, Emily Seraphin, Leah Epstein, Victoria Gallati, Stephen Tortora, Matthew Wittstein, Caroline Helgans, Tressa Ross, Katey McCarthy, Meghan Lynch, Clare Burns, Olivia Lauterbach, Kiera McNeil, Nicole Pierpont, Eliza Elliot, Elizabeth Haney, Heather Smith, Caroline Wolstenholme, Jordan Michaels, Carly Baldyga, Jessica Robbin, Samuel Rothman, Adrianna Atiles, Sofia Bramante, Jacob Mallon and Gabriella Zarlenga.

To meet eligibility requirements for the deans list, a student must be enrolled full-time and earn a GPA of 3.33 or above (on a 4.0 scale) for the semester.

Eastern Connecticut State University recently released the names of full-time students who were named to the deans list for the fall semester, including four Fairfield natives.

Jake Kiremidjian, from the class of 2018, is majoring in business administration. Thomas Luckner, from the class of 2018, is majoring in mathematics and economics. Lily Smith, from the class of 2019, is majoring in social work. Jessica Sullivan, from the class of 2020, is majoring in history and English.

Select students have been named to the fall deans list at Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I. Full-time students who complete 12 or more credits per semester and earn a GPA of 3.4 or higher are placed on the deans list that semester.

The students from Fairfield who made the list were Jessica Block, Sydney Burr, Acacia Longley, Caroline Naspo, Liam Raftery, Brian Schiller and Katherine Vaugh.

Patrick Agonito, of Fairfield, Jillian Giandurco, of Fairfield, and Nikki Baptist, of Southport, have been named to Emerson Colleges deans list for the fall semester. The requirement to make the deans list is a GPA of 3.7 or higher.

To be named to the University of Vermont deans list, students must have a GPA of 3.0 or better and rank in the top 20 percent of their class in their respective college or school.

Fairfielders Katherine Fain, Blaise Kirby, Cameron Marrelli, Samuel Nardone, and Damien Socia made the list.

To be included on the University of Rhode Island deans list, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality-point average.

From Fairfield, Samantha Bloch, Stephanie Schramm, Megan Mirgorodsky, Emma Wilkinson, Madeline Burtt, Katherine Penkala, Michael Foley, Jana Spiegel, Madelyn Weinstein and Lian Ngaopraseut made the list. Maeve Story, of Southport, was also named to the deans list at the Kingston, R. I. school.

Do you drive on the Merritt Parkway late at night or early in the morning between Fairfield and Westport? Then be prepared for some delays because of a $56.7 million project that wont be finished until August 2019.

The project will focus on a five-mile stretch of the parkway between the Congress Street bridge in Fairfield to the Newtown Turnpike overpass in Westport.

The project will include new pavement in both the northbound lanes and work on 11 structures related to the historic bridges, built nearly 80 years ago.

Theres also upgrades planned for guiderails, drainage and restoration of the historic bridges. With all this work, lane closures are needed.

Northbound lane closures are planned from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. from Saturday to Wednesday and from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. on Thursday and Friday.

Southbound lane closures are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday; from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday and from 8 p.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Sunday.One hundred years ago, in 1918, the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants was founded to help new Americans in their journey to finding a home in Fairfield County. Next month, on Feb. 8, the Fairfield Museum & History Center will open a new exhibition, An American Story: Finding Home in Fairfield County, which honors the 100th anniversary of CIRI, highlights the history of immigration and refugees in Fairfield County and features portraits of local immigrants and refugees who share how they have rebuilt their lives here.

CIRI is a statewide nonprofit organization that assists refugees and immigrants resolve legal, economic, linguistic and social barriers so they become self-sufficient, integrated, and contributing members of the community. CIRI achieves this mission through legal, social and educational programming and by promoting cross cultural understanding and decent treatment for all. Each year, CIRI assists close to 5,000 individuals from its offices in Bridgeport, Stamford and Hartford, providing transformative services for refugees, immigrants, survivors of torture, and survivors of human trafficking.

Here is a brief timeline of the organization. CIRI began in 1918, when the YWCA established the International Institute of Connecticut in Bridgeport to provide services to new immigrants, including social and legal aid, English classes, and programs celebrating immigrant cultures. In 1935 the International Institute of Connecticut became an independent organization. In the 1940s and 1950s IICONN resettled Italian, Hungarian, and other Eastern European immigrants and refugees in the Bridgeport area following World War II, provided legal assistance, social services, language instruction and cross-cultural education. In 1975, following the Vietnam War, IICONN mobilized the community to assist thousands of Southeast Asian immigrants seeking political asylum in the United States. In 1980, with new federal policies addressing the needs of refugees and immigrants, IICONN emerged as the premier nonprofit provider of immigration and refugee services in the state. In the 1990s the organization helped thousands of refugees from Bosnia, Serbia, Croatia and Kosovo fleeing the conflict in the former Yugoslavia. In 2006 it launched Project Rescue at the urging of the U.S. Attorneys Office to provide critical services to survivors of human trafficking in Connecticut. And last year, IICONN launched its new name, celebrating a century of service empowering immigrants, refugees and survivors of human trafficking and torture to thrive in Connecticut.

The topic of the exhibition, An American Story: Finding Home in Fairfield, is timely, as the world is living in the midst of the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II. According to the United Nations high commissioner for refugees, there are 22.5 million refugees in the world today. More than half of all refugees worldwide come from just three countries: Syria, Afghanistan and South Sudan. More than half the population of Syria is displaced by the countrys ongoing conflict.

There is also significant flight from Somalia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Central African Republic, Myanma, and Eritrea. Refugees resettling in Connecticut come from many countries. Over half are from Myanmar (Burma), Iraq, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.

An American Story: Finding Home in Fairfield County runs from Feb. 8 through July 23, and begins with an opening reception on Feb. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fairfield Museum, 370 Beach Road. It will feature remarks by Fairfield resident and political consultant and international development activist Jack Leslie on the state of immigration and refugees in the U.S., plus wine and international hors doeuvres.

More Information 1918 The year the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants was founded to help new Americans in their journey to finding a home in Fairfield County. See More Collapse

The Fairfield Museum & History Center and Museum Shop, at 370 Beach Road, is open seven days a week, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Members of the museum and children under 5 are admitted free. For information, call 203-259-1598 or visit Fairfieldhistory.org.Enoch Bergman, Veterinarian at Swans Veterinary Services.

ESPERANCE veterinarian Dr Enoch Bergman has been announced as part of a panel of six eminent Australian beef, dairy and sheep experts who will mentor farmers in a new and unique challenge.

The Multimin Performance Ready Challenge will see each of these industry leaders teamed up with an Australian farmer to provide specialist on-farm mentoring around the use of Multimin trace mineral injections for beef, dairy and sheep.

From Colorado, USA, Mr Bergman has been a practicing vet in Esperance for 14 years.

He has an interest in Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus (BVDV) and established Australias first commercial laboratory for the diagnosis of animals Persistently Infected with BVDV.

Previously the president of the Australian Cattle Vets, Mr Bergman has sampled thousands of local animals for hundreds of clients attempting to benchmark their animals micro mineral status to allow targeted supplementation.

The Multimin Performance Ready Challenge is the latest national marketing campaign from Virbac Australia that will see up to seven Australian farmers receive 12 months free use of Multimin and the chance to share in prizes valued at over $31,000.

Virbac Australia livestock nutrition product manager Dr Jerry Liu said that this was an extraordinary opportunity for farmers to have some of the best animal nutrition and animal health advice on their property.

Trace minerals are essential elements for healthy sheep and cattle, Mr Liu said.

We know that during high demand periods such as joining, weaning and birthing, animals have higher requirements for certain trace minerals.

Multimin injections are designed as a trace mineral top-up to improve the performance of cattle and sheep when they need it most.

The vets involved in the Challenge are pivotal to its success - they will play a major role in educating farmers in the use of Multimin to improve animal fertility and health and ultimately the farms financial bottom line.

Mr Liu said that Mr Bergman would offer a wealth of experience and knowledge to the challenge.

His experience in trace mineral supplementation and improving producers profitability will be invaluable to our western challenger, he said.

Mr Bergman said he is looking forward to working with the WA challenger to improve the performance of their livestock.

Deficiencies of copper, cobalt, and/or selenium are exceptionally common in the Esperance area, Mr Bergman said.

I believe appropriate and timely micro mineral supplementation is a key production driver for WA producers.

I have seen first-hand some of the benefits that Multimin is delivering and am keen to work as a Multimin Performance Ready Challenge mentor to further document the value Multimin can deliver to Australian beef, sheep, and dairy producers.

The challenge will be followed world-wide via social media with challengers providing regular updates, blogs and videos of their progress.

At the end of the 12-month challenge period, the mentors will shortlist the top performing challengers and voting will open to the public to select an overall winner.

The most successful challenger will win an overseas experience of a lifetime for two and free Multimin for an additional 12 months.

First prize is valued at more than $21,000 and will offer professional development tailored to the winning challenger and their farm.

Second and third prize challengers will receive a further six months free Multimin valued at over $5000 each.

Entries for the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge close on January 31.

Farmers are encouraged to enter the challenge via the website.

For more information or to enter the Multimin Performance Ready Challenge visit au.virbac.com/multiminchallengeThe future of the Muchea Livestock Centre will be raised at an industry stakeholder meeting in March.

THE future of the Boyanup Saleyards, as well as talk about selling the Muchea Livestock Centre (MLC) will be raised when industry stakeholders meet with Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan in March.

A replacement location for the Boyanup saleyard is yet to be found with the saleyard lease to expire in 2022.

Late last year Ms MacTiernan said the State government would consider putting the MLC up for sale as part of a deal to build a new Boyanup facility.

WAFarmers livestock section president David Slade said his organisation didnt support the suggested sale of MLC to fund a replacement for the Boyanup saleyard, saying it was non-negotiable from an industry point of view.

He said while the MLC may be owned by the Western Australian Meat Industry Authority, the industry was a major stakeholder in its existence  after producers contributed so much time and finances toward the building and maintenance of the infrastructure of the Midland yards before they were sold and Muchea built in 2010.

Mr Slade said because of the contribution by producers, the State government had a moral obligation to honour the agreements that were made at the time to divert funds from the Midland sale to the other saleyards, including the Boyanup saleyards.

Before the government considers selling Muchea there needed to be extensive consultation with producers to ensure the money doesnt disappear into treasury coffers.

There is a whole level of detail which we will investigate and discuss with the Agriculture Minister regarding the rights of any one party being able to sell the Muchea facility, Mr Slade said.

Further, if Muchea does end up in the hands of a private enterprise, this could potentially see a significant increase in selling costs for all livestock producers.

We acknowledge that the government has, as yet, not endorsed the report, nor committed to a policy of selling Muchea and we would urge them not to support the recommendations outlined in the report.

Instead, we recommend that a green field site is purchased as soon as possible, so that a new state-of-the-art agricultural precinct can be developed in the South West.

Mr Slade said Ms MacTiernan had acknowledged the clear support from South West producers to replace the Boyanup saleyards.

In 2009, the government of the day recognised the importance of investing in the saleyard network across WA, he said.

WAFarmers has continued to advocate for funding to be directed to the development of a new agricultural precinct, but after nearly a decade this is yet to come to fruition.

State government investment into a new precinct would go a long way towards improving biosecurity protocols in the South West, which is undergoing resurgence due to strong demand for red meat from Asian markets.

As part of its consultation with producers and other stakeholders ahead of the closure of Boyanup, we strongly encourage the government to move towards developing this innovative agricultural precinct, as it would provide a clear opportunity to capitalise on consumer demand.

Ms MacTiernan responded to WAFarmers saying that given the tough fiscal environment WA faces, any new South West saleyard would need to be predominantly privately-funded.

The State government is willing to consider options that would make private investment in such a facility more viable  one of those options includes linking construction of a new facility in a package with the MLC, Ms MacTiernan said.

We will not go down this route if industry opposes the idea, but I would encourage industry to take a creative approach to this situation and the need for a new South West facility.

No decision has been made yet as to the best course forward and no decision has been made to sell Muchea.

We will continue to consult with industry bodies and local producers, including at our South West forum in March, ahead of the closure of Boyanup in 2022.

Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA (PGA) Western Beef and Sheep Producers chairman Chris Patmore said the PGA hadnt come to an official position on the issue of the Boyanup saleyards and was looking forward to open discussions with Ms MacTiernan in the coming months.

We are keen to see a replacement saleyard in Boyanup, but we understand the financial situation of the government, Mr Patmore said.

When discussing the possible sale of the Muchea centre Mr Patmore said theres no harm in having a look at it  so long as strict guidelines are built in  but producers were under no obligation to accept it.

He said the last thing producers needed was MLC falling into the wrong hands and being run down, or with cost increases which excluded smaller producers from selling there.

Mr Patmore said the PGA had no position on the site of a future Boyanup saleyards and could understand the arguments from producers and processors.

He said as long as the new site was sustainable and suited the majority of stakeholders and the facility was flexible enough to be used for more than one thing, it would be a good investment for the future of the industry.ELDERS penned an outstanding quality offering of mated and unmated beef females at their beef female sale at Boyanup last week where in comparison with last year, the unmated heifers held value stronger than their pregnant sisters.

While the unmated females averaged around $200 below last years result, the mated section saw around a $700 reduction.

The mated heifers saw 462 sell from the 518 offered to top at $2550 and average $1990.

With 215 unmated heifers offered, 190 sold to $1500 and average $1290.

The sale grossed $1,164,950 million.

Again quality, growth and calving date all had an influence on the support on individual pens.

Angus dominated the numbers with 344 mated heifers offered and 336 selling to gross $697,200 to return an average of $2075.

The sale started with pens of Angus heifers from HW Griffiths & Co with the first pen going to BC & JK Atherton, Donnybrook, at $2400.

Volume buyer MA Sherwood, with Alex Roberts busy doing the bidding, took the next two pens for $2300 and $2050, with these mated to Angus for a March 12 to April 26 calving.

Scott River Trading then sold eight heifers to Millbrook Fields for $2500 before Mr Sherwood paid $2400 for nine heifers having a wider calving spread from February 20 to May 8. Another line of quality blacks were the eight from VW Byrd bought by Alex Roberts for ED & JS Hoddle, Collie, for $2450.

Tempra Brothers then paid $2450 for another eight of the Griffiths heifers.

The top pen of heifers were then into the sale ring, returning $2550 for MW Tucker, Tutunup, when BJ Purvis outlasted the opposing bidders.

The Tucker heifers appealed to buyers, selling other lines of Angus for $2450 to ED Hoddle, who also paid $2350 for another eight.

Queenwood Orchard, Lowden, also bought multiple lots, starting with a pen of Tucker heifers at $2400.

D & A Carruthers, Manjimup, was looking to stock a property and his first purchase was $1900 paid for nine Angus heifers from LG & RJ Pitter, Coolup, then also taking the next pen for $1850.

Kim Hough, Australind, also liked the Pitter heifers, paying $2100 for eight due to calve from late February to May.

A second run of Scott River Trading blacks saw Mr Sherwood secure eight for $2500.

Regular vendor TH & L Gibbs sold a pen of nine to EB & G Quick for $2400 with the next pen going to MA Sherwood at $2000.

Having competed from the start of the sale BF & RA Scott, Donnybrook, had success later in the sale, buying several pens for up to $1950, paid for five heifers, sold account J & K Investments.

Even later in the sale, another four of the J & K heifers went to O Frammartino at $2400.

Possibly the buy of the day was the pen of Angus English Dairy Shorthorn heifers from HN Higham and Son, Williams, with a mixture of blue roan heifers in the pen.

Terry Tarbotton, Busselton, purchased these at $1700 for Capital Grazing, Busselton.

The Murray Grey heifers offered had a tough day, but in no way due to the quality of the cattle.

Some excellent heifers were overlooked by buyers, resulting in quality females failing to sell.

The top of $2100 was paid for five sold by Argento Cattle Stud with these going to Oakland Farm.

Another line of six sold by BP Clode, Capel, also made $2100 when bought by breed supporter Murray Schubert, Elgin.

Wulura Farms sold several pens to top at $1850 several times.

Young Guns trucked cattle from Hyden to sell to $1600 paid by S Henry, with DJ Shine, Roelands, paying $1400 for a pen of six.

Two pens of SimAngus from LG & RJ Pitter found buyers at $1850 and $1700 going to NR & RW Meade, Balingup.

Sue Daly, Brookhampton, was pleased to sell her eight Charolais heifers for $2000 to Price Family Farms.

Willowbank offered Shorthorn heifers to top at $1500, bought by KM & BJ Giudici, Lowden.

Unmated heifers saw Angus from I & D Edgar top at $1350, bought by G & RM Telini.

Little Brook Farms sold two pens for $1350, both going to ST Francis.

The top of $1500 was paid for 14 sold by DH & FA Macleay, Vasse, with Howard Griffiths buying to replace mated heifers just sold.

Howard also paid $1350 and $1275 for quality young females from Jim Fox, Pemberton.

Just one pen of unmated Murray Grey heifers was offered by J & K Investments which went to AP Whiteford for $1050.THE first stage of a $22 million Agricultural Telecommunications Infrastructure Improvement fund was released at Northam last week.

The Digital Farm program is the first step the State government is taking to improve farm digital technology and provide regional businesses with fast, reliable and affordable connections.

Grants of up to $500,000 are available for connectivity projects, provided proponents make a matching contribution.

The application period for grants is open until Friday, April 13.

Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan said one of the biggest challenges for increased farm productivity was improving digital connectivity.

She said a lot of marketing and data analysis was inaccessable to farmers and businesses because they required strong digital infrastructure.

Ms MacTiernan said its simply not possible for producers to compete in a global market if they dont have an international standard of connectivity.

We cant have our farming communities held back, Ms MacTiernan said.

We cant deny them the opportunities to use the ag tech that is coming  the sensing, the data analysis  and to utilise the marketing opportunities that comes with it.

Ms MacTiernan said the grant would kickstart investment-ready, proposals for digital infrastructure and the government was looking to the agricultural community for ideas, trials and investments into ways digital connectivity could be advanced.

A six-month audit last year identified some government-owned telecommunication towers that could be utilised in the planning process.

These towers run through government buildings such as police, fire and safety and shire buildings.

The government will investigate ways to link key players, including Telstra and the NBN to provide better service to regional areas.

The next step of the program is to bridge the fibre gaps so digital connectivity is available more often than not.

Wongan Hills farmer Sue Middleton said she hopes the connectivity fund would deliver an enterprise grade network which can extend wifi coverage fully across farms.

NBN has failed to deliver us the speeds and the quality of data that we need, Ms Middleton said.

We are all on capped data and on those plans we cant run our business.

Ms Middleton hopes that a project could encourage CBH, Arc Infrastructures and the NBN to co-operate to help digitalise the Wheatbelt.

Dan Sanderson, Grass Patch, said the highest point in a town was usually a CBH bin and fibres follow the Arc Infrastructures (Brookfield) railway lines.

We need all the big players to come together and sort out an agreement as to how they can help put this plan into action and help all the farmers who dont have good digital reception, Mr Sanderson said.

The Sandersons use a farm data management program and want to use gross margin reporting on their paddocks, although this isnt possible due to the limited connectivity to paddocks away from the house.

I find myself sitting up to one oclock in the morning inputing data, where I want to be able to do that in my tractor, he said.

Mr Sanderson is conducting trials with receivers on top of CBH bins, that receive satellite signal from providers, to see if satellite is an option.

The trial isnt finished, although talking to farmers involved in the trial, they can connect anywhere on their farm within a 20 kilometre radius of the receiver, he said.

But the download speed is terrible, they are still better off to go and park on top of the hill where they know they get Telstra reception and get online there.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPRID) has advanced its technology and analytical software to reduce the driving time to trial sites.

But DPRID development officer Christiaan Valentine said it needed good connectivity to relay information back to the main office which wasnt available.

We have the technology, we just cant use it to its full potential  like a lot of other ag tech out there, Mr Valentine said.

Ms MacTiernan said it was important all producers were able to use the technology they have available to them and the government was trying to do its bit to improve this with the new fund.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.Grace Victoria Cox has joined the cast of the Ted Bundy biopic 'Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile'.

Zac Efron as Ted Bundy (c) Twitter

The 22-year-old actress - who is about to star in the TV reboot of 'Heathers' - has been cast as Carol Daronch, a girl who survived the notorious serial killer's kidnapping attempt and identified him in court, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Cox joins the cast that already includes Zac Efron as the American serial killer, Lily Collins as Bundy's long-term girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, and John Malkovich as Judge Edward Cowart, who presided over the serial killer's trial in Florida and sentenced him to death in 1979.

'Westworld' actress Angela Sarafyan was recently cast to play Joanna, a close friend of Kloepfer who is the reason she starts to question her boyfriend's intentions.

The film - directed by 'Paradise Lost: The Child of Murders at Robin Hood Hills' filmmaker Joe Berlinger - will tell the shocking true story of Bundy, who raped and murdered numerous young women during a killing spree in the 1970s that shocked America and the world.

Bundy chose to represent himself at the trial, which was broadcast on national television, and appeared to develop something of a rapport with the judge.

The script has been written by Michael Werwie and is thought to explore the crimes of the killer through the eyes of Bundy's girlfriend.

Following years of living in denial that Bundy could be responsible for the heinous crimes that plagued the states of Washington, Utah, Florida, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho and California, Kloepfer eventually turned him into the police.

However, she only discovered the true extent of his actions when he began talking about them as he got close to his legally-ordered execution.

On the afternoon of his execution, Bundy - who was a self-confessed necrophile, as well as a murderer, rapist and kidnapper - claimed that hardcore pornography was responsible for inspiring his violent crimes in an interview he granted to James Dobson, a psychologist and founder of the Christian evangelical organisation Focus on the Family.Music streaming service Deezer have kick-started 2018 with an exciting new study, looking into some of the biggest events that took place throughout the past 12 months and checking to see whether their user base changed their listening habits because of what was going on in the real world.

Mariah Carey saw a bump in streams in January 2017

January 2017 for example got off to a bumpy start when Mariah Carey tried to see in the New Year in style, performing on Dick Clarks New Years Rockin Eve With Ryan Seacrest, but coming a cropper to an epic lip sync fail. Despite the embarrassment, its something that actually worked in Careys favour, with her songs being streamed across the world on an average of 10% more than the year before January 1-6.

Later on in the month, the Womens March that took place across the globe in protest of President Donald Trump saw Aretha Franklins Respect streams go up by 31% in the two days following. Destinys Child track Survivor also saw a 16% uplift in streaming during the marches.

In February, there was a major mix up at the Academy Awards, with hosts naming La La Land for Best Picture, before having to reveal that it was actually Moonlight that had won the prize. Still, the messy announcement saw La La Lands official soundtrack streamed 6,681% more than Moonlight had been in the same month.

Onto March, and the live-action version of Disney classic Beauty and the Beast hit the big screen. Already a huge favourite with fans, it was obvious that this one would be a huge hit when it came to the movies official soundtrack. The month saw 1,079% more streams of the new soundtrack than the original, proving that we are all open to change.

Jumping forward to May, and former One Direction member Harry Styles caused quite the storm with his debut solo album, taking influence from the genre of rock. What Deezer noticed in listening patterns for Styles record however was a little surprising  one out of every 10 listeners were actually aged between 46-55!

Harry Styles saw some big success with his debut LP

The surge in popularity for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn really took charge in 2017, and during June, when he took to the Glastonbury Festival stage, chants of, Oh, Jeremy Corbyn! to the tune of White Stripes Seven Nation Army saw the tune spike with a 16,893% increase in the UK.

September saw rumours that Kylie Jenner had become pregnant with Travis Scotts child, and it would seem that fans flocked to listen to his music in support of the couple. His song Butterfly Effect rose by 33% on the day of the pregnancy rumours being reported in the US, compared to the month prior.

When Netflix original series Stranger Things made its return in October, the shows official theme tune by Kyle Dixon went up by 268% between October 26-27. In the UK alone, it was named the 4th most streamed TV theme song of the whole year, taken from 20 Netflix shows and beating such shows as The Crown and Orange is the New Black.

Netflix's Stranger Things was given a lot of love

Princy Harry proposing to his now-fiancee Meghan Markle made headlines in November, and with all of that love in the air came the adoration of Ed Sheerans song Perfect. It would become the biggest love song streamed on November 27, when the engagement was announced.

Finally, for Christmas in December came a campaign to see George Michaels Last Christmas go flying up the charts. Between December 1-20, the streams for the track increased by 45% worldwide, and by 50% in the UK, with the track becoming the most streamed Christmas song in the UK in December 2017. It might not have taken the official top spot, but it was clear that Georges spirit lived on a year after his death in 2016.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk

find me on and follow me onNaughty Boy says it is Emeli Sande who gave him the confidence to explore his songwriting.

Naughty Boy

The 33-year-old producer first worked behind the scenes with rappers Wiley and Chipmunk and co-wrote and masterminded the majority of tracks on Emeli's 2012 hit debut LP 'Our Version of Events'.

He eventually released his own album 'Hotel Cabana' in 2013 - which features Emeli, Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith among others - but he admits he would not have made that record without being given the chance to prove himself with his pop superstar friend.

Naughty Boy said: "It was Emeli who gave me the confidence to be a songwriter, I always knew my music was good, I could imagine it in films and on the radio, but she liked my words and what I had to say and that got me thinking about being more than a producer. You need that sometimes, you need someone to take a chance on you."

Naughty Boy is almost ready to release his second solo album but he previously revealed that he is yet to decide on a title because he wanted to name it 'Now That's What I Call Naughty' but couldn't as it is too similar to the Now! compilation series.

The studio maestro- whose real name is Shahid Khan - has worked with Dua Lipa, Mike Posner, MNEK, Ray BLK and Julia Michaels on the LP and hasr revealed he has included Asian music references in some of his songs.

Naughty Boy - who was born in Watford to Pakistani parents - said: "I feel that I always have a responsibility to represent who I am in my music and where I'm from. My dad is a taxi driver from Pakistan, if he hadn't have come here then I wouldn't be where I am. I was scared of it before because I thought people would think I was an Asian music producer, so I went out of my way to not let people know who I was."We've been following state legislative races because we're interested in the clear pattern that shows a stunning swing towards Democratic candidates-- often a result a Democratic enthusiasm and the lack of enthusiasm among Republicans. And, more often than not, the enthusiasm levels are about Trump and the Republican Congress. Next up is in a pretty red district based in Sarasota, Florida, House District 72, which goes from the I-75 to the beach below Tampa.





In 2016, Republican Alexandra Miller beat Democrat Edward James 50,468 (58.06%) to 36,449 (41.94%). Miller, a freshman, resigned in August, less than a year after winning the seat. The favorite to win next month is James Buchanan, son of U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, the district's congressman. His Democratic opponent is Margaret Good , a moderate Democrat, who supports Choice, LGBT equality, and says she will fight to expand Medicare and to protect the fragile Florida environment.





The House district is entirely within Sarasota County and entirely within Buchana's congressional district (FL-16). HD 72 is about 83% white, 11.3% Hispanic and 2.6% Black. The median household income is just over $49,000, slightly higher than the state ($47,866) and the rest of the congressional district ($48,202). The district went for Trump by a little over 4 points. If the swing in a blue direction is around the average of what it has been nationally in state legislative races (around 20 points), Buchanan will be swamped.





Herald-Tribune The reported a couple weeks ago that Good has started outraising Buchanan (by double) and that, in desperation, he's turned to hardball tactics and has started attacking her. Buchanan-affiliated SuperPACs are attacking her for her support for Medicare and the Affordable Care Act, something likely to backfire on Buchanan. Buchanan, a real estate agent, has been afraid to debate Good, an attorney, and would rather just rely on the smear tactic attack ad. We'll soon see if those tactics work in a wave cycle.

If Good beats Congressman Buchanan's son in his own congressional district expect major-- really major-- panic to set in among the Florida Republicans , the Florida Republicans who aren't already panicking. The election is in about 2 weeks-- February 13.Prince Harry has returned to Africa on a solo visit.

Prince Harry

The 33-year-old royal - who is patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana and president of African Parks - left his fiancee Meghan Markle at home to head to the continent "for a private working trip".

A Palace source told PEOPLE that Harry would be taking in "organisations working in conservation, particularly those affecting wildlife, across the region."

The flame-haired prince is said to have been to Chobe Game Lodge, Kasane, this week, where he met Tshekedi Khama, the minister for environment and natural resources, conservation and tourism.

The insider insisted it is a "short trip", and Harry is expected to head to Botswana - where he sourced the central diamond in Meghan's engagement ring - early next week.

Harry also took the former 'Suits' star to the continent in August to celebrate her 36th birthday, and is said to have treated her to a 1,200-a-night stay in the Tongabezi Lodge resort in Zambia to end their romantic break.

A guide said at the time: "We treat everyone the same. It doesn't matter if you're Prince Harry or anyone else.

"We knew someone important was coming to stay last week but I didn't know it was the Prince until they arrived.

"The Honeymoon House and the Nut House are the ones usually used by couples but I'm afraid I'm not at liberty to let you know which one they used.

"Couples who visit us usually stay in one of those and then spend a night or two at our rooms on an island in the river, which is only accessible by boat. We have several different rooms here at Tongabezi - the family units are different from what a honeymooning couple would want, for example."

Harry is known to be a huge fan of Africa, having visited the continent since he was a teenager, and admitted last year he feels more like himself there than "anywhere else".

He said: "This is where I feel more like myself than anywhere else in the world.

"I have this intense sense of complete relaxation and normality here."KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Buyers to Malaysian International Furniture Fair (MIFF) this year will be kept busy not only by the bigger show but also by the variety and complementary attractions on showcase by Malaysian and overseas exhibitors.

More international companies are participating in the March 8-11 event, taking advantage of the spacious and new Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) and nearby long-time venue, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

With the show expanding 25% to 100,000sqm, international presence will make up roughly a third of the 600 exhibitors and outnumber that of previous years.

Visitors can expect a range of products made of different materials such as glass, chipboard, metal and different types of wood from the foreign exhibits to complement the array of solid wood furniture for which Malaysian manufacturers are renowned for.

The overseas brands are from mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, United States, Turkey, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

Next to the long-term attractions of the mainland China and Taiwan halls are the third largest overseas group comprising over a dozen South Korean companies with the majority supported by the Korean Federation of Furniture Industry Cooperatives (KFFIC).

A significant number of first time companies are joining repeat exhibitors including names which are making a comeback to MIFF, like Star Furniture of Singapore with its panel furniture and Godrej Group of India represented by Godrej Vietnam which produces steel office furniture.

A peek into the international showcase reveals the latest range of colourful and creative furniture for kids from Turkey's well-known Cilek Mobilya A.S. and Foart brand by GPS Korea Co Ltd of South Korea.

From Indonesia, PT Graha Seribusatu Jaya is displaying spring mattresses and as well as metal beds and couches from CV Beta Foam Industrial.

Among mainland China regulars is Zhejiang Henglin Chair Industry with contemporary office chairs, sofas and bar stools.

The rich variety at MIFF 2018 for buyers will include new segments, DesignRena an exclusive 15,000 sqm floor curated for 80 top Malaysian manufacturers to showcase their products in lifestyle setting atmosphere, MIFF Timber Mart for wood and product suppliers and buyers, Millennials@Design (MAD) featuring ready-to-market furniture by young designers including FDC in Action designers committee. Another attraction is MIFF Office, the largest office solutions exhibition in Southeast Asia.

Visitorship to MIFF is on the uptrend with nearly 20,000 visitors from 132 countries attending last year's show. International traffic increased 5% to 5,603 as the show closed record sales of US$940 million.

Ms Karen Goi, MIFF General Manager, said: "MIFF 2018 will be an incredible buying experience for visitors. There will be an exciting mix of merchandise to choose from with the pool of designs, colours and emerging trends converging at the show. There will be products for every budget. Due to the high diversity of buyers from around the world coming here, more and more international exhibitors are looking to MIFF for opportunities to export to third countries, be it to Southeast Asia, Asia or other emerging markets."

More information on MIFF 2018, visit www.miff.com.my.

Notes to Editors

About MIFF (www.miff.com.my)

MIFF is Southeast Asia's most global and largest furniture trade show serving 20,000 furniture professionals from 140 countries across the world. Held annually from March 8-11, the show offers a comprehensive selection of all kinds of home and commercial furniture including Malaysia's renowned top quality wood furniture and the most extensive office solutions in the region since its inception in 1995.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633409/MIFF_2018.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633408/CILEK_MOBILYA_AS.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633442/MIFF_2018_logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/631510/UBM_Logo.jpgMoneyTV with Donald Baillargeon television program, Copyright MMXVIII, all rights reserved. MoneyTV does not provide an analysis of companies' financial positions and is not soliciting to purchase or sell securities of the companies, nor are we offering a recommendation of featured companies or their stocks. Information discussed herein has been provided by the companies and should be verified independently with the companies and a securities analyst. MoneyTV provides companies a 3 to 4 month corporate profile with multiple appearances for a cash fee of $11,995.00 to $17,250.00, does not accept company stock as payment for services, does not hold any positions, options or warrants in featured companies. The information herein is not an endorsement by Donald Baillargeon, the producer, publisher or parent company of MoneyTV.

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.NEW DELHI, India, January 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Eminent international jurist, Hon'ble Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Judge, High Court of Australia, has been appointed Honorary Adjunct Professor of Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) in Haryana, India.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8261851-honorary-professor-jindal-law-school/

Hon'ble Kirby joins Hon. Justice Michael D. Wilson and Hon. Justice Sabrina S. McKenna, distinguished Judges of Supreme Court of Hawaii in the United States of America, distinguished Indian judge,Hon'ble Justice Dalveer Bhandari, Judge, International Court of Justice at The Hague,eminent jurist and parliamentarian, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, distinguished lawyer, Gopal Subramanium, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India, who were earlier appointed as Honorary Adjunct Professors at Jindal Global Law School.

During his tenure as a judge, Kirby is credited with frequent citations of Indian judgments. A recent study by Australian and Indian professors noted that his citations of Indian judgments alone constitute 64% of the total citations of Indian judgments by the Judges of the High Court of Australia - the country's apex court. Besides his longstanding Indian connection, Kirby was appointed as the presiding arbitrator in the KG Basin dispute in 2014.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor - O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) and Dean - Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), said, "The founding vision of JGU is promoting global education across different disciplines led by the appointment of faculty members from across the world possessing outstanding academic qualifications and experience. Accordingly, we welcomeHon'ble Michael KirbyAC CMG as 'Honorary Adjunct Professor' to our university. His appointment at Jindal Global Law School demonstrates our commitment towards global legal education while recognizing the need for offering opportunities to our students in gaining perspectives and experiences transcending geography and jurisdiction."

Appreciating his professional standing, the citation for Kirby's appointment at Jindal Global Law School reads: "For his significant contribution to the judiciary, comparative and international law, the India-Australia legal relationship and legal education."

Professor Shaun Star, Executive Director, CIAS and Assistant Dean - Jindal Global Law School, observed, "There has been no greater advocate of the India-Australia bilateral legal relationship than Justice Michael Kirby. We are delighted to host Justice Kirby once again in India. His involvement as a member of the advisory board of the Centre for India Australia Studies and more recently as an Honorary Adjunct Professor of Jindal Global Law School underscore his commitment to promoting stronger ties between our two jurisdictions."

Kirby has served as a Deputy President of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission (1975-83); Chairman of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975-84); Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1983-4); President of the New South Wales Court of Appeal (1984-96); President of the Court of Appeal of Solomon Islands (1995-96) and Justice of the High Court of Australia (1996-2009).

He has undertaken many international activities for the United Nations, the Commonwealth Secretariat, the OECD and the Global Fund against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Kirby has also worked in civil society, being elected President of the International Commission of Jurists (1995-98). Recent international activities included member of the Eminent Persons Group on the Future of the Commonwealth of Nations (2010-11); Commissioner of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law (2011-12); Chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK (North Korea) (2013-14); and Member of the UN Secretary-General's High Level Panel on Access to Essential Healthcare (2015-16).

Kirby's appointment at JGLS comes at a time when more than 40 Australian students are also visiting JGU under the 'India Immersion Programme' convened by the Centre for India Australia Studies (CIAS).Funded by the New Colombo Plan of the Australian government, the annual 3-week residential programme aims to introduce Australian students to the many different facets of India, enabling undergraduate students from leading Australian universities to visit and study in the Indo-Pacific region.

The CIAS is the first and only Centre focusing on the India-Australia bilateral relationship that is embedded in an Indian Higher Education Institution. The CIAS engages with stakeholders from Australia and India to promote deeper ties and meaningful collaborations in the India-Australia relationship.

About O.P. Jindal Global University

A non-profit global university established by the Government of Haryana, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) is recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). JGU was established as a philanthropic initiative of its Founding Chancellor, Mr Naveen Jindal, in memory of his father, Mr O.P. Jindal. JGU has been awarded the highest grade 'A' by the National Accreditation & Assessment Council (NAAC).

JGU is one of the few universities in Asia maintaining a 1:13 faculty-student ratio and appointing faculty members from India and different parts of the world with outstanding academic qualifications and experience. A research-intensive university, JGU is deeply committed to its core institutional values of inter-disciplinary and innovative pedagogy; pluralism and rigorous scholarship; as well as globalism and international engagement.

JGU has established eightschools: Jindal Global Law School (JGLS), Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), Jindal School of International Affairs (JSIA), Jindal School of Government and Public Policy (JSGP), Jindal School of Liberal Arts & Humanities (JSLH), Jindal School of Journalism & Communication (JSJC), Jindal School of Art & Architecture (JSAA) and Jindal School of Banking & Finance (JSBF).



Contacts:

Devadeep Konwar

Assistant Director, Communications and Public Affairs

O.P. Jindal Global University

dkonwar@jgu.edu.in

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633510/OP_Jindal_Global_University.jpg )

Video:

https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8261851-honorary-professor-jindal-law-school/

LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Bank of England Governor Mark Carney called for deeper relationship with Europe as it will benefit the UK. 'The deeper the relationship with Europe, the deeper the relationship with the rest of the world... the better it's going to be over time for the UK economy,' Carney told the BBC in Davos. The Brexit had cost the UK economy tens of billions of pounds in lost output. The world economy is accelerating and the UK is not benefiting from it, he said. 'Investment in advanced economies is growing at double-digit rates, and it is low single digits here,' he said. Carney said there would be a re-coupling of the UK economy with the global economy when greater clarity about the Brexit emerges. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.SINGAPORE, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ink, created by Ink Labs Foundation, launched the blockchain application developer platform INKstone on January 24. The platform is currently in beta version, and provides app developers with convenient blockchain infrastructure services. The Singapore-based venture will announce pioneering participants and key partners in February 2018. Moreover, an intellectual property (IP) Exchange will launch in mid-April 2018.

INKstone, a Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform, helps developers build and debug distributed applications in blockchain environments. Features include:

1.) One-click Blockchain Network Deployment-- The first version supports INK Consortium Blockchain cluster, Hyperledger Fabric cluster and other blockchain development environments.

2.) Flexibility in Blockchain Configuration-- Multiple blockchain configurations are optional to support developers' preferences as needed.

3.) Visual Presentation of Content-- Users can view a visual presentation of blockchain network topology, block information, transaction information and smart contract information.

4.) Smart Contract One-Stop Management-- The platform provides smart contract upload, management, deployment and invocations.

5.) Issuance and Circulation of Assets-- The platform also includes the functions of account management, supporting for high-efficiency value transfer, content distribution, intellectual property remuneration and other creative industry applications.

INKstone's future development is divided into three levels:

Widen Platform Capacity-- Besides Fabric and INK Consortium Blockchain, also support more development environments such as Qtum, Ethereum, EOS, cross-chain clusters.

Longitudinal-Focused Developer Services-- Provide more user levels, smart contract IDE and log-viewing based on the application development cycle around the core needs of developers.

Three-Dimensional Expansion of Blockchain Services-- Launch DApp store and enterprise-level blockchain service platform. Build a product matrix to provide three-dimensional blockchain platform services.

The second version is expected to launch in March with innovation features introduced thereafter. That includes the addition of the Qtum development environment, contract editing, log-viewing, user experience optimization and more.

About Ink

Ink seeks to become content creators' blockchain-supported platform and the first comprehensive ecosystem that links the global creative marketplace. It features the world's first intellectual property (IP) blockchain, and could become the Qtum of the content industry. The project's mission is to maximize the earnings, potential and discoverability of content creators around the globe while distinguishing and rewarding high-quality content. The Singapore-based firm aims to redefine roles, content and behaviors within the creative industry to achieve an efficient content exchange system.

The Ink platform presents a unique Intellectual Property Asset Exchange that will assist creators in converting their original work into liquid assets. Content creators will be able to produce, file, safeguard, discover, trade, market and distribute original content. The trading platform allows content creators to generate more earnings, seize more opportunities and become more discoverable while protecting ownership and control of their intellectual property.

To learn more, visit https://ink.one/.

White Paper: https://ink.plus/statics/pdf/ink_whitepaper_en.pdf

Social Media:

Medium: https://www.medium.com/@inklabsfoundation

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inklabs.found.9

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/inklabsfound

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/InkLabsFoundation

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/27001961/

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/632768/Ink_INKstone_App_developers_Logo.jpg











I started traveling out of the U.S. while I was still a kid. I was just a teenager when my girlfriend and I decided to hitchhike from Long Island to the North Pole. We only got as far as Montreal... but we loved it. The following summer my pal Bob and I hitchhiked to Mexico City. Fantastic. And when I graduated from college, it was only $100 to fly to Luxembourg if you stopped for at least a night in Iceland. My girlfriend and I met a couple of teachers on the plane who were planning a week-long excursion, driving around the island and we joined them. Then we went to Luxembourg, Germany, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco and England. The travel bug was not sated. When Margin went back to the U.S. to finish school, I set off in my VW van across Europe, adding Austria, Hungary what was then Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal to the list of countries I had been through-- before settling down in Holland for a few years-- and taking vacations in Sweden, Finland, Greece, France and Morocco. Since then I'vebeen to over 100 countries. I still love travel. Roland and I just got back from Thailand and we brought our friend David-- his first trip there-- who got attacked by a monkey who broke his shoulder and fractured a bunch of toes. Here's the culprit:





The Thai monkey that got David









way too polite to bring up Trump. Even the ones we revery friendly with never mentioned Senor Trumpanzee. But, Thailand is crawling with Europeans who aren't polite in that way at all. Everywhere we went Europeans asked us, "How could you?" We explained to a Danish woman on a Chao Phraya water "bus" that California's results were 8,753,788 (61.73%) to 4,483,810 (31.62%) and she couldn't stop talking about how almost 4 and a half million Californians could vote for Trump. (David, who hadn't been attacked by the monkey yet, wanted to throw her into the Chao Phraya. But, generally speaking, everyone we met who wasn't a Thai, had something negative to say about Trump. It wasn't unlike-- just more intense-- than it was when Nixon and Bush were presidents. I just read that the the negative feelings in Haiti were so intense that the U.S. was The Thais aretoo polite to bring up Trump. Even the ones we revery friendly with never mentioned Senor Trumpanzee., Thailand is crawling with Europeans who aren't polite in that way at all. Everywhere we went Europeans asked us, "How could you?" We explained to a Danish woman on a Chao Phraya water "bus" that California's results were 8,753,788 (61.73%) to 4,483,810 (31.62%) and she couldn't stop talking about how almost 4 and a half million Californians could vote for Trump. (David, who hadn't been attacked by the monkey yet, wanted to throw her into the Chao Phraya. But, generally speaking, everyone we met who wasn't a Thai, had something negative to say about Trump. It wasn't unlike-- just more intense-- than it was when Nixon and Bush were presidents. I just read that the the negative feelings in Haiti were so intense that the U.S. was U.S. had to shut down the embassy in Port-au-Prince. Trump is in Davos-- and Swiss people are protesting and letting him know he isn't welcome . "[D]emonstrators marched through the Swiss city chanting 'Trump not welcome,' with some carrying banners and placards reading 'dump the Trump' and 'Switzerland is hosting Nazis,' an AFP reporter said, putting the turnout at over 1,000." Thousand more people marched in Zurich and Lausanne... 'Trump is the incarnation of sexism, racism, exploitation and corruption,'" said one demonstrator. So what? Trump doesn't care.





But the U.S. tourism does. Travel + Leisure reported that "The United Nations World Tourism Organization announced last week that Spain overtook the United States as the second-most visited destination in the world (France remains number one) in 2017. The U.S. welcomed 72.9 million foreign visitors last year-- down about four percent from the previous years 75.9 million." Katherine Lugar, CEO of American Hotel & Lodging Association, pointed out that "Fewer visitors means fewer hotel stays, fewer meals eaten in our restaurants, fewer goods purchased in our retail stores, and fewer visits to our national attractions. It also means fewer American jobs and a loss to our economy."

New York Times post, Europeans overwhelmingly cited the Trump administration and its policies as reasons for avoiding or canceling trips to the United States, according to the paper. The Pew Research Center found that unfavorable views of the U.S. in 37 countries increased 13 percent in the six months that Trump was in office. In response to apost, Europeans overwhelmingly cited the Trump administration and its policies as reasons for avoiding or canceling trips to the United States, according to the paper.

U.S. News and World Review reported on Tuesday that on their list of best countries the The Trump Slump in American tourism has cost our country 40,000 jobs and $4.6 billion. Thereported on Tuesday that on their list of best countries the U.S. has slipped to the #8 spot and they attribute it to Trump. His first year in the White House rattled the world confidence. Ian Bremmer, president of the political risk consulting firm Eurasia Group explained recently that the most prominent causes for global insecurity stem from Trumpanzee's move away from global leadership, and China's eagerness to fill the perceived vacuum.

The United States slips in this year's U.S. News Best Countries ranking, dropping to the No. 8 spot after falling one position from its 2017 ranking. Switzerland, an island of stable prosperity in a world of turmoil, remains the Best Country, according to a global survey of more than 21,000 persons.



The reasons for America's drop-- the second straight year its ranking dipped-- are fueled by the world's perceptions of the country becoming less progressive and trustworthy, more politically unstable and a president who after just a year in office is far more unpopular than any other head of state or company CEO.



As in 2017, Canada remains the No. 2 in the survey. Germany, as it was in 2016, is perceived as the most powerful country in Europe-- surpassing the U.K. to place at No. 3 overall, while the U.K. drops to No. 4. Japan rounds out the top five, the highest finish for a nation in Asia, a region which survey respondents increasingly believe holds many of the keys to the world's future. At No. 6 is Sweden and Australia moves up to the No. 7 position, surpassing the U.S.



...The Best Countries rankings come just days after Trump celebrates his first year as U.S. president. The U.S. is still seen as the most powerful nation. In many ways, however, the results reflect 12 months of ongoing signs of the decline of America's standing in the world. In this sense, a noticeable "Trump Effect" is taking hold of the U.S.

Here's the 2018 ranked list of 20 best countries:





1- Switzerland

2- Canada

3- Germany

4- U.K.

5- Japan

6- Sweden

7- Australia

8- Trumpland

9- France

10- Netherlands

11- Denmark

12- Norway

13- New Zealand

14- Finland

15- Italy

16- Singapore

17- Austria

18- Luxembourg

19- Spain

20- China

Trump's favorite country, Russia, is #26 and at the very bottom of the list, at #80, is Algeria. By the way, I've been to every country on the list and I don't agree with the evaluation at all. I hate Switzerland and the U.S., despite Trump is still the best.The Berlin virtual reality pioneer Staramba has announced the release of ROYALTY. The pioneering cryptocurrency has the potential to revolutionize the global licensing industry

The potential for the cryptocurrency ROYALTY is enormous: Staramba can revolutionize the global licensing industry thanks to a specially developed blockchain technology. Both licensors and licensees benefit from these advantages:

Drastic simplification of the entire settlement process for licensing transactions and the just-in-time distribution of revenues to licensors and licensees;

Total transparency of all transactions for all parties involved and the elimination of control measures on the licensed products sold;

Substantial cost savings for all participants due to the elimination of expensive software solutions, transaction costs and currency fluctuations.

As a first step, Staramba will use the crypto currency for its social VR network STARAMBA.spaces, which is currently in development. ROYALTY secures the exclusive content and rights of the licensors for STARAMBA.spaces. A further advantage of ROYALTY is the additional capital generated by issuing up to 500 million tokens, which secures the financing for future expansions of STARAMBA.spaces.

In order to ensure a functioning currency and added value to ROYALTY in the long term, especially in exchange for specific products and services on STARAMBA.spaces, ROYALTY is issued via the Leondrino Exchange. The token design is scalable to the trading behavior of investors and thus counteracts pure speculation. Leondrino Exchange adheres to the regulations of BaFin in Germany, SEC in the USA and FinMa in Switzerland.

ROYALTY is to be introduced gradually. A portion of the currency volume is to be offered in advance to selected investors. The aim is to issue ROYALTY after its release for public trading via the Leondrino platform.

"As a first step, we will use the cryptocurrency within our STARAMBA.spaces platform," explains Christian Daudert, CEO of Staramba SE. "After successful tests, ROYALTY will then be issued worldwide. The recognition of the tokens by the supervisory authorities of the target markets at the start of the public issue and the start of trading is just as important for the acceptance of ROYALTY by consumers and investors as the acceptance obligation of the currency for own products and services. Therefore, we do not plan to convert tokens and coins into shares of Staramba SE. ROYALTY, as the currency for payment, is an instrument that evolves independent of the share price."

About Staramba SE

Berlin based Staramba SE is a virtual reality (VR) pioneer with unique hardware and software expertise. The flagship project is the development of the world's first social VR network STARAMBA.spaces: a new virtual world in which fans can interact up close with international stars. Photorealistic avatars that do not exist in any other platform and the integration of social media channels make STARAMBA.spaces a unique VR experience. The VR pioneer has also built the world's most comprehensive database of photorealistic 3D models of top international stars. Another business area is the 3D-INSTAGRAPH scanner developed by Staramba. This enables certified partners to generate photorealistic 3D avatars of consumers formany applications. Staramba has also announced its own cryptocurrency ROYALTY, which has the potential to revolutionize the global licensing industry. The first step for ROYALTY will be its use within STARAMBA.spaces. Further information: www.staramba.com

Pictures: http://www.pr-com.de/de/pi/kryptow-hrung-royalty-staramba-revolutioniert-lizenzindustrie

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005309/en/

Contacts:

Staramba SE

Marc Heydric

Investor Relations

heydrich@staramba.comToronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 26, 2018) - Icon Exploration Inc. (TSXV: IEX.H) ("Icon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has entered into a non-binding letter of intent dated January 22, 2018 (the "LOI") for a non-arm's length business combination transaction (the "Proposed Transaction") with 2590672 Ontario Inc. ("City View Green" or "City View" or "CVG"). City View Green is a private company incorporated under the laws of Ontario that has an exclusive 5 year lease (with an option to renew for 5 years) with a further exclusive right to lease any future buildings on lands owned by the building owner located in Brantford, Ontario. Additional buildings can be constructed and leased totaling approximately 120,000 ft of building space. City View Green has submitted an application to Health Canada for an Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") license which is under review.

About City View Green

City View Green is targeting entry into the Canadian Medical and Recreational market in 2018 as a high quality, large-scale cannabis producer. City View Green is an ACMPR applicant strategically located in Brantford, Ontario, which is in close proximity to one of Canada's largest cities - Toronto, Ontario.

Upon issuance of the license, City View Green proposes to operate a 40,000 ft facility, and expects to be able to utilize 28,000 ft for cultivation. City View intends to grow 7,500 kilograms per year of pharmaceutical grade cannabis to be sold in the current medicinal market and the upcoming recreational market, upon legalization.

City View Green intends to incorporate innovative growing strategies which will be based on technological advancements in LED lighting, advanced HVAC and dehumidification technology, and automation. This progressive growing technology is expected to improve the quality, safety, output and consistency of its cannabis production.

City View Green's management believes that its strategic location in Brantford, Ontario should enable it to be able to draw on the best talent available in the market which is in close proximity to several agricultural learning centres, colleges and universities. FDi, a division of Financial Times Limited, ranked the City of Brantford at the top spot as the most business-friendly city in the micro city category in the 2017/2018 FDi report.

The Proposed Transaction

This Proposed Transaction, which will see the Company transition from a resource company to a company carrying on business in the cannabis sector, will constitute a "Change of Business" ("COB") as defined in Policy 5.2 of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Proposed Transaction is a Related Party Transaction (as such term is defined in Exchange policies) in that three of the directors of Icon, Rob Fia, Joseph Heng and Stephen McNeill, own, in the aggregate, approximately 35.86% of the issued shares of City View Green. Accordingly, pursuant to Exchange policies, the Proposed Transaction must be approved by a simple majority of Icon's disinterested shareholders in attendance at a meeting being held by Icon to approve the Proposed Transaction. It is expected that this special meeting will be held within the next 3-4 months and a management information circular will be provided to Icon's shareholders in due course.

The LOI contemplates Icon and City View Green undertaking a business combination transaction, currently proposed to be completed by way of share exchange between Icon and all of the shareholders of City View Green, whereby City View Green will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Icon. The LOI contemplates that on completion of the Proposed Transaction, Icon will issue approximately 106,065,838 common shares of Icon ("Icon Shares") and 10,000,000 incentive stock options in exchange for the existing issued common shares of City View (the "City View Shares") and outstanding City View stock options (the "City View Options"). In the event City View completes an equity raise of up to $2,000,000 (the "Interim Financing") prior to closing of the Proposed Transaction, then Icon may issue up to an additional 21,207,866 Icon Shares in consideration for City View common shares issued pursuant to the Interim Financing.

Icon currently has 31,181,426 Icon Shares issued and outstanding, 3,620,690 warrants outstanding and 3,037,734 stock options outstanding. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is estimated that there will be approximately 137,884,264 Icon Shares issued and outstanding immediately following closing of the Proposed Transaction (154,542,688. Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis) with City View shareholders holding approximately 76.92% of the then issued Icon Shares (or 75.10% of the Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis) and current Icon shareholders holding approximately 23.08%of the then issued Icon Shares (or 24.90% of the Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis).

In the event that City View completes the full $2,000,000 Interim Financing, then upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, it is estimated that there will be approximately 159,092,130 Icon Shares issued and outstanding immediately following closing of the Proposed Transaction (175,750,554 Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis), with City View shareholders holding approximately 80.00% of the then issued Icon Shares (or 78.11% Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis) and current Icon shareholders holding approximately 20.00% of the then issued Icon Shares (or 21.89% Icon Shares on a fully-diluted basis).

In conjunction with Icon's due diligence review of City View Green, its assets and its business plan, Icon will determine whether to complete a financing concurrent with closing of the Proposed Transaction. Icon will provide further disclosure on any such financing once a determination has been made with respect to same.

The completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of various conditions that are standard for a transaction of this nature, including but not limited to (i) negotiation of final terms and execution of a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") by Icon and City View Green (ii) receipt of all requisite regulatory, stock exchange, court or governmental authorizations and consents, including the Exchange; (iii) the approval by the shareholders of Icon to complete the Proposed Transaction, if required; (iv) issuance of the ACMPR license to City View Green; and (v) the completion of satisfactory due diligence by each of Icon and City View Green on or prior to 10 business days from signing of the LOI; There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed on the terms proposed above or at all.

Each of Icon and City View Green will bear their own costs in respect of the Proposed Transaction except that if the Proposed Transaction is not completed for any reason outside of Icon's control, then City View Green will pay Icon a break fee equal to ten times (10x) the due diligence expenses expended by Icon in relation to its due diligence of City View, its business and assets and the Proposed Transaction, up to a maximum sum of $500,000.

Prior to signing of the Definitive Agreement, Icon and City View Green will determine any changes to Icon's Board and management that may be effected on closing of the Proposed Transaction. Icon will provide further disclosure on any such changes once a determination has been made with respect to same.

Sponsorship

Subject to Exchange approval, Kingsdale Capital Markets Inc. ("Kingsdale") will act as the sole financial advisor and may include a syndicate for future financings for Icon with respect to the Proposed Transaction and will be the sole agent and may include a syndicate for any concurrent financing that Icon may complete in relation to the Proposed Transaction, if any. Sponsorship of a COB is required by the Exchange unless exempt therefrom in accordance with the Exchange's policies. If applicable, Icon will apply for an exemption from the sponsorship requirements pursuant to the policies of the Exchange. If an exemption is not granted or not available, then Icon will engage Kingsdale as sponsor for the Proposed Transaction.

Trading Halted

At the Company's request, trading in the Icon Shares has been halted by the Exchange. Trading is expected to remain halted until the completion of the Proposed Transaction. Upon completion of the Proposed Transaction, the Company intends to be listed on the Exchange as a Tier 2 Life Sciences Issuer.

Further Disclosure

Icon will provide further disclosure on the Proposed Transaction as final terms are negotiated and information becomes available to it, including any concurrent financing or any changes to Icon's Board and management that may be effected on closing of the Proposed Transaction.

Rob Fia, CEO, commented: "The Board has been actively assessing a number of potential cannabis related investment opportunities, and we believe the City View Green business represents a compelling and well-timed opportunity for Icon.

As the Canadian market continues to mature and evolve ahead of the proposed legalization for recreational cannabis in July 2018, the decision to acquire an early applicant for an ACMPR license represented the best value for Icon and has the potential to deliver significant near-term value for our shareholders.

City View Green is an exciting cannabis start-up with a great team and low-cost cultivation strategy which we believe will benefit significantly from the added expertise and funding support provided by Icon. We look forward to advancing this project with City View Green in the near future."

Cautionary Note

As noted above, completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Icon, if reinstated prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, should be considered highly speculative.

The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release.

Kingsdale Capital Markets Inc., subject to completion of satisfactory due diligence, has agreed to act as sponsor in connection with the transaction, if an exemption from sponsorship is not obtained or available. An agreement to sponsor should not be construed as any assurance with respect to the merits of the transaction or the likelihood of completion.

For further information contact:

Icon Exploration Inc.

Rob Fia, CEO & Director

Email: rfia@iconexploration.net

Tel: 416-722-4994

ABOUT ICON EXPLORATION INC.

Icon is a publicly traded company on the NEX Exchange (TSXV: IEX.H) our primary objective is to create a well-diversified company that will produce long-term returns for its shareholders and investors. Our current focus is on assessing potential acquisition targets in the cannabis industry. www.iconexploration.net

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect Icon's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of Icon and City View, the status of the ACMPR license application, the Interim Financing or any other financing Icon may undertake in conjunction with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, the Proposed Transaction (including Exchange approval, shareholder approval and the closing of the Proposed Transaction) and the board of directors and management of the Company upon completion of the Proposed Transaction. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Icon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information.

By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such factors include, among others, the following risks:

there is no assurance that the Interim Financing or any other financing will be completed or as to the actual offering price or gross proceeds to be raised in connection with such financing. In particular, the amount raised may be significantly less than the amounts anticipated as a result of, among other things, market conditions and investor behaviour;

there is no assurance that due diligence will be satisfactory to each of Icon and City View Green or that Icon, City View Green and all of the holders of City View Green securities will be able to come to negotiated agreement on final terms of the Proposed Transaction;





there is no assurance that Icon and City View Green will obtain all requisite approvals for the Proposed Transaction, including the approval of the Exchange, or approvals of their respective shareholders, and any such approvals may be conditional upon amendments to the terms of the Proposed Transaction;





there is no assurance that City View will obtain an ACMPR license from Health Canada;





following completion of the Proposed Transaction, Icon may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations. Financing may not be available when needed or on terms and conditions acceptable to it;





new laws or regulations could adversely affect Icon's business and results of operations after completion of the Proposed Transaction; and





the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies. These fluctuations may adversely affect the price of Icon's securities, regardless of its operating performance.



Icon cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Icon's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Icon has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors.

THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ICON AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ICON MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS.

This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.PUNE, India, January 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to the new market research report "PC-based Automation Market by Offering (Hardware and Software), Component (IPCS, HMIS, PLCS, SCADA), Sales Channel (Direct Sales and Indirect Sales), Industry (Process and Discrete), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets' , the market is expected to grow from USD 29.92 Billion in 2018 to USD 38.01 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 4.9% between 2018 and 2023. Some of the major factors driving the growth of the PC-based automation market are the evolution of IIoT and rising demand for smart automation solutions, increasing need for efficient monitoring in manufacturing plants, and growing emphasis on regulatory compliances.

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Browse 71 market data Tables and78 Figures spread through 197 Pages and in-depth TOC on"PC-based Automation Market - Global Forecast to 2023"

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Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report



PC-Based automation market for software to grow at a higher rate between 2018 and 2023

Key market players such as Siemens, General Electric, Rockwell, and Mitsubishi Electric are releasing updated versions of software to offer advanced solutions to end users. Software upgrades are necessary for the proper functioning of PC-based automation systems. This upgraded software comes with advanced features and functionalities, which improve the overall performance of manufacturing processes. These factors are contributing to the growth of the PC-based automation market for software.

Direct sales channels to hold a larger share of the market during the forecast period

Direct sales involve the selling of PC-based automation systems directly through a manufacturing company's in-house sales staff. The players in the PC-based automation market manufacture and supply PC-based automation systems directly to end-user industries through these channels. Direct sales channels offer various advantages to PC-based automation system manufacturers; they cater to the customization requirements of end-user industries and eliminate resellers' markup and the costs and risks associated with carrying large finished goods inventories. Due to these factors, the market for direct sales channels is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period.

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Market for aerospace & defense industry to grow at a high rate between 2018 and 2023

Among all the discrete industries, the PC-based automation market for the aerospace & defense industry is expected to grow at a high rate during the foreacst period. Manufacturing operations in the aerospace & defense industry are complex. Hence, manufacturers in this industry are primarily emphasizing on controlling component supplies, improving product quality, shortening production cycles, and employing efficient manufacturing processes. Further, the adoption of PC-based automation solutions in the aerospace & defense industry ensures the proper functioning of the equipment in manufacturing plants. These solutions offer real-time visibility of plant floors, thereby helping manufacturers in the aerospace & defense industry analyze their production processes, equipment conditions, and process defects, if any.

APAC to hold the largest share of the PC-based automation market by 2023

The PC-based automation market in APAC is expected to surpass the growth of the market in North America by 2023. In APAC, countries such as India, China, and Japan play an important role in the overall growth of the PC-based automation market. In India, increasing infrastructural investments and government initiatives such as "Make in India" are supporting market growth. The Government of India is encouraging foreign companies to invest in the country to build their manufacturing facilities. Further, in China, the high adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies and government initiatives such as "Made in China 2025" are likely to accelerate the growth of the market for advanced manufacturing technologies, including PC-based automation.

Inquiry Before Buy @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=83440578

ABB (Switzerland), Advantech (Japan), Beckhoff Automation (Germany), Emerson Electric (US), General Electric (US), Honeywell (US), IDEC (Japan), Kontron S&T (Germany), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan), OMRON (Japan), Robert Bosch (Germany), Rockwell Automation (US), Schneider Electric (France), Siemens (Germany), and Yokogawa Electric (Japan) are some of the key players in the PC-based automation market.

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https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/human-machine-interface-technology-market-461.html

SCADA Market by Component (Programmable Logic Controller, Remote Terminal Unit, Human Machine Interface, Communication Systems), Architecture (Hardware, Software, Services), Application, and Geography - Global Forecast to 2022

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Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarketsDUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Enterprise Key Management Market Analysis By Application (Disk, File/Folder, Database, Communication, Cloud Encryption), By Enterprise Size, By Vertical, By Region And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global enterprise key management market is expected to reach USD 3.61 billion by 2025

Increasing number of data breaches and loss of confidential data, coupled with increasingly stringent regulations and compliance standards to safeguard sensitive data from malicious users, have led to the implementation of advanced enterprise security solutions across different industries. The shift of organizations toward a digital environment for offering digital services and the need to protect increasing volumes of sensitive data are expected to drive the enterprise key management market.

Enterprise key management is an essential component of data encryption solutions and involves managing and dealing with generation, exchange, storage, use, destruction, and replacement of cryptographic keys that encrypt different data sources such as emails, databases, disk drives, big data repositories, backup tapes, and data over cloud environments. The key management solutions protect cryptographic keys throughout their lifecycle and restrain unauthorized users from accessing the keys or data.



Organizations are increasingly deploying encryption solutions to protect confidential data, thus, enabling the growth of the enterprise key management market. However, issues related to lack of skilled key management workforce and standardized key management systems are expected to challenge the industry. Furthermore, the high cost and complex deployment of key management solutions are expected to hinder the market growth.



Further key findings from the study suggest that:

North America is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period, owing to technological proliferation and accelerated adoption of digital services

is expected to be the largest market during the forecast period, owing to technological proliferation and accelerated adoption of digital services Asia Pacific emerged as the fastest-growing market with a CAGR of 22.0% over the forecast period.

emerged as the fastest-growing market with a CAGR of 22.0% over the forecast period. Disk encryption segment accounted for 37.07% of the overall market share in 2016, however cloud encryption segment will have the highest growth rate

The BFSI segment accounted for 31.9% in 2016. Increased online and mobile transactions, along with data security regulatory mandates will drive the market growth

Increasing investments in cloud-based encryption solutions and the need to protect increasing data volume will drive the growth of the enterprise key management market

The key participants include EMC Corporation, Gemalto N.V., Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, IBM, Thales e-security, Microsoft Azure, Inc., and CA Technologies



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope

1.1 Research Methodology

1.2 Research Scope and Assumptions

1.3 List of Data Sources



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Enterprise Key Management Market - Industry Snapshot & Key Buying Criteria, 2014-2025

2.2 Enterprise Key Management Market, 2014 - 2025



Chapter 3 Enterprise Key Management Industry Outlook

3.1 Market Segmentation

3.2 Enterprise Key Management Market Size and Growth Prospects

3.3 Enterprise Key Management - Value Chain Analysis

3.4 Enterprise Key Management - Market Dynamics

3.4.1 Market driver analysis

3.4.1.1 Increase in data breaches and cyber attacks

3.4.1.2 Stringent regulations and data security compliance

3.4.1.3 Improve operational efficiency

3.4.2 Market restraint analysis

3.4.2.1 Cost and complexity of key management

3.4.2.2 Lack of awareness and skilled workforce

3.5 Enterprise Key Management - Company Ranking Analysis, 2016

3.6 Penetration and Growth Prospect Mapping

3.7 Enterprise Key Management - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.8 Enterprise Key Management - PESTEL Analysis



Chapter 4 Enterprise Key Management Application Outlook

4.1 EKM Market Share by Application, 2016 & 2025

4.2 Disk Encryption Application

4.3 File/Folder Encryption Application

4.4 Database Encryption Application

4.5 Communication Encryption Application

4.6 Cloud Encryption Application



Chapter 5 Enterprise Key Management Deployment Outlook

5.1 EKM Market Share by Deployment Type, 2016 & 2025

5.2 On Premise Deployment

5.3 Cloud Deployment



Chapter 6 Enterprise Key Management Enterprise Size Outlook

6.1 EKM Market Share by Enterprise Size, 2016 & 2025

6.2 Small and Medium Enterprise Size

6.3 Large Enterprise

6.3.1 EKM market for large enterprise, 2014 - 2025



Chapter 7 Enterprise Key Management Vertical Outlook

7.1 EKM Market Share by Vertical, 2016 & 2025

7.2 BFSI

7.3 Government & Defense

7.4 Healthcare

7.5 IT & Telecom

7.6 Retail

7.7 Utilities

7.8 Others



Chapter 8 Enterprise Key Management Regional Outlook



Chapter 9 Competitive Landscape



CA Technologies

EMC Corporation

Gemalto NV

Google Inc.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise

IBM Corporation

Microsoft Corporation

Oracle Corporation

Thales E-Security Inc.

Townsend Data Security llc.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/5mzl6t/global_enterprise?w=5





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Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716OLD BRIDGE, NJ / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2018 / Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE American: BDR) announced that its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018, at the Company's headquarters located at One Jake Brown Road, Old Bridge, New Jersey. Please note that only owners of record of the common stock of the Company at the close of business on April 30, 2018 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the 2018 Annual Meeting or any adjournments or postponements thereof.

About Blonder Tongue

Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. together with R. L. Drake Holdings, LLC - its wholly owned subsidiary - offer customers more than 130 years of combined engineering and manufacturing excellence with solid histories of delivering reliable, quality products. As a leader in the field of Cable Television Communications, the Company provides system operators and integrators serving the cable, broadcast, satellite, IPTV, institutional and professional video markets with comprehensive solutions for the provision of content contribution, distribution and video delivery to homes and businesses. The Company designs, manufactures, sells and supports an equipment portfolio of standard and high definition digital video solutions, as well as core analog video and high speed data solutions for distribution over coax, fiber and IP networks. Additional information on the Company and its products can be found at www.blondertongue.com and www.rldrake.com.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The information set forth above includes "forward-looking" statements and accordingly, the cautionary statements contained in Blonder Tongue's Annual Report and Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (See Item 1: Business, Item 1A: Risk Factors, Item 3: Legal Proceedings and Item 7: Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations), and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated herein by reference. The words "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "project", "target", "intend", "plan", "seek", "estimate", "endeavor", "should", "could", "may" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections for our future financial performance, our anticipated growth trends in our business and other characterizations of future events or circumstances are forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which reflect management's analysis only as of the date hereof. Blonder Tongue undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof. Blonder Tongue's actual results may differ from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in Blonder Tongue's "forward-looking" statements.

Contacts

Eric Skolnik

Chief Financial Officer

eskolnik@blondertongue.com

(732) 679-4000

Robert J. Palle

Chief Executive Officer

bpalle@blondertongue.com

(732) 679-4000

SOURCE: Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc.The latest market research report by Technavio on the global fish processing equipment marketpredicts a CAGR of above 4% during the period 2018-2022.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005203/en/

Technavio has published a new market research report on the global fish processing equipment market 2018-2022 under their food and beverage library. (Graphic: Business Wire)

The report segments the global fish processing equipment market by product (filleting and skinning equipment, de-heading and gutting equipment, grading equipment, and scaling equipment) and by geography (the Americas, EMEA, and APAC). It provides a detailed illustration of the major factors influencing the market, including drivers, opportunities, trends, and industry-specific challenges.

Here are some key findings of the global fish processing equipment market, according to Technavio food and beverage researchers:

Increasing consumption and demand for fish and fish products: a major market driver

In 2017, the filleting and skinning equipment segment dominated the market by occupying almost 23% share

EMEA dominated the global fish processing equipment market with 40% share in 2017

BAADER, Marel, Optimar, and Skaginn 3X are the leading players in the market

Save more with Technavio. Buy 2 reports and get the third for free View Technavio's latest discounts and promotions

Increasing consumption and demand for fish and fish products: a major market driver

Owing to various benefits fish and fish products offer, there has been an increase in its consumption globally. Fish is considered to be one of the primary sources of high-quality of protein. Various nutrients and minerals such as zinc, iodine, and selenium are the factors leading to its high consumption. Countries such as Iceland, Japan, Portugal, and India are the major consumers of fish and fish products in the world. Processed and ready-to-eat fish products such as frozen and canned fish food have witnessed an increase in consumption among these countries. Rich Omega-3 oil-containing fish such as mackerel, herring, sardines, fresh tuna, salmon, and trout helps in improving the biological functions of human body, such as brain functionality. Due to such health benefits, the demand for fish and fish products is growing worldwide.

Looking for more information on this market? Request a free sample report

Technavio's sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

EMEA: largest fish processing equipment market

EMEA is considered to be the dominant region in the global fish processing equipment market. During the forecast period, EMEA is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period as it is the leading consumer and importer of fish products in the world. To meet the growing demand, there has been a high amount of fish production activities happening in countries such as Norway, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Denmark, Iceland, Germany, France, Netherlands, Morocco and others. EMEA is also witnessing a number of expansions and new plant construction of fish processing plants. Marel, BAADER, STEEN, Skagina 3X are the leading players in the market in this region.

According to a senior analyst at Technavio for research on food service, "Norway is one of the leading producers and exporters of fish products in EMEA. Spain is a top producer of canned fish products. Russia also consists of a number of fish processing plants. Fish processing companies in Lithuania imports majority of raw materials from other countries to process and export fish products. African countries such as Ghana have also registered a high amount of fish processing with various fisheries with 500 types of fish."

Competitive vendor landscape

The global fish processing equipment market consists of several international, regional, and local vendors. With the rise in technological innovation in the future, the market competition is expected to get intense. On the basis of design, dimension, and price, the key players in the market compete with each other in the market. To improve the competitive advantage in the market, the key players are focusing on launching new products with advanced technologies and increasing their production capacity.

Get a sample copy of the global fish processing equipment market report free of cost

Access Technavio's continuously growing food service research library and find expert analysis on hundreds of markets.

About Technavio

Technaviois a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 10,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

If you are interested in more information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005203/en/

Contacts:

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Jesse Maida

Media Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

www.technavio.com26 January 2018

Clear Leisure Plc

("Clear Leisure" or "the Company")

Placing to raise 350,000

The board of Clear Leisure (AIM: CLP) is delighted to announce that it has today raised 350,000 (gross of expenses) through the placing of 58,333,334 new ordinary shares ("Placing Shares") at a price of 0.6p per share (the "Placing"). The Placing, which was over-subscribed, is with certain existing and new investors. The funds raised will be used for working capital purposes, the repayment of selected existing debt and to develop the Company's cryptocurrency strategy.

Application has been made for the Placing Shares to be admitted to trading AIM with admission expected to occur on 1 February 2018. The Placing Shares will rankpari passuwith the existing ordinary shares of nominal value 0.25p each in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares").

Following Admission, the Company's enlarged issued share capital will comprise 368,624,620 Ordinary Shares. This figure may be used by shareholders in the Company as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change in their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive Chairman of Clear Leisure, commented, "The Company has been presented with a unique opportunity to increase its presence in the mining of cryptocurrencies. We intend to execute this strategy at our earliest convenience, taking benefit in the current market interest in cryptocurrencies and be among the first companies on AIM to move into this potentially exciting sector in the UK."

-ends-

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulation ("MAR"). Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ("RIS"), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For further information please contact:

Clear Leisure Plc +39 335 296573

Francesco Gardin, CEO and Executive Chairman

SP Angel Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker) +44 (0)20 3407 0470

Jeff Keating / John Mackay / Charlie Bouverat

Peterhouse Corporate Finance (Joint Broker) +44 (0) 20 7469 0935

Lucy Williams / Heena Karani

Leander (Financial PR) +44 (0) 7795 168 157

Christian Taylor-Wilkinson

About Clear Leisure Plc

Clear Leisure plc (AIM: CLP) is an AIM listed investment company with a portfolio of companies primarily encompassing the leisure and real estate sectors mainly in Italy. The focus of management is to pursue the monetisation of all of the Company's existing assets, through selected realisations, court-led recoveries of misappropriated assets and substantial debt-recovery processes. Under its existing investment policy the Company can seek new investment opportunities, in different sectors, including information technology. For further information, please visit, www.clearleisure.co.ukOSLO, Norway, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

LINK Mobility Group ASA ("LINK"), one of Europe's leading and fastest growing providers of B2C mobile messaging and mobile services, has entered into a term sheet regarding the acquisition of Italian mobile messaging company SMS Italia Srl ("SMS.it").

SMS.it is one of the leading mobile messaging providers in Italy. Established in 1996, SMS.it was the first in the world to provide mobile Internet services and the first mobile messaging provider on a global scale. Located in Milan, with offices in Bologna, SMS.it is a mobile operator owning an independent mobile network, fixed network, signalling and SS7 interconnection, and has in place interworking agreements with all the Italian mobile operators and the primary MVNOs. SMS.it doubled its revenues every year in last two years.

"I am really happy to announce that we have signed a firm term sheet to acquire SMS.it the first global provider of mobile messaging services all the way back in 1996. This is our second investment in Italy and the fit between Total Connect and SMS.it is very good. We will now have a solid platform to develop and grow LINK in Italy through our strong sales focus and innovation of mobile messaging and solutions services. The Italian market is experiencing strong growth and we really look forward to take a big slice of this growth going forward." says Arild E. Hustad, CEO of LINK.

"We are very pleased with the opportunity to combine strengths and expertise of SMS.it with LINK Mobility. And it should also be stated that SMS.it was the first in the world providing mobile internet services. Our two companies have a strong cultural fit and a similar approach to clients and partners. Joining LINK Mobility enhances the access for our clients to industry leading and innovative solutions, while still maintaining focus on the local proximity to our clients, as well as the quality of service and assistance that is highly valued by our clients." says Daniele Preda, Managing Director of SMS.it.

The agreed enterprise value of the transaction is EUR 8.011 million, on a cash-free and debt-free basis and assuming a normalized level of working capital. The enterprise value is based on an estimated adjusted EBITDA of EUR 1.161 million multiplied by a factor of 6.9. SMS.it exspect to report revenues for 2017 of Euro 10.8 million.

The purchase price under the transaction, subject to customary adjustments, is expected to be settled as follows:

- 1/3 of the purchase price in cash upon closing,

- 1/3 of the purchase price as escrow, and

- 1/3 of the purchase price of shares in LINK valued at the share price at close of trading on the Oslo Stock Exchange yesterday, 26 January 2018, being NOK 144.80 per LINK share.

LINK intends to acquire all shares in SMS.it in an acquisition of its holding company A2P Ventures Ltd from the seller Horizon Ventures Ltd and the acquisition is conditional upon a satisfactory result of a due diligence process to be performed by LINK, and upon LINK and the seller agreeing on the terms and conditions of a final share purchase agreement for the consummation of the transaction, containing, inter alia, customary closing conditions. The acquisition is furthermore subject to approval of the Board of Directors of LINK.

The transaction is expected to close on or about 31 March 2018.

For further information, please contact:

Arild Hustad, CEO

LINK Mobility Group ASA

arild.hustad@linkmobility.com

Mob: +47-95-24-19-30

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

http://news.cision.com/link-mobility-group-asa/r/link-mobility-group-asa-signs-term-sheet-regarding-acquisition-of-sms-it-in-italy--the-first-interne,c2439199

The following files are available for download:DUBLIN, Jan. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

The "Nanosatellite and Microsatellite Market Analysis By Mass (Microsatellites, Nanosatellites), By Application, By End-use, By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The global nanosatellites and microsatellites market is expected to reach USD 4.97 billion by 2025

Evolving regulatory framework to accommodate small satellite systems for the development of the space industry is expected to propel market demand.

Nanosatellites and microsatellites have proven to be dynamic for embracing new developments in various sectors such as weather information and climatic research, multimedia communications, telephone and television, data distribution, transportation and logistics, navigation, safety, security, and rescue. As these satellites have paved the way for cost-effective earth observation missions along with the development of small launchers and small ground stations connected with cost-effective data distribution methods, industry participants have shifted their focus toward developing nanosatellites and microsatellites.

Moreover, CubeSats, which are smaller than nanosatellites are witnessing a rise in popularity due to their shorter time to orbit and lower manufacturing costs. With the emergence of nanosatellites and microsatellites, there has been a development of a new niche market dedicated to small satellites. Several new players are embracing miniaturized technologies along with a range of advanced launch technologies.

Furthermore, to develop sustainability in the market, players are maintaining a steady flow of microsatellite launches for widening their customer base. Increasing demand from economies such as India and Japan is contributing to the growth of the nanosatellite and microsatellite market. For instance, in the wake of miniaturization, Japan is developing strategies to tap the demand for compact satellites and aircraft.

Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest:

The nanosatellite segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period, with a projected CAGR of close to 22% from 2017 to 2025

The commercial application segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 20% over the next eight years, fueled by the growing use of these satellites in automotive navigation systems and by space agencies

Asia Pacific is expected to be fastest-growing region, primarily attributed to the increasing government support for digitization and the growing initiatives for developing space programs

is expected to be fastest-growing region, primarily attributed to the increasing government support for digitization and the growing initiatives for developing space programs The technology and academic training application segment is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.5% over the forecast period

The key players in the industry include Dauria Aerospace, GomSpace Group AB, Innovative Solutions in Space, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and SpaceQuest Ltd.



Key Topics Covered:



Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope

1.1 Research Methodology

1.2 Research Scope and Assumptions

1.3 List of Data Sources



Chapter 2 Executive Summary

2.1 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Industry Snapshot & Key Buying Criteria, 2014 - 2025



Chapter 3 Global Industry Outlook

3.1 Market Segmentation & Scope

3.2 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite Market Size and Growth Prospects

3.3 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Value Chain Analysis

3.4 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Market Dynamics

3.4.1 Driver Analysis

3.4.1.1 Increase in the demand for miniaturized satellites in commercial and defense & military segments

3.4.1.2 Lower manufacturing cost and time as compared to larger satellites

3.4.2 Market restraint analysis

3.4.2.1 Legal and regulatory issues

3.5 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Key Opportunities Prioritized

3.6 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Key Company Analysis, 2016

3.7 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - Porter's Five Forces Analysis

3.8 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite - PEST Analysis



Chapter 4 Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Mass Estimates & Trend Analysis

4.1 Market Size Estimates & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, 2014 - 2025 (Revenue USD Million)

4.2 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite Market: Mass Movement Analysis

4.2.1 Nanosatellites

4.2.2 Microsatellites



Chapter 5 Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Application Estimates & Trend Analysis

5.1 Market Size Estimates & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, 2014 - 2025 (Revenue USD Million)

5.2 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite Market: Application Movement Analysis

5.2.1 Communication and navigation

5.2.2 Earth observation/remote sensing

5.2.3 Scientific research

5.2.4 Technology and academic training



Chapter 6 Nanosatellite And Microsatellite End-Use Estimates & Trend Analysis

6.1 Market Size Estimates & Forecasts and Trend Analysis, 2014 - 2025 (Revenue USD Million)

6.2 Nanosatellite and Microsatellite Market: End-Use Movement Analysis

6.2.1 Government

6.2.2 Defense and Security

6.2.3 Commercial

6.2.4 Civil



Chapter 7 Nanosatellite And Microsatellite Regional Estimates & Trend Analysis



Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape



Dauria Aerospace

GomSpace Group AB

Innovative Solutions in Space (ISIS)

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).

SpaceQuest Ltd.

Spire Global Inc.

Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL)

The Boeing Company

Tyvak Inc.

Vector Space Systems

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8phtz2/nanosatellite_and?w=5





Media Contact:

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

press@researchandmarkets.com

For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470

For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630

For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907

Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 26, 2018 / Snap Interactive, Inc. ("STVI," the "Company," "we," "our" or "us") (OTCQB: STVI), a leading provider of live video social networking applications building on blockchain, today released a video replay of the Company's "Blockchain Investor Evening" held last week in New York.

The event, "Public Blockchain Companies: Opportunities and Strategies from the First Movers," brought together a cadre of investors interested in exploring the evolution of blockchain and the related investment opportunities. Hosted in partnership with Zacks SCR, the featured keynote speaker was STVI Blockchain Advisory Board member, Lou Kerner.

"While blockchain is advancing rapidly to the mainstream, the concept of blockchain can still be intimidating, so it's always advantageous when we can bring together investors, thought leaders and companies exploring its real-world applications in one room to exchange ideas on how to unlock blockchain's full potential," said Alex Harrington, STVI's Chief Executive Officer. "We were also pleased to help further educate the investor community on STVI's growing role in the blockchain and ecosystem."

A video replay of the event can be found on STVI's website at www.snap-interactive.com.

About Snap Interactive, Inc. (OTCQB: STVI)

Snap Interactive, Inc. is a leading provider of live video social networking applications building on innovative technologies such as blockchain. STVI's product portfolio includes Paltalk and Camfrog, which together host one of the world's largest collections of video-based communities, and Backchannel, a secure video messaging app built on blockchain, due to launch in 2018. The Company also offers FirstMet, a prominent interactive dating brand serving users 35 and older. The Company has a long history of technology innovation and holds 26 patents related to video conferencing and online gaming.

For more information, please visit http://www.snap-interactive.com.

To be added to our news distribution list, please visit http://www.snap-interactive.com/investor-relations/investor-alerts.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements." Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential," or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with general economic, industry and market sector conditions; the ability to effectively develop and incorporate blockchain technology into the Company's applications; the ability to effectively integrate the operations of the Company and AVM; the timing and amount of any future repurchases of the Company's common stock, if any; user acceptance of our updated applications; the Company's ability to institute corporate governance standards or achieve compliance with national securities exchange listing requirements; the Company's future growth and the ability to obtain additional financing to implement the Company's growth strategy; the ability to increase or recognize revenue, decrease expenses and increase the number of active subscribers, new subscription transactions or monthly active users; the ability to enter into new advertising agreements; the Company's ability to generate positive cash flow from operations; the ability to diversify new user acquisition channels or improve the conversion of users to paid subscribers; the ability to anticipate and respond to changing user and industry trends and preferences; the intense competition in the online dating marketplace; the ability to release new applications or derive revenue from new applications; and circumstances that could disrupt the functioning of the Company's applications. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement or statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement was made, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

Snap Interactive Investor Relations Contact:

Mike Cole

VP, MZ Group

949.259.4988

mike.cole@mzgroup.us

SOURCE: Snap Interactive, Inc.An agreement has been signed to establish the Sino-Israel Modern Agricultural Industrial Park in Harbin, capital city of Northeast Chinas Heilongjiang province. The deal was signed at the 2018 China(Harbin)-Israel Modern Agriculture Summit Forum held in Harbin on Jan 23.

The deal is expected to boost communications and cooperation between the two sides in modern agriculture.

The park will cover an area of 3.32 million ($591,000) square meters with a total investment of 5.6 billion yuan.

Around 150 agricultural experts and business representatives attended the forum, including from Israel, Ukraine, Turkey and Serbia.

Israel has the most advanced agricultural technologies, and enjoys a great reputation for its drip irrigation technology, soil cultivation and animal husbandry. Meanwhile, Harbin has vast and fertile blackland due to its location. The agreement between the two sides will enable the two to utilize their complementary advantages.

The deal is also in line with Harbins strategy to develop its agricultural sector through supply-side reform.

The signing ceremony for the Sino-Israel Modern Agricultural Industrial Park takes place in Harbin on Jan 23.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

The 2018 China(Harbin)-Israel Modern Agriculture Summit Forum is held in Harbin on Jan 23.[Photo/Chinanews.com]

OXFORD, England, January 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Unipart, one of Europe's leading manufacturing, logistics and consultancy groups, has announced the appointment of Dr. Hamid Mughal OBE to the Unipart board as a non-executive director. Dr. Mughal is Director of Global Manufacturing for Rolls-Royce plc.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151111/773178 )



(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633894/Dr_Mughal.jpg )



Dr. Mughal joined Rolls-Royce in 2002 from BMW Group where he was Director of New Product Programmes. In his current role as Director of Global Manufacturing, Dr. Mughal is responsible for leading the manufacturing strategy and activities across the company's Civil, Defence and Power Systems Manufacturing bases.

Dr. Mughal has an Honours degree in Mechanical Engineering, BA in Mathematics and Technology, MSc. in Production Engineering & Management and a Doctorate in Manufacturing Systems. He has also been awarded Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Hertfordshire, Birmingham, Sheffield and Strathclyde.

He has a keen interest in the latest developments in manufacturing and supply chain management and contributes regularly to UK industry, High Value Manufacturing Catapult and professional bodies in his capacity as a Manufacturing leader and External Professor of Manufacturing at Cranfield, Hertfordshire and Sheffield Universities. He is a chartered engineer, winner of International Manufacturing Gold Medal, Fellow of Royal Academy of Engineering, IMechE and IET and leader of Defence Growth Partnership's Value Chain Competitiveness strategy.

Commenting on the appointment, Unipart Chairman and Group Chief Executive John Neill said:

"We are very pleased to welcome Hamid to the Unipart Board. He is an internationally acclaimed manufacturing and technology leader with over 30 years of experience in the automotive and aerospace sectors. He brings with him a wealth of experience in many disciplines including product engineering, operations management, manufacturing engineering & technology, supply chain management and product development of large scale programmes.

"Unipart continues to be a company that our customers and prospects can rely on and trust in a fast-changing world. Hamid's deep technical and business expertise will strengthen the board's growing expertise and determination to be leaders of the Fourth Industrial Revolution within our sectors and deliver the benefits that it can bring to many of our customers."

Dr. Mughal will join the board on 31 January 2018.Regulatory News:

Veolia Environnement (Paris:VIE):

The result of the merger between m2ocity and Homerider Systems, both pioneers in the remote meter reading, Birdz has just delivered its six millionth connected object to COBAS (Urban Community of South Arcachon Bay) in France. This is a record figure for this unique expertise serving the smart city and the quality of the urban environment. Water, energy, waste, temperature, pollution, noise and public lighting: Birdz' expertise spans the entire value chain from sensor design to data mining. This is a "promising start" for this Nova Veolia subsidiary.

Out with m2ocity and Homerider Systems and in with Birdz. These two Nova Veolia subsidiaries have merged to form a single entity. Coinciding with the creation of Birdz, Xavier Mathieu, Director General of Birdz, and Frederic Van Heems, Director General of Veolia Water France, have just delivered the six millionth connected object to Helene des Esgaulx, the president of COBAS (Urban Community of South Arcachon Bay).

Birdz now combines in the one entity all the skills and expertise of the two former companies, which means it can now address the entire value chain from the design of connected objects to data mining and including checking, transmission and analysis.

"The IoT ecosystem in France, as everywhere else in the world, is undergoing rapid change with the appearance of new standardized protocols and telecom companies rolling out connectivity networks. The aim of this merger is therefore to adapt and ensure we keep pace with these developments, and improve our response to the market's expectations," says Xavier Mathieu, Director General of Birdz. A systems integrator for its customers, from sensors through to exploiting the data collected, Birdz is therefore making this technological shift relying on interoperable communication networks and protocols in order to deliver the best service possible to its clients.

With millions of pieces of data collected every day, Birdz helps cities and industry reduce their consumption and improve their services.

"By combining all Veolia's IoT expertise, Birdz is perfectly aligned on the strategy to digitalize all Veolia's historic businesses serving local authorities, industry and ethical consumers," says Claire Falzone, Director General of Nova Veolia.

Birdz has strengthened its position as a major player in the IoT sector in France. A pioneer in smart water meters, it is rolling out its unique expertise to support smart cities and offers the market's broadest range of solutions for this ecosystem: water, energy, waste, temperature, air quality, noise, pollution, etc.

About Birdz

The result of the merger between Homerider Systems and m2ocity and a fully owned subsidiary of Nova Veolia, Birdz, a pioneer in smart water meters, uses its unique expertise to support the smart city. A major player in IoT in France, Birdz provides the ecosystem with the broadest range of solutions on the market for managing urban utilities and protecting the quality of the urban environment: water, energy, temperature, pollution, noise, public lighting, etc. Its expertise spans the entire value chain from sensor design to mining the millions of pieces of data collected.

www.Birdz.com

About Nova Veolia

Nova Veolia is a 100%-owned subsidiary of Veolia Water France, dedicated to the development of innovative services with a high digital content. An incubator of new business, Nova Veolia develops and markets, through specialized companies, services developed around high value-added expertise and know-how. Nova Veolia's innovative offer targets the new needs of public and private companies, whether or not they operate in the area of water.

www.nova.veolia.com

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005468/en/

Contacts:

Veolia Environnement

Press

Press Groupe Relations

Laurent Obadia Sandrine Guendoul

Stephane Galfre Camille Maire

Tel 06 09 78 22 63

stephane.galfre@veolia.comLONDON, Jan. 26,2018 /PRNewswire/ --Chubb today announced two changes within its senior leadership team.

Jeff Moghrabi, Division President Continental Europe, has been appointed to the newly-created role of Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships, Chubb Overseas General. He will be replaced as Division President Continental Europe by Adam Clifford, currently Country President for Singapore. Subject to regulatory approval, Adam will start 1 March.

Jeff's move follows the strategic cooperation agreement between Chubb and PICC Property & Casualty Company of China which was announced in November 2017. In his new role Jeff will be responsible for leveraging Chubb's global capabilities in support of PICC's customers and other Chinese-affiliated companies around the world in line with the Chinese government's drive to promote the country's "Going Out" and "One Belt One Road" initiatives. He will report to Juan C. Andrade, Executive Vice President, Chubb Group and President, Overseas General Insurance, Chubb.

Jeff, who has more than 30 years of insurance industry experience, joined Chubb in 2003 as Country President for Italy. He has subsequently held various positions including Country President, France before taking on wider responsibilities across Continental Europe. He has been Division President Continental Europe since 2013.

Juan C. Andrade, Executive Vice President, Chubb Group and President, Overseas General Insurance, Chubb said:

"I am delighted to welcome Jeff to this new and important role. His skills, knowledge and experience will be important in the development of our partnership with PICC."

In his new role Adam Clifford, who will succeed Jeff as Division President Continental Europe, Chubb, will be responsible for all Chubb's Property and Casualty, Accident and Health and Consumer Lines operations across the 17 countries that make up the company's Continental Europe region. He will be based in Paris and will report directly to Andrew Kendrick, Regional President Europe, Chubb.

Adam is currently Country President Singapore, Chubb. He was previously Regional Head of Casualty for Asia Pacific, Chubb. Before joining ACE (now Chubb) in 2014, Adam held senior underwriting positions with two multinational insurers within the Asia Pacific region and also worked in the insurance industry in the UK and Europe for a decade.

Andrew Kendrick, Regional President Europe, Chubb, said:

"This is a significant appointment for Chubb in Continental Europe. Adam is a highly skilled and accomplished insurance professional and leader who has proved himself as a great asset in the Asia Pacific region. He joins us at a very exciting time and I look forward to working with him closely and watching him grow our business in Continental Europe. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jeff Moghrabi for his tremendous contribution as CE Division President and wish him the very best in his new role."

About Chubb

Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk

About PICC

PICC P&C is China's largest property and casualty insurance company, with total assets of approximately $72.2 billion and gross written premiums of approximately $47.3 billion reported in 2016. PICC's commercial customers include some of China's largest enterprises, many of which have complex operations in multiple foreign jurisdictions.

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo.jpgRegulatory News:

Elior Group (Paris:ELIOR) offers its employees in France and outside of France to subscribe to its first employee share ownership offer reserved for employees (FUTURE).

This offer is aimed at approximately 90,000 employees of the Group in 7 countries: France, Germany, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, United States and the United Kingdom (the Group ). It takes the form of a capital increase reserved to employees who are members of a Group's Savings Plan. Such offer has been authorized by the 13th resolution adopted by the Mixed General Assembly on March 10th, 2017 of Elior Group's shareholders.

The terms and conditions of this offer are described below.

About Elior Group

Founded in 1991, Elior Group has grown into one of the world's leading operators in the catering and support services industry, and has become a benchmark player in the business industry, education, healthcare and travel markets. Now operating in 16 countries, the Group generated 6,422 million in revenue through 25,000 restaurants and points of sale in FY 2016-2017. Our 127,000 employees serve 5.5 million people on a daily basis, taking genuine care of each and every one by providing personalized catering and service solutions to ensure an innovative customer experience.

We place particular importance on corporate social responsibility and have been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2004, reaching the GC Advanced Level in 2015. The professional excellence of our teams as well as their unwavering commitment to quality and innovation and to providing best-in-class service is embodied in our corporate motto: "Time savored".

Issuer

Elior Group

Euronext Paris Compartment A

ISIN code for ordinary shares: FR0011950732

Share admitted to the Deferred Settlement System (SRD)

Options proposed as part of the employee share ownership offer reserved for employees FUTURE

As part of this share offering, Elior Group offers its employees two options:

A Classic plan, which includes a discount, in which the subscriber is exposed to movements in the share price

A Multiple plan (via an intermediate exchange contract with a lead bank) under which the subscriber receives, at maturity, at least the amount of his/her personal contributions to which is added a guaranteed return or a multiple of the performance of Elior Group shares.

The shares will be subscribed by the employees either directly, or via an employee shareholding fund (FCPE) depending on the country of residence.

In these two options, the subscription price will be 80% of the average opening price of the Elior Group shares on the Euronext Paris market during the 20 trading days preceding the date the subscription price is set by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer delegated to do so.

Securities offered

The maximum amount of the shares subscribed is set at 1% of Elior Group's share capital, evaluated on the date of the decision to determine the subscription price.

The resulting shares will confer entitlement as of their issuance and will provide entitlement to the payment of any dividend distributed by the Company as of their issuance.

Subscription conditions

The beneficiaries of this shareholder offering are the employees of the Company and of member companies of the Elior Group Savings Plan or of the Elior Group International Savings Plan.

This includes employees, corporate officers meeting the terms and conditions of Article L. 3332-2 of the French Labour Code, provided they have been in service for at least three months on the final day of the subscription period, as well as retirees who have kept their holding in the Elior Group Savings Plan.

The legal individual investment limit is 25% of gross annual pay for the Classic plan and 2.5% for the multiple plan (excluding bank contributions). Subscribers to the offering must hold the shares they subscribed directly, or their employee shareholding funds unit until April 26, 2018 (excluded), unless early exit events.

Unit holders of employee shareholding funds will exercise their voting rights at Elior Group General Assembly through the supervisory board of the funds.

Indicative timeline for the Future offering

Reservation period: 1st February to 20 February 2018 (included)

Subscription price set on: 26 March 2018

Subscription/cancellation period: 27 March to 30 March 2018

Settlement/delivery of shares: 26 April 2018

These dates are indicative only and may change.

Listing

Elior Group new shares are scheduled for admittance to trading on the Euronext Paris market (ISIN code FR0011950732 ELIOR) on the 26 April 2023. These new shares will be similar to existing shares.

Hedging operations

The introduction of leveraged options may cause the lead bank, as a counterpart to the trade, to generate hedging agreements prior to setting up the share offering, from the date of the publication of this press release and throughout the duration of the operation.

Specific statements for international

This press release does not constitute an offer of sale or solicitation for the subscription of Elior Group shares. The share offering reserved for employees will be set up only in countries where such an offer has been registered with the competent local authorities and/or following the approval of a prospectus by the competent local authorities, or in consideration of an exemption from the obligation to prepare a prospectus or to register an offer. In general, the offer will be made only in countries where all the registration and/or notification procedures required have been completed and the authorisations obtained. This press release is not intended for, and therefore copies of it may not be sent to, countries in which such a prospectus has not been approved or such an exemption would not be approved or in which all registration and/or notification procedures required have not yet been completed or authorisations have not been obtained.

The securities described in this document have not been and will not be registered in the United States with the Securities and Exchange Commission and may not be offered in the United States, except as part of transactions that do not require registration under the United States Securities Act of 1933.

Additional Information

All necessary information about Elior Group is available from the Company's website (www.eliorgroup.com

All necessary information about the FUTURE share offering, for beneficiaries, is available on the website dedicated to the offering www.future.eliorgroup.com

Beneficiaries subscribing to share through an employee shareholding fund should read the key investor information document (KIID) and the regulations for each fund for full information.

This press release constitutes a communication as required by the AMF in accordance with Article 19 of Instruction N2016-04 of 15 January 2018.

About Elior Group

Founded in 1991, Elior Group has grown into one of the world's leading operators in the catering and support services industry, and has become a benchmark player in the business industry, education, healthcare and travel markets. Now operating in 16 countries, the Group generated 6,422 million in revenue through 25,000 restaurants and points of sale in FY 2016-2017. Our 127,000 employees serve 5.5 million people on a daily basis, taking genuine care of each and every one by providing personalized catering and service solutions to ensure an innovative customer experience.

We place particular importance on corporate social responsibility and have been a member of the United Nations Global Compact since 2004, reaching the GC Advanced Level in 2015. The professional excellence of our teams as well as their unwavering commitment to quality and innovation and to providing best-in-class service is embodied in our corporate motto: "Time savored".

For further information please visit our website (http://www.eliorgroup.com) or follow us on Twitter (@Elior_Group)

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180126005536/en/

Contacts:

Investors Relations

Marie de Scorbiac marie.descorbiac@eliorgroup.com

+33 (0) 1 70 06 70 13

or

Press Contact

Anne-Laure Sanguinetti anne-laure.sanguinetti@eliorgroup.com

+33 (0) 1 71 06 70 57Donald Trump is set to make a work visit to the UK later this year after meeting with Prime Minister Theresa May at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Theresa May has invited Donald Trump to the UK despite the controversy surrounding the president after he retweeted a few videos from far right group Britain First. At the meeting, the president promised the US will always "be there" for Britain. He said both countries have many things in common and that they "like each other a lot". Trump also ...

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Following revelations he used taxpayer funds to settle a former aide's sexual harassment complaint, Congressman Pat Meehan, R-Penn., will not run for re-election this year. Meehan said in a letter to his campaign chairman obtained by the Inquirer and Daily News that he decided not to seek re-election after consultation with his wife and three sons and after prayerful reflection. The decision by Meehan comes after the New York Times revealed his secret settlement in a report on Saturday. Meehan called the news a 'major distraction' but wrote, 'I need to own it because it is my own conduct that fueled the matter.' 'It is clear to me that under the current conditions, any campaign I would run would not be decided over vital issues but would likely devolve into an ugly spectacle of harsh rhetoric,' he added. The four-term congressman received criticism for referring to the aide involved in the complaint as his 'soul mate' but denied pursuing a romantic relationship with the woman. In a statement National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, said he was disappointed by the circumstances leading to Meehan's retirement. 'We must always hold ourselves to the highest possible standard - especially while serving in Congress,' Stivers said. He added, 'I am confident that the voters of Pennsylvania's 7th District will elect a strong conservative who will represent their values.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.EDINBURGH, Scotland, January 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

Bachmann & Welser Capital Ltd ("Bachmann & Welser"), the growing specialist in Standby Letters of Credit (SBLC), Trade Finance and other Banking Instruments, is pleased to announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Blend Financials Services Ltd ("Blend"), an Indian company founded in 1997 with a focus on Trade Finance, Corporate and Financial advisory and project funding. Blend has offices in the Dubai, UK, Singapore, Kenya, USA and India.

(Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/623302/Bachmann_Welser_Capital_Limited_Logo.jpg )



(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/634115/Blend_Financial_Services_Logo.jpg )



Highlights:

MoU signed with Trade Finance Specialist, Blend Financial Services Ltd

Bachmann & Welser and Blend to collaborate providing funding solutions to clients globally

Bachmann & Welser to expand operations into South America and South East Asia

and The Agreement shall be valid for one year

Under the MoU agreement, Bachmann & Welser will, for a period of one year, work with Blend to explore financing options for trade transactions. Both parties believe there are a number of opportunities to explore in the Trade finance.

Edward Bachmann, Bachmann & Welser's CEO commented: "We are delighted to announce this MoU with Blend Financial Services Ltd and we look forward to working with them in establishing a strong presence in India and beyond. Blend is a major player in the Asian Trade Finance arena with partnerships with major names."

"Our combined experience in the Trade Finance industry makes us well placed to create innovative, reliable and safe solutions for our clients especially those in the emerging markets. Our team's expertise, gained over many years, has been pivotal to attracting and securing collaborations with quality partners such as, Blend."

About Bachmann & Welser Capital

Bachmann & Welser Capital Ltd is aUnited Kingdombased Standby Letter of Credit and Trade Finance Specialist founded by former City of London Financiers and Investment Bankers. Through its worldwide partnerships, the company is able to provide unique financial solutions for its clients.

For More Information: Please visithttp://www.bachmannwelser.com.Alternatively, you can call on +44(0) 131-357-0361.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sarah Atkins

Media Relations Officer

Sarah.Atkins@bachmannwelser.com

Heetch, a Paris, France-based provider of a ride-sharing platform, raised a $20M funding round.

The round was led by Felix Capital with participation from Alven Capital, Via-ID, Idinvest Partners and InnovAllianz.

The company intends to use the funds to double its tech team and accelerate its growth in all its markets.

Launched in September 2013 as a pure P2P ride-sharing platform focusing only on young people trips at night, the service had to shut down in March 2017 due to a court decision. Heetch today provides a ride-sharing platform available 24h/24 for all professional drivers in order to compete directly with Uber.

On the French market, the service is already live in 6 cities (Paris, Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice) and plans to launch in Toulouse, Montpellier and Strasbourg soon.

Already live in Sweden, Italy and Belgium, Heetch is now available in Morocco where it signed a partnership with 19 taxi syndicates. In addition, the company has already announced its plans to open in London and other big European cities in 2018.

FinSMEs

26/01/2018Osage University Partners, a Bala Cynwd, PA-based venture capital fund that invests in university startups, announced multiple promotions in key positions.

On the finance team, OUP has made two promotions, including:

 Claudia Dunnous, former Vice President of Finance, who is now Chief Financial Officer. Dunnous joined the firm in 2006 and is a CPA with more than 25 years of experience working with private equity and manufacturing companies. She serves as CFO for both Osage University Partners and its sister fund, Osage Venture Partners; and

 Beth Grafstrom, former Fund Controller, who is now Vice President of Finance. Grafstrom joined OUP in 2015 and is a CPA who previously worked in New York at New Mountain Capital as a Business Development Company Controller, and prior to that as a Senior Associate in the Banking Capital Markets Assurance practice at PwC.

On its investment team, the firm has promoted:

 Stephanie Stehman, PhD, former Senior Associate, who is now Principal. Stehman joined OUP in 2015 and focuses on investments in therapeutics, diagnostics, and medical devices. She has been actively involved 7 portfolio companies, including Cell Design Labs, E-Scape Bio, Fortis Therapeutics, Neuros Medical, and Pionyr Immunotherapeutics. Previously, Stehman was with HIG BioVentures and Scisive Consulting.

 David Dorsey, PhD, former Associate, who is now Senior Associate. Dorsey joined OUP in 2016 and his investment focus areas include networks, wireless technology, signal processing, and machine learning. He has been involved with technology investments KenSci and Quantum Circuits. Prior to joining OUP, Dorsey was a lead engineer at Lockheed Martin, where he served as principal investigator for multiple DARPA/DoD programs.

Osage University Partners is a venture capital firm focused on investing in startups that are commercializing pioneering university technologies. OUP partners with top research universities to invest in their most innovative startups, and OUP shares its investment profit with its partner institutions.

The firm invests in software, hardware, and life science companies at all stages of company development. OUP has partnered with over 90 universities, including 36 of the top 50 U.S. institutions by research expenditures, and has invested in over 75 of their spinouts.

FinSMEs

26/01/2018User consent is clearly defined and upon receipt of consumer data, it retains and uses it efficiently.

Today, 26 January, India's Republic Day, is the celebration of the nation's Constitution, or to put it simply, the right to independent governance.

In the last 68 years, governance has come a long way and with the onset of technology in the last few years, it has entered a new horizon, with over 109 new initiatives by the government in the last two years. Many of these are directed towards building a digital India.

According to the Digital Evolution Index 2016 by the Fletcher School, Tufts University, India now ranks amongst the breakout countries as far as digital adoption is concerned.

The key to this digital transformation lies in data. Today, data has begun playing an increasingly significant role in the public sector. Governments worldwide are trying to balance citizens demands and offer them access to real-time services with help of data.

Unlocking value from data

Consider this. Data-backed insights have a significant hand in private sector innovation. Customers have few qualms about sharing personal data on social media/online platforms. A major reason would be that the private sector has been able to well-define its value proposition.

User consent is clearly defined and upon receipt of consumer data, it retains and uses it efficiently. The results too are visible  in the form of personalized products or improved services. The outcome is higher customer loyalty as well as revenues. For example, Amazons personalized recommendations engine is responsible for 35 percent of its total product sales. Therefore, putting information sharing into the hands of the people via user consent is one of the ways that can help in building trust and easing out challenges; something the government can utilize when planning.

To accelerate citizen data sharing, the success and long-term benefits of best practices should be made public. For example, in the US, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Seattle are using a data technique called predictive policing to help curb street crime. Law enforcement agencies are adopting techniques that harness information to lower crime rates. Such use cases, can showcase benefits of data sharing leading to better permissive public attitudes and citizen trust.

Linking existing data for high-value service offering

In addition to a communication framework, another important focus is on infrastructure. One of the main challenges in the governments handling of data has been that most of it remains siloed with no linking to existing data. With the right data management foundation that facilitates seamless information movement across silos, governments have a greater opportunity to measurably improve personalisation and efficiency of services.

A notable example here is of Boston. They have introduced CityScore - a single number to indicate Bostons overall health that combines 24 different metrics, from crime to Wi-Fi availability, energy consumption to softer matrices like arts grants. CityScore is used to improve services and address concerns across medical responses, traffic situations etc. Its transparent, accessible to public and goes a long way in making governance more efficient.

On this Republic Day, as we celebrate the spirit of transformation. With citizen support, the government will be able to embrace more ambitious data initiatives leading to more citizen-centered services without disruption.

(The writer is Director Technology and Solutions Group, NetApp India)In an unprecedented event, all the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) leaders will be the chief guests at the Republic Day parade this year

In an unprecedented event, there will be 10 chief guests at the Republic Day parade this year, as leaders of 10 ASEAN countries  Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei  will be in attendance.

All 10 will share the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday.

The ASEAN leaders participating in the Republic Day parade are President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam, Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha of Thailand, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, the Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos and Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia.

Ties between India and ASEAN nations have been on an upswing, particularly in the areas of trade and investment.

The historic gathering comes just two months after Modi visited Manila to attend the ASEAN summit, which coincided with the 25th anniversary of India becoming a sectoral partner of ASEAN.

Here is a brief biography of each ASEAN leader:

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia

Widodo, a former entrepreneur and governor of Jakarta, was elected as Indonesia's president in July 2014, according to a BBC report. Widodo, who came to power on the promise of stamping out corruption and nepotism, has grown in popularity with measures such as relocating slum-dwellers and boosting small businesses, added the report.

Widodo has been described as a typical "village face". He is the first Indonesian president who has not emerged from the country's political elite or who has not been an army general, said a report on The New York Times.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore

Lee, a former brigadier-general, has been prime minister of Singapore since 2004. He is the son of ex-prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, who led the country to independence in 1965, stepped down in 1990, and was succeeded by former shipping executive Goh Chok Tong. The junior Lee, a cancer survivor, succeeded Goh in 2004.

Lee joined the Singapore armed forces in 1971 and served as an officer from 1974 to 1984. He became the youngest brigadier-general in Singaporean history, according Xinhua news agency.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam

Nguyen, who is the 7th Prime Minister of Vietnam, was a member of the 10th, 11th and 12th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), according to Xinhua.

Nguyen has previously held key posts in local politics and on legislative committees. He was once head of planning and investment in Danang, Vietnam's third-biggest city, said ABC.

Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia

Najib is currently at the centre of a major corruption scandal amid allegations that billions of dollars were looted from a State investment fund, 1MDB, that he founded. Both Najib and the fund deny any wrongdoing. Najib is Malaysia's most experienced serving politician with a three-decade career in government. He also holds record as the youngest candidate in a Malaysian election, from 1976 when he was aged 22.

According to Al Jazeera, during his second stint as defence minister of Malaysia, Najib instituted compulsory military service in December 2003. He was of the opinion that that the move would encourage interaction and friendship between youth of different ethnic groups.

General Prayuth Chan-o-cha of Thailand

Prayut, a former army chief, according to Strait Times, seized power in a coup in May 2014 following months of street protests that led to the ousting of then prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Recently, he was in news for producing a life-sized cardboard cutout of himself and telling the reporters to quiz it instead of him. It is not the first time Prayuth dumbfounded the media. In the past, he has fondled the ear of a sound technician during an impromptu news conference, flung a banana peel at cameramen, and threatened, with gruff humour, to execute any journalist who criticised his government.

Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar

Suu Kyi, the winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, enjoys wide support in Myanmar after spending most part of two decades under house arrest on orders of country's military junta.

She led the National League for Democracy (NLD) to a majority win in Myanmar's first openly contested election in 25 years in November 2015.

Suu Kyi has faced heavy international criticism for not taking a higher profile in responding to what UN officials have called ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims by the army.

President Rodrigo Duterte of Philippines

Duterte, 72, won elections last year after campaigning on a law-and-order platform, and the police has since reported killing more than 3,900 "drug personalities". Duterte's narcotics crackdown has killed thousands of people and drawn international criticism. Another 2,290 people have died in unsolved "drug-related" killings, government data show, leading rights groups to warn of a crime against humanity.

Duterte, according to Al Jazeera, is the oldest person to ever assume the presidency in Philippines. He is an advocate of federalism, which he has said could prove the solution to ending a Muslim rebellion in the country.

Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei

Hassanal succeeded to the throne as the sultan of Brunei in 1967. He is both the head of state as sultan and the head of the government as the prime minister, according to Xinhua. He is one of the world's richest people and also known to have a passion for cars, maintaining a collection of over hundreds of vehicles, said Moneycontrol.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos

Thongloun was elected prime minister in April 2016. He became Laos' deputy foreign minister in 1987 and from 2001 to 2006, Thongloun was chairman of state planning committee, according to Global Times.

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia

Hun Sen, according to The Financial Express, has served as prime minister of Cambodia since 1985, making him one of the world's longest-serving prime ministers.

He is seen as an authoritarian figure with a poor human rights record. He is also credited with helping achieve economic growth after the devastation caused by the Khmer Rouge regime, said BBC.

With inputs from agenciesIt is almost treason in the eyes of some to even suggest that the Constitution of India may not be the best Constitution in the world. But given that so much time has passed since it was enacted, it is perhaps a question that is worth examining

Editors Note: As India celebrates its 69th Republic Day on 26 January, this five-part series examines how India's Constitution came to be, how it has been contested over the years and what potential challenges lie ahead.

It is almost treason in the eyes of some to even suggest that the Constitution of India may not be the best Constitution in the world. But given that so much time has passed since it was enacted, it is perhaps a question that is worth examining. It has been amended 100 times in the 68 years since it was enacted, an average of more than one amendment a year. Each amendment was brought about either by necessity or political expediency. These amendments mean that the Constitution we have today, while similar in appearance to the one that was enacted, is a functionally different creature.

For example, take the point on procedural versus substantive due process. The Constituent Assembly expressly debated that point. The wording of Article 21 was debated at length to decide if they would use "procedure established by law" or "due process of law". This was to essentially avoid the doctrine brought out in Menaka Gandhi's case. But nonetheless, the judiciary read in expressly what the Constituent Assembly had sought to avoid.

The preamble too has seen amendment. The world "socialist" was never there, nor was the term "secular". They were inserted into our Preamble via an amendment. "Socialist" carried political connotations; nations that were Socialist Republics and People's Republics at the time were satellite states of the Soviet Union. By remaining a mere "Republic", India proclaimed it was non-aligned. By adding "socialist" to the Preamble, India openly aligned with the Soviets.

But the question remains if the word still has relevance in the present Constitution. For, there are no more socialist powers and no more alignments. It's a multipolar world and India is heading on the path to becoming a pole in its own right.

Then there is this word "secular". Perhaps no other word divides the nation more than secular right now. For some it is an insult and for others it is an article of faith. There is no broad consensus on what it means yet. Does it mean the State does not recognise religion at all or does it merely mean that everyone is allowed to practice what they like? If it is the latter, India was always secular from the start. If it is both the former and the later then India has long way to go before she becomes secular.

To become secular, India will have to abolish the personal laws and enact a uniform civil code. Strangely enough, the parties that want to do this are the ones that are against having the word "secular" in the Preamble. And parties that want to retain the word want to keep the personal laws. A uniquely Indian problem, for which we are yet to devise our own, uniquely Indian, solution.

Our Constitution started with a system by which the Executive Branch had a say in who the judges would be. The Chief Justice of India would be consulted the final decision would lie with the President. But after the Emergency, the Judiciary started taking control of this power, and today the Executive plays second fiddle to the senior judges of the Supreme Court when it comes to the appointment of judges. This was not the intention of the framers, yet the circumstances of history have resulted in its occurrence. Is this something the country wants to be the case in the future as well? The National Judicial Appointments Commission was struck down by the Supreme Court. And this was a constitutional amendment.

If the country finally decides it wants to change certain aspects of the status quo, can it ever do so in the future? If we wished to move from the present parliamentary system to a presidential system, would it be possible for us to effect this change? Perhaps if we wanted to call a new Assembly to draft and enact a new Constitution to suit the present times, would the people be able to? These are open questions that need to be answered. The US Constitution contains a mechanism inbuilt for a constitutional convention to propose amendments, and even reconsider the Constitution. Ours does not.

The decision may finally lie with the Supreme Court. If the Constitution has to be repealed and a new one has to take its place, then the president will have to refer the question to the apex court under Article 143 and seek its advice on how to go about it. If the Supreme Court tells us it's possible and tells us how, then we will have to follow that process.

The fact is that a document that needed to be amended 100 times in less than 70 years of its existence may not be the greatest document in the world, it may warrant a rethink. But we need to bear in mind that it's not the draft alone but also the principles behind it that matter. The Fundamental Rights, the respect for the rule of law, and the fact that everyone has finally toed the constitutional line, no matter how politically powerful they were. These facts tell us that this Constitution of ours is something to write home about at the end of the day.

Read earlier articles part of our Constitution series:



Click here to read Part I  69th Republic Day: Making of the Indian Constitution and country's path to complete Independence

Click here to read Part II  The long walk to the Republic: Constituent Assembly wasn't elected by the people, but worked like a model Parliament

Click here to read Part III  How the Republic was born: BR Ambedkar-led Drafting Committee replaced the British monarch with the Constitution

Click here to read Part IV  India's road to Republic: When judiciary had to draw the line which shaped the ConstitutionIn conversation exclusively with Firstpost, Muntashir Murshed spoke on a range of topics of regional significance to Bangladesh and India, like the NRC row.

Assistant High Commissioner to India Kazi Muntashir Murshed heads the Mission in Guwahati, which is Bangladesh's fifth Mission in India after New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Agartala. With consular jurisdiction over Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland, Murshed said in 2017, "Opening up a new diplomatic Mission is the demonstration of our government's willingness to treasure and nurture the existing excellent friendship between Bangladesh and India."

In conversation exclusively with Firstpost, Murshed spoke on a range of topics of regional significance. Edited excerpts from the interview follow:

You have consular jurisdiction over all North Eastern states except Tripura, and three of those states  Meghalaya, Nagaland and Mizoram  are going to polls this year. There is an increasing political rhetoric in the region to do with illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Even an RSS-backed outfit has scheduled a rally on the issue and will have the governors of West Bengal and Tripura in attendance. Do you think the concern is justified or is it being blown out of proportion?

I'm sure the RSS has its own thinking and agenda behind whatever it is doing. But this entire issue about illegal immigration from Bangladesh is exaggerated. If you read recent newspaper editions, the World Economic Forum published a development index document where Bangladesh ranked 34th, while India was 62nd and Pakistan 52nd. These are indicators  people need to have economic incentives to migrate.

Maybe there was a time when the situation was different, but today I do not see any reason for Bangladeshis to migrate to Assam for economic benefit. India has nothing as such to offer.

Are you saying illegal immigration is not a reality and has not been taking place in the last 40-odd years?

I can't answer that question in simple yes or no terms. I don't think we should run on presumptions since there is already a process going on. Maybe we should wait until the final NRC draft is released in Assam, especially because the Supreme Court of India is monitoring the matter.

Maybe my answer would have been different if I were not speaking from this position today. I also read the newspapers like you do, and every day since I have come here I've seen negative reports about Bangladesh and Bangladeshis  it's as if they will run out of business if they don't print those stories! I'm trying to change this perspective by going to universities and showing students what present Bangladesh looks like.

Is Bangladesh satisfied with how protected and manned the border with India currently is?

It is already documented  I think a few hundred kilometres are still not fenced. But see, most countries in the world which share land borders do not resort to building walls. We did not start the fencing on the border; it was the Indian government which did, long ago, because of a lack of trust and confidence between the two countries. Good neighbours do not need fences.

But then again, if there is a fear of infiltration or threat to security, a country can take up these measures in the national interest.

Is it in Bangladesh's national interest to build a stronger, less porous physical border?

No, we do not have an interest in a less porous border. Rather, there can be a physical border where people can come in and out. I'm in favour of opening more legal gates on the borders so that legal movement across the border is encouraged.

Although the repercussions of the NRC have not yet been discussed at a diplomatic level between the Indian and Bangladeshi governments, is Dhaka concerned with the predictions of chaos and even unrest once the final draft is published?

We are following this issue very closely because Bangladesh keeps coming up in discussions and opinion columns on NRC in the media here, and we regularly report on its progress. If there is a situation when the Indian government says, for example, that they have found five illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Assam after the final NRC list, then a decision has to be taken at the highest political level first to decide their fate.

It is premature to talk about repatriation right now because even the Government of India has not decided what it plans to do with those found to be illegally residing in Assam. But if Bangladesh is asked to take them back, it is not that easy  you have to verify, you have other documentation, but mostly the person concerned has to be willing to go to Bangladesh. An unwilling person cannot be repatriated.

So, where do you think this exercise is headed?

It will all depend on the number. Let's say 50 lakh people are found to be illegal migrants. Can Bangladesh afford to take back 50 lakh people suddenly into the country? Do these people have an address in Bangladesh? Think about the length of the process of verification. It will take a hundred years.

Also, if you want to deprive this 50 lakh people of everything except basic human rights  as Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said  think about the chaos that will ensue. It will depend on the number; if it is one lakh, perhaps it will be easier to manage.

Is India turning a blind eye to the diplomatic consequences of the final NRC draft?

Look at what is happening in Bangladesh right now. There are around nine lakh Rohingya Muslims who have come into Bangladesh since 26 August, 2017. There is an agreement that every week, about 1,500 people will be taken back to Myanmar. Our calculations say it will take 10 years to complete the exercise of repatriation.

Last week, during a protest, seven Buddhist demonstrators were killed in police firing, and this repatriation process has been stalled already.

Do you think the Rohingya refugee crisis has impacted the India-Bangladesh relationship in any way?

There has been no direct impact on the relationship as such. India is helping Bangladesh tackle the issue.

Is the international community doing enough to ease the Rohingya crisis?

In the United Nations Security Council and even other UN bodies, China vetoed measures proposed against Myanmar  even Russia took Myanmar's side. Clearly, there were human rights violation in Myanmar. The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner also called it a textbook example of ethnic cleansing. Perhaps these countries could have been more vocal against the crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

In newspaper reports, you'll mostly read about how Bangladesh is dealing with the refugee influx. Nobody is talking about why Myanmar is not building a congenial environment for them to go back. The Rohingya Muslims are actually protesting in Bangladesh saying they do not want to go back  because once in Myanmar, they will be thrown in camps, not taken to their previously occupied villages.

We need the international community to mount pressure on Myanmar to take its residents back. Helping Bangladesh house the refugees is not a sustainable solution.

Do you think fears of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh illegally entering India are justified?

No, that is not possible; we have actually cordoned off the refugee areas. The Rohingya refugees cannot even use our public transport, nothing. They cannot come out of their camps. The army has been deployed to ensure there is no movement out of the refugee camps in Bangladesh.

When this humanitarian crisis started, the Bangladeshis being very soft-hearted people, many wanted to give shelter to the Rohingyas. At the first opportunity, they (the Rohingya Muslims) would come and join the mainstream population. So, we made sure nobody comes out of the refugee areas.

So, the refugees in Bangladesh will not enjoy a regular citizen's life until they are repatriated, no matter how long that takes?

Yes.

Coming to this Mission in India, it has almost been a year since it was established. How has the journey of this particular office been so far?

This office started on 24 March, 2017. We are getting a good response from the Assamese people, and also from the rest of the North East. Every day, we are accepting 60 to 80 applications for visa, which is very good. We had set some targets when we opened this Mission, for example, we planned to start a direct flight from Dhaka to Guwahati and vice-versa, which is still in the pipeline. I also aim to set up a bus connection from Guwahati to Dhaka.

Moreover, there are some people from Bangladesh who are languishing in jails in Assam even after their jail terms are over. So I have visited all jails here and started a verification process, and hope to send them back to Bangladesh very soon.Republic Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district were marred by a spurt of violence, as two communities clashed with each other, leading to the death of one person.

Republic Day celebrations in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj district were marred by a spurt of violence, as two communities clashed, leading to the death of a 16-year-old boy, and leaving several people injured. Police said that over two dozen trouble makers from both communities have been detained and prohibitory orders under section 144 have been issued.

Additional police forces, including Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) are kept on stand-by as a precautionary measure.

The incident was reported on Friday afternoon, when one community objected to the Tiranga Yatra (flag march) by another community in their area. Around 36 volunteers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) had taken out a bike rally with tricolours in their hands and were booed at while passing through a locality of another community. The group had reached the Mathura-Bareilly highway near the Bilram Gate area when some unidentified people hurled stones at them.

A verbal altercation followed, which soon turned violent. The angry mob went on a rampage, damaging more than 12 vehicles and property, a district official said. The agitated people also tried to set afire a place of religious worship and some religious texts.

There were reports of firing as well and sources told Firstpost that three people are critically injured, while one person was dead.

Meanwhile, the other side's version of the story was that a specific community was peacefully observing flag hoisting in their locality when a bunch of rowdy motorcycle riders came there with tricolours. A resident of the area told Firstpost that several people from the community told the youngsters to not loiter around in the area or create ruckus and leave peacefully. The youth insisted on roaming the roads of the area and hurled religious abuse, after which the situation spiraled out of control.

Principal Secretary (Home) Arvind Kumar told IANS the district administration increased the security presence and the crowds have been dispersed. The district administration has also imposed Section 144 of CrPC in the trouble-hit area, District Magistrate RP Singh said.

"The situation is under control. It seems the incident was not pre-planned but was a spontaneous one. The district magistrate, superintendent of police, and Rapid Action Force and PAC personnel are reaching the spot," Additional DG (Law and Order) Anand Kumar said.

"The troublemakers are being identified, and stringent action will be initiated against them. The district administration has been able to control the situation so far, but additional forces will be called to ensure that the situation does not worsen," he said.

Although the mob has been contained, the situation remains tense in the city and a curfew-like situation prevails. Superintendent of Police, Sunil Kumar Singh told Firstpost that owing to the sensitivity of the situation, additional police forces have been called from adjacent police stations as a precautionary measure.

Police said three Scorpio SUVs, two Magic passenger transport vehicles and a truck were also targeted by the mob on the Mathura-Bareilly highway.

The unruly crowd also set afire a kiosk near a petrol pump and a waste dump. Fire tenders were rushed to douse the fire.

According to a report in Jagran, a regional newspaper, all traffic entering the city from Agra and Mathura is being diverted for the time being.

The District Magistrate (DM) and Superintendent of Police (SP) were patrolling the disturbed areas to ensure the violence does not spread further, a senior officer at the state police chief's headquarters said.

Suarabh Sharma from Lucknow contributed to this story. He is a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters.)

With inputs from agenciesHowever, colourful tableaux, synchronised parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the Republic day in rest of the country.

New Delhi: Republic Day celebrations were marred by three low-intensity explosions in Assam, and clashes and curfew in Uttar Pradesh's Kasganj, where one person was killed in violence.

However, colourful tableaux, synchronised parades, and enthusiasm and excitement among students marked the day in rest of the country as it celebrated the 69th Republic Day amid tight security.

A 16-year-old boy was killed and at least two persons injured in clashes that erupted following stone-pelting at a motorcycle rally by VHP and ABVP volunteers on the Mathura-Bareilly Highway to mark the Republic Day, police said.

The district administration has imposed curfew in the trouble-hit area.

"One person died during arson, firing and stone pelting, while two others sustained injuries today. The deceased has been identified as Chandan (16). Curfew has been imposed in the city," District Magistrate R P Singh said.

Assam's Tinsukia district was hit by three low-intensity explosions, suspected to have been carried out by ULFA (Independent) insurgents, police said. There was no report of any casualty, they said.

Police said two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other one at Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station. Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters in Guwahati the explosions were of low intensity and was carried out by the ULFA(I) to prove its existence.

In other sates, Governors unfurled the tricolour and outlined its achievements while also urging the citizens of the Republic to take pledge to meet the challenges ahead.

In Kashmir, all Republic Day programmes, including the main event in Srinagar, were uneventful amid heightened security measures in view of intelligence reports suggesting that militants might target the functions.

Governor NN Vohra said Pakistan's continuing proxy war for the past three decades to destabilize the state has adversely affected its growth and development.

He said 2017 was marked by Pakistan's sustained attempts to infiltrate the largest possible number of terrorists into the Valley. VP Singh Badnore, Punjab Governor and the administrator of UT Chandigarh, unfurled the national flag in Pathankot, while Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki hoisted the tricolour in Ambala.

Meanwhile, two Saudi nationals and an Indian, carrying a satellite phone, were detained in Pokhran town of Rajasthan for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to disturb peace and harmony, police said.

Jaisalmer Superintendent of Police Gaurav Yadav said they will be interrogated by a joint team of military intelligence and Jaisalmer police. Possession of satellite phone without authorisation is not allowed in the country.

Bihar Governor Satya Pal Malik hoisted the tricolour at the famous Gandhi Maidan at Patna on the occasion and said the state was working for the development of all sections of the society.

The ceremony was attended by a host of dignitaries, including Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Later in the day, the CM hoisted the flag at his official residence and at a "Mahadalit Tola" in Punpun block of rural Patna.

In neighbouring Jharkhand, after unfurling the tricolour, Governor Droupadi Murmu said the state is second only to Gujarat in terms of growth rate in the country.

West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi hoisted the tricolor at Red Road in Kolkata. He also presided over an hour-long marchpast of the armed forces, police forces and civilians, including school students. Assam Governor Jagdish Mukhi said the state government is working on a Rs 1,500-crore project for protection measures against flood and erosion problem.

Hoisting the tricolour on the occasion, Mukhi said, "The state government has embarked upon a project under the nomenclature 'Assam: Flood, Erosion and River Management Modernisation Project' at a tentative cost of Rs 1,500 crore.

Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao addressed a gathering at Shivaji Park in Mumbai after reviewing an impressive parade to mark the day. Tableaux on P-21 surface-to-surface missile, surface-to-air missile, Rakshak Bulletproof vehicle, Mahila Suraksha Pathak vehicle, Jalyukta Shivar scheme, were a part of the parade.

In Telangana, Governor ESL Narasimhan in his Republic Day speeh said the state government would introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year. While, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha said although tourism was generating revenue in the state, it has also brought with it issues like narcotics and human trafficking.

"The government is committed to fight these evils. I am hopeful that joint efforts by the people and the government will weed out these evils from the state," she said at the Republic Day function in the state capital of Panaji.

In his speech, Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma congratulated the people of the state, NGOs, religious institutions and media for being committed to protect peace and harmony.

Addressing the Republic Day function at the Assam Rifles ground here after unfurling the tricolour, Sharma said the collective efforts of law-enforcing agencies and the commitment of the civil societies and voluntary organisations made it possible for Mizoram to maintain its status as one of the more peaceful states of the country.

While in his speech, Arunachal Pradesh Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra exhorted the people to contribute to the remarkable growth plan being carried out by the state government to put the state in the highest-growth trajectory. The day was celebrated across Odisha amid tight security as Governor S C Jamir unfurled the tricolour on the Mahatma Gandhi Road in the state capital.

In his speech, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy congratulated the people for maintaining 'its long tradition' of peace and harmony and said the state should uphold

democratic values under all circumstances.

In Karnataka, Governor Vajubhai Vala urged the people to build a strong nation on patriotic sentiments and scientific temperament as he addressed the gathering after unfurling the tricolour at the historic Manekshaw Parade ground.

Meanwhile, Kerala Governor P Sathasivam expressed concern over some youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.The Gujarat High Court has advised a couple to dissolve their troubled marriage, saying that a marriage fixed on Facebook is 'bound to fail'.

Ahmedabad: With young people increasingly taking to social media to find new friends and life partners, the Gujarat High Court has advised a couple to dissolve their troubled marriage, saying that a marriage fixed on Facebook is "bound to fail".

Justice JB Pardiwala made the observation in his 24 January order while disposing of a domestic violence case, where Fansi Shah of Rajkot had accused her husband Jaideep Shah and her in-laws of harassing her for dowry.

"They got married and within two months thereafter problems cropped up in their marital life. I should make note

of one fact that the parties did try to settle the matter, however, the settlement could not be arrived at," the judge observed.

"This is one of the those modern marriages fixed on Facebook, therefore, bound to fail," Pardiwala noted.

Jaideep, a native of Navsari, came into contact with Fansi on Facebook in 2011, when he was pursuing a degree course in engineering.

In February 2015, the two tied the knot with the consent of their parents. However, the marital relationship turned sour within two months.

Fansi lodged an FIR against Jaideep, his brother Piyush and parents-in-law Vikeshbhai and Anitaben, accusing them of domestic violence and harassing her for dowry. Jaideep and his family members approached the high court in 2016 seeking quashing of the case.

Justice Pardiwala advised the couple, who are still in their early 20s, to consider divorce and move ahead.

"I am still of the view that the parties should explore the possibility of settlement and put an end to the marriage with consent. Both the sides are young. Once the marriage is dissolved, they can think about their future avenues in life," he said.

Noting that the allegations were mainly against the husband, Pardiwala quashed the charges against the in-laws. The court gave no relief to Jaideep, and ordered that the investigation against him shall proceed in accordance with the law.The Doka La standoff has been blown out of proportion but it is important to not change the 'status quo' at sensitive points at the India-China border, Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said

Beijing: The Doka La standoff has been blown out of proportion but it is important to not change the "status quo" at sensitive points at the India-China border, Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale said.

In an interview to the state-run Global Times in Beijing on Friday, he said post-Doka La, India and China should hold candid talks to resolve contentious issues, including the $50 billion China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

"I believe that you are blowing it out of proportion. The people of India and China and our leaders are experienced enough and wise enough to overcome such momentary hurdles in our relationship," Bambawale said while answering a question if the Doka La standoff damaged ties.

"I believe that in the post-Doka La period, India and China need to be talking to each other and conversing with each other much more than in the past" at different levels including at the leadership level, he told the tabloid daily of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) known for its strident anti-India write-ups.

Also in an apparent reference to reports of China may try to make yet another attempt to build the road in Doka La near India's Chicken Neck corridor which led to the standoff, he said it is important to not change the "status quo" at sensitive points.

The 73-day standoff at Doka La in Sikkim where Chinese military attempted to build a road close to Chicken Neck corridor has sparked a new round of tensions at the border. It finally ended on 28 August after China agreed to stop road building.

As the two sides made efforts to improve ties, officials said a new incident of Chinese militarys attempts to build a road inside the Indian territory in Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh has been resolved.

"In our conversations and discussions, it is important to talk to each other and not talk past each other. We must be sensitive to the other side's concerns. Our interaction must be based on equality and mutual benefit. Also, in the India-China border areas, especially at some sensitive points, it is important not to change the status quo. We need to be clear about this," he said.

Recent reports say that Chinese troops have been building facilities not far from the standoff area. China asserts that Doka La which is also claimed by Bhutan belongs to it.

Dispelling the notion that India and China are rivals, Bambawale also said there is no "anti-China mentality" in India.

"If India and China could hold the dialogue successfully we will understand each other much better and we will build trust and confidence with each other," he said.

"With enhanced trust and understanding will come a stronger partnership between India and China. I would like to say that India and China are partners in development and progress. We are not rivals," he said.

Answering a question, he refuted that there is an adverse sentiment in India against China.

"If you travel to India and meet the common people in our cities and villages, you will come to know that they do not have an anti-China mentality. In fact, the people of India have great admiration for what China has achieved in economic development over the past four decades," he said.

He pointed to the success of Bollywood superstar, Aamir Khan's Dangal and Secret Superstar in China to show the goodwill for India and asked China to allow screening of more Indian films to enable Chinese to understand India better.

But at the same time "there are a few issues about which, we in India, have been focusing attention on".

"The foremost is the large and growing trade deficit we face with China. In 2017, the deficit for India is likely to be $55 billion," he said and questioned why China is not opening its markets to Indian Pharmaceuticals and IT products.

"For 20 years, we have been asking for the Chinese market to be opened for our pharmaceutical and IT products and services. To no avail. What do we make of this? What conclusions should we draw? We should discuss such issues frankly but also take steps to resolve them," he said.

"Secondly, the CPEC passes through Indian-claimed territory and hence violates our territorial integrity. This is a major problem for us. We need to talk about it, not push it under the carpet," he said.

"I believe, the more we talk to each other, the easier it will become to resolve problems. Also, please don't forget, there are many subjects  the vast majority of issues  on which we are already working together and where we can expand cooperation," he said.

He suggested India and China should work together this year to have more summit-level meetings and official meetings besides enhancing exchanges of military personnel, parliamentarians, business persons, journalists, academicians, students, sportspersons and filmmakers.

Calling for more Chinese investments he pointed to the success of Chinese telecom firms in India. "We would like them to manufacture at least some of their products in India" under 'Make in India' programme.

Similarly, India has embarked on a programme of 'Smart Cities'. Do you think it would be possible for Chinese companies to assist us in one or two of these new 'Smart Cities'? Perhaps, some Indian IT firms can assist with China's plans on big data, he asserted.

He said India and China also have common positions on many international and global issues. The prime example is that of climate change.

"We have been working together on this subject in the past and under the new international circumstances it is especially important that we continue to work together, he said and congratulated Beijing city for improving city's air by reducing pollution," he added.By entering into strong maritime arrangements with the US, Japan and Australia, and now drawing the 10-member ASEAN into the vortex, India is posing a deterrent to Chinese designs.

It is heartening that India has now found a new common cause with countries of South-East Asia apart from trade and cultural bonds. It is indeed a measure of Indias growing clout that strategic relations formed the fulcrum of the summit of South-East Asian leaders hosted ostensibly to commemorate a quarter century of Indo-ASEAN relations.

There is a growing realization that India can be an effective bulwark against Chinas hegemonistic designs which are clearly manifested in Beijings not-so-veiled efforts to control the South China Sea, thereby imperiling the freedom of navigation in the high seas over which China has no legitimate right to stake claim.

By standing shoulder to shoulder with South-East Asian nations, India has made it amply clear to China that any attempt to block navigation routes for trade and to flex its muscles with the smaller hinterland states would be resisted by India. That this has the backing of the US is beyond question. By entering into strong maritime arrangements with the US, Japan and Australia, and now drawing the 10-member ASEAN into the vortex, India is posing a deterrent to Chinese designs.

This is indeed a welcome development especially in the context of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor which seeks to provide a short cut to China to reach its merchandise to the sea through Pakistan in its larger quest in pursuit of the same goal of controlling the sea lanes.

The time was ripe for Indias counter-initiative because China has been threatening the hinterland states in the South China Sea especially Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and the Philippines with dire consequences if they did not accept Chinese supremacy in the region. Much of South-East Asia is exasperated by Chinese threats and the Indian umbrella has come in handy for them.

At the plenary session of the Indo-Asean summit Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that India shares ASEANs vision of peace and prosperity through a rules-based order for the oceans and sea. This was as strong an enunciation of Indias solidarity with these countries in their resolve to counter China as could be.

In words that should be a timely reminder to China, Modi said we remain committed to work with ASEAN to enhance practical cooperation in our shared maritime domain. He added that India and ASEAN were looking to set up a mechanism for "greater cooperation in the maritime sector."

Having showcased Indias military might before the ASEAN leaders through the Republic Day parade, India has demonstrated that it is a power to reckon with and that it can be relied upon on its claims of providing security against China.

At the same time, the next logical step for India would be to push for greater Indo-ASEAN trade cooperation. Trade between China and ASEAN is hugely beyond Indias trade with ASEAN and it would be Indias strong endeavour to step this up, taking advantage of the suspicions of some of the ASEAN member-states over Chinas ultimate intentions.

In 2016-17 Chinas trade with Asean was more than six times Indias $470 million.

The hopes from the South Asian Forum for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have essentially been belied because of the antagonistic relationship between India and Pakistan. It therefore makes perfect sense to prop up Indo-ASEAN cooperation. India and ASEAN together constitute a substantial $5 trillion economy, the third largest after US and China.

But there can be little doubt that India would need to do a lot more to wean the powerful regional economic bloc away from China. While infrastructural constrains in India continue to be a major roadblock, bureaucratic red tape puts off investors.

The fact that while the Delhi summit was on, there was a breakdown of law and order in four states including Delhi on the Padmavaat issue was a poor advertisement for the national capital region.

On a more positive plane, the road links that India is in the process of establishing and furthering with ASEAN to facilitate trade through the northeast is a significant step in the right direction. It would open up new vistas for Indo-ASEAN collaboration.

That terrorism found a pointed reference in the joint declaration that India and ASEAN issued was certainly a plus for India. It is by no means routine for ASEAN to lend its joint statement to a critique, however indirect, of another country, in this case Pakistan.

Both India and ASEAN agreed to promote a comprehensive approach to combating terrorism through close cooperation by "disrupting and countering the terrorists, terrorist groups and networks." Cross-border movement of terrorists and foreign terrorist fighters and misuse of internet, including social media by terror entities was also mentioned leaving no one in doubt that the reference was to Pakistans use of terror targeted against India.

All in all, it was a good idea for Modi to have invited Asean leaders for a summit followed by a showcasing of military might. The key will, however, lie in an effective follow-up without which the deliberations in New Delhi will lose all meaning.Jammu and Kashmir Police nabbed a woman 'suicide bomber' on Friday, a day after high alert was sounded in the Valley

Jammu and Kashmir Police nabbed a woman 'suicide bomber' on Friday, a day after high alert was sounded in the Valley, said media reports.

A lady who is suspected to be a suicide bomber has been apprehended, we will verify facts and talk to her, only then can we come to a conclusion: Munir Khan,ADG,J&K Police pic.twitter.com/NWepMesu5j  ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2018

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, Munir Khan, said that the police is interrogating her and further investigating is on in the matter.

On Thursday, intelligence inputs had said that a non-Kashmiri woman suicide bomber might disrupt the Republic Day celebrations in the Valley.

According to a message circulated from the office of inspector general of police (Kashmir) to all district police heads and chief of security wing in Kashmir, "there was a strong input" that an 18-year-old non-Kashmiri woman might "cause a suicide bomb explosion" near or inside the Republic Day parade in Kashmir.

"All are directed to please ensure that frisking of ladies at the (venues) is done meticulously and with utmost caution so as to thwart the designs of anti-national elements," read the message.

Director general of police SP Vaid, however, sought to downplay the reports and assured foolproof security for the Republic Day celebrations.

The state police chief had said that all counter mechanisms were in place.

Meanwhile, CRPF personnel on Thursday averted a major tragedy after its personnel detected and defused a pressure cooker IED near a railway station in Pampore area of Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir.

"An IED fitted in a three-litre pressure cooker was detected by alert jawans of the force at Kandizal-Tangpora village near the railway station," a spokesman of the CRPF said. He said a bomb disposal squad of the CRPF was summoned and the IED was defused without causing any damage.

With inputs from PTIThe scale of the Republic Day celebration has undergone a profound change in the past two years, due to which security issues have been relegated to margins.

If you are a keen watcher of celebrations on Independence Day or Republic Day, you may be aware of the security risks these two events used to entail. Sleuths were busy in carrying out raids while security forces were put on the top alert to foil any possibility of disruptions by Pakistans Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

In the eighties and nineties, this was an aspect which regularly featured on newspaper headlines. Senior BJP leader LK Advani was often at pains to emphasise to Pakistan how India had to stretch its resources to counter the stealth hostility nursed by a neighbour. In his meeting with Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf before the Agra summit, he pointed this out. Often these events were preceded by dubious encounters that claimed to eliminate possible threat to these national events.

But the scale of the Republic Day celebration has undergone a profound change in the past two years, due to which the security issues have been relegated to the margins. Unlike the past, when Pakistan and the ISI seemed to be lurking in peoples mind space, the discourse that precedes and follows the Republic Day events now is anchored in a muscular display of Indian might to the world and an exhibition of its cultural diversity.

How did this change come about? In fact, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited US President Barack Obama in 2015 to be the chief guest at the Republic Day function, it turned out to be a very big challenge for the security agencies and the intelligence community. Given the history of fidayeen attacks organized by Islamic militants in various parts of the country, it was indeed a tall order to host the US president in an open space. Even US intelligence went into a tizzy when they learnt that Obama would be publicly exposed for nearly two hours.

However, the prime minister was unfazed and did not let security concerns dictate the course of the program. And there was a clear instruction for security agencies: make whatever foolproof arrangements you can, we will host the US president. The elaborate arrangement made for the US president has enabled security agencies to internalise the best international protocol to be followed while hosting high-profile events.

In this backdrop, this years Republic Day celebration was quite unique in more than one way. Ever since Modi took over the reign, he has been singularly focused on improving Indias diplomatic footprint in South East Asian countries which are culturally and often geographically linked to India. This was the precise reason why Modi rechristened the previous government's "look east" policy to an "act east" approach. But Indias outreach to these countries was often marked by tentativeness and inadequate diplomatic efforts. In many of these nations, except Singapore, India was seen with a certain amount of circumspection in the face of the rise of China.

Modis decision to host ten heads of the state of the ASEAN grouping is seen as a determined move by India to expand its footprint. Interestingly, a series of meetings with these leaders was conducted to enhance and deepen the cultural ties and economic relations of India with ASEAN. By all indications, the hosting of ASEAN leaders meant serious business and was not only for optics. It appears that the Republic Day celebrations for the past two years have not only exorcised the ghost of Pakistan and ISI, but have also been used as an occasion for Indias outreach to the world.

There is no doubt that these high-profile events require heavy security mobilisation. A tour around Delhi would make it abundantly clear that the national capital has turned into a fortress with gun-totting security personnel deployed all around before Republic Day. But the motive appears to be to host international dignitaries, and not to counter the machinations of a hostile neighbour.

In the present day as well, the security is as tight as ever. One can sense the extent of the security cover one week before Republic Day. But the mood has changed, and is no longer characterised by a preponderance of security concerns, even a fear of celebration. Now, the celebration has taken centre stage and security is a necessary aspect that agencies have to deal with. However, Pakistan and ISI are no longer at the centre of the discourse.Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday unfurled the Tricolour at a Republic Day function in Agartala and remarked that during his three years as head of the northeast state there had been 'no problem' in working with the Manik Sarkar government, 'except for some minor irritants'.

Agartala: Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy on Friday unfurled the Tricolour at a Republic Day function in Agartala and remarked that during his three years as head of the northeast state there had been "no problem" in working with the Manik Sarkar government, "except for some minor irritants".

Roy said the role of a Governor is like a diesel generator. "During important events, diesel generator is kept ready and it is used during breakdown of normal power supply. During my three years tenure as Governor of Tripura, except for some minor irritants, there was no problem to work with the government, thus no such situation arose to start the generator as normal power supply was uninterrupted."

He said the Indian Constitution has "given unlimited rights to a Governor to know every aspect and information".

A section of the local media earlier this month had reported that Chief Minister Manik Sarkar had asked Chief Secretary Sanjeev Ranjan and Director General of Police Akhil Kumar Shukla not to heed Governor Roy's direction for a meeting with them.

The Governor and chief minister's secretariats have been silent on the issue, though the ruling and Opposition parties have been attacking each other and the governor.

Roy also said that Bangladesh is helping the northeast state in ferrying heavy machinery, food grain and transport fuel from other parts of India through its territory.

"Heavy terrain and uncertain road conditions occasionally put Tripura in a serious awkward position. During these situations Bangladesh helped the state a lot in ferrying heavy machineries for power projects, food grains, transport fuels and cooking gas from other parts of India through its territory," he said, after unfurling the national flag at the Assam Rifles Ground here.

"India and Bangladesh governments are trying to restore the pre-partition rail and road connectivity between the two countries. This would be beneficial for the people of both countries."

He said: "Due to the model code of conduct for the February 18 assembly polls I will not talk on developmental aspects of the state. However, Tripura has abundant natural resources - natural gas, rubber and fruits. The state has rich archaeological sites and huge prospects for further development of the tourism sector."

The Governor said that except for some problem, tribals and non-tribals in Tripura are living in harmony for many decades.

Republic Day was celebrated across the state with several functions held.As the ASEAN leaders joined President Ram Nath Kovind and Modi at the Republic Day parade, making it an unprecedented event, 27 newspapers from the ASEAN countries published an editorial by prime minister Narendra Modi.

In a historic first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted the leaders of ten ASEAN nations for Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi. As they joined Modi to mark 25 years of India-ASEAN relations, the prime minister wrote an editorial which was published on Friday in 27 newspapers from the 10 ASEAN countries. The article reflected on the "shared values" and "common destiny" of India and ASEAN nations.

27 newspapers in 10 languages in 10 ASEAN countries! Op-Ed by PM @narendramodi on the historic occasion of 69th Republic Day & Asean-India Commemorative Summit. Exceptional gesture of friendship nurtured by shared culture & civilizational linkages! List at https://t.co/gzhB5n1lIf pic.twitter.com/A4rpI0caZS  Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 26, 2018

The newspapers include Indonesia's Jakarta Post, Myanmar's Global New Light of Myanmar, Singapore's Strait Times and Malaysia's The Star among others.

In the editorial, Modi wrote that he had the privilege to host the ASEAN leaders for the Commemorative Summit to mark 25 years of Asean-India partnership. He also lauded India's partnership with southeast Asia, saying that it stretches back more than two millennia.

Focusing on India's 'Act East' policy, he said, "For India, most of our major partners and markets  from ASEAN to East Asia to North America  lie to the East."

As India looks for a more influential role in the Indo-Pacific region, the prime minister said, "Now, as before, the East, or the Indo-Pacific region, will be indispensable to India's future and our common destiny."

The prime minister also dwelled on India and ASEAN's relationship. "ASEAN is India's fourth-largest trading partner; India is ASEAN's seventh. Over 20 percent of India's outbound investments go to ASEAN. Led by Singapore, ASEAN is India's leading source of investments," he wrote.

He said a future of hope for India as well as Asean countries needed "the solid bedrock of peace" in an age of change, disruptions and shifts that comes only rarely in history.

Modi also talked about the Indian diaspora. He said that "the over six-million-strong Indian diaspora in the region  rooted in diversity and steeped in dynamism  constitutes an extraordinary human bond between us."

India and ASEAN partnership will grow, he said, adding, "We have a common vision for the future, built on commitment to inclusion and integration, belief in sovereign equality of all nations irrespective of size, and support for free and open pathways of commerce and engagement."

Modi said hosting 10 ASEAN leaders at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi was "no ordinary event", but a historic milestone in a journey that has brought India and ASEAN in a "deepening partnership of great promise for their 1.9 billion people, about one-fourth of humankind".

With inputs from IANSIs causing havoc in the nation in front of a global audience, many of whom can turn investors in the economy, also included in Sri Rajput Karni Senas definition of Rajput pride?

Is causing havoc in the nation in front of a global audience, many of whom can turn investors in the Indian economy, also included in Sri Rajput Karni Sena's definition of Rajput pride? The self-proclaimed flag bearer of Rajput pride has taken the nation under siege in stark contrast with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pitch in Davos to invest in India and move to host the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in Delhi. All for a film that depicts a story of a Rajput queen whose very existence is debatable.

By announcing bounties on the makers and the cast of the film, exercising rampant vandalism in four states across the nation and even attacking school buses in the name of upholding Rajput pride, Karni Sena has shown exactly what the warrior clan had never stood for. The worst of all the incidents was the attack on a school bus in Gurugram on Thursday that traumatised the kids to the core.

Ironically, the attacks took democracy to hostage at a time when Modi's gave a historic speech in the World Economic Forum in Davos. Portraying India as a country conducive for any kind of business to thrive, his pitch for India not only attempted to lure global investors but also tried to convince them about the Government of Indias commitment to provide them with an environment that induces growth.

In a bid to woo investors by asserting Indias inherent belief in democratic values, he said in Davos, "Because of our belief in co-existence of races and religions; and because of our belief in non-violence, we have always opposed terrorism. I say with full conviction that terrorism is bad in all its forms and facets. It is bad irrespective of its territory of origin or target of operation. We all must unite in fight against terrorism. India stands firmly with all such forces."

The Indian prime minister also took a dig at Pakistan as a prop to support his agenda of portraying India as an attractive investment destination.

Terrorism is dangerous. Worse is when people say there is a difference between good and bad terror. It is painful to see some youngsters getting radicalised, he said

The situation which emerged back in India while the prime minister was busy addressing the global leaders in Davos portrayed just an opposite picture about the nation and was enough to frighten anyone who wished to invest in India.

The prospects of the flick as a business venture was jeopardised by repeated threats and vandalism of the fringe outfit.

Days before the release of the film Padmaavat on Thursday, violence erupted in Rajhans cinema in Ahmedabad.

Fuelling the fire, Shri Rajput Karni Sena chief Lokendra Singh Kalvi threatened that his organisation won't allow the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat at any cost.

He also called for a janta curfew, which only made matters worse.

Karni Sena also caused much inconvenience in the capital city and created law and order problem by blocking the Delhi-Jaipur highway on Thursday.

Many theatres in four states namely Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana could not release the film in fear of attacks from the Karni Sena.

The rampage by the fringe outfit may have an even more blurring effect on the nations prospects in the face of the ASEAN summit that is going on in Delhi, where all the leaders of these countries have participated.

As an extension of friendly gesture to the ASEAN nations, India is going to host ten leaders of countries in the Republic Day celebrations for the first time in its history. The leaders of the ASEAN nations would share stage with Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

Indias expression of bonhomie with the ASEAN nations is not without a reason. Nearly 12.5 percent of investment inflows to India is from ASEAN nations.

No wonder then that the ASEAN nations hold a formidable place in Modis priority list, as they have tremendous potential in making Indias dream to see itself as a global superpower true.

Karni Senas vandalism may very well be seen as a marker of political instability in India by investors and global leaders, which is enough to weaken its pitch as a global leader.

The worst part of the entire episode was many of the state governments' utter failure to control the rabid elements. Instead of protecting freedom of speech and expression, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana banned the film, fanning the unconstitutional acts of the group.

Even after the Supreme Court of India stayed the ban, many states' failure to provide security arrangements to ensure that freedom of speech prevails, may be seen as Indias failure to deal with terror.

Such a situation will certainly not be seen as of best interests of the nation. It is high time the state governments resist such fringe groups making the prime ministers advocacy not to differentiate between good and bad terrorism a reality.A 44-year-old police constable shot himself dead with his AK-47 rifle during Republic Day function at a government senior secondary school in Jagraon, 45 kilometres from Ludhina.

Ludhiana: A 44-year-old police constable shot himself dead with his AK-47 rifle during Republic Day function at a government senior secondary school in Jagraon, 45 kilometres from Ludhina.

Manjit Singh died on the spot, police said.

The constable was deputed as gunman of the Jagraon City police station SHO. The constable was depressed because of some family problems, police said. They said investigations were in progress. The body has been sent to a civil hospital for post- mortem, they said.Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the tricolour in Kerala's Palakkad district on the occasion of Republic Day on Friday, defying the state government's diktat that prevented him from doing so.

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat unfurled the tricolour in Kerala's Palakkad district on the occasion of Republic Day on Friday, defying the state government's diktat that prevented him from doing so.

CNN-News18 had said the Kerala government had issued a circular saying only heads of department can hoist the flag at public institutions. But Bhagwat decided to go ahead and do it in a private school.

However, a report on The Times of India said that the circular may run afoul of the Flag Code of India, which provides for people other than school heads to hoist the National Flag. The report also said observers believed the state government's circular was aimed solely at Bhagwat.

Furthermore, the school Bhagwat visited was run by the RSS, a report on News18 said. The Vyasa Vidhya Peetam Higher Secondary School in Palakkad, where the RSS chief hoisted the flag on Friday morning, is run by Vidhyabharti, an organisation of RSS workers, it said.

It also quoted RSS' state coordinator KK Balram as saying Bhagwat will now attend a three-day camp of RSS workers at the school and that "there is nothing wrong" in his hoisting the tricolour. Organisational work and expansion of Sangh's activities in the coming years would be discussed with more than 5,000 office-bearers taking part in the camp, Balram said.

Bhagwat had unfurled the tricolour at a government-aided school in Palakkad district on 15 August last year, flouting an order of the district administration. The state government had then ordered action against the school authorities.

The RSS has a considerable presence in Kerala, where the BJP is seeking to make inroads. Last year, BJP chief Amit Shah had flagged off his Janraksha Yatra in Kerala to protest against alleged violence against its workers in the state.

The state has been witnessing incidents of political violence involving cadres of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the RSS.

With inputs from PTIThere is an urgent need for India and ASEAN to strengthen collaboration in cyber security strategies and security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.

The landmark presence of 10 leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as Chief Guests on Indias Republic day is New Delhis calculated response to the shifting geo-political, geo-strategic and geo-economic landscape. The global turning points in recent years have been Chinas unprecedented economic and military rise, the visible decline of Americas global pre-eminence, and a wider spectrum of conflict in the Middle East. All these are forcing emerging powers into a search for new partners, new markets and new alliances. In this fast-changing scenario, a role for Asia, with India and China at the forefront is inevitable. The ongoing tensions and strategic competition between New Delhi and Beijing make it amply clear that Indias foreign policy focus in the next few years will be in the eastward direction.

Indias links with ASEAN countries have strong historical, cultural and economic roots. Having celebrated 25 years of dialogue, 15 years of summit-level interaction and 5 years of strategic partnership, India and ASEAN have improved their relationship to the extent that ASEAN has now become the anchor of Indias much talked about Act East policy. Indias sectoral dialogue mechanisms and ministerial-level interactions with ASEAN now range from external affairs to defence, from connectivity to commerce, from energy to environment and much more.

Beginning in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited most of the ASEAN countries, providing greater substance to India-ASEAN summits. Aimed at enhancing Indias strategic profile in Southeast Asia, the upgrade from Look East Policy (LEP) to Act East Policy (AEP) with ASEAN at its core has been among the most significant initiatives of the Modi government.

Qualitatively speaking, there may not be much to differentiate LEP and AEP. However the latter's focus has unquestionably been more on fostering connectivity and strategic cooperation. With this, Modis desire for developing a regional convergence of Indias geo-politics with its geo-economic interests has clearly been in evidence.

By inviting ASEAN leaders on Republic Day, India has reiterated its intent in making ASEAN the core of Asias drive towards peace and prosperity. Chinas relentless march across land and sea via One Belt, One Road is generally believed to be an attempt to contain New Delhis abilities and influence. Indias sense of civilisational pride and self-confidence as an emerging power can never allow it to accept Chinas supremacy in its own neighbourhood. Over the past few years, India has been making concerted attempts to beef up its infrastructure, and its border posture has also become stiffer by standing up to Chinas incursions. New Delhi has already taken decisive steps to offset Chinas power by getting closer to Washington and Tokyo, who have their own reasons to keep Chinas power in check. The newly formed Quadrilateral comprising India, Japan, Australia and the US is a momentous step in that direction.

Nevertheless, the Modi government realises that these steps will not suffice. India will need to expand its reach not just to militarily counter Chinas alarming projection of regional and global power, but also to present an alternative growth model (centred on soft power) to Chinas centralised and authoritarian one in order to claim Asias natural leadership. Here comes the role of Indias robust outreach to ASEAN. New Delhi is anxious to assure ASEAN leadership that its participation in Quadrilateral is not tantamount to diverting its attention away from ASEAN.

Indias limited capacity to provide market access and security guarantees have often bred a palpable sense of disillusionment on both sides. This has to change, and vigorous efforts need to be made to align the interests and expectations of both sides. In November 2017, when India and Singapore signed an agreement to strengthen maritime security in the Straits of Malacca, Beijing quickly expressed its displeasure and issued a demarche to Singapore. Clearly, ASEAN countries are increasingly looking to India to help ensure smooth access to vital sea routes, while degrading the vulnerability quotient inherent in the face of Chinas aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea. As Vietnam and Philippines are grappling to secure some disputed areas from Chinas encroachment, ASEAN would like India to focus more on enhancing connectivity and development of sea lanes.

India cannot afford to remain ambiguous as far as Chinese expansionism in Asia-Pacific is concerned. China invariably views Asia-Pacific coinage as a direct threat to its hegemony in Southeast Asia. Thus, New Delhi needs to back its words with action on the ground, including tangible outcomes from defence and security cooperation with ASEAN. With growing American short-sightedness and unpredictability under the Donald Trump administration, ASEAN is keen to see India's emergence as a potential counterweight to China. However Beijing will most likely aggressively reach out to ASEAN countries once their leaders depart from New Delhi for trying to step out of the Middle Kingdoms ambit. It is hoped that Modi has given them enough assurance of Indias support, putting to rest all fears of consequences.

During his address at the India-ASEAN summit in November 2017, Modi strongly pitched for establishing a rules-based regional security architecture in the Asia-Pacific region  now central to global politics  displaying convergence of strategic interests between India and other major powers. Identifying terrorism and extremism as major challenges facing the region, Modi appealed for developing a common approach for countering terrorism, an indirect reference to Chinas uncritical support to Pakistan. His stress on freedom of navigation, an irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, and a thorough probe into North Koreas nuclear proliferation linkages were clearly aimed at exposing China.

The Delhi Declaration  issued after Thursdays plenary session with ASEAN leaders  clearly underlines Indias concerns on the issue by mentioning cross-border movement of terrorists and foreign terrorist fighters and making a commitment to counter the challenge through close cooperation. The declaration will further embolden India in its bid to get Masood Azhar listed as a global terrorist, and to put more pressure on Pakistan to take action against Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

ASEAN is Indias fourth-largest trading partner, accounting for more than 10 percent of Indias global trade. Despite growing trade linkages between India and ASEAN, poor physical connectivity remains a key challenge to meet greater ASEAN expectations of integration with India. Modi governments shift in emphasis by moving India away from SAARC to BIMSTEC and BBIN can be seen as an integral component of AEP. Connecting Indias northeast with its closest eastern neighbours and further with Southeast Asia would open up more trade routes, ensuring greater economic opportunities for the region.

There is an urgent need for both India and ASEAN to leverage existing platforms to strengthen collaboration in cyber security strategies coupled with security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region. There is huge potential for India-ASEAN collaboration in both ocean-centred security cooperation and economic development as well as in creating a collective vision for a rules-based order in the Asia-Pacific region, which cannot be allowed to remain hostage to Chinas unrestrained expansionism and unilateralism.

The author is an assistant professor at the Department of International Affairs and Security Studies, Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice, Rajasthan. He is also the coordinator at the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in Jaipur.The celebrations of the 69th Republic Day took place on Rajpath in the presence of the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations who attended the event as chief guests.

The celebrations of the 69th Republic Day took place on Rajpath in New Delhi on Friday in the presence of the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations who attended the event as chief guests. The event took place amidst extraordinary security cover keeping the mind the number of chief guests present at the venue.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the jawans and bravehearts by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs. Later Modi, wearing a saffron, red and green-coloured safa, reached the Rajpath and received and greeted President Ram Nath Kovind and the chief guests from the 10 ASEAN nations.

Twenty-three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, and government departments, rolled down Rajpath. Public broadcaster Doordarshan installed 38 cameras for the coverage of the celebrations. For the first time, six cameras have been deployed for coverage beyond India Gate.

A motorcycle contingent of women personnel of the BSF showcased their skills for the first time at the parade. The 27-member BSF women 'daredevils' squad, named 'Seema Bhavani', performed stunts and acrobatics on their 350cc Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles.

There was also a flypast by MI-17 and RUDRA armed helicopters along with a number of Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft. Five Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the IAF, showering petals and carrying the national flag, ASEAN flag and services flags, preceded parade commander Lieutenant General Asit Mistry, the General Officer Commanding (Delhi Area). A camel contingent of the BSF and columns of the 61st cavalry with 51 horses was also part of the parade.

The 69th #RepublicDay Parade and pageant draws to a close with the #NationalAnthem.#Republicday2018 pic.twitter.com/Xs6NvRC9rO  ALL INDIA RADIO (@AkashvaniAIR) January 26, 2018

The IAF tableau was themed "Indian Air Force encouraging indigenisation", while the tri-service tableau had the message "veterans are asset to the nation'.

For the first time, a tableau of All India Radio led a series of 23 tableaux during the parade and it also featured Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly address 'Mann Ki Baat'. An Income Tax Department tableau about special anti-black money drive launched post-demonetisation was also on the list of many firsts.

The Navy showcased Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) Vikrant, which will be commissioned in 2020 and the Defence Development and Research Organisation exhibited the 'Nirbhay' missile and the Ashwini radar system. Three T-90 tanks, two BRAHMOS missiles, two AKASH missiles were also be part of the mechanised columns at the parade.

Further the event also saw the posthumous conferment of the Ashok Chakra to Jyoti Prakash Nirala, an IAF Garud commando who laid down his life while gunning down two terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir. Ashok Chakra is the highest peacetime military decoration for valour, courageous action or self-sacrifice away from the battlefield.

The parade commenced amid a heavy security blanket with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters deployed in view of the event being attended by ASEAN leaders. Barricades were erected on all major roads leading to the parade venue with policemen checking vehicles and informing people about diversions. Mobile hit teams, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters were deployed to keep a watch on the eight-kilometre-long parade route from Rajpath to Red Fort besides nearby localities.

Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the spirits of those who came to watch the parade.

Ministers, ASEAN leaders grace occasion

Most of the ministers of the Modi government including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister JP Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan were among those present on the occasion.

The ASEAN leaders, present in New Delhi to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, are the chief guests at the Republic Day parade which was termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "historic and unprecedented".

The ASEAN, founded in 1967, comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

The ASEAN leaders attending the parade are Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Thailand's Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao PDR's Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

With input from agenciesAs India gears up to celebrate the 69th Republic Day on Friday, the whole country will be watching the parade along the Rajpath near India Gate.

As India gears up to celebrate the 69th Republic Day on Friday, whole country will be watching the parade along the Rajpath near India Gate. This year, in a first, 10 state heads from the ASEAN member-states will share the dias with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind. India's military might, culture, and diversity will also be on full display with various tableau as well as women personnel of the Border Security Force (BSF) enthralling the audience with their motorcycle act.

Click here to follow LIVE updates on Republic Day 2018

Five Mi-17 V5 helicopters of the Indian Air Force would precede the parade commander and the lead helicopter will carry the national flag. The second helicopter will carry ASEAN flag and the other three choppers would carry the flags of the Army, Navy and the Air Force, while the echelon aircraft would shower flower petals, according to an office memorandum issued by the Home Ministry.

To mark the silver jubilee of India-ASEAN bilateral ties, India also hosted a commemorative summit on the theme "Shared Values, Common Destiny on the eve of the Republic Day on Thursday.

When and where can one watch it

The Republic Day parade will be aired on DD National from 9 am to 11:30 am on Friday, NDTV reported. DD News will show the sign language version of the commentary on the parade at the same time. Those who would like to watch it online, can stream it on Youtube channel of Doordarshan.

Things to watch out for

Twenty years after its tableau rolled down the Rajpath, the India-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) will return with its float in the Republic Day parade on Thursday showing troops patrolling the China border on their newly-inducted snow scooters. The India-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is the only one among the multiple paramilitary and border guarding forces that will have a tableau in the parade. A camel contingent of the BSF and columns of the 61st cavalry with 51 horses will be part of the parade.

Also, for the first time, a tableau of All India Radio will be leading a series of 23 tableaux during the R-Day Parade. The AIR tableau will feature Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio address Mann Ki Baat. Of the 23 tableaux in the parade, 14 would be representing different states and Union Territories. The rest would be of ministries and departments of Government of India. An Income Tax Department tableau about special anti-black money drive launched post-demonetisation is also amid the many firsts this Republic Day

The ASEAN leaders

The leaders participating from different countries in the Republic Day parade are President Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam, Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia, General Prayuth Chan-o-cha of Thailand, Aung San Suu Kyi of Myanmar, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte, the Sultan of Brunei, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos and Hun Sen, the Prime Minister of Cambodia.

With inputs from PTI08:52 (ist)

Metro services restricted in Delhi

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that services will be restricted as per instructions from Delhi Police.

Entry and exit points at Central Secretariat and Udyog Bhawan metro stations will be closed from 6 am to 12 pm, while Patel Chowk and Lok Kalyan Marg stations will remain shut from 8.45 am to 12 pm, the report quoted a DMRC spokesperson as saying. Metro services at Mandi House and Pragati Maidan stations will be stopped when the parade passes under the Tilak Bridge, it said.

When the metro services are halted, trains will run in three short loops on three corridors  Noida City Centre to Indraprastha, Vaishali to Yamuna Bank and Dwarka Sector 21 to Barakhamba Road, it said.

Read more hereThe Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah piloted his own aircraft to Air Force Station in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit

The Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, who is known for his lavish lifestyle, piloted his own aircraft to the Air Force Station in New Delhi on Wednesday to attend the ASEAN India Commemorative Summit, said media reports.

According to The Economic Times report, the Boeing 747-400 aircraft landed in New Delhi with the 71-year-old sultan himself in the cockpit. The report added that the sultan usually pilots his aircraft on overseas trips. He had captained the aircraft on his previous visits to New Delhi in 2008 and 2012 also.

Modi met the sultan on Thursday and had discussion on cooperation in defence and security, energy, education, health and space.

Bolkiah is among the 10 ASEAN heads of state and government who will attend this year's Republic Day celebrations as guests of honour, something unprecedented, since the leader of only one foreign country has attended the event as the chief guest all these years.

Bilateral trade between India and Brunei stood at over $504 million in 2016-17, according to figures provided by Brunei's Department of Economic Planning and Development.

Brunei and India share a fair degree of commonality in their perceptions on major international issues.

Hassanal Bolkiah's extravagant lifestyle

The sultan of Berunei, who is ranked among the wealthiest royal rulers in the world, has net worth of whopping $20 billion.

Bolkiah has been Brunei's sultan and prime minister since 1967, and he appoints all of Brunei's ruling bodies, including the Legislative Council and Sharia Courts. His sultanate is one of the world's most financially affluent where people do not have to pay any kind of income tax.

The sultan lives in a 1,800-room palace called the Istana Nurul Iman, which is one of the world's largest private residences. His house reportedly has 257 bathrooms, five swimming pools, a mosque, a banquet hall that can hold 5,000 people.

According to Business Insider report, the sultan and his family regularly travel with an entourage of 150. The sultan once paid Disney to have theme park characters flown to Brunei for a kids' birthday party.

Bolkiah is highly respected by his people. He is Bruneis prime minister, minister of defence, finance and foreign affairs and trade, and the supreme commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, said Strait Times.

With inputs from agenciesThe Telangana government will introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year, Governor ESL Narasimhan said on Friday.

Hyderabad: The Telangana government will introduce a separate budget for agriculture from the next financial year, Governor ESL Narasimhan said on Friday.

The TRS government will also be providing investment support for the key sector to ensure cultivators don't fall into debt trap, he said.

"Let me, at this moment, share that from the 2018-19 budget onwards, my government proposes to introduce a separate budget for the agriculture sector," he said in his Republic Day address after unfurling the national flag at Parade Grounds.

The government has decided to provide Rs 8,000 per acre per annum to farmers (for two seasons) as investment support for agriculture, the Governor said.

The government would allocate funds for the scheme in the budget, Narasimhan said, adding the move is aimed at supporting farmers and preventing them from falling into a debt trap.

Noting that the government is making "all-out" attempts to provide water for irrigation for one crore acres of land, Narasimhan said irrigation projects like Devadula, Bhima and Kalwakurthy are being put on a fast track with a budgetary allocation of Rs 25,000 crore every year. The Governor, in his speech, also spoke about various other welfare schemes.

The government is constructing two-bed room houses for the poor and a target of building 2.65 lakh such dwellings in the first phase by next year is set to be achieved, he said.

The government is spending an estimated Rs 40,000 crore annually to help the poor and needy, he said, referring to the numerous welfare schemes being implemented. The administration had put in place an innovative mechanism to fast track project approvals. The Telangana State -industrial Project Approval and Self-Certification System or TS-iPASS has so far attracted 6,070 industries which have been given clearances, he said.

"Of these, 2,000 have already gone into production. With these new industries, the state has received Rs 1,18,000 crore investments and created over two lakh jobs," he said.

Due to the government's efforts in the manufacturing sector, the state's Gross State Domestic Product growth rate stood at 13.9 per cent in 2016-17 on current prices as against national average of 11 per cent, Narasimhan maintained.

In the fiscal 2016-17, the state's per capita income was Rs 1,55,216 as against Rs 1,03,219 at the national level.

"Till 2017-18 December the growth rate of the state was pegged at 18 per cent," the Governor said.

Earlier, he reviewed the Republic Day Parade. On the occasion of 69th Republic Day, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao hoisted the national flag at Pragati Bhavan, his official residence. The day was also celebrated in the offices of ruling TRS and opposition Congress, the BJP, the TDP and others.BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the Siddaramaiah government, dubbing it 'a corrupt, malicious and oppressive' regime.

Mysuru: BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday hit out at the Siddaramaiah government, dubbing it "a corrupt, malicious and oppressive" regime and asked the people to "root it out" in the upcoming assembly polls.

Addressing a party rally in Mysuru, Shah accused the Congress of behaving like as it did during the Emergency.

He lashed out at the party for its "role" in supporting a statewide bandh on Thursday on the state's row with Goa on sharing Mahadayi river water.

Shah's rally as part of the "Parivarthana Yatra" by the state BJP came amid the bandh called by pro-Kannada outfits seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention on the Mahadayi water sharing issue.

Pro-Kannada outfits have also called a Bengaluru Bandh on 4 February, when Modi will be in Mysuru to address a rally, with the BJP seeing the shutdown as a "politically motivated" move instigated by the ruling Congress to synchronise with the visits of the prime minister and BJP chief.

"Congress is even now behaving like it did during the emergency by deploying police to hold off supporters and by organising Mahadayi bandhs matching my and Prime Minister Narendra Modiji's Parivartana Yatra address," he said.

Shah said despite "desperate attempt" to disrupt the rally here by organising the bandh, "we have managed to hold it and been successful at it."

"Siddaramaiah-led Congress also wants to disrupt Modi's rally to be held on February 4," he said.

The BJP chief said despite these obstructionist tactics, Congress party and Siddaramaiah would not be able to stop BJP from forming the government because people of Karnataka have decided on a change.

BJP sources claimed that Shah's rally was attended by close to 50,000 people, ignoring the bandh call.

"Buses have been stopped, bandh has been called, efforts are on to stop Modi's rally on February 4, but I have confidence in the people of this great Karnataka," he said.

The number of people who will attend Modi's rally on 4 February will make it clear BJP will win the election that will happen in April-May, Shah said.

"From this land of Mysuru, the land of goddess Chamundeshwari, my only appeal to the people of Karnataka is to root out corrupt, malicious and oppressive Siddaramaiah government," Shah said.

Siddaramaiah govt has crossed all limits of corruption. In Karnataka, Siddaramaiah and corruption are synonyms. Siddaramaiah means corruption and corruption means Siddaramaiah. pic.twitter.com/2djhWuXmxe  Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 25, 2018

He also accused the Siddaramaiah government of indulging in "appeasement politics" for the sake of votes.

Shah said within four years, more than 20 activists of BJP and RSS had been killed.

He asked as to why cases against Social Democratic Party of India, political arm of the Popular Front of India, which the party is holding responsible for the killings, were withdrawn.

"I want to ask Siddaramaiah whether he is certifying SDPI. Why were the cases withdrawn?" he asked.

"I want to tell Siddaramaiah government and all its associates that martyrdom of our 20 karyakartas will not go waste. When BJP government is formed wherever their killers are hiding we will find them and put them in jail," Shah said.

The BJP chief said the Congress opposed the triple talaq bill due to "politics of appeasement."

But the BJP and the prime minister are committed to passing this bill to do justice to Muslim sisters and mothers, he said.

He also slammed the Siddaramaiah government over its decision to celebrate the birth anniversary of 18th century Mysuru ruler Tipu Sultan.

"Many great personalities have spent their entire lives to make Karnataka great, I don't want to take their names, but Siddarmaiah government and Rahul Gandhi's Congress party never celebrates jayantis of such personalities, they only remember Tipu Sultan," he said.

Taking on the Congress government on graft, he alleged that the Siddaramaiah government has crossed all boundaries of corruption.

"Does anyone of you here have a watch worth Rs 70 lakh on your wrist here? Your chief minister wears watches worth Rs 70 lakh," he said.

Shah was apparently referring to the controversy in 2016 over Siddaramaiah wearing a luxury watch which JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy had alleged was diamond-studded Hublot which was worth Rs 70 lakh.

Subsequently, Siddaramaiah declared it a state asset and handed it over to the government.

Shah said more than 3,500 farmers have committed suicide in the last five years in Karnataka.

The BS Yeddyurappa-led parivartan yatra has instilled fear in the hearts of Congress workers, he claimed.

"BJP has started the parivartana yatra for not only to change the government, but also to bring change in the lives of youth and to give security to the women of Karnataka," he said.

Shah challenged Siddaramaiah to stop the BJP from forming the government in Karnataka using all his might.Senior CPM leader Prakash Karat played down differences with Sitaram Yechury over the issue of having an understanding with the Congress

New Delhi: Senior CPM leader Prakash Karat on Thursday played down differences with party general secretary Sitaram Yechury over the issue of having an understanding with the Congress to fight the BJP, insisting that divergence of views reflected inner-party democracy.

After days of veiled attacks between him and Yechury, Karat claimed that the media has been portraying "differing political views" as "personality clashes" and "personal differences".

Without naming Yechury, he, however, said that those "who violate the collective decisions of the party" are "considered to be factional".

"A majority view, or, a minority view, within a committee on a political question is not to be seen as a line up of two factions.

"It is only those who violate the collective decisions of the party and band together for extraneous reasons who are considered to be factional," he said in an article.

The article came days after the party's Central Committee meeting in Kolkata which saw the differences coming out in the open over the political-tactical line to be finally adopted by the CPM at its Congress in April.

A group led by party general secretary Sitaram Yechury had pitched for an understanding with "secular parties" along with Congress to fight the "communal agenda of the BJP". However, the policy draft in this regard was rejected at the meeting, with Karat among those who were not in its favour.

In the article titled 'Exercising Inner-Party Democracy' in the latest issue of party organ 'People's Democracy', Karat emphasised that factionalism and factional groupings were "impermissible" in accordance with the CPM Constitution.

Accusing the media of creating misinformation about split within the party, the former CPM general secretary said the reports had reduced inner-party democracy of the party to personality clashes and personal differences.

He alleged that most media persons were either ill-informed about the style of functioning of the CPM as a communist party. "They utilised the occasion to draw motivated and distorted conclusions intended to depict the party leadership in a poor light," he alleged.

Interestingly, in an earlier interview, Karat had said, "for us, opposition to neoliberal economic policies is as important as fighting communal forces. We cannot be part of an alliance with the Congress which stands for such policies".

His declaration regarding the political line of the party had come much before the Central Committee meet which was specially called to discuss the draft of the party resolution chalking out the political line it would take for the coming three years.

This had fuelled speculation about emergence of factional fighting within the CPM.

The declaration by Karat was seen as unprecedented, as the Central Committee, the highest body of CPM had then not even started its discussion on the draft.

However, in his latest article Karat said that "on political issues, different views can be expressed, either an individual member or a group of members can present their political views before the committee".

In an effort to put a stop on media reporting on the difference of opinions in his party, Karat in the latest article also accused the media of falsely portraying factions within the party.

"A common theme found in the media, particularly in the media in Kerala and West Bengal, was to portray that two drafts have been presented by two 'factions'. Some went further to depict it as a clash between two individuals, in this case, the current general secretary and the former general secretary.

"Such a depiction is baseless and wrong as discussions on differing political views and approaches within the framework of inner-party democracy are reduced to personality clashes and so-called personal differences," Karat has argued.

Yechury had on Wednesday insisted that he had offered to resign at the party meet after the rejection of the draft, contrary to what Karat had claimed in a media interview.Kerala governor P Sathasivam on Friday expressed concern over some of the youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala governor P Sathasivam on Friday expressed concern over some of the youths falling prey to political and communal feuds and also joining terror outfits.

In his Republic Day address after hoisting the national flag and inspecting the ceremonial parade at the Central stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, he said the state has to be on guard against such actions.

"We are at times disturbed by the tendency of some of our youths falling prey to political and communal feuds," the governor said.

"More disturbing is the alleged participation of some people in terror outfits both in India and in other countries," he added.

"We have to be on guard against such actions which lower the image of our beloved state," he said.

"There is no doubt that political and communal hatred and terror have no place in a democratic society. It is true that the strong institutions of democracy that our Constitution has given us will step in with safeguards in any crisis," the Governor said.

"But we the people must always be on our guard against the slightest action that threatens our harmony," he added.

Lauding the achievements of the country and the state in the last few decades, Sathasivam said on the happy occasion, it was also necessary to think of the areas where we need to improve.

On the development front, he said in spite of dissent and differences of opinions, characteristic of a democracy, the progress of the nation has always received priority and support in our political and social debates.

The support and response to some of the farsighted flagship programmes of the Union government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi bear testimony to this progressive outlook that cuts across political and ideological boundaries, he added.

He also said the initiatives of the CPM-led LDF government headed by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in focusing on key areas critical to development deserve praise.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and senior government officials were among those who attended the celebrations.

State ministers took part in Republic Day celebrations in district headquarters.Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse on Thursday alleged that some of his party colleagues were trying to throw him out of the party, and dared the BJP-led government to prove his involvement in any wrongdoing.

Mumbai: Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra minister Eknath Khadse on Thursday alleged that some of his party colleagues were trying to throw him out of the party, and dared the BJP-led government to prove his involvement in any wrongdoing.

"If I have done anything wrong, the government should prove it and bring it out before people. I need an answer now. I don't wish to leave the party, however, some people are trying to push me out," Khadse said, speaking at an event in Jalgaon, his hometown.

Interestingly, he spoke in the presence of Maharashtra Congress chief Ashok Chavan who had recently invited him to join the Opposition party.

Chavan once again said that Khadse was welcome to join the Congress.

"You take a decision. We are ready to welcome you. Don't wait for the BJP to oust you," he said.

An embarrassed BJP later issued a statement, quoting state unit president Raosaheb Danve as saying that the BJP will support Khadse once he gets a clean chit in the probe.

"Khadse is a senior leader, who himself decided to quit his ministerial post due to some reason. He has already been proved innocent in the ongoing inquiry. Once he receives a complete clean chit, the BJP will support him with full respect," Danve said in the statement.

Without naming NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who was seen whispering into Khadse's ear at an event recently, Danve said a person who levelled corruption charges against Khadse in the state Assembly had no right to invite him to join his party. Khadse is a party loyalist and will not leave the BJP, Danve added.

Only Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis can state when the probe against Khadse would be complete, he added.

Khadse, the senior-most member of the Fadnavis cabinet, resigned in June 2016 after facing accusations of misusing his official position for a questionable land deal involving his family.Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to arrive in Shillong on 30 January for a two-day meeting with the party workers and supporters of the poll-bound state,

Shillong: Congress president Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to arrive in Shillong on 30 January for a two-day meeting with the party workers and supporters of the poll-bound state, sources in the state unit of the party said on Friday.

Meghalaya is set to go to polls on 27 February and the results will be announced on 3 March. The tenure of the current 60-member assembly ends on 6 March.

"Our party president (Rahul Gandhi) will arrive in Shillong on 30 January and address leaders and workers in Jaintia Hills, Garo Hills and the state capital," Shillong MP Vincent Pala, who is also the working president of Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee, told PTI.

He said the AICC president will not address any public rally during this visit. The party is finalising the two-day schedule the Gandhi's visit to state, Pala said, adding that all leaders and supporters have been invited by the party president for the meeting.

The Congress had faced a major setback earlier this month when five of its MLAs resigned from the assembly and

joined the NPP and two other legislators moved to the BJP and the newly formed People's Democratic Front.

The BJP, on the other hand, has said that it is in the process of finalising the visit of its star campaigners which

include prime minister Narendra Modi. Modi had visited the state last month and addressed a gathering at Polo Grounds in Shillong.

The rally was attended by thousands of people, including the BJP workers.

It would be a morale booster for the state unit leaders if the prime minister addresses rallies in all three regions Khasi Hills, Garo Hills and Jaintia Hills while party president Amit Shah campaigns in at least two places, BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh said.Congress president Rahul Gandhi attended the Republic Day parade and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from his party.

New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday attended the Republic Day Parade and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from his party that accused the government of setting aside tradition and indulging in "cheap politics".

Gandhi was seated in the sixth row, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government's "cheap politics" was at display on Friday when it broke tradition and denied Gandhi a front-row seat.

Congress sources said the party presidents, including Sonia Gandhi who handed over the party reins to Rahul Gandhi in December, 2017, had always been seated in the front row at the Republic Day parade.

"The Modi government's cheap politics is for all to see. The Congress president was deliberately made to sit in the sixth row, after initially assigning him a fourth-row seat, at the Republic Day celebrations by the arrogant rulers, who set aside all past traditions. For us the celebration of the

Constitution is foremost," Surjewala tweeted in Hindi.

He also tagged a picture of Gandhi seated along with Azad at the Republic Day function.

Former prime ministers HD Deve Gowda and Manmohan Singh were seen seated in the front row in the picture, followed by Union ministers Smriti Irani and Thawarchand Gehlot.

Congress leaders had on Thursday alleged that assigning a seat in the fourth row to the Congress president was an attempt to "humiliate" him at a public function, which was attended by heads of government/states of 10 ASEAN countries.

India today celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the ASEAN leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.

In 2017, Sonia Gandhi was assigned a seat in the front row and was seen sitting along with BJP president Amit Shah.

The BJP president was seated in the front row in the function on Friday.

Government sources said that as per the protocol, the Leader of Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row.tech2 News Staff

Now if you want to hear more of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's radio programme called Mann Ki Baat, Alexa can help you out.

The new skill for Alexa has been developed by ANI and is going to be available on the entire range of Echo devices, namely Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus.

Along with the Echo devices, Alexa-enabled smart speakers such as Harman Kardon Allure and Eufy Genie will also have this feature.

All 36 previous episodes of Mann Ki Baat which have been aired since 2015 will also be available on Alexa.

"We are heading to a future where voice has the potential to become a primary way of engaging with technology around us. We are thrilled to make Mann Ki Baat available as a skill and offer listeners a new way to hear the Prime Minister's address. Currently, users can listen to any of the previous editions of Mann ki Baat starting from January 2015", said Ishaan Prakash, Editor Live Operations, ANI.

To activate Mann Ki Baat go to the skills selection of the Alexa App, search for Mann Ki Baat and enable that skill. Alexa will respond to the query by saying "Welcome to the Mann Ki Baat skill. Specify the month and year to select the Mann Ki Baat that you wish to listen to."

If you wish to hear the latest Mann Ki Baat episode, then just say "Alexa, ask Mann Ki Baat to play the latest Mann Ki Baat".

Mann Ki Baat is Modi's talk show dealing with topics such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, demonetisation, Digital India and more, which is broadcast on all radio channels to reach the masses across the country.IANS

Commercial aerospace company Arianespace which launched the SES-14 satellite carrying NASA's GOLD mission on Friday confirmed that despite an anomaly during the mission's ride into orbit, the probe is continuing.

The aim of the Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk, or GOLD, mission is to study the dynamic region where space and Earth's uppermost atmosphere meet.

"The launcher's liftoff took place on January 25, 2018, at 5:20 p.m. EST. A few seconds after ignition of the upper stage, the second tracking station located in Natal, Brazil, did not acquire the launcher telemetry. This lack of telemetry lasted throughout the rest of powered flight," Arianespace said in the statement.

"Subsequently, both satellites were confirmed separated, acquired and they are on orbit. SES-14 and Al Yah 3 are communicating with their respective control centres. Both missions are continuing," the statement added.

The GOLD mission aims to explore in unprecedented detail our near-space environment, which is home to astronauts, radio signals used to guide airplanes and ships, and satellites that provide communications and GPS systems.

"The more we know about the fundamental physics of this region of space, the more we can protect our assets there," NASA said.

"The upper atmosphere is far more variable than previously imagined, but we don't understand the interactions between all the factors involved," Richard Eastes, GOLD principal investigator from the University of Colorado, Boulder, said in a statement.

"That's where GOLD comes in: For the first time, the mission gives us the big picture of how different drivers meet and influence each other," Eastes added.IANS

Mobile-first financial services platform Paytm hopes to cover 10 million merchants across India in three to six months from the existing six million merchant-partners for Quick Response (QR)-based payments, an official said on Thursday.

The platform will invest Rs 500 crore in 2018 to conduct merchant training and awareness initiatives to scale up its operations across the country.

"In the last one and a half years, we already have over 60 lakh merchants on board and want to take this number to one crore within a quarter or two from now. We are confident the rate of adoption will increase further as our merchants can now accept payments from Paytm (wallet), UPI (Unified Payments Interface) or cards at zero cost," company's Vice President Amit Veer told reporters here.

Company's QR-based payment solution supports all payment methods, including credit/debit cards, net banking, Paytm-BHIM UPI, and its wallet.

With this new addition, it targets six-fold growth in offline (QR code-based) payments by mid-2018.

"We have invested a lot to build a field force of 10,000 people who are reaching out to merchants in various cities to make sure that the merchants get training and QR code," he said, adding the new facility enables the merchants to enrol themselves.

This new facility is now enabling merchant partners across India to accept unlimited payments directly into their bank accounts without any charges, he said.

He said the average ticket size of the transactions on the platform was also expected to go up.

"In the offline space, the average size of the transaction is about Rs 500. With UPI, cards coming on the Paytm platform, lot of large ticket transactions which were not used to happen earlier on the platform, have started happening now. This will definitely push the ticket size up," he said.

According to him, the wallet service provider recorded about 10 million transactions a day including both online and offline and of which, about 60 percent was from offline space.tech2 News Staff

The US is planning to stop funding for the International Space Station. This comes ahead of the budget session in the US which will take place on 12 February.

According to a report by The Verge, by 2025, the Trump administration is keen to remove the support for the International Space Station which it receives via NASA.

The International Space Station (ISS), launched in 1998, is a space laboratory in the Earth's orbit which works in collaboration with many countries. These countries include Russia, Japan and Europe. ISS conducts experiments which may not be possible in Earths atmospheric pressure. Research done here can help NASA in space exploration.

The decision to remove the funding comes after Donald Trump had signed the NASA Transition Authorisation Act, where the ISS was given a transition time to change its funding partner, instead of NASA.

NASA had reportedly never released any information regarding the Act.

Meanwhile, in December, Donald Trump had signed a directive where the astronauts were asked to explore the moon and "eventually Mars". Therefore, if NASA plans to explore the moon, it would become difficult for it to fund ISS since, reportedly, it has other space plans decided.

This is not the first time that such an incident has happened.

During the Obama administration there were talks of the government removing ties with the ISS, but later on, it was extended.PTI

Lauding India for making it easier to do business in the country, British telecom giant Vodafone's Group CEO Vittorio Colao said the government has significantly increased the amount of spectrum that will be available to the operators.

"The proposed increase in spectrum caps will further hasten the rollout of networks to the benefit of customers, government and industry," Colao said here at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

Speaking at a WEF Governors meeting, Colao complimented Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government for a marked improvement in the ease of doing business in the country during the last four years.

After the meeting, Colao said, "Digital India and Make in India are transformational initiatives. The focus of Prime Minister Modi's government and India's new progressive policy framework are ensuring their successful execution. India's enhanced economic liberalisation will bring more international investment into its growing economy, which will, in turn, generate exciting opportunities and boost job creation."

He said "simplicity and transparency" are key to the reforms introduced and this has been recognised by the significant improvement in India's position in the ease of doing business global rankings.

"The swift progress we have made in just under a year towards the completion of our merger with Idea Cellular is testimony to this fresh approach. India has a clear set of well-defined M&A rules and we are seeing their fair and speedy implementation," he said.China is pushing its ambitious global trade infrastructure programme to the Arctic, outlining Friday its vision for a 'Polar Silk Road' for ships as it seeks greater access to the strategically vital region

Beijing: China is pushing its ambitious global trade infrastructure programme to the Arctic, outlining Friday its vision for a "Polar Silk Road" for ships as it seeks greater access to the strategically vital region.

The Arctic is geographically far from China's borders but with large oil and gas deposits and potential shipping lanes, it has become more strategically important for the Asian giant.

Beijing presented its plans in its first Arctic white paper, which marks the first time it has transparently outlined how it sees its role in the region.

Among the white paper's agenda items are expanding President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road initiative northward.

The $1 trillion infrastructure programme is billed as a modern revival of the ancient Silk Road that once carried fabrics, spices and a wealth of other goods between Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

The project has spurred both interest and anxiety in many countries, with some seeing it as an example of Chinese expansionism.

Earlier this winter the first train ran from Finland to China, establishing a new rail cargo route to the Nordic countries.

Now China wants to build an "ice silk road as a major strategic cooperative initiative", Vice Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a press conference in Beijing.

Kong denied China had large-scale ambitions for gas extraction. Instead, the white paper trumps up "freedom of navigation", a term more commonly used by the US to contest China's territorial claims on islands Beijing has built in the South China Sea.

All countries' "rights to use the Arctic shipping routes should be ensured", the white paper says.

"China hopes to work with all parties to build a 'Polar Silk Road' through developing the Arctic shipping routes," the white paper says, with Kong saying China and Russia are in discussions on the issue.

The policy encourages Chinese companies to build infrastructure in the region and conduct commercial trial voyages for sea routes.

The white paper makes the case for China's role in the region, building on its coining of the term "near Arctic country" last decade, said Anne-Marie Brady, an expert in Chinese and polar politics at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand.

"Initially there was some resistance to China's activities in the Arctic, but China's been working hard to build up support for its position. The white paper shows how confident China is now," Brady said, noting the country is now accepted as "a polar stakeholder".Declaring that America is open for business under his leadership, US president Donald Trump told a gathering of political and business elites that the economic growth taking place in the US due to his 'America first' agenda also benefits the rest of the world

Davos: Declaring that America is open for business under his leadership, US president Donald Trump told a gathering of political and business elites on Friday that the economic growth taking place in the US due to his "America first" agenda also benefits the rest of the world.

Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, an incongruous location for a nationalist president, that American prosperity has created countless jobs around the world, but stressed that his priority would always remain on protecting the interests of within his nation's own borders.

"As president of the United States, I will always put American first just as the leaders of other countries should put their countries first," said Trump.

But the president tried to strike a balance, tempering his nationalist agenda with reassurances to the globalist and cooperation-minded audience that his protectionist vision "does not mean America alone."

"When the United States grows, so does the world," Trump said. "American prosperity has created countless jobs around the globe and the drive for excellence, creativity and innovation in the United States has led to important discoveries that help people everywhere live more prosperous and healthier lives."

As forum chairman Klaus Schwab introduced Trump, he drew some hisses when he said that the president could be subject to "misconceptions and biased interpretations." When Trump took the stage, he received modest applause but some people kept their hands at their sides. The crowd was largely subdued as the president spoke but there were boos when Trump took a swipe at the media.

Once more shadowed by revelations back home about the ongoing Russia probe, Trump showcased the country's roaring economy and made a pitch to the world leaders that "America is open for business and we are competitive once again."

The gathering had viewed Trump with skepticism, given his "America First" message, but the White House has insisted that his protectionist policies and international cooperation can go hand-in-hand.

Trump addressed the crowd of over 1,500 people packed into a high-ceilinged hall in the modern conference center. Anticipation was high from attendees, who have watched the president closely since he arrived, snapping photos when he entered and as he moved from room to room.

Trump hit some of the same nationalist notes that have become hallmarks of his other speeches to international gatherings, calling for secure borders, stricter immigration policies and enhanced national sovereignty, saying that each nation should put its own economic interests ahead of the larger multi-national partnerships.

"We support free trade but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal," said Trump, who has long expressed a preference for one-to-one national trade deals rather than regional ones. But he also left the door open to re-entering the Trans Pacific Partnership, a sweeping trade deal from which he withdrew a year ago, saying that "perhaps" the United States could resume negotiations with many of the participating countries at once.

As if making a salesman's pitch, Trump repeatedly boasted about the nation's economy and pushed for international cooperation combatting terrorism. But he left unaddressed a number of concerns for the globalist community, including climate change, the fate of refugees and diplomatic solutions for a number of the world's hotspots, including the Middle East.

Kristian Jensen, Denmark's finance minister, provided some of the first international feedback, writing on Twitter "Honestly speaking, a rather ordinary speech from @realDonaldTrump. We didn't need a sale speech but a vision for a renewed cooperation about growth."

rligt talt: en ret ordinr tale fra @realDonaldTrump Vi havde ikke brug for en salgstale for  men et vision for et fornyet samarbejde om vkst #dkpol #wef18 #Trump  Kristian Jensen (@Kristian_Jensen) January 26, 2018

While interest in the president's remarks has been keen, the moment was shadowed by a report in The New York Times that he had ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller last June, but backed off after White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to resign.

Asked about the report as he entered the conference center, Trump said: "Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories."

The first sitting president to attend Davos since Bill Clinton in 2000, Trump used his speech to tout his economic agenda and argue America is open for business.

Trump used his time at the summit to meet with world leaders, attend a reception in his honor and host business executives at a dinner. On his way in Friday he declared that his visit had been a success, adding: "We have a tremendous crowd and a crowd like they've never had before."

Trump sought earlier Friday to ease tensions with a key African leader, meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame and calling him a "friend" in the aftermath of his controversial comments about African countries.

The meeting came after Trump drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations as "s***hole countries" in discussing immigration, according to those at the meeting. The president has denied using that language. Others present say he did.

And a day after Trump sought to make nice with British Prime Minister Theresa May, he said in a new interview that he "would certainly apologize" for retweeting anti-Muslim videos from a far-right British group.

Trump told British journalist Piers Morgan that "I know nothing about" the Britain First group and "would certainly apologize, if you'd like me to do that." A clip of the interview was released Friday, with the full interview scheduled to air Sunday on ITV.The US president ignored questions shouted by journalists about his reported dismissal this month of African nations as 's***hole countries', during a meeting on immigration with congressional leaders

Davos: US President Donald Trump on Friday asked the African Union chairman to pass on his "warmest regards" to other regional leaders at a summit this weekend, after sparking outrage with a reported slur against Africans.

Trump met Rwandan President Paul Kagame at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where some African business leaders say they are planning to boycott Trump's closing speech later Friday.

The outspoken US leader congratulated Kagame on taking over as chair of the 55-nation African bloc, which Trump said was a "great honour".

"I know you're going to your first meeting shortly. Please give my warmest regards," Trump told Kagame after they held a one-on-one meeting at the forum.

The US president ignored questions shouted by journalists about his reported dismissal this month of African nations as "shithole countries", during a meeting on immigration with congressional leaders.

The reported remark drew outrage around the world and prompted several African governments to demand explanations from their US ambassadors.

The African Union demanded an apology, although Trump has denied making the remark as relayed by US lawmakers who were present at the meeting.

A week ago, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley expressed regret about the controversy in a meeting with African envoys, the head of the UN's African Group said, after the envoys released a joint statement demanding an apology from Trump for his "outrageous, racist and xenophobic remarks".

In Davos, Trump said he had "tremendous discussions" with Kagame, who for his part said they had "good discussions" about the economy and trade.

Not placated, South African businessman Bonang Mohale said he and dozens of others planned to shun Trump's speech in Davos on Friday afternoon.

"We are absolutely repulsed and shocked and angry that he could call the people of El Salvador and Haiti and Africa 'shitholes'," Mohale, who heads the Business Leadership South Africa forum, told AFP in Davos.

He noted that Trump had also reportedly expressed a preference for immigrants from overwhelmingly white Norway, and said: "We remind him that America itself is a nation of immigrants."

Also in Davos, Oxfam executive director Winnie Byanyima noted that some Africans are talking even of walking out of Trump's speech rather than just staying away.

"I will not attend the speech. I'm busy," the Ugandan told AFP.

"Trump is just one of a kind, a member of the elite who has chosen to serve the interests of a few at the top, at the expense of ordinary people," she said.NEW YORK (Reuters) -The price of cryptocurrencies plunged and crypto trading was delayed on Tuesday, a day in which El Salvador ran into snags as the first country to adopt bitcoin as legal tender. Shares of blockchain-related firms also fell as crypto stocks were hit by trading platform outages. But the major focus was on El Salvador, where the government had to temporarily unplug a digital wallet to cope with demand.At least 33 people were killed in a blaze at a hospital in South Korea on Friday, firefighters said, with more than 70 injured.

Seoul: At least 33 people were killed in a blaze at a hospital in South Korea on Friday, firefighters said, with more than 70 injured.

It is the second devastating blaze in just a month in the advanced country, Asia's fourth-largest economy.

Videos posted on social media showed a patient hanging on to a rope dangling from a helicopter above the hospital in Miryang, and another crawling out of a window to climb down a ladder.

The six-storey structure housed a nursing home as well as the hospital, and the National Fire Agency said 33 people had been killed, with 13 critically injured. Another 61 suffered light injuries, a spokesman said, adding the death toll could rise further.

"Two nurses said they had seen fire suddenly erupting in the emergency room," said fire chief Choi Man-Woo, but the cause of the blaze was not immediately known.

All the patients had been brought out, he said, adding that evacuating 15 patients from the intensive care unit on the third floor took longer as firefighters had to wait for medical staff to supervise the process. "The victims came both from the hospital and the nursing home," he said. "Some died on their way to another hospital."

Video footage and pictures showed the building engulfed by heavy dark smoke and surrounded by multiple fire trucks. Survivors were brought out wrapped in blankets, and firefighters picked their way through the blackened shell of the building after the blaze was extinguished.

Around 200 people were in the Sejong Hospital building when the fire broke out, police said.

South Korean President Moon Jae-In held an emergency meeting with advisers to discuss response measures, his office said.

The fire came only a month after 29 people were killed in an inferno at a fitness club in the South Korean city of Jecheon  a disaster blamed on insufficient emergency exits, flammable finishing materials and illegally parked cars blocking access to emergency vehicles.

Friday's fire is South Korea's worst since 2008, when a blaze at a warehouse in the city of Incheon killed 40 workers. The worst fire ever in modern South Korea was an arson attack on a subway station in the southeastern city of Daegu in 2003 that left 192 people dead and nearly 150 injured.Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, heavily criticised abroad for failing to stand up for largely stateless Rohingya Muslims, that she shouldn't bother about rights activists as they are 'just a noisy bunch'.

New Delhi: Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte told Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, heavily criticised abroad for failing to stand up for largely stateless Rohingya Muslims, that she shouldn't bother about rights activists as they are "just a noisy bunch".

Duterte said he made the remarks in a speech at the Philippines-India Business Forum in New Delhi where Duterte and Suu Kyi are attending a summit of Southeast Asian countries.

"We were talking about our country, the interest of our country ... and I said 'do not mind the human rights' (activists), they are just a noisy bunch actually," Duterte said.

Suu Kyi is facing international criticism for failing to address the plight of the Rohingya, more than 655,500 of whom have fled to Bangladesh to escape a crackdown by the Myanmar military.

Many people in Buddhist-majority Myanmar regard the Rohingya as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. The United Nations described Myanmar's crackdown as ethnic cleansing, which Myanmar denies.

"I pity her because she seems to be caught in the middle of being a Nobel Prize winner for peace and this is now the ruckus, she is heavily criticised," Duterte said in his speech.

Human rights groups have also strongly criticised Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign during which more than 3,900 suspected drug users and peddlers have been killed in what the police called self-defence after armed suspects resisted arrest.

Critics dispute that and say executions are taking place with zero accountability, allegations the police reject.The government, political parties and organisations of North Korea called for improvement of relations between the two Koreas, the official media reported.

Pyongyang: The government, political parties and organisations of North Korea held a joint conference in Pyongyang, calling for improvement of relations between the two Koreas, the official media reported Thursday.

The meeting urged to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two sides and defuse the military tensions on the Korean Peninsula, so as to remove misunderstandings and distrust and advance the north-south relations along the course indicated by the 15 June Joint Declaration and the 4 October Joint Declaration, Xinhua cited Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) as saying.

Both declarations were signed by then leaders of the two neighbouring countries during the inter-Korean summits in 2000 and 2007 respectively.

Participants also appealed to hold joint events on the anniversaries of the signings of declarations and other occasions this year to show the "will for independent reunification," said KCNA.

The two countries' relations of an all-time low are likely to have reached a turning point as Pyongyang and Seoul held high-level talks at the truce village of Panmunjom earlier in January, with the North Korea said it will participate in the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea, in February.Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish forces would sweep Kurdish fighters from the Syrian border and could push all the way east to the frontier with Iraq  a move which risks a possible confrontation with US forces allied to the Kurds

Ankara/Beirut: President Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday Turkish forces would sweep Kurdish fighters from the Syrian border and could push all the way east to the frontier with Iraq  a move which risks a possible confrontation with US forces allied to the Kurds.

The Turkish offensive in northwest Syrias Afrin region against the Kurdish YPG militia has opened a new front in the multi-sided Syrian civil war but has strained ties with NATO ally Washington.

Turkey considers the YPG a terrorist group but the militia has played a prominent role in US-led efforts to combat the hardline Islamic State in Syria.

Since the start of the incursion, dubbed Operation Olive Branch by Ankara, Erdogan has said Turkish forces would push east towards the town of Manbij, potentially putting them in a confrontation with US troops deployed there.

Operation Olive Branch will continue until it reaches its goals. We will rid Manbij of terrorists, as it was promised to us, and our battles will continue until no terrorist is left until our border with Iraq, Erdogan said in a speech in Ankara.

Any drive by Turkish forces toward Manbij, part of Kurdish-held territory some 100 km east of Afrin, could threaten US efforts in northern Syria.

The United States has about 2,000 troops in Syria, officially as part of the international, US-led coalition against Islamic State.

US forces were deployed in and around Manbij to deter Turkish and US-backed rebels from attacking each other and have also carried out training missions in the area.

Washington has angered Ankara by providing arms, training and air support to the Syrian Kurdish forces. Turkey sees the YPG as an extension of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged a deadly insurgency in Turkeys largely Kurdish southeast for three decades.

How can a strategic partner do this to its partner? Erdogan said, referring to the United States. If we will wage a battle against terror together, we will either do this together or we will take care of ourselves.

Human Toll

Although the campaign is now in its seventh day, Turkish soldiers and their Free Syrian Army rebel allies appear to have made limited gains, held back by poor weather that has limited air support.

Three Turkish soldiers and 11 of their Syrian rebel allies have been killed in clashes so far, Turkeys health minister said on Friday. A further 130 people were wounded, he said, without saying if they were civilians or combatants.

Turkey said it had killed at least 343 militants since the operation started. The Kurdish-led forces have said Turkey was exaggerating the number it had killed.

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance spearheaded by the Kurdish YPG, said 308 fighters from the Turkish side had been killed in the first week of the incursion.

Forty-three SDF fighters had died, including eight women, the SDF said. In addition, 134 civilians had been wounded and 59 killed, it said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring group, said at least 38 civilians have been killed since the start of the operation, two of them by SDF shelling.

Seven members of one family died and one was injured when a house collapsed under Turkish shelling in the early hours of Friday in the town of Maatala in Afrin region, the head of the Kurdish Red Crescent in Afrin, Nuri Sheikh Qanbar, said.

US policy rethink?

Military action by Turkey against the Kurdish fighters should prompt Washington to rethink its policy and address Turkish security concerns, President Tayyip Erdogans chief diplomacy adviser said.

The moment Turkey starts using its military power instead of soft power in the region, however, sour ties are at that moment, it encourages Washington to stop and think, Gulnur Aybet told Reuters in an interview.

I believe the US will put forward some truly satisfying alternative solutions to ease Turkeys security concerns, she said.

While Aybet did not elaborate on what such measures could include, she said they would follow on from a recent US proposal to establish a safe zone in northern Syria.

Turkey has said the United States has offered to work on a 30 km safe zone, but it says trust between the NATO allies must be restored for such a proposal to be considered.

Aybet said Turkey was aware that a confrontation on the ground in Manbij carried risks of pushing ties to a breaking point.

Everyone is aware of that risk. We hope that the Americans are aware, too, she said.

The Kurdish-led autonomous administration that runs Afrin on Thursday called on the Syrian government to defend its border with Turkey in Afrin despite Damascus stance against Kurdish autonomy.

The Syrian government has said it is ready to target Turkish warplanes in its airspace but has not intervened so far. It suspects the Kurds of wanting independence in the long-run.ts not every day a National Geographic photographer stops by the Mound House for his documentary.

Fort Myers Beach welcomed Dirk Rohrbach to stop and see the beachs hidden gem during his week-long paddle along the Great Calusa Blueway.

Rohrbach, a German National Geographic photojournalist, is working on a five-year documentary titled 50 States: A Journey into America. Hes stopping in every state to see its natural areas and highlight its precious places.

He began the project in summer 2016; most of his excursions are by paddling or by driving his beloved vintage Ford, which hes named Loretta.

Rohrbach started his journey in Florida Thursday at the Koreshan State Historical Site; hell spend the next week venturing up the Caloosahatchee River, stopping in Sanibel and other special places along the way. Hell travel 100 of the 190 miles that the Blueway stretches.

Whats exciting is to share all this history and expose that to a larger audience, said Alison Geisen, Mound House Director. With all the hard work from volunteers and the community over the last 25 years, Im very pleased the Mound House is finally being shared.

Geisen led Rohrbach and his accompanying photographer Claudia Axmann on a tour of the Mound House, explaining its unique history and role on the island.

When I started to travel to the U.S., one of my early interests was Native American cultures, Rohrbach said. Being on the Mound House today, seeing the historic house, I would have built here too.

The Beaches of Fort Myers and Sanibel, Lee Countys tourism bureau, got wind of Rohrbachs documentary from its German contractors. While completing the documentary, the photojournalist will be doing miniprojects, including a radio series.

Lee County is getting a whole segment, said Megan Contreras, a spokeswoman for the tourism bureau.

Rohrbach will also be hosting a talk about his last project, Paddling the Yukon, Tuesday, Feb. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Rec Center, 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers.

Make sure to read the full story in the Jan. 31 issue of the Observer!This week FedEx (NYSE:FDX), Walt Disney (NYSE:DIS) and Verizon (NYSE:VZ) joined the growing list of big companies, such as AT&T (NYSE:T) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC), that have announced plans to financially reward employees with either one-time bonus payments, broad salary increases or other financial perks. So far, over 260 companies have dished out benefits and more are expected to do so. It's been good PR for them and of course for the president and the Republican Congress that passed the legislation.

But did you notice something? Some companies were able to make this announcement almost immediately after the bill passed and before the year ended. But quite a few didnt, including the nations largest employer, Walmart (NYSE:WMT). The mega-retailer announced on Jan. 11 that it would be giving out bonuses of up to $1,000 to some of its employees.

How are these corporations able to pay out bonuses for 2017 even though they didn't announce their intentions until 2018? Shouldn't these bonuses be a 2018 thing? Not at all. And not only that, many companies -- small, medium and large -- may not realize that they could be doing the same, right now, and reaping huge tax savings. Are you?

First of all, and before you go any further, talk to your accountant. I'm not your accountant, so I don't know everything about your business. But here are a few rules of thumb. If your business is not on the cash method of accounting -- therefore you use the accrual method -- then there is a very good chance that you can declare a bonus now for 2017 and take the deduction on your 2017 business tax return as long as you pay it out by March 15. The rule is further explained here.

This is really important because it can save you, your company and your employees a lot of money. It's all about timing. Tax rates -- both corporate and individual -- are much higher in 2017 than they are now in 2018 thanks to tax reform. Smart business people -- the executives and tax advisors at JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM), Home Depot (NYSE:HD) and others -- know that the best strategy in this environment is to legally accelerate deductions in 2017 and defer as much income as legally possible to 2018. Why pay more when you don't have to?

Want to be even smarter? Don't pay the bonus in cash. Instead, contribute it to your company 401K or defined contribution plan for your employees. The same rules apply. But there are greater benefits. For starters, you're helping your employees save more for their retirement, and that's always a good thing. More to your benefit, the more you contribute for your employees, the more you're able to contribute for your own retirement without coming into restrictions imposed by these plans' discrimination rules. Everyone wins.

If you're running a business and you meet the above criteria, then there's still time to do exactly what all the smart people at the big companies have already done: declare a bonus and pay it out in the next six weeks. Your employees will be happy and hopefully work harder and think less about leaving your company (theyll also have the income taxed at the lower 2018 rates). You will be happy because you'll be saving your company a lot of tax dollars. Your co-owners and shareholders will be happy because you're doing exactly what they're paying you to do: look after the best interests of their company.

Again, talk to your accountant. But if you get the green light for bonuses, then step on it.

Gene Marks is an author, columnist and President of The Marks Group, a ten-person technology consulting firm near Philadelphia. Gene is also a Certified Public Accountant and a small business expert.It's easy to develop your share of bad habits at the office over time. The problem, however, is that your seemingly harmless behavior could end up costing you a raise or promotion (or both) if you're not careful. That's why it pays to be mindful of the minor but irksome transgressions your boss and colleagues may or may not be picking up on. Here are just a few to put an end to.

1. Showing up late

Showing up late once in a while is hardly a big deal. We all hit traffic, forget to set our alarm clocks, or get delayed by a sick child or dog from time to time on our way out the door. But if you make a habit of arriving late to the office multiple times a week, your colleagues and manager are bound to take notice. And once they do, they'll start to assume that you simply don't care about being prompt.

Even if you're a dedicated worker, showing up late sends the message that you're just not reliable or professional. And that's not a favorable message to put forth. So start getting up earlier, changing up your commute, or doing whatever it takes to ensure that you walk into the office at the same time as everyone else.

2. Taking too many personal calls

It's one thing to pick up the phone on occasion to check in with your partner or confirm an appointment. But if you're spending a chunk of your days chatting with friends or making social plans, it's a habit that's going to hurt you. For one thing, you might end up divulging aspects of your private life that shouldn't be shared in an office environment. (Do what you want on weekends, but your boss certainly doesn't need to hear about your plans to indulge at an open-bar event or bottomless brunch.) But more so than that, even a quick personal conversation can draw other people's attention, thereby disrupting their workflow and sending the message that you're goofing off rather than working.

A better bet? Don't pick up the phone unless you know it's truly important. In fact, ask your close friends and family members to not only use discretion, but to text you before they're about to call during the workday confirming that it's urgent. From there, you'll have a heads-up as to whether you should be answering an incoming call versus letting it go to voice mail.

3. Distracting others

It's nice to be social at the office, but there's a fine line between being friendly and being downright intrusive. If you're in the habit of stopping to chat with every single person whose desk you pass on the way to the water cooler or restroom, it's time to bust out of it -- quickly. There's nothing wrong with saying a quick hello if someone beckons or makes obvious eye contact, but if you see that your colleagues are deeply involved in tasks with their heads down, be sure to keep walking.

4. Getting defensive when criticized

It's never easy to take criticism at work, even when that feedback is constructive in theory. But if you don't learn to accept criticism from your boss and colleagues, you're apt to come off as immature and defensive -- and that's the last thing you want.

Going forward, aim to be open-minded about the feedback you get, and pledge to take the time to process it rather than react immediately. Sometimes, all it takes is a brief pause and a deep breath to keep you from responding in a manner you'll later regret.

5. Being negative

Nobody likes pressing deadlines, stressful assignments, or having to work nights and weekends. But sometimes, these things come with the territory, and if you don't approach them with the right attitude, you could end up damaging your career. This isn't to say you should jump for joy and celebrate when things go awry at work, but generally speaking, responding negatively to already unpleasant situations is a habit that could cost you down the line.

The next time you're faced with a challenge or hiccup, don't be that person to protest or make a snide comment. Rather, suggest a method for tackling the situation effectively, and motivate others around you to do the same. It'll do you a lot more good than moping and rolling your eyes.

Sometimes, it's the little things at work that end up making or breaking your career. If you're guilty of any of the above habits, it's time to change your ways before they come back to bite you. And while you're at it, warn your coworkers, too. They'll thank you for it later on.

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The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Police said Friday they believe Canadian drug-company billionaire businessman Barry Sherman and his wife were both murdered.

Det. Sgt. Susan Gomes said investigators came to the conclusion after six weeks of investigation, but declined to discuss possible motives or suspects.

The founder of generic drugmaker Apotex and his wife, Honey, were found dead in their mansion on Dec. 15. Police said then the deaths were suspicious, but said there were no signs of forced entry and they were not looking for suspects.

Gomes said the two were found hanging by belts from a railing that surrounds their indoor pool and were in a semi-seated position on the pool deck.

"We have sufficient evidence to describe this as a double homicide investigation and that both Honey and Barry Sherman were in fact targeted," Gomes said.

She said they were last seen alive in the evening hours of Wednesday Dec. 13 and were not heard from again until their bodies were found late Friday morning.

Gomes said there are no signs of forced entry at access points of the home. She declined to discuss the evidence, possible motives or suspects.

The day after the bodies were found, some prominent news media outlets quoted unidentified police officials as saying the deaths appeared to be a murder-suicide. That upset the couple's four adult children, who then hired their own team of investigators and a pathologist, who conducted second autopsies on the Shermans.

The family said in a statement Friday that the new conclusion "was expressed by the family from the outset and is consistent with the findings of the independent autopsy and investigation.

"The family continues to support the Toronto Police Service in their efforts to seek justice for their parents and pursue those responsible for these unspeakable crimes," the statement added

Police have released the home back to the family. Gomes noted their frustration with police.

"For them it's been difficult to balance their patience with their frustration with us and our investigation  not unlike any other family who have suffered such a sudden and profound loss," Gomes said. "They have been understanding, cooperative and hopeful that this investigation can give them some answers."

Toronto police investigators have scoured the 12,000-square-foot home, hauled away the couple's cars and even checked the sewers in one of Toronto's most exclusive neighborhoods for clues.

Sherman, 75, was known for litigiousness and aggressive businesses practices as he developed Apotex Inc., which has a global workforce of about 11,000.

In "Prescription Games," a 2001 book about the industry, he mused that a rival might want to kill him.

"The branded drug companies hate us. They have hired private investigators on us all the time," he said. "The thought once came to my mind, why didn't they just hire someone to knock me off? For a thousand bucks paid to the right person you can probably get someone killed. Perhaps I'm surprised that hasn't happened."

Canadian Business magazine recently estimated his worth at 4.77 billion Canadian dollars ($3.65 billion), making him the 15th richest person in the country.

As they became wealthy, the couple became known for philanthropy. They gave tens of millions to the United Jewish Appeal, donated to a geriatric hospital in Toronto and sent medicine to disaster zones. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended the funeral and Sherman is posthumously due to receive one of the country's highest civilian honors this year.

Friends and family say the couple had been making plans for the future. They had recently listed their home in Toronto for 6.9 million Canadian dollars and they were building a new home in the city.

The chief executive of Apotex, meanwhile, announced Friday he is leaving the company. Dr. Jeremy Desai had been CEO of Apotex since 2014.

Apotex spokesman Jordan Berman said Friday he didn't know why Desai was leaving, but said he resigned to pursue other opportunities. Berman sad Desai's departure was not related to the Toronto police press conference.Colgate-Palmolive Co. shares fell Friday after the consumer products maker posted revenue that missed forecasts.

The maker of toothpaste, dishwashing liquid and other household goods reported fourth-quarter earnings of $323 million, or 37 cents per share. The latest quarter includes a charge related to tax reform of 31 cents per share. Excluding that and other non-recurring costs, were 75 cents per share.

Those results met Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was also for earnings of 75 cents per share.

But the New York-based company posted revenue of $3.89 billion in the period, up 4.5 percent from last year but short of Street forecasts. Seven analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $3.92 billion.

Stifel analyst called the results "disappointing" and noted an "increasingly challenged" environment, including rising costs and more competition.

Colgate-Palmolive shares fell nearly 6 percent to $72.73 in afternoon trading.

For the year, the company reported a profit of $2.02 billion, or $2.28 per share. Revenue was reported as $15.45 billion.

_____

Elements of this story were generated by Automated Insights using data from Zacks Investment Research. Access a Zacks stock report on CL at https://www.zacks.com/ap/CLFedEx (NYSE:FDX) is the latest U.S. corporation to announce it will raise employee pay as a result of the GOPs recently passed tax reform bill.

On Friday, FedEx announced it would increase employee pay by a cumulative $200 million, about two-thirds of which will be allocated toward hourly workers, who will receive their 2018 annual pay increase six months earlier than scheduled. Salaried workers will also benefit by way of increases in performance-based incentive plans.

The courier company will also voluntarily donate $1.5 billion to its pension plan, which it called one of the best funded retirement programs in the country.

Aside from investing in its workforce, FedEx also committed to shelling out another $1.5 billion to expand its Indianapolis hub over the next seven years and to modernize its Memphis SuperHub.

Between increased compensation, bonuses and capital investments, FedEx plans to invest $3.2 billion in the U.S. over the coming years.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act aimed to spur corporate investment in the U.S. through a number of new policies, most notably reducing the corporate tax rate by 14 percentage points to 21%, from the previous 35%. FedEx said in a press release that it expects the tax reform legislation will not only accomplish that goal, but that it will also strengthen U.S. GDP growth.

FedEx CEO Fred Smith told FOX Business Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." earlier this month that the provisions of the tax bill would allow the company to expand its already robust domestic investment, suggesting at the time that FedEx would probably also raise worker pay.

The tax bill corrects something thats been a real problem for American business for years, and that is the punitive tax code that we used to have that dissuaded investment, he said, adding that investment is the only way to raise wages for blue collar workers.

A number of U.S. companies have already committed to increasing employee pay, including Boeing (NYSE:BA), Home Depot (NYSE:HD), AT&T (NYSE:T) and JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), among others.

During the mid-morning hours of Fridays session, shares of FedEx were trading slightly lower.Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is promising a thorough review of the process that led to the selection of the Northern Pass project to deliver Canadian hydropower to the state.

"Our role is to ensure that this bid was selected based on a transparent, competitive and fair evaluation of all proposals submitted," the Democratic attorney general's spokeswoman Chloe Gotis said in a statement.

State energy officials gave preliminary approval on Thursday to Northern Pass, a proposal to construct 192 miles (310 kilometers) of transmission line in New Hampshire for delivering hydropower from Quebec.

Under Massachusetts law, utilities including Eversource, National Grid and Unitil Corp. were involved in the selection process. Eversource's Northern Pass beat out several other competitive bids, including from the New England Clean Power Link, which proposed delivering hydropower from Quebec through transmission lines that would be buried under Lake Champlain in Vermont, and from the Central Maine Power Co., which would have brought in hydropower through existing transmission corridors and newly purchased rights of way in western Maine.

State officials say an independent evaluator was used to ensure an unbiased review, but at least two Democratic gubernatorial candidates vying for the nomination to challenge Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker in November called on the state ethics commission to investigate the arrangement. Setti Warren and Jay Gonzalez said they were concerned about a lack of transparency and the appearance of a conflict of interest.

But the fate of the $1.6 billion Northern Pass project still is in the hands of New Hampshire, where state regulators plan to start their deliberations on Tuesday.

The Site Evaluation Committee completed months of hearings in December. It appeared that the Massaschusetts decision would not be part of its deliberations.

"They have to stick with the record," committee administrator Pamela Monroe said.

The committee is scheduled to make an oral decision on Feb. 23, with a final, written decision due by March 31.

The project has pitted supporters, including New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu, who say it will create jobs and cut energy costs against those who fear the transmission lines will destroy scenic views, reduce property values and hurt tourism.

"That Massachusetts would put all of its eggs in one basket by selecting only Northern Pass would seem risky," said Jack Savage, a spokesman for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, which opposes Northern Pass.

Eversource said much of the line would run underground or along existing transmission lines.Cox Enterprises said Wednesday the majority of its employees will receive bonuses of up to $2,000 following the passage of tax reform.

The Atlanta-based company, which owns the Cox cable provider among other businesses, announced that bonuses of $1,000 to $2,000 will be distributed on Tax Day to employees who have worked at Cox Enterprises for at least a year and are not part of an executive incentive plan. The move impacts most of the companys nearly 60,000 employees.

The $1.5 trillion tax bill reduces the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and changes the way the U.S. government taxes companies that also operate internationally.

FOX Business is keeping track of the tax benefits that have reached over 3 million Americans so far.

Updated 3/7/18

Anthem

Anthem Inc. (NYSE:ANTM) said it would contribute retirement savings for more than 58,000 current and former employees, joining other major corporations in rewarding workers after the passage of a GOP-backed tax reform package.

The Indianapolis-based health insurance company said its associates and recent retirees will receive $1,000 toward their 401(k) accounts, for a total investment of more than $58 million. Anthem said other tax reform-related savings would be used to reduce the cost of healthcare for customers.

Apple

The California-based tech giant gave employees below the senior level title of "director" bonuses worth $2,500. The awards were composed of restricted stock units, a source familiar with the situation told FOX Business.

AT&T

The telecom giant said in late December that more than 200,000 of its employees, including union-represented and non-management workers, will be eligible for a $1,000 bonus. The checks will be in the mail in time for the holidays if Trump finalizes the tax bill with his signature before Christmas. AT&T (NYSE:T) also said it will invest $1 billion more than expected in the U.S. in 2018, once the cuts are final.

Congress, working closely with the President, took a monumental step to bring taxes paid by U.S. businesses in line with the rest of the industrialized world, AT&T Chairman and CEO Randall Stephenson said in a statement. This tax reform will drive economic growth and create good-paying jobs.

BNY Mellon

Starting on March 1, Bank of New York Mellon Corp. will raise minimum wage to $15 per hour for roughly 1,000 of its 52,500 employees, the Wall Street Journal reported.

BNY Mellon executives noted the new tax code will allow for savings of roughly $250 million per year, which will be used on technology upgrades.

Boeing

The aerospace and defense company immediately announced $300 million in investments after the bill passed, with $100 million toward corporate giving including employee gift-match programs, $100 million toward workforce development, training and education and $100 million toward enhancing Boeings workplaces.

"On behalf of all of our stakeholders, we applaud and thank Congress and the administration for their leadership in seizing this opportunity to unleash economic energy in the United States," Boeing (NYSE:BA) President and CEO Dennis Muilenburg said in a statement. "It's the single-most important thing we can do to drive innovation, support quality jobs and accelerate capital investment in our country."

Charter Communications

Charter, which owns the Spectrum cable brand, says all of its employees will be paid at least $15 per hour within the next year. The company cited tax reform and the repeal of net neutrality rules for its decision.

"Charter's workforce is key to the success of our company," Charter CEO Tom Rutledge said in a statement. "Our commitment to pay every employee at least a $15 per hour income will enhance our efforts to develop our highly-skilled, diverse and locally based workforce, improving their lives and the lives of the customers they serve."

Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG) is rolling out benefits reaching all of its 71,000 employees, including special cash and stock bonuses and enhanced paid and parental leave.

Qualified hourly employees and salaried restaurant employees will receive a special one-time cash bonus of up to $1,000, and some staff employees will receive a one-time stock grant.

Other offerings will include accelerated training programs, and additional paid parental leave for everyone, from hourly managers to salaried employees.

The company also added life insurance and short-term disability insurance coverage for hourly restaurant managers.

According to the company, the tax cut and the jobs cut made the sweetened compensation and benefits possible. The company will invest more than one-third of its anticipated savings from tax law changes on behalf of its employees, and the remainder will be used to improve its restaurant facilities and operations.

The company said it has already started rolling out these new benefits.

Comcast

The Philadelphia-based telecom corporation said it would award $1,000 bonuses to more than 100,000 non-executive employees. In addition, Comcast (NASDAQ:CMCSA) NBC Universal Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts said the company plans to spend more than $50 billion in the next five years on infrastructure investments that are expected to create "thousands of new direct and indirect jobs."

In a press release, Comcast said the initiatives were "based on the passage of tax reform and the FCC's action on broadband."

CVS

Hourly employees of CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) will see their wages increase to $11 per hour from $9, effective April 2018. The company also plans to adjust pay ranges and rates for many of its retail employees later in the year.

The company is creating a new paid parental leave program. Effective April 1, 2018, full-time employees who become parents can take up to four weeks away from work at 100% of their pay.

Fifth Third Bancorp

The Cincinnati-based banking corporation said it would raise the minimum hourly wage for all employees to $15 per hour and dispense $1,000 bonuses for more than 13,500 workers. The company says tax reform was directly responsible for the initiatives.

It is good for our communities, employees and Fifth Third Bank (NASDAQ:FITB), Fifth Third President and CEO Greg Carmichael said.

Home Depot

Home Depot (NYSE:HD) announced it will pay its U.S. hourly workers a one-time bonus of up to $1,000 tied to President Trumps tax reform.

"This incremental investment in our associates was made possible by the new tax reform bill," Craig Menear, chairman and CEO of the company, said in a statement.

The Home Depot bonus will be paid in addition to the retailers existing bonuses. It employs more than 400,000 associates.

JPMorgan Chase

The country's largest bank said it will raise wages for roughly 22,000 workers to between $15 and $18 per hour. JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) employees are also set to receive a $750 bonus this month.

JetBlue

The New York-based airline said on Jan. 4 that it would grant a $1,000 to each of its 21,000 crewmembers, with the exception of its CEO and other executives.

"We believe these tax changes will be positive for our company, and provide us the opportunity to do good things for our crewmembers, customers and shareholders," JetBlue President and CEO Robin Hayes said in a letter to company employees.

J.M. Smucker

J.M. Smucker Co. will offer one-time $1,000 bonuses to thousands of its employees, joining other major companies in rewarding employees due to savings tied to the recent passage of GOP-backed tax reform.

The Ohio-based company said last week that nearly 5,000 employees will receive bonuses. In addition, Smucker announced $1 million in charitable donations and $20 million in investments toward employee pension plans.

Lowe's

The retailer said it's giving more than 260,000 of its hourly employees bonuses of up to $1,000 as well as expanding its benefit plans to include adoption assistance and paid parental leave.

In addition, Lowe's said it plans to shorten its eligibility time for new employees who want to enroll in the company's health plans, giving them the option to sign up in the first 30 days of service.

McCormick

McCormick & Company (NYSE:MKC) will use a portion of its savings from tax reform to pay out $1,000 bonuses in May to eligible U.S. hourly employees and will accelerate wage increases, adding that the majority of hourly employees will benefit from the changes.

McCormick said in a statement that in addition to employee bonuses and wage increases, the company will use its tax benefits to make strategic investments to drive growth, return cash to shareholders and pay down debt.

MetLife

The New York-based insurance company (NYSE:MET) said it will increase its minimum wage to $15 per hour, enhance employee benefits and boost retirement plan contributions for all of its workers. MetLife also said it plans to create a new $10 million skills development fund to help its employees around the world upgrade their workplace skills.

Starbucks

Starbucks (NASDAQ:SBUX) is giving all of its U.S.-based hourly and salaried workers an unspecified raise in April, in addition to a wage increase already dispersed earlier in the fiscal year, which began last October. Starbucks says it is investing roughly $120 million in the wage increases.

The company is also awarding workers stock grants worth a total of more than $100 million to those employed by the chain as of Jan. 1, 2018. Retail employees will receive at least a $500 grant, while store managers will receive grants of $2,000, the chain said.

Southwest Airlines

The Dallas-based airline is awarding a $1,000 cash bonus to all of its full-time and part-time employees. The bonuses will be distributed on Jan. 8. In addition, Southwest said it will donate $5 million toward charitable causes and partner with Boeing to modernize its fleet of planes.

We applaud Congress and the President for taking this action to pass legislation, which will result in meaningful corporate income tax reform for the transportation sector in general, and for Southwest Airlines, in particular, Southwest Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said in a statement. We are excited about the savings and additional capital, which we intend to put to work in several formsto reward our hard-working employees, to reinvest in our business, to reward our shareholders, and to keep our costs and fares low for our Customers.

Tyson Foods

The Arkansas-based food company said it will award $1,000 bonuses to full-time employees and $500 to part-time employees who did not already receive an annual bonus. Tyson CEO Tom Hayes said in an email to employees that the companys total savings from tax reform will top $300 million, with leftover cash from the bonuses used to improve training and education, the Associated Press reported.

U-Haul

U-Haul said it will issue bonuses to its full-time and part-time employees, joining other corporations in rewarding employees after the passage of tax reform.

The Phoenix-based moving and storage company, which is a subsidiary of AMERCO, said full-time employees will receive a one-time bonus of $1,200 and part-time workers will receive a bonus of $500. The bonuses will be issued by the end of February and amount to more than $23 million in payments to nearly 29,000 team members, U-Haul said.

U.S. Bank

U.S. Bancorp, the parent company of U.S. Bank, is distributing $1,000 bonuses to roughly 60,000 of its employees and raising minimum wage for hourly workers to $15 per hour. The Minneapolis-based company is also donating $150 million to the U.S. Bank Foundation, upgrading health care packages for its employees and investing in better customer service capabilities.

"We believe that tax reform is positive for the U.S. economy because it provides an immediate opportunity to benefit our employees, our communities and our customers, said Andy Cecere, U.S. Bank's president and CEO. We are proud of our people and their commitment to our customers and communities. We felt it was important to reward their hard work and dedication with this special bonus, the minimum wage increase and the health care enhancements.

Verizon

The telecom giant will give nearly all of its employees 50 shares of restricted stock, worth roughly $53 each as of this week, a source with knowledge of the equity award confirmed to Fox News. The share prices will be set on Feb. 1.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), the world's largest employer, boosted pay for U.S. hourly workers to $11 per hour. Additionally, the retailer is giving one-time $1,000 bonus payments to workers, depending on length of service. It is also extending maternity and parental benefits for workers. The changes take place in February.

The Walt Disney Co.

More than 125,000 Disney employees will receive $1,000 cash bonuses, the company announced on Jan. 23. The bonuses will be dispersed in two payments, one in March and another in September. In addition, Disney invested $50 million in an education program to cover tuition payments for hourly employees.

I am proud we are directing approximately $125 million to our cast members and employees across the country and making higher education more accessible with the launch of this new program, Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement. I have always believed that education is the key to opportunity; it opens doors and creates new possibilities. Matched with the $1,000 cash bonus, these initiatives will have both an immediate and long-term positive impact.

Wells Fargo

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) said it would raise the minimum wage for its team members to $15 per hour and earmark $400 million for philanthropic initiatives in 2018. Some $100 million of that total will be committed to boosting small businesses, while $75 million will support neighborhood revitalization efforts.

We believe tax reform is good for our U.S. economy and are pleased to take these immediate steps to invest in our team members, communities, small businesses, and homeowners, said Wells Fargo President and CEO Tim Sloan. We look forward to identifying additional opportunities for Wells Fargo to invest, as we continue to execute our business strategies and provide long-term value to all our stakeholders.President Donald Trump highlighted his tax cuts and deregulatory efforts with a salesman's pitch to an elite economic forum in Switzerland on Friday: The United States, he said, is now a far more inviting place for foreign companies to spend, invest and build.

"We are competitive once again," Trump told an assemblage of international business executives, financiers and academics.

While discounting some of the president's more grandiose claims, many economists agree that he has generally made the United States more welcoming for businesses.

Last month, Trump signed a tax package that cut the corporate income tax to 21 percent from 35 percent. The Republican Congress has also passed laws to overturn at least 15 rules put in place by the Obama administration, and the administration has put dozens of other regulations on hold. Those steps should encourage more overseas businesses to move to the United States or expand existing operations, economists said.

"It was a vastly exaggerated claim, but there is some truth to it," said Adam Posen, president of the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Before Trump, "the high marginal tax rate and some of the regulation on specific industries did mean the U.S. was not always the first choice," Posen said.

Nicholas Veron, a fellow at Bruegel, a think tank in Brussels, Belgium, said that among European businesses, "there is some agreement that the tax plan will make it more attractive to invest in the U.S."

"Compared to other things the president says, this looks reasonably based in fact," Veron said.

Still, Posen suggested that Trump missed an opportunity to speak up in favor of the global trading system or to offer specific proposals on how to improve, say, the protection of intellectual property rights.

Corporate executives in Davos, Switzerland, for the annual World Economic Forum meeting were generally bullish about Trump's agenda and the business climate he is helping build in the United States.

"Since you have been successful with tax reform, we decided to develop next-generation gas turbines in the United States," Joe Kaeser, CEO of the German engineering firm Siemens, told Trump at a dinner Thursday night. Siemens employs roughly 50,000 people in the United States.

Others said they were encouraged by signs that U.S. economic growth may accelerate this year, in part because of the tax cuts for consumers and businesses, which could encourage more spending and investment.

"It's kind of amazing to have all your customers talking about adding jobs and growing their business," Bill McDermott, CEO of business software company SAP, told Trump at the dinner Thursday.

Still, foreign investment in the United States had already been on the upswing in recent years, well before the Trump administration took office a year ago.

Foreign investment in factories and other facilities and foreign purchases of U.S. businesses reached $477 billion in 2015, a record high, before declining through the third quarter of 2017, according to government data analyzed by the Organization for International Investment, a trade group. (Those figures don't include temporary investments, like the purchase of U.S. stocks by overseas investors.)

OFII represents overseas companies with subsidiaries in the United States, such as Samsung, Bosch, Nestle and Toyota.

"America's always been open for business," said Susan Aaronson, a professor of international affairs at George Washington University.

Aaronson said she thinks the beneficial impact of the tax cuts has been exaggerated. Businesses around the world crave stability, and the tax cuts will likely have to be revisited in the coming years to address burgeoning U.S. deficits, she said. That prospect could make last year's tax package less appealing to some companies, she added.

The United States had received about 37 percent of all global investment in 2000, a figure that tumbled to 15 percent in 2008, according to data analyzed by the Organization for International Investment. The decline reflects the impact of the Great Recession and China's admission to the World Trade Organization, which made it a more attractive destination.

The U.S. share did rebound to 24 percent by 2016.

Nancy McLernon, CEO of the OFII, praised Trump for meeting with global CEOs at Davos and for what she said was his recognition of the benefits of foreign investment.

"I do think tax reform will spur foreign direct investment in the United States," McLernon said. "We think it will make the U.S. more competitive."

Still, McLernon said she hoped Trump would adopt a more welcoming approach to international trade, which helps spur foreign investment. Trump has attacked several existing U.S. trade deals with other countries, including a bilateral pact with South Korea, as threats to America and U.S. jobs. Yet since that agreement was reached in 2007, South Korean investment in the U.S. has jumped by 40 percent, McLernon noted.

"Global companies want to be in countries that are globally connected," she said.

___

AP Economics Writer Paul Wiseman contributed to this report.

___

Contact Chris Rugaber on Twitter at http://Twitter.com/ChrisRugaberShares of Wynn Resorts Limited (NASDAQ:WYNN) plummeted in trading Friday after a report surfaced alleging the corporations CEO, Steve Wynn, engaged in a lengthy pattern of sexual misconduct in the workplace.

Dozens of Wynn Resorts employees described Wynns alleged misconduct, which purportedly included pressuring employees to perform sexual acts, the Wall Street Journal reported. In one case, Wynn is said to have paid a manicurist $7.5 million to settle allegations that he forced her to have sex. Wynn has denied the allegations.

The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, he said in a statement to the Wall Street Journal.

Wynn Resorts shares plunged as low as 10% after the report was published and were trading down more than 8% at $183.82 as of early Friday afternoon. The companys stock had been up more than 100% since January 2017. The casino mogul owns a stake worth $2.4 billion in the company.

Wynn alleges that the sexual misconduct allegations surfaced at the behest of his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, who is seeking to revise the terms of their divorce settlement.

The instigation of these accusations is the continued work of my ex-wife Elaine Wynn, with whom I am involved in a terrible and nasty lawsuit in which she is seeking a revised divorce settlement, Wynn said in a statement.

A representative for Elaine Wynn denied to the Journal that she was behind the report.As the U.S. weighs whether to expand its sanctions on Russia, the head of Moscows state-controlled bank VTB warned that any additional penalties could be ruinous to the global economy.

We are part of this political game, VTB Chairman and CEO Andrey Kostin told FOX Business Liz Claman. And I think the Russian side is not very much responsible for this. The American side decided to go the way of sanctions, which I think is very damaging for the global economy.

President Trump, whos currently meeting with global leaders and CEOs at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is reportedly eschewing contact with Russians amid increasingly icy tensions and impending sanctions. Washington is expected to impose fresh penalties against Russia as early as February for allegedly meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Russia vehemently denies any involvement.

Still, Kostin, whos also in Davos, said that hes working with officials from U.S. banks, including JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM), Bank of America (NYSE:BAC), Citigroup (NYSE:C) and Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK). Russia is the primary shareholder of VTB Bank, which is headquartered in Moscow but holds subsidiaries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Theyre all colleagues of mine, he said. Ive known them for a dozen years. Its business as usual.

But, Kostin conceded that it could be politically dangerous for Trump to meet with Russians while overseas because of the ongoing speculations that his campaign intentionally colluded with Moscow during the election.

Special counsel Robert Mueller is currently investigating possible ties between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 campaign. Kostin, and VBT, are also fighting rumors of funding a potential Trump Tower in Moscow.

Im always asked here by colleagues if I deal with [Jared] Kushner or Trump, if I ever gave money to them, he said. Never. I never saw anybody from the Trump family. I never gave money to anybody from the Trump family or his assistants.Dave Holland, ex-drummer of British heavy metal band Judas Priest, has died at age 69.

Holland died on Jan. 16 in A Fonsagrada, Spain, Spanish newspaper El Progreso first reported. The paper did not report the cause of Holland's death.

The drummer had been living in exile after serving a prison sentence for the 2002 attempted rape of a 17-year-old music student with learning disabilities, Rolling Stone reported. He was convicted in 2004 after the boy penned a letter detailing the abuse to his parents.

The band released the following statement after Hollands death:

"It is with regret that we hear of the passing of Dave Holland. Despite his actions since working with the band, his time with us was amongst the most productive and successful in the band's career and for that alone he shall be missed."

Holland joined the band in 1979 and played on each of the bands records from 1980s British Steel to Ram it Down in 1988, contributing to the bands mainstream success. He left the band in 1989.



Hollands former bandmate, guitarist K.K. Downing, said in a statement, Dave was a solid friend in life and solid musician both on the stage and in the studio; I will cherish the many gigs we played together and the albums that we made and I will always be grateful to the indelible contribution that Dave gave to Judas Priest.

"My sincere condolences to all of Dave's loved ones family and friends and to all of the fans that so much appreciated Dave's musical ability and his life's work.

"R.I.P. Dave."Vanity Fair erased James Franco from its coveted Hollywood Portfolio cover due to the sexual misconduct allegations against him.

A Vanity Fair spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter the magazine decided not to include Franco on the cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him.

Franco was initially photographed for the cover along with 12 other stars, but he was digitally removed before production, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

OPRAH, REESE WITHERSPOON HAVE MAJOR PHOTOSHOP FAILS IN VANITY FAIR ISSUE

The cover, shot by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz, was done in November. Celebrities on the cover titled 12 Extraordinary Stars, One Momentous Year included Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Chastain, Gal Gadot, Oprah Winfrey, Claire Foy, Harrison Ford, Zendaya, Michael B. Jordan, Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Michael Shannon, Robert DeNiro and the magazines editor-in-chief Graydon Carter.

It was not immediately clear when the magazine decided to scrub Franco from the cover. Franco did not immediately comment on the exclusion.

Five women came forward to accuse Franco of sexual misconduct, the Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month. Franco told The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that if he did something wrong he would fix it.

OSCARS SNUBS: TOM HANKS, SPIELBERG AND JAMES FRANCO LEFT OUT

Franco received a Golden Globe Award for best actor in a musical of comedy for his role in The Disaster Artist. Franco was not nominated for an Oscar for the role.

Besides Franco being edited out, Vanity Fair has come under scrutiny for other issues in the photo. Online readers pointed out it appeared Witherspoon had three legs on the cover. Another picture of Winfrey in the magazine showed her with three hands. Vanity Fair said Winfreys extra hand was a mistake but claimed Witherspoons dress lining made it appear she had three legs.NBC News is scrambling days after Megyn Kelly's remarkable denunciation of Hollywood icon Jane Fonda, with blame flying around 30 Rockefeller Plaza over who allowed the spat between stars to escalate so dramatically.

Fox News has learned that powerful NBC News Chairman Andy Lack was furious that his deputy, Noah Oppenheim, was in North Korea when Kelly went live on air and savaged Fonda.

Kelly used her "Today" show platform on Monday to blast Fonda for continuing to bring up September's cringe-worthy moment when Kelly, 47, asked Fonda, 80, about her plastic surgery. NBC News executives knew in advance that Kelly was going to denounce Fonda, according to multiple reports. But senior executives apparently did not review Kelly's script, which The Hollywood Reporter says Kelly wrote herself over the weekend.

It would have been hard for Oppenheim, the president of NBC News who oversees Kelly's troubled hour of "Today," to review Kelly's script as he was in North Korea with "Nightly News" anchor Lester Holt. North Korean state media reported that Oppenheim and his retinue arrived on Saturday, when Kelly was presumably still preparing her harangue.

"There was no meaningful executive review of Megyn's script," said an NBC insider. "She went rogue."

Kelly -- apparently stung by Fonda's comments to Variety that she was "not that good an interviewer"  decided to address what she called Fonda's "poor me" routine. She called Fonda a woman whose name is synonymous with outrage and said many veterans of the Vietnam War still refer to her as "Hanoi Jane," recalling Fonda's disastrous trip to North Vietnam in 1972 when she was photographed on an anti-aircraft gun used to shoot down American pilots. Fonda has long since apologized for the incident.

What resulted was a flurry of criticism directed at Kelly from a myriad of celebrities and journalists, including women on ABCs The View, CNNs Bill Weir and talk show host Wendy Williams.

Multiple publications, including The Hollywood Reporter, the New York Post and the Mail Online also reported that NBC News talent and staff were "stunned" by Kelly's attacks on Fonda.

Other observers rushed to Kelly's defense.

Most of the time, we see Bubbly Morning Show Host Kelly on her NBC show. However, every so often we see the classic Confrontational Kelly, Mediaite columnist Joseph Wulfsohn wrote. Its Confrontational Kelly where we as viewers are exposed to her raw emotion, honesty, and above all, authenticity -- traits that catapulted her career in the first place.

Megyn Kelly's attacks on Jane Fonda were fair, but the backlash she's getting shows how she's still awkward in her shift from cable news slayer to whatever her new program is trying to be, Washington Examiner media analyst Eddie Scarry told Fox News.

Kelly's televised attack on Fonda was carefully prepared, with her producers airing stills of a young Jane Fonda peering through the sights of an anti-aircraft gun when Kelly mentioned the notorious epithet "Hanoi Jane." NBC also dug up various clips of Fonda discussing plastic surgery on other talk shows.

NBC Boss Andy Lack was not in the loop, however, and was not amused, NBC sources told Fox News. He was also displeased by Holt's North Korea coverage, which was widely denounced as credulous and gullible. The NBC sources told Fox News that Lack angrily recalled Holt and Oppenheim to New York early, cutting short their Asia jaunt.

Fox News has been told that Lack's rage with Oppenheim for not being stateside to manage various Kelly crises also played into his decision to recall the NBC team from the Korean Peninsula.

NBC has apparently not found a way to manage this high-priced personality, media analyst and DePauw University professor Jeff McCall told Fox News. NBC brass needs to better figure out how to utilize Kelly, and then insist she get with the system.

An NBC News spokesperson provided the following statement when reached by Fox News: "Not a single story youve written about the internal workings of NBC News has been accurate, and neither is this one."

In addition to the Fonda contretemps, "Megyn Kelly Today" was also grappling with the Daily Mails publication last Friday of a scathing letter written by Kelly's fired head writer. In the letter, the Emmy Award winning writer, Kevin Bleyer, claims he had complained multiple times to Oppenheim about bullying and abusive behavior by Kelly's potty-mouthed top producer, Jackie Levin, but that Oppenheim did nothing. He also said that Levin eventually fired him after calling him "a f--- whiner."

It is a special absurdity - and what some find a hard-to-swallow injustice - that as a team we've been lauded for covering harassment stories daily on air, while the staff producing those stories feels so embattled and bullied themselves, Bleyer wrote.

Fox News has learned that there have been multiple formal human resources complaints filed by multiple "Today" staff against Levin, who was appointed to oversee Kelly's show despite having no experience as a broadcast producer. Despite the complaints and Bleyers acid letter, Kelly and NBC have stood behind Levin.

A NBC News spokesperson told the New York Post that Levin is being attacked unfairly and has the full support of everyone here.

Kelly will be back in the spotlight on Tuesday night when she joins a large panel of NBC News stars for the networks State of the Union coverage. The Daily Mail reported that NBC's other stars are "horrified" they will need to share the stage with Kelly, who had declared in September she was done covering politics.

"No one knows what to talk with her about at the table for the coverage," a source told the Mail.

However, NBCs Andrea Mitchell dismissed the report and tweeted that she is looking forward to the event.

Kelly's inclusion in NBC's State of the Union coverage will likely set off a battle for airtime among NBC News stars, as there is often very little time on NBC's broadcast channel for political commentary before and after the speech. There is far more air time available on NBC's sister network MSNBC, but Kelly is not expected to appear on the liberal cable channel.Hollywood women have banded together like never before on issues including pay inequality and sexual harassment, declaring that women all over the world need to stick together and be supportive of one another. But experts say several stars aren't practicing what they preach when it comes to Donald Trump's press secretary, Sarah Sanders.

Self-proclaimed activist Chelsea Handler wrote in an op-ed for Thrive in Dec. 2016: "Let's stop it with the dialogue about how women look or what they wear, or if they've gained or lost weight. We are more guilty of this with each other than most men are."

Cher has often spoken out about the sexualization of women, declaring at the Women's March on Jan. 20 that she "believe[s] in this movement."

But both stars recently attacked Sanders solely over her looks.



Cher tweeted to Sanders on Tuesday to "stop dressing like a sister wife." After fans slammed Cher for the hurtful tweet, she followed up by admitting it was "kinda mean" but "so funny."

Handler has gone even further than Cher by mocking Sanders' "summer whore lipstick" and calling her a "harlot" on her Netflix show. Comedian Fortune Feimster even wore exaggerated makeup to play Sanders for a skit on Handler's now-defunct series.

And "Saturday Night Live" took a similar swipe at the press secretary's outfits by putting the show's Sanders character in a revealing outfit to dance provocatively to a pop song in a November 2017 episode.

The show has also dressed the Sanders character, played by Aidy Bryant, in a bright pink dress to mock the press secretary's frequent color choice.

Penny Nance, President and CEO of Concerned Women for America, told Fox News Cher's recent insults proves Hollywood feminists don't play by their own rules when it comes to conservative women.

"Cher's attack on Sarah is yet another example of how liberal women in all types of powerful positions stand up for only those women who adhere to their ideology," Nance told Fox News. "If you're a conservative woman, prepare to be thrown out of the feminist tent. Their message is that some women will be supported. That some women will be empowered. That some women will [be] trusted. But they don't support all women and especially those of us who support life."

"They don't just attack her for being conservative. They dare to treat her as if she's not a woman"  Dan Gainor, Media Research Center

Dan Gainor, vice president of business and culture at the Media Research Center, echoed Nance's comments adding that the recent attacks on Sanders' looks are "especially offensive."

"They don't just attack her for being conservative. They dare to treat her as if she's not a woman. They blast her clothes and say she dresses like a 'sister wife,'" Gainor said. "...Chelsea Handler called her a 'harlot' with 'summer whore lipstick.' And these are women doing this. Imagine the media outrage if conservatives dared to treat a liberal woman with such disgust."

He added, "Liberals hate anyone who doesn't side with them."

Branding and public relations expert Scott Pinsker told Fox News these stars are hurting their brands by attacking Trump's press secretary.

"An awful lot of women in America look more like Sarah Sanders than the Hollywood starlets who are bashing Trump and his supporters on all the award shows," Pinsker explained. "If you want to disagree with Ms. Sanders' political positions, that's perfectly legitimate, but mocking her for being normal-looking isn't exactly empowering to women."Las Vegas business mogul Steve Wynn will face at least two reviews of his behavior following a bombshell report published Friday by the Wall Street Journal, accusing Wynn of sexual misconduct.

According to the report, more than 150 people spoke out against the 74-year-old businessman, with dozens accusing him of sexually inappropriate behavior.

In response, the board of directors of Wynn Resorts Ltd., of which Wynn is CEO, formed a special committee Friday to investigate the allegations, Reuters reported.

The company says it was committed to operating with the "highest ethical standards and maintaining a safe and respectful culture."

In addition, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, which is overseeing a roughly $2.5 billion resort that Wynn's company is building in the Boston suburb of Everett, said its investigations and enforcement bureau will conduct a regulatory review of the allegations against Wynn.

"The suitability and integrity of our gaming licensees is of the utmost importance," a commission spokeswoman said.

The most egregious allegation against Wynn in the Journal report comes from a manicurist who claims Wynn forced her into sex in 2005. She alleges Wynn pressured her to remove her clothes and lie down on a massage table in his private suite after she had given him a manicure.

The manicurist said she told Wynn she was married and didnt want to have sex, but she did as she was told.

After the encounter, the women filed a detailed report with the hotels supervisor and the casino mogul later settled a lawsuit over the incident, reportedly paying the woman $7.5 million.

Wynn denies the allegations.

The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous," he told the Journal. We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation.

"The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous. We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits."  Steve Wynn

A former massage therapist, who worked at the Wynn Las Vegas years ago, said the hotel owner would book multiple private massage appointments with her in his office suite where he would intentionally adjust his towel to expose himself. During one appointment Wynn reportedly told her, Just get this thing off of me.

During another session with Wynn, the former employee said she was instructed to massage his penis to climax. The woman said she felt obligated to do so because he was her boss. She said she was paid $1,000 in cash at the end of each hour-long massage session  the same rate she had always been paid for the massages.

According to the Journal, some female employees in the salon would hide in back rooms if they knew Wynn was on his way to the casino. Employees told the Journal that Wynn's actions were well-known enough that employees would sometimes enter fake appointments to help other female workers avoid him.

Everybody was petrified, said Jorgen Nielsen, a former artistic director at one of the hotel salons. Nielsen said he and other employees tried to report Wynns behaviors to high-level company executives, but nobody was there to help us.

Wynn Resorts Ltd. said there has never been a complaint made about Wynn to the company's independent hotline for reporting harassment.

Currently, Wynn is engaged in a messy split from his wife, Elaine Wynn, a co-founder and ex-board member of Wynn Resorts. She claimed her husband recklessly exposed the company and other directors to liability while making the settlement with the manicurist back in 2005 and not notifying the board.

Wynn blamed his ex for the influx of allegations stating, The instigation of these accusations is the continued work of my ex-wife Elaine Wynn, with whom I am involved in a terrible and nasty lawsuit in which she is seeking a revised divorce settlement.

In addition to building the luxury Wynn and Encore resorts on the strip, Wynn also built the Mirage, Treasure Island, and the Bellagio.

Wynn is the first CEO and founder of a major publicly held company to come under scrutiny since the Weinstein allegations surfaced.

Shares of Wynn Resorts Ltd. plunged more than 8 percent in afternoon trading and the companys stock fell more than 10.1 percent in heavy trading, Reuters reported.

President Trump has called Wynn a "great friend," despite the two men having previously been rivals in the business world. After the 2016 election, Wynn was named the Republican National Committees finance chairman. Wynn has been a generous donor to Republican causes over the years, having contributed more than $600,000 in 2017 alone, according to the Federal Election Commission.

After the report was published, President Trumps Twitter account indicated a "like" on the Journals posting of the story. Later, Trumps account appeared to "unlike" the post.

Fox News' Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report.Can the simple act of eating a sandwich really be bad for the environment?

New research by British scientists suggests a shocking response: Depends on the sandwich.

Researchers at the University of Manchester Thursday announced the results of what they claim to be "the first ever study looking at the carbon footprint of sandwiches, both home-made and pre-packaged."

Perhaps not surprisingly, the results are bad news for meat-eaters. The study found that sandwiches containing pork meat (that's bacon, ham and sausage), cheese and prawns contained the highest carbon footprints.

The worst of the lot, the so-called "all-day breakfast" sandwich containing egg, bacon and sausage, created the same carbon dioxide emissions as driving a car 12 miles.

The study took into account the environmental impact of raising various sandwich ingredients, processing them, transporting them, packaging them and refrigerating them before purchase and consumption.

In their conclusion, the researchers recommend reducing the amount of cheese and meat in sandwiches, extending sell-by and use-by dates, and making sandwiches at home if at all possible.

The sandwich is something of a U.K. specialty. John Montagu, the 4th Earl of Sandwich, is believed to have invented the delicacy sometime in the 1700s for those occasions when he was unable to fit a meal into his busy work schedule (or gambling schedule, depending on what source you believe).

According to the British Sandwich Association (yes, there is such a thing and they even have a magazine), more than 11.5 billion sandwiches are consumed each year in the U.K. alone.Its Nutellageddon!

Aficionados of the chocolate hazelnut spread were at each others throats Thursday as word spread about a deep discount being offered by the company at supermarkets across France.

They are like animals. A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a bloody hand. It was horrible, a customer at the Rive-de-Gier supermarket in central France told Le Progres newspaper.

Thrown into a tizzy by a 70 percent discount, crowds were seen on video posted on social media as they swarmed toward pallets of Nutella and grabbed as many jars as they could, The Local reported.

In some stores, including in Ostricourt in northern France, cops were called as fights broke out between customers in scenes that echoed Black Friday madness in the US.

Similar altercations erupted in Roubaix in the Nord department store, as well as Wingles and Marles-les-Mines in Pas-de-Calais.

In the village of LHorme in the Loire in central France, one employee told Le Progres: We were trying to get in between the customers but they were pushing us.

At the Intermarche in Saint-Cyprien in southern France, shoppers threw themselves on a worker carrying Nutella jars, according to reports.

One Intermarche worker in central France told Le Progres that some people came up with novel ways to make sure they wouldnt miss out.

Some customers came the night before the promotions to stash the Nutella pots in other places, and thus prevent others from taking them, said Jean-Marie Daragon in Montbrison.

Today, I solved the problem by limiting the number of pots to three per person. But they went back and forth, he added.

The French are second only to the Germans as the worlds top consumers of Nutella. The company churns out 365,000 tons of the gooey stuff every year and the French consume about 100 million jars a year.

Three years ago, a couple even wanted to name their daughter Nutella  but a judge put the lid on it to save the girl from a lifetime of teasing.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post.One might think the residents of Boston and Philadelphia would have better things to do than ban each others foods from their respective cities before the Super Bowl.

But think again.

Bostons Esplanade Association, which is in charge of the citys esplanade (a river-side park) that runs along the Charles River, announced on Tuesday that pretty much anything remotely related to Philadelphia  including cheesesteaks and Philadelphia cream cheese  will be banned from the park until Feb. 5, according to The Boston Globe.

PHILLY DOUGHNUT SHOP MAKES 'GREASED POLE' DOUGHNUTS FOR PHILLY FANS

The ban doesnt just concern food, either. Will Smith and Sylvester Stallone are also banned from the park, as the former was raised in Philly, and the latter set his Rocky series in the city. Even bald eagles  the national bird of the United States, are not welcome to alight on the grounds, per the associations edict.

We realized that appearing in a Super Bowl for only the third time  and first time since losing to the Patriots in 2005  was disorienting for Philadelphia fans and that clarity on acceptable items to bring in our park should be offered, said Michael Nichols, the executive director of the Esplanade Association, in a statement. Given the Patriots are appearing in their record-extending 10th Super Bowl, we understand this information may not be needed by most park visitors.

The Esplanade Association did not specify what penalties, if any, the violators will face.

KRISPY KREME FANS HAVE OFFICIALLY DECIDED ON A NEW DOUGHNUT FLAVOR

The rest of the city has apparently embraced this petty food feud, too. According to Boston.com, breweries and bars have temporarily banned Philadelphia-based beers, and a Boston-area bakery chain has permanently cut ties with its Philadelphia cream cheese distributor for good.

They said, You are kidding me, right?' the bakery owner told Boston.com. I said, Nope. They said, OK.'

A single bakery in Philadelphia, meanwhile, appears to be the only establishment that has publicly announced its ban on Boston cream doughnuts. Yet it was this bakery  Dotties Donuts  that likely started this trend when it first announced it would temporarily ban the confection earlier this week.

"At first everything starts as an idea, but it just blew up I guess," Dotties employee Quinton Johnson told CBS Philadelphia.

In the meantime, Dotties will be supplying a different kind of doughnut for all its Boston-bashing fans: The Creamed Boston doughnut, featuring a matcha-based filling. Eat your heart out, Brady, the bakery wrote on Facebook.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS

As of press time, its unclear whether other establishments in the Philly area will follow suit and start banning anything else that Bostonians hold dear, like lobster rolls, "coffee milk" or Ben Affleck movies.A Florida school district said Thursday that it plans to cancel classes Friday in an effort to contain the spread of flu in the area.

The Gulf Coast district schools in Gulf County, in Floridas Panhandle, will be the latest to close at least one day because of the spread of influenza, which has claimed the lives of at least 30 children across the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Schools in at least a dozen states have closed at least one day this flu season, Newsweek reported.

In the Gulf Coast district, We have had 20 percent of our student population out every day this week, Schools Superintendent Jim Norton told the Port St. Joe Star.

It is also impacting our faculties, Norton said. We were having a real tough time getting substitutes.  We were running out of substitute teachers and we were running out of bus drivers. It just made sense to be proactive.

Schools in Gulf County were scheduled to reopen Monday, the Miami Herald reported.

On Tuesday, a 12-year-old student at West Palm Beach Okeeheelee Middle School student died of the flu.

Seventh-grader Dylan Winnik was the third Florida child to die from the flu this season, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Health officials have been urging the public to get a flu shot.

States that have closed schools because of flu outbreaks include Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia, Newsweek reported.

CDC information about influenza is available by clicking here.A New Jersey man with a creative approach to finding a kidney donor unexpectedly got the help he needed from a stranger across the country, Pix 11 reported.

Rob Leibowitz, 60, a single dad with five kids, said he acted out of desperation when he decided to put his plea on a t-shirt and wear it during his family trip to Disney World in August.

The mans out-of-the-box idea worked and he received a new kidney on Thursday, Pix 11 said.

The t-shirt that made it all happen, which Leibowitz reportedly donned for nine days in a row, read, In Need of Kidney O Positive along with a telephone number.

"You know, I came up with idea because I think its out of desperation, Leibowitz told Pix 11. I look at my kids. When Im with my kids, all my problems go away and I needed more time with them.

CANCER SURVIVOR, 5, KILLED BY RUNAWAY CAR ON EVE OF ANNIVERSARY OF FINISHING CHEMOTHERAPY

On the trip, other park-goers caught a photo of his shirt and posted it on Facebook, according to the outlet. Leibowitz said he was in shock from all the calls he received.

Eventually, a potential donor with a matching blood type reached out, Pix 11 said.

Richie Sully from Indiana said a friend sent him the post about Leibowitz while he was giving blood for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Sully reportedly left a voice mail offering up his kidney.

"Hi, my name is Richie. I saw your post, the message said. I have an extra kidney. Im O-positive. Youre more than welcome to have it.

Sully, who is also a single parent, flew out to New York to meet Leibowitz and said the pair really hit it off, Pix 11 said.

FLU DEATHS PROMPT WARNINGS FROM VICTIMS FAMILIES AS OUTBREAK CONTINUES

Sully described the transplant surgery, which the pair underwent at New York Presbyterian Hospital, as not a big deal, adding that he wished people understood that so there could be more potential donors.

But Leibowitz didnt downplay the situation and said he plans to thank Sully for the rest of my life.

"I keep saying, 'Thank you,'" Leibowitz told the outlet. "But you cant put into words what he did for me, so Ill have to figure out how to do the best I can for the rest of my life."

A donation page on YouCaring.com has been set up to help offset Sullys expenses. As of Thursday evening, more than $7,000 had been raised, exceeding their initial goal.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Trump made the worlds elites squirm Friday in Davos, but not for the reasons many expected. Unlike his combative and dark inaugural address, the speech the president delivered at the World Economic Forum was measured and upbeat; he invited the world to invest in America, citing the tax cuts and regulatory roll-back that make Now the perfect time to bring business, jobs and investment to the U.S.

As he articulated the policies and successes that have shaped his first year in office, the business titans and political leaders in the audience must have felt a chill. Not because Trump was challenging or upsetting the global order, but because he was winning in the midst of it. People around the world listening to his common sense remarks must have thought: what about us? Why isnt my president doing the same?

As Trump boasted of the stock market and job gains of the past year, the rising confidence, accelerating growth and lower unemployment, he reiterated his pledge that as president I will always put America first Adding, just like we expect the leaders of other countries should put their country first also. Audiences thought, is my leader putting me first?

He didnt, as some expected, threaten a trade war, but rather reiterated his stance that the U.S. welcomes trade deals that are fair and reciprocal. He indicated a willingness to enter into bilateral agreements, and also to perhaps join the TPP group, as long as it is in the interests of all. Why not? Trade pacts like the TPP that mostly benefit other countries are not well constructed; a World Bank study showed that while Vietnam and Malaysia would see substantial benefits from the 12-nation Asian treaty, the U.S. would see almost no gain at all  the least of all 12 countries. This is the trade deal that Obama apologists mourn.

Trump has recently called out rivals like China for unfair trade practices. He has accused them of stealing our intellectual property, dumping excess products like solar panels in an effort to drive competitors out of business and protecting domestic industries through tariffs and other barriers. He has exposed practices that have gone unchecked for too long by those in power. Beijings success has been enabled in part by the complicity of American corporations eager to access Chinas growing market and their cheap labor; our government has played along.

As Trump vows to protect the interests of our country, our companies and our workers, people around the world hope their leaders will, too.

On immigration, a thorny and contentious issue not only in the U.S. but across the globe, Trump argued for policies that benefit the U.S. Yes, our doors are open, but we want immigrants that will contribute to our economy, support themselves financially and to strengthen our country. Germans watching Trumps speech, and people in France and the U.K. and other countries struggling with surging immigrant populations, must have nodded in agreement. Isnt it wise to invite people into your country who have the talents to make your nation stronger? Doesnt a merit-based approach like that in Australia make sense?

Trump touted his administrations encouragement of domestic energy production, which puts him in the crosshairs of environmentalists. As he noted, rising oil and natural gas output is not just an economic boon to the U.S., but also promotes energy security for our friends around the world. As he pointed out, No country should be held hostage to a single provider of energy.

Germans listening to Trump might agree. That countrys dependence on Russian oil is a security and political problem. At the same time, excessive environmental regulations have led to record-high power costs that are twice those in the U.S. Some must wonder if the countrys ban on fracking, which keeps substantial natural gas reserves out of reach, are in the nations best interests.

In addition to touting job creation, Trump also promoted efforts to develop the workforce of the U.S., concluding that the best anti-poverty program is a very simple and very beautiful paycheck. Residents of developed countries, nearly all of which are struggling to support their ever-expanding social safety net would doubtless be sympathetic; what could be more important than putting people to work?

Countering the narrative that the Trump White House wants to go it alone, the president referenced his administrations effective partnership with the UN in tightening sanctions on North Korea, the success of the coalition to defeat ISIS and the emerging cooperation in confronting Irans illegal missile adventures. As he is accused of withdrawing from the world stage, Trump noted his attendance at the G-7, the U.N. General Assembly and APEC. And there he was at Davos, the first president since Bill Clinton to attend the World Economic Forum.

Trump wasnt quite the skunk at the picnic that some in Davos expected, but his simple message put the worlds elites on notice: There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States. Will citizens of other countries demand they follow suit? Do they want to start winning too? We shall see.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Dont look now, but President Trump and congressional Republicans are making progress on their promise to repeal and replace ObamaCare with a more affordable, flexible and dynamic health-care system.

This news will likely come as a surprise. As far as the news media are concerned, the failure to pass the American Health Care Act in the Senate means that health care has been a zone of failure for President Trump.

What the media have missed is an administration-wide health reform effort, enhanced by congressional action that will lower costs, increase access and improve health outcomes.

Because this new strategy doesnt fit the news medias focus, it has been routinely ignored. The diverse nature of the many small steps underway has made it hard for analysts and reporters to understand how important they are.

It has always been a mistake to think the health system can be fixed in one giant step.

Health costs are about 18 percent of the U.S. economy, which is the largest economy in the world. Health care is also the most deeply dependent on science and technology of any field of human endeavor. No one is smart enough to fix a system that big and that complex in one giant reform.

The Trump team has recognized that a broad-based approach that has many small steps moving in the same general direction is much more likely to succeed than staying focused on one giant step which, even if you could get it through the Congress, would still leave you needing many small reforms.

The results are already very impressive.

At the Food and Drug Administration, Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has introduced dramatic steps to speed the approval of generic drugs.

Generic drugs dramatically reduce costs for patients. They account for about 90 percent of all prescriptions filled, but only around 25 percent of total spending on prescription drugs. This means that speeding the approval of generic drugs is among the most effective ways to make medicine more affordable.

Under President Trump and Commissioner Gottliebs leadership, the FDA has moved away from a first come-first serve model of generic drug approval to prioritize the applications of generics that would serve as alternatives to brand-name drugs with fewer than three generic competitors.

The FDA is also prioritizing approval for generic alternatives to complex and expensive drugs, as well as streamlining the overall generic drug approval process.

The efforts are clearly working. In October the FDA approved 101 generic drugs  more in a single month than ever before.

At the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Administrator Seema Verma has taken additional steps to save consumers money on their co-pays and out-of-pocket costs.

Over the objection of the hospital lobby, CMS announced badly needed reforms to the 340B drug discount program. The program mandates that drug manufacturers sell participating hospitals Medicare Part B drugs (used to treat cancer and other serious conditions) at a discount. Medicare then reimburses the hospitals at full price, and the hospitals gets to pocket the difference.

The intent of this program is noble  to help hospitals that serve poor populations. However, the program has dramatically expanded in recent years, and studies have shown that in many of the participating hospitals very little of the savings reach poor patients.

CMSs announcement that it would cut the reimbursement rate for those drugs will save taxpayers money, and it will also reduce co-pays for Medicare patients who usually pay a percentage of the price Medicare pays.

In addition, CMS introduced a proposed rule for Medicare Part D to ensure that any discounts that drug manufactures negotiate with pharmacy benefit managers are passed on to seniors in the form of lower out-of-pocket costs.

The administration has also taken steps to prevent future price gouging scandals like the infamous Martin Shkreli price hike of an AIDS drug from $13.50 a pill to $750, by identifying the drugs most vulnerable to pricing abuse.

President Trump has also moved beyond opposing ObamaCare and has begun to develop a better system for the future. What replaces ObamaCare is at least as important as voting to repeal it.

Replacing ObamaCare requires a lot of specific steps to return to a market-based, decentralized system in 50 different states. The Trump administration and its Republican allies in Congress have been working diligently in that direction.

At the Department of Labor, Secretary Alexander Acosta issued proposed rules that would dramatically expand the availability of Association Health Plans. These plans could be national and regional, allowing for the sale of insurance across state lines, but critically still maintain state autonomy in regulating insurance  which will help police against fraud.

Some of the details of the rules may need to be improved to prevent insurance companies from cherry-picking healthy customers, but overall this represents a potentially game-changing reform that could have huge cost saving implications for small business owners and the self-employed.

The Trump administration has also allowed insurers to continue offering grandmothered plans created prior to ObamaCare, maintaining these lower cost plans for long-time customers. This saved many small businesses and self-employed people a lot of money and anxiety that would have been caused by the ObamaCare plan to force them into the government system even if they were happy with their current plan.

In addition, the Trump administration fixed a number of loopholes in the ObamaCare enrollment rules. Some customers had been using the loopholes to game the system to avoid paying their premiums. They waited until they got sick to get coverage by claiming they qualified for a Special Enrollment Period. This fraud drove up prices for everyone. The Trump administration issued new rules that fixed a number of these problems.

President Trump also made it easier for people to shop for health insurance without using the Healthcare.gov website. For 2019 enrollment, customers can fully use insurer websites, as well as aggregators like ehealthinsurance.com. All of this increases convenience, expands choice and makes lower costs possible.

Finally, just last week Congress enacted a key reform that flew almost completely under the medias radar. The continuing resolution passed to reopen the government this week suspended the health insurance tax for one year, the device tax for two years, and delayed the Cadillac tax until 2022, all of which were part of ObamaCare. All of these taxes were simply passed on to patients in the form of higher premiums, so each of these steps will save patients money.

A lot more reform is coming. For example, Republicans in Congress are working on a bipartisan basis to pass some additional market stabilization measures in the next few weeks. They were part of both the House and Senate versions of the American Health Care Act. This single step could lead to a 15 percent reduction in premiums for 2019  another big win for the consumer and taxpayer.

These steps show that just as the Trump administration has an intense focus on jobs and take-home pay. It also is developing a clear focus on access, cost, and the quality of health care.

The Trump team understands that it doesnt work to have a tax cut and increased take-home pay if the cost of health care rises faster than take-home pay. The practical reality of developing new and better approaches to health and health care is a key to the general success of the Trump administration.

In the long run, the 1,000-step approach of practical reform will prove vastly more effective than either ObamaCare or SandersCare with their focus on sweeping giant government bureaucracies.

This progress in health care is one more example of the impressive results of the Trump administrations first year.

Note: Newt Gingrich is an adviser to BlueCross BlueShield companies, which provide health insurance coverage to 106 million people in the U.S.; and Sanford Health, a rural health-care system serving nine states and three countries with 45 hospitals and 289 clinics.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to cut off as much as $700 million in annual U.S. aid to the Palestinians if their leaders dont begin serious peace negotiations with Israel, but the Palestinian leadership remained defiant.

Defiance might make Palestinian leaders feel good momentarily, but it doesnt make much sense to deliberately antagonize their largest donor and the only arbiter of the peace process with Israel. From all appearances, the Palestinians are now digging in for a fight with the Trump administration, and they dont seem to be interested in deviating from their hardline position anytime soon.

Tensions have been running high between the U.S. and Palestinians since President Trumps Dec. 6 decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and eventually move the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv. The decision did not technically change the status of Jerusalem in final bilateral negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, but it certainly made it clear that America would no longer wait for negotiations to make its positions known.

Speaking to reporters in Davos, Switzerland, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before the two held a meeting, President Trump said of the Palestinians: We give them hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and support  that money is on the table and the money is not going to them unless they sit down and negotiate peace.

In response, a spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said: Palestinian rights are not up to any bargain and Jerusalem is not for sale. The United States cant have any role (in seeking an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal) unless it retreats its decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Vice President Mike Pence wrapped up a trip to the region Tuesday where he met with the leaders of Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Palestinian leaders boycotted his trip over President Trumps announcement that the U.S. now recognizes Jerusalem as Israels capital.

Abbas last week also railed against the Trump administrations recognition of Jerusalem and a recent decision by President Trump to withhold $60 million in U.S. assistance to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the primary vehicle for administering aid to Palestinians in refugee camps across the region.

The move has prompted alarm because the White House tied continued assistance to much-needed reforms at UNRWA. The agency has a bloated budget, inflates refugee numbers, and has known ties to extremist elements in Gaza.

Now the Palestinians are concerned the U.S. is considering a full aid cut of $700 million unless they come to the negotiating table with Israel. Abbas and company have refused thus far, prompting Nikki Haley, the American ambassador to the United Nations, to ask: Where is the Palestinian Sadat?  referring to the Egyptian leader who visited Israel to make peace in 1977.

And now more trouble for the Palestinians may be looming. For much of the past year, Congress has debated the Taylor Force Act, a bill that would dramatically slash aid to the Palestinian Authority over its payments to convicted terrorists and their families. The bill has overwhelming bipartisan support. It has moved its way through the House and Senate and appears primed for a vote in the near future.

With his back up against a wall, Abbas earlier this month lambasted the Trump administration in a speech to the Palestine Liberation Organizations Central Council meeting. The aging Palestinian leader repeatedly cursed President Trump. May your house fall into ruin, he said.

Where does this leave the Palestinians? After a brief honeymoon in March when Abbas visited the White House and the Palestinian flag appeared alongside the stars and stripes, it now appears as if their worst nightmares about the Trump administration have come true. When President Trump was first elected, the Palestinian leadership was wary of his talk about the ultimate deal, fearing he might try to force a proposal unilaterally upon them.

Rumors are now flying that the Trump administration has not only Israeli support for a broader peace initiative, but also support of the Arab states. In other words, Arab nations appear eager to concede on Palestinian issues in order to advance their ties with the White House and Israel.

Even worse for Abbas, the Arab states may even be in agreement with President Trump on a range of core issues, including Palestinian refugees and borders. And, if news reports are true, it will be the Jerusalem suburb of Abu Dis that President Trump will propose for a Palestinian capital. This would be viewed as an insult to Abbas, as his Palestinian negotiators have rejected this several times in the past.

American officials have consistently insisted that the leaked versions of their peace plan are not indicative of the plan itself. They have also countered that the Palestinian furor over President Trumps announcements will dissipate over time, particularly once the Palestinians realize that there are other concessions they can still grab at the negotiating table.

Some Arab states have urged Abbas to get back to the table and work with President Trump in pursuit of the ultimate deal. Jordans King Abdullah this week described the Palestinian uproar as a hiccup.

Still, other actors are less encouraging. Reports suggested this week that former Secretary of State John Kerry may be exhorting Abbas to resist the White House peace initiative.

But Abbas can only fend off the inevitable for so long. The Trump administration may still be finding its footing on a number of issues, but the Middle East does not seem to be one of them. A process is now underway. Abbas will likely need to get on board, or he will be left behind.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

What did you expect? An orange-haired gorilla to hop around onstage? An unhinged maniac to threaten nuclear war, a la Kim Jong Un? No. What attendees at the Davos hug-fest saw on Friday was a calm, controlled Donald Trump, in charge of his message, which was, simply: America is no longer your patsy.

The president stuck to his script, ticked off the accomplishments of his first year in office, offered to be a friend and trading partner to the rest of the world, but left no doubt: his job is to put America First.

This was an economic forum and this was an economic message, says former Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore, who now leads the American Opportunity Foundation. Hes recognizing American strength and growth and in the end thats what will allow America to play its proper world in the world.

The immediate, reflexive sniping in the mainstream media was inevitable. Trump Booed at Davos, headlined the Huffington Post, while conceding that some of the catcalls came from journalists  not exactly a barometer of public opinion. Trumps chief nemesis, the New York Times, said the president was seeking to reconcile his America First protectionist stance with a call for free trade and foreign investment.

The Davos speech was both vintage Trump  America comes first  and a welcome departure from some of his unscripted, unforced errors.

Not exactly. There was nothing belligerent about it, says Gilmore. It was consistent with the event and emphasized American strength. Further, the former governor noted, it extended an open hand to Europe to join with the U.S. to ensure the worlds security.

We need our principle allies, particularly Germany, Gilmore says. Germany is an essential partner in maintaining European stability. I believe this speech will be well received there because it opened doors to mutual economic benefit across the continent.

Of course, not everyone will be happy with Trumps comments. He referred to rogue states, a barely concealed reference to North Korea and Iran. And he said, without mincing words, that intellectual property theft would no longer go unpunished. You could almost hear the hackers in Shanghai pause at their keyboards for a second.

Its clear that the Chinese are running a nationalistic economic policy, Gilmore says. And I think his message is, if you do, we will, too.

The Davos speech was both vintage Trump  America comes first  and a welcome departure from some of his unscripted, unforced errors. Perhaps the fresh Alpine air was a welcome antidote to the swamp to which he now returns.NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles!

Some folks across the fruited plain are wondering if their Google Home smart speakers have an aversion to Christianity.

A number of users have complained that Googles popular virtual assistant can identify Allah and Buddha but cannot identify Jesus Christ.

Click here for a free subscription to Todds newsletter  a must-read for Conservatives!

Google, who is Allah? one Google user asked on a now-viral Facebook video. Click here to watch the video.

According to Wikipedia, in Islamic theology God is the all-powerful, all knowing creator, sustainer, ordainer and judge of everything in existence, the virtual assistant replied.

Click here to listen to the Todd Starnes Radio Show podcast  free courtesy of Fox News Radio!

But when she asked Google who Jesus Christ was, the device replied, Sorry, I dont know how to help with that yet.

And when she asked who Jesus was, the device responded, Sorry, Im not sure how to help.

The same thing happened to David Sams, of Brentwood, Tennessee.

"I even asked Google who is David Sams? Google knew who I was, but Google did not know who Jesus was, Google did not know who Jesus Christ was, and Google did not know who God was," Sams told Fox 17.

A number of smart speaker owners across the country are wondering if its simply an oversight or if something more sinister is at play.

"It's kinda scary, it's almost like Google has taken Jesus and God out of smart audio," Sams said. "First it started with schools."

Google released a statement to Fox 17 saying it meant no disrespect to Christians or the Son of God.

The reason the Google Assistant didnt respond with information about Who is Jesus or Who is Jesus Christ wasnt out of disrespect but instead to ensure respect, Google said in a statement.

Hey Google, what is load of hooey?

A Google spokesperson went on to say that content from certain topics can be vulnerable to vandalism and spam. And if their systems detect such circumstances, the Assistant might not reply.

Were exploring different solutions and temporarily disabling these responses for religious figures on the Assistant, Google said.

In the meantime, perhaps I can be of some assistance to the folks at Google Home.

Hey Google, Jesus is the Son of God, the Risen Savior and whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. See John 3:16.Photojournalist Askia Muhammad released a photo this week showing former President Barack Obama and the controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan from Obama's years as a state senator -- and the photographer revealed Thursday that the Congressional Black Caucus had pressured him for more than a decade to keep it hidden.

Muhammad told the Trice Edney News Wire last week that he believed that the image absolutely would have made a difference in the 2008 presidential campaign had it been made public.

The image taken in 2005 at a Congressional Black Caucus meeting on Capitol Hill showed then-Senator Obama, a young Democrat from Illinois, smiling side-by-side with Farrakhan.

Muhammad told Fox News Tucker Carlson that the same day he snapped the photo, the CBC contacted him.

A staff member from the black caucus called me and said we have to have the picture back, and I was kind of taken aback. And we talked a couple of times on the phone after that, and I said Okay, I will give the picture back to Minister Farrakhans chief of staff, he said on Tucker Carlson Tonight.

He added that after he gave the original copy to Farrakhans staff, he kept his own copy but remained quiet.

I gave the original disk to him and in a sense swore myself to secrecy because I had quietly made a copy for myself, Muhammad said. Its my picture, its my art, and its my intellectual property. I owned it and I wanted to keep it.

He said the CBC called him while he was still on Capitol Hill and he believed that it was because they sensed the future.

Minister Farrakhan and his reputation would hurt someone trying to win acceptance in the broad cross-section, he said, referring to the possibility at the time that the young senator was being considered for a presidential run.

Muhammad also said that Obama had, at some point, people from the Nation of Islam working on his staff and in his offices.

In fact he had people from the Nation of Islam working on his staff and in his office in the Chicago, his Senate staff. The members of the Nation of Islam helped him in his Senate campaign and on the South Side of Chicago.

The Congressional Black Caucus did not immediately reply to Fox News request for a comment.FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page were concerned about being too tough on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the bureaus investigation into her email practices because she might hold it against them as president, text messages released on Thursday indicated.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released new messages between bureau officials Page and Strzok, who were having an affair and exchanged more than 50,000 texts with each other during the election.

One more thing: she might be our next president, Page texted Strzok on Feb. 25, 2016, in the midst of the presidential campaign, in reference to Clinton.

The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear, she continued. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]?

Strzok replied that he agreed and he had relayed their discussion with someone named Bill.

Strzok not only worked on the Clinton case, but was assigned to the special counsels probe into Russia and the Trump campaign after a number of anti-Trump texts were discovered on his phone. Page also briefly worked on the special counsel investigation.

DOJ RECOVERS MISSING TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN ANTI-TRUMP FBI AGENTS STRZOK AND PAGE

Grassley, an Iowa Republican, said Thursday in a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray that the exchange, among others, concerned him.

The text messages that were provided raise serious concerns about the impartiality of senior leadership running both the Clinton and Trump investigations, Grassley said.

During the campaign, the FBI investigated Clintons use of a private email server while she was secretary of state. Then-FBI Director James Comey decided against recommending prosecution, but faulted Clinton and her associates for being extremely careless with classified information.

It's clear that [Strzok and Page] did not want her charged, Rep. Trey Gowdy, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told Tucker Carlson Tonight. He added, They wanted her to be the president of the United States.

Republicans, arguing some top officials at the FBI are politically biased against Trump, have seized on the texts, including one where Strzok and Page spoke of a secret society within the Department of Justice and the FBI and Strzok spoke of an insurance policy against a Trump win.

The fix was in even before they interviewed the target of the investigation, Gowdy, R-S.C., said.

New texts released by Grassley on Thursday also indicated that FBI officials believed FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe should be recused from the Clinton investigation because of his familys ties to Virginia Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who is close with the Clintons.

In an October 28, 2016 text exchange, Page told Strzok that then- FBI Chief of Staff James Rybicki thought McCabe should not have participated in the probe.

Rybicki just called to check in, she wrote. He very clearly 100% believes that Andy should be recused because of the perception.

God, Strzok replied.

Asked by Page why McCabe should be recused now, if not before, Strzok said: I assume McAuliffe picked up.

McCabe eventually recused himself from the Clinton probe one week before the election.

If McCabe eventually recused himself one week before the election, why did he not do so sooner? Grassley asked Wray in the letter.

Grassley also told Wray he was concerned that Page and Strzok were transmitting government records on personal systems inappropriately. In a June 2017 message, Strzok wrote of typing a document on a home computer.

The senator said Page and Strzok also referenced other conversations via iMessage, presumably on their personal Apple devices.

It appears that Strzok and Page transmitted federal records pertaining to the Clinton investigation on private, non-government services, Grassley said. It is important to determine whether their own similar conduct was a factor in not focusing on and developing evidence of similar violations by Secretary Clinton and her aides.

The new messages surfaced the same day the Justice Departments inspector general said he recovered a number of missing text messages between Strzok and Page.

Fox News has learned from U.S. government officials that the inspector general recovered the texts by taking possession of "at least four" phones belonging to Strzok and Page.

Fox News Mike Arroyo, Jake Gibson and Ed Henry contributed to this report.Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley revealed Thursday that he wants to release the transcripts of interviews the panel conducted with Donald Trump Jr. and others, involving a 2016 meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower.

Grassley, R-Iowa, said in a statement that he believed the committees investigation of the meeting involving President Trumps eldest son and Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya was finished and that it was time to release the transcripts to the public.

I believe this Committees interviews of the witnesses surrounding the Trump Tower meeting are complete. That section of our investigation is done, his statement read. Now its time to start officially releasing the transcripts of all witness interviews we have done related to that meeting.

Democrats have used the June 2016 meeting to suggest the president, his son and other members of the campaign team colluded with Russia ahead of the presidential election. Trump and Trump Jr. have denied those claims.

Grassley added that he hoped to release the transcripts as soon as possible either through an agreement with a ranking member or through a committee vote.

Lets get them out there for everyone to see, Grassley added.

Ranking member Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., agreed with Grassley but said that the transcripts should be released to Mueller and only to the public if it did not interfere with the investigation, Reuters reported.

The two senators got into a spat earlier this month after Feinstein released an interview with Glenn Simpson, a co-founder of Fusion GPS. Grassley claimed that release spooked other witnesses -- possibly including Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law and close advisor.

Grassley continued, as a result, it looks like our chances of getting a voluntary interview with Mr. Kushner have been shot. He has already provided his account to the Intelligence Committee.

Fox News' Catherine Herridge contributed to this report.Rep. Patrick Meehan, R-Pa., will not seek reelection after he allegedly used taxpayer money to fund a settlement to a former aide who claimed he sexually harassed her.

Meehan wrote in a letter Thursday to his campaign chairman that that he will not run for reelection in Pennsylvanias 7th congressional district, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

After consultation with my wife Carolyn and with my three sons, and after prayerful reflection, I write to inform you that I will not seek re-election to the United States Congress for the 7th Congressional District in 2018, Meehan wrote. Today I communicated the same to the office of Speaker Paul Ryan.

REP. PATRICK MEEHAN SAYS HE SAW AIDE AS 'SOUL MATE,' BUT DENIES SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Unfortunately, recent events concerning my office and the settlement of certain harassment allegations have become a major distraction, he wrote, according to The Inquirer. I need to own it because it is my own conduct that fueled the matter.

Meehan acknowledged Tuesday he told a longtime former aide of his he considered her a soul mate and admitted that he acted selfishly when she found out she was dating someone else, but said his actions were not considered harassment.

The Republican congressman also acknowledged he lashed out at the aide in his office after he found out about a relationship she was in.

Sometimes I have the tendency to lash out to others on the staff  and you go hardest on the ones that you care the most about, Meehan told The Inquirer.

REPUBLICANS WHO WON'T BE COMING BACK TO CONGRESS AFTER 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS

The former aide filed a sexual misconduct complaint against Meehan last summer, and he allegedly used thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds to settle the complaint. He referred to the money as a severance, rather than a settlement.

Ryan called for Meehans removal from the House Ethics Committee, and also ordered an investigation into Meehans settlement.

Fox News' Mike Emanuel and The Associated Press contributed to this report.President Trumps proposed border wall would cut through the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.

The refuge is a 2,000-plus acre forest that is popular with birders and home to a variety of wildlife.

For its size, said Jim Chapman, who is with the Friend of the Corridor, a group that supports the refuge, this has the largest diversity of plants and animals of any refuge in all of North America.

Chapman worries if the border wall is built, there will be an environmental tragedy. He said when the river floods, as it does about every decade, animals which couldnt fly out would be trapped.

The refuge that was created in 1943 to preserve and sustain wildlife will essentially become a deathtrap, Chapman said. Its basically sort of reneging on a promise... that this land was so valuable that it needed to be protected in perpetuity.

Frank Schuster and his family will suffer a big loss if the wall is built. Since the actual border is in the middle of the river, border walls and fencing are built inland. Schuster thinks about 1,000 acres of his familys land would end up being on the other side of the wall.

Schuster says the loss of the refuge, where he would often go to horseback ride with his father as a kid, would be devastating to the community. But while he would rather have more border agents and technological barriers, he says he would accept the wall if its something the border patrol says they need.

"My granddaughters play in the back yard here, just a couple hundred yards away from where the wall would go, he said. They will be more secure, hopefully, we think."Border Patrol agents in Arizona arrested an illegal immigrant who had been deported after he was convicted of sex crimes against children.

Casa Grande Border Patrol agents arrested 51-year-old Alex Lopez Garcia Tuesday in a remote area as he tried to re-enter the country illegally. He was a convicted child sex offender in California and served five years in prison.

The Salvadorian national was with a group of six other illegal immigrants when he was tracked and apprehended by the agents on all-terrain vehicles west of Three Points, near Tucson.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release that an Air and Marine Operations helicopter assisted in the apprehension.

After the group was arrested, processing agents learned Lopez was a repeat sex offender in Fairfield, California, with several convictions of sexual offenses against children for which he was sentenced to 60 months incarceration, the release said.

Lopez and the other detainees are now facing immigration violation charges.

Lopez is facing a charge of illegal re-entry of aggravated felon and will remain in federal custody pending the outcome of his case.Levon Mkrtchyan: After the adoption of the law we expect to form a new, more effective system and we have to do serious work to achieve it

Levon Mkrtchyan, the RA Minister of Education and Science, was present at the World Bank Office in Yerevan on the work of the Expert Group on Higher Education Reforms in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the Ministry of Education and Science. The WB Office Director Sylvie Bossoutrot, International Experts Christian Thorne, Francisco Marmolleo, Deputy Director of Arhus University, Dennis Nikolaev, the WB Senior Specialist, representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science of Armenia and representatives of higher educational institutions took part in the discussion. Levon Mkrtchyan, Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia, in his speech underlined that in the field of higher education, Armenia entered a very important stage of reforms. He noted that the draft law on "Higher Education" was submitted to the National Assembly for approval by the Government. Taking the opportunity, Levon Mkrtchyan thanked the WB experts for their effective work. "After the adoption of the law we expect to form a new, more effective system and we have to do serious work to achieve it. One of our key steps is the classification of HEI (higher educational institutions) that will contribute to the increase of university governance efficiency and accountability. The next is the creation of internal mobility opportunities both for students and for professorial staff. The problem is also the link between science and higher education in the context of the introduction of the credit system. For example, if a student needs 240 credits during the course of study, then it is necessary to balance credits in HEIs and scientific institutes. It is also important to introduce an effective system of financing and tuition fees. For the solution of all these problems, it is necessary to have some time and to get professional training,"said Levon Mkrtchyan. The WB Office Director Sylvie Bossoutro stressed in her speech that the human capital program is a priority for the global development vision. "The money spent on education is not expense but investment. Today, it is obvious that 65% of existing jobs will change in the future, so global developments will be conditioned by the development of human capital," she said. During the workshop, Christian Thorne, an international expert, presented a model designed for Denmark's classification of HEIs, emphasizing the increased accountability of universities, as a key condition for governance efficiency.Former Democratic representatives Corrine Brown (Fla.) and Chaka Fattah (Pa.) are still receiving taxpayer-funded federal pensions despite being convicted and sentenced to prison on corruption charges.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed to the Washington Free Beacon that Brown is still receiving Federal Employees' Retirement System annuity benefits even though she was sentenced to prison for wire fraud and tax evasionactions that stemmed from a sham charity founded by the former congresswoman.

OPM would not say how much Brown is receiving and added that the details of an individual's annuity are protected from public release under the Freedom of Information Act.

Brown was sentenced to five years in prison last December and is still allowed to collect the government pension due to a loophole in the current law, according to Demian Brady, the director of research at the National Taxpayers Union (NTU).

Brady told the Free Beacon that based on Brown's time in office, she is eligible for an annual annuity of up to $66,000 due to a loophole in the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007. "The language of that law cuts off a federal annuity for former Members of Congress upon being finally convicted' for corruption."

Click for more from The Washington Free Beacon.New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that a coalition of East Coast states will sue the federal government over the Trump-signed tax overhaul, in the latest bid to undermine the law that Republicans have cheered.

The states -- New York, New Jersey and Connecticut -- appear to be taking aim at a provision that limits residents' state and local tax deduction (SALT) to $10,000. While the law contains sweeping tax rate cuts for businesses and individuals, taxpayers in high-tax states like those in the Northeast are expected to take a hit from the SALT change.

Cuomo called it an "economic missile."

"The elimination of full state and local deductibility is a blatantly partisan and unlawful attack on New York that uses our hardworking families and tax dollars as a piggy bank to pay for tax cuts for corporations and other states, Cuomo said in a statement. This coalition will take the federal government to court to protect our residents from this assault."



A press release from Cuomos office claimed that the elimination of full SALT deductibility will cost New York $14.3 billion.



The move has picked up support from Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who just replaced Chris Christie.

"Capping the State and Local Tax deduction had nothing to do with sound policy," Murphy said. "It is a clear and politically motivated punishment of blue states  like New Jersey and our neighbors who already pay far more to the federal government than we receive.

The lawsuit is just the latest attempt by Democratic governors and other high-profile lawmakers to thwart the tax bill. While a number of major companies have announced bonuses tied to the bill, and firms across America are preparing to revise their income tax withholding for workers, Democrats also have downplayed gains for average Americans as "crumbs."

Cuomo has separately floated the possibility of largely ending the personal income tax in his state, instead imposing an employer-side payroll tax that's deductible on federal taxes. This would ease the impact of the SALT cap for employees, though companies would likely adjust wages  which could be offset with a credit.

California officials have also raised the possibility of letting residents donate to the state budget, and in return get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on the full amount of the contribution. Taxpayers would then be able to deduct that charitable contribution from their federal taxes, making up for any loss from the SALT cap.

Cuomo's lawsuit announcement did not specify a particular legal avenue of attack, though such a suit could claim the law violates the 14th Amendment by targeting certain classes of people -- namely those living in high-tax states.

Cornell University Professor Michael Dorf, in an article for Verdict in December, argued that the law could be deemed unconstitutional if a court found that it targeted Democratic states deliberately -- but concluded that such a finding was unlikely.



While he claimed Trump acted in a crassly partisan manner by shifting tax burdens to blue states, he noted many laws affect states differently, such as solar panel subsidies affecting states with more or less sunshine.



The question, therefore, is not whether the new cap on SALT deductibility disfavors taxpayers in blue states relative to the prior provision. It clearly does that. The question is whether that differential impact resulted from an invidious congressional motive, he wrote, before concluding that the courts probably wont rule that way.

Such attempts to dodge the new law are unlikely to be greeted favorably by Republicans or the Trump administration. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin recently told reporters at the White House: I hope that the states are more focused on cutting their budgets and giving tax cuts to their people in their states than they are on trying to evade the law.

Fred Lucas contributed to this report.FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page may have used personal accounts to send official records to each other about the Hillary Clinton email probe in 2016 even as the bureau investigated her for a "similar" practice, according to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley.

It appears that Strzok and Page transmitted federal records pertaining to the Clinton investigation on private, non-government services, the Iowa Republican wrote in a Thursday letter to FBI Director Chris Wray.

He questioned whether that affected the bureau's treatment of the Clinton case.

It is important to determine whether their own similar conduct was a factor in not focusing on and developing evidence of similar violations by Secretary Clinton and her aides, Grassley said.

During the campaign, the FBI investigated Clintons use of a private email server instead of a secure, government email account while secretary of state. Then-FBI Director James Comey decided against recommending prosecution, but faulted Clinton and her associates for being extremely careless with classified information.

The revelation came as Grassley on Thursday released new messages between Page and Strzok, who were having an affair and exchanged more than 50,000 texts with each other during the election. A number of the texts have gotten attention for indicating their distaste for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Some of those texts released Thursday indicate the agents were using personal accounts for government work.

FBI OFFICIALS WORRIED ABOUT BEING TOO TOUGH ON HILLARY CLINTON DURING EMAIL INVESTIGATION, TEXTS SHOW

In an April 10, 2016 text, Strzok messaged Page to say, Gmailed you two drafts of what Im thinking of sending Bill, would appreciate your thoughts."

In other messages, on June 3, Strzok told Page: "Dude. Its all unclassified. ... Type on home computer and email to yourself."

The context of the discussions is unclear from the raw texts, but Grassley suggested they were related to the Clinton case.

Grassley wrote in his letter to Wray that Strzok and Page, in some texts, also referred to related conversations they were having via iMessage, presumably on their personal Apple devices.

Has the FBI asked Mr. Strzok or Ms. Page to voluntarily provide any information from their personal accounts? Grassley asked Wray. If so, have they been cooperative? If the FBI has not asked, please explain why not.

The Republican senator also asked, Has the FBI performed any voluntary searches of Strzok or Pages non-government phones or email accounts to determine whether federal records exist?

Clinton's practices to avoid government systems, however, would likely have gone well beyond these officials' use of personal devices. Clinton set up a 'homebrew' email server and exclusively used personal systems for government business while secretary of state, with classified information often being transmitted through them.

Strzok was a top figure in the bureaus Clinton investigation, taking part in the FBI interviews of the candidate and some of her top aides. He also worked on the special counsels probe into Russia and the Trump campaign but was reassigned after the anti-Trump texts were discovered on his phone.

Page also briefly worked on the special counsel investigation.

In a new text exchange released Thursday, Strzok and Page seemed concerned about being too tough on Clinton because she might hold it against them as president.

One more thing: she might be our next president, Page texted Strzok on Feb. 25, 2016, in the midst of the presidential campaign, in reference to Clinton.

The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear, she continued. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]?

Strzok replied that he agreed.

Republicans, arguing some top officials at the FBI are politically biased against Trump, have seized on the texts.

Now we know the fix was in, and I think the logical thing is, if the fix was in on the Clinton investigation, and if these same peoplethe top people at the FBIstarted and ran the Trump-Russia investigation, might there be some bad things going on there as well? Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Friday on Fox & Friends. And as you look at these text messages, it sure looks like there is.Hillary Clinton reportedly helped protect a senior adviser to her 2008 presidential campaign after accusations that he repeatedly sexually harassed a young subordinate.

The New York Times reported Friday on the incident, revealing how Clinton allegedly intervened to help keep the adviser, Burns Strider, on board.

According to the Times, the complaint was made by a 30-year-old Clinton staffer who shared an office with Strider. She reportedly told a campaign official that Strider had rubbed her shoulders inappropriately, kissed her on the forehead and sent suggestive emails.

Clintons 2008 campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, reportedly recommended Clinton fire him. But sources told The Times he was kept on the campaign at Clinton's request.

Instead, Strider was ordered to receive counseling and lost several weeks of pay, while the young woman was shifted to a new role.

While the incident went unreported for years, sources came forward amid the "#MeToo" climate, in which sexual misconduct allegations from years and decades past are going public.

In response to the report, a spokesman for Clinton gave Fox News a statement from the law firm that represented the 2008 campaign:

To ensure a safe working environment, the campaign had a process to address complaints of misconduct and harassment, the statement from Urecht, Kleinfeld, Fiori, Partners said. When matters arose, they were reviewed in accordance with these policies, and appropriate action was taken. This complaint was no exception.

THE LEFT TURNS ON CLINTON, BIDEN OVER BEHAVIOR TOWARD WOMEN

Strider did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment.

Strider, who worked as Clintons faith adviser, sent her scripture readings every morning during the 2008 campaign, according to The Times. Strider was hired five years later to lead an independent group that supported Clintons 2016 presidential run, Correct the Record, which was launched by David Brock.

Strider was reportedly fired from Brocks firm months later for workplace issues, including accusations that he, again, sexually harassed a young female aide.

Clinton and Strider seemingly have stayed in touch, with Strider's Twitter account featuring photos of the two of them within the last year.

Strider also worked as a senior adviser to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., from 2003 to 2006.

A spokesman for Pelosi did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment on Striders behavior during the time working in her office.

The woman who made the accusation against Strider during the 2008 campaign reportedly signed a nondisclosure agreement barring campaign staffers from publicly discussing inner workings of the Clinton team.A spokesman for John Kerry pushed back Friday on reports that the former secretary of state made anti-Trump comments to an associate of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and denied that he was mulling a 2020 encore presidential bid.

The alleged comments surfaced this week after Kerry met with Abbas associate Hussein Agha in London. Israeli news outlet Maariv reported that during the meeting, Kerry told Agha to share a message with Abbas urging him to hold on and be strong during talks with the Trump administration and play for time[and] not yield to President Trumps demands.

Kerry, who served as former President Barack Obamas secretary of state during his second term, also reportedly referred to Trump using derogatory language, and said he would not be in office for long, suggesting he could be out in a year. Kerry also allegedly asked Abbas not to attack the U.S. or the Trump administration, but rather focus attacks on the president himself.

The original story wasn't accurate, and Ive read that Mr. Agha himself has made that clear. These are neither Secretary Kerry's views nor anything he would say, a spokesman for Kerry told Fox News Friday.

JOHN KERRY REPORTEDLY COACHES PALESTINIANS NOT TO 'YIELD' TO TRUMP IN PEACE TALKS, SPURRING BACKLASH

Kerry also reportedly told Agha that he was considering running for president in 2020.

Hes said before, publicly, that hes not thinking of it, Kerrys spokesman told Fox News in an email. Nothings changed.

The White House did not respond to Fox News request for comment on Kerrys alleged remarks.

The State Department told Fox News it would decline to comment on the report.

Kerrys meeting with the Palestinian Authority representatives comes just one month after the Trump administration decided, after years of U.S. promises, to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

According to Israeli media, Arab leaders in Davos this week expressed hope they could resume peace talks, despite the Jerusalem controversy.Newly revealed texts between Trump-bashing FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page show the fix was in during Hillary Clinton's email probe in 2016, Republican lawmakers say.

The latest batch of text messages between Strzok and Page, who were involved romantically, revealed their private conversations regarding Clinton -- and their concern about being too tough on her during the investigation into her private email system use. The text messages indicate they were wary of a backlash from Clinton if she were to win the presidential election.

It doesnt appear anyone wanted her charged, House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight.

In the newly released texts from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Page warned Strzok that Clinton might be our next president, in a Feb. 25, 2016 exchange.

The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear, Page continued. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]?

FBI OFFICIALS WORRIED ABOUT BEING TOO TOUGH ON HILLARY CLINTON DURING EMAIL INVESTIGATION, TEXTS SHOW

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said Friday that he and congressional colleagues all suspected the fix was in on the Clinton probe, even before those messages were released. He also questioned what these revelations suggest about the ongoing special counsel probe into possible Trump associate collusion with Russia.

Now we know the fix was in, and I think the logical thing is, if the fix was in on the Clinton investigation, and if these same peoplethe top people at the FBIstarted and ran the Trump-Russia investigation, might there be some bad things going on there as well? Jordan said on Fox & Friends Friday. And as you look at these text messages, it sure looks like there is.

NEWLY RELEASED TEXT MESSAGES FROM EX-MUELLER TEAM MEMBERS SUGGEST THEY KNEW OUTCOME OF CLINTON EMAIL PROBE IN ADVANCE

Strzok and Page both worked on Special Counsel Robert Muellers team for a short period of time at the start of his Russia probe -- despite their apparent concerns, revealed in other texts released this week, that there was no big there there.

I dont like bias. I dont like political bias and this was an incredibly politically charged case as was, and is, the Russia investigation, Gowdy said. So politics and political bias is even more important in a case like this. I dont know why the left is straining to minimize the manifest bias that was exhibited by these agents. I just dont get it.

Another exchange between Strzok and Page dated July 1, 2016 referenced then-Attorney General Loretta Lynchs decision to accept the FBIs conclusion in the Clinton investigation. Lynchs announcement came days after it was revealed that the attorney general and former President Bill Clinton had an impromptu meeting aboard her plane in Phoenix.

Timing looks like hell, Strzok texted Page.

Yeah, that is awful timing, Page agreed. In a later message, she added: Its a real profile in couragw [sic], since she knows no charges will be brought.

That text renewed Republican suspicions that top law enforcement officials at the time were expecting not to pursue charges against Clinton.

Strzok and Page exchanged some 50,000 text messages throughout the presidential election and the first year of the Trump administration -- many of them expressing anti-Trump views.

This week, the Justice Department revealed that the FBI failed to preserve five months of text messages between Strzok and Page due to a technological glitch from Dec. 14, 2016 through May 17, 2017the day Mueller was appointed to lead the special counsel investigation.

The gap in records covered a crucial period, raising suspicion among GOP lawmakers about how those messages disappeared.

But DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz later confirmed to Congress that his office has recovered texts from that time period by taking possession of at least four phones belonging to Strzok and Page.

Fox News' Alex Pappas and Jake Gibson contributed to this report.President Donald Trump apologized for retweeting content from a far-right group called Britain First, according to Piers Morgan.

Morgan, the former CNN talk show host who conducted the interview for the U.K. television channel ITV, posted a photo Friday of their meeting in Davos, Switzerland, and said Trump claimed he did not know about Britain First.

I dont want to be involved with these people, Trump told Morgan, according to the hosts tweet. If youre telling me theyre horrible racist people. I certainly apologize.

The furor erupted after Trump, who has almost 48 million Twitter followers, in November retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by a leader of Britain First. The tiny group regularly posts inflammatory videos purporting to show Muslims engaged in acts of violence, but without providing context or supporting information.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and Trump traded criticism at the time over the retweets and British lawmakers labeled the U.S. leader a hate peddler.

The U.K. ambassador in Washington complained to the White House, and Mays spokesman said the president was wrong to retweet the groups content. Trump responded with a tweet urging May to focus on the destructive Radical Islamic Terrorism that is taking place within the United Kingdom instead of on him.

Trump told Morgan that he is often the least racist person that anybody is going to meet. Certainly I wasnt endorsing anybody.

The full interview with Trump is scheduled to air Sunday on ITV.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.President Trump declared America open for business in a speech Friday to global elites in Davos, Switzerland, while taking a hard line on trade and vowing to make commerce with other countries fair and reciprocal.

"There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest and to grow in the United States," he said. "America is open for business and we are competitive once again."



Trump spent much of his speech outlining the economic highlights of his presidency and selling its strengths to the gathered business and finance leaders.



After years of stagnation, the United States is once again experiencing strong economic growth. The stock market is smashing one record after another and has added more than $7 trillion in new wealth since my election, he said. Consumer, business and manufacturing confidence are the highest theyve been in many decades.



Trump slammed regulation (which he called stealth taxation) and touted his administrations deregulation and tax cuts to make America more hospitable to business.



Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs, your investments back to the United States, he said.



However, while citing the strength of free market deregulation and tax cuts, he also warned that he wanted international trade not just to be free, but fair.



We will enforce our trade laws and restore integrity to the trading system, he said. Only by insisting on fair and reciprocal trade can we create a system that works not just for the United States but for all nations.



He promised that the U.S. would no longer turn a blind eye to unfair trade practices from other countries, such as intellectual property theft and other predatory behaviors that he said distort the markets and hurt workers in America.

"As president of the United States, I will always put America first just like the leaders of other countries should put their country first also," he said. "But 'America First' does not mean America alone."

While the speech had a heavy emphasis on economics and finance, that "America First" message was similar to the message he delivered to the United Nations General Assembly in September, where he told gathered world leaders that they too should put their own countrys first in the way he had promised to do with the United States.

The speech occasionally dipped away from trade, with Trump hailing the defeat of ISIS in the Middle East while also promising to reform America's immigration laws to move away from so-called "chain migration" to a merit-based system.

In a question and answer session after the speech, Trump also couldn't resist taking a jab at the press, telling founder Klaus Schwab: "It wasn't until I became a politician that I realized how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be."

In his speech he did not mention specific trade deals, but in an interview Thursday evening, he indicated he was possibly open to the U.S. entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but only if it was a substantially better deal.



"I would do TPP if we were able to make a substantially better deal. The deal was terrible, the way it was structured was terrible. If we did a substantially better deal, I would be open to TPP," he told CNBC.

In the same interview, he said he may or may not pull the U.S. out of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- an agreement he has repeatedly called to be renegotiated.

"NAFTA's a horrible deal, we're renegotiating it," he said. "I may terminate NAFTA, I may not  we'll see what happens.

Earlier this week, the Trump administration announced a new tax on imported solar panels and washing machines as part of his promise to protect American jobs from foreign competition.The Democratic Party has chosen one of its rising stars and an immigrant from Peru to deliver its rebuttals Tuesday when President Donald Trump delivers his first State of the Union address on Capitol Hill.

The party on Thursday named U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass., and Virginia Delegate Elizabeth Guzman to deliver its responses, in English and Spanish, respectively.

Kennedy, 37, is a member of the House Democratic Caucus and a grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Robert Kennedy. Guzman, 44, was one of two Latinas elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in November.

In their responses to the Presidents address, Congressman Kennedy and Virginia Delegate Guzman will both do an excellent job in making clear that Democrats are laser-focused on enacting policies to benefit middle class Americans, not special interests or the wealthiest, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement announcing the Democratic responses.

Kennedy rose to prominence last year for his speeches blasting Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare and criticizing Trumps response to the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va., that left at least one dead.

While President Trump has consistently broken his promises to the middle class, Congressman Kennedy profoundly understands the challenges facing hardworking men and women across the country, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said in the statement.

Kennedy represents a younger wave of Democrats in a party that some have criticized for its older leaders and potential 2020 presidential contenders who are all in their 70s.

His speech about healthcare on his Facebook page had more than 3 million views in a recent tally.

Pelosi called Guzman "a respected advocate and community leader who represents the best of our nations ideals," the Hill reported.

"Driven by her faith and her belief in the promise of the American Dream, Elizabeth has been a vital, relentless leader for the voiceless," Pelosi said.

During the State of the Union, Trump is set to roll out the White House immigration plan and reveal a $1.7 trillion infrastructure package, the report said.Al Gore is lucky he isnt a betting man.

In 2007, Professor Scott Armstrong at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton business school challenged Al Gore to a $10,000 bet about temperatures over the next decade. Fox News reported on the challenge at the time.

The bet proposal was to compare the U.N.s standard global warming model against Armstrongs prediction of no increase at all. The money would have gone to charity.

Gore declined the bet. According to Armstrong, a Gore spokesman said that, Mr. Gore simply does not wish to participate in a financial wager.

Now, 10 years after the offer, Armstrong is declaring victory, albeit a moral one.

'ARBITRARY' ADJUSTMENTS EXAGGERATE SEA LEVEL RISE, STUDY FINDS

From the would-be bet period of 2008 through the end of 2017, Armstrongs prediction of zero temperature change was more accurate in more months than the standard U.N. model, which predicts an increase in temperatures.

But the bet result comes with the caveat that, in the last two years, warming has been high. In those years, the U.N. models prediction was most accurate. But overall across the whole decade, Armstrong's "no change" model edged out the U.N. model that Gore relies on.

The graph below from Armstrongs TheClimateBet.com shows the bet measurements. Black is temperature, red is the UNs forecasted increase, and green is Armstrongs no-change forecast.

Armstrong says the bet undercuts extreme predictions Gore made. In his 2007 book "Assault on Reason," Gore warned of tipping points that could - within as little as ten years - make it impossible for us to avoid irretrievable damage of the planet's habitability for human civilization.

Ten years out, Armstrong said that has not happened.

But the fact that the U.N. models prediction is closer regarding todays temperature has prompted some to question Armstrongs methodology.

EVEN WITHOUT EL NINO LAST YEAR, EARTH KEEPS WARMING

Anyone objectively looking at the data, even at the graph produced above, can see that climate models were much, much, much better at predicting global warming over the past decade, John P. Abraham, professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas told FoxNews.com.

The bet offered to Gore indicated that the models would be judged throughout the period, and not on just the final year.

Armstrong says the last two years are just an anomaly and that his no-change model performed better overall.

Temperature goes up, it goes down. If you happen to end on an upnote... thats not the scientific thing to look at, Armstrong said.

Abraham also critiques Armstrongs expertise, saying that he has no experience in climate science, [and] has to rely on fancy statistics to claim victory.

DOOMSDAY CLOCK REACHES 2 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT - CLOSEST POINT TO NUCLEAR ANNIHILATION SINCE COLD WAR

Armstrong is a marketing professor, but says that he focuses on forecasting methods. He often predicts things like automobile sales.

I've been doing forecasting research for 40 years, and heard about the global warming movement... it took about a week to find that this is a propaganda campaign. It's just a mass hysteria

Over recent decades, however, the earth has been warming. The data source Armstrong uses for his bet  official satellite data thats logged by climate professors at the University of Alabama  show that the Earth has warmed by about one degree Fahrenheit since 1979, when data collection began.

A spokesman for the Union for Concerned Scientists said that people should instead refer to government data based on weather stations, which show slightly more warming.

Armstrong says he uses the satellite data because the weather station data are contaminated by poor maintenance and location of weather stations... and unexplained adjustments.

WHAT IS THE DOOMSDAY CLOCK?

A spokesman for Gore did not return a request for comment Thursday.

Armstrong adds that, if Gore is unhappy with the results and thinks they were due simply to luck, he is happy to extend the bet for another decade.

Who would win a bet from 2007  2027? Armstrong and Australian researcher Kesten Green say theyll track that every month at TheClimateBet.com.

Maxim Lott can be reached on Twitter at @MaximLottTeachers' salaries not decreased

The RA Ministry of Education and Science informs that salaries of pedagogues have not been changed since January, 2018. Information regularly circulated in mass media, according to which teachers' salaries dropped from January 1, does not correspond to reality. At the same time, we inform that on December 27, 2017, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia sent a circular-writing to the regional administrations and Yerevan Municipality in which it was suggested to instruct the headmasters of the secondary schools acting under their supervision to guide the school budget in 2018 according to the principle not to lower teachers' salaries. The same assignment was also given to the headmasters of the educational institutions under the Ministry of Education and Science. The Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Armenia encourages all teachers and media representatives to provide information to the Ministry or a relevant State Authorized Body, in the event of a particular case, excluding undue speculations.Alien-life hunters should keep an open mind when scanning the atmospheres of exoplanets, a new study stresses.

The time-honored strategy of looking for oxygen is indeed a good one, study team members said; after all, it's tough for this gas to build up in a planet's atmosphere if life isn't there churning it out.

"But we don't want to put all our eggs in one basket," study lead author Joshua Krissansen-Totton, a doctoral student in Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle, said in a statement. [5 Bold Claims of Alien Life]

"Even if life is common in the cosmos, we have no idea if it will be life that makes oxygen," Krissansen-Totton added. "The biochemistry of oxygen production is very complex and could be quite rare."

So, he and his colleagues took a broader view, studying Earth's history to identify combinations of gases that, if observed together by future instruments such as NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, would be strong evidence of life. They came up with what they think is a good candidate: Methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2), without any appreciable carbon monoxide (CO).

As their chemical formulas show, methane and carbon dioxide are very different molecules. Their co-occurrence is indicative of an "atmospheric disequilibrium"  a term that gets astrobiologists pretty excited.

"So you've got these extreme levels of oxidation. And it's hard to do that through non-biological processes without also producing carbon monoxide, which is intermediate," Krissansen-Totton said. "For example, planets with volcanoes that belch out carbon dioxide and methane will also tend to belch out carbon monoxide."

In addition, many microbes here on Earth gobble up CO greedily. So, an abundance of this stuff in a planet's air would argue against the presence of life for several different reasons, study team members said.

Proposing to look for compounds in disequilibrium isn't a novel idea. For example, other astrobiologists have suggested that the combination of methane and oxygen in an exoplanet's air would be a strong sign of life.

But the new study could help open researchers' minds to possibilities beyond oxygen, which was not detectable in Earth's atmosphere for most of life's history on this planet. (The gas didn't start building up in our air until about 2.5 billion years ago, when photosynthesis really took off. And it may not have reached reasonably high levels until 600 million years ago or so, scientists have said.)

"What's exciting is that our suggestion is doable, and may lead to the historic discovery of an extraterrestrial biosphere in the not-too-distant future," study co-author David Catling, a professor of Earth and space sciences at the University of Washington, said in the same statement.

The new study was published online today (Jan. 24) in the journal Science Advances.

Original story on Space.com.Health records in your pocket

Just one day after Apple released a beta version of iOS 11.3, people are downloading it and poking around to see whats new. We talked briefly yesterday about the Business Chat feature in Messaging, and it looks like Apple is hoping to change the way we keep track of our medical records as well. The team at MacRumors says the new Health Records feature in the Health app will let users keep better track of their personal health data.

Additionally, there have been improvements to ARkit, with greater resolution up to full HD, recognition of surfaces with unusual shapes, and better autofocus performance. And if your zillion emails and their many attachments are sucking up all your iPhones memory, 11.3 also brings back iCloud Messages, which allows you to keep all that stuff in the iCloud instead.

That should free up some space for the four new animojis Apple has brought to the iPhone X, including a lion, bear, dragon and a talking skull, if youre into that whole pirate or goth thing. And who isnt? Sadly missing from the current 11.3 build are the promised battery health features; wed bet theyre still filing off the rough edges on that part of the OS.

Evolution Number 9

Over at Samsung, theyre getting ready to take the wraps off their next Galaxy halo phones, the S9 and S9 Plus. Multiple sources say the new phones will be unveiled next month at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The exact date? February 25th . Rumors indicate the S9 is going to be an evolutionary update of the S8 rather than a whole new phone, but Samsung has been very clear to highlight the new phones camera in the run-up to the reveal.

Rumors suggest it could have a variable aperture for real-world image affects instead of using two lenses and tech trix. Sounds like the current plan is to put the new S9 up for sale in mid-March. So far, no prices have been announced. Well keep you updated.

But will it fit in a space droid?

The Princess Leia hologram sequence from the original Star Wars movie is an icon of sci-fi. And, of course, multiple efforts have tried to recreate it for real, but a new effort by researchers at BYU may have come closer than ever. Called a volumetric display, the experimental tech involves lasers, mirrors and a lot of computing power to give us this: a free-floating projected object.

Granted, its not very big, and the video camera used to record it makes it flicker, while its actually solid and stable to the naked eye. You can walk around the image as well and see it from any angle  but the researchers are quick to point out: technically its not a hologram. And while it does have that geeks-only name of volumetric display, informally, the team refers to it as the Princess Leah Project. Much better.

Weve got more news on our Facebook page and YouTube channel, and be sure to tune in to this weeks DT podcasts: Trends with Benefits (general tech shenanigans) on Thursdays, and Between the Streams (movie and TV topics) every Friday.Samsungs next-generation flagship phone is expected next month. Recent reports are providing some particulars on what to expect.

The South Korean electronics giant sent out an invite on Wednesday with the tagline The Camera Reimagined against a backdrop of a giant 9. Is that a not-so-subtle hint that the phone will get the S9 moniker? Well see.

The Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2018 event will happen on Feb. 252018, in Barcelona, coinciding with the MWC 2018 trade show, according to the invite.

IPHONE X LONG-TERM REVIEW: A BIT OF A LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP

Fox News compiled a list of rumors of what the new Samsung phones may offer.

The design

In the scheme of smartphone redesigns, the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus are not expected to see radical physical changes, according to Venture Beat.

The S9 and S9 Plus models are slated to get 5.8-inch and 6.2-inch displays respectively, Venture Beat added. The website also said that this year "is mostly a component upgrade" and neither the S9 nor the S9 Plus would be "significant departures from their predecessors.

Like the current Galaxy S8, the new phone design will have extremely narrow display bezels with a metal frame and glass back, according to a roundup of expected features from Android Central.

But there may be subtle changes, however. For example, the S9 could have more screen and less less bezel than its predecessor, according to a report at SamMobile.

All-screen phones are a major smartphone design trend because the smaller borders result in phones with bigger displays but relatively small overall physical sizes, like the 5.8-inch iPhone X.

The camera and other features

On the all-important camera front, a recent report from Etnews by way of CNET, points to a Galaxy S9 Plus with a dual 12-megapixel rear camera. The smaller S9 may get a single-lens camera, according to the report.

Samsung's teaser implies that new camera technology will be the major feature, Ben Stanton, an analyst at Canalys, told Fox News.

That confirms a long-held suspicion within the industry that most smartphone improvements this year will be on the inside, not the outside, he said.

Both of the new Samsung phones may get a camera with variable aperture. The camera is said to be able to switch between F1.5 and F2.4 apertures depending on the scenario. That means it will be able able to let in more or less light as needed, wrote CNET.

The standout feature is surely the mechanically-controlled variable aperture, Venture Beat's Evan Blass told Fox News in an email.

New sensors are expected to boost low-light photography and improve auto focusing and increase frame rates for video recording. A report at NDTV points out that the sensor technology has already been discussed publicly by Samsung.

Other rumored tweaks include better placement of the rear fingerprint sensor, according to a purported leak of factory CAD-based renders from a report in December.

Other widely-reported specs include Qualcomms newest Snapdragon 845 processor, 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage for the S9. The S9 Plus may contain 6GB RAM, 128GB of storage and possibly larger storage options.

APPLE'S LATEST IOS UPDATE LETS YOU TURN OFF BATTERY THROTTLING, AMONG OTHER FEATURES

The competition

Samsung needs to close the gap with Apple on biometrics, according to Canalys Stanton. It needs to invest in better biometric authentication, to close the gap with Apples FaceID, so I also expect there to be a key announcement on either iris scanning or 3D face scanning, he said.

I also expect Samsung to spend time on Bixby in its product launch, Stanton added, referring to Samsungs intelligent virtual assistant. Bixby had a slow roll-out this last year, and has seen some negative feedback from the press. If it is serious about voice technology, Samsung should use its stage time in Barcelona to show the value of Bixby above other assistants."The flagship phone launch of Mobile World Congress 2018, the Samsung Galaxy S9 is going to set the agenda for Android phones in 2018. Rumors are already beginning to fly about the Galaxy S9's design and features, and we're rounding them up in preparation for the phone's launch on the evening of February 26 in Barcelona.

Rumors for Now

As always, there are already a bunch of videos on YouTube claiming to give you the final lowdown, the complete set of leaks, or the total story on the Galaxy S9. They're probably wrong. While there are plenty of leaks out there to be sure, it's my experience over the past 14 years of covering phones that everyone always gets some things wrong in advanceand it's the people who most bombastically say they're right who get things the most wrong.

The Galaxy S9 is not expected to be a radical upgrade from the Galaxy S8. If Samsung is doing anything radical this year, it's going to be the rumored Samsung Galaxy X Folder, the folding-screen phone we might see this fall.

So the Galaxy S9 will probably be to the Galaxy S8 as...well, as the iPhone 8 is to the iPhone 7. But Samsung could very well have a surprise up its sleeve, especially in the area of software, which is the thing that leaks least often with these kinds of devices.

Design, Screen, and Camera

This shaky, 10-second YouTube video appears to show a Galaxy S9 being tested by a screen protector company. As you can see, from the front, the phone looks a lot like the Galaxy S8.

This five-second video, meanwhile, shows the back of the phone, most notably the repositioned fingerprint sensor.

According to Korea's ET News, the Galaxy S9 will come in two models, the 5.77-inch Galaxy S9 and the 6.22-inch Galaxy S9+.

Samsung's event invite says the phone will have new camera capabilities. According to ET News, the Galaxy S9 will have a f/1.5, 12-megapixel camera with OIS, and the Galaxy S9+ will have dual f/1.5 and f/2.4 12-megapixel cameras. Rumors cited by The Inquirer say the S9's camera sensor will record 1080p video at up to 480 frames per second, and will also have faster autofocus speeds.

The Galaxy S9's presumed Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor is the first chip that can record video in "Ultra HD Premium," combining 4K, HDR, and the Rec 2020 color space for super-high-quality photos and videos. Expect the Galaxy S9 to feature Ultra HD Premium and the 845's ability to do 60fps 4K capture.

Various rumors are saying that the Galaxy S9's screen will use "Y-OCTA" display technology, which is slimmer and has an integrated touch layer. This is unlikely to allow Samsung to put the fingerprint sensor under the display, but it may allow for those brighter, more colorful images that the Snapdragon 845 promises.

And yes, it sounds like it'll still have a headphone jack.

Processor and Software

We're pretty sure that the Galaxy S9 will be the first major device with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor. There may also be a Samsung Exynos-based unit that's sold outside the US.

We got a full preview of the Snapdragon 845 at Qualcomm's event in December. The 845's major user-focused advantages come in the camera and screen departments, and rumors about new camera and screen technology may match up with the 845's new abilities.

The 845 also accelerates AI, which may mean better performance for Samsung's Bixby voice assistant. Much as nobody uses Bixby, it's a priority for Samsung. The 845 could speed up Bixby's voice recognition, for instance, giving it an advantage over Google Assistant. Bixby certainly needs an advantage.

That AI strength may dovetail in some way with a Korea Herald report about Samsung developing its own "AI chips," which could be included in the Exynos version of the S9 to keep its performance on par with the Qualcomm version.

Software-wise, the Galaxy S9 is likely to run Android 8.1. A mysterious rumor from Android Headlines says there will be a "new UX design" but doesn't give many details.

Carriers and Release Date

We expect that the Galaxy S9 (and Galaxy S9+) will come out on all of the major US carriers, just like the Galaxy S8 did. There will be an unlocked model, which will come out a month or two after the carrier model, again like the S8. The phone will support all of the US LTE bands, including T-Mobile's new band 71 for rural coverage. Pricing will be similar to the S8, which started around $720.

Champion leaker Evan Blass says that the Galaxy S9 will go on sale on March 16, and that sounds reasonable to us.

We're almost certainly going to hear more about the Galaxy S9 as we get closer to Mobile World Congress and the phone's official launch, and we'll update this story as we do.

This article originally appeared on PCMag.com.A Connecticut woman who operated an unlicensed day care out of her home has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for killing a 4-month-old boy by giving him an overdose of Benadryl.

The Connecticut Post reports that Carol Cardillo was sentenced Thursday in Bridgeport Superior Court. She pleaded no contest to a manslaughter charge in November in connection with the death of Adam Seagull, of Shelton, in March 2016. She had faced up to five years in prison.

Cardillo, of Fairfield, never admitted to killing the boy. She said in court Thursday that she was "very sad" about what happened to him.

Adam's parents, Matthew and Michelle Seagull, said they believed justice was served. They called Cardillo an evil person.

Cardillo's lawyer said Cardillo didn't intentionally kill the boy.

___

Information from: Connecticut Post, http://www.connpost.comA University of Hawaii professor caused a ruckus in court on Wednesday when he refused to respond to a judges questions in English and requested a Hawaiian interpreter.

Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo is facing trial on charges for his participation in a 2017 protest against the construction of a solar telescope on top of Haleakala, a volcano on Maui.

When Judge Blaine Kobayashi asked Kaeo to confirm his identity, the associate professor of Hawaiian studies repeatedly refused to respond in English. Instead he spoke in native Hawaiian.

Hawaii News Now reported Kobayashi said he couldnt understand Kaeo and issued a bench arrest warrant for the professor  who was sitting in court.

The court is unable to get a definitive determination for the record that the defendant seated in court is Mr. Samuel Kaeo, he was reported saying.

Kaeo, who speaks English, is facing charges for disorderly conduct, obstructing a sidewalk, and obedience to police officers stemming from the August protest. All three charges are petty misdemeanors

He told reporters and his supporters outside the courtroom on Wednesday that he had appeared before Kobayashi several times before and complained that it was about the fact that I was speaking Hawaiian that he didnt like.

I showed up, he said. "I dealt with this judge maybe 15 times before. So obviously, it had nothing to do with they couldnt recognize me. You see what the issue was? It wasnt about me. It was about the fact that I was speaking Hawaiian. But these small obstacles are the kinds of things we overcome.

A request had been made for an interpreter, but prosecutors objected, saying it was an unnecessary expense.

"There is no legal requirement to provide Hawaiian language interpreters to court participants who speak English but prefer to speak in Hawaiian," the state judiciary said in a statement to Hawaii News Now. "In those cases, judges have the discretion to grant, or deny, a request an interpreter."

In 1978, Hawaiian was recognized as an official language of Hawaii, along with English. However, court cases are primarily conducted in English, with interpreters provided for those who speak other languages.

We have to put this in context. As a Hawaii person representing myself on a criminal issue due to fighting on behalf of the rights of Hawaiian people and using Hawaiian language is the best way to express that this is a Hawaiian issue and that being taken away for me, he told KHON2. I will continue to demand through my words that Ill be recognized as a human being. That we as Hawaiians have a right for the human right to speak our language.

A hearing has been scheduled for his request, the judiciary said.

Kaeo said he plans continue to speak Hawaiian in future court hearings.

The Native Hawaiian Legal Corp., which is not representing Kaeo, said issuing the warrant was inexplicable, nonsensical and absurd.

"The court essentially ignored Professor Kaeo's physical presence based solely on his sincere desire to proceed and present his case in Hawaiian," the corporation said in a statement.

The chief executive officer of the state's Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamanaopono Crabbe, called the event an example of "punishing Native Hawaiians for speaking our native language."

He said it was reminiscent of Hawaii's past when Hawaiian "was prohibited in schools, a form of cultural suppression that substantially contributed to the near extinction of the Hawaiian language."

Others argued that the judge was correct in his decision to issue the arrest warrant.

"This gentleman is clearly and unequivocally, remarkably, proficient in the English language and what he's using this for is to follow up in the type of protest that he had on Haleakala," former city prosecutor Peter Carlisle told Hawaii News Now.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A growing debate about fighting illegal immigration in San Antonio has started to pit police against state laws.

No one really secures the border. We have to tighten that up, says Republican congressional candidate Francisco Canseco.

The spotlight is on local police and how they will enforce the states immigration legislation. Canseco says theres mounting pressure to enforce them.

We must follow the legislature and [what] the state government has passed as its laws, says Canseco.

Its a tone that immigration attorney Linda Brandmiller says shes observed in the past year. She says many communities have become more aggressive as a result of the rhetoric President Trump has adopted.

There are now those pockets where people feel emboldened to take action against an immigrant or perceived immigrant, says Brandmiller.

Jonathan Valencia, a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals [DACA] recipient, has also seen the change, especially among some of his classmates at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

I think people are definitely scared, Valencia said.

Concerns rose after Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed the controversial Senate Bill 4, which essentially requires local police to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and allows them to question people about their immigration status, even during routine detentions such as traffic stops.

But now, the state attorney generals office is investigating the San Antonio police department after critics said police violated SB 4. A report from the AGs office points to an incident involving the release of numerous suspected illegal aliens on December 23.

SAPD maintains it followed protocol when officers found 12 illegal immigrants packed in a truck that day. The police chief said they notified Homeland Security and released the individuals because they had no legal authority to hold them after they were questioned.

Brandmiller said the group was connected to a local immigrant advocacy agency, a humanitarian approach she and Valencia support.

In San Antonio, I think people will feel more trustful towards the police. Most people would think theyd be detained and deported, says Valencia.

However, a Republican candidate for state representative, Carlton Soules, is critical. He believes the city has adopted a policy of connecting illegal immigrants to advocacy groups after 10 people died in a smuggling case in the city in July. He argues its not the message the city should send.

What does that tell illegal immigrants? It says, come to San Antonio. Im not sure we want to be a magnet for illegal immigration, Soules said.

Still, Brandmiller hopes the actions of local police will be determined by a question: Every law enforcement person, agency, leader needs to be able to look at themselves in the mirror everyday and say, okay, am I being fair in uniform?

The city knows: its actions, not debates, that have the biggest repercussions.Cecile Richards confirmed Friday she would be stepping down as president of Planned Parenthood after 12 years with the organization.

Richards made her announcement with a video and a series of tweets. In a statement, Richards said leading the organization has been the honor of my lifetime.

Planned Parenthood has been a trusted resource in this country for more than a century, and I will be leaving the organization well-positioned to serve and fight for our patients for a century more, Richards wrote.

She said she would not stop being an activist and would continue to travel around the country advocating for the basic rights and health care that all people deserve.

Richards, 60, did not immediately say who would take over her role. But she told The New York Times she planned to meet with the board to discuss a replacement.

PLANNED PARENTHOODS PRESIDENT RUMORED TO BE STEPPING DOWN

Richards, a self-described life-long activist and daughter of former Democratic Texas governor Ann Richards, also worked as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis deputy chief of staff until she went to Planned Parenthood.

Under her leadership, the organization gained in membership and donor support but was constantly in conflict with social conservatives for its role as the leading abortion provider in the United States.

Planned Parenthood, which receives $500 million annually in government subsidies, has endured repeated efforts by Republicans in Congress to cut its funding.

A SHOW OF SOLIDARITY AROUND THE WORLD MARKS 2018 WOMENS MARCH

During Richards tenure, several congressional committees investigated the organizations role in providing post-abortion fetal tissue to researchers.

It was not immediately clear what Richards would do next. However, her memoir Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out, and Finding the Courage to Lead  My Life Story will be published in April. She told The New York Times she planned to help Democrats campaign during 2018 midterm elections. When asked by the Times if she planned on running for office or follow her mothers footsteps of running for the governor of Texas, Richards replied: Im not thinking of running for anything.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A former brothel worker who allegedly marketed herself for prostitution by using a revealing photo taken in an ex-cop's bathroom reportedly had her criminal charges dismissed this week.

Alicia Stapleton, 32, of Clovis, pleaded no contest in Fresno County Superior Court in September to a charge of engaging in prostitution. But she had the charge dropped Thursday by Judge Ralph Nunez under a plea agreement, after she showed proof that she passed a diversion program and stayed out of legal trouble, her lawyer said.

She learned there are better ways of making a living, attorney Linden Lindahl told the Fresno Bee.

Stapleton, a former Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel worker in Carson City, Nev., used to date ex-Fresno police officer Robert Knight, according to the newspaper. Her lawyer says she now works as a secretary.

Knight, a 17-year veteran officer, quit the force on July 13, 2015, after having conversations with an undercover detective and allegedly revealing he helped Stapleton prostitute herself through Craiglist ads, the Fresno Bee reported, citing comments from police and court records.

A police search warrant said Stapleton spent half her time at the brothel and the other half back over the border at Knights home in Fresno.

A sexually-suggestive photo of Stapleton wearing revealing clothing -- that was part of a Craiglist ad -- allegedly was taken in Knights bathroom, the Fresno Bee reported, citing the warrant.

When police searched Knights phone they found nude photos of Stapleton, the warrant said. It added that in talks with the detective, Knight discussed the rules of having a rendezvous with Stapleton -- who charged $100 an hour -- and went into graphic detail about the sex acts she would be willing to perform. Nude photographs were also allegedly included as part of a sales pitch to the detective.

Stapleton was arrested in July 2015 after meeting up with an undercover detective and agreeing to perform a sex act, completing the sting operation, the Fresno Bee reported.

Knight, 45, is set to appear in court Feb. 27 on a misdemeanor charge of supervising or aiding a prostitute.Levon Shirinyan: There is a real risk of aggravation of the Artsakh conflict (video)

There is a real risk of aggravation of the Artsakh conflict, political scientist Levon Shirinyan stated at the meeting with reporters. "We have the issue of supplying Russian weapons. I do not exclude Russia's provocation of the war. This is real. I declare that Russia is preparing a new conflict tension with Azerbaijan, perhaps a war. " Speaking about Serzh Sargsyan's speech on Artsakh in PACE, he noted, "Each of us knows that in the issue of Artsakh, Azeris will not accept any conditions other than genocide, destruction, so we can express any position: that we are peaceable, ready to hand lands, we might not give them up. One shouldn't have Levon Ter-Petrosyan's peacefullness, it's dangerous." Levon Shirinyan also touched upon the internal political situation. "Armenia's Cleopatra-power must be destroyed. This is the case when the unclean elements surround the government. The fight against corruption should rise among the authorities. Corruption cannot only include the middle class. If these issues are solved, Armenia will become a dignified state. Assignment of positions must first of all literally correspond to the Constitution. I would prefer Armenia-centered people to be elected in high positions. Levon Shirinyan added that if Armenia did not become a scientific and industrial country, development was excluded. The emigration would not stop, and the Prime Minister's current candidate should discuss that issue.The eldest son of the 13 siblings allegedly tortured and held captive by their parents in California was allowed out of the house to attend community college, where he excelled.

The son, who is in his 20s, attended Mt. San Jacinto College for several years, and while he did not earn a degree, he was named to the honor roll in fall 2015 and spring 2016, college spokeswoman Karin Marriot said.

A transcript from December showed that the unidentified son of Louise and David Turpin, who have been accused of abusing their children, had a GPA of 3.932, ABC News reported.

'HOUSE OF HORRORS': FOOTAGE SHOWS KIDS LEAVING AS NEIGHBOR RECALLS FAMILY'S 'FILTHY' FORMER HOME

The son attended classes from 2014 until at least 2016, sometimes earning 15 credits per semester, the transcript showed. He earned As in many of his classes, including algebra, guitar, public speaking, English fundamentals and freshman composition.

Prosecutor said his mother would bring him to school and wait outside his classes for him.

One of the sons former classmates described him as really pale.

It was kind of odd  not something you see a lot of times, someone thats really pale. Really malnutritioned [sic] kind of looking, Josh Boldt told ABC News. He always had this kind of depressive aura about him, if that makes sense, and he really, really kept to himselfHe didnt really open up."

The son and his 12 siblings were rescued on Jan. 14 when their 17-year-old sister climbed out a window of their home about 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles and called 911. Authorities said they found the siblings  ranging in age from 2 to 29  in the familys filthy home in the city of Perris. Three of them were shackled to beds.

Joe Chermak, who attended a musical performance at Mt. San Jacinto College in the spring of 2016, said he remembered seeing the Turpin family in the audience.

They all seemed well-behaved. And also, like, they were all in uniforms, so at first I thought it was a group of kids coming from another school, he told ABC News. We didnt really think much of it, but all I know is that they kind of left abruptly in the middle of the show.

He said when he looked more closely at the family he realized they all seemed very skinny.

One of them you could tell from their arm, they were really skinny, Chermak added.

The siblings have since been hospitalized.

"One of them you could tell from their arm, they were really skinny."  Joe Chermak

According to prosecutors, the Turpins allegedly forced their children to shower only once a year, shackled them and beat them routinely. When they were found, they hadnt been to a doctor in over four years and had never been to a dentist.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin said the other children were supposedly homeschooled, but added that the children lacked even basic knowledge of life. Many of the children didnt know what a police officer was.

David Turpin, 57, and Louise Turpin, 49, have each been charged with 12 counts of torture, 12 counts of false imprisonment, seven counts of abuse of a dependent adult and six counts of child abuse. David Turpin was also charged with one count of a lewd act on a child under the age of 14 by force, fear or duress.

JUDGE ISSUES ORDER BARRING 'HOUSE OF HORRORS' PARENTS FROM CONTACT WITH 13 KIDS

On Wednesday, a judge prohibited the Turpins from contacting their children  directly or indirectly  for at least three years.

In a statement to ABC News, Mt. San Jacinto College called the allegations extremely disturbing.

We at Mt. San Jacinto College are deeply saddened and horrified to hear the allegations involving these children. Our hearts go out to the victims, the statement said. MSJC will follow this story and will provide appropriate support from our institution.

Anyone with information about the case can call the tip line at the Riverside District Attorneys Office at 888-934-KIDS.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.A New Mexico professor wrote a pledge in her syllabus promising to protect and accommodate illegal immigrant students who took her English Composition class.

The professors vow, written in the front of her syllabus, is especially unusual because educators, particularly those teaching a subject like English, are not typically expected to cooperate with immigration authorities in the course of their everyday duties.

As an educator, I fully support the rights of undocumented students to an education and to live free from the fear of deportation, Brenna Gomez, a professor at the University of Mexico, wrote under a section titled Clean Dream Act Now, Campus Reform reported. I pledge that I will not disclose the immigration status of any student who shares this information with me unless required by a warrant, and I will work with students who require immigration-related accommodations.

Gomez referred questions about the pledge to the university. When reached by Fox News, the university said it was making a concerted effort to be a welcoming school for illegal immigrants.

We would like to reaffirm the University of New Mexicos strongest support and continued solidarity for our undocumented students and their families, while the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections are under review and may possibly be terminated, a statement by UNM Media Relations Officer Daniel Jiron said.

The university suggested it did not ask Gomez to include the pledge, but fully supported her doing so.

The university does not have any mandatory language requirements for syllabi, Jiron said. We have a history of serving undocumented students, and, rest assured, we will continue to find ways to make higher education more accessible and inclusive.

He added that UNM is focused on supporting DACA as Congress and President Trump continue debating its future. Trumps immigration proposal could provide a path to citizenship for approximately 1.8 million Dreamers, who were illegally brought to the country as children, along with a $25 billion investment in border security  including Trumps long-promised "big, beautiful" wall.

In the meantime, the schools administration has promised to appeal any court rulings against DACA, as well as other actions.

NY GOV CUOMO WANTS DREAMERS TO ATTEND COLLEGE FOR FREE

We have instituted an Undocu-Task Force to determine long-term support and resources. We are also in contact with our congressional delegation regarding legislative responses, Jiron said.

One Native American student who is a Trump supporter at UNM said he opposes Gomezs pledge to illegal immigrants.

Universities teach how students should hold academic honesty, academic excellence, and academic integrity to the highest degree, Gregory Jim told Campus Reform. Shouldnt federal law be considered honesty and integrity?An ex-soldier and a self-proclaimed ISIS supporter was sentenced to life in prison without parole Thursday for the execution-style slaying of a Denver transit security guard last year.

Joshua Cummings, 38, was found guilty of first-degree murder Thursday in the death of Scott Von Lanken, 56, after a three-day trial. Cummings was issued the mandatory sentence shortly after the verdict was read.

On Jan. 31, 2017, the ex-soldier walked up behind Von Lanken while the guard was speaking to two women late at night, put a gun to his neck and shot him, police said.

OFFICER FATALY SHOT IN COLORADO IDENTIFIED; MANHUNT UNDERWAY FOR TWO SUSPECTS

One of the women told investigators that Cummings said something like, "Do what you are told," just before he opened fire and ran away, according to police. Cummings was found a short time later hiding on the terrace of an apartment building with a handgun.

Von Lanken was a former police officer who was working as a contract security guard for the Denver areas Regional Transportation District. He was also a pastor at Valley Assembly of God in Loveland, Colo., the Denver Post reported. He had been a pastor in Ohio for two years before returning to Loveland.

Cummings, who joined the Army in 1996 but never saw combat, told The Associated Press shortly after his arrest he supported ISIS, but investigators said they have not found any evidence that the terror group was linked to the killing.

Cummings also said he pledged his allegiance to ISIS and fasted behind bars for three days to purge himself of an oath he took to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

The Texas native declined to say if his support of ISIS led him to shoot Von Lanken. Officials believe the Muslim convert moved to Denver in 2016 from Pampa, Texas, the Denver Channel reported.

COLORADO FIREMEN RESCUE DEER FROM FROZEN LAKE: HE WAS TOO TIRED TO MOVE

Denvers Muslim community emailed the Department of Homeland Security on Dec. 24, 2016, expressing concerns over statements Cummings made at mosque events. The email stated Cummings was very radicalized and was fond of Shariah law.

The FBI has declined to comment on if agents took any action regarding the email about Cummings or if he was interviewed at that time.

Cummings had been vocal on Twitter about his views on Islam, and he was both critical and supportive of law enforcement.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.The opportunity to cash a customers winning lottery ticket and pocket the cash was just too tempting for one worker at a Florida Lottery outlet, officials said.

Crystelle Baton, 42, of Cape Coral, is accused of trying to steal a winning ticket worth $600 from an unsuspecting lottery player who turned out to be an undercover agent, according to WBBH-TV.

Authorities said Baton was snared Monday when the undercover from the Florida Lottery Commission showed up at Winn-Dixie Liquors in Fort Myers, where Baton worked as a cashier, to conduct an integrity sting.

Anyone that is working in a customer service job, you think that they are doing what is in your best interest. I would be very upset if someone took that from me, Winn-Dixie customer Nadina Puzic told the station.

Officials said the undercover posing as a customer entered the store and handed Baton his ticket to see if he had won anything.

After scanning it, Baton allegedly realized it was worth $600. But, instead of telling the undercover, she pulled $5 out of her purse and told the undercover that was all he had won, according to the station.

The undercover left and then returned a short time later to arrest Baton.

LOTTERY GLITCH GIVES WOMAN WINNING TICKET AFTER WINNING TICKET

Baton was booked on a larceny charge and released on $5,000 bail.

The station reported the winning ticket was found hidden in a notebook of hers in the store.

Winn-Dixie issued a statement saying it was taking the matter very seriously since the "trust and safety" of its customers was its highest priority.

The associate's employment has been terminated," the statement said.The hunt for a Florida man accused of beating his ex-girlfriends 3-year-old daughter with a belt and then putting her inside a heated oven ended after he turned himself in to police on Thursday.

Terry May, 45, turned himself in at the Volusia County Sheriffs Office on Thursday evening, a day after authorities launched a widespread search for him.

According to police, the toddler suffered several injuries, including burn marks on her ear and ankles as well as belt marks on her body.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told reporters May was watching the little girl at the time. When her mom saw her daughters injuries, she called deputies, officials said. The toddler reportedly told authorities May frequently hit her with a belt.

It just boggles my mind you would torment and beat and place a kid in the oven and yet you walk around on two feet, Chitwood said at a news conference Wednesday. Animals dont treat their kids the way this guy treated this little girl.

Chitwood told FOX35 Orlando: When you look at the pictures and read the affidavit and see what this human piece of garbage did to a 3-year-old little girl  he burned her, he beat her, beat her with a belt, then placed her in an oven.

May was being held on $50,000 bond on a child abuse charge.

Members of May's family disputed the claims against him, saying they believe another person abused the child.

[He] loved this little girl, his mother told FOX35. When she was a newborn baby he took care of her. He brought her clothes, Pampers, he gave her everything.

Fox News' Travis Fedschun contributed to this report.A former employee of an Ohio school district has pleaded guilty to stealing bus passes meant for low-income students.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that 63-year-old Mary Cockrell entered the plea Thursday to a felony count of theft in office. She paid $6,200 in restitution and was sentenced to time served.

Cockrell worked for the transportation department of Columbus City Schools in March 2017 when she took a bundle of 100 Central Ohio Transit Authority bus passes.

Columbus police and the Ohio auditor's office investigated after discovering that the monthly passes were being advertised online at a discount. They found that the passes were being sold by Jason Morris, who was dating Cockrell's daughter. Morris pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge of receiving stolen property.

___

Information from: The Columbus Dispatch, http://www.dispatch.comWelcome to Fox News First. Not signed up yet? Click here.

Developing now, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018

President Trump denies reports that he wanted to fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller last year

Two FBI officials were concerned about being too tough on Hillary Clinton during the bureau's investigation into her private email server, texts indicate

The White House proposes a path to citizenship to millions of "Dreamers" while investing $25 billion in border security, including Trump's border wall

Trump to address World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday

At the urging of the Congressional Black Caucus, a photographer withheld a photo of Barack Obama and Louis Farrakhan for more than a decade

THE LEAD STORY - TRUMP SLAMS REPORTS HE WANTED TO FIRE MUELLER AS 'FAKE NEWS': President Trump on Friday denied reports that he ordered the firing of Special Counsel Robert Mueller in June and only backed down after his White House counsel refused to carry out the instruction and threatened to resign ... Trump, who is in Davos for the World Economic Forum, was asked directly about The New York Times' story and said it was fake news, folks, fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories." The Times' report said that White House lawyer Don McGahn said he would not deliver the order to the Justice Department, according to The Times, which cites four people familiar with the request by the president.

FEARING HILLARYS WRATH? - Two lovebird FBI officials were concerned about being too tough on then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the bureaus investigation into her email practices because she might hold it against them as president, recovered text messages indicate ... Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released new messages between FBI agents Lisa Page and Peter Strzok, who were having an affair and exchanged more than 50,000 texts with each other during the election. One more thing: she might be our next president, Page texted Strzok on Feb. 25, 2016, in reference to Clinton. The last thing you need [is] going in there loaded for bear, she continued. You think shes going to remember or care that it was more [DOJ] than [FBI]? Strzok replied that he agreed and he had relayed their discussion to someone named Bill.

In addition to the Clinton case, Strzok assigned to the Special Counsel Mullers probe into Russia and the Trump campaign. Page also briefly worked on the special counsel investigation.

DOJ recovers missing text messages between anti-Trump FBI agents Strzok and Page

TRUMPS IMMIGRATION PITCH: The White House Thursday released an immigration plan that would offer a path to citizenship for approximately 1.8 million of the so-called "Dreamers," along with a $25 billion investment in border security -- including for President Trump's long-promised wall ... The White House was expected to provide more details of the president's proposal early next week. But the proposal represents a reversal for Trump and could provoke resistance among his conservative allies.

TOUGH CROWD AT DAVOS?: President Trump's recent decision to enact new tariffs, boosting American manufacturers, and lingering anger over his alleged "s---hole" comments controversy have sparked buzz that some Davos attendees may walk out on his speech, scheduled for Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland ...

PICTURE THEM TOGETHER: A photo released this week shows former President Barack Obama with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan during Obama's years as an Illinois state senator -- The photographer revealed Thursday that the Congressional Black Caucus had pressured him for more than a decade to keep it hidden ... Askia Muhammad told the Trice Edney News Wire last week that he believed that the image "absolutely would have made a difference" in the 2008 presidential campaign had it been made public.

AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS

'THE FIX WAS IN': "It's clear that they did not want her charged, they wanted her to be the president of the United States, they really, really didn't want Donald Trump to be the president of the United States, and they concede throughout these texts that they did things in this investigation differently from any other investigation that they were part of."  Rep. Trey Gowdy, on "Tucker Carlson Tonight," saying the newly recovered text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page show "manifest bias" for Hillary Clinton and against President Trump. WATCH

A BIG BROTHER PROBLEM?: "But when the people of America see the four pages and then the additional documents, what they're going to see is we have a problem in the FISA courts. We have to fix the institution that allows your Fourth Amendment, your privacy right, to be circumvented using these technique."  Rep. Darrell Issa, on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," making the case for all Americans to see the "damning" memo details alleged FISA surveillance abuses. WATCH

ACROSS THE NATION

Symptoms of deadly flu strain spreading across US tend to 'escalate rapidly,' doctor says.

U.S. Olympic Committee demands USA Gymnastics board members resign in wake of Nassar scandal.

Harvard's Hasty Pudding theater troupe to allow women to join for first time in 223 years.

MAINSTREAM MEDIA MADNESS

Inside Matt Lauer's whirlwind final days at NBC.

CNN mocked after declaring cuckolding can be a positive for certain couples.

Debacle at CNN as $20 million digital star Casey Neistat abruptly leaves company.

MINDING YOUR BUSINESS

Consumers, businesses seen buoying U.S. economic growth in fourth-quarter.

Wage growth, tax-bonuses spark shopping in retail stocks.

Stocks, taxes and profits: What you need to know in 2018.

NEW IN FOX NEWS OPINION

Larry Nassar is a monster -- Why aren't the powerful organizations that enabled him being held accountable?

Palestinian leaders hurt their own people by giving Pence the cold shoulder and supporting anti-Israel boycott.

Todd Starnes: Court refuses to hear case of coach fired for taking knee to pray.

HOLLYWOOD SQUARED

Grammy Awards 2018: Everything you need to know.

Anne Heche says Harvey Weinstein exposed himself, then fired her.

Taylor Swift sued by real estate company over $1M commission.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS?

Doomsday Clock reaches 2 minutes to midnight - closest point to nuclear annihilation since Cold War.

Eating some sandwiches causes global warming, scientists say.

Jawbone discovered in Israel is the earliest modern human fossil outside of Africa.

STAY TUNED

On Fox News:

Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: The National Border Patrol Council VP reacts to the White Houses immigration proposal; Rep. Jim Jordan discusses latest developments on the FISA memo controversy and Mueller investigation; and reaction to New York Gov. Cuomos proposal to give free tuition to Dreamers.

The Story with Martha MacCallum, 7 p.m. ET: Inside the U.S. gymnastics scandal and the fight to clean up the sport. Dominique Moceanu speaks out.

Hannity, 9 p.m. ET: Get the full breakdown of Trumps Davos speech, plus powerful reaction from Lou Dobbs.

On Fox Business:

Stay with Fox Business all day for on-location, team coverage of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland!

Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Live from the World Economic Summit  guests include: John Negroponte, former U.S. ambassador to the U.N.; Stephen Schwarzman, Blackstone Chairman, CEO and co-founder; Tom Hayes, Tyson Foods CEO; Ginni Rometty, IBM CEO; Queen Rania Al Abdullah and Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP CEO.

Varney & Company, 9 a.m. ET: Travis Allen, California gubernatorial candidate.

Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Former N.J. Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.

On Fox News Radio:

The Fox News Rundown podcast: President Trump is the first sitting president to attend the World Economic Forum in 18 years. Foreign correspondent Simon Owen and White House correspondent Jon Decker discuss the presidents America First message and how it is being received by the international community. The Doomsday Clock hasnt been this close to midnight since the Cold War. We will hear from Laurence Krauss, who is part of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists who decide where to reset the clock each year. Plus, commentary from Fox News Sunday host Chris Wallace.

Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher.

The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: Geraldo Rivera on the White Houses latest immigration proposal and the revelation that President Trump wanted to fire Mueller; Larry Sabato on Trump at the World Economic Forum; Marie Harf on John Kerrys comments that sparked rumors of a possible presidential run in 2020.

#OnThisDay

2017: Tensions flare between President Trump and Mexico, with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto scrapping a planned visit to Washington and the White House threatening a 20 percent tax on imports to pay for Trump's proposed wall along the southern border.

1998: President Bill Clinton forcefully denies having an affair with a former White House intern, telling reporters, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

1988: "Phantom of the Opera" opens in New York City at Broadway's Majestic Theater.

Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your Friday and weekend! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Monday morning.The Michigan judge who sentenced disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar to as many as 175 years in prison on Tuesday has come under scrutiny for her sentencing remarks, which critics contend may have crossed a line.

Ingham County Circuit Court Judge Rosemarie Aquilina concluded Nassars sentencing in dramatic fashion. After reading excerpts from a letter he had recently written to her, she threw the paper aside as if it were a piece of trash. The gesture was immediately made into a popular .gif and shared on social media sites.

Aquilina then sentenced Nassar to 40 to 175 years in prison for sexually assaulting young female athletes.

I just signed your death warrant, Aquilina now famously declared.

The reaction by the judge was met by cheers and jeers. Four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles, one of the many who came forward accusing Nassar of sexual abuse, called Aquilina her hero.

Six-time Olympic medalist Aly Raisman, who also accused Nassar, wrote a statement thanking Aquilina for her professionalism, compassion and commitment to allow each of the victims to tell their side of their story.

Others didn't feel the same way. Kevin Daley, a reporter with the Daily Caller, called the judge disgraceful in a column.

LARRY NASSAR SENTENCED TO 40 TO 175 YEARS IN GYMNASTICS MOLESTATION CASE

The judge told Nassar he could not be rehabilitated, took enormous satisfaction in, as she put it, signing his death warrant, and openly mused about subjecting him to gang rape, Daley wrote.

During the sentencing, Aquilina told Nassar: If [the U.S. Constitution] did, I have to say, I might allow what [Nassar] did to all of these beautiful souls  these young women in their childhood  I would allow some or many people to do to him what he did to others.

Graeme Wood, a reporter with The Atlantic, felt Aquilinas beautiful souls remark crossed a line, too.

The dignity of the proceedings was diminished by a few words, though, that the judge offered by way of regret," Wood wrote. "... Subjecting Nassar to a lifetime of rape is not my idea of justice, and fantasizing about it is not my idea of judicial temperament."

LARRY NASSAR ACCUSER TELLS DISGRACED DOCTOR IN COURT: I F---ING HATE YOU

Like Daley, others felt Aquilina was suggesting Nassar be sexually assaulted as payback for the years of abuse he inflicted on others.

Andrew Cohen of the New Republic said Aquilinas relentless hostility and anger toward Nassar made her seem biased.

She did this by treating Nassar as if he were something far less than an American entitled to all of the constitutional protections of a fair tribunal, Cohen wrote.

Rachel Marshall, a reporter with Vox, echoed Cohens thoughts that judges should be neutral, independent arbiters, who impartially evaluate the evidence and apply the law.

Thats the only way we can trust in a system that has such awesome power to take away peoples liberty, Marshall wrote.The uncle of the 13 children allegedly held captive and abused by their parents in southern California reportedly wants to adopt the kids -- but he won't be doing so before authorities question his own past and how much he may have known about the so-called "House of Horrors" the kids were shackled inside of.

Dr. Randy Turpin, the brother of accused abuser David Turpin, told authorities he wanted to explore the possibility of taking care of the children, CBS News reported. The 13 kids range in age from 2 to 29, and it wasn't immediately clear how many children Turpin would be able to adopt. It also remained unclear what would happen to the children who were at least 18 years old and who authorities say were "freed" after being found shackled to a bed.

However, before anything can move forward, investigators reportedly want to sit down with Randy Turpin to discuss, among other things, a book he wrote about the spiritual benefits of fasting.

Turpin is the president of Valor Christian College in Ohio and is a megachurch preacher whose 2016 book 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting promises to help bring a person to a place of personal freedom.

He recently took a leave of absence from his post at VCC to deal with revelations about estranged family members, he said in a statement viewed by the New York Post.

The college is connected to the World Harvest Church, which was founded by televangelist Rod Pasley, and which was forced to pay a family $2.9 million after a daycare worker hit a 2-year-old with a ruler, leaving welts and bruises, the Columbus Dispatch reported.

It is unclear if Randy Turpin has had any conversations with investigators since his brother's arrest.

Another relative, mother Louise Turpins sister, Teresa Robinette, told InsideEdition the children should be cared for by her side of the family.

If these children go into foster care, thats the worst case scenario, she said. We would like to get family members of ours together to make sure that each one of these kids is placed with a blood family member. That way even if they are scattered they will still be with our family and they would still have a connection for life.

David and Louise Turpin are accused of abusing their children before the 13 kids were rescued Jan. 14 from their home in Perris, Calif. They have pleaded not guilty to torture and other charges.

According to authorities, the children were so malnourished their growth was stunted.

Deputies arrested the husband and wife after their 17-year-old daughter climbed out a window and called 911, officials said. Authorities said they found the siblings in the family's filthy home, with three of them shackled to beds when deputies knocked on the door.

Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin told the Associated Press on Wednesday the children are slowly providing valuable information to investigators.

Victims in these kinds of cases, they tell their story, but they tell it slowly. They tell it at their own pace, he said. It will come out when it comes out.

On Wednesday a judge signed a protective order prohibiting the couple from contacting their children, except through attorneys or investigators, for at least three years.

The Associated Press contributed to this report."The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer

Generation A 13  your chance to be the change

President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev

"uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only

For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road

Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion

Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan

UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN

Joint statement

Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group

Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia

Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan

The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining

The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia

International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries

With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom

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Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections

Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT

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Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say

International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference

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The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy

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PACE rapporteur welcomes Azerbaijans release of Armenian captives and Armenias handing over of mine-maps to Azerbaijan

Armenia/Azerbaijan: Statement by High Representative Josep Borrell on the latest developmentsTwo men who were nearby when a Colorado sheriff's deputy was shot and killed were interviewed and released, authorities said Friday as a suspect in the slaying prepared to make his first court appearance.

A statement issued on Twitter by the Adams County Sheriff's Office said no other suspects were being sought in the killing of 31-year-old Deputy Heath Gumm.

Court records show 22-year-old Dreion Martise Dearing was being held on suspicion of homicide of a peace officer and second-degree burglary.

It was not immediately clear if he had an attorney.

No further details were released about the questioning of the two men who were nearby during the attack. Authorities have previously said they were not suspects in the deputy's death but were wanted for questioning.

Gumm and other deputies were responding to a disturbance in a residential area about 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of downtown Denver on Wednesday night when the shooting took place.

Deputies were called to an "assault in progress" and saw a man run behind a house. When they caught up with the man, he pulled out a handgun and opened fire, striking Gumm in the chest, before fleeing, the sheriff's office said.

Adams County Sheriff Michael McIntosh said Gumm was wearing a bulletproof vest but declined to specify where the bullet hit him. An autopsy was conducted Thursday.

McIntosh said police believe three people, including the suspect, were involved in the initial altercation that brought deputies to the area.

Police combed the area for evidence Thursday, prompting some schools to shut down for the day. All the campuses were expected to be open Friday.

Gumm's death came less than a month after 29-year-old Douglas County sheriff's Deputy Zackari Parrish was fatally shot and four other officers were wounded in suburban Denver by a man with a history of mental health problems.

McIntosh said in 30 years with the sheriff's department, he had experienced only one other officer dying "in the line of duty."

Gumm was married and had worked for the sheriff's office since 2012.An inmate who escaped from a federal prison in southeast Texas was arrested Wednesday while allegedly trying to sneak back in with snacks, alcohol, tobacco and cooked food, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Jefferson County Sheriffs Office said in a statement they had been tipped off that inmates had been sneaking out of the prison complex and reentering with contraband.

Joshua Randall Hansen, 25, was spotted by sheriffs deputies and U.S. marshals running out the back of a federal prison in Beaumont on Wednesday evening, the statement said. Hansen picked up a large duffel bag that a vehicle had dropped off at a private property adjacent to the prison, authorities said. The deputies said they arrested Hansen as he was trying to reenter the prison.

The duffel bag contained three bottles of Martell brandy, a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey, multiple bags of Buglar tobacco, salty snacks, fruit, and home cooked foods like BBQ sausage and fried chicken, FOX 40 reported.

Hansen is serving a 27-month sentence for drug-related charges. He now faces additional charges of escape and marijuana possession.

According to Deputy Marcus McLellan, inmates walking off the prison grounds only to return with contraband is not a new phenomenon. He told the Beaumont Enterprise that similar incidents have been occurring, pretty much since Day 1.

The Sheriffs Office said an investigation is ongoing.Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has cancelled a trip to Africa after a judge ordered federal police to seize his passport hours before the trip.

Da Silva spokesman Jose Chrispiniano told The Associated Press on Thursday that his boss "is not going to travel anymore" because of the order.

The former president had planned to speak in the African nation of Ethiopia at a forum on hunger organized by the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization.

The passport order was issued in relation to a criminal case against da Silva alleging influence peddling after he was president in 2003-2010. It did not involve Wednesday's decision by an appeals court to uphold his conviction in a corruption and money laundering case. He faces several corruption charges.Authorities say several Spanish tourists were sexually assaulted and robbed while vacationing in southern Senegal's restive Casamance region.

State media reported Friday that the assailants raped women in the group, citing a police official. The armed men also made off with thousands of euros in cash.

The Spanish Foreign Ministry says its consulate in Dakar is in contact with the four Spaniards.

Charles Dia Thiam, the commander of the gendarmerie in Ziguinchor, said the attack was under investigation and declined to elaborate on the case.

Casamance was once a top tourist destination in peaceful Senegal, though sporadic violence by separatist rebels has dramatically hurt business over the past two decades.

Earlier this year, a group of 14 people were gunned down while searching for firewood in the region.The legacy of anti-Semitism still haunts Germany.

The evidence, as Germany marks International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday, is unavoidable. There are swastikas on buildings, desecrated Jewish cemeteries, anti-Semitic comments flooding social media, Israeli flags burned at demonstrations and physical assaults on Jews.

It seems like Germany has been hit by a new wave of hatred for everything Jewish, Marcel Furstenau, a commentator for Deutsche Welle, Germanys international public broadcaster, told Fox News.

According to the latest figures available from the Ministry of the Interior, there were 1,468 anti-Semitic offenses reported in 2016.

Jewish leaders like Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish Community of Munich and Northern Bavaria, express frustration with the situation. Knobloch laments the fact that, more than 70 years after the Holocaust, Jewish public life is not possible without police protection.

Hatred emanating from the more than 4 million Muslims living in Germany exacerbates traditional forms of anti-Semitism.

Muslims blindly accept anti-Semitism and transport it unfiltered as it is practiced in their former homelands, said Knobloch, who praises Germany as a freedom-loving country committed to democratic values.

German Jews are concerned about the 1.5 million Muslim refugees who entered Germany in 2015-16 because many come from countries where hatred of Jews is doctrine.

A recent American Jewish Committee study finds anti-Semitism on the rise in Berlin schools. That finding corresponds with an increase in militant Islamic views held by persons with Arab and Turkish backgrounds.

An incident in Berlins Freidenau neighborhood provides an example of anti-Semitism in the schools. A Jewish teenager was strangled until he lost consciousness when he told his classmates he was Jewish.

Wenzel Michalski, German director of Human Rights Watch and the teenagers father, said one classmate claimed he couldnt have any friend who is a Jew. You are all murderers, he told Michalskis son. Other classmates launched similar attacks.

Last year, the teenager endured four months of verbal abuse, beatings and a mock execution with a toy gun that looked real. His parents eventually transferred him to another school because authorities did not take adequate measures to remedy the situation.

I felt such pain that we were not able to protect our son during this ordeal, said his mother, Gemma.

Taboos about public expressions of anti-Semitism are vanishing, and revisionist views of the Holocaust are emerging. The far-right political party, Alternative for Germany (AFD), which won stunning victories in the 2017 national elections and is now the third-largest party in the Bundestag, has a nativist agenda that makes minorities anxious about a return of Nazi-era German nationalism. The AFD extols German World War II heroism and rejects any sense of shame for the Holocaust.

Another factor contributing to anti-Semitism, according to Deidre Berger, director of the American Jewish Committees Berlin office, is the fact that many Germans, as well as Muslims, are anti-Israel and blame Jews for Israels actions.

There is little separation, in the minds of many, between Jews and Israel, she said.

The German government is attempting to address this growing anti-Semitism.

A recently enacted law, authored by Christian Democratic Party member Dr. Stephan Harbarth, provides for the deportation of anti-Semitic refugees.

Anyone who lives in Germany needs to understand that anti-Semitism has no place in our society, said Harbarth. And Israels right to exist is an integral part of our countrys doctrine.

Just one act of anti-Semitism is one too many in Germany, said German government spokesperson Steffen Seibert.

Germany has many memorials to Holocaust victims and will observe International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Saturday, marking 73 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz extermination camp.

The Germans are very good in hiding their anti-Semitism from themselves, said Michalski. They are world champions in building memorials, but the danger is that they are burying their anti-Semitism under those monuments until they think that it doesnt exist anymore.A Canadian billionaire and his wife who were found dead in their home were murdered, police said Friday, ending several weeks of speculation about the wealthy couple.

Det. Sgt. Susan Gomes said the deaths of Barry and Honey Sherman were a double homicide.

"We have sufficient evidence to describe this as a double homicide investigation and that both Honey and Barry Sherman were in fact targeted," Gomes said.

"We have sufficient evidence to describe this as a double homicide investigation and that both Honey and Barry Sherman were in fact targeted."  Det. Sgt. Susan Gomes

Gomes declined to discuss possible suspects.

The 75-year-old founder of the generic drug maker Apotex and his philanthropic wife, who was 70, were found dead in their mansion north of Toronto on Dec. 15.

At the time police said the deaths were suspicious, but there were no signs of forced entry and officials said they were not looking for suspects.

In the days that followed, prominent media outlets quoted unidentified police officials who speculated the death appeared to be a murder-suicide. The theory was never confirmed publicly by authorities.

Gomes said the two were found hanging by belts from a railing that surrounds their indoor pool. She said they were in a semi-seated position on the pool deck.

Earlier this week, the Toronto Star reported new evidence from a private family investigation that included a second autopsy conflicted with the murder-suicide theory.

According to the newspaper, both Shermans died by ligature neck compressions. The new autopsy reportedly determined that mens leather belts were used to strangle the couple.

The couple were found seated at the side of the pool at their house. They were facing away from the pool, according to the Toronto Star. The remaining end of each belt tied around their necks was then looped around a low railing that surrounds the pool, in order to hold the couple in place, according to the paper.

In a statement, the family said they anticipated the police department's announcement.

This conclusion was expressed by the family from the outset and is consistent with the findings of the independent autopsy and investigation," the statement said. The family continues to support the Toronto Police Service in their efforts to seek justice for their parents and pursue those responsible for these unspeakable crimes.

Police have released the home back to the family.

"For them it's been difficult to balance their patience with their frustration with us and our investigation  not unlike any other family who have suffered such a sudden and profound loss," Gomes said. "They have been understanding, cooperative and hopeful that this investigation can give them some answers."

Canadian Business magazine recently estimated Barry Sherman's worth at 4.77 billion Canadian dollars ($3.65 billion), making him the 15th richest person in the country.

Also on Friday, Apotex Inc.'s CEO and president Jeremy Desai resigned from the company, effective immediately, Fox Business reported.

A spokesman for the company declined to provide details on Desai's departure other than to note he left "to pursue other opportunities" and that the company thanks him for his contributions.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Kim Jong Un's trigger-happy antics have nearly depleted a critical slush fund the North Korean despot uses to run his isolated country -- and the Hermit Kingdom's participation in the upcoming Winter Olympics is merely a scheme to refill his coffers, according to a report.

Two Chinese sources with ties to top North Korean government officials told Radio Free Asia that Kim has nearly exhausted his slush fund due to missile and nuclear weapon and tests, as well as vanity projects, such as the much-publicized Masikryong Ski Resort.

Due to Kim Jong Uns extravagant spending, the slush fund from his father, Kim Jong Il, is running out, one of the sources told the news agency. It wont be easy to control North Koreas high-level executives, who are [cunning] like raccoons.

The source said he is well-acquainted with Office No. 39, a shadowy organization under the ruling North Korean Workers Party that generates up to a billion dollars annually for Kim and his cronies through illicit activities, including counterfeiting and drug production.

Around 100,000 North Koreans working abroad also send back around $500 million in earnings annually, Radio Free Asia reported, citing a U.N. estimate.

I heard them worrying about insufficient funds in Office No. 39 a number of times, the source added, noting that four of the six nuclear tests carried out by North Korea have been done under Kims watch. The dictator, infamously dubbed rocket man by President Trump, has also overseen 20 missile tests, Radio Free Asia reported.

We can speculate that he spent a lot of money from the number of missile [and nuclear weapons] tests he carried out, the source said. Most of the funding for nuclear weapon and missile development is coming from Kim Jong Uns slush fund.

The other source told Radio Free Asia that North Koreas participation in the Winter Olympics, scheduled to be held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is a way to solicit charity while appearing to mend relations.

North Koreas warm gestures toward South Korea have underlying intentions: to use the Pyongchang Winter Olympics that will be held there from Feb. 9 as a breakthrough for their financial difficulties, the source said.

But the source warned that it wont be easy for the South to help the Kim Jong Un regime [these days] because of international sanctions.

The sanctions, combined with a poor harvest, have left the countrys military scrambling for food rations, as soldiers are being given months off at a time to scrounge around fields to find things to eat, according to a December report.

North Korean officials also have been reported to be ransacking the homes of drought-stricken farmers to collect every last grain of food inside.next Image 1 of 2

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The Latest on President Donald Trump's attendance at the World Economic Forum (all times local):

11:10 a.m.

President Donald Trump says Rwandan President Paul Kagame (keh-GAH'-may) is a "friend" in the aftermath of Trump's controversial comments about African countries.

The leaders met Friday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Kagame is beginning a one-year term as head of the African Union, a 55-member continental body.

Trump recently drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations as "shithole countries" in discussing immigration, according to those at the meeting. The president has denied using that language, but others present say he did.

Kagame says he and Trump had "good discussions" on economic and trade issues. He says the African Union is "looking forward to working with the United States."

___

10:55 a.m.

President Donald Trump is bragging about the "tremendous crowd" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

He says the gathering has a "crowd like they've never had before." Trump is attending the forum for the first time.

The president spoke to reporters briefly as he arrived at the annual gathering of financial and political leaders.

Trump addresses the summit later Friday. He predicted his message will be "very well received" and that he will note that the U.S. is "doing fantastically well  better than we've done in decades."

The president is also expected to tout recent tax cuts and efforts to slash regulations.

___

10:30 a.m.

President Donald Trump says a New York Times report that he ordered the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller is "fake news."

The president was asked about the report on Friday as he arrived at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump replied: "Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories."

The Times reported that Trump ordered the firing of Mueller last June but backed off after White House lawyer Don McGahn threatened to quit.

The newspaper says Trump demanded Mueller's firing just weeks after Mueller was first appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

___

10 a.m.

The White House says President Donald Trump is looking forward to declaring at the World Economic Forum that America open for business.

Trump addresses the summit on Friday and administration officials who previewed the speech for journalists said the president is expected to tout recent tax cuts and efforts to reduce regulations. Trump will argue that it's a good time for businesses to invest in the United States.

Trump is a critic of multinational trade deals. But he'll stress his commitment to free markets under what he sees as fair terms. He'll also call for international cooperation to take on issues like the threat posed by the Islamic State group and North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

Officials say the speech will project a vision of free nations cooperating on shared goals.Liberal billionaire George Soros told global leaders and economists at Davos Thursday night that President Trump is a "danger to the world," who has helped bring the planet to the brink of nuclear war.

Soros, the 87-year-old Hungarian-born financier, spoke at the World Economic Forum, harshly criticizing Trump, who was not present. He said the threat of nuclear war has grown as the U.S. and North Korea continue to antagonize each other.

"The situation has deteriorated," said Soros. "Not only the survival of open society, but the survival of our entire civilization is at stake."

" ... the survival of our entire civilization is at stake."  George Soros

"Both [Kim Jong-Un and Donald Trump] seem willing to risk a nuclear war in order to keep themselves in power.

"The United States is set on a course toward nuclear war by refusing to accept that North Korea has become a nuclear power," he continued.

Soros, whose dire predictions a year ago that President Trump would crash the U.S. economy have proven wildly wrong, also forecast a Democratic landslide in the 2018 midterm elections would push back the danger of the Trump administration. He said his Open Society Foundation is funding more institutions in the U.S. rather than the third world to ensure a Democratic victory in November.

Soros also referred to social media giants like Facebook and Google as a menace to society. Soros likened the businesses to gambling companies that deliberately engineer addiction to the services they provide.

"The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access," he said.

During last years conference in Davos, Soros predicted negative prospects for the stock market under Trump. Since then, the S&Ps 500 Index rallied almost 30 percent, according to Bloomberg.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.Eyewitness accounts of the fire that engulfed a South Korean hospital and nursing home early Fridaywhich killed at least 37 people and injured more than 100 othersrevealed the chaos of rescue efforts as firefighters fought against the spreading smoke and flames.

The fire started on the first floor of Sejong Hospitals emergency room and by the time firefighters arrived the whole first floor had been engulfed, forcing them to rescue the trapped patients through the second-story windows, said Choi Man-wu, a fire official in the city of Miryang.

Videos posted on social media showed patients going through extreme lengths to escape the blaze, with one patient gripping a rope that dangled from a helicopter, and another crawling out of a window and down a ladder, the Bangkok Post reported.

Local TV networks showed video of heavy black smoke rising out of the hospital and engulfing its entire structure.

There was so much smoke that it was hard for people to approach (the building), a bystander told a local TV station. Even from 10 meters away, it was frightening.

The Korea Herald reported reactions to the incident from social media.

The 37 dead were from the hospitals general ward, while the 94 elderly patients being cared for in the nursing ward were safely evacuated, with some being carried out on the backs of firefighters, Choi said.

Most of the deaths appeared to be due to suffocation, with only one suffering burns, said an official at the National Fire Agency. Officials were working on identifying the dead, he said.

A hospital official said three medical staff members died: an on-duty emergency room doctor, a nurse and a nurse assistant.

The fire was extinguished before it could reach the third floor. The cause of the fire wasnt immediately known.

In a televised briefing Friday afternoon, the head of the foundation that operates the hospital, Son Kyung-cheol said the hospital did not have sprinklers installed as it was not legally required.

President Moon Jae-in called an emergency meeting with his senior advisers and expressed regret over the blaze. He ordered officials to investigate the exact cause of the fire and work out measures to prevent future fires, according to his spokesman Park Su-hyun.

The incident at Sejong Hospital was the most recent in a string of deadly fires, calling into question the countrys safety measures.

In late December, 29 people were killed in a building fire in central Seoul, which was the country's deadliest blaze over the past decade before the hospital fire. Last weekend, a fire at a Seoul motel killed six people, and police arrested a man who allegedly set it ablaze in anger because he had been denied a room for being heavily drunk.

In 2014, a fire set by an 81-year-old dementia patient killed 21 at another hospital for the elderly.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Modern boys of the orchestra (video)

"One for all, and all for one. This is a rule in the army. And if you do not feel the support it gets hard. The orchestra is the one that inspires soldiers. Songs are higher than words, and songs give courage to soldiers," said Ashot, drummer of the Armed Forces General Staff. He will finish serving soon and continue his studies. He is going to become a director, and drumming will remain as a hobby. "Have you seen "Boys of the Orchestra?" We are the modern boys of the orchestra," joked the soldiers. Their favorite song is the "Armenian Army," which they listen to every day. Yet they wanted to congratulate the soldiers who protect our borders with the song "Erebuni-Yerevan." January 28 is Armenia's Army day.next Image 1 of 2

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President Donald Trump sought to mend relations Friday with a key African leader in the aftermath of his controversial comments about African nations.

He praised the U.S. partnership with Rwanda during a meeting with its president at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Trump's meeting with Rwandan President Paul Kagame came after Trump drew widespread condemnation for allegedly referring to African nations as "shithole countries" in dismissing a bipartisan immigration proposal, according to those at the meeting.

Trump has denied using that language. Others present insist he did.

Trump described "tremendous discussions" with Kagame, who is beginning a one-year term as head of the African Union. The 55-member continental body criticized the U.S. president's remarks.

Neither Trump nor Kagame mentioned the row during brief comments to reporters.Press statement - For Immediate Release

26th January, 2018

Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon Joseph Malanji says Zambia has been implementing an open door asylum policy which has enabled thousands of asylum seekers and refugees to seek sanctuary in the country.

Speaking when he made an intervention on the Report of the Political and Humanitarian situation in Africa, during the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Executive Council in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia today , Mr Malanji added that the number of asylum seekers and refugees entering Zambia has continued to increase.

He said as of 23rd January 2018, Zambia was host to sixty three thousand eight hundred and nine (63,809) refugees and persons mostly from the Great lakes region.

Mr Malanji also said many former refugees have opted to remain in Zambia under the local integration programme.

About fifteen thousand former refugees are expected to benefit from local integration which has been offered by the government. This is in conformity with Zambias pledge in 2011 to find a durable solution to protracted refugee situations in the spirit of burden sharing, Mr. Malanji said.

He said the Government of the Republic of Zambia had recently opened up another refugee settlement in the Northern part of Zambia in order to accommodate the growing number of refugees.

The total number of refugees at the new camp was fourteen thousand and fifty three (14,053)as of 23rd January ,2018.

He said the Zambian government has been mobilizing resources to support resettlement areas and surrounding communities.

Mr Malanji said the support was targeted mainly at infrastructure development such as roads, schools and health facilities in areas surrounding refugee camps.

He added that Zambia recognizes the security concerns and the economic strain that hosting a number of refugees entails.

Even though the numbers hosted by Zambia from 1966 to date are small compared to other countries due to the conflict in some parts of Africa, the country stands ready to share its experiences and best practices with other countries, Mr Malanji said .

The Minister emphasized the need for the international community to address the peace and security situation on the continent which he said has not been spared by human traffickers and smugglers.

He also called on the African Union to support countries that support large refugees populations at the expense of providing services to its citizens.

He further urged countries of origin for the migrants to apply their best efforts to bring the situation to normality.

Speaking earlier when she presented her report on the Humanitarian Situation in Africa, Commissioner of Political Affairs Dr Aisha Laraba Abdullah said there were initiatives that the African Union had put in place to tackle the problem of refugees on the continent.

She said it was unfortunate that the 70 percent of refugees were fleeing their countries as a result of war.

On the Army worms, the Commissioner disclosed that over 25 countries are experiencing the problem of army worms.

She said the problem of army worms on the continent if not well addressed has the capacity to undermine the continents food security.

Issued by

Mrs Inutu Mwanza

First Secretary-Press & Tourism

Zambia Embassy, Addis Ababa

Ethiopia.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.The British public can look forward to having cheaper food after Brexit, a former Defra secretary and cabinet minister has stated.

Conservative MP and Brexiteer Owen Paterson also says global Britain must leave the encumbrance of the EU to strike tremendous trade deals around the world.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live on Friday (26 January) Mr Paterson blasted chancellor Phillip Hammond and the UK Treasury for failing to articulate the tremendous opportunities for this country once we leave the customs union and the single market.

See also: Analysis  farmers predict income squeeze after Brexit

If you take costs, our most disadvantaged citizens are going to get cheaper food and clothing because we pay high tariffs behind the tariff wall of the common external tariff.

That advantages every single family in the country.

Economists estimate that food prices will fall, saving the average household over 300/year. This will benefit every single citizen and potentially provide an 8bn boost to the economy. We then have to think how this affects our own food producers Owen Paterson, MP

Mr Paterson has said previously that escaping the customs union and common external tariff will lead to cheaper food for everyone.

Economists estimate that food prices will fall, saving the average household over 300/year. This will benefit every single citizen and potentially provide an 8bn boost to the economy. We then have to think how this affects our own food producers.

Threat to UK standards

But British farmers fear striking free trade deals with countries such as the USA and Australia will result in a flood of imports of food produced to lower standards, which would pose a serious threat to the UKs high farming and welfare standards.

Current Defra secretary Michael Gove has insisted the UK would not accept any trade deal that required the country to accept lower standards, such as allowing imports of chlorinated chicken from the USA.

Prime minister Theresa May has promised to take the UK out of the single market and the customs union as part of the Brexit deal. This will also the country to take control of its own borders and immigration.

Mr Paterson said Brexit would be not worth the candle if the UK remained in the single market, customs union and European Court of Justice after leaving the EU.

He stressed the importance of working very closely with our European partners, but said leaving would allow the UK to regain its independent seat on the World Trade Organization (WTO) and take advantage of growth in the US, Asia and other parts of the world.

Mr Patersons views received a mixed reaction on Twitter.

Leaving the customs union will bring the cost of clothing, footwear and food down, benefiting every family in the UK  @OwenPaterson on @BBCr4today. Listen to Owen in full here: https://t.co/Gr0SIn9Yu5 pic.twitter.com/TvNoDAAf0v  Leave Means Leave (@LeaveMnsLeave) January 26, 2018

Remember what Owen Paterson said before the referendum: https://t.co/w2UDD5CJeR  Property Spotter (@PropertySpot) January 26, 2018

The @BBCNews now beyond satire. Carney says Brexit has cost us tens of billions already. @Jeremy_Hunt says Carney was 'optimistic.' Unchallenged. Ditto @OwenPaterson . Disgraceful #Brexitpropagandamachine  Alastair Campbell (@campbellclaret) January 26, 2018

Farmers, tell us your opinions on Mr Patersons latest Brexit pronouncements. Email philip.case@reedbusiness.comNews

Isle council votes to abandon beach rights of way

jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Alice Anne ODonnell, left, and Randy Williams, Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee for Sonya Porrettos estate, listen to Planning Commissioner Eugene Cook voice his opposition to the abandonment of rights of way on the beach Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, during public comment on the issue at a Galveston City Council Meeting. The city council voted voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way on the beach between Sixth Street and 10th Street. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/ The Daily News Galveston City Council members Mike Doherty, from left, Terrilyn Tarlton- Shannon and Carolyn Sunseri listen to a Galveston resident speak against the abandonment of rights of way on the beach Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, during public comment on the issue at a Galveston City Council meeting. The city council voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way on the beach between Sixth Street and 10th Street. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Tim Tietjens, director of development services for Galveston, explains the application to abandon of rights of way on the beach between Sixth and 10th streets to the city council Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, before their vote on the issue. The city council voted voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Galveston Mayor Jim Yarbrough explains his reasons for voting to abandon of rights of way on the beach between Sixth and 10th Streets during a city council meeting Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The city council voted voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Galveston City Councilman Frank Maceo voices his support to abandon of rights of way on the beach between Sixth and 10th Streets during a city council meeting Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018. The city council voted voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Randy Williams, chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee for Sonya Porrettos estate, listens a Galveston resident speak against the abandonment of rights of way on the beach Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018, during public comment on the issue at a Galveston City Council Meeting. The city council voted voted 5-2 to abandon the of rights of way on the beach between Sixth Street and 10th Street.

GALVESTON

The Galveston City Council closed the door Thursday on a long-standing debate by releasing several beach front public easements, despite persistent opposition from a bloc wanting to stop a development on Porretto Beach.

The city council voted 5-2 to abandon dozens of rights of way on and around the beach from Sixth to 10th streets. A group of property owners requested the rights of way be abandoned, with the intention of later building a multiuse boardwalk on the land.

While the majority of council members ultimately decided the abandonment vote came down to private property rights and the citys intended use for the easements, many residents instead took issue with the boardwalk and its unknown environmental effects on the beach.

Some council members said they were setting aside their personal preferences and opposition to the development in voting to abandon the rights of way.

I dont want to see the property developed either, Mayor Jim Yarbrough said. You think youd vote your personal convictions all the time. I dont. I wish I could.

City Councilmen Craig Brown and Mike Doherty, of Districts 2 and 4, voted against the abandonment.

Doherty cited uncertainties with the propertys value, and Brown said he couldnt determine whether a community benefit existed in abandoning the easements.

I cant decide if thats the case because we cant be assured of whats going to be on that property, Brown said.

The rights of way, which stretch over almost 5.5 acres on the south side of the seawall, will now be appraised and sold to the property owners, Yarbrough said.

Developer WRCB L.P. has offered to buy the beach for a proposed $6 million. Whether that occurs remains to be seen, Yarbrough said.

We will deal with the next issue as best we can, Yarbrough said. Were going to call their bluff probably. Were going to see if they can close.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee Randy Williams has been trying to sell the beach to clear Sonya Porrettos estate, with the rights of way included.

As the mayor said, we will have to go through the appraisal process, Williams said after the decision. I hope that doesnt take long but we are moving forward again.

Early in 2017, the council took up debate over the abandonments of 10 of the rights of way. City staff members said the city council voted in 1978 to abandon the easements to Henry Porretto, but said no proof could be found showing the proper paperwork was filed to make the transaction official.

That action was discussed and deferred for months, until Williams and surrounding property owners submitted a new application for the abandonment of those 10 rights of way as well as several others.

Thursdays public hearing lasted for more than an hour, and just two people spoke in entirely favor of abandonment. One of those was an applicant, and another was a nearby property owner.

Opponents were concerned about the unknown environmental effect a development would have on the beach, including its vulnerability to hurricanes. Other people complained about potentially blocked beach views and possible threats to beach access.

At this point, we are looking at something that is basically going to change the landscape of this island, period, Planning Commissioner Eugene Cook said.

The debate has invoked previous arguments about public and private property rights on Porretto Beach. The land was the subject of two decades of disputes between owners and the Texas General Land Office, which oversees public beaches.

In July 2015, the Texas Supreme Court ruled the land office didnt own the property, making it more attractive to potential buyers. Most of Galvestons beaches are owned by the state and managed by the Park Board of Trustees.

Resident Susan Fennewald said she fears a development on the beach would threaten beach ecology, including vegetation.

This is unlike any other abandonment the city has ever made, Fennewald said.

Scenic Galveston, a local environmental organization, requested at the meeting to defer the vote while it worked to buy the beach.

City Councilman Frank Maceo, who called Porretto Beach a black eye to the seawall, said he didnt think it was fair for opponents to force the city to scuttle a deal, decrease the value of the land and buy the property themselves.

I wont be a part of a system that mucks up another deal, Maceo said.

Galveston Planning Commission recommended earlier this month that the city decline to abandon the rights of way, spurring debate over what constitutes abandonment.

City Attorney Don Glywasky said abandonments should be granted if they dont impede the traveling public, if the public doesnt have an intended use for the easements and if its in the community benefit to abandon the easements, not with regard to a specific development.

Because the city has said it has no use for the easements, which are land markers used to place utilities and roads, Maceo said the abandonments should be granted.

Theres nothing outside of the law that theyre asking us to do right now, Maceo said. I do not see a public benefit of hanging on to these rights of way.Peter Davis is chief of the Galveston Island Beach Patrol. The views in this column are Davis and do not necessarily represent those of the Beach Patrol, Galveston Park Board of Trustees or any other entity.Long Beach City Council agreed to move forward with the new Cambodian American Cultural Center, taking the next steps to see how it will be built.Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.A child in the US state of New Mexico has suffered a bad reaction after mistaking her parent's medical marijuana gummy bears for regular lollies and sharing them with her friends at school.



Four students at the Albuquerque School of Excellence ingested the gummies and suffered sickness, including one child who passed out on the floor, KRQE reports.

"I started feeling really dizzy. I felt like the room was going to flip to the side," one nine-year-old student told KRQE.

According to the school's Dean of Elementary Students, Kristy Del Curto, the incident occurred before school last Thursday morning (local time).

According to Ms Del Curto three students ate one lolly each, while one student ate three or four and suffered more severe effects.

Emergency services were called and the children were all seen by paramedics to ensure they did not suffer too severe a reaction.

Ingesting THC gummies can be anywhere between two and 100 times more potent than smoking marijuana.

Ms Del Curto believes as marijuana slowly becomes legal in the United States incidents such as this will occur more often. She urged parents to be careful where they leave drugs.

The nine-year-old girl who suffered a bad reaction said she was upset by the incident.

"All those lessons I took about not taking drugs were all for nothing."

Newshub.There are two Bills on medicinal cannabis before Parliament. The Government's Bill will increase access to pharmaceutical cannabis and create a legal defence for terminally ill people who possess and use raw cannabis plants.



So far, Pharmac has declined to fund pharmaceutical cannabis products, meaning they are an expensive option for those with chronic pain. The legal defence for the terminally ill is intended to work as a stopgap measure to counter the cost of importing approved pharmaceutical products.

Ms Swarbrick's Bill (introduced to Parliament by Julie Anne Genter) goes further. It would allow any New Zealander with a "debilitating condition" or terminal illness to use raw cannabis or cannabis products with the support of a doctor.

"My Member's Bill is a little bit more progressive. It recognises that there's a lot of unequivocal consensus on this in the New Zealand public," Ms Swarbrick told Newshub.

"It allows for safe, accessible, affordable access to medicinal cannabis, and where they have a doctor's approval, they will be able to grow their own."

Ms Clark's gentle lobbying in support of Ms Swarbrick's Bill will be welcome for the Greens. While the Government's Bill will pass through Parliament with support from the governing parties, Ms Swarbrick will face a challenge getting enough support from conscience-voting MPs.

The Greens were promised a referendum on the recreational use of cannabis as part of its confidence-and-supply agreement with Labour.

It will take place at or before the 2020 election. Taking place at the same time as the election would save on the cost of holding a referendum and could increase voter turnout, particularly in the youth demographic.

Source: Newshub.felicilin at 25-01-2018 04:11 PM (3 years ago) (f)

Zambian authorities have arrested a Nigerian pastor for allegedly trafficking 26.29 kilogram of ephedrine, a medication and stimulant drug, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

Zambian authorities have arrested a Nigerian pastor for allegedly trafficking 26.29 kilogram of ephedrine, a medication and stimulant drug, a spokesperson said on Thursday.

Prophet Isaac Julius Amata, 42, is known for having predicted that President Edgar Lungu will win Zambia's 2016 general elections.



He was arrested by anti-drug officers on Wednesday upon arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, the country's capital, according to Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) spokesperson Theresa Katongo.







She said the Nigerian pastor was arrested upon arrival at the airport from Nigeria aboard a South African Airways plane.



The suspect is currently in police custody and will appear in court soon, she added.



Prophet Isaac Julius Amata, 42, is known for having predicted that President Edgar Lungu will win Zambia's 2016 general elections.He was arrested by anti-drug officers on Wednesday upon arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, the country's capital, according to Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) spokesperson Theresa Katongo.She said the Nigerian pastor was arrested upon arrival at the airport from Nigeria aboard a South African Airways plane.The suspect is currently in police custody and will appear in court soon, she added.

Post Reply Posted: at 25-01-2018 04:11 PM (3 years ago) | Heroxspraise at 25-01-2018 10:55 PM (3 years ago) (m)

The House of Representatives adhoc panel on Thursday, issue an arrest warrant against Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom Nigeria.

The House of Representatives adhoc panel on Thursday, issue an arrest warrant against Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Globacom Nigeria.

The chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Abu (APC, Niger) said during the panels sitting in Abuja that Adenugas action was an affront to the legislature.



He also said that records before the panel showed that Glo owes the Federal Government over N16.7 billion.

Consequently, he asked both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to go after the Glo chief for holding Nigerias money.



A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organization and then it wont come, then were going nowhere. Some people feel theyre too big; that theyre above the law. Im making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.



The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, hes a billionaire, but that doesnt mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere, he said.



A member of the panel, Rep Bede Eke (PDP, Imo), said: Its not about being a billionaire. Nobody is above the law. Even me sitting here as a lawmaker, I must respect the law. We can also summon the president of Nigeria to this place. I think appropriate action should be taken against the man. I will support any action that this committee will take against him.



Thus, another member of the panel, Abdulrahman Shuaibu (APC, Adamawa) moved that the panel should approach the House to issue an arrest warrant against Adenuga, which all the panel members agreed to. The chairman of the committee, Rep Ahmed Abu (APC, Niger) said during the panels sitting in Abuja that Adenugas action was an affront to the legislature.He also said that records before the panel showed that Glo owes the Federal Government over N16.7 billion.Consequently, he asked both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to go after the Glo chief for holding Nigerias money.A situation where the parliament will invite an agency or organization and then it wont come, then were going nowhere. Some people feel theyre too big; that theyre above the law. Im making reference to Mr Mike Adenuga, the chairman of Glo.The amount of disrespect he has for the parliament is unacceptable. Yes, hes a billionaire, but that doesnt mean anything. Anybody can be a billionaire in the right atmosphere, he said.A member of the panel, Rep Bede Eke (PDP, Imo), said: Its not about being a billionaire. Nobody is above the law. Even me sitting here as a lawmaker, I must respect the law. We can also summon the president of Nigeria to this place. I think appropriate action should be taken against the man. I will support any action that this committee will take against him.Thus, another member of the panel, Abdulrahman Shuaibu (APC, Adamawa) moved that the panel should approach the House to issue an arrest warrant against Adenuga, which all the panel members agreed to.

Post Reply I am Victor, I write reportage on sport news and latest metro happenings in Nigeria. Posted: at 25-01-2018 10:55 PM (3 years ago) | HeroTwo recent experiences have caused me to reflect on how public agencies go about achieving their purposes. Both involved the rigidity with which government's rules are typically applied, and both reinforced my long-held belief that this rigidity is an enemy of achieving the very goals those rules are designed to further.The first was when a friend of mine told me how he had changed from being a supporter of governmental rules to improve the environment to being an opponent. The cause was his personal experience with officials responsible for applying the rules for a small building project. In brief, the officials chose, at every opportunity, to make rule compliance as difficult, expensive and time-consuming as possible. The rules at issue could have been reasonably applied. The unreasonableness with which they were applied changed my friend's entire outlook toward environmental regulations.The second experience was my own. I needed to record a one-page document in a distant county. It would never again be used or needed for any purpose. There was one small complication: The document wasn't in English. The meaning of each word was self-evident, but the county had a rule: Documents not in English must be translated. I was required to find and retain a qualified translator, pay the county to approve both the translator and the translation, and then submit all of these documents to be recorded. It cost $200 and took considerable time. The department manager to whom I complained was entirely sympathetic. He would have been happy to waive the requirement, but could not. Thinking it would ease my irritation, he told me that his office had recently required a translation of a single word that was obviously "mister."These examples are trivial in the scheme of things. But that's the point. If reasonableness is difficult to obtain in small matters, how can it be obtained in big ones?To a very considerable extent, rule compliance has become an end in itself rather than a means to other ends. Employees of government are discouraged from distinguishing between reasonable and unreasonable, fair and unfair, efficacious and not efficacious. Once established, rules and their original interpretations reign supreme.Unfortunately, negative personal experiences shape larger world views. Every bad experience with one government agency shapes perspectives about government at large. It doesn't take too many experiences with absurdity to convince people that reasonableness is impossible. No wonder a substantial part of the electorate opposes rules and regulations as a matter of political belief, regardless of the purposes served. The entirety of government appears, to many, to be utterly lacking in reasonableness. The inevitable result is the election of politicians who also don't believe there can be such a thing as reasonable government regulations.One answer to the problem of excess rigidity is to grant government's employees permission to make reasonable interpretations. Most public workers would welcome the prerogative to exercise reasonable judgments. Agencies that embraced reasonable judgments would increase effectiveness, employee satisfaction and the satisfaction of most of those they serve and regulate.Another answer is to write rules with reasonable interpretation in mind. Most rules are designed to prevent, rather than accommodate, the exercise of discretion. Rigidity is too often seen as a virtue; wiggle room is seen as something to be avoided at all costs.As a longtime proponent of exercising wiggle-room, I experienced the same responses over and over again from fellow government employees. The first response was unwillingness to vary from rigid interpretation. The second response was hesitant, tentative acceptance that, in a particular instance, exercising flexibility might prove a good thing. The third response was appreciation, when clearly superior results were obtained and feared downsides did not materialize.Fixed, unvarying rules cannot possibly fit the variety of circumstances they must address. Recognition of that variety, and willingness to accept and deal with it, would render government more effective and better regarded. Moreover, the application of flexibility in modest degree would promote rather than impede the goals that the rules exist to serve. Small adjustments reflective of individual circumstances would serve to promote, rather than impede, progress toward the larger purposes of rules. Goodwill extended by government agencies seeking to achieve their goals would mostly be met with goodwill on the part of those who must comply.Rules are means toward ends. The goal of rulemaking is not to achieve 100 percent compliance, or 100 percent consistency, or even 100 percent fairness. None of those things is possible. But if reasonableness were added to the processes of rulemaking and compliance, overall progress toward government's purposes would be boosted, not compromised.In the wake of the Larry Nassar scandal, lawmakers in Lansing called Thursday for legislation to ensure that sexual abuse complaints are never ignored again and two legislators sent a subpoena to MSU demanding records of complaints filed against Nassar over a three-year period."History is doomed to repeat itself if we do not listen and learn from it. How do we move forward? What can we do to right the wrongs?" asked state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton. "Fortunately, all of you are committed to righting the wrongs. And we're working daily to write legislation that will actually produce a real change for our children."Lawmakers are looking to beef up mandatory reporting requirements when sexual abuse complaints are made at universities and colleges and increase penalties when those requirements aren't met. They also want to eliminate the 10-year statute of limitations for charging or filing a civil lawsuit against someone who is suspected of committing a sexual assault on a person under the age of 16."It's unacceptable that only half the girls can bring a criminal case," Schuitmaker said. "Every day that goes by is another victim out there who can't bring a criminal case."State Sen. Margaret O'Brien, R-Portage, is leading the charge in drafting legislation, which could be introduced as soon as next week, and she applauded her fellow legislators for supporting the efforts."Today I rise as a Spartan -- a heartbroken and angry Spartan. I'm angry because they failed to protect the lives of innocent girls and young women," she said in an impassioned speech on the floor of the Senate. "Change is needed and we play an important role in change. Many of you are working with me on legislation to improve our laws to protect our young people."State Reps. Klint Kesto, R-Commerce Township, and Kim LaSata, R-Bainbridge Township, also are starting an investigation of the university's relationship with Nassar and how it handled complaints brought to its attention.They sent a subpoena to MSU on Thursday, asking for any and all documents relating to complaints filed with the university against Nassar from 2014 through 2017."We need to get to the bottom of this and figure out what happened so we can make sure this never happens again," Kesto said. "It's our job as legislators to figure out how we change policy and how we hold people accountable when we're sending our children to these establishments."LaSata said she's primarily looking for answers."What my hope is that we find out where the holes were ... so we can strengthen the laws on Title IX reporting," she said, referring to the federal civil rights process that is supposed to protect college students from being intimidated for reporting incidents of sexual assault, harassment or violence. "I don't want to do a witch hunt. That's the attorney general's job."State Rep. Adam Zemke, D-Ann Arbor, who sponsored a resolution passed by the House on Wednesday calling on Simon to resign, said he's not sure how much the Legislature can do, since universities are constitutionally autonomous institutions.The primary authority the Legislature has over universities is the power of the purse strings. The state sends funding to universities, including about 20% of MSU's $1.3-billion general fund budget."We're still looking into it. I know there's going to be a lot of investigations," he said. "It's unclear and we're still trying to figure out the role the Legislature and the governor has in doing something."At least one person wants Gov. Rick Snyder to get more involved.Republican consultant Dennis Lennox filed a lawsuit in the Michigan Court of Claims on Thursday, seeking to compel Snyder to convene an inquiry aimed at removing the MSU trustees."The record is clear that the highest levels of Michigan State University failed to safeguard" girls and young women from Nassar, despite warnings, Lennox said in a news release. "Just as the NCAA had a duty to launch its inquiry so does the governor under the Constitution."Lennox cited Article 5, Section 10 of the Michigan Constitution, which says the governor has "a duty" to inquire into any public office and may remove elected officials, such as MSU trustees, for "gross neglect of duty" and other offenses."MSU President Lou Anna Simon and MSU Board of Trustee members were aware of and/or failed to exercise the standard of care necessary so as to constitute gross neglect of Nassar's patterns of abuse," says the lawsuit, filed by East Lansing attorney Jeffrey Hank.Anna Heaton, a spokeswoman for Snyder, declined to comment. But she pointed to a state law that exempts university boards from inquiries by the governor when the Legislature is in session, as it is currently.The governors of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut this morning said they are teaming up to challenge new federal tax overhaul law in court.Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the law tramples states' rights and discriminates against high-tax states that are dominated by Democratic residents.All three governors are Democrats."It's punishment of blue states,'' New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said of a lawsuit he expects to be brought in a couple weeks."This is intentionally discriminatory,'' said Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, who joined the other two governors in a conference call this morning with reporters.Cuomo said the federal law uses high-tax states like New York to help pay for tax breaks in Republican states. The law limits the deduction on state and local taxes to $10,000 annually, a level that will be exceeded by many New Yorkers with higher incomes and living in regions with especially high property taxes. Most New Yorkers, especially upstate, will get a tax cut under the new law."States are not colonies of the federal government. Federalism was a covenant. It was shared power, and the federal government shall not trample the state's powers,'' Cuomo said.Alphonso David, Cuomo's counsel, cautioned against speculating on the precise causes of action in the upcoming lawsuit, saying the precise legal claims are still being explored.Some legal scholars have questioned the ability for litigation against the tax law to be successful. It also could take years to resolve in the courts.For his part, though, Malloy said litigation could produce "interesting" documents during the discovery process; he mentioned communications between top Republican congressional leaders that could show "what they were doing to blue states.''"All you need is one email that says 'these are Democratic states and therefore we can get it passed.' Now you have a targeting for political reasons, and now you're off to the races,'' Cuomo said of the litigation's future discovery phase.Cuomo said the litigation, when brought in several weeks, could include other states besides New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.Flu diagnoses and hospitalizations in New York have climbed to their highest levels on record prompting the governor to issue an executive order to contain what has been declared an epidemic.Physicians across Long Island, inundated with patients, have escalated their war on the flu."I am about to see another person with the flu right now," Dr. Susan Donelan, medical director and assistant professor of infectious diseases at Stony Brook University School of Medicine said Thursday afternoon."We usually see a great predominance of influenza A around this time of year. But interestingly, we are currently seeing influenza A and influenza B. So A and B are almost running neck and neck," she said.Patient numbers seem to have matched -- and may surpass -- the 2014-2015 flu season, experts say."This flu season hit earlier with more density, more prevalence, and more people getting sick. So that leads to more people showing up in the ER and being diagnosed with the flu," said Dr. Alan Bulbin, a specialist in infectious diseases at St. Francis Hospital in Flower Hill.New statewide data released Thursday showed 7,779 new flu cases and 1,759 hospitalizations in a week, adding to the thousands already diagnosed and treated this season. There has been one pediatric death in New York, state health officials said.Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo signed an executive order Thursday to help fight the epidemic, possibly driven by a lower-than-optimal vaccination rate.Cuomo is calling for an expanded public awareness campaign that urges people statewide to get vaccinated. His order also suspends state law on immunizations for minors, which had prevented pharmacists from vaccinating children ages 2 to 18.Brad Hutton, deputy commissioner in the State Health Department's Office of Public Health, said evidence suggested people have shunned the vaccine this flu season. He didn't have figures, and added that state statisticians probably won't know precisely how many didn't get vaccinated until data are crunched months after this year's flu season ends in late April."Right now it's mostly anecdotal evidence -- what we're hearing from a lot of providers, who are saying that patients have not been getting vaccinated," Hutton said.He added that people have cited the Australian flu season that was more dire than expected and marked by a vaccine with only 10 percent effectiveness. Quoting estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said the main A strain of flu causing infection in this country differs from the one that swept across Australia last year.So far, the CDC has found the vaccine is between 30 percent and 60 percent effective. And even when vaccinated people catch the flu, the infection is milder and less worrisome, Hutton and other experts said Thursday.No shortages of the vaccine or the antiviral drug, Tamiflu, are known to exist on Long Island, according to local infectious disease experts.Dr. Bruce Farber, chief of infectious diseases for the Northwell Health system's campuses in Manhasset and New Hyde Park, said he and his team spent several days working to save the life of a 40-year-old woman who developed pneumonia as a consequence of the flu."She will survive but she had a horrible case with secondary bacterial pneumonia," Farber said.He said the predominant strain circulating on Long Island is H3N2, the A-strain of flu that has fueled outbreaks and hospitalizations nationwide. He, like Donelan, also has seen stepped up influenza B activity. A strains of flu occur in animals and people. B flu strains affect only humans. A rising prevalence of B strains usually signals that the flu season has begun to mellow, though it's still too early to tell, Farber said."The people who have been most affected have been the classic cases that you see each flu season, that's the elderly, people with underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and children with chronic conditions," Farber said.For Salt Lake Citys mayor, coming out during the 1990s as an openly gay politician in a deeply conservative state required some guts. But that, she says today, was still easier to do than to publicly talk about being raped while she was in college.What changed Jackie Biskupskis mind about doing so was the #MeToo movement. I was empowered to speak on the steps of our Capitol and make it known I am a survivor, she said. The people in my community -- especially the young women -- received [my story] in such a tremendous fashion and really enabled me to become a better leader.Biskupskis comments came during a session about the movement, which has encouraged scores of women to share their stories of sexual harassment and abuse, at the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting in Washington, D.C.The mayors on the panel said the movement also awakened them to a very specific duty as female leaders. We have a responsibility to share our stories, said Oakland, Calif., Mayor Libby Schaaf. Because we are in a place of power, we get believed when so many women before us have not had that privilege.Her comments came on the same day that former U.S.A. Gymnastics and Michigan State University physician Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for multiple sex crimes spanning decades against young women and children. The woman whose case started the suit, Rachael Denhollander, learned that she wasn't the first to complain to Nassar's office about his behavior. Four other women and girls had done so before her, and none were believed.Since the #MeToo movement began last year, scores of state and local governments have reacted by investigating their own processes for filing complaints and reviewing sexual harassment training. But the mayors on panel said leaders need to do a deeper dive and consider how more subtle policies have contributed to what can be a toxic culture for women.For example, said Schaaf, a new law just went into effect in California this year that bans employers from asking prospective hires about their salary history. The goal is to narrow the gender pay gap. If a new employer bases a womans pay on her prior salary, the bills supporters reasoned, gender discrimination is perpetuated.Another important aspect is making sure city leadership reflects the community, said Tacoma, Wash., Mayor Victoria Woodard. Woodard, who helped create the Office of Equity and Human Rights during her time on the city council, noted that Tacoma hired its first female city manager only just last year.In Salt Lake, Biskupski echoed Woodard's comments.The city has investigated its law enforcement practices in the wake of national outrage over police shootings of minorities across the country, including in Salt Lake City. In examining the application process for prospective law enforcement officers, she said, the city found that there was so much bias on every level that it worked against [not just minorities but women too]."The process of reviewing long-held practices with the aim of changing a culture is delicate work. Schaaf, perhaps, knows that better than most. During her first term, the Oakland Police Department erupted in a sex scandal in which top department officials covered up the fact that multiple officers were having sex with a teenager. Schaaf publicly blasted the department, comparing it to a frat house.That spoke to what was a toxic, macho culture, Schaaf said at the mayors conference. But, she added, healing that culture means including everybody. Were not going to succeed if we vilify people, she said. We have to say, We need you at the table too.The candidates who hope to be California's next governor clashed Thursday about immigration, health care and how they made their fortunes at a boisterous debate in front of a packed hall with a predominantly Latino audience.As the clout of Latino voters continues to grow in California, the governor's race could hinge on which candidate appeals most to this critical slice of the electorate. Many of the debate's questions revolved around immigration, a touchstone issue to many in the audience. But front-runners Gavin Newsom and Antonio Villaraigosa also unleashed deeply personal attacks on how the other made his money, a shift from the policy spats that have emerged in prior clashes.Villaraigosa said he had no regrets when asked whether he would still work for Herbalife, a company that was fined $200 million by the Federal Trade Commission for unfair trade and deceptive practices. He was also asked if he should apologize to its customers, many of whom are Latino."I don't owe them an apology," Villaraigosa said during the evening debate at the University of California, Los Angeles' Royce Hall.He praised the multi-level marketing company for providing vitamins and nutritional supplements to communities that suffer disproportionally with diabetes and obesity. And he compared Herbalife to Avon and Tupperware, companies he said his mother worked for "to make ends meet."Villaraigosa used the moment to criticize Newsom for earning millions in the wine industry while serving in public office, and for selling silver bars."He's become a multimillionaire selling wine. I'll keep my record to his anytime," Villaraigosa said.Newsom responded quickly and with force. He accused Villaraigosa of cashing in after serving his two terms as mayor by working for a company known for "predatory practices against communities of color."He defended his success as a businessman, saying his 23 companies employ more than 700 people."To compare that to the work you did shilling for Herbalife is insulting," Newsom said.The clash occurred midway through the 90-minute debate, the second major face-off among the top six gubernatorial candidates of both parties in less than two weeks. Former California Rep. Doug Ose, a newly announced Republican candidate, was once again left off the debate stage.The forum was sponsored by the Latino Community Foundation and moderated by Univision anchors Jorge Ramos and Ilia Calderon. The first hour aired live on Univision stations and online in California, while the final 30 minutes were live-streamed.Most of the questions the moderators posed were about immigration policy, such as California's clash with the Trump administration over its new so-called sanctuary state status.The candidates divided among familiar partisan battle lines.The Democrats agreed on support for California's sanctuary state policy and other efforts to protect immigrants who are in the country illegally. They were also united on policy specifics such as the need to provide "Dreamers" a path to citizenship, and to provide safeguards to people who fled natural disasters or civil unrest and came to this country through the temporary protected status program."California was built on the back of immigrants," Democratic state Treasurer John Chiang said. "Fundamentally we're about dignity, decency and respect for all people. That is the heart of America, and we want to be that shining sea that sends a signal to President Trump that you're dead wrong."Former state schools chief Delaine Eastin drew loud applause when she referred to Trump as an "orange-haired misogynist racist."But Chiang and Eastin have failed to make a mark in the polls, and they did not make much of an impact in the debate, which more frequently focused on testy exchanges between Newsom and Villaraigosa than on the other Democrats onstage.Republican businessman John Cox repeatedly complained that the debate revolved around Newsom and Villaraigosa, rather than the myriad problems the state faces, including the high poverty rate and the power of special interests."What you're witnessing, ladies and gentlemen, is two leopards arguing over how many spots they have," Cox said. "They're both in the business of influence peddling and that's the problem."Cox and Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican, were repeatedly interrupted and booed when they spoke positively of Trump's immigration policy.Allen appeared to relish his role as a bomb-thrower and drew the audience's greatest ire throughout the night, including when he needled Ramos. Trump had the veteran journalist physically removed from a news conference during the 2016 presidential campaign.Ramos asked Allen whether he stood with California or with Trump."You know Jorge, that's a funny question coming from you," Allen replied. "The bottom line is this: Donald Trump is the president of the United States, and I feel it is incumbent upon the next governor of the state of California to have the best possible relationship with the White House."Allen criticized Democratic politicians for fighting with Trump, and called on California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to be arrested and prosecuted for his threat to fine businesses that cooperate with federal immigration authorities in violation of the sanctuary state law.The audience grew the most heated when Allen was asked whether two people onstage, who were brought into the country illegally when they were young, ought to be deported.He walked over to them, shook their hands and demurred, saying Trump was working on a policy that would allow them to remain in the U.S. The crowd chanted disapprovingly at Allen, shouting "Yes or no? Yes or no?" and "Make him leave! Make him leave!"Although a growing segment of the electorate, Latinos have traditionally not voted at the same proportion as other ethnic groups, particularly in non-presidential elections. In the 2014 primary, Latinos accounted for 12 percent of the votes cast despite making up 23 percent of registered voters.But political observers say a couple of factors may increase Latino voter turnout this year. Polling that shows Latinos have been more politically engaged since the election of Trump, and there are two Latino politicians running for governor and the U.S. Senate.In the gubernatorial contest, Latino voters are critical to Villaraigosa's chances. Roughly 40 percent of likely Latino voters in the state back him, double that of any other candidate, according to multiple polls.He appealed to them by outlining his history of activism dating to his high school days. And he earned raucous applause from the audience in one of the debate's lighter moments, when the moderators asked the candidates to raise their hands if they had ever smoked marijuana.Villaraigosa was the sole candidate to raise his hand."And different than some, I actually inhaled," he said.Description

GIS  26 January, 2018 : The Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth inaugurated yesterday a third lane to Grand Bassin along B88 Road from Gouly to Bois Cheri in the presence of the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr Nandcoomar Bodha, and other eminent personalities. The third lane aims at ensuring better traffic fluidity in the area.

The project, which kicked off in April 2017, costed Rs 65.7 million. Works comprised, among others, the widening of the original road alignment over 2.4 km from six metres to 12.5 metres; the widening of Ruisseau Marron Bridge and Riviere des Anguilles Bridge; the replacement of a sharp bend of 90 by a new road over 250 m; and the provision of foot paths, bus lay-by, bus shelters, road side drains and miscellaneous road equipment.

In his address, the Prime Minister stated that the new road is part of Governments endeavours to improve infrastructure and amenities so that the pilgrimage to Ganga Talao takes place in the best and safest possible conditions. Similar projects that will alleviate the heavy traffic during the Maha Shivaratree pilgrimage include the construction of a five-metre wide link road over 1.1 km between La Brasserie and La Marie, and the provision of a 2- arpent parking space, added Mr Jugnauth. He appealed to pilgrims to maintain discipline and follow safety instructions in their journey to the sacred lake.

The transformation of Mauritius into a modern nation through major infrastructure projects was highlighted by the Prime Minister. He underlined the imperative to enhance the road network with a view to responding not only to current population needs but also catering for future development. Mr Jugnauth recalled that the first phase of La Vigie-La Brasserie-Beau Songes Link Road project, which will provide a direct connection between the Southern and Western regions of the country, has already started.

The Prime Minister also spoke of the actions taken and arrangements made following the passage of Cyclone Berguitta and the recent torrential rains that have severely impacted several areas across Mauritius. He took pride the multiculturalism of the Mauritian society and greeted the population for the resilience shown in facing the difficulties and coping with the dire situation.

However, Mr Jugnauth condemned those who dump their waste and discard their trash, litters or debris in the open, thereby clogging drains and watercourses. He moreover criticised the people who do not respect the building permits guidelines and erect structures that obstruct drains and free passage of water. The Prime Minister appealed to all citizens to adopt more responsible behaviour, and underlined the importance of increasing awareness and concern with regard to the protection and preservation of the environment.

Project within time and budget

For his part, the Minister of Public Infrastructure was satisfied that the third lane project to Grand Bassin was within time, with no costs overrun and of good quality. He pointed out that the objective of the project is to ensure a safe, more serene and contemplative pilgrimage through a greater level of traffic fluidity for the 200,000 vehicles and by facilitating the 450,000 pilgrims ease of movement.

According to Mr Bodha, the vision of Government to modernise Mauritius is well underway with the implementation of various infrastructure projects. He said that several bypasses are in the pipeline for regions such as Bois Cheri, Chemin Grenier and Souillac.The Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program recently hit a milestone goal , adding its 100th jurisdiction to the list of cities it supports and advises on how to use data-driven governance to improve quality of life. Now, the program has selected nine of its participating cities to honor for the quality of work they have done to this point.

Bloomberg announced the first-of-its-kind awards in a press release this week . The cities that made the list are Boston; Kansas City, Mo.; Los Angeles; Louisville, Ky.; New Orleans; San Diego; San Francisco; Seattle; and Washington, D.C. They were all chosen for their proven leadership in data-driven government. With this designation will come additional assistance from What Works Cities, aimed at helping to accelerate progress and deepen usage of data.

"Congratulations to each of the nine cities that earned certification for their use of data, which is improving services for people and setting a great example for other cities," said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term mayor of New York City. "Data allows local governments to know what's working and citizens to hold leaders accountable for results  but the fact is, many cities aren't capturing it and putting it to use in making decisions. The more cities that integrate data into their planning and operations, the more progress our country will be able to make on the common challenges we face."

These cities have been deemed "What Works Cities Certified," a designation for which there are three tiers: platinum, gold and silver. None of the cities chosen this year received the platinum award. Los Angeles, however, did obtain the gold status, while the other eight cities on the list received silver.

Los Angeles was singled out because it demonstrated a strong commitment and impressive track record with data-driven initiatives. Bloomberg cited the way Mayor Eric Garcetti quickly committed to this sort of governance upon taking office, finding data-driven ways to address affordable housing, crime, traffic and pollution.

Information about the other eight certified cities is now up on the programs website

NYC Mayors office issues RFI to promote open and transparent Internet

The chief technology officer of the largest city in America is calling upon experts to create a means of monitoring Internet service providers to identify whether the private companies engage in discriminatory practices, New York City officials announced in a press release this week.

On Jan. 22, the CTOs office released what it dubbed a "Truth in Broadband" RFI, seeking to establish transparency and accountability in how carriers provide Internet services to consumers, read the press release. The goal of this RFI was, quite simply, to get input from the tech and innovation sector that could help the city monitor the performance of Internet service providers.

The announcement of this RFI directly connected it to the FCCs recent decision to repeal Obama-era net neutrality protections, giving Internet service providers the ability to more thoroughly control information on the Internet through connection speeds. Leading up to the rollback of these protections, New York City CTO Miguel Gamino was one of the loudest opposing voices , warning that such a move would have harmful effects, and that it would present a challenge in New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios efforts to make his city the most equitable in America.

Making New York the fairest city in America means protecting the fundamental right to access an open Internet, Mayor de Blasio said in the press release. We are the first city to take this step as part of our plan to hold Internet service providers accountable for discriminatory practices.

Anyone can respond to the RFI. Responses to the Truth in Broadband RFI are due Feb. 28 and can be submitted at http://on.nyc.gov/truthinbroadbandrfi

In other New York City CTO news, the office has recently launched a new website built with user-informed and tested design. Gamino has said he expects more content to be added soon.

Long Beach, Calif., innovation team helps launch new city Justice Lab

The Long Beach, Calif., Innovation Team has helped launch a Justice Lab that is designed to give first responders new tools they can use to help residents leave the criminal justice system and get necessary resources, such as treatment and care.

To build the lab, the Innovation Team partnered with the Long Beach Public Safety Continuum, which is made up of the police, fire, health and development services departments, as well as the citys prosecutor, neighborhood associations, nonprofits and resident volunteers.

In launching this lab, the team analyzed more than 100,000 criminal offenses over a five-year period and determined that 85 percent of them were low-level misdemeanors and not serious crimes. The lab sets out to give police officers, firefighters and other first responders the tools they need to help individuals avoid a deepening cycle of arrest and incarceration.

The lab is working on eight initiatives to do this, two of which are heavy on data-use. The first is a data-sharing agreement, which is a set of established policies and procedures among city departments to share data, thereby enabling providers to access vital information that will help them serve residents in the criminal justice system. The second is a data warehouse that will bring multiple data sets together in order to crosscheck information about public safety departments and coordinate more comprehensive services.

Regional Housing Solutions tool helps stakeholders see variations in Chicagos housing sub-markets

In a press release announcing the program, city officials said, The Justice Lab was developed based on the i-teams people-focused and data-driven approach that involved 26 in-depth interviews with people who had 11 or more citations and arrests. Additionally, the i-team spoke with over 21 subject matter experts, participated in over 12 observational visits, and had over 65 participants help co-create the Justice Labs initiatives.Chicago has a new tool called Regional Housing Solutions , and it is designed to help municipal officials and staff, as well as policymakers and other stakeholders in the metro area, better understand the housing market.

Regional Housing Solutions gives users the ability to examine variations in local housing sub-markets, identify where common housing challenges exist throughout the Chicagoland area, and determine the best strategies to address ongoing housing challenges. The tool was developed as a joint project by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) , and Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) , with technical assistance from DePaul Universitys Institute for Housing Studies (IHS).

This civic tech project stands as an excellent example of what can be created based on thorough end-user design. To make it happen, developers and others associated with it interviewed more than 100 regional policymakers, realtors, financial institutions, municipal employees, and for- and non-profit housing developers.

One of the most impressive features on the site is an online toolkit that includes a step-by-step guide for municipalities that want to create their own housing policy plans. The genesis of this project dates back to 2004, when the Homes for a Changing Region project was launched by Chicago Metropolis 2020, a local civic group, and a caucus of mayors that included representatives of 275 cities, towns and villages in the Chicagoland area.

San Diego's sunny data team is hiring

For much of the country, its been a long winter and its only January.

If youre tired of shoveling snow  or creating data-driven visualizations for snowfall and plow routes  we may have a job opening for you. Thats right, sunny San Diego is hiring for its data and analytics team.

Information about the opening can be found via this medium post by San Diego Chief Data Officer Maksim Pecherskiy, who was probably out walking in the sun this morning, while you were busy scaping the ice off your windshield again.(TNS) - Last December, the Thomas Fire tore through 280,000 acres in southern California, reducing neighborhoods to ash and triggering deadly mudslides. Across the nation, wildfires burned more than nine million acres in 2017  one of the worst fire seasons in decades. And as bad as wildfires are now, they are expected to get worse, due to climate change.It is clear that fires can cause far-reaching havoc, even after the blazes are extinguished. Less visible are wildfires impacts on public health.Of course, wildfires are life-threatening for those in their path and for the firefighters who work to contain them: 54 people perished in wildfires across the American West last year. But health threats are not limited to those at the line of fire.Wildfires fill the air with toxic smoke. Last years fires in northern California caused some of the worst air quality ever recorded. And smoke contains particulate matter, which can travel thousands of miles. Particulates invade our lungs and bloodstreams, exacerbating asthma and increasing the risk of lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart disease. Babies born to mothers who breathe particulates are often underweight and sickly.According to a report in USA Today, recent California fires produced as much particulate matter in two days as all the states cars do in a year.Wildfires are intensified by climate change and also help fuel it. Our nations forests pull climate-changing greenhouse gases from the air, capturing between 20-40 percent of U.S. carbon emissions. As those forests go up in smoke, their capacity to capture climate pollution is diminished.There is much we can do to reverse these trends. First, we can keep people out of harms way, with smarter land-use policies that limit development along the urban-wildland border. We can also invest more in managing our forests.And we can lessen the health impact of fire, especially for the most vulnerable. Wildfires and smoke are most harmful to people who are already in poor health  especially those with asthma, respiratory and heart disease. So we should focus efforts on low-income communities and communities of color.We can reduce local air pollution from industry and transportation. One win-win solution is active transportation: more walking and biking means fewer cars, less pollution and more healthy physical activity.Health officials also need better tools to track the impact of wildfire on public health. Expanded air monitoring could gauge public exposure to both chemical emissions and visible smoke. Real-time surveillance of the health status of people directly affected by wildfires can be used to quickly recognize  and mitigate  other impacts.Most importantly, we must reduce carbon pollution to slow the pace of climate change and prevent its most catastrophic outcomes. As health professionals, we urge our elected representatives to secure a clean energy future that simultaneously protects our health.Record-breaking wildfires may be the new normal, as California Governor Jerry Brown has said. But theres much we can do to lessen their impact. Stepping up the fight against climate change, so the new normal doesnt get any worse, is the best way to protect our communities and our health.ABOUT THE WRITERSDr. Jeffrey D. Gunzenhauser serves as the chief medical officer and director of the Disease Control Bureau for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Dr. Linda Rudolph is director of the Center for Climate Change and Health at the Public Health Institute. This column was written for the Progressive Media Project, affiliated with The Progressive magazine, and distributed by Tribune News Service.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.(TNS) - U.S. Sens. Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt have joined in support of a request for FEMA funding by three school districts in Missouri that have been hit by tornadoes.In a letter addressed to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, both senators urged the agency to consider the Miller, Neosho and Sparta districts for funding for construction of tornado safe rooms, which would minimize the risk of deaths and injury for nearly 2,300 schoolchildren and residents in surrounding communities.Building safe rooms will help protect Missourians in communities that are often hit by severe storms and tornadoes," Blunt said.I urge FEMA to fully consider these common-sense projects that will save lives and reduce future costs by mitigating property damage, he said.Goodman Elementary School, which is part of the Neosho School District, was destroyed by an EF2 tornado on April 4, 2017.The district made room for the school's 42 staff members and 330 students at Neosho Middle School.The board plans to build a 55,000-square-foot structure to house prekindergarten through the fourth grade but is still waiting to reach a settlement with the district's insurance carrier.Its also waiting on a grant from FEMA to build a gymnasium that would double as a FEMA-rated storm shelter and accommodate 700 to 800 people.This is an exciting example of government working for the people to actually solve real problems, said Steve Douglas, president of the Neosho Board of Education.Theyve both been fantastic, and theres been no partisan divide," Douglas said of the senators. "This has all been about trying to help the people in McDonald County get the schools built so (students) can go back into their classrooms.The Miller School District sustained more than $92,000 in damage in an EF0 tornado that struck its high school on May 19, 2017.In Christian County, home of the Sparta School District, nearly 30 tornadoes have been reported during the past 50 years, according a news release by the senators.The three school districts applied for grants aimed at reducing the overall risk to the population and structures while also reducing reliance on federal funding in future disasters, according to the FEMA website.2018 The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.)Visit The Joplin Globe (Joplin, Mo.) at www.joplinglobe.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.(TNS)  Kansas state government has made the last four Social Security digits of thousands of Kansas state workers available to the public for more than a decade.After the technology website Gizmodo on Thursday raised questions about whether this made state workers vulnerable to identity theft, Secretary of State Kris Kobachs office removed the forms from the state website.The secretary of states office hosts an online database of the forms, which are called statements of substantial interest. Kansas requires elected officials and other state personnel to file the statements each year as part of the states ethics law.The forms, which provide an overview of the officials financial holdings, also include an optional space to list the last four digits of the persons Social Security number as a way to prevent confusion if two officials have the same name.The Star confirmed that a copy of a former state workers form included the digits.Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach does not believe that the last four of a persons social security number should be part of this publicly available information, spokeswoman Samantha Poetter said in a statement. ... Secretary Kobach has has taken all statements off of the office website.But the forms are still considered public documents under Kansas law.The statements are still available for someone to request in person pursuant to Kansas statute, Poetter said.Secretary Kobach takes security measures very seriously and is looking for a solution that would allow this sensitive information to be redacted, while still following the rule of law. (Statements of substantial interest) are an important tool in ensuring government transparency and any solution should reflect this fact.Poetter said in an additional phone call that the forms have been online since 2005, when Republican Ron Thornburgh served as secretary of state. The option to list the digits has been on the form at least since then, Poetter said.Kobachs office steered additional inquiries to the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission, which enforces state ethics law and designed the form.Mark Skoglund, the commissions executive director, said the option to list the digits has been on the form as long as anyone in this office can remember. Skoglund said the commission would vote at its meeting next week whether to remove that item entirely.Skoglund, who became executive director in September, said he was unaware of any particular issue anyone has reported when asked whether any state workers had experienced identity theft from the digits being public.Kobach also faced scrutiny this week after the state of Florida made public partial Social Security numbers of hundreds of Kansas voters. Florida has access to the data through the Crosscheck voter registration system that Kansas manages.Earlier this month, Facebook announced that it would change users newsfeeds in what has caused a huge shift in government social media professionals ability to communicate with their constituents.Mark Zuckerberg announced in a personal blog that the company would change the algorithm that guides newsfeeds to focus more on posts from friends and families, rather than allowing commercial posts to dominate.We've 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, he said. The first changes you'll see will be in news feed, where you can expect to see more from your friends, family and groups.User posts have been on the decline for the social media platform, according to USA Today and teen users have been migrating to the likes of Snapchat and Instagram in large numbers. The shift is seen by some as a means of reducing sponsored content to force businesses, brands and media to buy more advertising on the platform.But beyond the speculation about what is driving the change, government entities, which have been swept into the category of private business, have seen a real drop in social engagement  a drop they felt coming in advance of Zuckerbergs announcement.After the new year, we saw a decline, Bronlea Mishler, the communications coordinator for Skagit County, Wash., said.Mishler, the sole media engagement employee in the rural county, said the change was discouraging. Our followers total about 1,700, between 3 and 600 people would see the post and 3 to 7 would engage, she said. After Jan. 1, she said, her posts are being seen by fewer than 100 people.Mishler said the newsfeed changes could cause a problem when it comes to trying to reach the public during an emergency situation.Facebook and government must get together on crises and make sure the information that is offered to the public is vetted, she said.Other jurisdictions are also concerned about how they will be able to communicate through Facebook if they have an emergency. The Mountain View, Calif., Police Department has also seen a dip in post views and is looking to other platforms to take up some of the slack.We have seen a great reduction in our numbers, said Katie Nelson, the departments social media and public relations coordinator. It is important that the police department be able to communicate in an emergency. I need to reach residents immediately, she added.In the middle of last year, social media efforts had seen a steady increase in user follows, which reached a high of 18,000 followers. The police department account was used to seeing a steady increase, she said, that has since flatlined. This will affect first responders. I am not sure if [Facebook] understands the end game.And while the department has not left Facebook, it has looked at other avenues for its communication needs. We are not sitting around, she said. We have moved onto Nextdoor where I can reach a larger number of residents immediately.Nextdoor is a great way to connect with residents, she said, noting a 79 percent increase. Our reception has been incredible."The city also uses Snapchat to communicate with younger residents. You wouldnt think that they would follow the police department, but we have 450 followers," she said.Not only are government social media experts turning to different platforms, they are creatively coming up with ways to defeat the limiting Facebook algorithm.Concerns about decreased reach on Facebook will lead to more experimentation by government account managers, said Kristy Dalton,columnist and CEO of Government Social Media, an organization dedicated to social media training and best practices.I think you will see government explore other social networks, she said. Agencies using Nextdoor will find they get greater reach than they did on Facebook.You might hear they are abandoning Facebook, but I dont think they would do that, she said. They do not want to appear out of touch.The city of Boca Raton is looking at the Facebook newsfeed changes as an opportunity to push some innovation and creativity, as well as sharing best practices, said Communications and Digital Media Coordinator Mary McGuire. She manages the citys main social media platforms and provides oversight, training and support for more than 30 city staff members. She thinks it's a bit too soon to know the effects of the changes.As a government agency, we have a responsibility to share information regarding city meetings, business and topics, she said. Sometimes these types of posts wont necessarily drive engagement, but the information is important.Most agencies say they would like to engage with Facebook about the newsfeed changes. The Mountain View Police Department said Facebook should sit down with local Silicon Valley government agencies and gain an understanding of how they use the platform.We need to have an honest, open and fair dialog about these changes," Nelson said. They need to understand how the changes affect government.And while McGuire sees some success in the creative use of engagement to circumvent Facebooks algorithm, she agrees that there is a need for dialog with the company. Facebook already recognizes the unique niche that government and public safety have on their platform, she said. But, there are definitely opportunities where Facebook can continue to assist in our work to reach our residents and inform them in a timely manner.So far, Facebook hasnt indicated an interest in sitting down with anyone to get feedback. We have great connections on Facebook, Dalton said. But so far, when we have asked questions about the newsfeed change, we only get a stock answer.Dalton hopes that government pages can be reclassified to resolve the issue.Germany's long-running pay-TV deal has ended.

Although Sky is thriving in the British and Italian markets, the broadcaster will no longer have rights to the sport for 2018 and beyond.

"We could not reach the goals that we set ourselves for the negotiations," Sky Deutschland boss Carsten Schmidt told SID news agency.

It means pundit Marc Surer, a former F1 driver, is without a job.

"Ultimately it was probably a financial story but it was also about exclusivity and that was not present after the new agreement with RTL," he told Speed Week.

Surer explained that pay TV networks want to offer more than free-to-air broadcasters, but that was not the case with the new arrangement between Liberty and RTL.

"Germany is a critical market," Liberty's F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches told Auto Motor und Sport. "They are not ready to break from free TV.

"I was born in Berlin and a lot of my family lives in Germany," he explained. "My uncle is an avid formula one fan and he would have been pretty angry with me if we went too far."

(GMM)F1's top three teams are reportedly not on board with plans made by Liberty Media to change how merchandise is sold at grands prix.

Until now, teams have sold from individual stalls, but Liberty Media is now adopting an approach pioneered but then abandoned by Nascar in which merchandise is all sold under one single 'tent' roof.

"We have done extensive research and all the race promoters support the plan," Liberty Media's F1 commercial boss Sean Bratches is quoted by Turun Sanomat newspaper.

However, the Finnish publication says Mercedes and Red Bull, but crucially also F1's most famous team Ferrari, are not happy with the plan.

"Throughout history, Ferrari has sold more merchandise than any other team and they have no trouble finding the red of what they are looking for," a unnamed source said.

"If the fans are impatient, they will not go to a big hall where they have to go a long way to find where they want. I believe we will lose revenue with this new structure."

(GMM)Electrovaya Inc. announced that its wholly-owned German subsidiary, Litarion GmbH ("Litarion"), has commenced a voluntary structured insolvency process (similar to bankruptcy proceedings in the US) that is expected to result in the appointment of a provisional receiver/liquidator of Litarion and its property by the German court.

As reported in the Companys Managements Discussion & Analysis for the year ended September 30, 2017, Li-Tec Battery GmbH, the owner of the premises occupied by Litarion, notified the company that it would terminate Litarions lease as of 31 January 2018 unless certain conditions were met. While the company intended to maintain the lease, Litarions cash flow was materially negatively impacted by the demands and garnishment processes initiated against it by the landlord.

With support from Electrovaya, Litarion attempted to resolve the dispute with its landlord but negotiations ultimately proved unsuccessful, and it was determined that the only viable alternative was to have the managing directors of Litarion voluntarily place it into preliminary insolvency proceedings.

While current circumstances on the ground in Germany dictated Litarion enter into this process, Electrovaya believes that it ultimately no longer needs its own contract manufacturing facilities and, given alternate supply arrangements is in place, it expects that the proceedings will not impact its ability to continue to fulfil current and future customer orders for its customized cells, custom modules and battery systems.

As previously disclosed, large battery orders from Litarions OEM partners and other customers have taken longer than expected to materialize. As a result, the cost of maintaining Litarions substantial infrastructure negatively affected Electrovayas financial results and liquidity position. The Litarion insolvency process is expected to substantially reduce Electrovayas overhead.The new high-strength aluminum is made possible by introducing stacking faults, (e.g., earlier post ) or distortions in the crystal structure. While these are easy to produce in metals such as copper and silver, they are difficult to introduce in aluminum because of its high stacking fault energy.

Researchers have demonstrated how to create a super-strong aluminum alloy (nanotwinned Al-Fe) that rivals the strength of stainless steel, an advance with potential applications in the automotive and aerospace industries. The research, which shows how to alter the microstructure of aluminum to impart greater strength and ductility, is detailed in two papers, the latest in Advanced Materials , the first in Nature Communications.



Ashby map showing specific strength versus specific modulus for nanotwinned (nt) AlFe and various alloys. Li et al. Click to enlarge.

A metals crystal lattice is made up of a repeating sequence of atomic layers. If one layer is missing, there is said to be a stacking fault. Meanwhile, twin boundaries consisting of two layers of stacking faults can form. One type of stacking fault, called a 9R phase, is particularly promising, said Xinghang Zhang, a professor in Purdue Universitys School of Materials Engineering and the corresponding author of the Advanced Materials paper.

It has been shown that twin boundaries are difficult to be introduced into aluminum. The formation of the 9R phase in aluminum is even more difficult because of its high stacking fault energy. You want to introduce both nanotwins and 9R phase in nanograined aluminum to increase strength and ductility and improve thermal stability. Xinghang Zhang

Now, researchers have learned how to readily achieve this 9R phase and nanotwins in aluminum.

Purdue postdoc Sichuang Xue is lead author of the Nature Communications paper, which is the first to report a shock-induced 9R phase in aluminum. Researchers bombarded ultrathin aluminum films with tiny micro-projectiles of silicon dioxide, yielding 9R phase.

Here, by using a laser-induced projectile impact testing technique, we discover a deformation-induced 9R phase with tens of nanometers in width. Sichuang Xue

The microprojectile tests were performed by a research group at Rice University, led by professor Edwin L. Thomas, a co-author of the open-access Nature Communications paper. A laser beam causes the particles to be ejected at a velocity of 600 meters per second. The procedure significantly accelerates screening tests of various alloys for impact-resistance applications.

The Advanced Materials paper describes how to induce a 9R phase in aluminum not by shock but by introducing iron atoms into aluminums crystal structure via a procedure called magnetron sputtering. Iron also can be introduced into aluminum using other techniques, such as casting, and the new finding could potentially be scaled up for industrial applications.

The resulting nanotwinned aluminum-iron alloy coatings proved to be one of the strongest aluminum alloys ever created, comparable to high-strength steels.

Molecular-dynamics simulations, performed by professor Jian Wangs group at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, showed the 9R phase and nanograins result in high strength and work-hardening ability and revealed the formation mechanisms of the 9R phase in aluminum. Understand new deformation mechanisms will help us design new high strength, ductile metallic materials, such as aluminum alloys. Xinghang Zhang

The research was mainly funded by US Department of Energys Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Science and Engineering Division. The researchers have filed a patent application through the Purdue Research Foundations Office of Technology Commercialization.

The transmission electron microscopy work for the research was supported by a new FEI Talos 200X microscope facility directed by Haiyan Wang, Purdues Basil S. Turner Professor of Engineering; and the in situ micropillar compression work in scanning electron microscopes was supported by Purdues Life Science Microscopy Facility, led by Christopher J. Gilpin, director of the facility. These advanced microscopy facilities were made possible with support from Purdues Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships.

The team included researchers from Purdues School of Materials Engineering, Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering at Rice University, the Department of Engineering Physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, State Key Lab of Metal Matrix Composites, the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering at China University of Petroleum, California Institute of Technology, Louisiana State University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

ResourcesA Greenwich resident was sentenced to six months in prison for failing to report to the U.S. Department of Treasury more than $28 million in funds he maintained in secret bank accounts in Switzerland.

According to federal investigators, Hyong Kwon Kim is a citizen of South Korea who lived in Greenwich as a legal permanent resident while running family businesses. The Department of Treasury stated Kim stashed money he inherited in Credit Suisse accounts in Switzerland that concealed his identity to U.S. tax authorities, allowing him to evade taxes.GREENWICH  A new casino in Bridgeport would be anything but a jackpot for Greenwich and for the state as a whole, a former congressman told an audience in town this week.

Robert Steele, a Republican who represented Connecticuts Second District from 1970 to 1975, addressed the ongoing competition between MGM Resorts International, which is trying to build a casino in Bridgeport, and the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes, that want to add a casino in East Windsor, at an event sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Greenwich.

A former Byram resident, Steele urged people to push back against any new casinos in the state.

The promise of gambling destinations bringing new jobs and adding hundreds of millions of dollars to the states coffers is an empty one, he said.

With each passing year we are learning more and more about the downside of what is happening here in Connecticut, Steele said. (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods) have created a pervasive gambling culture in southeastern Connecticut. They skewed the regions economy there sharply toward low paying service jobs and they were followed by a sharp increase in the number of Connecticut residents seeking treatment for gambling addiction.

Steele recalled a friend who owned a successful restaurant near Mohegan Sun who welcomed its arrival, anticipating crowds of new customers.

Instead his business died, Steele said, and he had to close less than two years later.

People drive to the casinos, they gamble at the casinos, they go to shows at the casinos, they drink at the casino bars, eat at the casino restaurants and when theyre all done, they fill up their gas tanks at the casino gas stations and drive home, Steele said. Local business people and merchants rarely see these people. There is very little evidence that casinos strengthen a states or a municipalitys longer term finances.

As MGM is set to open a new $950 million casino project in Springfield, Mass., in 2018, the tribes behind Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods are seeking to brunt the loss of business by jointly opening a new casino in East Windsor.

That has created a competition between Connecticuts tribal casino management and MGM, which also is proposing a $675 million casino in Bridgeport. MGMs goal with the Bridgeport plan is to stop the East Windsor casino from ever being built, Steele said.

A representative for MGM did not respond to a request for comment.

The state Legislature has approved the tribal casino plan for East Windsor but it still lacks approvals from the federal government. Allowing a commercial casino to operate in Bridgeport would end the states agreement with the tribes in which it gets a share of slot money from Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun. But MGM has argued it would more than make up for the loss through added tax revenue to the state.

It is unclear how all of this is going to end, Steele said.

He said efforts to stop casino expansion face heavy odds given the millions of dollars that have been invested in public relations and lobbying behind the proposed projects.

The League of Women Voters of Connecticut has taken a position against additional non-tribal casinos. The Western Connecticut Council of Governments, of which Greenwich is a member, has also taken a position against the possible Bridgeport casino.

kborsuk@greenwichtime.comGREENWICH  Greenwich and Stamford nurses, police officers and firefighters who want a Catholic education for their children may find it a bit easier to pay the tuition bills  thanks to a local businessman and his wife.

Longtime Greenwich residents Mary Alice and Thomas OMalley have committed $500,000 to the nonprofit Foundations in Education over the next five years to establish the scholarship fund for students to attend Trinity Catholic High School in Stamford.

Former chairman and CEO of PBF Energy Partners of Greenwich, Thomas OMalley made billions for himself and his investors buying refineries, building them up with other oil firms castoffs and selling them for huge gains. OMalley, now retired, still consults for PBF.

The OMalleys come from humble roots, however, Thomas said in an interview last week. Mary Alice is a registered nurse, and their extended family includes many law enforcement officials, firefighters and nurses.

We come from a middle-class background, and we understand that people in those professions contribute greatly to the communities they serve but frequently do not have the financial wherewithal to afford any form of private education, Thomas said.

The OMalleys scholarship will support current and prospective students who have at least one parent who worked for a minimum of one year as a Greenwich or Stamford firefighter or police officer, or as a nurse at either Greenwich Hospital or Stamford Hospital. The grant, which covers 80 percent of tuition beginning with the 2018-19 academic year, is contingent upon students maintaining a strong academic performance. Tuition assistance is based on available funding each year.

The scholarship application process and management will be administered by Foundations in Education, a nonprofit initiative created to assist the Diocese of Bridgeports mission to support Catholic education in Fairfield County.

I am grateful for the OMalleys commitment to the students of Trinity Catholic High School and the Greenwich/Stamford area, said Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, acting chair of Foundations in Education. The OMalley Scholarship Program will serve a group of students for whom I trust the experience will be transformational.

Trinity Catholic High School is currently accepting applications for the 2018-19 school year.

Service to others is one of the core principles of our schools mission, said Dave Williams, principal of Trinity Catholic. We are so thankful to the OMalley family for this opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to the community.

Thomas OMalley said he and his wife created this scholarship fund because they found Foundations in Education innovative and because Trinity Catholic offers a superior educational product. The OMalleys have also made donations to Waterside School and Villa Maria School in Stamford. They gave $10 million to Manhattan College in the Bronx, N.Y., the largest donation in the schools history, to finance a new student center. Thomas is a graduate of the Catholic liberal arts college and a former chairman of the schools board of trustees.

Mary Alice and Thomas OMalley moved to Palm Beach, Fla., in 2011, but maintain a home in Greenwich, where their four children and 10 grandchildren live. They are members of St. Catherine of Siena Church in Riverside.

Evolving from the Bishops Scholarship Fund established by Caggiano in 2015, Foundations in Education has given more than $6.9 million in aid to 4,130 students in Diocesan-sponsored schools. The nonprofit also funds academic and extra-curriculum programs at Catholic schools and professional development for Catholic school leaders.

emunson@greenwichtime.com; Twitter: @emiliemunsonIts time for the best episode of the season. Photo: Bravo/Paul Trantow/Bravo

The temperature, it is rising. After last weeks high-drama fiasco, in which Claudette threw Tanya under the bus and then Tanya succumbed to her bus-induced injuries, everyones feeling just a little bit on edge. There are eight of us left at this point, Mustache Joe calculates. Two teams of four. That can mean only one thing: Restaurant Wars. It is true. As Carrie so astutely puts it, Ohhhhhh shiiiiiiit.

As we meet Padma, she stands beside the legendary Bromberg Brothers. Padma explains that it is indeed time Restaurant Wars. The blue-shirted Bromberg brother explains that it is indeed difficult to open a restaurant.

By knife draw, Carrie and Chris become team captains, so they get to assemble the teams. Carrie immediately snaps up Bruce. Chris picks Stache. Carrie picks Joe Flamm. Chris picks Fatima. Then its down to Claudette and Adrienne, and Carrie claims Adrienne, leaving Chris with ray of Gothic sunshine Claudette.

But  ohhhhhh shiiiiiiit  turns out, this is no ordinary Restaurant Wars. This year, each team will have to make three courses with three different options per course. Thats a total of nine dishes, says the other Bromberg brother, helping along all the chefs who never learned their multiplication tables. Each team also gets to pick an eliminated not-top chef to help, so Carrie takes Tyler and Chris picks Brother, while everyone else is released back into the wilds of Colorado.

With an hour to plan the menus, both teams huddle up. Chriss team  henceforth the Red Team  decides their restaurant will be called Common Place and the theme is unexpected. In practice, that means Joe will make very surprising oysters with pea foam and Chris will do sweet doughnuts but the twist is that they are also savory. Also, Chris decides Fatima should do front-of-house, he and Joe will be line cooks, and Claudette will be executive chef, which, to be fair, is very thematic. What are the chances this will go well, do you think? I would rank them as unexpected.

Pick a knife! Photo: Bravo/Paul Trantow/Bravo

Across the warehouse, Carries Gray team decides their restaurant is called Conifer, because thats a tree, but also a group of trees, and theyre going to serve Italian-Mediterranean food inspired by the great seaside region of Colorado. Human teddy bear Joe Flamm wants to be front of house, Bruce agrees to be executive chef, Carrie and Adrienne hop on the line, and no one sighs deeply even once. It is beautiful, watching them work together. It almost makes you believe functional governance is possible.

Then, both teams have a quick consultation with some designers who help to conceptualize a vision. The vision is: restaurant. The Reds want a lot of really natural colors in an informal but hospitable environment, while the Grays want tree tones. Theyre in luck, because according to the designers, greenery is the color of the year. That makes sense. When people ask me my favorite color, I often tell them greenery.

After a quick trip to a remarkably well-stocked Whole Foods, its time to hit the kitchen for some cooking. The Gray Team is going with a pretty standard menu of the kind of foods sold at restaurants. Theres crudo (gotta have crudo), and a duck thing, and Carrie will make a kale-and-beet salad, because it is 2018 and youre contractually obligated, while Bruce does polenta and meatballs again, because they are his passion. The thing about Restaurant Wars is if you cant execute it, its not worth a damn, says Bruce. Meanwhile, for the Red Team, Mustache Joe is pickling rhubarb in kombucha.

On the Gray Team, Carrie is hard at work on her kale salad. It involves dehydrating beets for something called beet raisins, which are beets transmogrified into gummy bears. I dont know either. I would never do a kale salad at Restaurant Wars, Claudette shudders. Probably, she doesnt know about the beet-raisins.

As night falls at the lodge, the chefs debrief about how their team is better than the other team. Common Place is all over the place in terms of flavor profiles, says Bruce. Mustache Joe counters with: Its crazy that hes doing polenta again.

Soon, its morning in Denver, and there are three and a half hours till opening. Chris feels pretty good about his clever appointment of Claudette. It looks like shes embracing this challenge, he observes. I know that my choice to make her the EC was the right one. I am trying to think of a time in my life where I have ever made a choice, about anything, and known it was the right one.

Back in the kitchen, Claudette is not impressed with Bruces management techniques, which seem to be to manage. Claudettes philosophy is: You wipe your own ass, youre responsible for your own plate.

Words to live by.

On that note, the restaurants are open for business! The judges first stop is Conifer, which is every bit as piney as Joe Flamm hoped it would be. Bruce tries to inspire suspense by talking about how slammed the kitchen is, and how the only option we have is just to power through this, but everything is actually great. Joes hiramasa crudo was inadequately briny, but Bruces polenta meatballs were kind of ridiculously good, according to a Bromberg, and Carries kale beet salad is the Platonic ideal of kale-beet salads, especially the beet raisins. Actually, Joes good at tables! Tom gasps, like its shocking, even though it is clear that Joe was born to table.

At Common Place, a man returns his gnudi. The line grows. Fatima contemplates removing diners by force.

Back at Conifer, the hits just keeping coming. Joe Flamms roasted duck is a nice dish, and Bruces lamb sausage orecchiette extravaganza has many outstanding flavors. Adriennes sea bass is a minor disaster  this puree thing over here is just god-awful, Tom says, gravely  but she redeems herself with a triumphant caramelized white chocolate buttermilk cake, so its fine. Lets go try the other restaurant, chirps Padma. Yes, lets!

Padma, and a Bromberg. Photo: Bravo/Paul Trantow/Bravo

Common Place is essentially a place where people who are very different come together with similar food, a thought process, and ideas, Fatima tries to explain, as Gail squints, willing herself to understand. Here is an abridged list of problems: the garlic chips on Fatimas tartare are burnt, Joes oysters are flavorless, and Claudettes bone marrow melted into nonexistence. Joes ricotta dumplings are oppressively rich. Chriss beet doughnuts have zero beet flavor. Claudettes ice cream was overspun  Tom may never recover, thats how grainy it was  and a Bromberg is very confused by her skyr-miso-chickpea-white-chocolate-cherry-pickle extravaganza, served at at little warmer than room temperature. Worse yet, Tom did not appreciate the many decorative ferns.

This isnt like regular Restaurant Wars, where one team just goes down, Joe Mustache beams. It was just like two good services at two good pop-up restaurants! Poor Stache. Who wants to be the one to tell him?

Eight valiant soldiers gather at Judges Table, and the only one who knows what is coming is Fatima. Fatima knows. Fatima always knows. The Gray Team takes it. Those beet raisins are my new favorite thing, rasps Gail. That was the single coolest element of the night, raves a Bromberg. What have you been doing with your life, all the minutes you have not been eating beet raisins? Anyway, the winner is Joe Flamm, because he was truly a master of hospitality.

The question of the evening is not: Was Common Place bad? It is: What bad element of Common Place was worst? If I was taking out a friend to your restaurant and they said what kind of food is it, I really wouldnt know what to tell them, Padma mews, sadly. Why was the food so bad, the judges wonder? As executive chef, did you not taste everything? asks Gail, and Claudette explains that while she was technically executive chef, its actually Chriss team, and she is but his humble executive servant. She never even wanted to be executive chef, executive chef-dom was thrust upon her! Could it be that Claudette is  throwing someone under the bus? Chris chimes in to say it is all his fault, and Fatima pointedly praises his integrity, Claudette, while Tom fantasizes about his retirement from this show. Hell boat more. Tom loves boats.

In the present, it is time to make a decision, so Claudette must pack her knives (again) and go (again). But even in defeat, Claudettes Claudette-like spirit cannot be broken. The judges were wrong. I hope theyre kicking themselves in the ass for this, she sniffs. Its really pathetic, because I know that the flavors Im bringing and my story is unique. If Top Chef wants a vanilla Top Chef, theyre doing a good job. On some level, as she vanishes into the Colorado ether, it is hard not to admire her.



Haiti - Social : Donation of nearly 6,000 tons of rice from Japan





Wednesday in Lafiteau (Cabaret), as part of the "KR 2016" food assistance project in Japan, was held at the Food Storage Center of the Development Assistance Monetization Office (BMPAD), the official delivery ceremony of 5,776 metric tons of rice (about 192,000 30 kg bags).



This ceremony took place in the presence of, among others, Aime Ignace Saint Fleur, Director General of BMPAD, Japan's Ambassador in Haiti, Yoshiaki Hatta, representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Planning and Economy.



This new delivery is the 27th food aid from Japan to Haiti since 1986 underlined Ambassador Yoshiaki Hatta in his speech.



This donation of rice worth approximately US $ 3 million will be monetized and the funds generated will be used for the execution and implementation of many socio-economic projects, particularly in the education, health, energy and sanitation explained Fils Aime Ignace Saint Fleur.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23328-haiti-japan-$34m-donation-for-the-croix-des-missions-and-the-route-neuve-bridges.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-22852-haiti-notice-arrival-of-japanese-rice.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-21250-icihaiti-japan-donation-of-more-than-150-000-bags-of-fertilizer.html



HL/ HaitiLibre





















Haiti - Social : Raquel Pelissier visits the faculty of medicine of the UEH





Thursday, Stephanie Auguste, the Minister of Haitians Living Abroad accompanied by the first runner-up of Miss Universe 2016, Raquel Pelissier, visited the 25 students in training of the first class of optometrists of the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Haiti, to strengthen ties between Haitians from abroad and those living in Haiti. This visit was attended by other members of the faculty deanship and Raquel's mother.



The Minister Auguste did not hide her emotion at the sight of these these young students, future health professionals, who reminded him of her years at the Faculty of Medicine, encouraged them to go all the way to their dreams and to work for the positive transformation of Haiti.



Raquel Pelissier, who is preparing an optometrist's degree in Spain where she lives, shared her experiences in the field with her compatriots and discussed other topics related to youth and the image of Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre

















President Tran Dai Quang welcomes US Secretary of Defence James Mattis in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)



Lauding the US ministers official visit, President Quang expressed his belief that the trip will contribute to developing Vietnam-US relations more practically, in line with their comprehensive partnership for peace, prosperity and development of each country as well as in the region and the world.

The State leader noted with pleasure that the bilateral defence cooperation has been deployed in a diverse, practical and effective manner in accordance with a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation signed in 2011, a Joint Vision Statement on defence ties signed in 2015, an action plan for 2018-2020, and agreements reached by their senior leaders.

The President affirmed that Vietnam will fully and effectively cooperate with the US in searching for remains of US missing-in-action soldiers.

President Quang asked the US to coordinate with Vietnam in carrying out a dioxin decontamination project at Bien Hoa airport, to deliver the next Hamilton-class patrol vessel to Vietnam in 2019, and to support Vietnam in launching a level-2 field hospital to the UN peace-keeping mission in South Sudan in 2018.

The two sides should work together closely in organising the visit to Vietnam by a US aircraft carrier in March 2018, while strengthening collaboration in search, rescue and natural disaster response activities, law enforcement at sea, personnel training, military medicine and defence industry, he said.

Mattis said that the US attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and will work with Vietnam in boosting cooperation in all fields.

Holding that the defence cooperation between the two countries is growing effectively, he said that the US is working hard, together with Vietnam, to dealing with war aftermaths such as dioxin decontamination and searching for missing US servicemen.

Regarding regional and international matters, the minister affirmed that the US will support Vietnams active role in the ASEAN as well as multilateral forums within the ASEAN framework.

The US will continue backing Vietnam and regional countries in observing the rights to freedom of navigation and aviation in line with international law for common prosperity, Mattis said.

President Quang said he was delighted at the positive and practical progress of Vietnam-US relations in all bilateral, regional and international aspects, and welcomed the USs commitment to long-term cooperation for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Indo-Pacific region.

In the regional and international aspect, President Quang suggested the two sides continue consulting and coordinating closely with each other at multilateral forums, especially those chaired by the ASEAN.

The President also appreciated the US for its effective cooperation and assistance to Vietnams force joining UN peace-keeping operations over the past years, suggesting that the two sides continue working together in the work./.



Haiti - Education : Launch of School Engineering Contest on Risk Reduction





This Friday at the Departmental Emergency Operations Center (COUD), the Departmental Coordination of Risk Management and Disasters (GRD) of the North will proceed to the launch of the 2nd edition of School Engineering on risk reduction.



This inter-school contest will be broadcast on television in Cap-Haitien.



Several themes will be addressed in order to raise awareness the general population and children in particular on risk management, environmental protection and the inclusion of people with disabilities.



This week in the North as a prelude to the competition, the departmental communication cell is conducting a major awareness campaign in the school environment to share some knowledge with children. 12 schools in the first two cycles of basic education are directly targeted.



HL/ HaitiLibre

















The week that was

By Jo Gilbert

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.



Top Stories: Awards, TV deals and investment made for an optimistic raft of news for the trade this week.

An announcement from London Wine Fair organisers revealed further partnerships for this years fair, this time in the form of The Champagne Bureau UK, which will be hosting a one-day event on May 22.

This week also marked a big step for German Pinot Noir which is getting its own dedicated tasting in March  German wine distributor, Howard Ripley and distributor ABS (Awin Barratt Siegel) are due to jointly host the tasting.

Catch up with our top stories on the links below.

Oz opportunity: It was all eyes on Australia this week with the Australia Day Tasting  the largest celebration of Australian wine outside of OZ  stopping off in three locations around the UK.

Competition from China and winemakers upping their premium game was on everyones lips at ADT event at Londons Victoria House on Tuesday, from the briefing given by Wine Australia CEO Andreas Clark to the likes of Alliance Wine and Broadland Wineries who are all making moves to secure to their future in this lucrative category.

Its also Australia Day worldwide today, so to celebrate, heres a round-up of our coverage this week.



Analysis and Insights: Exclusive Kingsland WinePro research identified a need for innovation and flexibility in the wine trade, while Spanish champions Moreno Wines talked clocking 50 years in the business.

We also looked low and no alcohol wine  and how waistband- and hangover-friendly alternatives are fast becoming one of 2018s top trends.



People and Opinion: This week columnist Jerry Lockspeiser asked the question weve all been wondering: what wine would you drink in an igloo?









ADT: Aussie alternatives

By Jo Gilbert

An assortment of varietals continued to challenge the Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Riesling quo at Tuesdays Australia Day Tasting in London, showcasing an ongoing innovative streak when it comes to plantings and blends.

Alongside the tried and tested Italians - Viognier, championed by Negociants under the Yalumba brand, and also Nebbiolo and Sangiovese  there was a healthy spattering of Barossa Tempranillo (Yalumba and Running with Bulls) and Malbec (Vinemeind Clare Valley) with some influence coming from Gruner Veltliner  Austrias premiere grape.

For Ben Turner, UK marketing manager at Australian Vintage (McGuigan), Riesling, Pinot Noir and Malbec are garnering the most excitement in the lab at the moment, alongside work already done to fine tune Semillon and Gruner Veltliner under the Nepenthe brand, newly returned to the UK at the end of last year.

Also flying under the radar but impressing nonetheless was Grenache, with several major suppliers eager to introduce their wines to prospective clients at ADT.

Advocates include Alliance Wines Giles Cooke MW, who based Alliances own-production project  Adelaide Hills' Thistledown Wine Company  on Grenache and who is also behind the Riverland Old Vine project, working with Ashley Ratcliffe from Ricca Terra Farms to make the older vineyards in the Riverland sustainable for the long term.

Thistledowns newest release, Shes Electric McLaren Vale Grenache 2017, is made from a plot of half-destroyed vines, which, having partly met their end in a fire involving an unlucky bird and a power line, makes for an amusing back story (and which tells itself pretty accurately on the label).

We made our name in the 2000s with several Australian boutique wineries and Australia continues to be a very significant category for us, Cooke told Harpers.

With Thistledown, we have an important anchor in Australia, especially as the whole of Australia, New Zealand and Asia is growing. I think the growers value the fact were not just there in Australia  were working around the world to promote the wines and Australian-grown Grenache, which should really be the main grape variety for South Australia. Its drought resident, ripens late which is vital in heat and is very food friendly.

Also behind the GSM Rhone Valley varietals, is Matthew Clark with Shingleback Red Knot McLaren Vale Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre 2015, which for Australian buyer Judith Nicholson, sits nicely alongside Chalk Hill Italian inspired range as part of a grape-focused portfolio.

Australia has done well selling on grape variety, she said. Consumers might not know a Chianti is Sangiovese, but in Oz, they will sell it as Sangiovese, which also helps to build recognition of these grapes internationally. These wines play to Australias strengths.

At the back of great grape talk loomed an ever-imposing trio of Brexit, harvest issues and increased competition from China and the US, which have continued to push price rises on imports from Oz over the past year or so.

China and the US seem more Old World focused, said Nicholson, although she predicted that with a lack of wine everywhere, this might be the year big brands like Penfolds make their mark.

The UK will continue to be a strong market for Australia, she continued. When winemakers first started exporting in the 1960s, the UK was how they made their money. Theyre still really protective of the UK as a market.

Announcing the most recent export figures from Wine Australia at ADT, CEO Andreas Clark said a growing demand for premium Australian wine, particularly in northeast Asia, increased the value of bottled wine exports by 15% to AU$2.1 billion.

Wine Australia is clearly keen to push the countrys premium agenda, and looking back at the innovative streak shining bright at Tuesdays tasting, this should be more than achievable  if everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet.

As Cooke observed, in general terms: Australia need to be more interesting, especially the big brands which are making the vast majority of the wines. The category cant afford to be complacent.







It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discoverStatement regarding Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo case

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Jan 25, 2018

HONOLULU, HI  This morning, Maui District Court Judge Blaine Kobayashi issued an order recalling the bench warrant in State v. Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo, case number 2DCW-17-0002038. Therefore, Mr. Kaeo is not subject to arrest. In addition, a hearing has been scheduled regarding the use of a Hawaiian language interpreter.

The Judiciary will be reviewing its policies regarding the provision of Hawaiian language interpreters.

* * * * *

Judiciary Announces Hawaiian Language Interpreter Policy

News Release from Hawaii Judiciary, Jan 26, 2018

HONOLULU  The Judiciary today announced the following policy regarding Hawaiian language interpreters during courtroom proceedings:

The Judiciary will provide or permit qualified Hawaiian language interpreters to the extent reasonably possible when parties in courtroom proceedings choose to express themselves through the Hawaiian language.

The Judiciary will develop implementation procedures for this policy, and welcomes input from the community. Comments may be sent to pao@courts.hawaii.gov . Individuals who are interested in serving as a court interpreter should contact the Office on Equality and Access to the Courts at (808) 539-4860 for further information. Basic orientation workshops for court interpreters of all languages are scheduled across the State on the following dates and locations:

Oahu: Feb. 24-25 or March 24-25 at the Supreme Court Building in downtown Honolulu

Kauai: Feb. 13-14 at the Kauai Courthouse in Lihue

Maui: Feb. 28-March 1 at the Maui Driver Education Office in the Main Street Promenade Building

Hawaii Island (Kona): March 6-7 at the Kona Driver Education Office in the Kealakekua Business Plaza

Hawaii Island (Hilo): March 15-16 at the Hilo Courthouse

The deadline to register is January 31, 2018.

* * * * *

OHA statement on judges denial of olelo Hawaii use in Maui court hearing

Statement of OHA Chief Executive Officer Kamanaopono Crabbe Jan 24, 2018

The Office of Hawaiian Affairs is deeply disturbed and offended that Hawaiian studies assistant professor Kaleikoa Kaeo was prohibited from defending himself in Olelo Hawaii during his court hearing today and that a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. Punishing Native Hawaiians for speaking our native language invokes a disturbing era in Hawaiis history when Olelo Hawaii was prohibited in schools, a form of cultural suppression that substantially contributed to the near extinction of the Hawaiian language.

It is disappointing that the state government continues to place barriers on Olelo Hawaii, 40 years after Hawaiis constitution was amended to recognize the Hawaiian language as an official language of the state. We demand that the State Judiciary find an immediate solution to this issue.

* * * * *

Judiciary Drops arrest warrant over refusal to speak English

KITV: Fifty-one-year-old defendant Samuel Kaleikoa Kaeo identified he was present in court, speaking Hawaiian instead of English. When presiding Judge Blaine Kobayashi told Kaeo he couldn't understand him, Kaeo continued to speak in his native tongue. The judge refused to recognize Kaeo's presence in court and issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

On Thursday, the Hawaii State Judiciary dropped the arrest warrant. Judge Kobayashi issued an order recalling the bench warrant. Also, a hearing has been scheduled regarding the use of a Hawaiian language interpreter. The Judiciary will be reviewing its policies regarding the provision of Hawaiian language interpreters.

According to court records, Kaeo was granted a Hawaiian language translator more than a dozen times for past petty misdemeanor proceedings. Kaeo is able to speak English, and in this case, the judge ordered the trial to be held in English and did not provide a translator..

read  arrest warrant over refusal to speak English

Big Q: Do you agree with the Hawaii Judiciarys decision to allow Hawaiian language interpreters for legal proceedings if participants choose to speak only in Hawaiian?

SA Comment : When Kalei was growing up on Maui he only spoke english or pidgin. His dad is part filipino and Hawaiian, his mom is from England. Only after he was at UH, he started to change.

SA: Warrant dropped for protester who refused to speak English

SA: Kihehe wale aku ka poe Hawaii i ke au ia Maleka

MN: The prosecution noted that Kaeo, an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii Maui College, is fluent in English.

KITV: Rallies across the state call attention to Hawaiian languageHawaiis False Missile Alarm Exposed Critical Weaknesses. Heres What Must Be Done.

by Steven Bucci, Heritage Foundation Daily Signal, January 24, 2018

The false alarm of a missile attack on Hawaii and the completely inadequate civil defense response deserve much more than snickers and head shakes. These problems must be fixed.

The fiasco Jan. 13 was indeed caused by a simple human error: A state operations center worker hit the wrong button.

Thats easy to fix. A few adjustments to their check lists and maybe moving the drill button a bit further away from the warning button will solve it.

But theres much more to fix. It was clear to anyone who has worked any level of civil defense planning, or who has lived through the drills of the 1950s and 60s, that after the false alarm went out, no one in Hawaii had any idea what to do.

One news report showed a father putting his child into a sewer manhole. Another reporter interviewed a tourist who was told to shelter in place in your room, which happened to be on the 13th floor of his hotel. People were running everywherecitizens and tourists alike.

No one had developed any plan of action, no plan had been disseminated, and no one had conducted any drills in preparation. All of that should now be done, ASAP.

Not to be gloomy, but truth be told, I am not sure if any of these things, even when they get done (and they should get done), will help all that much.

The Hawaiian Islands are not that big, and there are a lot of folks who live and visit therea few million citizens, plus hundreds of thousands of tourists. We now know that the hide-under-your-desk drills of my youth and the Cold War bomb shelters would not help that much, if at all.

Hawaii is North Korean dictator Kim Jong Uns most likely target, and Hawaii is not ready.

Kim has made specific threats to Hawaii. He has also threatened the U.S. territory of Guam and the U.S. mainland.

But unlike Hawaii, Guam is not a state and is therefore a less high-profile target. It has a small fraction of Hawaiis population, and while having some U.S. military stationed there, Hawaii has far moreU.S. Pacific Command. This warfighting headquarters would lead any U.S. action against Kims dictatorial regime.

Hitting the U.S. mainland would be a huge home run for Kim, but the technology of delivering a nuclear-tipped ballistic missile here is tougher given the added range, making it a less likely bet. So Hawaii may be Kims sweet spot.

A good civil defense plan is great, but on an island, it is not sufficient. If Hawaii cannot really do much to protect its people when a nuke hits, the only real solution is to make darned sure that a missile never gets through.

If Hawaii is the most likely target, it should be recognized as such and given more protection.

Right now, the Navy has several Aegis ships placed near and around Hawaii. The missile defense capabilities of these floating combat systems are formidable, but the percent-chance of a missile slipping past them may still be too high to tolerate, particularly if the number of Aegis-capable ships is down due to other duties.

While it is certainly preferable to shoot down Kims missiles in the early boost or midcourse phaseswhich would be far away from our peopleHawaiis last chance at protection would be to kill a missile on its way down, during the terminal phase.

There are no options after that. Given this, we should employ the best means possible to maximize the chance of knocking out a missile in the sky. The best, cheapest, and fastest way to do that is already available.

Several years ago, Hawaii was used as a test bed for Aegis Ashore, a missile defense system that America developed for deployment in Eastern Europe, to protect our allies there from Irans ballistic missiles.

The entire lash-up was tested and proven in Hawaii. It has since been placed in Europe, and it works. The system can be provided with a radar and turned operational within a matter of weeks.

This is all proven technology, not pie-in-the-sky future theory. The Aegis ships are superb, but they move around and have a number of requirements. A shore-based system would be there all the time.

Whichever missile defense option is chosen for Hawaii, these systems would radically upgrade the defensive capabilities of the island. America owns these systems now, and needs only to move them to Hawaii and put them into operation.Texas town devastated in 2013 fertiliser plant explosion to receive $10 million to settle damages claims

The city of West, Texas, where a fertiliser plant exploded killing 15 people, has settled its claims with manufacturers and distributors of the product that exploded. The towns lawsuit accused the companies of negligence in selling highly explosive ammonium nitrate to West Fertilizer, owners of the plant. The companies denied responsibility but settled before the case went for trial on January 16.

Aftermath of West Fertilizer plant explosion - Image: CSB

The blast the night of April 17, 2013, killed 15, injured more than 160, destroyed or damaged more than 150 buildings and caused extensive damage to local infrastructure.



Ten volunteer firefighters who responded when they received reports of a small fire at the plant, two men helping them and three nearby residents were killed. The incident led to questions over the states ability to oversee the storage of ammonium nitrate, the risks facing rural fire departments and their communities from stored chemicals, and more generally the effectiveness of federal chemical safety regulations.



The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said in a report that the city, state and various federal agencies all could have taken steps that would have made the disaster less likely.



In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a law regulating storage and inspection of ammonium nitrate and granting authority to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and local fire marshals to effect and enforce such regulation.



The companies will pay the city $10.44 million to compensate the city for damages not covered by insurance or governmental grants. Under the terms of the agreement, CF Industries will pay $6.4 million, El Dorado Chemical $3.9 million and Adair Grain $143,000.



Adair Grain, which owned West Fertilizer, only had a $1 million insurance policy. The total cost of the damage from the explosion has been estimated at more than $100 million.



West Mayor Tommy Muska told KCEN-TV he was very satisfied with the settlement, but that it had been a long time coming.



The city was required as a municipality to disclose the terms of the settlement, while private damages claims have been largely confidential.



In 2016, government investigators determined the fire that triggered the blast was deliberately set.

Tianjin, a coastal city in north China, plans to deepen its opening up by constructing a high-standard pilot free trade zone (FTZ) this year and applying to establish a free port, Chinanews.com reported Wednesday, citing the acting mayors work report.

The coastal city will promote comprehensive opening up externally and internally, and better improve its logistics services for international trade, said Zhang Guoqing, acting mayor of Tianjin, when delivering a government work report at the opening ceremony of the 17th Municipal Peoples Congress.

Fortune 500 companies will be encouraged to locate headquarters or centers for research and development, settlement, and logistics in Tianjin, noted Zhang. Tianjin will strengthen cooperation with provinces around the Bohai Bay and eastern coastal area, coordinate with other economic zones, and build Tianjin into a favored environment for investment.

[ Editor: WPY ]The Chinese-edition of Michelin Guide, the Black Pearl Restaurant Guide, was recently released by Meituan-Dianping, Chinas largest group buying website, Chinese newspaper Economic Daily reported on Jan. 25.

As rare as black pearls, the site selected 330 highly recommended restaurants from a total of 7 million restaurants on its platform.

Zhang Chuan, senior vice president of the site, disclosed that the restaurants were selected based on comprehensive evaluation of service management, supporting facilities, and cultural inheritance of the restaurants.

The average customer at the restaurants spends about 677 yuan ($107) and roughly 30 percent of them spend between 500-1,000 yuan.

However, price is not the sole standard in selection of the restaurants, as 25 of the restaurants on the list average less than 100 yuan per customer.

Wang Xing, CEO of the site, said that the guide is intended to promote the effect of the quality of the restaurants, promote better services, and most importantly, let people around the world appreciate the beauty of Chinese culture through Chinese delicacies.

[ Editor: WPY ]National joint-stock company Naftogaz Ukrainy on Monday, January 22, repaid the $300 million credit line of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, meeting all its commitments under the agreement signed in October 2015, the company has said in a press release.

The funds of the credit revolving line of the EBRD were secured by the state. They were used by the company to buy natural gas for the needs of Ukrainian consumers during the 2015-2018 heating seasons.

Under the agreement 5.3 billion cubic meters of gas under the EBRD procedures were bought on the western border of Ukraine.

Naftogaz recalled that one of the conditions for the provision of the loan by the EBRD was the implementation of the action plan reforming corporate governance at Naftogaz by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. In December 2017, the government appointed the new supervisory board, although the documents that authorize the supervisory board to act in line with the standards of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have not yet approved.

Naftogaz said that in autumn 2017 the government did not ask the EBRD to extend the current agreement.

Earlier Managing Director of the EBRD in Eastern Europe and Caucasus Francis Malige told Interfax-Ukraine that the opening of the new facility will depend on relation of Naftogaz with the Ukrainian government and on the corporate governance progress.

Malige said that it is not enough to create a supervisory board with the majority of independent members and it is not enough that Naftogaz can reform its corporate governance on its own.During the past three weeks, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law vast new powers for the NSA and the FBI to spy on innocent Americans and selectively to pass on to law enforcement the fruits of that spying.

Those fruits can now lawfully include all fiber-optic data transmitted to or in the United States, such as digital recordings of all landline and mobile telephone calls and copies in real time of all text messages and emails and banking, medical and legal records electronically stored or transmitted.

All this bulk surveillance had come about because the National Security Agency convinced federal judges meeting in secret they should authorize it. Now Congress and the president have made it the law of the land.

This enactment came about notwithstanding the guarantee of the right to privacy  the right to be left alone  articulated in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and elsewhere. Though the surveillance expansion passed the Senate by just one vote, it apparently marks a public policy determination that the Constitution can be ignored or evaded by majority consent whenever it poses an obstacle to the governments purposes.

The language of the Fourth Amendment is an intentional obstacle to the government in deference to human dignity and personal liberty. It reads: The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

This specific language was expressly written to prevent the bulk suspicionless surveillance the British government had used against the colonists. British courts in London issued general warrants to British soldiers in America, authorizing them to search wherever they wished and seize whatever they found. These warrants were not based on probable cause, and they did not describe the place to be searched or the people or things to be seized.

The Colonial reaction to the British use of general warrants was to take up arms and fight the American Revolution.

Last week, Congress and the president chose to ignore our history and the human values underlying the right to privacy. Those values recognize the individual pursuit of happiness is best actualized in an atmosphere free from the governments prying eyes. Stated differently, the authors and ratifiers of the Fourth Amendment recognized a person is not fully happy when being watched all the time by the government.

Yet the constitutional values and timeless lessons of history were not only rejected by Congress but also rejected in ignorance, and the ignorance was knowingly facilitated by the members of the House Intelligence Committee.

Here is the back story.

The recent behavior of the leadership of the House Intelligence Committee constitutes incompetence at best and misconduct in office at worst. The leadership sat on knowledge of NSA and FBI surveillance abuses some committee members have characterized as career-ending, jaw-dropping and KGB-like, while both houses of Congress  ignorant of what their 22 House Intelligence Committee colleagues knew  voted to expand NSA and FBI surveillance authorities.

Stated differently, the 22 members of the committee knowingly kept from their 500 or so congressional colleagues incendiary information that, had it been revealed in a timely manner, would certainly have affected the outcome of the vote  particularly in the Senate, where a switch of just one vote would have prevented passage of this expansion of bulk surveillance authorization.

Why were all members of Congress but the 22 on this committee kept in the dark about NSA and FBI lawlessness? Why didnt the committee reveal to Congress what it claims is too shocking to discuss publicly before Congress voted on surveillance expansion? Where is the outrage that this information was known to a few in the House and kept from the remainder of Congress while it ignorantly voted to assault the right to privacy?

The new law places too much power in the hands of folks who even the drafters of it have now acknowledged are inherently unworthy of this trust. I argued last week that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes was up to something when he publicly attacked the trustworthiness of the NSA and FBI folks whose secret powers he later inexplicably voted to expand. Now we know what he was talking about.

What can be done about this?

The House Intelligence Committee should publicly reveal the contents of its four-page report that summarizes the NSA and FBI abuses. If that fails, a courageous member of the committee should go to the floor of the House  as Sen. Dianne Feinstein once took the CIA torture report to the floor of the Senate  and reveal not just the four-page report but also the underlying data upon which the report is based. Members of Congress enjoy full immunity for anything said on the House or Senate floor, yet personal courage is often in short supply.

But there is a bigger picture here than House Intelligence Committee members sitting on valuable intelligence and keeping it from their colleagues. The American people are entitled to know how the government in whose hands we have reposed the Constitution for safekeeping has used and abused the powers we have given to it. The American people are also entitled to know who abused power and who knew about it and remained silent.

Does the government work for us, or do we work for the government? In theory, of course, the government works for us. In practice, it treats us as children. Why do we accept this from a government to which we have consented? Democracy dies in darkness. So does personal freedom.Poroshenko hopes Ukraine will get next tranche from IMF by April

Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko expects that by April the country will receive the next tranche from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as Ukraine has already fulfilled 80% of its commitments.

"Probably 'fingers crossed' before April we will have a mission and have the next tranche," Poroshenko said on Thursday in an interview with Bloomberg TV in Davos.

In his words, Ukraine has "already fulfilled 80%" of its obligations.

Poroshenko said the Ukrainian government and people are ready to continue cooperation with the IMF.

Earlier i

Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program by May, which will allow it to receive the next tranche of the loan.

The finance minister said that following the meeting of Ukraine's president and IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde in Davos on January 24, the whole list of obligations for obtaining the next tranche of the EFF loan has been finally agreed.SAN FRANCISCO (J. the Jewish News of Northern California via JTA)-"Az men est khazer, zol es shoyn rinen ibern moyl" goes an old Yiddish saying: "If you're going to eat pork, eat it until your mouth drips."

Sunday night at Brick & Mortar Music Hall here, the mouths of rabbis and foodies dripped with Peanut Butter Pie with Bacon, a Rabbit Crepinette and a Pulled Pork Potato Kugel with barbecue sauce.

The occasion was the "Trefa Banquet 2.0," a delicious spread of treif (nonkosher food) made by local Jewish chefs and served up with a side of Jewish learning and-get this!-a communal bracha (blessing) for treif led by a local rabbi.

During what was practically a seder of liturgy, symbolic foods and a narrative recounting of an important Jewish legend, a foundational myth of American Judaism was memorialized, deconstructed-and then eaten.

The original Trefa Banquet was an 1883 event at which leaders of the early American Reform movement made a bold, antagonistic statement by serving nonkosher dishes to commemorate the ordination of the first graduating class of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. As the story is often told, a group of rabbis stormed out in protest and ran off to start the Conservative movement.

But as Jewish studies professor Rachel Gross of San Francisco State University told the crowd Sunday night, that story is only kind of true.

The San Francisco event was organized by Alix Wall, a contributing editor to J. who writes its "Organic Epicure" column, as part of the Illuminoshi, a not-so-secret organization she founded for local Jews working in the food industry. Following Gross' talk, an array of Bay Area chefs presented a buffet meal of treif, treif and more treif.

When I first arrived, I struck up a conversation with Rabbi Camille Angel, formerly of Congregation Shaar Zahav, San Francisco's historically gay synagogue. She proudly identifies as a "second-generation lobster-eating rabbi."

Her dad was ordained in 1934 at HUC in Cincinnati, the site of the original Trefa Banquet, and she grew up knowing all about that notorious meal, Angel said.

Lobster held a special place in her family. It was, she told me, "our family celebratory meal, but always at home. We only ate lobster out when we were in Maine." Well, naturally.

They even had a bracha for lobster: "'Thank you for all gifts of land and sea,' motzi-then crack it open!"

Angel said her family delighted in this sort of thing.

"My mother loved sending me to school during Passover with a lunch of matzah with ham and cheese," she said. This led to teasing from another Jewish classmate, who felt this somehow diminished Angel's Jewish cred.

In the middle of our conversation, Angel called out to a nearby figure, the only person besides myself wearing a kippah.

"Rabbi, what do you have there?" she asked.

Rabbi Sydney Mintz of Reform Congregation Emanu-El in San Francisco looked up.

"Bacon!" she said cheerfully, popping another tiny chocolate cup filled with peanut butter pudding and bacon into her mouth.

Then the learning began.

"Our story starts on July 11, 1883, one of the most infamous days in American Jewish history," Gross said, setting the scene.

"It was a hot and humid evening in Cincinnati. Two hundred and fifteen guests had assembled at the Highland House, a resort and restaurant, overlooking the Ohio River. They included a who's who list of the most elite Jewish leaders in the United States, as well as local non-Jewish civic leaders, Christian clergy and professors from the University of Cincinnati."

The banquet was an elaborate, ostentatious affair: The guests were treated to "an orchestra and elaborate printed menu adorned with bright blue feathers that promised nine courses of French cuisine paired with five alcoholic drinks." (The French on the menu, she pointed out, is terrible.) "The menu's list of dishes, its language and its visual appearance all suggest how the celebration was part of the excessive banquet culture of its era."

Most of Gross' material came from the research and work of Rabbi Lance Sussman of Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Following his lead, Gross argued that to most of the guests, there was nothing remarkable about the food.

"Almost every violation of kashrut was in evidence-seafood, nonkosher meat, mixing milk and meat. This tells us, and we know from an enormous amount of other historical evidence-including cookbooks written and used by Jews-that it was normal for many American Jews in the 19th century not to keep kosher," she said. "I do not think that this menu was intended to be provocative."

It is not until Rabbi David Philipson's eyewitness account of the event written 60 years later in a 1941 autobiography that the myth of the founding of the Conservative movement creeps into the story.

"Terrific excitement ensued when two rabbis rose from their seats and rushed from the room," he wrote. "Shrimp had been placed before them as the opening course of the elaborate menu." (In fact, the first course included clams, not shrimp.) Gross said Philipson went on to connect that moment to the founding of the Conservative movement.

Yet the historical evidence points to a different origin of the Conservative movement: the Reform movement's 1885 Pittsburgh Platform, in which, among other things, they renounced kashrut as an archaic practice, "entirely foreign to our present mental and spiritual state."

The following year, the Conservative movement's flagship body, the Jewish Theological Seminary, was founded.

But the legend of the Trefa Banquet makes for a terrific story.

"The fact that American Jews still tell the story of that night in Cincinnati in 1883 tells us that debates about food practices have been central to the ways that American Jews think about themselves, the stories they tell about themselves and the ways they organize themselves," Gross said in closing. "American Jews have always had a wide range of eating habits, defining what it means to eat Jewishly in a broad array of practices."

Before we got to eating, Mintz came up to offer a bracha, substituting "shehakol" for "lechem" in the traditional motzi blessing over bread. In this version, God is praised for bringing forth "everything" from the earth, not just bread-and not just kosher food.

Like Angel's lobster-loving rabbinic line, many of the Jews at the dinner tied their treif observance to their family's Jewish heritage.

Wall, for example, told the crowd that her mother was a child during the Holocaust, hidden with a family of Poles; she grew up eating what they ate, including plenty of pork. In this family, an essential 20th-century Jewish story of Holocaust survival is tied to pork. So for Wall, "keeping treif" (if I may coin a phrase) connected her to her Jewish history, just as keeping kosher does for others.

Oded Shakked of Longboard Vineyards told the crowd of growing up in Israel, where his family would go to Jaffa for cheap or even free shrimp.

"The fishermen just tossed them aside!" he said. Again, a family treif tradition.

"I didn't grow up with bacon," chef Ari Feingold told me as he carefully inserted more bits of bacon into the peanut butter dessert.

I met Bryan Tublin of the recently opened San Francisco restaurant Kitava. His restaurant is "fast casual" but gluten free, and focuses on "healthy fats and oils," "mindful meats" and "conscientious sourcing." Tublin doesn't keep kosher, but restaurants like his offer up food with fussy and exacting standards that rival anything in kashrut.

Wall told me the story of a Maryland Jewish family in which everyone loved crab except the man of the house. When the family ate crab, he would outline a mechitza (or more of an eruv?) made of silverware to separate his kosher meal from the crab-spattered table.

The menu at the original Trefa Banquet.

As Mintz told me earlier in the evening, "I would rather eat food that's humanely and ethically raised than kosher." For some Jews, ethically produced food is their kashrut, and they're willing to say so publicly. In rejecting kashrut, some progressive Jews keep boundary setting at the heart of their conscientious approach to food.

Judaism-and the history of the Reform movement in particular-is full of this: not a transgression of religion, but transgression as religion. And as a Reform Jew by heritage and an enthusiastic chronicler of our religion in all its unusual forms, I love it.

This piece was originally published by J. The Jewish News of Northern California as an installment of David AM. Wilensky's "Jew in The Pew" column on Jewish ritual and religion around the San Francisco Bay Area.(JTA)-Moshe Holtzberg, who lost both his parents in a 2008 terror attack at the Chabad House in Mumbai, visited his old room accompanied by the Indian nanny who saved his life and by Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.

Moshe, 11, known even now in the Indian media as "Baby Moshe," found the marks on his wall where his mother had measured his height as a toddler. Netanyahu marked his present height on the same wall during their visit on Thursday.

It is the first time that Moshe, who lives in Israel with his grandparents, has returned to the building since being spirited away by his nanny during the attack.

In July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries; it was the first visit to Israel by an Indian head of government. During the visit, Modi met with Moshe, who said he missed India. Modi invited the boy to return at any time. Netanyahu offered to bring Moshe with him on his next trip to India.

Sandra Samuel, the Indian nanny who ran out of the Chabad House carrying 3-year-old Moshe, accompanied him to Israel, remaining with him out of loyalty and love. She also returned with him on his visit to India.

The Chabad House attack was one of several carried out in Mumbai over four days in November 2008 by a Pakistani Islamist group that left 166 dead-including Moshe's parents, Rabbi Gavriel and Rivkah Holtzberg-and hundreds injured. In addition to the Holtzbergs, four other Jewish visitors to the Chabad House were killed in the attack.

Natives of Israel, the Holtzbergs moved to Mumbai in 2002, where they opened the city's first Chabad House, a synagogue and community center for Jewish residents and tourists.

During Thursday's event, Moshe and Netanyahu unveiled a plaque in memory of the attack. The top floors remain in the same condition as they were after the attack, with bullet holes marking the walls, as part of a memorial and education center that Chabad calls a "living memorial" to the Holtzbergs and the other victims.

Following the unveiling of the plaque and museum, Moshe spoke to the guests and reporters gathered in the building. He thanked Netanyahu for inviting him to India and invited Netanyahu to return with him in two years to celebrate his bar mitzvah.

"My heart beats, my heart is moved, to return to my parents' home, the Chabad House that has been rebuilt and refurbished," the boy said. "Here I was born, and here I spent two years. I have absorbed my beloved parents' sense of mission, to leave the Promised Land on behalf of the rebbe. From the lowest of places. The house that is open to everyone, to Jews from around the world, who sought a warm corner. My beloved parents did what they did here for the Land of Israel."

Netanyahu said to Moshe: "The Jewish people have been with you throughout and there is a good reason for this. What happened here expressed many things. It expressed hatred of Israel and love of Israel. Your dear parents' love of Israel, that of the Chabad emissaries here and around the world, which embraces every Jew and has a home for every Jew everywhere, including here in the heart of Mumbai."

Following the event, Netanyahu met with leaders of the local Jewish community. The visit to Mumbai was the last stop on the prime minister's five-day visit to India.Estonia calls on Ukraine to exclude it from list of offshore zones

Estonian Prime Minister Juri Ratas has called on the Ukrainian authorities to exclude Estonia from the list of offshore zones, as it was included by mistake, the press service of the Estonian government told the BNS agency on Thursday, January 25.

"The inclusion of Estonia by the Ukrainian authorities in the list of offshore zones in Estonia is an unfortunate mistake, which should be immediately corrected," Ratas said during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman and in Davos, Switzerland, at a personal meeting with Ukrainian Finance Minister Oleksandr Danyliuk.

According to Ratas, "the current situation means that Estonian enterprises operating in Ukraine have unreasonable financial additional obligations and for this reason they bear daily losses."

"This is an unacceptable situation, and the Estonian state has to defend the interests of its entrepreneurs," he said.

He said that Tallinn learned about this situation at the beginning of the year, "and representatives of Estonia contacted the Ukrainian authorities trying to solve the problem."

"Estonia and Ukraine, as members of the OECD, agreed to exchange tax and financial information. For this reason, Ukraine should contact us when there are questions about the tax system and clearly discuss all misunderstandings," Ratas said.

"No other country in the world regards Estonia as an offshore zone. Estonia is a member of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a member of the European Union and our tax policy complies with all international requirements and standards, including the legislation of Ukraine," Ratas said.

According to the press service of the Estonian government, Groysman and Danyliuk said that they would deal with this topic. The finance minister promised to solve this situation.

"I hope this will happen as soon as possible," Ratas said.

As reported, on December 27, 2017, the Ukrainian government decided to add 22 new countries, including Estonia and Latvia, to the Ukrainian list of offshore zones. The official reason for including Estonia in the list was that Ukraine is considering the Estonian profit tax rate as zero because of the exemption of reinvested profit from taxes, Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht reported.(JNS)-A bomb was found, and then detonated in a controlled blast by IDF forces on Monday night at the Jewish holy site of Joseph's tomb in the West Bank city of Nablus, known biblically as Shechem.

The explosive device was spotted during a security check prior to the arrival of 1,000 Jewish worshippers to the site overnight. As the tomb is located within Palestinian-controlled territory, visits by Jewish worshippers are sporadic, take place exclusively during night-time hours, and must be fully coordinated with and supervised by the IDF.

The holy site has been firebombed on numerous occasions by local Palestinians, and Jewish visitors are often the targets of rock-throwing-even under IDF supervision. Palestinians threw stones at security forces overnight, damaging a bus. No injuries were reported.Celebrate Shabbat with the Synagogue that feels like family. Shabbat evening service led by Rabbi Karen Allen is on Friday, Feb. 9th at 7 p.m. An Oneg Shabbat will follow the service.

The synagogue is located at 315 North 13th St. in Leesburg, with the entrance on Center Street.

The Rabbis Torah Roundtable Discussion Group with Rabbi Karen Allen of Congregation Beth Sholom, will be held on Thursday, Feb. 15th at 11 a.m. in the conference room inside the library at the Sumter County Administration and Library Building (with the golden dome) at 7375 Powell Rd. (near Pinellas Plaza and 466A), Wildwood. The Rabbis Roundtable series explores the current Torah Portion and how it affects our daily lives. The roundtable provides a unique opportunity to talk with the rabbi as she leads an informal and interactive Torah study discussion.

More information is available on the synagogue website: http://bethsholomflorida.org/ or by calling the synagogue at 352-326-3692.The Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce building, site of the possible future home of the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center.

For three years the Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center Board of Directors had been looking for a building that could house the ever-growing museum. Built in 1986, the museum was expanded to twice its size in 1994. Now, with the many programs and exhibits held at the Center, it is bursting at the seams. Anyone who has ever gone to one of HMREC's programs knows how quickly the museum's auditorium/exhibit room fills to capacity. Plus, the area schools that bring up to 150 students to the Center, makes it crowded for anyone else who wants to view any of the other exhibits.

As of Monday, Jan. 22, the search for the new building was completed as the Orlando City Council voted unanimously to accept a proposal to lease the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, located at 75 S. Ivanhoe Blvd., to the Holocaust Center for 50 years at $1 per year.

"We had shared with the City our vision to move downtown several years ago, and Mayor Dyer and his team were both very supportive and also helpful," stated Mark Freid, outgoing president of the HMREC Board. "We looked at a couple different pieces of privately owned property that city leaders gave us guidance on. When those didn't work out, and the Chamber building became available, our conversations naturally evolved to a discussion about that building and the adjacent land as a possibility."

According to Pam Kancher, HMREC executive director, this is a "Memorandum of Understanding." In the agreement, the Center is responsible for $20 million in renovations to the building. The Center also plans to construct a 20,000-square-foot addition to the building for permanent interior exhibits and an auditorium.

Although the Orlando Sentinel stated that the museum would move into its new home in 2020, Kancher suspects it will take longer.

"It will take two to three years to raise the money," Kancher estimated, "and when we have enough money to 'turn dirt,' we will sign the lease and they will turn the keys over to us."

Kancher said that once they have the keys, it will take 18 months to two years to complete the renovations and additional build-on.

So for at least perhaps five years, "it's business as usual" at the Maitland location, said Kancher.

What will happen to the building currently located on the JCC/Federation campus? There is no debt owed to the Federation, according to Paul Lefton, Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando director of marketing and communication, the Holocaust Center owns the building.

"We are glad they are growing and will continue to work with them," Lefton stated. It is too early to make any decisions concerning what the Federation will do with the building.

The Center, which is currently 7,000 square feet, will be approximately 35,000 square feet at its new location. The museum will also have more exposure to the 66 million visitors to Orlando every year, which is a positive note to Thomas Chatmon, executive director of the Downtown Development Board and Community Redevelopment Agency, who is committed to bring culture and arts to downtown.

Mayor Buddy Dyer is also onboard with the agreement, calling it a "perfect fit" for the downtown area.

"Our move to downtown Orlando is significant for Central Florida and the Jewish community," Freid said. "It reflects our community's commitment to the values of respect and inclusion for all people, and that we can draw lessons from the Holocaust to bring those values to life, which is exactly what our founder, Tess Wise conveyed from day one."

Fund raising efforts have already begun.

"This project is truly about community, and that's why we're approaching the capital campaign effort a little differently," explained Freid. "Instead of a single campaign chair, this campaign is being led by a dedicated group of leaders that reflect the broad appeal, and what we expect to be broad support, for the new, expanded Holocaust Center."

HMREC at its present location on The Roth Family JCC campus.

The HMREC Board of Directors recently installed its new officers, with Ellen Lang elected as president. Lang is the daughter of HMREC founders, Abe and Tess Wise. The couple purchased the Jerusalem stone of the Memorial Wall of the present museum building and their son, Steven, who lives in Israel, facilitated the cutting of the stone in Israel. As executive director, Tess was always the moving force behind the museum and focused on it as a mother tends to her child. And now, her daughter will oversee the museum's expansion and new location.

"We are profoundly grateful to the City of Orlando for its generous support and making it possible for us to grow our physical space as well as our impact combating hate and preserving civil and human rights," Lang told the Heritage. "This process is the result of several years of strategic planning and evaluation. This new phase will take several years, but we believe becoming part of the downtown community will increase public accessibility as well as visibility of our work."Back by popular demand, the Congregation Ohev Shalom Sisterhood invites the community to "Learn and Create for a Cure" on Monday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m. at the synagogue. The cost is $5 for nonmembers of the Sisterhood.

Learn about Sharsheret, the only national organization supporting Jewish women and families facing breast and ovarian cancer, and its partnership with Women's League.

Attendees can also be artistic as they create their own works from artist Gary Rosenthal's Glass Ribbon Project collection (no artistic ability needed). Finished sculptures can be purchased for a discounted price, making each participant part of the cure.

As part of Ohev Sisterhood's and Florida Region's Mitzvah Project-Support the Girls, http://www.isupportthegirls.com-attendees may also bring new or gently used bras and/or feminine hygiene products that will be donated to local women's shelters.

A portion of the profits from these pieces are donated to help find a cure for breast and ovarian cancer.Leaders of several major American Jewish organizations have told JNS that they are supporting the Israeli government's decision to prevent the entry of foreign citizens who promote boycotts of Israel.

Israel's Ministry of Strategic Affairs on Jan. 7 released a preliminary list of 20 foreign organizations whose "central figures" will not be permitted to enter Israel because they have undertaken "significant, ongoing and consistent harm to Israel through advocating boycotts." There are six American groups on the list, including the American Friends Service Committee, American Muslims for Palestine, Code Pink, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), Students for Justice in Palestine and the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.

JVP Executive Director Rebecca Vilkomerson told JNS that until now, she has been traveling to Israel "approximately once a year, and those trips are usually a mix of personal visits and JVP work." Vilkomerson said the Israeli government "has not been in touch with us in terms of how they define JVP leadership," so it is not clear if the ban will apply only to JVP's senior staff or also to its other arms, such as its Academic Advisory Council.

Vilkomerson said there are "over 900 people on the [council]," but she declined to provide a list of their names. In the past, JVP press releases that mentioned the council stated that "the full list is available upon request."

A spokesperson for the Israeli Ministry of Strategic Affairs and Public Diplomacy told JNS that the determination regarding exactly who will be prevented from entering will be based on whether an individual engages in "ongoing, consistent, and significant action to promote the boycott, with each case being judge on its own merits." The spokesperson said an inter-ministerial team is still in the process of "formulating the criteria for implementation of the legislation," with a final list of banned organizations likely to be released in March.

JVP's Vilkomerson described the Israeli ban as "bullying." That characterization was challenged by Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, who told JNS, "For JVP to complain about 'bullying' is the height of hypocrisy given their tactics." He was referring to incidents in which JVP activists reportedly have harassed pro-Israel speakers.

According to a memo issued by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), JVP members at last year's Celebrate Israel Parade in New York City confronted a group of pro-Israel LGBTQ marchers, "cutting their microphones and blocking them from marching." The ADL also said JVP supported the expulsion of pro-Israel participants from last year's Chicago Dyke March on the grounds that their rainbow flags resembled Israeli flags, which JVP said represented "racism and violence." Also, according to the ADL, "JVP members have shouted down and interrupted campus speeches by guests whom they consider too Zionist."

A number of leading Jewish organizations have expressed support or understanding for the Israeli government's Jan. 7 decision.

AIPAC spokesman Marshall Wittman told JNS that while his organization does not take public positions on the Israeli government's internal policy decisions, "Every state has a right to determine who enters its borders, and the government of Israel has explained that its bar is limited to those who plan 'material action' against the Jewish state."

"Israel is under no obligation to hold the door open for anyone, or any organization that attempts to harm the state," B'nai B'rith International said in a statement to JNS. "The threat posed by BDS supporters goes well beyond mere policy criticism."

Betty Ehrenberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress in North America, said, "The groups on Israel's list of BDS promoters totally undermine any prospect for peace by fostering hatred, bigotry, and anti-Semitism, which leads to violence and the endangerment of Israeli citizens."

When the Knesset last year gave preliminary approval to a law restricting the entry of foreign BDS advocates, the ADL and the American Jewish Committee (AJC) expressed disapproval. When contacted by JNS this week for their position on the new government decision-which is more limited than the Knesset bill because it specifically names 20 groups, rather than being a blanket ban-both the ADL and AJC did not respond.

Left-of-center groups, meanwhile, strongly criticized the Israeli government's move. Americans for Peace Now asserted in a press release that "boycotts are a legitimate form of peaceful, political expression, which must be protected in any democracy." It warned that the Israeli decision "increases the isolation of Palestinians living under occupation" and could lead to "the specter of Jews-or non-Jews-being interrogated about their political beliefs at Ben Gurion Airport."

But the Strategic Affairs Ministry spokesperson told JNS that the new regulations "explicitly exclude political criticism of Israel as a criterion for consideration in naming an organization."

In an interview with JNS, Paul Scham, president of Partners for Progressive Israel, argued that "calling BDS 'economic terrorism' is simply demagoguery," because in his view, "there is no plausible connection between the presence of a BDS activist and Israeli security."

Leaders of organizations representing Reform and Conservative Judaism declined to comment on the Israeli government decision, while Orthodox groups were supportive of the move. A spokesman for the Orthodox Union (OU) told JNS, "The OU's position on this, as with a wide range of other decisions made by the Israeli leadership, is to defer to the decisions of the duly elected democratic government of the State of Israel."

Rabbi Pesach Lerner, president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, which represents several hundred Orthodox rabbis nationwide, said, "It is routine for democratic countries to ban foreign nationals who wish to harm it. it would be irresponsible for a nation not to engage in elementary self-preservation. The goal of BDS is to destroy Israel, and it is prudent for Israel to respond as it has."

Section 212 of the current U.S. immigration law authorizes the exclusion of foreign citizens who are suspected of intending to engage in "any activity" related to "sabotage" of the government. It also prohibits the entry of anyone who "endorses of espouses terrorist activity," even if they are not involved in actual terrorism.

Restrictions on admission to the U.K. are even broader. Section 2 of the relevant British law states that a foreigner can be prevented from entering the country if the authorities decide that "the applicant's character, conduct or associations" make it "undesirable" to grant entry.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India is occurring against the backdrop of a massive and still growing river of defense sales and technology transfers from Jerusalem to New Delhi.

Israel's defense industries have been supplying ever-increasing numbers of cutting-edge weapons and platforms to India's military. Last April, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced a $2 billion sale of medium-range, surface-to-air missile defense systems to the Indian Army. IAI's Barak 8 air defense system, which can detect threats that are more than 60 miles away, is in service in the Indian Navy.

Another prominent development in bilateral defense ties is a $525 million order from India for the purchase of Spike anti-tank guided missiles produced by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems-a deal that was initially canceled by India for reasons relating to the country's "Make in India" policy, but which was reportedly revived shortly before Netanyahu's visit.

"India has deep defense cooperation with Israel," Vinay Kaura, an assistant professor of international affairs and security studies at the Sardar Patel University of Police, Security and Criminal Justice in Rajasthan, India, told JNS.

"This has been a mutually beneficial relationship," he said. "India has diversified its arms purchases while getting highly advanced weapons. Israel has benefited substantially monetarily... Israel has been a very reliable supplier of military spare parts to India during time of crisis. India has also turned to Israel to upgrade some of its Russian-origin military equipment."

For its first few decades of independence, India, under the direction of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Congress Party, sought friendlier relations with Arab states and aligned itself with the third-world Non-Aligned Movement, which was often hostile to Israel. Despite a number of similar conditions that surrounded their establishment, India viewed the Jewish state as a proxy of the imperial Western powers.

This approach changed when the end of the Cold War caused Indian leaders to rethink their global strategy, including relations with Israel. In January 1992, India and Israel opened their first bilateral diplomatic missions. Since then, one of the most important aspects of Indian-Israeli relations has been military and defense sales cooperation, with Israel becoming one of the top weapons exporters to India along with Russia and the U.S.

Kaura said that in past conflicts India experienced with Pakistan, such as the 1999 Kargil war in Kashmir, as well as in other conflicts, Israel "has provided India with actionable intelligence that proved very useful for India. India and Israel are cooperating on intelligence sharing and countering terrorism."

Netanyahu's visit, which comes six months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Israel, "will further deepen the already close defense ties," said Kaura.

Additionally, he argued, "There are many advanced American weapons systems that India could not access directly. India could get these weapons through Israel."

One challenge for Israeli defense firms has been to find ways to work with the Make in India initiative, set up by the Indian government to ensure local production.

Kaura said Israeli firms have been able to work with this policy by forming a growing number of joint ventures with Indian partners. Israel's Elbit Systems, for example, teamed up with India's Adani Group to form Adani-Elbit Advanced Systems, which manufactures drones in India.

"Similarly Israel's IAI has signed a memorandum of understanding with India's Kalyani Strategic Systems to develop and market selected air defense systems and lightweight special purpose munitions. India's Tata Power SED has become a partner of Israel's DSIT Solutions, to supply portable diver detection sonar to the Indian Navy. These are just a few examples of a growing list of joint ventures," Kaura said.

"Israel is recognized as a cyber-security powerhouse. It has approximately $6.5 billion of cyber product exports to its credit. India, which has been facing innumerable cyber threats, can benefit a great deal by institutionalizing cooperation on cyber security issues," he added.

One element that is missing is an institutionalized, government-to-government channel to support defense cooperation regarding highly sensitive technologies, Kaura stated. "It is important to set one up," he said. "There are reports that India is planning to ink a Spike anti-tank guided missiles deal through the government-to-government route. This could be a good beginning."

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which makes the Spike missiles, told JNS in a statement that it "prides itself in being able to create partnerships with international leading aerospace and defense companies overseas."

Rafael said that "India and Israel are strategic partners and Israel has always supported India's urgent operational necessities during times of crises. For Rafael too, India is a strategic and significant partner. Rafael has always stood by India to supply systems at short notice during various operational contingencies."

As a result, the state-owned company said that it has been keen to create ways to ensure the transfer of Israeli defense technology to India.

"We already work with the different branches of the Indian military and the Indian security apparatus," Rafael said.

Rafael's advanced camera surveillance, ordnance and air defense systems have been integrated into the Indian Armed Forces. "We have done so while maintaining and implementing our strategy to forge local partnerships and address India's Make in India policy," the Israeli company stated.

The list of joint ventures between Rafael and India is expected to grow in 2018.

"A significant work share of Rafael contracts is being manufactured in India," said the company. Rafael has sold the Indian Air Force its Litening precision targeting pods, and in that transaction, has surpassed the contract's expectations of setting up 30 percent of the manufacturing in India, instead going on to produce a "large scope of the pod in India, through a tech tie-up with DEFSYS, located in Gurgaon," according to the company.

In other joint ventures, Kalyani Rafael Advanced Systems has been formed to ensure "maximum Indian component manufacturing of various systems and other future munitions;" Astra Rafael Communications is designed to domestically produce electronic warfare systems and software defined radio systems; and Rafael Reliance Advanced Defense Systems will enable India to make its own air-to-air missiles and missile defense systems.

Earlier this year, IAI's outgoing president, Joseph Weiss, noted that his company had worked with Indian defense industries and armed forces for the past 25 years "as part of our strategic partnership."

"We continue to stand with our partners in India at the forefront of technology for the defense and security of both our countries," he said.The Holocaust Memorial Resource and Education Center commemorated the International Holocaust Remembrance Day with the first part of a two-part series on Jan. 21 with a discussion of "Defiance" by Nechama Tec, which centers on the experience of the Bielski partisan group and their leader, Tuvia Bielski.

The film of the same name was viewed prior to the book discussion, which was led by Dr. Susan A. Bach whose father, Joe Abrams (Josef Abramowicz) and mother, Esther Greenberg (Grinberg) Abrams, were also members of the Bielski Partisan group.

The following is an article that Bach wrote about her own experience of growing up with parents who fought with the partisans.

The book club and film discussion are part of a two-part series held to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The second part of the series to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day will be "An afternoon with Mickey Bielski, son of Tuvia Bielski." This special presentation will be held on Jan. 28, 2 p.m. at the Holocaust Center.

The power of remembrance

By Susan A. Bach

The power of remembrance brings me memories of the sacrifices my parents made during the invasion of Poland, the planned annihilation of the Jews, and the struggles they endured as immigrants to America. I remember clearly my father's pride in becoming a naturalized citizen and that his children and grandchildren were a testament that the Nazi's failed in their endeavor. To my parents it was a privilege to be able to raise a family and educate their children to remember the past in order to contribute to a better world.

My parents strived to live a normal life in American: working, raising a family, paying taxes and voting. They lived as Americans, yet in their memories, hearts and minds, their war experiences left its mark. This explains their extreme over protectiveness, fear of scarcity and disquiet in abundance. This is the world in which my brother and I were raised.

My father escaped from a ghetto to join the Bielski partisans in the forest in Poland. This partisan group is depicted in the 2008 movie "Defiance," based on the book by the same name. Life in the ghetto was harsh and dangerous. Life in the forest was also harsh and dangerous, yet it allowed for hope of survival because the Bielski's mission was to save Jews regardless of age, gender, ability to fight or social class.

My mother was hidden by Righteous Gentiles. She "lived" in a hole dug under the floor of a barn and subsisted on raw potato peels and occasionally stale bread. When the farmers could no longer offer protection because of the risk to their lives, she found her way to the Bielski's.

After the war, my parents made their way to Italy where I was born in a Displaced Person's Camp. Life was still hard, but it was safe and allowed for hope. We immigrated to America in steerage on a converted cargo ship, which docked in New York harbor on Nov. 21, 1949. Little wonder that Thanksgiving was always my father's favorite holiday. When I looked around our Thanksgiving table in those early years, there was only immediate family since nearly all perished in the Holocaust.

As a child I wondered what my grandparents looked like, how they might have played with me and what I might have learned from their wisdom. I never had answers to those questions. Today at our Thanksgiving table we are blessed with children and grandchildren. I now see what I missed as I enjoy family and grandchildren!

When my son was in middle school and started asking his grandparents questions about their background, it was evident that their memories did not fade with time. They told stories of bravery and resourcefulness, of suffering and loss. Those stories were captivating. I often wondered if I would have had the will to fight and survive. I still have that question.

Now when I read and hear about genocide, despite the Shoah's haunting testament of "Never Again," how can I not remember?The Palestinians have announced an escalation of their diplomatic actions against Israel through the annulment of the Oslo peace accords and withdrawal of their recognition of Israel.

The Palestinian Central Council on Monday declared that the transitional period stipulated in the peace agreements signed in 1993 in Oslo, Cairo and Washington, and its obligations "no longer stand."

The PCC held a two-day conference this week to discuss the ramifications of the US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and new Palestinian strategy.

In its final statement, the PCC, a decision-making body, called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities on the basis of the relevant United Nations resolutions in order "to end the Israeli occupation and enable the State of Palestine to achieve its independence and to exercise its full sovereignty over its territory, including in East Jerusalem as its capital and on the borders of June 4, 1967."

The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization was assigned to revoke recognition of Israel until it "recognizes the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders" and reverses the decision to "annex East Jerusalem and expand settlements."

The PCC also renewed its decision to stop security coordination with the IDF in all its forms. The PCC made a similar announcement three years ago, but that resolution was never acted upon.

Suspending security coordination with the IDF could endanger the Palestinian regime, which relies on the IDF to maintain security and fend off attempts by rival Palestinian factions to overthrow it.

The PCC also demanded that the Palestinian Authority end its economic dependence on Israel as stipulated in the Paris Economic Agreement in order to "achieve the independence of the national economy."

Under the PEA, a mechanism was set up through which Israel collects taxes-value-added tax and customs fees-on behalf of the PA to the tune of an about $100 million per month. Israel then transfers the money to the PA.

The PCC further affirmed its "rejection and condemnation of the Israeli apartheid, which Israel is trying to enforce as an alternative to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state."

Incitement to terror

In conclusion, the PCC essentially called for terrorism against Israel when it affirmed "the determination of the Palestinian people to resist by all means possible to bring the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime down" and rejected any suggestions for interim solutions including a state with temporary borders as well as the recognition of Israel as a Jewish state.

These resolutions were voted on, with a vast majority of 72 PCC members supporting the motions, two voting against and 12 abstaining.

While these statements are inflammatory and combative, it is unclear how they will translate into action and affect the day-to-day life of the average Palestinian.

On the first day of the conference, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas delivered a hate-filled speech in which he denied Israel's right to exist and wished President Donald Trump that his "house should be destroyed."

Abbas on Sunday rejected Israel as a Western "colonial project that has nothing to do with Judaism."Judea and Samaria is home to more than 430,000 citizens of Israel. They are the vanguard of Israel's security and sovereignty as a Jewish State. Yet this significant area of Israel receives little support from many organizations in the United States because this is considered "disputed territories." However, there is an organization, the One Israel Fund, that is dedicated to supporting the welfare and safety of those who live in Judea, Samaria, the Jordan Valley and the reemerging communities of Gaza evacuees.

Learn more about Judea and Samaria as the Zionistas proudly present "Judea and Samaria: The Truth You Won't Learn From the Media" on Monday, Feb. 5 at 7 p.m. The meeting will be held in a private home.

The guest speaker, Natalie Sopinsky, Community Development director of the One Israel Fund, is a native of Wilmington, Del., and made aliyah to Israel 12 years ago. She will talk about what life is like in the disputed territories-about the struggles of those living in this extremely dangerous part of the world.

She will also share about her visit with Yael Shevach, the widow of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, who was murdered a few weeks ago while driving in Samaria. The Shevach family lives in Havat Gilad, not far from where Sopinsky lives. Why would she choose to live in Judea-Samaria? What support do the Jews living there need from us? How can we help?

She will also discuss the important projects and activities of the One Israel Fund.

This event is free. For more information and the location of the meeting, please contact Sandi Solomon at sansolomon@hotmail.com.In a letter, the State Department notified the U.N. Relief and Works Agency that the U.S. is withholding $65 million of a planned $125 million funding installment to the body. The letter also makes clear that additional U.S. donations will be contingent on major changes by UNRWA, which has been heavily criticized by Israel.

We would like to see some reforms be made, said State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, adding that changes are needed both to the way the agency operates and is funded. This is not aimed at punishing anyone.

The State Department said it was releasing the rest of the installment$60 millionto prevent the agency from running out of cash by the end of the month and closing down.

The U.S. is UNWRAs largest donor, supplying nearly 30 percent of its budget.

Danon: Time for this absurdity to end

Israels ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, praised the move, arguing that UNRWA misuses humanitarian aid to support propaganda against the Jewish state and perpetuate the Palestinians plight.

It is time for this absurdity to end and for humanitarian funds to be directed towards their intended purpose: the welfare of refugees, Danon said in a statement.

The U.S. donated $355 million to UNWRA in 2016 and was set to make a similar contribution in this year; the first installment was to have been sent this month. But after a highly critical Jan. 2 tweet from Trump on aid to the Palestinians, the State Department opted to wait for a formal policy decision before sending its first installment.

Trumps tweet expressed frustration over the lack of progress in his attempts to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and he pointed the finger at the Palestinians. We pay the Palestinians hundreds of millions of dollars a year and get no appreciation or respect, he said. But with the Palestinians no longer willing to talk peace, why should we make any of these massive future payments to them?

Israelis accuse the U.N. agency of contributing to Palestinian militancy and allowing its facilities to be used by militants. They also complain that some of UNRWAs staff are biased against Israel.

US demands more burden-sharing

Nauert said the United States believes there needs to be more burden-sharing, a regular Trump complaint about multilateral organizations dependent on significant contributions of U.S. cash.

We dont believe that taking care of other nations and other people have to be solely the United States responsibility, she said.

The U.S. plan to withhold some, but not all, of the money was 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, officials said.

Haley wanted a complete cutoff in U.S. money until the Palestinians resumed peace talks with Israel that have been frozen for years. But Tillerson, Mattis and others argued that 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.

Eliminating or sharply reducing the U.S. contribution could hamstring the agency and severely curtail its work, putting great pressure on Jordan and Lebanon as well as the Palestinian Authority. Gaza would be particularly hard hit. Some officials, including Israelis, warn that it might push people closer to the militant Hamas movement, which controls Gaza.Ukrainian businessman and owner of DCH Group Oleksandr Yaroslavsky is holding talks with U.S. and Chinese investors in Davos on the possibility of locating new production sites on the territory of Kharkiv Tractor Plant and discussing prospects of co-financing Sukha Balka mining with banks.

"Earlier 45,000 people worked at the Kharkiv Tractor Plant. The plant produced 50,000 tractors, and now it employs 3,000 and produces 1,000 tractors." There are free capacities for other industries. I want to attract partners," he told Interfax-Ukraine in Davos on Friday, where the World Economic Forum is taking place these days.

Yaroslavsky recalled that he bought Kharkiv Tractor Plant in April 2016 "almost in ruined condition."

"The plant has idle for a year, it has lost almost all markets. I want to breathe new life into it," the owner of DCH said.

According to him, in fact, it is about the intention to create an industrial park on the basis of the territory of Kharkiv Tractor Works, which is 150 hectares, as well as to increase the number of employees working at the plant by times.

Speaking about the development of Sukha Balka, which he bought in May of 2017 from Evraz, the businessman noted the prospects of this enterprise and the intention to attract co-financing for the implementation of new projects at it. According to him, he is discussing this opportunity with both commercial banks and international financial institutions, in particular he met with representatives of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

"With me, banks are ready to go into these projects," the owner of DCH said.

Yaroslavsky said that this year, on his trip to Davos he focused on these "point meetings" that, in his personal opinion, would be more useful than discussing the general economic outlook for Ukraine and its investment climate.

He said that Ukraine remains the main focus of his investment.

"I said that I would invest in Ukraine and buy Ukrainian enterprises, and every year I confirm this with real deals: Kharkiv Tractor Plant, Sukha Balka, INGO insurance company [bought in July 2017]. These are big projecta and they require careful attention. There are plans for purchases in 2018," he said, while at the same time he refused to specify them.WASHINGTON (JTA)President Donald Trump denied a claim by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. Embassy would move to Jerusalem within a year.

By the end of the year? Trump said Wednesday in an interview with Reuters after being told of Netanyahus claim. Were talking about different scenariosI mean obviously that would be on a temporary basis. Were not really looking at that. Thats no.

Trumps reference to moving the embassy on a temporary basis and then saying were not really looking at that suggested the administration had examined proposals to rename the U.S. consulate in western Jerusalem but rejected them.

The Prime Ministers Office clarified to the Israeli media on Thursday that what Netanyahu meant was that the United States is considering interim measures that would allow for its embassy to be moved to Jerusalem within a year.

U.S. officials have said previously that simply renaming a building the U.S. Embassy would not meet the complex security protocols required of embassies, and have also said the move to Jerusalem would take at least three years.

Netanyahu had told the Israeli media earlier in the day that he anticipated a move soon.

My solid assessment is that it will go much faster than you thinkwithin a year from now, he said.

Trump pledged during his campaign to move the embassy. Last month he recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital, causing a breach with the Palestinians and upending an effort led by the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.The term blacklist is one that brings up memories of McCarthysim to most Americans. But those on a new Israeli blacklist who are to be blocked from entry to that country for promoting boycotts are undeserving of any sympathy.

The 20 listed groupssingled out for their support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movementare a collection of vile hatemongers working not merely to cripple Israels economy, but to isolate it and to treat its people as pariahs who deserve to be attacked by terrorists. So its reasonable that the Jewish state should decide that it would no longer allow people intent on doing its citizens harm to do so within its borders.

Thats what many defenders of Israel have been saying and theyre not wrong to make those points. No sovereign country is obligated to let those working for its destruction to cross its borders freely. Nations like the U.S. have been enforcing such restrictions, such as a ban on known Communists or supporters of Islamist terror, long before President Donald Trump came along.

But just because Israels new regulation is defensible doesnt mean it is smart. Far from hurting the BDS movement, the measure is the best thing that could have happened to these enemies of the Jewish state. The 20 on the blacklist, and in particular, Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP)the sole member of this anti-Israel alliance that claims to be Jewishhave gotten more publicity out of this move than anything they could have done on their own.

More importantly, the focus on their entering Israel misrepresents the real danger of BDS. Contrary to the fears of Israeli lawmakers, the real threat is to Jews in the Diaspora, not those in the Jewish state.

While BDS is an annoyance to Israel, it has done little damage to the nations prosperous economy. Outside of publicity stunts involving artists choosing not to play in Israeloften while also appearing in nations with real human rights abusesthe movement can claim few successes. And for every Lorde or Roger Waters who backs BDS, there are others like Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock or Ringo Starr, who come to the Jewish state and more than make up for them.

The real danger from BDS comes from the way anti-Israel groups operating on college campuses in the U.S. and elsewhere promote and practice anti-Semitism. They seek to not merely intimidate Jewish and other pro-Israel students from speaking out, but also to effectively make it difficult to openly live as Jews.

BDS supporters are not really interested in changing Israeli policies. Their goal is the elimination of Israel. That is made clear by JVP, which explicitly endorses the so-called right of return that would mean the end of the Jewish state as well as openly anti-Semitic charges. In its efforts to gain African-American backing, it has sought to blame Jews who support programs that bring American law enforcement personnel to Israel for training for the killing of blacks by police, a new version of the old blood libel.

Though there is a distinction between BDS and those who wish to only boycott settlements, the latter effort is also reprehensible since it helps legitimize other more dangerous boycotts. Those who back that idea also fail to understand that Israels foes make no distinction between Tel Aviv and Jews living in the West Bank.

Keeping people out of Israel simply for expressing an opinion, however odious it might be, is a mistake since the boost it gives them far outweighs the cost of any mischief they might get up to once in the country. Allowing BDS supporters to play the martyr also gives another excuse for newspapers like The New York Times to treat JVP like a legitimate organization rather than a group of Jews giving cover to anti-Semitic hatemongers. It also gives them an opportunity to falsely smear Israel as a tyrannical state rather than the pluralistic democracy that it is.

The real answer to the libels spread by BDS groups is not a travel ban, but to tell the truth about Israeli democracy, the Palestinians consistent rejection of peace as well as the reasonable concerns Israelis have about creating another terrorist state bent on their destruction. Keeping out pro-BDS activists is a mere expression of resentment that, though it is understandable, hands them an undeserved victory. Far from helping the efforts of those in the Diaspora working to refute and isolate pro-BDS groups, especially via laws that point out that anti-Jewish commercial boycotts are illegal, the Israeli measure is a pointless blunder that impedes their efforts.

Jonathan S. Tobin is editor in chief of JNS.My dad was not a big believer in religion. I found some of the reason when I studied the life of my grandfather, Abraham Shiplacoff. Abe was a devout Socialist of the Old School. And, while he believed passionately in his Judaismhe was skeptical of all rabbis and any others in positions of power. His early years in what are now Ukraine and a stern father helped fashion his distaste for the status quo.

So, my dad grew up with little regard for the religious structure of Judaism. As I reached the age of 12, the subject of Bar Mitzvah came up frequently. We did not belong to a synagogue, lived in an overwhelmingly Gentile suburb of Philadelphia called Merion, and had little exposure to all things Jewish.

The exception was my grandmother, Esther Deitch. She was a true Yiddishe Mama. I adored her. When I was about 12 or 13 she moved in with my mothers sister.

Many times I would grab a bus and go to visit her after school. Usually I would hear a chopping noise coming from the kitchen. It would be my Grandma Deitch with a wooden bowl between her legs and a meat chopper in her hand. In the bowl would be a number of chicken livers, which she would be methodically chopping.

Grandma! I would call. What are you doing?

She would sigh, never stop her methodical chopping and answer, I got nothing to do so Im making in the meantime, liver.

I grew up thinking that the delightful chopped liver we had at Aunt Rosies house was called In the Meantime Liver. That was pretty much the extent of my teen age Judaism. I didnt get Bar Mitzvahd until I was in my 40s.

In my early 20s, we moved to Cleveland, Ohio. My dad had landed the RCA franchise for Northern Ohio. It was a lucrative franchise in 1950 as television began to take the nation by storm. Saturation was about 10 percent when we got to Cleveland. Within three years it was approaching 50 percent. Good times for the Shipleys.

Suddenly my dad became active in the Jewish Community. We joined the temple where the esteemed Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver was in charge. Suddenly we were going to services. Suddenly all things Jewish seemed important. Really? Part of it was that if you wanted to be respected by the Jewish Community of Cleveland (and invited to the best Jewish Country Club), you became active in the Jewish Community.

So, our home changed from The Jewish religion was something you dont need to Save the Jewish People.

Truth? Bill Shipley always had the Pintele Yid deep inside him. That bit of down-deep Judaism that is in our DNA. It took the struggle for Israel to connect the dots for him. Me? I rode along that journey without a real deep understanding of Jewish history.

Then I married Rachel. Rachel was, is and will be solid in her religion and her peoplehood. While she too has no formal Jewish education, she was raised in a religious home and made the spirit of our home before, during and after the children, a center of Jewish life.

We know Jews of all stripes. We revel in the attitude of the Orthodox while decrying some of the attitudes of the Ultra-Orthodox. We understand Religious Jews, Traditional Jews, Culinary Jews, Intermarried Jews - Jews.

What we cannot understand are those Jews who forsake their Peoplehood. The swell of actual anti-Semitism among Jewish students on campuses around the country is inconceivable to us. We cannot grasp the very essence of BDS. J-Street disgusts us.

There has always been a touch of self-righteousness in all Jews. It is part of our DNA from having to defend our basic right to be for thousands of years. But, for Jews to become a chorus of anti-Israel philosophy boggles my mind. Deep inside you as it was with my father is that Pintela Yid. It took a trip to Israel to light my fire. It took numerous trips and a long friendship with Menachem Begin and his family to fully understand the need and the desire for a return to our Homeland. As a Jewleft, right or in the middleyou have a dog in this fight.

President Trump has officially declared Jerusalem the Capitol of Israel. Of course Congress had done the same thing in 1995. He promised to move the embassy from Tel Aviv and then signed a six-month waiver delaying it againand acknowledged it would take years to accomplish this. Jerusalem is the Capitol of Israel without the acknowledgement of the U.S. Congress or the president.

Mr. President? You want to move the embassy to Jerusalem? Why not just switch the signs on the embassy in Tel Aviv with the consulate in Jerusalem? Couldnt cost more than a couple hundred bucks and it would be done. Just sayin.Nothing makes Palestinian-supporting BDS boycotters squeal louder than when they themselves become victims of their own tactics.

Israel Strategic Affairs Ministry will deny entry for BDS activists if they fall into one of these four categories:

 Individuals with senior positions or significant roles in a BDS promoting organization, such as senior staff, board chairman, or board members.

 Key activists who take a consistent and continuous role to promote BDS.

 Institutional officials, such as mayors, who promote BDS in an active and ongoing way.

 People who arrive in Israel as representatives of one of the 20 designated BDS supporting groups.

The Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is a Palestinian-led economic campaign against the State of Israel. The Palestinian terrorist groups Hamas, Hezbollah, and the PLO are responsible for the terrorism, murder, and violence against the Israeli people. The Palestinian BDS movement is the economic arm these Islamic terrorist groups use against Israel.

When the Arab countries of the Middle East could not stop the UN from declaring Israels Statehood in 1948, they chose war. Israels Arab neighbors joined forces in 1948, 1967, and 1973 to once and for all destroy Israel, just as Mohammad did to the Jewish tribes of Medina (Yathrib) in 627 AD.

The Israelis however, did not cooperate and die, but instead humiliated their Arab enemies on the field of battle. In the 1967 Six Day war the Israelis won additional lands in the Sinai, West Bank, Gaza, all of Jerusalem, and the Golan. The Arab Muslims tried again to wipe Israel off the map in 1973 and were again defeated.

We all know that if Israel lost any of these wars against her neighbors she would cease to exist. There would be a wholesale slaughter of Israeli men, women, children, that would make ISIS look like amateur sadists and murderers.

How the Arabs betrayed the Palestinians 1948 & 1967

The Arab armies instructed the Muslims living in Israel to leave their villages and return after Israel was defeated in both the 1948 and 1967 wars. Many Arab Muslims left Israel voluntarily and many stayed.

You know the old saying, no good deed goes unpunished? After Israel won the 1948 War of Independence, Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir declared, The Jews should treat the remaining Arabs with civil and human equality, but it is not our job to worry about the return of those who have fled.

It is that human decency shown by the Israelis to their defeated enemies that haunts them to this day.

The reality set in very quickly. The Arab Muslims could not defeat the Israelis in battle so they came up with a scheme demanding all the Arab Muslims who voluntarily left Israel to have the Right of Return.

Over the years just about every Muslim in the Middle East declares themselves a Palestinian refugee along with their kidstheir kids now totaling some four million people, unconfirmed sources say.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency For Palestine, created in 1949, has been providing money and aid to Palestinian refugees, transforming itself into a lucrative cottage industry. The UNRWA website lists their 2010-2011 budget at $1.23 billion.

It has been argued the Palestinian leadership would rather keep the billion plus dollars a year in refugee money flowing in, than risk getting cut off if a peace deal with Israel is accepted. Keeping the UN money revenue stream flowing is Hamas and the PLO maximizing their own self interests. How you ask?

The Palestinians and her Arab Muslim neighbors ultimate goal is to destroy the State Of Israel. How do I know this? Its in the Hamas Charter,

The Islamic Resistance Movement believes that the land of Palestine is an Islamic Waqf consecrated for future Muslim generations until Judgement Day. It, or any part of it, should not be squandered: it, or any part of it, should not be given up... Israel will exist and will continue to exist until Islam will obliterate it, just as it obliterated others before it. (The Martyr, Imam Hassan al-Banna).

The facts and evidence presented above shows the Palestinians are not interested in peace or land, only the destruction of Israel.

The Palestinians and their Arab Muslim neighbors cant destroy Israel militarily so they now use a combination of bloody violent terrorism and the BDS movement as a means to an end.

As the enemies of Israel bide their time, we learned UNRWA funds Hamas and the PLO over $1 billion a year, keeping this conflict in the financial black. The BDS supporters are knowingly or unknowingly aiding and abetting in this deadly battle. It frankly doesnt matter if they connect the dots or not because their anti-Jewish and anti-Israel world views are driving them in many cases.

President Trump is cutting off a portion of the $260 million earmarked through USAid to the Palestinians. Pres. Trump rightly believes if the Palestinians dont want peace its foolish to keep funding them. President Trump has seen this Palestinian/Israeli conflict continue in the same old predictable ways from one administration to the next. Breaking this never-ending cycle of unrest begins with cutting off the UN funding that fuels it.

Conclusion

Israel is now denying BDS leaders and activists entry into the State of Israel.

Jewish Voices For Peace is one of the Palestinian BDS groups Israel is boycotting. JVPs leadership response to being boycotted is so hilarious I couldnt stop laughing.

On the JVP website, in a Jan. 8, 2018 article titled, To Our Members Who Are Concerned About The Israeli Ban On JVP Activists, they offer this advice to their traumatized membership:

 Community Huddle: We can use this time to ask questions, share knowledge, swap ideas, and offer support to one another.

 Pastoral Care: If youd like to be connected with a rabbi to help you process your feelings or emotions related to the ban, please fill out this easy form or email ilana.lerman@jvp.org.

JVP are the people who have chosen to ally themselves with the Jewish-hating terrorist groups Hamas and the PLO to inflict as much economic harm on the State of Israel, in the name of some false peace through the BDS movement.

When Israel employs the same tactics JVP uses against them, by boycotting their leadership entry into Israel, it results in their members needing a group hug and pastoral care.

JVP has no concern for the Palestinians who lost all their rights and are brutalized in Iraq by the Shia militias. JVP has no concern for the innocent Israelis murdered by their BDS partners Hamas, PLO, and Hezbollah.

JVP ignores the calling for the obliteration of Israel in their partners Hamas Charter. JVP is ignorant to the fact that their Hamas and PLO partners hatred of the Jewish people applies to them too. When Hamas finds the Jews of JVP no longer useful Hamas will turn their long knives on them too.

And so it goes...

Alan Kornman is the regional coordinator with The United West.WASHINGTON (JTA)The Oslo Accords? Killed, the Palestinian Authority president says, blaming Israel.

The Israeli prime minister says the Palestinians are now unmaskedbut naturally he blames the Palestinians.

Notably, the United States is silent.

The P.A. president, Mahmoud Abbas, delivered a rambling address of more than two hours this weekend to the Palestine Liberation Organizations Central Council.

Today is the day that the Oslo Accords end, he said. Israel killed them.

Abbas blamed the restrictions under which his Palestinian Authority operates and what he regards as Israels unrestrained occupation activity.

We are an authority without any authority and an occupation without any cost, he said.

His remarks drew condemnation across the Israeli and U.S. Jewish spectrum, including from groups that have not hesitated to criticize the Israeli government for recalcitrance in the peace process. The groups and the Israeli government were especially outraged that Abbas rejected Jewish connections to the land of Israel and claiming that Zionism was a colonial project that has nothing to do with Judaism.

President Donald Trump, a target of wrath in the Abbas speech, is typically quick to jab back at insults but said nothing. Neither have two others called out in the address: Nikki Haley, the ambassador to the United Nations, nor David Friedman, the ambassador to Israel. Also silent are (characteristically) Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, who is charged with reviving Israeli-Palestinian talks, and (uncharacteristically) Jason Greenblatt, the Trump administrations top Middle East negotiator and avid tweeter.

The silence suggests that the Trump administration has not entirely written off the Kushner-led effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian talks. Greenblatt was headed to Israel this week and would remain through Vice President Mike Pences visit next week. A spokesman for Kushner and Greenblatt did not return a JTA request for comment on the Abbas remarks.

So what did Abbas say and what did he do? How is Israel responding? And is the peace process dead?

What Abbas said

In addition to discounting the legitimacy of a Jewish state in the region, Abbas counted out a role for the Trump administration in restarting the talks.

Any future negotiations will take place only within the context of the international community, by an international committee created in the framework of an international conference, he said. Allow me to be clear: We will not accept American leadership of a political process involving negotiations.

Abbas is furious with Trump for his recognition last month of Jerusalem as Israels capital and for his threats to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority. (On Tuesday, the Trump administration froze more than half of its funding for the United Nations agency that administers aid to Palestinian refugees and their descendants, but a spokeswoman said it was because Trump wants other countries to increase their assistance to UNRWA, not to punish Abbas.)

What does Abbas speech mean?

Not a lot. Abbas has not been this blunt about declaring Oslo dead, nor has he been as adamant about decentralizing the traditional U.S. role as mediator. But none of this is new: When the peace process is on the skids, Abbas has reflexively blamed its structure, which he says favors Israeli settlement expansion and Palestinian disempowerment, and called for a diminished U.S. role.

It is impossible, and I repeatit is impossibleto return to the cycle of negotiations that failed to deal with the substance of the matter and the fundamental question, he told the U.N. General Assembly in September 2014 following the collapse earlier in the year of the Obama administration-led peace talks and the Gaza War that ensued in the summer of the same year. He also called for a greater U.N. role in peacemaking.

Abbas subsequently retreated from that posture, embracing renewed talks under the Trump administration. Notably the PLO has not taken substantive steps to end the peace process. (A subsequent vote by the Central Council recommending an end to recognition of Israel was nonbinding and symbolic.)

So why is this speech attracting so much attention?

Abbas resurrected just about every anti-Jewish trope in the Palestinian nationalist playbook: that there was no Jewish connection to Israel, that Zionism was a European colonialist plot, that Jews preferred Hitlers Europe to the renascent Zionist project in Palestine, even that Israel is drugging Palestinian youths.

We condemn unequivocally President Abbas recent statements rejecting the Jewish peoples connections with Israel, denying the legitimacy of a Jewish State of Israel, and promulgating conspiracy theories about the creation of the State of Israel, the Reform movement said in a statement. Such statements and actions undercut possibilities for a peace process that alone holds the path to a viable and independent Palestinian state.

J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group that in recent months has focused its criticism on the Israeli and U.S. governments, called the speech unacceptable. Abbas frustration, the group said, was no excuse for calling into question either the Jewish connection to, or Palestinian recognition of, the state of Israelor for language and proposals that are justifiably earning widespread condemnation.

But like his declarations of the death of the peace process, none of Abbas gibes were new. They have cropped up repeatedly in Palestinian propaganda, especially after negotiations go south Following the collapse of the 2000 Camp David talks, the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat stepped up his claims that Israelis falsified archaeological evidence of a Jewish past in the land of Israel. Arafats wife, Suha, was infamous for her spurious allegation that Israel was somehow poisoning Palestinian youths.

What stood out in Abbas speech was how he compiled a single golden oldies collection of anti-Jewish myths and fabrications.

What we heard yesterday from Mahmoud Abbas was terrible, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told a delegation of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He returned back to the ideas he expressed decades ago, when they were no less terrible. To say Israel is the result of a Western conspiracy to settle Jews in land belonging to Arab populations? To say that the Jewish people has no connection with the land of Israel? He forgot many things, and said exactly the things that led him to be accused years ago of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial.

How is Israels government reacting?

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Abbas comments but has not proposed any changes in Israeli policy nor any departure from the Kushner peace initiative. Netanyahus reaction, notably, was jammed into a video postcard greeting from India, where he otherwise extolled the virtues of touring that country.

He has revealed the truth, Netanyahu said of Abbas. He has torn off the mask and shown to the public the simple truth that I have been working to instill for many long years: The root of the conflict between us and the Palestinians is their steadfast refusal to recognize the Jewish state in any borders whatsoever.

How is the United States reacting?

Abbas said of Trump, May your house be demolished. Its not clear whether he was referring to the White House, Trump Tower or wishing for an end to the Trump dynasty. In any case, Trump and his spokesmen seemed unfazed.

Clearly emotions are running high in the region and we certainly accept that, said Heather Nauert, the State Department spokeswoman. Id like to caution folks in the region and particularly Mr. Abbas that some of those things [he said] would be considered inflammatory and inciteful and divisive. We would like to see a peace process go forward.

Indeed, Greenblatts first stop when he gets to Israel will be to meet with representatives of the Quartet, the grouping of the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations that guides the peace process.

Jason will be attending a regular meeting of the Quartet envoys to exchange information and continue our engagement on advancing peace, a senior White House official told JTA.This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here

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In late May 1945, U.S. Army Air Forces intelligence officers were intrigued by the results of a photoreconnaissance sweep over an airfield near Tokyo. Clearly visible in photos of Tachikawa, home base for Japans Army Aviation Technical Research Institute, was what seemed to be a new type of Japanese four-engine bomber or transport.

The Tachikawa photos raised a fair number of eyebrowsespecially considering that Japans aircraft industry was then taking a fearful pounding from B-29 Superfortresses, seriously curtailing production. Analysts reckoned the airplanes wingspan was about 104 feet, which led to its being code-named Tachikawa Field 104. As weeks passed, however, no new information came to light about the mystery plane. None of the American analysts who saw the images suspected the truththat it was actually one of their own aircraft, a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress.

By noon on the first day of the war, some three and a half years earlier, most of Americas strategic air power in the southwest Pacific had lain in smoking ruins at Clark Field in the Philippines. In October 1941, 35 B-17Ds of the 19th Bombardment Group, fresh from the factory only a few months earlier, had reached Clark Field. Two squadrons were deployed to Del Monte Field on Mindanao, 600 miles south of Clark, and thus escaped the initial devastation, which took place a few hours after the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.

Of the 17 Forts at Clark, not one remained flyable after the attack, and most had been reduced to rubble. By scavengingtaking a wing here, a tail there and undamaged engines from elsewhereresourceful GI mechanics managed to piece together three more or less complete aircraft in the attacks aftermath. But their valiant efforts were largely in vain, since the Japanese continued their air assault, which was soon followed by troop landings to the north at Lingayen.

By December 10, only 18 B-17s were left in the entire 19th Group, and of those just 12 remained operational. The surviving bombers were ordered south to Australia. Orders were issued for all the unflyable aircraft left at Clark to be destroyed, and on December 26, the field was abandoned to the advancing enemy.



Japanese officials examine the remains of a B-17D at Clark Field in the Philippines. (National Archives) Japanese officials examine the remains of a B-17D at Clark Field in the Philippines. (National Archives)

In the wake of the Japanese occupation, a team of experts arrived from the Giken, the Army Aviation Technical Research Institute, hoping to find clues about the latest American equipment. As they set about surveying the wreckage and collecting fragments of planes and weapons, their attention centered on the Flying Fortress. Pictures of the latest model, the B-17E, had already appeared in Japanese publications as early as the previous August (about the same time the American public first saw them). No B-17Es were found at Clark, but the Japanese did make some valuable discoveries, including the turbosuperchargers on the wrecked B-17Ds. In the end, they began collecting all the salvageable parts they could find, in hopes of doing just what the American mechanics had done: put together a flyable B-17.

Their efforts paid off later in 1942, when a pieced-together Fort roared down Clarks runway and rose majestically into the air, headed for Japan. A special aircrew had been sent from the Home Islands for this important mission. Although the bomber still carried its U.S. serial number, 40-3095, the Army Air Forces insignia had been painted over with the Rising Sun emblem to identify its new owners.



Pieced together from wreckage recovered at Clark Field, a Japanese B-17D takes off on a test hop prior to making a trip to the Home Islands. (Courtesy of Robert C. Mikesh) Pieced together from wreckage recovered at Clark Field, a Japanese B-17D takes off on a test hop prior to making a trip to the Home Islands. (Courtesy of Robert C. Mikesh)

In March 1942, the last U.S. bomber escaped from Java ahead of the Japanese onslaught. The Dutch then destroyed the airfield. The wrecked aircraft left behind seemed nothing more than worthless scrap to the Allies, but to the Japanese it was more building material. At Java they found the remains of 15 B-17Es. Encouraged by their success with the D model rebuilt at Clark, they started in on an E model. With the help of captured Dutch and native mechanics who were pressed into service at the airfield, the Japanese technicians faced the challenge of unsnarling the B-17Es advanced systems.

At Madioen Field the Japanese found a B-17E, serial number 41- 2471, that was in good condition aside from a missing nose and engines. Another E model, nicknamed Pootsie, was found in repairable shape at a nearby field. In fact, Torao Saito, an aviation editor from Asahi Press who toured Javas captured bases, counted four B-17Es then being readied for flight, one at Malang, another at Cheribon and two more bombers at Bandung.

The maintenance facilities for the B-17 in Java were excellent for that time and existing conditions, Saito wrote. It appeared that Bandung Field was the main maintenance base for the Americans, and it was here that our technicians from the Giken performed their initial flight evaluation tests on these newest of American war birds.

Asahis aviation magazine, Koku-Asahi, ran an article in its May 1942 issue on the B-17 by Mitsubishi engineer Hisanojo Ozawa, designer of two of Japans twin-engine army bombers, the Ki-21 and Ki-67. Ozawa seemingly dismissed the latest version of the Flying Fortress, stating: The B-17E was merely modifications made to an old design that first flew in 1935. Martin B-10s and Handley Page Heyfords of the same vintage as the original design of the Fortress had already been phased out of service. But Ozawa did admit that the B-17 was based on an extremely good design, and he also said that improvements had made it a first-line combat aircraft.

In a similar article, Shizuo Kikuhara, the designer of the four-engine Kawanishi H8K flying boat, was impressed by the simplicity of the B-17s cockpit, considering the planes size. He wrote: The American engineers have perfected the subsystems of this bomber to such a degree that a minimum of controls are needed in the cockpit. This feature aids in-flight control simplification and allows the pilot to turn his attention to other tasks that can be critical in combat situations.

By the end of 1942, two B-17s had been rebuilt and flight-tested in Java. As the two Forts were being readied for the long trip back to Japan, elaborate flight plans were prepared, routing them by way of Singapore and alerting the air defense system so they would not accidentally be shot down en route. Escorted by fighters, and with the Nakajima-built equivalent of a C-47 acting as mother ship, the B-17s reached Tachikawa Air Base in May or June 1943. No sooner had they landed than technicians swarmed over the bombers.

Heading the staff that would test the rebuilt B-17s was aeronautical engineer Major Kazuyuki Saito of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force, assisted by Lieutenant Shioyama, Lts. 2nd Class Kurusu and Ohara and army assistant engineer Shimamura. This team oversaw the entire evaluation project, which encompassed all systems testing. Major Uno and Captain Yagi served as pilots for a series of test flights, while army engineer Kaneko conducted detailed studies of every engine component and related systems. A number of components were also sent to experts for further study and evaluation.

One of the B-17Es served as test-bed for a captured Norden bombsight, coupled to the Sperry automatic flight control system. Also of great interest was the B-17s gunnery equipment, especially the Sperry automatic computing gunsight.

In February 1943, Asahi Press published a book, Anatomy of the Enemys Aircraft, that included many photographs of captured Allied airplanes, with special attention given to B-17s, both the D and E models. That May Koku-Asahi again devoted almost an entire issue to the captured B-17s. Nearly every major component was shown in photos and drawings. Since the Japanese also had instruction manuals for the aircraft, no detail was overlooked.

Interestingly enough, the extensive B-17 evaluations seem to have had very little impact on Japanese bomber design. Aside from Japans near copy of the Douglas DC-4E as a bomberthe Nakajima G5Nits other four-engine land-based bomber, the Nakajima G8N, which entered production toward the end of the war, was more advanced in terms of its structural design and gained nothing from the B-17s airframe engineering.

There is some evidence, however, that the B-17 influenced components and systems in later Japanese aircraft. Most noteworthy were the unsuccessful attempts to perfect the turbosupercharger. A handful of well-designed airplanes, including the armys Tachikawa Ki-74, Mitsubishi Ki-83, Nakajima Ki-87, Mitsubishi Ki-109 and others, as well as the navys G8N and Mitsubishi J2M, failed to reach their full potential mainly because of Japans inability to improve engine performance with turbosuperchargers. The Japanese clearly had the engineering knowhow to produce an efficient turbocharged engine for these aircraft, but they lacked the necessary materials.

By Japanese standards, the B-17s fire-control system was very advanced. The navy perfected such a system for its G8N. Another improvement based on the B-17 was the development of an automatic computing gunsight for fighter aircraft.

When it came to evaluating the Norden bombsight, both the Imperial Army and Navy found that the stabilization method in their own bombsight was superior to that of the Norden instrument. By combining characteristics of the two, the Japanese came up with a far better bomb-aligning instrument.

In the final analysis, while the B-17 tests did give Japanese engineers a technical advantage, poor production, inadequate materials and, finally, the wars conclusion prevented any significant combat application of their research.



In a photograph probably taken at Tachikawa, a B-17E is parked with two Curtiss airplanes recovered on Java, an SNC-1 trainer and a CW-21B. (Courtesy of Robert C. Mikesh) In a photograph probably taken at Tachikawa, a B-17E is parked with two Curtiss airplanes recovered on Java, an SNC-1 trainer and a CW-21B. (Courtesy of Robert C. Mikesh)

In the fall of 1943, all three Fortresses were moved to Fussa Airfield (now the U.S. Air Forces Yokota Air Base) near Tachikawa, where the Japanese army tested most of its aircraft. Two of the B-17s also visited Hamamatsu, the main heavy bomber base, in June or July 1944. Their specific mission there is unknown, but it probably involved further comparisons with the Japanese bomber fleet.

In addition to their use in testing, the Forts often appeared in military training films. One such film demonstrated combat tactics used by Nakajima Ki-43 pilots against the American bomber. The B-17D, once again embellished with U.S. insignia, showed up most frequently in these movies, sometimes escorted by a captured Curtiss P-40. The films often played in Japans public theaters during the war years.

Early in 1944, while one of the E models was beginning its takeoff roll for an evaluation flight out of Fussa, a sudden crosswind caught the bomber before it reached full rudder-control speed. The pilot lost directional control, and the Fort left the runway, its right wing smashing into a parked Nakajima Ki-49 heavy bomber. The B-17 sustained such severe damage that it never flew again. After the war ended but before Allied occupation forces reached the Home Islands, recon photos showed a B-17 at Irumagawa Airfield (later renamed Johnson Air Base), just north of Fussa. The plane was not on the flight line at the time but parked at a spot that was accessible to student officers attending the Toyooka Shikan Gako, Japans air force academy. This aircraft may have been the damaged Fortress.

A second B-17 showed up in recon film of Tachikawa around that same time. But when another survey flight took place nine days later, the Fort had vanished.

The third captured bombers location was never pinpointed, but it could have been lost during a hangar fire at Tokorazawa Airfield late in the war. The Japanese had collected a number of airplanes at Tokorazawa, including a German Junkers Ju-87 Stuka, a Mitsubishi Ki-20 (a four-engine bomber dating from the mid-1930s) and others, apparently intending to display them at a museum. One of the B-17s might have been included in that collection, but its presence there has never been confirmed. No Fortresses showed up in recon film of Fussa shot at wars end.

Of the thousands of aircraft photographs taken during Japans occupation, no known photos of the B-17s from that time exist today. Records of the Strategic Bombing Survey make no mention of having located any B-17s, yet they do note that B-17s had been evaluated by the Japanese military.

Why and how did the American bombers disappear at the end of the war? More than six decades after Japans surrender, the fate of its little fleet of B-17s remains a mystery.

Robert C. Mikesh is the former senior curator for the National Air and Space Museum. Prior to joining NASM in 1970, he served for 21 years as a U.S. Air Force pilot. He has researched Japanese aviation since the 1950s, and is the author of many books and articles on the subject.

This feature originally appeared in the July 2010 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here.Public joint-stock company Ukrposhta and Express Media SKhAB LLC, which publishes some periodicals, including the Express newspaper, have reached a compromise in setting the issue of subscription for periodicals of the holding starting from March 1, 2018, Ukrposhta has reported.

"The decision on cooperation was made after compensation of the company's expenses for delivery of the first issue of the newspaper this year in line with the letter of guarantee and approved by the agreement signed by the holding and Lviv division of Ukrposhta on January 23," the company's press service said.

The subscription campaign for Express Media SKhAB's periodicals will last until February 23, 2018.

"Ukrposhta is ready to do everything necessary for the successful implementation of this program - all our obligations in accordance with the concluded agreement will be fulfilled. We are engaged in business, not politics," Acting General Director of Ukrposhta Ihor Smeliansky said.

The concluded contract for the distribution of periodicals under subscription in 2018 between Ukrposhta and Express Media SKhAB provides for the delivery of prepaid editions from March 1, 2018.'The Mechanism' is a fictional drama series loosely inspired by the investigation about allegations of corruption of state and private owned oil and construction companies in Brazil.

From Jose Padilha (Narcos, Elite Squad 1 & 2, RoboCop) and Elena Soarez (Filhos do Carnaval, Eu Tu Eles, Casa de Areia), The Mechanism premieres 23 March, 2018.

Check out the trailer here:

Advertisement(Bloomberg) -- George Soros said President Donald Trump is risking a nuclear war with North Korea and predicts that the groundswell of opposition hes generated will be his downfall.

I consider the Trump administration a danger to the world, the billionaire investor said in a speech from Davos, Switzerland. But I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020, or even sooner. He expects a Democratic landslide in the 2018 elections.

Soros, the 87-year-old chairman of Soros Fund Management, said his Open Society Foundations are spending more than half of their budget closer to home rather than in the developing world, in an effort to protect democracy. While he said the strength of institutions will help prevent Trump from succeeding, Soros counted nuclear war and climate change as greater threats to civilization.

The billionaire former hedge fund manager, speaking Thursday at the World Economic Forum, also struck at social-media companies Facebook Inc. and Google in the speech, comparing them to gambling companies that foster addiction among users, and called cryptocurrencies a typical bubble.

Here are some of the highlights from his speech:

On Global Threats

Mankinds ability to harness the forces of nature, both for constructive and destructive purposes, continues to grow while our ability to govern ourselves properly fluctuates, and is now at a low ebb, Soros said. The survival of our entire civilization is at stake.

The U.S. must accept North Korea as a nuclear power, and then cooperate and negotiate with China to establish an alliance thats better equipped to confront the nation, he said. His comments come amid heightened trade tensions between the worlds two biggest economies.

Facebook, Google

Soros said social-media companies Facebook and Google "deliberately engineer addiction to the services they provide." He said the "network effect" that has propelled these companies to dominance is "unsustainable" and predicted that Facebook will "run out of people to convert in less than three years.

The money manager, whose family office owned a small stake in both companies as of Sept. 30, also criticized social-media organizations for exploiting the data they control and called them a "menace" to society that needs more oversight.

"The fact that they are near-monopoly distributors makes them public utilities and should subject them to more stringent regulations, aimed at preserving competition, innovation, and fair and open universal access," he said.

A representative from Facebook had no comment on the remarks. A Google representative didnt immediately return a request for comment.

Read more on Soross view of the tech companies here

On Bitcoin

Cryptocurrencies are a bubble and arent stable stores of value, the legendary macro trader said in response to an audience question after his speech. But he doesnt see them crashing because of their use by authoritarian regimes in the world.

As long as you have dictatorships on the rise, you will have a different ending, because the rulers in those countries will turn to Bitcoin to build a nest egg abroad, Soros said.

He was more positive about the blockchain technology behind Bitcoin, noting that his Open Society Foundations are using such technology to help migrants communicate with their families and keep their money safe.

European Union

Soros also pointed in his speech to the rise of nationalism, particularly within the EU, which he said needs to be "radically" reinvented in order to regain support. He reiterated his view that the EU should avoid creating a core Europe along the lines of the euro area. He added that hed like to see Britain remain a member of the EU, or eventually rejoin it.

Prior Calls

Soross predictions at last years conference in Davos were also gloomy and bearish on Trump, and have yet to pan out. He said that the stock market rally would soon come to an end. Since then, the Standard & Poors 500 Index has rallied almost 30 percent. He said that Chinas growth rate was probably unsustainable, and that the nation would probably fail to change its growth model in the next two years. Instead, growth in China has continued to accelerate even as authorities clamped down on excessive debt.

--With assistance from Jeff Kearns

To contact the reporter on this story: Katia Porzecanski in New York at kporzecansk1@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Margaret Collins at mcollins45@bloomberg.net, Alan Mirabella

2018 Bloomberg L.P.Hurricane Ike shuttered Yolonda Henry's catering business in Stafford for six months. When Hurricane Harvey hit nine years later and took out all her equipment and office space, she was determined to recover more quickly.

That would require getting a loan. She recalled meeting a loan officer for the San Antonio nonprofit lender LiftFund at a networking event, pulled out his business card and gave him a call.

Her company, Nusky's Fine Catering, is now one of the estimated 300 small businesses benefiting from LiftFund's Harvey relief efforts. Goldman Sachs, through its small business program, and the Rebuild Texas Fund, formed through Gov. Greg Abbott's office and the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation, have provided LiftFund with $7 million to assist entrepreneurs hurt by the storm.

Of that, $5 million was set aside for no-interest microloans. The remaining $2 million will be used for community outreach and to offer business education services. LiftFund already has distributed more than $2.3 million to businesses along the Gulf Coast.

Henry got the maximum $25,000 loan built a new headquarters near downtown Houston and is renovating her kitchen back in Stafford.

On Thursday, Abbott and Heidi Cruz, a Goldman Sachs executive and wife of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, stopped by Henry's new office space to recognize her and talk about the importance of supporting small businesses in the state.

"The success of the Texas model is built upon enterprising entrepreneurs who take the risk to open a business in the first place," Abbott said.-

More than 800,000 small businesses lie within the Texas counties that FEMA designated as disaster areas after Harvey, LiftFund reports. Of that, 650,000 are self-employed enterprises and more than 110,000 have fewer than 10 employees.

Henry has two full-time employees and hopes to hire five more by mid-February. It's the latest milestone in an entrepreneurial journey that began in 2007 when she acquired a catering contract at her children's school in Fort Bend County. Specializing in creole and Cajun dishes, she expanded her business to accommodate both small dinners and large corporate gatherings.

Henry plans to launch a training program for fellow small businesses in the food-service industry on site at her new corporate office. Her planned new hires include an additional chef, a marketing representative and an office manager.

"I see storms as the beginning of something new," Henry said.

To ensure that recovering business receiving loans not only reopen but also thrive, LiftFund is offering qualified applicants a comprehensive guide to assessing what they need and how they will invest funds to achieve their goals.

"We want business owners to know they have not been forgotten," Houston market president Richard Gianni said.

Gianni also said existing LiftFund clients who were paying off their loans before Harvey have received a four-month deferral.Sysco Corp., the big fish of food distributors, is trying to take a bite out of the nation's three largest tuna processors.

The Houston-based supplier of food to school districts, hospitals and restaurants sued the owners of Bumble Bee, StarKist and Chicken of the Sea for allegedly coming up with a price-fixing scheme to boost prices despite a drop in demand for tuna sold in cans and pouches. The three brands supply 80 percent of the nation's processed tuna, according to Sysco, which filed its lawsuit earlier this week in federal court in Houston.

Sysco alleged that the three companies secretly agreed to shrink the size of their tuna cans, raise prices and reduce production of the school lunch staple as a way to increase their profits. Sysco also charged that the tuna companies promised not to offer promotional prices to customers, according to the lawsuit.

StarKist would not comment on the lawsuit. Bumble Bee and Chicken of the Sea did not return calls for comment.

Sysco believes it has the processors on the hook because tuna companies and executives have pleaded guilty in federal court to fixing tuna prices between 2011 and 2013, including Bumble Bee and two of its former executives. Bumble Bee agreed to pay a criminal fine of $25 million. A former sales executive at StarKist also pleaded guilty to his role in the price-fixing scheme.

StarKist has cooperated and is continuing to cooperate with a Justice Department investigation into the packaged seafood industry, the company said in a statement.

Darren Bush, professor of law at the University of Houston Law Center who specializes in antitrust issues, said the guilty pleas make its pretty obvious something fishy is happening in the industry. And with the guilty pleas in place, Bush said, it becomes more a matter of proving damages for Sysco than having to prove the underlying conspiracy.

"Sysco believes they were scaling back competition," said Bush, who worked as a Justice Department lawyer investigating antitrust violations.

Cupboard staple

Canned tuna has been a staple of American cupboards for decades. It's cheap, has a long shelf life, and to many, especially schoolchildren, it tastes good. Almost half of all households serve tuna each month, according to the National Fisheries Institute. And 52 percent of the time, it's tuna sandwiches.

But one can of tuna appears to be pretty much like the next. Even though tuna producers have spent millions of dollars over the years trying to differentiate their flaky and chunky offerings through advertising campaigns like Charlie, StarKist's cartoon mascot, there isn't much difference in what comes out of the cans, especially to price-sensitive customers.

Commodity item

Sysco argued in the lawsuit that processed tuna is a commodity item, so if one brand increases prices, consumers will buy another. And any company that prices itself above its competitors typically loses market share, according to Sysco.

At the same time, canned tuna has lost favor. Tuna consumption peaked in the U.S. in 1990 at nearly 4 pounds per person, sliding to 2.5 pounds two decades later. Such market forces should have pressured processors to lower prices to gain market share, but the opposite happened, Sysco said in the lawsuit. As a result, Americans fished deeper in their pockets to buy tuna.

Sysco said it began to suspect price-fixing among tuna processors as early as 2004, although many of the other details of the case were blacked out in court papers available to the public.

Sysco isn't dishing, either. A representative said Sysco would not comment.

Sysco is seeking unspecified damages. In the end, the company said in the lawsuit, it bought hundreds of millions of dollars of tuna at artificially inflated prices between 2004 and 2015. And that's no fish story.LM Otero/STF

Texas security regulators are warning consumers about the perils of investing in a Hong Kong-based cryptocurrency pitched to Texans as a "golden nest egg" that will never fall in value.

The Texas State Securities Board issued an emergency cease and desist order this week against R2B Coin, the third time in recent weeks the board has warned investors about buying the popular, but unregulated and unregistered virtual investments.The U.S. Chemical Safety Board said Thursday it will launch a full investigation into the Oklahoma rig explosion that killed five people this week as Oklahoma authorities suggested that an equipment failure might have contributed to the tragedy.

The Chemical Safety Board, an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents, typically only gets involved in the largest, deadliest industrial disasters. The board averages about six investigations a year.

RELATED: Oklahoma rig explosion deadliest in years

The well fire, which swept through a drilling rig owned by the Houston company Patterson-UTI, was the deadliest U.S. accident in the oil and gas industry since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon tragedy in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 people. Oklahoma regulators said their initial findings suggest that the failure of the blowout preventer -- the same type of equipment that failed in the Deepwater Horizon accident -- may have led to the explosion at a drilling site near Quinton, Okla., about 100 miles southeast of Tulsa.

A blowout preventer is equipment at the wellhead designed to control and monitor the well. It's the last line of defense to seal the well and prevent an uncontrollable release of oil or gas.

The initial report from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which regulates oil and industry in the state, said an uncontrolled gas release from the well led workers at the drilling site to engage the blowout preventer to shut off the well, but the blind rams -- two heavy steel blocks that meet in the middle of the wellbore to seal a well -- failed to close.

RELATED: BP says Deepwater Horizon claims will cost even more

Commission spokesman Matt Skinner emphasized that the investigation is in early stages and these are only initial findings. A Patterson-UTI spokesman said Thursday that the company has just begun its efforts to determining the cause of the accident and had no further comment.

The well was operated by Red Mountain, a small Oklahoma oil and gas company. Patterson-UTI ran the drilling operation as Red Mountain's main contractor.

Three of the five killed were Patterson-UTI employees, including one Texan. The victims are Josh Ray, of Fort Worth; Cody Risk, of Wellington, Colo.; and Matt Smith, Parker Waldridge and Roger Cunningham, all of Oklahoma. Ray, Smith and Risk were Patterson-UTI employees.

Patterson-UTI had a spotty safety record in the past decade but, under new leadership, it had improved its safety record in recent years.

"Certainly, for me and the leadership we have today, safety is the top priority," said Patterson-UTI CEO Andy Hendricks in a Tuesday interview, declining to comment much on the company's previous safety record. "There have been cases in the past, but I think the record shows - certainly in the last few years - we've been one of the safest companies in the industry."

Patterson-UTI has about 25 drilling rigs active in Oklahoma, second only to Texas, where it has nearly 60 rigs in operation.

Two investigators from the Chemical Safety Board arrived at the site of the accident on Wednesday, the agency said. The board's last major investigation focused on the Arkema chemical fires near Houston during Hurricane Harvey last year.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration is also investigating the explosion.

On Tuesday, the Oklahoma Supreme Court struck down part of the state's workers compensation law, allowing workers and their families to sue energy companies when they're injured or killed.Electricity production in the united energy system of Ukraine in 2017 increased by 0.4% (by 596.8 million kWh) compared to 2016, to 155.414 billion kWh, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has told Interfax-Ukraine.

Nuclear power plants (NPP) in the past year increased electricity generation by 5.7%, to 85.576 billion kWh. In particular, electricity production at Zaporizhia NPP amounted to 34.5 million kWh (11.2% more from 2016), Yuzhnoukrainsk NPP some 17.900 billion kWh (2.3% more), Rivne NPP some 19.793 billion kWh (13.3% more), and Khmelnytsky NPP some 13.383 billion kWh (10.6% less).

Thermal power plants (TPP), as well as combined heat and power plants (CHPP) and cogeneration plants reduced output by 9.2%, to 55.841 billion kWh. In particular, the generating companies of TPPs reduced production by 9.9%, to 44.96 billion kWh, and those of CHPPs and cogeneration plants by 6.1%, to 10.881 billion kWh.

Hydroelectric power plants and hydroelectric pumped storage power plants in 2017 increased production by 13.7%, to 10.568 billion kWh, block stations by 1%, to 1.531 billion kWh.

Electricity production by non-traditional sources (wind power, solar plants, biomass) for 2017 increased by 21.6%, to 1.898 billion kWh.Oil companies are on track to produce a record 10 million barrels of American crude a day, a milestone that could be reached as soon as February largely due to another record that is expected to fall in coming months.

By the end of the year, fracking intensity is projected to exceed levels reached in 2014 - the height of the so-called shale revolution - as hydraulic fracturing operations use more sand, more water and more pumping horsepower than ever before to free oil and gas from shale rock. The result: U.S. crude production should reach an all-time high with just half the number of drilling rigs used at the peak of the last energy boom.

Welcome to the year of the fracker.

The controversial technology that transformed the U.S. energy industry and reshaped global oil markets has advanced to a new level, becoming more science than art as fracking operations run round the clock, target ever smaller sections of wells with greater precision and greater force, and squeeze more oil out of every well.

"It never stops," said David Adams, senior vice president for completions and production for Halliburton of Houston. "We're pushing the limits."

As fracking plays an even larger role in oil production, it is boosting oilfield services companies like Halliburton that employ tens of thousands of people in Houston and Texas as well as creating more jobs near the state's shale fields, particularly the Permian Basin in West Texas, and increasing the flow of oil and gas to fuel an export boom of crude, chemicals and liquefied natural gas along the Gulf Coast.

It also is intensifying environmental concerns about air and water pollution, the destruction of habitat, the future of endangered species and increased number of earthquakes, which have been tied to the millions of barrels of chemical-laced wastewater that are pumped into deep, underground disposal wells.

MORE: Mining for sand in the booming frac sand business

RELATED: Comprehensive study of drilling finds pollution and connections to earthquakes

"There are still people out there subjected to significant health impacts and potential property damage or, at least, having the wits scared out of them," said Luke Metzger, director of the advocacy group Environment Texas.

Fracking 101

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the high-pressure injection of water, sand and chemicals to crack shale rock and release oil and natural gas. When energy companies combined fracking with horizontal drilling, it allowed producers to tap multiple reservoirs of oil and gas from a single rig site, ultimately reviving U.S. oil fields and transforming the industry.

Today, 90 percent of the wells in the Permian Basin are drilled horizontally, up from just 10 percent in 2014. The amount of sand used in the largest wells has soared up to 50 million pounds, up from an average of 3 million four years ago, while water consumption has surged to about 25 million gallons per well, up from about 5 million.

Fracking facts Sand consumption in largest wells: 2014: 3 million pounds 2018: 50 million pounds Average water consumption per well: 2014: 5 million gallons 2018: 25 million gallons Ratio of fracking fleets to drilling rigs: 2014: 1:4 2018: 1:2 Pumping horsepower deployed: 2014: 18 million horsepower 2018 (projected) 19 million horsepower Source: Industry data See More Collapse

In 2018, there is one fracking fleet for every two drilling rigs, up from one fleet for every four rigs a few years ago. The number of sections, or stages, of a well the get fracked has doubled, from about 25 to 50.

Fracking is powered by fleets of a dozen or more semi-trucks connected to pressure pumps which increasingly run 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The U.S. record for pressure pumping intensity, set in 2014 was about 18 million horsepower. Already this year, frackers have deployed roughly 15 million horsepower and analysts project it could hit 19 million by the end of the year as new fracking fleets are assembled.

MORE: To lower costs, drillers adding West Texas sand

Halliburton, which leads North American fracking market, said it built a handful of new fleets at the end of the last year and is likely to add more. Schlumberger, the world's largest oilfield services company, said it may spend $100 million to upgrade and unleash 20 fracking fleets recently acquired from Weatherford International, which has its main operations in Houston.

"It's just massively increased in a short period of time," said James West, an energy analyst at the research firm Evercore ISI. "It's a big industrialization effort."

The fracker rises - again

That effort is only expected to grow with some 7,000 drilled wells waiting to be fracked, nearly double the number in 2014, when oil prices were still at $100 a barrel. ProPetro, a Midland oilfield services company, said it could double its number of fracking crews from 10 at the beginning of 2017 to 20 by the end of this year. ProPetro's 17th fracking fleet is about to come online.

Each fracking fleet requires a crew of about 30 people, about 15 for each 12-hour shift. ProPetro has tripled its workforce in less than 18 months, from 400 to 1,200 - all working in the Permian.

"It's pretty unprecedented to add capacity at that pace," said Dale Redman, ProPetro's CEO and co-founder. "It's been an unbelievable transition to watch."

Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy is known for its drilling, but the company's fracking revenues exceeded 50 percent for the first time late last year. That trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future as it keeps starting up more fracking fleets, said Mark Siegel, the company chairman.

"Fracking is becoming an ever-more-important expense of each well," Siegel said.

This week, five workers were killed in Oklahoma in an explosion involving a Patterson-UTI rig. Siegel was interviewed before the tragedy.

MORE: The fracking boom spurs a baby boomlet

MORE: Rig blast draws high-level inquiry as initial report cites same equipment failure as Deepwater Horizon

Byron Pope, an energy analyst at the Houston investment bank Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., suggested that fracking horsepower may become a better indicator of U.S. oil and gas production than the rig count, as companies introduce high-tech rigs that can drill more wells that are longer and closer together. The active U.S. rig count was 936 last week, more than double its recent low of 404 in May 2016, but far below the nearly 2,000 rigs that were operating in 2014.

"The rig count is roughly half the prior peak, but horsepower demand is going to get back above that peak," Pope said. "It's silently outpaced the rig count."

The pivot to fracking was anticipated this year, but the big question now is how much activity might accelerate if oil prices stay near $65 a barrel compared to $45 at mid-2017.

Exploration and production companies are expected by analysts to boost spending in U.S. oilfields by least 20 percent this year - likely more - and much of that increase will go to cover the costs of fracking crews working in the Permian Basin and other U.S. shale fields.

"The main issue is oil prices are that much stronger than what everyone was expecting coming into the year," said Bill Herbert, a senior energy analyst at Piper Jaffray & Co. in Houston. "That's huge."The colorful lights illuminating the arched bridges over U.S. 59, the ones that glowed blue and orange after the Astros advanced into the World Series and often change color to represent holidays and other local events, have been turned off. When they'll burn again is unknown.

The blackout is a consequence of a feud between the Montrose Management District and angry property owners who want it dissolved. The district didn't pay the electricity bill, triggering Reliant to cut the lights, a district spokesman said Thursday.

The Montrose district, which collects assessments from commercial property owners to spend on area improvements, is one of the groups behind the bridge-lighting project. But it's being sued by a group of property owners in its assessment area and has been prohibited from spending money, including the $1,400 bill for the last three months' electricity usage, under a temporary restraining order signed in December.

A hearing in that case is scheduled for Friday afternoon in state District Court.

Last week, the district's director said none of its bills were being paid and that more than $350,000 in property assessments that were due at the end of January had not yet come in.

The bridge lights, which officials hustled to get installed before the city hosted Super Bowl LI a year ago, went dark Friday night, although other lights that illuminate the sidewalk and street surfaces along the bridges have been turned back on.

"Out of concern for public safety and considering the unusual circumstances involved, we have restored service to the pedestrian bridges and continue to monitor the situation," Pat Hammond, a spokeswoman for Reliant, said in an email.

Spanning seven consecutive bridges, the lights added a dramatic touch to evening commutes along the Southwest Freeway.

Carlo Di Nunzio, a local architect whose office is in Montrose, likes the lights, but he doesn't think beautification projects should be a priority in a city with more serious concerns.

"I love aesthetics but there is a fundamental importance to take care of our city's integrity first," Di Nunzio said.

The lighting system is still not complete. Montrose district spokesman Richard Weber said it is technically still under construction and the service providers are being managed by the Texas Department of Transportation, which helped pay for the $3.7 million project through federal funds. The Houston-Galveston Area Council also provided funding.

TxDOT spokesman Danny Perez said work still needing to be completed for the project is expected to be finalized next month.

"We have not received notification that the management district will not be able to meet their obligation. Once the punch list is completed, we expect the management district to proceed in accordance with our agreement," Perez said in an email.

The decorative LED lights, which illuminate bridges along Woodhead, Mandell, Dunlavy, Hazard, Graustark and Montrose, have a history of going dark.

The lighting project was initially created in 2001 as part of a freeway widening project.

The lights burned out in less than a year and repairs were unsuccessful.

In 2013, the plan to restore the lights was set in motion.

The Montrose Management District is one of dozens in the Houston area. Commercial property owners within its boundaries are assessed at a rate of 12.5 cents per every $100 of property value. Residential property owners are not assessed.

The temporary restraining order signed in December is related to a bitter legal battle between the district and property owners who want to see the district dissolved.

In a separate lawsuit filed against the district, a judge in October ruled that it illegally collected nearly $6.6 million in assessments and that the money must be paid back.

In an email Thursday, the district said it remains committed to paying all of its service providers, contractors and professional services, but that there is not a specific policy to prioritize the outstanding bills.

"The executive director will work hard with the Board of Directors to come up with a plan that is as fair as possible, given that there are not adequate funds to cover all district expenses due to unpaid assessments by some property owners," the email read.Houston's chronic shortcomings as a tech hub may have torpedoed its bid for Amazon's sprawling second headquarters, but the proposal has already served as a catalyst for developing an innovation district that officials say could at last entice the world's most disruptive companies to locate in a city that has for years been playing catchup.

The so-called "Innovation Corridor" puts forth three vestiges of Houston's past - the iconic Sears property at 4201 Main, the former Exxon Mobil building at 800 Bell and the former KBR complex on the East End - as part of a push to catalyze the region's economic development by integrating cutting-edge companies among existing research and business hubs between the Texas Medical Center and downtown Houston.

Already, the local startup community has chosen a site within the corridor to create a node of activity to anchor future development. And the HX Venture Fund, launched in October to attract more venture capital to Houston, has found an initial investor willing to commit millions of dollars to help the city gain ground in one of its weakest areas.

"We'll be in much better position for the next one," Mayor Sylvester Turner said in an interview. "The focus is not only to talk about the Innovation Corridor, but to make it happen in a very dynamic way."

Though Houston fell painfully short on many of Amazon's criteria, officials say the process of crafting the bid fostered unprecedented collaboration among corporate executives, agencies, developers and entrepreneurs aiming to jump-start an innovation ecosystem within an old-school industrial economy that only recently began to diversify.

LOST BID: Houston misses Amazon's cut; 'Work to do,' say local leaders

The prospect of landing the e-commerce giant's $5 billion development ultimately prompted Rice University to sever ties with the Sears store, which will close Sunday, and spurred major developers to rethink options for enormous properties laying dormant on the outskirts of the downtown core.

By the end of September, just weeks after Hurricane Harvey wreaked havoc on the region, the Greater Houston Partnership had targeted the vacant Exxon Mobil tower, hollow since the oil major's 2015 flight to Spring, and the decaying East End industrial complex that ground to a halt when KBR built a more modern headquarters downtown. But it still sought the third piece of the puzzle, a large Midtown site to anchor the part of the corridor closer to the medical center, Rice University and the museum district.

In a last-minute play, Rice revealed that it had for months been secretly negotiating with Sears to end the retailer's lease on the aging property, which became blighted as residents and shoppers moved elsewhere. Amazon's announcement made timing critical, and the school's management company ultimately closed the deal in a matter of days to make room for the e-commerce behemoth.

Now, in the absence of Amazon, Houston's tech community is pushing forward with the corridor concept, which encompasses or neighbors the city's key universities, business districts, tech hubs and medical institutions. They're soliciting other major companies to integrate cutting-edge campuses around that activity, potentially sparking new startups and fostering greater confluence among existing ones.

John Reale, co-founder and CEO of Station Houston, a downtown incubator and co-working space, said one of the first steps will be to herd Houston's startup community into a more consolidated location. The goal, he said, is to create a dense hub of activity that would encourage idea crossover and appeal to larger tech companies and investors.

RELATED: In Amazon bid, Houston weighed UT's property

"Let's start by building a really focused district in five blocks where people could walk," he said. "The corridor gives us a bigger vision to fill in as we move forward."

He said the city's key players recently settled on a location within the corridor but declined to provide further detail. He expects the decision will be finalized and announced in the coming weeks.

The idea of a so-called innovation district isn't new. Cities including Boston, Chicago and Amazon's hometown of Seattle are developing dense zones for technology, research and education, and Houston's vision draws from several models that brought more funding and cache to their resident startups. City officials have looked to Chicago to learn how it built its district, called 1871, in part of a massive 1930s building just north of the downtown core.

Founded in 2012, 1871 opened with 50 startups in a 50,000-square-foot space. It has since more than tripled in size to house 500 startups as well as investment firms, incubators and satellite offices of seven local universities.

"We've absolutely attracted more corporations, more talent and more sventure capital from both coasts," 1871 CEO Howard Tullman said.

Elaine Thompson/STF

Stuck in silos

For Houston, though, the effort to build such a district poses a singular challenge. The city anchors the nation's fourth-largest economy thanks to a stacked roster of energy, medical and manufacturing heavyweights, but it lags other cities on measures such as venture capital deals and active startups. A report last month by Rice's McNair Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, for example, put Houston at No. 39 on a list of 100 U.S. cities ranked by those variables.

And while Houston's industrial giants excel at corporate innovation, each has remained siloed in the absence of the sort of collaboration that characterizes Silicon Valley and other startup hotspots like Austin and Seattle. The partnership last year commissioned a study that revealed an insular culture within some of the city's key industries, which compete for market share with trade secrets and closely held strategies. An oil and gas executive told the survey team that energy companies simply "don't share problem sets."

Political divisions have at times compounded the challenges. Last year, the University of Texas System faced intense opposition from state lawmakers, University of Houston leaders and even its own regents as it pursued a plan to turn about 300 acres of land near the medical center into a data science center. UT ultimately scrapped the deal.

Turner and others involved in crafting the Amazon bid hope to eventually resurrect some form of that idea with help from UH, which last year announced plans to build a data science institute, as well other universities and institutions. Rice, for instance, has established its own data science initiative, as well as a startup incubator.

"We simply have not played in an integrated way," Turner said. "We are moving in that direction, but we just have to move faster."

AMAZON SHRUGGED, HOUSTON LOST: We need to make sure Houston doesn't get shut out the next time opportunity knocks.

A number of other ventures have so far had success, however. TMCx, the Texas Medical Center's accelerator program, launched in 2015 to support health and life-science startups, and Station Houston has attracted more than 260 member companies since it opened last year.

Many within the startup community laud the creation of Houston Exponential, which in October folded the Houston Technology Center into a new nonprofit meant to address various obstacles. With help from Insperity, the organization established the HX Venture Fund with a goal to raise as much as $50 million to invest in other venture funds.

Chairwoman Gina Luna said the organization has found an initial investor that committed a "substantial" portion of that amount but declined to provide more detail. She expects an announcement in the coming weeks.

"It is the first significant commitment in the door," she said.

Houston's legacy industries have also shifted their focus to emerging technologies, particularly in the wake of an energy bust that required steep cost-cutting in the oil patch. Chevron, for example, now leverages troves of drilling data to scrutinize operations and maintain ruthless efficiency while extracting more and more oil.

Jeff Shellebarger, the Houston-based president of Chevron's upstream operations in North America, said a major investment by a technology giant could prove to be an economic engine that accelerates growth across multiple sectors.

"It would be amazing, what it could do," he said. "It would build on itself."

Mark Mulligan/Houston Chronicle

Amazon of its day

In 2016, Turner assembled a task force to determine how the city could strengthen its startup culture and attract investments from major tech companies. The partnership established a similar group, and together the two arrived at recommendations focused on establishing so-called innovation districts, actively recruiting tech talent and increasing access to funding.

"Now, it's not just one group trying to push something up a hill," said Blair Garrou, a partner at Mercury Fund, Houston's largest venture-capital firm.

The recommendations remained mostly hypothetical until Amazon issued its request for proposals, pushing the partnership to assemble a steering committee to craft a bid for a notoriously unpredictable company.

The former Exxon Mobil building and the East End parcel stood out for their immediate redevelopment potential and their proximity to some of Houston's foremost companies and institutions. Both properties, steeped in Houston history, have captivated developers looking to reinvigorate what was once the city's industrial core.

"We wanted to capture Houston in a discrete geography," said Bob Harvey, the partnership's president and CEO.

But the partnership struggled in its search for a property in the densely developed Midtown area until Rice president David Leebron, who sat on the steering committee, pulled Harvey aside just weeks before the bid's mid-October deadline. Harvey signed a nondisclosure agreement, and the two men met privately to discuss what Leebron had been sitting on: The university could move quickly to end the Sears' 99-year lease.

The building, topped with an aging nameplate, opened in 1939 as the Amazon of its day, a one-stop shop that attracted customers throughout the region with the promise of air conditioning and good customer service. But it has since fallen victim to urban decay, and developers have for years eyed it for its historic architecture and its proximity to the area's most sought-after neighborhoods.

GET YOUR STUFF AND GO: Amazon opens store with no cashiers

Rice Management, which oversees the university's endowment, bought out the remaining 28 years of Sears' lease and acquired three adjoining acres owned by the retailer, opening more than nine acres for Amazon's consideration. In early October, the partnership convened an emergency meeting to incorporate the Sears property into the proposal.

Even before Amazon came knocking, Rice imagined turning the property into some sort of innovation hub. The university is conducting a yearlong study to determine redevelopment options with input from stakeholders throughout the city.

"We're far from reaching a conclusion," Leebron said. "But we think this is a fantastic site, perfectly located."

***

TECHBURGER: Get the latest news on technology from Houston, Texas, the nation and the world.Theresa Beerman walked into a gun store in north Houston about a week before Christmas.

The Woodlands woman wanted to buy a handgun, and she did. She took the offered free training, then climbed into her vehicle, drove around the block and used the gun to kill herself.

Beerman, 26, was one of the tens of thousands of Americans who used a firearm to end their lives in recent years.

It's not how her father wants to remember her. When John Beerman thinks of Theresa, he recalls a smart, vibrant woman who loved the outdoors, loved reading and who dreamed of working as a psychologist.

But he remembers too, her battle with mental illness, the ups and downs that began when she was 16. There were suicide threats over the years, and interventions.

Now, more than a month after his daughter's death, John Beerman is speaking up because he says more needs to be done.

"It's just unthinkable," said Beerman, who lives in Windsor, Colorado.

Advocates against gun violence say no measure would necessarily have prevented Theresa's death, though several measure could substantially curb similar incidents.



'Her mind wasn't right'

Theresa Beerman's death  which came amid other high-profile gun deaths in recent months  draws attention to gaps in the gun purchasing and federal background check process, her father said.

"If there could have been some kind of way they could have held her for 48 hours, to do a little more research on her, to find out," he said. "She had a history of mental illness in Montgomery County and Colorado Springs. ... I don't think she knew what she was doing, I think she didn't realize the permanency of her decision. Her mind wasn't right."

According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 40,000 Americans killed themselves in 2013, the most recent year for which data is available. Of that number, more than half were performed with a gun.

RELATED: Amid church shooting fallout, data shows DoD reported only 1 domestic violence conviction in 2016

Beerman's death is the latest to raise concerns about guns falling into the hands of people who shouldn't have them, with fatal consequences.

After the Sutherland Springs shooting  in which a former U.S. Airman shot up a church, killing 26  officials with the U.S. Air Force said they had failed to report Devin Patrick Kelley's previous record of domestic violence to a federal database used for background checks.

And earlier this month, after a murder-suicide in Galveston, friends of the shooter, Flor de Maria Pineda Canas, said she had committed the act after a long and troubling history of mental illness.

At Spring Guns & Ammo, the shop where Beerman bought her gun, a spokesman said the 26-year-old Montgomery County woman had filled out a required federal 4473 form, passed a background check through the National Center for and given no indication she planned to use the gun to end her life.

"We followed every ounce of the law, to the letter," the spokesman said, declining to be identified. "We're really sorry about the whole thing. It's obviously something we never want to happen ever again, but as far as our standpoint, we 120 percent followed the letter of the law."

MORE: Strategies aim to steer mentally ill to treatment, not jail

The form Beerman filled out has specific parameters detailing when stores licensed to sell firearms must deny the sale to potential customers, said Nicole Strong, special agent and spokeswoman for the Houston field office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

For a potential customer to be barred from buying a gun because of past problems with mental illness, that person would have had to have been labelled "mentally defective" by a judge, she said.

An involuntary mental health commitment or other past encounters with law enforcement would not necessarily bar that person from purchasing a gun.

The names are then run through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, or NICS, database.

"If she filled out a 4473 and they did a background check and she passed, she gets to leave with a gun," Strong said. "That's how the system works ... The only fix would be for Congress to change the law. As it stands now, she was not in violation. She was allowed to legally buy and possess a gun."



More checks needed

To curb gun suicides, mental health advocates say the federal background check system should be expanded to include broader prohibitions against those with mental illness. State and federal laws should also be expanded, they say, so that family members of those seeking to purchase firearms can weigh in if they are concerned their loved ones may harm themselves.

"Guns are very easy to use and very highly lethal," said Liza Gold, clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and editor and contributing writer of the book, "Gun Violence and Mental Illness."

"Any step you take that delays or postpones or restricts someone's access to guns creates an opportunity for someone else and intervene to prevent a suicide," Gold said.

MORE: Tracking weapons stolen in Houston during Hurricane Harvey

Current law prohibits only the most severely mentally ill from purchasing firearms, and fails to identify or restrict other at-risk people from getting access to guns. Instituting temporary bans on people who have been placed on emergency psychiatric holds or temporary psychiatric detentions could help prevent or lower gun suicides, she said.

Gun control advocates said laws that include waiting periods for gun purchases and "gun violence restraining orders" could also help curb gun deaths.

"Access to a gun during a period of crisis is often the difference between life and death," said Amanda Johnson, a volunteer with the Texas chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America whose sister killed herself. "We can prevent many of these deaths by making sure that law enforcement officials and family members are empowered to make it more difficult for family members to harm themselves with guns."

The National Rifle Association did not respond to a request for comment.



Still grieving

John Beerman, a minister with the Unity Church, continues to grieve for his daughter.

After talking to the detective who investigated his daughter's death, and the gun shop that sold her the gun, he still can't believe how easily she obtained it.

He thinks the 4473 form and background check should be strengthened, to include more disqualifiers involving psychiatric treatment.

His daughter had gone to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, graduating early after receiving a full scholarship. She'd had dreams of being a psychologist.

In college, her symptoms worsened, he said. She'd later moved to The Woodlands and begun to isolate herself. She started threatening suicide and sometimes became abusive, he said.

Family members tried to get her into mental health clinics and staged an intervention around Thanksgiving. Soon after she arrived at the hospital, she talked her way out, he said.

She loved being outside, being in nature, meditating and studying human nature, he said. She loved to laugh, to joke, to listen to music.

"The world wasn't there for her," Beerman said. "The people of the world weren't giving her what she felt she needed. I tried my best to love her as much as I could, and nurture her as much as I could."

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.Alafair Burke graduated from Stanford Law School, was an assistant district attorney in Portland and currently teaches law at Hofstra Law School.

Her father, James Lee Burke, is a New York Times best-selling author. With this unique combination of qualifications and pedigree, Burke has forged a successful career in crime fiction.

Her latest novel, "The Wife" (352 pp., HarperCollins, $26.99) came out Tuesday.

Q: "The Wife" is your 16th novel. Tell us about it.

A: Angela Powell and her husband, Jason, are the main characters. When Angela married Jason, he was a quiet academic, but now he is a famous, high-profile author and pundit. When he is accused of sexual misconduct, Angela's belief system is shaken, and she also has concerns about her own privacy.

Q: This is a timely topic.

A: Yes, but I should say the idea for this book came specifically from the Bill Cosby case. We have become somewhat accustomed to women standing next to their accused husbands. But in the Cosby case, it was accusations against this beloved comedian and actor, and it wasn't so much affairs as it was drugged rape. It was different from other sex scandals. How could Dr. Huxtable be a sex predator? People wondered about his wife: Where was she during all of this? What did she know?

Q: You are known for researching the topics you address in your books. What does the research say on this matter? Is it cognitive dissonance on the part of spouses?

A: It's no different from any other criminal case. Many of the people who are accused of doing terrible things show up in court with siblings, parents and grandparents who still love them, whether they are guilty or not. This is the question for Angela in the book: Does she believe her husband to be innocent? Or does she believe the allegations are at least partly true? And, if so, does this mean her life with him is over?

Q: Angela's situation is complicated by her own personal backstory.

A: Angela has been a crime victim, and she cannot help viewing the accusations against her husband through the lens of the victim. As the book unfolds, more is revealed about Angela's past and the path she has taken to her current life. This will entail a couple of surprises for the reader.

Q: In this and some of your other books, there are power differentials at play. In this case, Angela comes from a more humble background than Jason. Is this something you consciously do?

A: Probably. I write books about the world in which we live, and in this world, there are power differentials. This power differential is especially true in the criminal justice system. More powerful people have better attorneys, jurors give them more benefit of the doubt and the media treat them differently. And I think these dynamics can be used to amplify the plots of crime novels.

Q: Is the setting something you used to amplify the plot of "The Wife"?

A: One of my favorite aspects about "The Wife" was to write about this tension out in East Hampton, which is where Angela is from. It's become something of a haven for celebrities, who helicopter there to weekend homes. Over time, the locals have kind of become "the help." Jason's family is wealthy, and he begins a relationship with Angela, who is a local. She feels like a fish out of water in his world. One of my favorite lines in the novel is when she says that when she hangs out with his friends, their first question is, "Where did you go to college?"

Q: Speaking of colleges, you went to Stanford Law School.

A: That's true.

Q: Why do you think so many attorneys pick up writing?

A: I think attorneys and journalists have in common the fact that their day jobs involve a lot of writing. Lawyers, as much as journalists, tell stories. If you think of a trial, the attorney not only has to tell a story that the jury finds compelling, but it is told in a certain structure. You have to go one witness at a time, and you have to make strategic choices about which piece of evidence should be told first. It's kind of like a Rubik's Cube, moving the pieces around to find the most effective structure.

Q: Your father's not an attorney, but he, like you, is a writer. Tell us about sharing a profession with your father, James Lee Burke.

A: It's a delight. We can empathize with each other about the job. We are proud of each other. I am not sure I would have been a writer without my parents. I saw my dad writing every day, and my mother would take me to the library. She was a school librarian, and on the weekends she would take me to the city library to get a stack of books. Part of that was getting me out of the house so my dad could work, but I became a reader in the process. You need to read books if you are going to write them.SUNDAY

Tarif Youssef-Agha: Author will discuss and sign "The Chronicles of the Syrian Revolution: The Orphan Uprising the Entire World Betrayed," 3-5 p.m., River Oaks Bookstore, 3270 Westheimer; 713 520-0061 or riveroaksbookstore.com.

MONDAY

Jhumpa Lahiri: Alexander Parsons, director of the University of Houston Creative Writing Program, will interview the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Humanities Award on stage. The program is part of the Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series. 7:30 p.m., Cullen Performance Hall, University of Houston, 4300 University. Tickets $5; inprinthouston.org.

TUESDAY

Will Cannady: Author will discuss and sign "Four Houses: Design for Change," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet; 713-523-0701 or brazosbookstore.com.

WEDNESDAY

Raymond Caballero: Author will discuss and sign "Orozco: The Life and Death of a Mexican Revolutionary," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore.

THURSDAY

Min Jin Lee: Author will discuss and sign "Pachinko," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore.

FRIDAY

Miles Arceneaux: Author will discuss and sign "Hidden Sea," 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore.

Ana KhanUrsula K. Le Guin, the popular author who died Monday after a short illness, spent most of her 88 years writing fantasy and science fiction with a feminist bent. She considered writing essays difficult, seldom-rewarding work - much like blog posts.

Many of the essays in Le Guin's collection, "No Time to Spare: Thinking About What Matters," are from the Book View Cafe blog on her website. The late Portuguese novelist and Nobel laureate Jose Saramago's blog posts, published in a book called "The Notebooks," inspired her to write a blog.

Le Guin pointed out that her essays, written between 2010 and 2016, lack the political and moral weight of Saramago's; her topics are more personal - old age, literature, feminism, food banks and education, interspersed with stories about her cat, Pard.

There is something mystic yet realistic in her essays, much like her science fiction. And Le Guin showed her pragmatic wit. She believed in the power of positive thinking and its placebo effect, especially when it comes to aging. But the realist in her writes, "If I'm ninety and believe I'm forty-five, I'm headed for a very bad time trying to get out of the bathtub."

To Le Guin, old age doesn't belong to the strong, to the bold, or to the bullies. It belongs to anybody who gets there.

More Information 'No Time To Spare' by Ursula K. Le Guin Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 240 pp., $22 See More Collapse

Le Guin said she never heard anyone over 70 utter the phrase, "You're only as young as you think you are."

As for literature, Le Guin struggles to define what makes a Great American Novel. She asks, have we given up on greatness or, at least, on American greatness?

Le Guin considered Herman Melville's "Moby Dick" and John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" great books. But she disliked Ernest Hemingway, and Philip Roth's literary enshrinement infuriated her (though Roth actually did write "The Great American Novel.") Her tastes are basic and visceral, she conceded. "A book that makes me cry the way music can or tragedy can - deep tears, the tears that come of accepting as my own the grief there is in the world - must have something of greatness about it."

Despite her claim of being less political than Saramago, Le Guin's essays are critical of American politics, beginning with the Nixon and Reagan eras and continuing through the Obama-Romney debates. She decries Obama's "false figures and false promises" and Romney's "faked figures and evasive vagueness."

"It gets harder to deny that when, for instance, during a campaign, not only aspirants to the presidency but the president himself hides or misrepresents known facts, lies deliberately and repeatedly. And only the opposition objects. Sure, politicians always lied, but Adolf Hitler was the first one who made it into a policy," she wrote.

Le Guin's essays also address feminism and gender rights, but deem mere anger at social inequities a seldom useful tool. "Indignation is still the right response to indignity, to disrespect," she writes, "but in the present moral climate it seems to be most effective expressed through steady, resolute, morally committed behavior and action."

She also writes about poverty and education, describing an Oregon food-bank warehouse as a cathedral of generosity, compassion and community. The government has betrayed public schools, she writes, where teachers can no longer teach much actual history or reading.

In between pondering old age and worrying about America, Le Guin finds comfort in her cat, Pard, her "pardner." Unsure whether she chose the cat or the cat chose her, the author relishes observing the distinctions of human vs. feline. She's amused that Pard is as fascinated with beetles as Charles Darwin was, and that Pard enjoys catching mice, but, perhaps owing to evolution, he never seems to know what to do with them.

The annals about Pard and other buoyant pieces that lament cursing, satirize veganism and puzzle over the ambiguity of proverbs like "you can't have your cake and eat it, too," lend a welcome lightheartedness to this serious and morally weighty collection. It is a book that truly does matter.Early in Brian Taylor's edgy horror-comedy "Mom and Dad," snarling suburbanite Brent Ryan descends on his shrieking son Josh, while playing a game of "tickle monster."

The scene illustrates what "Mom and Dad" has going for it: a gleefully unhinged Nicolas Cage performance, and an understanding that the line between parental affection and violent hostility is thin.PARK CITY, Utah - As the ending credits rolled for the documentary, "Seeing Allred," which details the life and times of controversial women's rights attorney Gloria Allred, the audience at the Sundance Film Festival stood and cheered while clapping along to the classic Laura Branigan song, "Gloria."

It was an emotional moment for co-directors Sophie Sartain and Roberta Grossman, and executive producer Marta Kauffman, who had been working on the project for more than four years.

"We felt like everyone was having a communal experience and that was really magical and really exciting," Grossman said.

Sartain, who worked as a reporter at the Houston Post in the early '90s before leaving to earn a master's degree in film at the University of Texas, first became interested in doing a documentary about Allred when they met at book club in Los Angeles, where they both live.

"I remember at that meeting thinking this woman is very different than (the one) I see on television. She was a nice warm, regular person. Not the Gloria Allred you see on TV," Sartain said.

More Information 'Seeing Allred' Premieres Feb. 9 on Netflix See More Collapse

"She has a fascinating life story, very compelling, very dramatic. She's completely self-made and kind of invented this persona. We also admired her for the fights that had been so consistent for 40 years. We just felt like it was long overdue."

The documentary suddenly became more topical as the Time's Up and #MeToo movements galvanized public attention on the issue of sexual harassment just as the co-directors submitted the film to Sundance.

"We wanted to tell the story anyway," said Kauffman, co-creator of sitcom classic "Friends" and the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie." "But once we started, the Bill Cosby thing came up, and suddenly there's this tsunami and this movement. And Gloria was at the forefront. She represented so many women in these cases. It was just luck in this weird way. I'm sorry it had to happen this way, but it makes the telling of the story even more important and the timing more fortuitous."

Allred, 76, has represented 33 of Cosby's sexual accusers, as well as three women who have accused President Donald Trump of sexual assault. She also has represented several women accusing film executive Harvey Weinstein, politician Roy Moore and director Roman Polanski of sexual assault.

Allred currently is representing "The Apprentice" contestant Summer Zervos in a defamation suit against Trump, who called her a liar after she accused him of sexual assault.

Many of the accusers have appeared at press conferences at Allred's LA office, drawing barbs from critics for the attorney's flamboyant style and theatrical ways.

"People make the mistake of thinking that she's trying to get attention for herself. She's using herself to get attention for her clients and her causes," Grossman said. "Not everybody is willing to stand up and get the slings and arrows that she gets. But they deflect off of her and she makes her point."

"And she's really funny," Kauffman said.

After working on the project for about a year, Sartain, Grossman and Kauffman took a sample reel to Netflix, which agreed to finance the documentary and premiere it on the streaming service on Feb. 9. "To have the global reach as documentary filmmakers is just mind-blowing," Sartain said. "#MeToo is not just a U.S. movement, it is global."

Kauffman recalled that during a question-and-answer session after the Sundance screening, one young woman asked, "What do we do now?"

"I hope that's what happens with this film - that more people say, 'What can I do?' and get inspired," Kauffman said.

Though she lives and works in southern California, Sartain returned to Texas in 2009 to direct an award-winning documentary "Mimi and Dona," which details the daunting issues that occurred when her 92-year-old grandmother could no longer care for her developmentally disabled aunt in Dallas. The film was shown as part of the "Independent Lens" series on PBS.

Sartain's advice to an aspiring filmmaker?

"Tell your stories. That's it. It doesn't matter if you're in Texas. It doesn't matter if you're in LA. If you've got a story to tell, do it. It can be scary, but if you put it out there in an authentic way, you can be heard."Ukraine in 2017 increased electricity exports by 28.6% compared to 2016, to 5.166 billion kWh, the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry has told Interfax-Ukraine.

The supply of electricity from the Burshtyn TPP energy island to Hungary, Slovakia and Romania increased by 2.7%, to 3.138 billion kWh.

Electricity deliveries to Poland decreased by 6.5%, to 894.8 million kWh.

Electricity deliveries to Moldova amounted to 1.134 billion kWh against 3.7 million kWh in 2016.

Ukrainian electricity was not exported to Belarus and Russia in 2016 and 2017.

At the same time, in December 2017 exports of Ukrainian electricity amounted to 458.7 million kWh, which is 10.6% less than in December 2016.

In addition, Ukraine in 2017 imported 48 million kWh of electricity (47 million kWh from Russia, 1.1 million kWh from Belarus) compared to 76.9 million kWh in 2016.Nicole Kidman could have been talking about the stars of the superb British drama "Girlfriends" when she pointed out the importance of allowing women over 40 to tell their stories in film and television during her appearance at the recent Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Just as Kidman brought a powerhouse group of women together for "Big Little Lies," BAFTA winner Kay Mellor has assembled three great British actresses who are as vital now as they were in their 20s and 30s. Miranda Richardson, Phyllis Logan and Zoe Wanamaker play three friends "of a certain age," as they put it, who have been close since they were in their teens, in spite of the separate paths they chose for their own lives.

The first of six episodes is available for streaming on Acorn TV on Monday.

At this point in their lives, as each woman faces issues beyond her control, they are reminded that the bond they share has gotten them through past difficulties and will do so again.

Much of the focus seems at first to be on Sue (Richardson) only because she's the kind of person who commands attention in any room she enters. She has spent her life in love with John (Anthony Head), with whom she co-founded a brides' magazine called Adorable. They have a son, Andrew (Philip Cumbus), but have never married because John won't leave his wife. Now, Sue is facing major changes in her personal and professional lives and seems to have little say in either.

More Information 'Girlfriends' Available for streaming Monday through Acorn.TV Five stars out of five 'Girlfriends' Network: Available for streaming Monday through Acorn TV xxxxx See More Collapse

Gail (Wanamaker) and her husband Dave (Adrian Rawlins) were growing part. There didn't seem to be any single reason for it, but Gail was feeling unattractive and uninterested in sex. Now their divorce decree has come through, and Gail is filled with regret. She has a son, Tom (Matthew Lewis), just out of jail, but required to wear an ankle monitor. Her mother Edna (Valerie Lilly) is in an assisted living center, but may need to be moved to another facility. Attending an event, Gail colors bits of her hair with mascara to hide the gray. Unfortunately, the mascara was not waterproof.

Linda (Logan) had been thinking her life is nicely settled. In fact, she and her husband, Micky (Steve Evets) decided to take their first cruise together, with some financial help from their children, Ryan (Chris Fountain) and Ruby (Daisy Head). It all comes undone in an instant when Micky is either swept overboard, jumped or was pushed. And if it was the latter, Linda is the prime suspect. Linda feels helpless. She always depended on Micky to take care of household finances and make decisions in their lives.

There is so much to love about this series, not the least of which is watching three superb actresses not only on top of their respective games, but playing so brilliantly off one another. More to the point, though, is how Mellor has grounded the miniseries in credible real life, There are many moments of humor in the three episodes made available to critics, but they are woven into the context of the story and characters. In other words, don't expect set-ups and punchlines a la "The Golden Girls." Linda doesn't threaten to send her mum to Shady Pines.

"Girlfriends" is part mystery and we're hooked on wanting to know what happened to Micky. But the more important "mysteries," really, are the lives of these three women, each one heroic in her own life. One way or another, they all followed prescribed paths in life - even Sue, who was too obsessed with John and her job to realize how much she was neglecting not only Andrew, but even more important, herself.

These are women who sacrificed in one way or another. Now they look back and question whether the sacrifices were ill-considered or even worth it. For a time, each thinks that may have been the case. They retrace their steps, their decisions, in an effort to understand how they got to where they are when we meet them.

Those journeys are not easy, but they are empowering. Linda, Sue and Gail may be momentarily gobsmacked by regrets, but those regrets become the fuel for pushing forward on their own terms. Most of all, no one is alone. They have each other and there is strength in that.They marched by the hundreds - in pink knitted hats and rainbow pants, with children and pets and partners by their side.

From Buffalo Bayou Cistern on Allen Parkway to City Hall, they filled the streets with signs and slogans: "Love Trumps Hate." "Women's Rights are Human Rights." "Bigotry is Unamerican."

For the second year in a row, Houstonians joined millions gathered in cities across the country to call attention to progressive causes and raise their voices in solidarity. The gatherings marked the anniversary of the historic 2017 Women's March, which drew close to 3 million marchers around the world.

The last year has witnessed a great awakening - the rise of the #MeToo movement, growing calls for pay equity, the toppling of powerful men revealed to be sexual harassers, a record number of women running for and being elected to office.

But it has also seen a deepening of political divisions, attacks on journalism and press freedom, a crackdown on immigrants and a ban on refugees and attempts to ban transgender people from military service. It has also revealed schisms within the women's movement. Black women, who have long led the fight for civil rights and social justice, say that too often white feminists overlook their issues or take credit for their work.

In Houston, a separate Black Women's March is planned for March 3.

But for those who marched on Jan. 20 - and those who who plan to advocate in other ways and in other rallies -- the message, which echoed in a call-and-response from the stage to the crowd, was clear: "Show up! Fight Back!"Mardi Gras is right around the corner, and that means Lousiana natives living in Texas are starting to get the urge to eat all things Creole and Cajun in preparation for Fat Tuesday.

Luckily, as our friends at KPRC recently reminded us, you can strike two birds with one stone and combine the two most Louisiana things ever into one dish: the boudin king cake.

Robert Carriker, a professor of at the University of Louisiana and founder of boudinlink.com and kingcaker.com, told the Beaumont Enterprise in 2015 that he was the original inventor of the doughy boudin-stuffed treat.

When he posted a recipe for the boudin king cake on his website in 2015, he said it exploded in popularity.

BUMMER: Blue Bell makes king cake-flavored ice cream but supplies are limited

Now Playing: If you're looking for a new king cake recipe to celebrate Mardi Gras, you must try this one. Video: Southern Living

"The orders started coming in and I initially thought, 'this is interesting - maybe I'll do a couple of these for some people and make a little money on the side'," Carriker said. "And then four or five requests turned into 10, 30, 90. By sometime around noon, I had a couple hundred requests. It was insane."

Three years later, the new tradition seems to be sticking around with several restaurants in Louisiana offering the innovative pastry.

Unfortunately, for now, Houstonians will have to make a boudin king cake from scratch.

Check out the photos above to see how a Beaumont doughnut shop prepares a delicious boudin king cake.

Fernando Ramirez is a reporter for Chron.com and the Houston Chronicle. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on Twitter at @fernramirez93.On a block of the Heights lined with bungalows and small homes that date to the 1920s, one stands out as an unexpected sight.

It's a modern home - a concrete box on the ground level with a wooden box tucked in for a second floor - and from the outside you don't quite know what to make of it.

It's organic and simple, and its 16-foot walls of concrete indicate there's more going on inside without giving a clue to what that might be.

Architects would describe it as an inward-looking home, but the architects who designed it and live in it - Christopher and Vivi Robertson of Robertson Design - have created a space that, inside, is warm, inviting and inclusive.

The home is included in a coffee-table book published in November, "Texas Modern: Redefining Houses in the Lone Star State."

When the couple wanted to start designing a new home, they coincidentally had gone on a business trip to China. While in Asia, they tacked on some vacation time and went to Japan.

"It has changed our life. We saw amazing things there," Christopher, 48, said of the experience. They explored Naoshima, an artful island that's often called "Ando Island" because renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando was its creative director and examples of his work are easy to find.

HEIGHTS: Bungalow's restoration earns Good Brick Award

Sometimes they were buildings, other times they were concrete walls seemingly for the sake of erecting a concrete wall - except that they were beautifully done in a serene environment.

"It was about the experience of it, how it looks and how you stand next to it," said Vivi, 35, who studied fine art in Vietnam and fashion design at Houston Community College before earning an architecture degree from the University of Houston. Vivi came to America with her parents when she was 21, after a 20-year wait for approval to immigrate. Her three older brothers eventually joined them.

"It was transcendent," added Christopher, a Houston native, of the experience in Naoshima.

Both already loved modern design and organic materials such as concrete, wood and stone, all of which have gained in popularity as modern architecture and eco-friendly construction are embraced.

But in the home they'd been designing in their heads, big displays of concrete seemed unaffordable.

After the Japan trip, though, they both knew what they would do.

"We said, 'We'll do whatever it takes. We'll dumb down the rest of the house. We'll beg, borrow and steal. We're going to build this house out of concrete," Christopher said of their determination. "We made that decision over there. It ended up being really difficult to pull off and really expensive, but we're so glad we did it."

As their very modern home took shape, they knew that even the construction site must have looked odd to their future neighbors.

"I think our neighbors thought we were building a wastewater-treatment plant," Christopher said, as Vivi showed cellphone photos of the complicated wooden forms used to create the concrete walls.

"We knew the kind of form and materiality is certainly a departure from what's in the neighborhood," he continued. "What I think we did well is we managed proportion and scale to fit what is happening in the neighborhood. (The house is) not a monster pushing out on every side."

Natural materials

They broke ground in August 2013 with the goal of being in the home in about a year. When they finally moved in September 2014, Vivi was pregnant with their son, Topher, who is now 3. Christopher has two other children, 9 and 7, from a previous marriage.

The couple approached the design of their home with two things in mind: what it would be made of and how they would live in it.

Organic, natural materials were a must, so 16-foot concrete walls are paired with Siberian larch wood on the exterior. Inside they used clear-coated white oak for natural-looking flooring.

Sheetrock was to be kept to a minimum, and you'll find little of it in the ground floor of this 2,900-square-foot home.

On the north and south ends, the walls are replaced by floor-to-ceiling windows. East and west sides are concrete, except for sections where cabinets run from the kitchen through the living room and where a big sliding panel conceals a long desk that serves as an at-home office.

A separate concrete wall in the front of the house serves two purposes: to create a private courtyard and to fill the home with natural light and warmth when the sun hits the wall and bounces in.

The hard part of getting their dream material - concrete - was getting the building forms right. While a foundation contractor poured the concrete, Christopher oversaw construction of the forms themselves.

Each panel of concrete has perfectly spaced holes in it; holes that are the result of cutting off bolts that helped hold the forms together. Those holes are borrowed from the Ando aesthetic.

UPPER KIRBY: This home is a modern barn among the bungalows

Because the main living space is so large - 50 feet long and 17 feet wide - the bedrooms upstairs became minimalist spaces meant for sleeping rather than lounging or hanging out.

In fact, a bed designed by Christopher is the sole piece of furniture in the master bedroom. In one child's room, Murphy bunkbeds serve as sleeping space for his older two children, who visit often.

All of that makes the master bathroom, roomy and covered in Carrara marble, a splurge. It has a wet room that holds the tub and shower as well as a rain shower suspended from the ceiling and mounted directly under a skylight.

There are a couple of other splurges in the home, high-end granite that is bookmatched over kitchen counters and a 17-foot island and a hot-water faucet that turns out 200-degree water.

"We can drink French-press coffee all day," Vivi said. "It's one of the little things that makes me happy every day."

How it lives

That long island lives a full life. The Robertsons use it for cooking, lounging around and entertaining. Sometimes architecture work is done there or children play there.

"We spend most of our time in this room," Vivi said of the main room that holds the island. "When all the kids are here, they play down here. We spend our time upstairs to go to sleep. This room has served us really well."

The room has three levels, a concrete pad for the living room, elevated white oak wood floors for the kitchen and another level of wood flooring for the dining area.

"We decided when we were building that we love level changes. We may have overdone it; there are 12 distinct levels in the house," Christopher said.

"It's also very Japanese," Vivi noted. "You want to step into a space, and every space is a little bit different."

The home is filled with modern furniture, much of it from his parents, who downsized from a 10,000-square-foot Museum District home that Christopher had designed for them early in his career. He's currently designing a home for them in River Oaks, one that will pay tribute to the site's original home, designed by the late architect Karl Kamrath in 1961.

Friends and family in groups large and small fill the home with life and energy.

In the backyard is a long rectangular patio with a fire pit at one end. Sometimes, friends sit around it and talk; they've even used it to cook food on.

Alongside it is a very shady yard covered in artificial turf and a covered area that's the back side of a carport, where the children like to play.

"We planted real grass, and it died. We lived with a mud pit for a couple of months. Then we replanted real grass, and it died. We lived with a mud pit then for a year. You know, our backyard was not usable," Christopher said. "We love this stuff. As an architect, I have a problem with it, but we finally installed it, and it wasn't that expensive."

Artificial turf aside, the Robertsons embrace the Japanese notion of wabi-sabi, which means that natural aging or imperfections in something - such as concrete or wood - are part of and add to its beauty.

One example is the larch wood on the exterior, which turns gray with age.

"It's something we're drawn to. We're drawn to things that are less sleek or slick, shiny. Both of us prefer materials that show the passage of time."Le Grand Salon de la Comtesse has been a place out of time for centuries, a Rococo fantasy room with four walls of quarter-sawn English oak paneling, gilded-frame mirrors and dazzling chandeliers.

Built for French royals in the 1730s, the salon is named for the Franco-Belgian princess La Comtesse Elisabeth Greffulhe, a worldly socialite and arts patron who is immortalized as the Duchesse de Guermantes in Marcel Proust's "Remembrance of Things Past." She gussied up the ballrom with gray paint - the fashion of her day - when she installed it in her husband's hunting lodge in 1891; her constant entertaining was a deterrent to his mistresses.

Measuring 45x65 feet, the room seems an unlikely vagabond. Yet it has migrated, off and on, for about 300 years - across France, then across the Atlantic Ocean to a warehouse in Galveston County and finally to its current location as the ballroom at La Colombe d'Or, the boutique luxury hotel and restaurant on Montrose Boulevard owned by Houston businessman Steve Zimmerman.

But now Le Grand Salon is about to waltz out of sight again. Starting Monday, it will be dismantled and stored to make way for a new luxury apartment building.

Zimmerman has wanted to add residences to his property for decades. Market forces have finally made it feasible, although it means sacrificing the ballroom, whose Louis XV opulence seems to have no comfortable role in a city filling with sleek, contemporary highrises.

When Zimmerman bought the salon's components in 1995, they had been crated and stacked for 33 years in a blimp hangar in Hitchcock. As legend has it, the owner, oil tycoon John Mecom Sr., labeled his shipment "bric-a-brac" to avoid paying duties on what amounted to a monumental 18th century antique. Mecom was amassing other entire rooms in the 1960s, too - including a vintage Paris Metro station and Marie Antoinette's bathroom - thus the need for the hangar, the former Hitchock Naval Air Station he bought as war surplus.



RELATED: Colorful Montrose bridges go dark as legal dispute lingers

Mecom's son, John Mecom Jr., made Zimmerman a deal he couldn't refuse on the beat-up panels. Zimmerman had the wood grain painstakingly restored and built a stucco structure to house the room adjacent to La Colombe d'Or.

His bankers balked at the $2 million project, arguing that he could have built a ballroom from scratch for half the price. Weddings and lavish parties at Le Grand Salon, however, have been the hotel's bread and butter for 20 years, keeping it afloat as lunch and dinner business has ebbed and flowed with the oil economy.

Hines

The Zimmerman family is partnering with the global developer Hines and TH Real Estate to build the Residences a La Colombe d'Or, where the ballroom building currently sits. After the dismantling crew catalogues the salon's parts, which have not been appraised, the stucco shell Zimmerman built to house them will be demolished to make way for the 34-story highrise.

Designed by Munoz & Albin, with interiors by Rottet Studio, the sleek tower of brick, limestone and glass will consume 70 percent of Zimmerman's acre-sized plot, bringing 285 multifamily rental units and about 15 more hotel rooms.

Zimmerman will continue to own and operate La Colombe d'Or, which will get a $10 million makover and a restaurant upgrade. His original building will be joined at the hip to the tower, via an arcade and a central courtyard. Residents and hotel guests in both buildings will share a slew of luxury amenities, including the tower's 10th-level swimming pool and the courtyard's sculptures, fountains and an outdoor fireplace.

PRESERVATION: NASA removes a piece of historic Mission Control as restoration efforts ramp up

La Colombe d'Or already has a less simpatico neighbor, dwarfed on its north side by the 29-story Hanover Montrose tower, which opened in 2016.

Some preservationists are pleased that Hines has found a way to save the historic original building, one of the last vestiges of Montrose Boulevard's first incarnation as a street of gracious mansions. But inevitably, a higher, denser Montrose is coming; and other historical properties in the area could easily disappear.

More than a half-dozen luxury highrises have risen in the Montrose and Museum District areas within recent years. One of the most chic, Hines' Southmore, towers over a beautiful stucco mansion on Caroline Street whose owners refused to sell.

David Crossley, founder of the research institute Houston Tomorrow, doesn't think progress is entirely bad - even if the Montrose Boulevard were to become a canyon of highrises, like Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. But he is concerned that Harold and Yoakum streets, where the Residences' front doors and valets will be, are not built to handle the increased traffic.

"It's sort of tacky to stick it in a neighborhood rather than fronting Montrose," Crossley said. The tower should be near a transit station, he added. "And what's this much density going to mean at Kroger at 5:30?"

Montrose Boulevard has been an open field for property owners since the 1930s, when the second of Houston's five "great zoning wars" took place, said architectural historian Stephen Fox, who teaches at Rice University.

Pro-zoning advocates have always lost, and today the boulevard is a quintessential, eclectic Houston mix with a bohemian spirit but no cohesive character. With a number of other prime properties also ripe for redevelopment, the area will never be a historic district, Fox said. He calls it "an area with a history and some signature houses left."

THE HEIGHTS: Heights shopping center is a blend of new and preserved

Ben Brewer, executive director of the embattled Montrose Management District, said Montrose offers an opportunity unlike most other Houston neighborhoods "because it really is walkable."

Kevin Batchelor, senior managing director for Hines' southwest region, said "walk scores" - ratings based on the number of desirable things people can potentially access by foot - are everything in the real estate investment world. Montrose Boulevard has one of the highest "walk scores" of any location in the city - 92 points out of 100, he said.

Batchelor said the joint venture's financial backer -an affiliate of Nuveen, the investment arm of an East Coast teachers' retirement fund - also values the diversity of Houston's economy.

The Southmore, across the street from Asia Society Texas Center, is still only 50 percent leased; but Batchelor is bullish on a market recovery by the time the Residences open in 2020.

"We're definitely in the down part of the cycle," he said. "Houston has already corrected."

Zimmerman, 76, has always let his heart rule his business. And Montrose Boulevard is in his heart.

He opened Zim's, the city's first sidewalk cafe and the state's first wine bar, in 1973, just down the street from the Fondren House.

"I'd just come from New Orleans, and it was me wanting to hang out and drink wine and just relax, laid back. I copied a little bit of the Napoleon House and Galatoire's," he said.

That ambiance is exactly what today's affluent highrise residents want.

"Houston was built for automobiles, not people," Zimmerman said. "New Orleans, where I came from, was built for people. Everything I've done - starting with the whole Zim's block and this - has all been people oriented."

He bought the historic property at 3410 Montrose in the early 1980s because he had been head-over-heels in love since the 1960s with the original La Colombe d'Or in Saint-Paul de Vence, France; and he wanted to recreate something similar in Houston.

His hotel building was designed by early Houston architect Alfred C. Finn in 1923 as a home for Humble Oil co-founder Walter W. Fondren and his wife, Ella C. Fondren. She held onto the home her entire life, leasing it during her later years to the Visiting Nurses Association.

Zimmerman acquired it soon after she died in 1982, just shy of her 102nd birthday.

Over the years, just as at the original La Colombe d'Or, he has amassed an art collection of about 300 paintings - mostly acquired as trades with artists and dealers - to fill the hotel's walls. The downstairs parlor hints at the jewels there, with large canvases by some of the giants of Houston's 20th century art scene - Earl Staley, Dorothy Hood and Lucas Johnson.

Zimmerman could have easily sold La Colombe d'Or to another developer who would have scraped it, but he wasn't willing to sell his soul.

"I'd have been a rich Texan, but not Mr. Colombe d'Or," he said. "We would not have sold any of our land for anything less than something like this. I kind of feel like we're taking Charlize Theron to the prom, you know?"

Hines tried to be as sensitive as possible to the property's historical asset, Batchelor said.

"The alternative would be to tear it down and build a bigger, clunkier building. Instead of using every square inch of land, we reduced the footprint and went slightly taller, but left room for parks, which enhances the connectivity."

RELATED: Judge to rule Tuesday in Montrose Management District

The design also puts the new hotel units at the limestone base of the new building.

"Two-story hotel units wrap the entire base of the tower and the courtyard, so it becomes a highly pedestrian-scaled environment around the courtyards," Batchelor said.

Zimmerman would have preferred to move his ballroom to a top floor of the tower, but that didn't fit the program. Its Louis XV style would not jive with the minimal design of the tower's other spaces - a look Batchelor calls clean and contemporary but also "timeless." And residents of the building would not have appreciated having party guests filling their elevators at 2 a.m. on weekends.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, considered taking Le Grand Salon but had no room for such a large period room in its existing spaces, and it's not relevant to the new Kinder Building for Contemporary Art, which is under construction, director Gary Tinterow said.

He hopes it finds a home where everyone can enjoy it.

"It's an impressive, wonderful set of paneling that creates an extraordinary environment unlike anything else in Houston," Tinterow said. "It's evocative of past times in Europe and of John Mecom's love of fine French furniture."

MONTROSE: The changing face of Houston's hippest neighborhood

Mecom was one of the most prolific collectors of French antiques in the U.S. during the 1950s and 60's. He was active near the tail end of a great influx of period rooms driven by industrial barons who built mansions across the U.S. in the late 19th century.

"We think of rooms as being integral to buildings," Tinterow said. But in Europe from the Renaissance on, decorative paneling was often dismantled and reused, and often sent across national borders. The problem for Le Grand Salon is that period rooms are out of fashion now, even in France, where many of them originated.

Zimmerman doesn't know where he will use the salon next, if anywhere. Perhaps it's only a matter of time before Le Grand Salon, too, is just a remembrance of things past.The humble wood-frame house where Herman Smallwood has lived for 48 years rests on cinder blocks lodged in the soil of his East Aldine neighborhood. Rickety steps lead to a front door that, with a good shove, opens just enough for a visitor to squeeze into the tiny, cluttered front room.

Smallwood, who is 65 and disabled, rode out Hurricane Harvey's downpours in this house. The water didn't reach the front door, he said, but it loosened the earth beneath the cinder blocks, causing them to shift and sink to different depths.

As a result, there's hardly a level surface in the 830-square-foot house. Walls are cracked, floors tilted. Mold creeps up a bedroom wall after water poured through the roof, ruining his television and other belongings.

Smallwood's request for money for repairs is one of more than 275,000 applications from Harvey survivors that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected so far. His case and others have fueled persistent concerns about the fairness and transparency of FEMA's process for determining who qualifies for help in the first, crucial months after a disaster.

Research by the Houston-based Episcopal Health Foundation found that residents of low-income neighborhoods like Smallwood's were more likely to be deemed ineligible than applicants from more affluent ZIP codes.

Lawyers and community organizers who have worked with survivors of multiple disasters cite a range of reasons why deserving applicants may be turned down - unqualified or indifferent home inspectors, unclear rules, an assumption that many applicants have fraudulent intent. Some say applicants are being rejected because their homes were in poor condition before the storm.

These issues have surfaced, to varying degrees, since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, advocates say. Despite signs of improvement, some are convinced that many people still aren't getting the help they deserve.

"We've seen it getting better," said Saundra Brown, the disaster response manager for Lone Star Legal Aid, a service for the poor, "but FEMA is a giant bureaucracy, and they have to be sued periodically to change things."

Texans began registering for FEMA assistance online, by phone or in person within days after Harvey struck the coast in late August, dumping up to 51 inches of rain on parts of the Houston area and leading to massive flooding.

Agency data provided to the Houston Chronicle show that 895,342 Texans had registered as of Jan. 19. Forty-one percent had been approved, with 31 percent deemed ineligible. The remaining applications had been withdrawn, referred to the Small Business Administration for a possible loan, or were pending with FEMA or awaiting an insurance determination.

To some extent, a high denial rate is built into FEMA's process. The agency encourages those affected by a disaster to register, and many people do so even though they have obvious disqualifications, such as insurance that covers damage. FEMA cannot duplicate benefits.

Such circumstances account for many of the "ineligible" determinations, federal officials say.

"They might have registered to have access to an SBA low-interest disaster loan," spokesman Robert Howard wrote in an email. "They might have only suffered minor damage but registered because they heard a media report telling them they should."

Smallwood's application was processed through the "Individuals and Households" program, which has assisted Americans affected by more than 800 hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes and other natural disasters since 2002. So far, Harvey has triggered some $1.5 billion in assistance through this program.

Nationally, FEMA spent $25.3 billion on individual assistance from 2005 through 2014, according to the Government Accountability Office.

The agency stopped taking applications from people affected by Harvey on Nov. 30, but thousands of appeals are still being reviewed. New programs developed by federal agencies in partnership with the Texas General Land Office are providing some similar services as the focus of the recovery effort shifts to long-term needs.

In addition to home-repair funds, the Individuals and Households Program provides rental assistance, temporary housing such as mobile homes, and grants to replace damaged vehicles or other personal property.

It is the process for approving home-repair grants, though, that has been most troublesome to advocates for disaster survivors - particularly poor and working-class people who are less likely to have other resources such as insurance or savings.

Repairs funded through the Individuals and Households program are intended to be quick fixes - a make-do until the owner can pay for permanent renovations or replacement through long-term federal assistance or other sources. The current limit on assistance per household is $33,300.

The law authorizing the program provides that it will pay only for repairs sufficient to make a disaster-damaged home "habitable." This was a basis for the first reason cited for denying Smallwood's application; the storm, in FEMA's judgment, had not made the house "unsafe to occupy."

But what constitutes "habitable?"

According to a 2016 lawsuit filed against FEMA on behalf of Texas disaster victims, lack of clarity on this point makes it impossible for applicants to understand what is required to qualify for help, or to mount an effective appeal.

"The regulations define the statutory term 'uninhabitable' to mean 'not safe, sanitary, or fit to occupy,' and then define the statutory terms 'safe,' 'sanitary,' and 'functional' so broadly that the definitions provide the public with no effective notice at all of how FEMA decides habitability," the lawsuit states.

Smallwood's house, like those of many people seeking help from FEMA, was in poor condition before Harvey. In cases like his, it can be difficult for inspectors to distinguish storm-caused damage from pre-existing problems, particularly since inspectors hired quickly in the rush to respond to a disaster may have limited experience or training.

After Hurricanes Ike and Dolly struck Texas in 2008, FEMA denied help to many applicants after inspectors concluded that "deferred maintenance," rather than the storm, caused the poor condition of their homes. In response to litigation, FEMA agreed to stop using this standard in future disasters.

But Brown, the Lone Star Legal Aid manager, said she suspects the agency is still denying claims based on deferred maintenance - without actually using the term. For example, she said, FEMA often denies requests based on damage from water that falls through the roof, as it did in Smallwood's house, but approves claims based on rising floodwaters.

Inspectors assume the roof was already in poor condition due to deferred maintenance, Brown said. Smallwood, however, said his roof didn't leak before Harvey.

FEMA generally doesn't comment on individual applicants, citing privacy laws.

Mary Lawler, executive director of Avenue Community Development Corp., a Houston nonprofit, made a similar point in testimony Jan. 18 to the Texas House Urban Affairs Committee.

"In our work, we're seeing that many of our low-income clients are being denied for FEMA assistance," Lawler said. "We're still trying to understand the reasons for those denials, but ... it appears that many of them are related to deferred maintenance on the homes, which of course disproportionately affects low-income households."

The second reason for Smallwood's denial - lack of proof that he owned the house - has been common after Harvey, lawyers and advocates said. Brown said about half of the clients her agency is assisting have been denied on this basis.

Smallwood said he inherited the house from his mother after her death some 30 years ago, but never had the deed transferred to his name. However, he showed the inspector tax-payment receipts, and the Harris County Appraisal District website lists "Herman Smallwood et al" as the owner.

FEMA's guidelines include "property tax receipt or property tax bill" as an "alternative certification document."

Advocates say they understand that some errors are inevitable when government agencies have to mobilize quickly to help hundreds of thousands of people after a disaster. But they're concerned that attitudes within FEMA and its contractors may add to these problems.

"FEMA is on high fraud alert, which they should be, but I believe they're denying a lot of people, assuming (applications are) fraud when they're not," Brown said.

The agency works aggressively to prevent fraud. All applicants referred to the Individuals and Households Program must sign a statement affirming that the information they are providing is true, that they are not submitting duplicate applications, and that they won't use federal benefits for unintended purposes. The document states that concealing information or making false statements can result in criminal and civil penalties.

A 2011 report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's inspector general identified $643 million in "potentially improper payments" through the Individuals and Households Program since Katrina. Government estimates of the rate of fraud in the program ranged from 8.56 percent to 16 percent.

Herman Smallwood says he willingly signed FEMA's anti-fraud form. While he awaits a decision on his appeal, he is still living in his damaged house, looking down at the cracks in the floor that opened up when the foundation shifted.

Space heaters ward off the chill on cold winter days.

"I can run a heater in every room," he says, "and it's still cold in here."Crime in Houston fell slightly in 2017 but police Chief Art Acevedo continues to lobby for hundreds of additional officers.

The city may need as many as 2,000 officers, he said this week, repeating calls from previous chiefs to grow the department's force.

And the chief again criticized Gov. Greg Abbott and other state officials, saying they make it difficult for cities to police and protect themselves by focusing on unnecessary legislation regarding immigration, gender issues and local control.

HOMICIDE COUNT: Houston murders drop 11 percent in 2017

"We're down to the lemon peel," said Acevedo, referring to staffing at the Houston Police Department. "That's what we're down to. I can't make lemonade from lemon peels."

Overall, crime in Houston was down by about 2 percent last year. The city tallied 33 fewer homicides - 269 - than the previous year. But the rate of sexual assaults and aggravated assaults rose by more than 10 percent each.

Police response times remained nearly identical for the most serious crimes, but they slipped more sharply for less-serious issues.

"The sad truth is, in a world of limited resources, we have to prioritize," Acevedo said.

The department has about 5,100 officers, about 300 more than a decade ago. But the department has 200 fewer officers than it had in 1997, when the city had 500,000 fewer residents, Acevedo said.

TAX CAP: Gov. Greg Abbott wants to limit how how fast local property tax revenue can grow

Acevedo said Houston's Police Department was understaffed compared with departments in other large cities, and that it needed as many as 2,000 more officers.

"We can't continue to be the fastest growing big city in the country and not grow the police department," he said. "It just doesn't work."

The union has pressed city officials to increase the department's forces by 500 officers during the next five years, a move Mayor Sylvester Turner and others say they support.

But paying for that increase would be difficult, said Mike Knox, an at-large City Council member said.

"There's no question we need more police officers in Houston," Knox said. "The issue is going to be paying for it. And I'm afraid the mayor and chief are working together to make people believe removing the property tax revenue cap will solve that problem, and it will not."

MORE: Houston's top cop sets whirlwind pace during first six months

Curbing Houston's crime rate requires more money targeted at investigations and patrols - and avoiding unnecessary assignments, says Larry Karson, an assistant professor of criminal justice at the University of Houston-Downtown.

"If you're putting the officers where they're really needed (and) working to attack violent crime the community is concerned about, the chief is right," Karson said.

Meanwhile, police -- through their union -- have complained that the department's reduced overtime budget has hurt their ability to solve cases.

"Cases are built over time. This is not CSI," said Doug Griffith, vice president of the Houston Police Officers' Union. "We can't solve a case in 15 minutes. It takes time, manpower, and it takes money. Two of those three, we don't have."

In 2016, the department had an operational overtime budget of about $18 million, he said. Now, it has $4 million for operational OT.

Acevedo also took time to address other issues.

On the long-running dispute between city and state officials over local control:

"We have the governor, who doesn't have to run a city, talking about further reducing the ability of cities to function and to be safe, by proposing a 2.5 percent (property tax growth) cap," Acevedo said. "It's pretty easy to do that when you're sitting at a capitol building and don't have to respond to crime scenes day in and day out."

On immigration:

The chief said that since Abbott signed SB 4 - the "show your papers" law - on May 7, the department recorded just two instances when officers asked people about their immigration status in non-arrest situations.

"For those who were afraid we were going to become immigration agents, the data speaks for itself," Acevedo said.

Acevedo has been a vocal opponent of the law that bans so-called sanctuary cities and that exposes local officials to criminal prosecution if they try to stop officers from asking about immigration status.

St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com.SAN ANTONIOWanna buy a cardboard cutout of John Wayne? How about a chuckwagon? They are among about 2,400 props, antiques, artifacts, toys and trinkets on sale this weekend at Alamo Village, the set of John Wayne's epic 1960 movie "The Alamo" and other films and television shows.

Although the sale appears to signal a further decline in activity at the set for film production and tourism, the person in charge of the sale would not speculate on the site's future.

The mock-up Old West town is part of a family ranch 120 miles west of San Antonio where raising cattle and hunting are the main activities.

Joanie Sellers Edwards, owner of the Nest Estate Sale Services, cautioned that fans of Wayne's Academy Best Picture-nominated film on the 1836 siege and battle in San Antonio will not find prop guns, swords and uniforms from the movie. But there are some unsigned set photos, a ladder, table, cart and some books and pottery.

"On movie sets, they would rent wagons and other props and return them. So when John Wayne's company, Batjac Productions, made 'The Alamo,' they rented everything from Hollywood, then sent it all back," said Edwards, whose Weatherford company is handling the sale for the Dallas-area family that owns the ranch.

All the items will have prices and be sold on a first-come, first-served basis from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Prospective buyers are asked to register with the company by email or via a "Liquidation of Alamo Village" Facebook page. The set and its buildings are not part of the sale.

"We don't want tourists coming out," said Edwards, who expected more than 1,000 artists, collectors and other prospective buyers.

Scripts from the 1989 television miniseries "Lonesome Dove" and other productions filmed on the set near Brackettville will be on sale. Items were priced on their apparent face value, since there's no documentation on their use in movies.

"There's no paper trail that says this wagon was used in 'Lonesome Dove'," Edwards said.

Some things, including jewelry and 80 pairs of moccasins, will be sold in lots. The sale list includes Alamo Village T-shirts, church pews, toys, display cases, belt buckles, cannon replicas, antique keys, spurs and guns, and the late family matriarch Virginia Shahan's collection of Native American arrowheads, spear tips and stone tools.

Richard Curilla, the site's historian, creative director and production liaison, said it will be sad to see the props leave, since he helped production companies arrange to have many of them built. The 500-acre set has accommodated about 40 major film and TV productions and hundreds of commercials, documentaries and music videos.

It was open to the public for decades, hosting hayrides, weddings, staged gunfights and other family-oriented activities, but has been closed since 2010.

"I understand the need of the family to liquidate, but it really hurts to watch," said Curilla, who began working there full-time in 1988.

The last major movie shot there was "The Man who Came Back," released in 2008. Last year, a crew spent a few days there shooting "Cruzado," an independent film set in Texas in 1883.

Rancher James T. "Happy" Shahan persuaded Wayne in the 1950s to film his directorial debut on the 18,000-acre ranch. Both chose sturdy materials to create a durable set during a two-year construction, with jails, saloons, a bank and other structures common to a frontier town, along with a replica of the mission-era Alamo church as it appeared in 1836. The IMAX movie, "Alamo  The Price of Freedom," was shot there in 1987.

Wayne's movie has been criticized for inaccurately depicting the early morning Alamo battle as a daytime conflict, on a set that looked more like an arid western town than the lush Spanish colonial village of San Antonio. It popularized the 1836 siege and battle, building on a following forged by the 1955 Disney film, "Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier."

In a 2015 interview, John Farkis, author of "Not Thinkin' Just Rememberin' The Making of John Wayne's 'The Alamo'." said he began researching the movie after visiting Alamo Village 20 years earlier. He concluded that Wayne worked actively for 14 years to make the film as a patriotic tribute to Americans who served in World War II because studio executives had not allowed him to enlist.

James Shahan died in 1996, passing the site on to his wife, Virginia, who died in 2009, leaving it to her daughter, Jamie Rains. A Corpus Christi businessman had hoped in recent years to raise $8 million to buy the site and upgrade it as an Old West theme park, but was unable to secure financing.WASHINGTON - The Justice Department now says it has recovered some of the missing text messages between two FBI officials who have become a focus for Republican charges of bias in the FBI.

Last week, the department reported that, because of a technical snafu, the FBI had lost all messages sent from bureau mobile phones from December 2016 to May 2017. That included a string of messages between Peter Strzok, an FBI agent who had worked on the Hillary Clinton email investigation, and an FBI lawyer, Lisa Page.

Text messages released in December show the pair exchanged strings of derogatory comments about President Donald Trump and other politicians during the campaign. Strzok, who also was assigned to the probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, was reassigned after the texts surfaced earlier last year.

Trump, who has claimed the texts show evidence of bias against him, has worked to focus attention on the issue, tweeting Tuesday that the missing texts were "one of the biggest stories in a long time."

In a letter sent Thursday to the chairs of the Senate Homeland Security and Judiciary committees, Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said his office had successfully used forensic tools to recover some of the text messages between Strzok and Page.

"Our effort to recover any additional text messages is ongoing," he wrote.

The letter did not say how many messages had been recovered, or say anything about their content. The messages will be reviewed by the department before they are released, Horowitz wrote.

In recent weeks, many Republicans have pivoted to instead focus on whether the FBI conspired against Trump when it began investigating the campaign, citing anti-Trump texts between two Justice Department officials who were at one point part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation.

Trying to stem some of that criticism, the Justice Department's internal watchdog said Thursday that it had located several months' worth of text messages the department had previously said it couldn't find.

Several congressional committees have been reviewing text messages and have been slowly releasing them. Senate Judiciary is one of those panels, and late Thursday, Grassley revealed additional texts in a letter he sent to FBI Director Christopher Wray.

In the newly released texts, Strzok and Page discuss the investigation of Hillary Clinton campaign emails and note that she could be the next president.

"The last thing you need us going in there loaded for bear," Page texts, referring to dealing with Clinton.

Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer criticized the Republicans who have been escalating attacks on the FBI and Justice Department as Mueller's investigation has come closer to Trump's inner circle. Schumer singled out a classified memo that the House intelligence committee has produced and may move to make public.

"What began as an attempt to discredit the investigator has now devolved into delusional, self-serving paranoia," Schumer said in a Senate floor speech.

In a letter Wednesday, the Justice Department warned the House intelligence panel's Republican chairman, California Rep. Devin Nunes, that releasing the classified memo could be "extraordinarily reckless" and asked to review it.

Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote Nunes that given the panel's role in overseeing the nation's intelligence community, "you well understand the damaging impact that the release of classified material could have on our national security and our ability to share and receive sensitive information from friendly foreign governments."On Friday, January 26, at 12.30, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference titled "2018 - Culmination and Denouement." The participants will include Director of the Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov; expert of the Gardarika strategic consulting corporation Konstiantyn Matviyenko; director of the "Ukrainian Barometer" sociological service Viktor Nebozhenko (8/5a Reitarska Street). Registration of journalists requires press accreditation.For decades the Texas child welfare system has endangered children. After an exhaustive trial, U.S. District Court Judge Janis Graham Jack of Corpus Christi held Texas' long-term custody system unconstitutional, describing it as one "where rape, abuse, psychotropic medication and instability are the norm."

Let that sink in. The norm for the 10,700 or so children in the state's long-term care program is rape and abuse, psychotropic medication and instability. These are the same children who the state removed from abusive and inept parents or otherwise dangerous situations and took under its wing ostensibly to keep them safe.

Given the risk of lasting harm to the children in its custody, Texas lawmakers should follow the law as set forth in Jack's order. The ruling contains well-thought-out directives that could be used as a roadmap for progress. Instead, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton appealed Jack's decision to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans and is seeking to have it overturned.

An appeal wasn't the state's sole reaction. Gov. Greg Abbott and the Texas Legislature did take a number of steps during the last legislative session to improve child safety, like approving raises for child protection workers to plug the workforce shortage and slow the high rates of turnover. But last week the judge ruled in a stinging rebuke that the state's actions have fallen short of fixing the underlying problems.

"Over two years later, the system remains broken and DFPS (the Department of Family and Protective Services) has demonstrated an unwillingness to take tangible steps to fix the broken system," Jack wrote.

Rather than focusing on the solution, Paxton appealed the judge's final order, issuing a rebuke of his own. "When unelected judges improperly assume control of state institutions, Texas officials cannot make the policy they've been entrusted to make," he said in a statement ("Judge Demands Foster Care Fixes," Page A1, Jan. 20).

Paxton's statement ignores the system of checks and balances set up by the U.S. Constitution. When the state breaks its own rules, it's the job of the court system to point the way to reform.

Texas officials did not do enough to keep the children that they've been entrusted with safe. Following decades of neglect, it became the responsibility of the courts to make sure the state protects our most vulnerable. Were it not for the judge's order, the state might still be turning its back on children in long-term custody who experience rape as the norm.

In addition to an appeal, Paxton requested and was granted a temporary suspension of Jack's order, meaning the state does not have to immediately start making any of the ordered changes.

Paxton may have gotten his wish, but that doesn't make Texas children any more safe. These kids need help now.Since Medicaid was created more than 50 years ago under President Lyndon B. Johnson, millions of low-income adults, children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and seniors in nursing homes have had the peace of mind knowing their health and well-being are protected because they can access Medicaid coverage. Now the Trump administration is rewriting the rules to create barriers to this coverage by allowing states to mandate a work requirement as a condition of coverage. Linking coverage to work will undermine access to health care for many, and is cruel, counterproductive and unnecessary.

On Jan. 11, the administration released guidance allowing states to implement work requirements on Medicaid beneficiaries, a major change in federal policy. The objective of Medicaid has been to serve the health and wellness needs of our nation's vulnerable and low-income individuals and families. Imposing work requirements flies in the face of this objective.

Simply put, work requirements would do a disservice to our nation's most vulnerable. You have to be healthy to be able to obtain and keep a job. How can you do that if you are sick and can't get care?

Furthermore, the problem this policy sets out to solve doesn't even exist.

We have all heard the false characterization that poor, able-bodied people are taking advantage of Medicaid, but the truth is most adults on Medicaid actually are working. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a non-partisan policy analysis and research center, nearly 8 in 10 non-elderly, non-disabled adults with Medicaid live in working families, and most are working themselves. Among those who did not work in 2016, 36 percent were ill or disabled, 30 percent were caregivers, and 15 percent attended school. The other 18 percent were either retired, could not find work or had another reason. Among Medicaid recipients in Texas, 67 percent are children, though 60 percent of the costs are spent on the elderly and disabled individuals.

Does grandma need to get a job? Do kids?

Imposing such policies on Medicaid families that are generally living on a budget of roughly less than $15,000 per year is a punitive action that will hurt American families living paycheck to paycheck.

At their core, work requirement policies assume that individuals should work in order to have health care, when the opposite is plainly true: Health is essential for successful employment.

Before the Trump administration announced its decision, 10 states asked the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) for permission to add work or work-related requirement to their program. The day after CMS' Jan. 11 announcement, Kentucky became the first state to have its Medicaid waiver with a work requirement approved. People in Kentucky have more access to care and are healthier than they have ever been, thanks to the Affordable Care Act's Medicaid expansion. Now, Kentucky's governor would rather reverse this progress by instituting premiums, increasing cost-sharing and dis-enrolling beneficiaries for not renewing eligibility or reporting changes in income, as the waiver will do.

If the main purpose of the work requirement is to emphasize work to promote health and well-being, then instead of creating barriers to health care, states should be looking to provide better tools to secure employment, such as housing stability services and supported employment services. Washington State implemented these sorts of ideas through something called a "Section 1115 waiver" in 2017. Section 1115 waivers grant states flexibility with the goal of promoting the objectives of Medicaid. A work requirement would do the opposite.

As former vice president Hubert H. Humphrey said, "It was once said that the moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped."

If a society is indeed judged by the manner in which it treats its most vulnerable, what does the recent CMS decision say about the nation's commitment to achieve health and well-being for this population?

Green represents the 29th Congressional District of Texas and serves as the ranking member on the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. You can tweet him @RepGeneGreen.WASHINGTON - The government shutdown is over. Democrats finally realized that closing the government over illegal immigration was a losing political battle.

They created a needless crisis and got rolled. So who is to blame for their current predicament? Along with Charles Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, Democrats can put the blame squarely on the man who could have legalized the "dreamers" when he had the chance: Barack Obama.

During his 2008 campaign, Obama promised in a conversation with Univision anchor Jorge Ramos to make passing immigration reform one of his first legislative priorities, and set a timetable.

"I cannot guarantee that it is going to be in the first 100 days," he said. "But what I can guarantee is that we will have in the first year an immigration bill that I strongly support and that I'm promoting. And I want to move that forward as quickly as possible."

If he had wanted to act, he could have. Obama's party controlled the House, and Democrats had a 60-vote filibuster-proof majority. If Obama really wanted to pass either the Dream Act or comprehensive immigration reform, Republicans were powerless to stop him. But he didn't do it.

In a 2012 interview, Ramos called Obama on it: "At the beginning of your governing, you had control of both chambers of Congress, and yet you did not introduce immigration reform. And before I continue, I want for you to acknowledge that you did not keep your promise."

Obama objected that he had made his promise "before the economy was on the verge of collapse.  And so my first priority was making sure that we prevented us from going into a Great Depression."

Ramos was having none of it: "It was a promise, Mr. President.  And a promise is a promise. And with all due respect, you didn't keep that promise."

Obama's excuse was weak. In the midst of dealing with the economic crisis, he championed Obamacare and got other legislation passed. If passing immigration reform had been a real priority, he could have done it. And if he had, there would be no immigration impasse today.

Of course, Obama was not alone in failing to act. Who was in charge of the issue on Capitol Hill? On the Senate side, none other than Schumer, D-N.Y. In 2009, Schumer succeeded Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., as chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on immigration. In that role, the New York Times reported, "Mr. Schumer would take the point in pushing for passage of a new bill."

But Schumer didn't push. Neither did Pelosi, D-Calif., who was speaker of the House at the time and had the power to bring immigration legislation to the floor at will. And Obama also did not push because, according to the Times, the president "does not intend to get out in front of any proposal until there is a strong bipartisan commitment to pass it." Funny, he did not wait for a "strong bipartisan commitment" before pushing Obamacare. But apparently immigration was not a priority.

By the time Obama got around to immigration legislation, Republicans had retaken the House. After failing to act when he had the votes, in 2012 Obama announced he would implement Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an unlawful executive action to effectively legalize the presence of illegal immigrants who had arrived in the United States as children. The Post's editorial board correctly called it an "unprecedented" move that "flies in the face of congressional intent," adding that "Republicans' failure to address immigration  does not justify Mr. Obama's massive unilateral act." Even "Saturday Night Live" skewered Obama's executive action.

President Trump was right to reverse Obama's unconstitutional decision. He had no choice. He also said at the time he supported letting DACA recipients stay, set a deadline of March 5 for a legislative solution and added he would be willing to give Congress more time if necessary.

"Congress now has 6 months to legalize DACA," Trump tweeted Sept. 5. "If they can't, I will revisit the issue!"

In other words, there was no crisis for DACA recipients. This was, as Obama said when Republicans shut down the government in 2013, a "manufactured crisis" - one Obama helped manufacture with his broken immigration promises. For once, Democrats were the ones making unreasonable demands. And now Democrats will have to pay the political price. If they don't like it, they can only blame themselves and Obama.

Thiessen writes a twice-weekly column for the Post on foreign and domestic policy and contributes to the PostPartisan blog. He is a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and the former chief speechwriter for President George W. Bush.Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte held talks in Davos on January 25, Ukrainian presidential press secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko has said.

"Negotiations have started with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte," Tsegolko wrote on Twitter on Thursday, January 25.

He also posted a photo of a meeting between Poroshenko and Rutte.

Later, the presidential press service reported that Poroshenko and Rutte noted the intensification of bilateral economic relations during the meeting and stated that the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement had already yielded positive results for both the Ukrainian and Dutch business.

"Petro Poroshenko emphasized that he counted on the further Dutch assistance for the policy of sanctions against Russia until full restoration of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also expressed hope for the close cooperation in the UN, particularly in the context of the non-permanent membership of the Netherlands in the UN Security Council in 2018," reads the report.

The parties coordinated efforts aimed at punishing the perpetrators of the MH17 tragedy.

Poroshenko also invited the Dutch prime minister to visit Ukraine.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.As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content.

When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to.

After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code.

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS!

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The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those.Hungary will provide Zakarpattia region with 8,000 measles vaccines, the press service of Zakarpattia Regional State Administration has reported, with reference to regional governor Hennadiy Moskal.

The batch of vaccines will be delivered as humanitarian aid on January 26.

At the same time, the regional state administration noted that vaccines that were distributed to Zakarpattia region from other regions had not yet been received.

Zakarpattia region is one of the regions where the greatest number of cases of measles was recorded. As of January 25, 406 people became ill, and 319 of them are children under the age of 17.

On January 23, the winner of the competition for the post of general director of the Public Health Center of the Ukrainian Health Ministry, Volodymyr Kurpita, said that about 10,000 doses of measles vaccines would be transferred to Zakarpattia region in the near future.Google, Amazon, Spotify, Facebook, Other Major Net Players Endorse U.S. Music Modernization Act

The Internet Association, the trade and lobbying group which represents Google, Amazon, Spotify, Facebook and several dozen other major internet companies, today sent a letter to the bipartisan Congressional sponsors of the Music Modernization Act (MMA) calling on them to advance the legislation.



Microsoft, Eventbrite, Twitter, Netflix and Reddit are also among the members of the Internet Association supporting the MMA.

The Music Modernization Act would change the system for obtaining mechanical rights to a song. Today, licenses must be obtained on a song-by-song basis, which may have multiple co-writers, split across tens of thousands of music publishers. The MMA would create a blanket licensing system, much like a concert venue currently gets from BMI or ASCAP, with collective administration.

"With IAs support, the MMA now has the backing of the entire music community."

From Internet Associations letter of support:

The more than 40 members of Internet Association include the most innovative and forward-thinking companies in the world, including many internet platforms and services that depend on clear, reliable rules for licensing music. Such rules enable innovation and economic success. Success of traditional rights holders and contemporary internet models are intertwined. By fueling innovation, we can promote growth for diverse forms of creative expression.

With IAs support, the MMA now has the backing of the entire music community, said Internet Association President & CEO Michael Beckerman. This bill builds on the internet innovations driving growth in the music industry to modernize music licensing laws. IA and our 40 members are fully committed to advancing this bipartisan legislation because it will strengthen the digital music revolution thats bringing the industry -creators, consumers, and digital platforms- to new heights.

Most, but not all major music industry trade groups have endorsed the legislation, as well.

To read the IAs letter of support, click here.

Share on:Music Modernization Act: Peril Or Promise?  All This Week On Hypebot

From the RIAA to the NMPA and Google to Spotify, nearly every major music and technology trade group and company is urging Congress to pass the Music Modernization Act. But as the legislation, which closely matches a similar bill in the House, works its way through the Senate, some smart voices are urging caution.

All this week, we'll be looking at the pros and the cons of the Music Modernization Act with the help of experts from both sides of the debate.

To learn more now:

In the meantime, what do you think of the MMA?

Share on:The School Committee voted on Wednesday to change the name of Columbus Day.

Pittsfield Schools Backs Indigenous Peoples Day

PITTSFIELD, Mass.  Christopher Columbus wasn't just a poor explorer, but also a horrible human being who should never have been honored in the first place, according to School Committee member Daniel Elias.

Elias joined in a unanimous vote on Wednesday to delete Columbus' name from the school calendar on the second Monday of October and replace it with Indigenous People's Day. The public holiday known as Columbus Day is slowly being replaced throughout the nation as history has now shown that not only was Columbus not the first person to discover America but he was also responsible for committing atrocities against the people who were living here when he arrived.

"Historians tell us a different story, a new truth. As a public educational institute, it is our civic responsibility to educate our nearly 5,600 students to the best of our ability. What we teach our students about our nation's history needs to be factual. It is long recognized by historians that Columbus did not discover America. The Native Americans were the first immigrants to North America and our country. They were followed by Leif Ericson and then Columbus, who we now know was the first to Europeanize what he though was India," School Committee member Cynthia Taylor said.

In 1992, Berkeley, Calif., first changed Columbus Day to Indigenous People Day. But it has only been in the last three or four years that the trend caught on. In 2016, the Massachusetts towns of Cambridge, Amherst, and Northampton all made the switch. As did the entire state of Vermont (which had never observed Columbus Day as a state holiday). Just this week, San Francisco made the switch.

"Indigenous People's Day is not only about a name change, it is a refusal to allow the genocide of millions of indigenous people go unnoticed and demand for recognition of indigenous humanity. Recognizing this day in place of what is the currently known as Columbus Day is a way to correct false histories," Taylor said.

The School Committee unanimously backed the switch, but member William Cameron showed some reservation. Cameron said he doesn't have a problem with removing Columbus' name from the holiday, citing that only Martin Luther King, George Washington, and Abraham Lincoln have public holidays in their name and Columbus doesn't reach that level of impact on the nation, but rather the replacing it with Indigenous Peoples Day.

"I don't think removing Columbus' name ought to be a matter of great controversy. What troubles me about this is the identification of a specific nationality or ethnic group as deserving their own recognition," Cameron said.

Cameron said Americans seem to be dividing among class, race, and other differences. He said people are more and more identifying by their separation rather than commonalities. He fears furthering that by creating public holidays for every ethnic group.

"We don't have any ethnic denoted public holidays.St. Patrick's Day is not a public holiday, we don't have an Irish Day, we don't have a Polish Day or Ukrainian Day which is a public holiday. We don't have a public holiday for the people who came from Africa and were enslaved for 250 years and then suffered under Jim Crow and various kinds of racial discrimination legally for over 100 years after. We don't have any designation for any of those. This is a new thing. Having a public holiday that celebrates one particular group of people is one that makes me very uneasy," Cameron said.

"I think it is well intended and this is a very local move. But I would be very concerned if this sentiment became national where we begin celebrating the cultures of people who came to a society where they were supposed to subscribe not to their ethnic nation but to a constitutional nation."

Member Dennis Powell, who is also the president of the local NAACP chapter, slightly disagrees. He said many of the accomplishments and impacts various cultures made on the country's history have been buried over time. He said telling a true history and celebrating those accomplishments outweighs the concern that every culture will want a holiday.

"We also have to keep in mind who they actually were. We think all black people in America were slaves. That's not true because there were black people here before slaves came here. In fact, they were the indigenous people. When you look at this, I think it is more important to me that we give recognition. It has got to start somewhere. There has to be some identification or truth of real history," Powell said. "I'm hoping what comes out of this is actual instruction in the history being taught."

Chairwoman Katherine Yon said the change in holiday will emphasize the positive impact indigenous people had on this nation.

"There has always been an attitude where we honor conquerors, with all this suppression, violence and bloodshed that goes along with it, and the arrogance that conquerors are somehow better than the people that they are fighting. And that's the idea, I think, we have to get rid of. Indigenous people have so much to offer but there has always been this idea of the conqueror over the victims," Yon said.

City Councilor Peter White didn't know the proper history of Columbus until he went to college. He called a move such as this one that is "long overdue."

"Teaching our children real history instead of fairy tale history is important," White said. "I would have rather learned the history from the beginning rather than waiting until I was a history major in college."

Taylor said Columbus started the Europeanization of the United States, which led to the killing of thousands of Native Americans. She said the changing of the holiday in no way detracts from the Italian American immigrants who moved to the country.

"The Europeanization of America led to the largest genocide in our nation's history. There were over 300 unarmed Native American men, women, and children killed at Wounded Knee alone," Taylor said.

Resident Drew Herzig said the move isn't "about erasing history. It is about affirming history." While resident Michael Bushey added that this change should be made as well as changing the Taconic High School moniker from The Braves.

"If you are going to do one, you should probably address the other one first," Bushey said.

School Committee member Joshua Cutler added that he doesn't want the name change to just be a gesture. He wants it to be a "teachable moment" in the schools.

"The biggest thing I keep coming back to is teachable moments. If we are going to go forward and support this tonight, we really need to take advantage of this and incorporate it into the curriculum so that our students fully grasp why exactly we have this day off," Cutler said. "We need to use it as a teachable moment so we will make more of an impact."

The day will still be a holiday, and Superintendent Jason McCandless double checked to make sure there were no legal impacts with the collective bargaining agreements that state employees get the day of, but will be recognized differently. Instead of getting the day off that October weekend to remember how in 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue and discovered a new world, now the holiday, at least in Pittsfield schools, will recognize how Columbus had no idea where he was and just started colonizing the land and killing those who were here first.

"Not only was he a poor explorer. He was, as a man, a pretty horrible human being. There is no honor in that," Elias said.North Adams Officials Taking on Problem of Domestic Violence

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The recent murder of a local woman has prompted two city councilors to engage local government in addressing the issue of domestic violence.

Christa Leigh Steele-Knudslien, who moved to the city less than a year ago, was allegedly killed by her husband on Jan. 5. Of the three murders that occurred in the city in the last decade, at least two of them could be considered domestic violence, said Councilor Marie T. Harpin, who with Councilor Benjamin Lamb brought the subject to the council. She also pointed to the disappearance of a Clarksburg woman, also believed killed by her late husband.

"To me, I think that is a shout-out to us, as a body, and government, to point that out and make the community aware of it, and discuss it, and have dialogue about it, and bring it into the open, and have awareness and education" she said at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "That's what Councilor Lamb and I are suggesting."

Harpin and Lamb submitted a communication asking that the council work with the mayor's office and community partners to create "a multipronged approach" to the issue of domestic violence within the community.

"In recent weeks, and in light of the tragic murder of one of our community members, we are in the midst of an elevated community realization that domestic violence is an issue that exists here. While this is not something new, it is something that our residents are increasingly concerned about," they wrote. "With that, we are hereby requesting that this council work with the mayor's office to bring the issue of domestic violence to the appropriate city based commission or board best suited to address the issue."

Elizabeth Michell, a SAFEPLAN advocate with the Elizabeth Freeman Center, offered some statistics so councilors could "get an idea of how big the problem is."

In 2016 alone, North Adams had reports of 152 assaults and 20 rapes.

"Although domestic assaults were not extrapolated out of the assaults in the report, I can say that from witnessing cases in the Northern Berkshire District Court from day to day ... a pretty large number of those was domestic assault," she said.

North Adams and Pittsfield are consistently identified by the Department of Children and Families as two of the four communities in Massachusetts with the highest rates of child abuse and the area has a per capita rate for abuse prevention orders 23 percent higher than the state average  and a 37 percent higher just in North Adams.

SAFEPLAN advocates are part of a statewide, court-based program providing help to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking regarding planning, restraining orders, and other resources.

Mitchell, serving in Northern Berkshire, said her office has the highest number of clients seeking help.

"Just one of our adult counselors in the North Adams office had 590 client contacts in 2017," she said. "That's how big the problem is in North Adams."

Mitchell said abuse was a difficult problem to discuss but it was imperative there be dialogue, awareness, training and collaboration, and "the City Council and the mayor are the best ways to do it."

"This is very real and I just want to say this is a lcoal government problem," Councilor Rebbecca Cohen said. "As soon as every single one of us stands up to domestic abuse child abuse, and the horror that goes on in people's lives, this will never end."

Lamb at first motioned to refer to the letter to the mayor's office and then, at the suggestion of Councilor Jason LaForest, amended his motion to also send it the Public Safety Committee.

Mayor Thomas Bernard said the challenge was in determining what would be the appropriate entity through which the issue could be addressed. Lamb thought it should not be a new board but rather tapping into existing experience.

"There's some investigation and inquiry there," he said, adding the focus should be on "not just doing this once, talking about it once, but doing it for the long haul."

Bernard acknowledged that people and organizations like Mitchell and the Freeman Center were doing difficult jobs on the front line but they might also be the organizing entity around which to coalesce a plan. It was a matter, he said, of "how we tap into your knowledge and how we use the city in the appropriate way."

Harpin said she was glad that Lamb had approached on submitting a joint communication.

"I think that it's great that ... this is coming from both a woman and a man," she said. "A lot of people think that violence is just a woman's issue, but it's actually a both gender issue, it's a community issue, it's a family issue."The School Committee voted to bring on MASC to help with its superintendent search.

Adams-Cheshire Starts Up Search for Superintendent

CHESHIRE, Mass.  The Adams-Cheshire Regional School Committee officially kicked off the superintendent search process Monday night by settling on an eight-member committee that would contain representation from both towns.

"We can get this out ASAP," Superintendent Robert Putnam said. "Let's get this moving."

Putnam, who initially came to the district as interim two years ago, announced in December his intent to retire at the end of this school year.

The committee would contain one School Committee member each from Cheshire and Adams, a member of each town's select board and two residents, also one from each town.

The School Committee also felt a teacher and administrator should serve on the committee. The panel will ask both select boards to choose one of their members and a resident.

Massachusetts Association of School Committees will be brought on to help throughout the search process.

"I think we come away from our meeting with them feeling really good about the level of support they could provide us," Chairman Paul Butler said.

Butler added that they had considered using the University of Massachusetts' Edward J. Collins Jr. Center for Public Management, which has worked with the district in the past. Officials were unable to meet with representatives from the Boston center prior to Monday's meeting but felt, in any case, that MASC would be a better financial choice.

"You pay for the services you use. Sometimes it can cost nothing, other times it can be pretty substantial," Butler said. "It just depends on how involved you want them to be."

He said the Collins Center only offered a flat estimated fee of $15,000.

Butler said both seem to offer the same quality of service and pull from the same applicant lists.

Putnam added that part of the process will be to create a brochure that offers potential candidates information about the district, region and the position.

He provided the School Committee with a draft brochure with this basic information as well as a salary range of $115,000 to $135,000.

School Committee member Darlene Rodowicz noted that the actual range is closer to $126,000 to $157,000 but felt it may be more beneficial to leave the range out.

"Why do we have to put a dollar amount? Would not seeing it in the brochure be a reason not to apply?" she asked. "Why can't we just say salary commensurate with experience and find the number that works?"

Hoosac Valley Elementary Principal Christopher Sposato noted that good candidates will look up past contracts and figure out the salary range anyways.

School Committee member Adam Emerson added that not advertising a number would give the School Committee more leeway.

"It will give us some flexibility and we won't be locked into a salary range if we find a superior candidate," he said.

The School Committee agreed to leave out the salary range.

Members also agreed to set a Feb. 23 deadline to apply for the position, with semifinalists being selected that coming week.

Interviews will take place in early March and finalists selected March 12. Final interviews will take place throughout March with a vote to hire a new superintendent expected in early April.

In other business, the School Committee referred to a statement released a few weeks ago in regard to the investigation of a former employee who allegedly sexually abused students in the 1970s.

"The release has gone out," Putnam said. "I just wanted to make sure they were available to people."

The release was a response to the continuing Berkshire Eagle articles that claim wrongdoing on the district's part by not thoroughly investigating the claims that took place 40 years ago.

A few of the victims threatened a possible lawsuit against the district, however, because a suit was never filed against the district, officials closed the books on the investigation.

Butler noted that as of earlier this week, the Eagle has not responded to the press release.

"Inexplicably it has not been printed or even referred to in the press release," he said. "I have no idea the reason why."



iciHaiti - Agriculture : $15M from IDB for fisheries





Carmel Andre Beliard, the Minister of Agriculture, on the sidelines of a workshop held in Petion-ville last week announced that the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) was financing a project to develop and strengthen the fishing sector in the departments of South, Southeast and Grand'Anse up to $ 15 million. This project aims to improve the living conditions of fishermen in several stages



This workshop, which brought together the heads of organizations working in the fisheries sector, aimed to define the different implementation strategies in order to achieve the expected results in the framework of this project. It was also aimed at strengthening Haiti's economic development, through the artisanal fishing sector, which supports more than 50,000 families.



IH/ iciHaiti

















U.S. decided to supply Javelin missiles to Ukraine after Russia's refusal help to end conflict in Donbas

The United States decided to supply Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank missiles due to Russia's refusal to help end the conflict in eastern Ukraine, U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker has said.

These steps by the United States were the result of Russia's refusal to take measures to end the military conflict and support the resolution on establishing peace. To be honest, this is a great disappointment, Volker said in an interview with Germany's international broadcaster Deutsche Welle, which was published on Thursday, January 25.

With no progress in negotiations, it is extremely important to realize that Ukraine needs to be a successful country. It has the right to defend itself, it is part of the international community, and we will support it, he added.

Volker noted that he had held two meetings with Russian presidential aide Vladislav Surkov - in August and early October 2017 - which he said were positive.

We met again in November, and it was obvious that Russia was moving back. In December, we approved the lifting of restrictions on the provision of military assistance to Ukraine, Volker said.

On December 25, 2017, ABC News reported, citing several sources in the State Department, that U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to announce his approval of a plan to sell anti-tank missiles to the Ukrainian government.

According to sources, the total defense package of $47 million includes the sale of 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers.

If the president announces his approval, the plan will be submitted for consideration by the U.S. Congress within 30 days and then transferred to the State Department, the television channel reports.

"The sale of anti-tank missiles, which could possibly include the U.S.-made Javelin system, provoked a strong reaction from Russia on Saturday, saying it 'crossed the line,' and could threaten to derail Trump's calls for better relations with Moscow," the report says.Intl conference on reforms in Ukraine to be held on June 27 in Copenhagen

An international conference on reforms in Ukraine will be held in Copenhagen on June 27, 2018, the Verkhovna Rada's press service reported on Thursday.

According to a report on the parliament's website, Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Hanna Hopko during a meeting with Danish Ambassador to Ukraine Ruben Madsen discussed issues related to preparations for the International Conference on Reform in Ukraine on June 27, 2018, in Copenhagen.

"The officials also discussed the forthcoming visit of the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Folketing of the Kingdom of Denmark to Ukraine, scheduled for April of this year," the report said.A new regulation in Colombia has the potential to dramatically improve the Colombian financing landscape. The Colombian Central Bank recently began allowing foreign entities to lend Colombian pesos to local entities. Before that, foreign loans could only be extended in foreign currency with the corresponding foreign exchange risk (subject to the ability of arraigning for peso-linked facilities).

The new regulation could not have happened at a better time. Considering the high financial resources demand (due to the most ambitious infrastructure programme in Colombian history), a rather small local financial system, strict capital solvency requirements and limited foreign currency income business, Colombia desperately needed new financing sources to retain its economic growth.

Foreign entities interested in extending loans to Colombian counterparties should open a local bank account (cuentas de uso exclusivo) that can be funded by (i) foreign currency converted to Colombian pesos through traditional foreign exchange channels; (ii) disbursements of local loans obtained from local entities (eg local banks); (iii) proceeds from issuances in the local capital market (eg bond issuances); (iv) proceeds from investment portfolios (eg the selling of equity investments in Colombia); (v) capital and interest payments of the loans extended to local entities; and, (vi) interest accrued by the resources deposited in the account. In turn, the resources deposited in the bank account can be used for (a) disbursing or paying loans; (b) portfolio investment; and, (c) other payments related to the loans (eg fees).

The foregoing represents a completely new range of opportunities. Local entities will have more available resources to finance their investments, without bearing foreign exchange risks or implementing expensive risk mitigation mechanisms. The new competition may reduce the cost of financing in Colombia, making the development of new industries and businesses easier. Finally, this may develop the incipient secondary market for Colombian loans. The new regulation grants foreign players access to Colombian pesos to purchase bank loans. This may contribute to the rebalance of local banks' loan portfolios and use scarce resources in a more efficient and profitable manner.

However, these opportunities also come with interesting challenges, such as: (i) foreign and local companies should carefully consider the applicable law for the loan agreements; (ii) foreign exchange procedures should be streamlined to avoid potential sanctions and contingencies; (iii) the Colombian government will likely clarify how withholding tax will apply to these loans, since this is one of the main disadvantages of foreign loans as compared to local loans; and most importantly, foreign entities should prepare comprehensive business models and innovative legal structures to ensure that these transactions will be profitable and properly secured and hedged.

Carlos Fradique-Mendez Cesar Rodriguez

 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs.

Share this articleThe Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has released its latest analysis of data on non-performing loans in the Cyprus banking sector, covering the period to August 31 2017. The analysis shows aggregate non-performing facilities (NPFs) and related indicators for the domestic operations of credit institutions operating in Cyprus. During the month of August NPFs fell by 497 million ($598 million), a reduction of 2.2%, to 21.9 billion, against a backdrop of a smaller (1.1%) reduction in total facilities, from 49.5 billion to 48.9 billion, over the same period. As a result, the percentage of facilities classified as non-performing fell to 44.7% at the end of August 2017. Total impairment provisions made against NPFs totalled 10 billion as at August 31 2017, accounting for 45.9% of aggregate NPFs.

Since the end of 2014 banks have succeeded in reducing aggregate NPFs by 20%, from 27.3 billion to 21.9 million. Total facilities fell from 57.2 million to 48.9 million in the same period, which meant that 44.7% of total facilities were classified as underperforming at the end of the period, compared with 47.8% at the beginning. While the improvement in the quality of debt appears to be marginal, the improvement in coverage by impairment provisions is more marked, with 45.9% of NPFs covered by provisions as at March 31 2017, compared with only 32.8% at the beginning of the period. Non-financial corporations (particularly SMEs) and households account for the lion (39%) share of non-performing debt.

The CBC attributes the reduction in NPFs to increased repayments, restructurings successfully completed and reclassified as performing facilities, write-offs and settlement of debt through swaps with immovable property intended to be sold with the aim of faster cash collection.

Recognising the effect that wholesale foreclosure and forced sale of assets pledged as security may have on the property market, the CBC continues to encourage credit institutions to make intensive efforts to restructure NPFs in cases where viable settlements are possible.



Elias Neocleous

 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs.

Share this articleLike other European countries, Spain has not fully developed the regulation to implement the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (Mifid) by January 3 2018.

As of the writing of this article, the Spanish government has only released a preliminary version of the implementation regulation dated August 4, so there is a certain degree of uncertainty about the actual wording that is going to be officially agreed.

Using an unusual procedure to release regulation drafts, in early December, the ministry published a press release stating that the bill implementing Mifid had been submitted to the Council of State before starting the parliamentiary approval process. However, the content of the bill was not published, except for certain guidelines included in the press release about relevant sections, in particular those related to inducements and the scope of the definition of wide range of products issued by third parties.

To prevent any negative impact on Spanish trading venues as a result of a delayed implementation of Mifid II, the government approved a Royal Law Decree partially implementing Mifid solely in relation to regulated markets, multilateral trading facilities (MTFs) and organised trading facilities (OTFs), on the very last business day of the year.

Last but not least, on January 2, the Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) issued a communication on the application of Mifid II. This communication underlined that, aside from the entry into force of the Royal Law Decree, certain sections of the Mifid II package were governed by directly applicable EU regulations and made a general reference to the direct effect of the directives to encourage the Spanish industry to implement measures to apply Mifid II from January 3.

It is difficult to predict when Mifid will be finally implemented as it's only the first stage of the approval process that will end up in Parliament, but summer or early fall seems likely.

Jorge Canta

 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs.

Share this articleThailand has enjoyed a relatively stable petroleum law regime since 1971 when the Petroleum Act BE 2514, 1971 (PA) and the Petroleum Income Tax Act BE 2514, 1971 (PITA) were enacted. Thailand adopted a modern form of petroleum concession, which has been updated from time to time. There have been 20 bid rounds, the last in 2007. A number of commercial oil and gas discoveries have been made, and as of 2017, there were 38 concessions in force. However, Thailand has limited geological prospects for oil and gas, and it imports more than 40% of its natural gas requirements.

Thailand imports natural gas from Myanmar (18% of demand), the Thai-Malaysian Joint Development Area (JDA). State-owned oil and gas company, PTT, which had a monopoly on the distribution and sale of natural gas in Thailand, started importing LNG in 2011. In 2017, 12% of natural gas demand was met by LNG imports. In the past, PTT was (with few exceptions) the purchaser of all natural gas, and it owns the pipeline transportation system.

A 21st bid round was announced in 2014, but was cancelled in 2015 following a number of challenges by non-governmental organisations, with others arguing that the concession was not a favourable fiscal regime for the state.

In 2017, amendments to the PA and PITA were approved, which provided for rights to explore, develop and produce petroleum to be granted by way of concession agreement, production sharing contract (PSC) and service contract (SC).

In December 2017, the Minister of Energy said that two tenders would be conducted in 2018: the auctioning of the Bangkot and Erawan gas blocks in the Gulf of Thailand, followed by the 21st bid round for the rights to 22 blocks.

As of January 10 2018, the Department of Mineral Fuels had not published forms of PSC or SC, nor any ministerial regulations/notifications governing their application. It remains uncertain how the new auctions will be managed, and whether the oil and gas industry will agree to the proposed new terms.

Additional pending issues include: (a) the resolution of Thailand and Cambodia's overlapping claims area; and, (b) the implementation of decommissioning, particularly of platforms and wells in the Gulf of Thailand.

In January 2018, the Energy Minister announced the end of the Electricty Generating Authority of Thailand's and PTT's monopolies, and the deregulation of power generation. The Power Development Plan is to be revised, with the amendments being finalised by March 2018. The deregulation of LNG imports was also announced.

The Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT) is the best source of information and statistics on the petroleum business in Thailand.

The main regulators of the petroleum sector in Thailand are:

the Ministry of Energy, which establishes policies and plans for the energy sector;

the Energy Regulatory Commission;

the Department of Mineral Fuels; and

the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency.

Ratana Poonsombudlert Albert T. Chandler Sawanee Gulthawatvichai

 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs.

Share this articleCasey Affleck will no longer be presenting the Best Actress Award at the Oscars.

According to Deadline, The Manchester by the Sea actor will also not be attending the ceremony.

Affleck allegedly did not want to "become a distraction from the focus that should be on the performances of the actresses in the category".

Recommended Petition calls for Casey Affleck to be banned from 2018 Oscars

His decision to withdraw from presenting came from being in a "no-win situation" because of the #MeToo campaign.

He feared that his position presenting the award was going to create controversy.

Affleck's decision to forego bestowing the award and the ceremony isn't a surprise considering claims that have been made against him in the past.

In 2010, two women that worked on the Affleck-directed film I'm Still Here sued him for sexual harassment.

One woman claimed Affleck came into her bed while she was sleeping without her consent.

The other woman claimed she was pressured to stay in his hotel room when he aggressively grabbed her in order to intimidate her upon refusal.

Both women alleged they were verbally berated by Affleck and he had someone else working for him expose himself to them alongside other misconduct allegations.

The women also claimed Affleck allegedly locked himself in their hotel rooms along with two other women for sex.

One woman sued Affleck for $2m, while the other sued for $2.25m.

In 2010, Affleck settled the cases outside of court and the settlement amounts have never been disclosed.

The actor has denied the claims.

According to Affleck's lawyer, he even wanted to counter-sue the women when he was first sued.

In a 2016 New York Times profile, Affleck addressed the allegations saying, "It was settled to the satisfaction of all. I was hurt and upsetI am sure all werebut I am over it. It was an unfortunate situationmostly for the innocent bystanders of the families of those involved.

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Normally the Best Actor gives presents the winner of Best Actress with her award and the Best Actress winner gives the Best Actor his accolade.

Because of the uncomfortable situation, Affleck has shifted this year's dynamic at the Oscars ceremony.A Russian art house cinema defied a government ban on Thursday to screen satirical film The Death of Stalin to a packed audience that included at least two people who said they witnessed the Soviet dictator's funeral six decades ago.

The Russian government said the movie mocks the country's past, but Dina Voronova and Ella Katz - schoolgirls when Joseph Stalin died in 1953 - said they applauded when the credits rolled at the end of the screening in Moscow.

I liked the film. I never expected to see our former government leaders depicted like that, said Voronova, 80, a former pre-school head teacher who remembers seeing Stalin's body in an open casket at the funeral.

The film, the work of Scottish director Armando Iannucci, portrays back-stabbing and infighting among the dictator's closest allies, as they vie for power immediately after his death. In the backdrop, ordinary Russians suffer the many repressions of that era.

I didn't laugh. There were some funny moments in the film, but I couldn't laugh, because that was my life, Voronova said, adding that she was not offended by the film.

Adrian McLoughlin, Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi and Simon Russell Beale in the film (eOne Films)

Why should I be? I have my own opinion. The fact that I didn't have a childhood, that I didn't have a youth at all, that's Stalin's fault.

Ella Katz said she attended the funeral when she was in third grade.

[The film] is not offensive. How could it be? How?... The reality was much more terrifying than in this film, she said.

Earlier this week, the culture ministry withdrew a licence for the movie's general release.

Asked about the screening at Moscow's Pioneer cinema, the ministry said in a statement that anyone defying its ban would be held legally accountable for their actions. Staff at the cinema declined to comment on the legality of the screening.

Many people of the older generation, and not only, will regard it as an insulting mockery of all the Soviet past, of the country that defeated fascism and of ordinary people, and what's even worse, even of the victims of Stalinism, Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said in a statement.

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Jason Isaacs as Field Marshall Zhukov (eOne Films)

One of the audience members, 40-year-old businessman Denis Aksyonov, said he liked US television satire Veep, which Iannucci created, and expected The Death of Stalin to be similarly entertaining.

I think it's healthy to laugh about difficult issues, I think that makes it easier and less difficult for society to deal with them, Aksyonov said before the screening.

He said it was regrettable that a political storm had been whipped up around the film, but that he tried to ignore such things. Well done to Pioneer for putting on the screening, they are demonstrating their civic stance, he said.

Stalin was repudiated by the Soviet Union after his death. He is recognised as responsible for the deaths of millions, from policies that included the forced collectivisation of farms that caused famine, and from a succession of purges that saw mass executions and imprisonment at an archipelago of camps.

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But Stalin's leadership during World War Two, when the Red Army beat back a German occupation, is still associated by many Russians with the country's greatest achievements.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, running for re-election in March, has called Stalin a complex figure and said attempts to demonise him were a ploy to attack Russia.

ReutersA judge of district court of Nicosia that on December 27, 2017 ruled a temporary freezing of SCM Group's assets in the $820 million litigation with Cyprus-based Raga Establishment (earlier EPIC Telecom Invest Limited belonged to businessman Dmytro Horbunenko) regarding the purchase of Ukrtelecom, has withdrawn and would not participate in the hearing of the lawsuit in the future, a well-informed source has told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to information presented by the source, the judge decided to withdraw under own initiative.

The source said that the decision of the judge is a result of the inconsistency of the ruling issued against several companies of the SCM Group under the petition of Raga. The ruling was issued at a closed-door hearing without notification of representatives of defenders (SCM Group).

According to a report of the Financial Times, on December 27, 2017, the district court of Nicosia ordered the freezing of $820.5 million of the assets of Ukrainian businessman Rinat Akhmetov at the request of Raga Establishment, which accuses Akhmetov's SCM Financial Overseas (SCM FO) of underpayment for the purchase of Ukraine's fixed-line telecoms group Ukrtelecom.

SCM on January 8, 2018 filed a counterclaim against the ruling of the court of Nicosia freezing the assets of its owner. The hearing of the counterclaim was scheduled for February 27.

The source said that the withdrawal of the judge means that the position of SCM would be heard by other judge of the Cypriot court.

He also said that despite the fact that the hearing initially was scheduled for February 27, 2018, the new judge could appoint a different date for the hearing depending on his schedule.Eminem has once more expressed his dismay at the US current choice of president.

The rappers disdain, of course, was already well known from his BET freestyle; titled The Storm, the four-minute freestyle rap sees him declare, And any fan of mine whos a supporter of his/Im drawing in the sand a line, youre either for or against/And if you cant decide who you like more and youre split on who you should stand beside/Ill do it for you with this. F*ck you.

Hed also previously discussed how Trump has people brainwashed with his tactics, but has now spoken to Billboard about he foresaw his win in the 2016 election, when he was, watching the TV in f*cking disbelief. I was in my basement, on the phone back and forth with friends like, Hes going to f*cking win.

A major upset hed predicted as early as Trumps first rallies. Because just watching the impact he has, they were fanatics, he said. There is something to be said about the person who really felt like he might do something for them  and he just f*cking duped everybody.

I know that Hillary [Clinton] had her flaws, but you know what? Anything would have been better [than Trump]. A f*cking turd would have been better as a president.

He made these people feel like he was really going to do something for them, he continued. Its just so f*cking disgusting how divisive his language is, the rhetoric, the Charlottesville sh*t, just watching it going, I cant believe hes saying this.

When he was talking about John McCain, I thought he was done. Youre f*cking with military veterans, youre talking about a military war hero who was captured and tortured. It just didnt matter. It doesnt matter. And thats some scary sh*t to me.

He added that he was actually surprised that his rejection of any Trump-supporting part of his fanbase caused such a stir, explaining: When I [put out The Storm], I felt that everybody who was with him at that point doesnt like my music anyway. I get the comparison with the non-political-correctness, but other than that, were polar opposites.

Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more.The new president of the EUs environment council, Neno Dimov, has faced criticism for his apparently sceptical position on climate change.

As president, the Bulgarian environment minister will have some power to steer important pieces of policy during his six-month stint.

But when Mr Dimov appeared before the European Parliament this week, MEPs questioned his past statements on climate change.

You personally have been questioning climate change and whether human activity is the cause; you even challenged the theory of sea-level rise, MEP Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy told him, according to Forbes.

Mr Dimov refused to discuss his opinion on climate change, saying there was a political consensus within the EU when it came to climate change and that he would keep this consensus alive.

10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Show all 10 1 /10 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A group of emperor penguins face a crack in the sea ice, near McMurdo Station, Antarctica Kira Morris 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Floods destroyed eight bridges and ruined crops such as wheat, maize and peas in the Karimabad valley in northern Pakistan, a mountainous region with many glaciers. In many parts of the world, glaciers have been in retreat, creating dangerously large lakes that can cause devastating flooding when the banks break. Climate change can also increase rainfall in some areas, while bringing drought to others. Hira Ali 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Smoke  filled with the carbon that is driving climate change  drifts across a field in Colombia. Sandra Rondon 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Amid a flood in Islampur, Jamalpur, Bangladesh, a woman on a raft searches for somewhere dry to take shelter. Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to sea level rise, which is expected to make tens of millions of people homeless by 2050. Probal Rashid 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Sindh province in Pakistan has experienced a grim mix of two consequences of climate change. Because of climate change either we have floods or not enough water to irrigate our crop and feed our animals, says the photographer. Picture clearly indicates that the extreme drought makes wide cracks in clay. Crops are very difficult to grow. Rizwan Dharejo 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Hanna Petursdottir examines a cave inside the Svinafellsjokull glacier in Iceland, which she said had been growing rapidly. Since 2000, the size of glaciers on Iceland has reduced by 12 per cent. Tom Schifanella 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A river once flowed along the depression in the dry earth of this part of Bangladesh, but it has disappeared amid rising temperatures. Abrar Hossain 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A shepherd moves his herd as he looks for green pasture near the village of Sirohi in Rajasthan, northern India. The region has been badly affected by heatwaves and drought, making local people nervous about further predicted increases in temperature. Riddhima Singh Bhati 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change A factory in China is shrouded by a haze of air pollution. The World Health Organisation has warned such pollution, much of which is from the fossil fuels that cause climate change, is a public health emergency. Leung Ka Wa 10 photographs to show to anyone who doesn't believe in climate change Water levels in reservoirs, like this one in Gers, France, have been getting perilously low in areas across the world affected by drought, forcing authorities to introduce water restrictions. Mahtuf Ikhsan

However, he also said there was always room for challenges and doubts.

Shortly after becoming environment minister last year, Mr Dimov told a television interviewer climate change is a scientific debate; there is no consensus, and every part has arguments.

This statement followed an online video released in 2015 in which Mr Dimov described global warming as a fraud  used to scare the people.

The presidency of the EU council rotates every six months, with each of the 28 member countries taking a turn. Mr Dimov will now chair the environmental council until the end of July.

Recommended Macron gets Davos crowd laughing with climate change dig at Trump

While he will not propose legislation  a task left to the European Commission and specifically its environment commissioner, Karmenu Vella  Mr Dimov will have a role in setting the European environmental agenda over the coming months.

Aside from his views on climate change, Mr Dimov has faced criticism in his native country for a government decision to build tourism facilities in the Pirin national park, a Unesco world heritage site.

That issue was also raised by MEPs as they questioned him, with many expressing their shock that someone with Mr Dimovs beliefs could occupy such a position.

Your doubts on climate change are a bit shocking. You do not seem to trust enough the EU and the scientific proofs that show evidence of climate change every day, MEP Soledad Cabezon Ruiz told Mr Dimov, according to EURACTIV.

I am honestly shocked by the debate I am currently seeing, said MEP Tiemo Wolken.

In my opinion, it is not enough to say that there is a consensus on climate change and that this is enough to chair the Council.

Mr Dimov has been contacted for comment.Bitcoin has attracted fierce criticism and praise from business figures and world leaders in Davos this week.

The cryptocurrency has continued to divide opinion at this years World Economic Forum, with experts disagreeing on its staying power and whether or not its worth using at all.

Im impressed with the technology, but it seems to me that its technology for something else, said Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert J. Shiller during a panel debate.

I tend to think of bitcoin as an interesting experiment, not a permanent feature of our lives. Were over-emphasising bitcoin, we should broaden it out to blockchain, which will have other applications.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Some of bitcoins biggest critics have conceded that they see genuine promise in blockchain, the decentralising technology behind the cryptocurrency. Mark Zuckerberg believes it can be used to improve Facebook.

Bitcoin, however, is yet to convince everyone thanks largely to its lack of stability. It hit a record high when it passed $19,850 in mid-December, but then tumbled rapidly, falling to below $12,000 within days.

Its value has shifted unpredictably ever since, with frequent wild drops and recoveries.

What bothers me about bitcoin is that the enthusiasm you see is like a speculative bubble. Its selfish, Professor Shiller added.

Cecilia Skingsley, the deputy governor of the Swedish Central Bank, was also highly sceptical about bitcoin during the panel session.

Its too volatile to be used as money, she said, adding that digital currencies dont store value, they fluctuate, and theyre not at a stable rate of exchange.

Thats the precise reason payment processing company Stripe gave for its decision to end support for payments made in bitcoin.

It has now evolved to become better-suited to being an asset than being a means of exchange, the firm said.

However, others at the World Economic forum saw reasons for optimism.

I think this is one of the most audacious, generous and profound inventions that Ive witnessed in my career, said Neil Rimer, general partner and co-founder of Index Ventures SA, during the panel.

Were nine years into this experiment. Its gone well at times and quite poorly. It could fail completely and go to zero, but it has accomplished a number of things I think are remarkable.

Rimer, though, conceded that bitcoin is still mainly popular amongst hobbyists, and that it might be too volatile to ever become truly mainstream.

However, regulation could change that, he added.

I do think [bitcoin] needs to be regulated, just like anything I would want to become mainstream should be regulated, he said.

Earlier this week, the South Korean government announced that, from 30 January, everyone trading digital currencies in the country will have do so using their real names.

Shortly after, Theresa May said she will look at bitcoin and other digital currencies very seriously, as shes concerned about their popularity amongst criminals.

Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.The US is concerned that the rise of bitcoin is being used for "illicit activity", according to the US government.

Donald Trump's most senior financial policymaker has urged for international regulation to stop the use of cryptocurrencies for crime and other problem behaviour.

The Davos meeting of economic leaders has seen a number of statements about the future of cryptocurrency. Theresa May, for instance, said she was taking "very seriously" the prospect of cracking down on the use of bitcoin and other digital money.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

US treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin said that he shared those concerns, and suggested that the world needed to work together to focus on cryptocurrencies to make sure that financial markets are safe.

"My number-one focus on cryptocurrencies, whether that be digital currencies or bitcoin or other things, is that we want to make sure that they're not used for illicit activities," he told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

"We encourage fintech and we encourage innovation, but we want to make sure all of our financial markets are safe," Mnuchin said. "We want to make sure that the rest of the world -- and many of the (Group of) 20 countries are already starting on this -- have the same regulations."

U.S.-based platforms for bitcoin and other virtual currencies must comply with anti-money laundering rules, with around 100 such platforms registered with the U.S. Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The rules require them to file reports on suspicious financial activity.

But many other countries have no such requirements.

Bitcoin soared more than 1,700 percent last year to a record high, raising fears that the volatile emerging asset poses a risk to investors and the global financial system.

Regulators have also warned of risks that criminals may use the virtual currencies to store and transmit their ill-gotten gains, because they can be used anonymously.

Several countries including South Korea and China have tried to slow trading of cryptocurrencies, and fears of a wider clampdown pushed bitcoin down nearly 20 percent last week.

Policymakers around the world are debating how to deal with the volatility of cryptocurrencies. A senior Bank of Japan official said on Thursday that imposing global, across-the-board regulations on their trading won't be easy.

Christine Lagarde, head of the International Monetary Fund, said countries should take into account both the risks and benefits associated with the development of the cryptocurrencies in deciding whether and how to regulate the market.

"The anonymity and lack of transparency and the way in which it conceals and protects money laundering and financing of terrorism, is just unacceptable. It needs to be taken into account but then there will be innovations coming out of these movements," Lagarde told the Davos forum.

Larry Fink, chief executive of BlackRock Inc, the world's biggest asset manager, told the forum that cryptocurrencies posed a systemic threat that needed to be dealt with globally.

He said they might be something he considered investing in but the crypto currency industry was "more an index of money laundering".

Additional reporting by agencies

Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.Bitcoin has been surging and falling in recent weeks. And it seems mostly to come down to one thing: regulation.

The lack of regulation is, for now, a large part of bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies intrigue: they seem to allow people to avoid the traditional restrictions in place in money and other assets. But theyre also part of their bad reputation, with the same anonymity and decentralisation allowing them to be used for crime.

Many governments have suggested they could introduce such rules. But its still not clear what theyd look like, or how theyd arrive; heres an attempt to predict what might be to come in that most unpredictable of markets.

Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty

Is regulation coming?

In recent weeks, bitcoin has plunged after the threat of regulation in South Korea. But it was part of a much broader trend  countries around the world have already introduced new rules, and those that havent are talking about it.

The price has mostly levelled out in recent weeks, after regulation brought volatility and a slowly sliding price. But there might be more disruption coming, as countries look towards regulation, worried about the activity and behaviour that bitcoin could be enabling.

That was obvious as world leaders arrived at the latest World Economic Forum in Davos and were asked their opinion. That could be a preview of far more wide-ranging controls that could be introduced in March, when the G20 governments financial and economic leaders meet in Argentina  a number of the countries attending have specifically said they will focus on fixing regulation of cryptocurrencies at that meeting.

They include France and Germany, which are said to be working together on bitcoin regulation. Many other countries have called for the international community to work together to bring regulation to bitcoin.

Davos was a platform for various world leaders to give their opinion on bitcoin. And they all seemed to agree on one thing.

My number-one focus on cryptocurrencies, whether that be digital currencies or bitcoin or other things, is that we want to make sure that theyre not used for illicit activities, said Steven Mnuchin, Donald Trumps most senior financial policymaker.

We encourage fintech and we encourage innovation, but we want to make sure all of our financial markets are safe .We want to make sure that the rest of the world  and many of the (Group of) 20 countries are already starting on this  have the same regulations.

Another senior US official suggested that regulation would have to come  and be international.

We feel very strongly that we need to have this kind of regulation all over the world, Sigal Mandelker, the Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said. She noted that Japan and Australia are already regulating cryptocurrency trading.

The EU, I understand, is moving very quickly in that direction and we think its very important that similar regulations are happening in a number of other countries.

Theresa May has given a similar commitment. Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, we should be looking at these very seriously, precisely because of the way that they can be used, particularly by criminals, the Prime Minister told Bloomberg Television in an interview in Davos.

What would regulation look like?

It could vary between the lightest of touches and a complete ban. Many lawmakers dont really seem to know  lots of governments dont seem to entirely understand cryptocurrency, let alone understand what rules theyre going to put in place.

But in South Korea, for instance, a variety of rules have been introduced to try and curb some of the more dangerous behaviour. Those include rules that force everyone to put their real name to their bitcoin holdings and transactions, removing the anonymity of the cryptocurrencies in an attempt to keep them more above board.

But initially, in that country, regulators suggested they could ban them entirely. That was probably a negotiating technique, but it was an important and potent one; other governments might learn from that and make the same threat, even if they dont intend on carrying on with it.

The depth of any regulation is likely to depend on how many people are involved with cryptocurrencies, how much theyre being used for illicit behaviour, and whether they begin to pose more danger to civilians. If the price keeps going up, for instance, and people keep trying to buy them, then governments might be expected to step in and ensure that people remain safe.

Would it work?

Cryptocurrencies are built partly to avoid the threat of regulation. Theyre decentralised, so that theres no central power for governments to clamp down on; trades are largely anonymous, meaning that its difficult to find out whos actually doing them, so its difficult to introduce individual restrictions too.

But there are lots of reasons to think people would abide by restrictions if they were put in place. Not everyone would, of course; but not everyone abides by any law.

For one, people do tend to avoid breaking the law. Its possible, of course, to avoid the eyes of the law with traditional, fiat money  thats why cash-in-hand work still happens. But most people do pay tax on what they earn, even if they could get away with not doing.

Also, for now bitcoin is still only largely useful when its converted back into cash. Some goods and services can be bought using cryptocurrency, but few, and the surging price is actually making it harder to do so.

What would it do to the price?

Obviously, bitcoins price doesnt behave as most people predict it to. This article is not going to suggest that regulation would push bitcoins price down  that would be silly  but the trend in recent months has been that all talk of regulation puts it down.

The price of any asset is decided by how many people want to buy it. The threat of regulation might lead fewer people to do so, potentially putting the price down, but it might also give a veneer of respectability to something that most people are still suspicious of, and help drive interest.

As such, regulation might be good for the price and good for the world in the long term. And it might push the price down over the short term.

But it might not do any of those things, either; predictions are doomed to fail when talking about cryptocurrencies.

Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.The clearest pictures of the Samsung Galaxy S9 weve seen so far have just been leaked.

The as-yet-unannounced smartphone will launch on 25 February.

Numerous reports over recent weeks have already revealed some of the phones key features, but the most recent leak is the biggest one yet.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Show all 10 1 /10 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8

VentureBeat has published what appear to be official press shots of the Samsung Galaxy S9 and Samsung Galaxy S9+, which will make their first official appearance next month.

According to the site, both phones will be released just over two weeks later, on 16 March.

The image leak all but confirms that the S9 and S9+ will look almost identical to their predecessors, the the S8 and S8+, which came out last year.

The 5.8-inch S9 will reportedly feature come with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage, while the 6.2-inch S9+ will pack 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage.

Samsung tweeted a teaser video for the S9 this week, which focuses on its camera.

The company says it will showcase the next generation of Galaxy devices that reimagines the camera and redefines the way you share your moments at its launch event next month.

The regular S9 will reportedly have a single 12-megapixel rear camera that can capture super slow-mo video and switch between f/2.4 and f/1.5 aperture.

Recommended 10 best smartphones

The S9+, meanwhile, is expected to feature a dual camera setup, combining two 12-megapixel sensors.

Samsung has also chosen to place the fingerprint scanner in a slightly different position on the S9 to where it was on the S8.

It is believed to have shifted it to a more central position on the smartphones rear side, which should make it much easier to access and use.[This article was first published in 2018]

Beauty of all kinds really is in the eye of the beholder, and human uniqueness is what makes the search for the one all the more interesting (and difficult).

That said, with scientists having spent decades trying to work out the key to why we fall in love, there are certain things you should look for in a potential suitor which suggest you may have found a keeper.

With the advent of dating apps meaning another love interest is never more than a right swipe away, it can be hard to commit.

So if you're wondering whether to settle down with your current partner, it might be worth taking a step back and asking yourself whether he ticks the boxes below.

If he doesnt, that doesnt mean he isnt the one for you. But if he does, youve likely got a pretty good egg on your hands.

The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Show all 10 1 /10 The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd The cartoons that perfectly sum up relationships Catana Chetwynd

1. Hes smart

While some of us are naturally brainier than others, a new study from the Hanken School of Economics in Finland suggests that the smarter the man, the less likely he is to be unfaithful. According to the research, more intelligent men are more likely to get married and stay married.

So if youre worried your boyfriend might be too brainy for you, a) dont be intimidated because intelligence isnt everything, and b) know that you may have a guy whos more likely to be faithful on your hands.

2. He makes you laugh

Finding someone you can have a laugh with is crucial - even if everyone else rolls their eyes at his dad jokes, if they crack you up, thats all that matters.

And a study has shown that men are more likely to have mating success if they have a GSOH.

3. He actively supports your career

A study found that husbands were a deciding factor in two-thirds of womens decisions to quit their jobs, often because they thought it was their duty to bring up their children.

Even when the women in the study described their husbands as supportive, they also revealed that the men refused to change their own work schedules or offer to help more with looking after children.

4. He makes as much effort with your friends and family as you do with his

Its not uncommon for a woman to end up giving up her own social life to slot into her new mans. But its rare that a man does the same once entering a relationship.

In fact, a recent study found that young men get more satisfaction out of their bromances than their romantic relationships with women. While this is clearly ludicrous, maintaining your friendships is important. So make sure youre with a man who not only wants you to make time to see your friends but also makes an effort to get to know them too.

5. Hes emotionally intelligent

If stereotypes are to be believed, it is women who are always desperate to talk about feelings and never men who fall hard. Whilst this definitely isnt true, its important each person in a relationship has a certain level of emotional intelligence.

Studies suggest that women are better at taking the opinions and views of their partner into consideration than men, which is essential for a healthy relationship.

6. He respects your opinions and listens to what you have to say

Being closed-minded isnt a trait thats exclusive to a particular gender, but if a man is convinced hes always right and will never consider your argument, its not a good sign.

If a man rejects his female partners influence, it may be a sign that he has power issues, according to Dr John Gottman, author of The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

7. Hes willing to put the work in

A study from the University of Texas found that the most successful relationships werent down to compatibility, but rather making the relationship work. My research shows that there is no difference in the objective compatibility between those couples who are unhappy and those who are happy, study author Dr. Ted Hudson said.

So if you or your partner is always looking for the next best thing rather than committing to make your relationship last, it may not bode well.

8. He celebrates your achievements

Whether its deadlifting your bodyweight or learning enough German for a trip to Oktoberfest, its important to have a partner who celebrates your achievements.

But this isnt just to make you feel great - a study published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that couples who did so were more satisfied with their relationships than those who reacted negatively or were indifferent.

9. He shares your values

Having a similar outlook in life could be crucial to a successful relationship, according to a study. The more alike your personalities are, the more likely you are to approach problems in the same way.

You and your partner will share similar approaches to everything from socialising to working if your priorities are the same, and this is likely to lead to a greater level of respect for one another.

Of course, if your partner doesnt have all the above qualities that doesnt mean you should necessarily dump him immediately - we all look for different things in a partner and a relationship, after all.

But if he does tick all these boxes, he could be one to hold on to.

The Independent's Millennial Love group is the best place to discuss to the highs and lows of modern dating and relationships. Join the conversation here.California voters will get the chance to fire a judge who handed a six-month prison sentence to a Stanford student convicted of sexual assault.

The jail sentence Judge Aaron Persky issued for Brock Turner  who was convicted of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman outside a college party  fell short of what prosecutors sought, spurring outrage and launching a campaign to recall the judge.

Under California law, voters can unseat elected officials if they gain enough signatures to hold a vote and then a majority approves it. A campaign to recall Mr Persky has crossed that first threshold, the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters announced.

This historic campaign is part of a national social movement to end impunity for athletes and other privileged perpetrators of sexual assault and violence against women, recall campaign chair Michele Dauber said in a statement.

Turner was released from jail after serving three months. Much of the outcry in response to Mr Perskys decision centered on his explanation for the sentence in which he said a harsher penalty would have a severe impact on Turners life, noting that the student was intoxicated at the time of the crime and said people had vouched for his character.

An appeals court late last year halted Mr Perskys request to block signature gathering. The judge issued a statement last year arguing he was compelled to consider both sides and that California law requires every judge to consider rehabilitation and probation for first-time offenders. Turner did not have prior criminal record.

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

State elected officials in Californias capital of Sacramento are among those who have backed Mr Perskys ousting, and the political fallout from the judges sentencing decision reverberated beyond the recall campaign.

Representatives also advanced bills that expanded the definition of rape to include all forms of nonconsensual sexual assault and mandated prison terms for assaulting unconscious victims. Governor Jerry Brown signed both into law.

Mr Turner appealed his conviction in December, with his attorney arguing he did not get a fair hearing.The central-bank governor of Nigeria, where bitcoin trading grew the most in Africa last year, said investing in the cryptocurrency is a gamble and hinted it may have to be regulated.

Cryptocurrency or bitcoin is like a gamble, and there is a need for everybody to be very careful, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele said in an interview on Wednesday at his office in the capital, Abuja.

We cannot as a central bank give support to situations where people risk savings to gamble, he said.

Emefiele is the latest among regulators globally to express concern about bitcoin, one of the most popular cryptocurrencies, because of high volatility and a perception that it facilitates crime.

In January 2017, the central bank released a circular to lenders asking them not to use, hold, or trade virtual currencies pending substantive regulation and or decision by the CBN.

Still, demand for the digital currency is surging in West Africas biggest economy, with peer-to-peer transactions rising almost 1,500 per cent this year, second only to China, according to data from LocalBitcoins.

A bitcoin wipe-out would generate the biggest losses in Russia, followed by New Zealand and Nigeria, according to a report published by Citigroup in December.

Bitcoin was little changed at $11,254 by Friday morning, compared to high of $19,511 on December 18, according to a composite of prices compiled by Bloomberg.

Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday promised to consider clamping down on the cryptocurrency. Central banks in China and Russia have stopped local-exchange trading of bitcoin.

I have asked my colleagues in the research and monetary-policy department to study the market and get to know what the issues are, Emefiele said. The central bank may in future make some very concrete pronouncements as to the direction, he said, without giving details.

BloombergMilitants opened fire on the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine three times on Thursday, two servicemen were injured, the press center of the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) headquarters reported.

"Two servicemen of the ATO forces were injured while on a combat mission. They were promptly taken to military medical institutions and provided the necessary medical assistance," the ATO headquarters reported on its Facebook page on Friday morning.

In the Donetsk sector, militants shelled Ukrainian army positions near Novotroitske using 120-mm mortars. In the Azov Sea area, they fired from an 82-mm mortars at Pavlopil and using grenade launchers of various types to fire at the defenders of Vodiane.Goldman Sachs is reaching a point in its Brexit contingency planning where it will have made irreversible moves out of the UK, the banks chief executive has said.

Lloyd Blankfein told the BBC that Goldman Sachs had rented about ten floors of office space in Frankfurt because he estimates that is the amount the bank will need to house its increased headcount in the German financial hub.

In an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Mr Blankfein said he couldnt be certain that all of the space would be needed, however Goldman Sachs had no choice but to obtain it and begin fitting it out. The US investment bank has also hired people who can transition its contractual agreements with clients from UK law to German law.

Theres not one month where its all or nothing, but every month incremental steps are being taken and at some point we are going to do things that are not going to be undone, Mr Blankfein said.

He added: Will it ultimately prove necessary to have done those things? Im not sure but we cant get that all done in the last minute.

Once we start to repaper  which is very cumbersome because it involves lots of lawyers on both sides and takes months  once we start that, are we going to go back? Probably not, Mr Blankfein said.

Weve already done some and we have told our clients that more is coming, he said.

The comments underline the potential damage to the UK financial services industry that uncertainty around the nature of a future Brexit deal could do.

Mr Blankfeins comments come a day after JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon said that the company may have to cut more than 4,000 British jobs if the UK doesnt secure a Brexit deal that is close to existing arrangements.

The Chancellor Philip Hammond told an audience in Davos this week that the UK will refuse to sign a Brexit trade deal with the European Union unless financial services are included in it.

Mr Hammond said a deal that did not include financial services, which account for roughly 7 per cent of the UK economy and support one million jobs, would not be fair.

Those who casually suggest financial services wont be part of a deal are not looking at the numbers, the Chancellor added, pointing out that the UK runs a 100bn trade deficit in goods with the EU, which is partially offset by a 40bn services surplus.Bank of England governor Mark Carney says a deeper relationship with Europe could benefit the UK economy.

Mr Carney told the BBC on Friday that the UK economy had suffered a Brexit effect since the vote to leave the European Union.

The economy is doing not as well as we expected it to prior to the referendum, said Mr Carney.

The Bank of England governor said investment has picked up a bit but it hasnt picked up anyways to the same extent as internationally, and added that the UK economy could start to grow in line with the global economy if more clarity about the UKs relationship with the European Union emerges from Brexit negotiations.

The world economy is accelerating, and we havent seen that yet, he said.

There is the prospect this year, as there is greater clarity about the relationship with Europe and subsequently with the rest of the word, for a recoupling  if I can use that term borrowed from Gwyneth Paltrow  a conscious recoupling of the UK economy with the global economy.

The UK economy grew at 0.5 per cent in the final quarter of 2017, however the Office for National Statistics said the long term picture was of slower and more uneven growth.

The UK economy fell behind all other G7 countries last June, trailing behind countries such as Germany, France and the US.

Prior to the Brexit vote, the UK economy was expanding at a faster rate than all those nations.

We will do whatever we can to support the economy during the transition  whether there is no deal or a comprehensive deal, the Bank of England governor said in November.A discount on Nutella has sparked chaos in French supermarkets, with police called to intervene as shoppers fought over pots of the chocolate and hazelnut spread.

The 70 per cent price cut at Intermarche stores led to scenes likened by some to riots. The supermarket chain reduced 950g jars of Nutella from 4.50 (3.90) to 1.41 (1.23).

The promotion sent customers across the country into a frenzy, with people pushing and fighting at some branches.

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Footage posted on social media showed shoppers swarming around shelves of the spread and jostling for jars as staff tried to restore order, in scenes reminiscent of Black Friday sales hysteria.

Seriously? All this for Nutella, remarked one stunned bystander. Another commented: This is not normal.

One customer suffered a black eye in a violent melee at a store in LHorme, in the central Loire region, an employee told Le Progres newspaper. The shops stock of Nutella was snapped up within 15 minutes.

The manager of another Intermarche in Rive-de-Gier, central France, said 600 pots were sold within five minutes. One customer described shoppers as like animals.

A woman had her hair pulled, an elderly lady took a box on her head, another had a blood hand, they said. It was horrible.

The Local reported that police were called to several stores in the north of the country as customers fought.

At another store in Montbrison, central France, customers hid pots of Nutella the night before the promotion began to stop rival shoppers buying them.

I solved the problem by limiting the number of pots to three per person. But they went back and forth, said exasperated manager Jean-Marie Daragon.

Nutellas Italian manufacturer, Ferrero, said it deplored the violence but distanced itself from the supermarkets sale.

We wish to clarify that this promotion was decided unilaterally by the Intermarche brand, it said in a statement.

The French are voracious consumers of Nutella, eating around 100 million jars a year  more than any country other than Germany.

In 2015, a French court stopped a couple from naming their baby daughter after the spread, ruling it would make her the target of ridicule.Philip Morris International should not be allowed to claim its iQOS electronic tobacco product reduces the risk of smoking-related diseases compared with cigarettes, US health advisers said on Thursday, dealing a blow to the company as it seeks to strengthen its portfolio of alternative nicotine devices.

The recommendation is not binding and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could still authorise Philip Morris to make such a claim, but some industry analysts think the federal agency might ask for additional data first.

Its a process, said Bonnie Herzog, a tobacco analyst at Wells Fargo. The FDA will likely approve the request eventually, she said, but timing is tough to predict.

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Philip Morris, which has spent more than $3bn (2.1bn) to develop products that can counteract the decline in traditional cigarette sales, said it was encouraged by some of the FDA committee members comments that iQOS may have risk-reduction potential.

We are confident in our ability to address the valid questions raised by the committee as the review process for our application continues, Corey Henry, a Philip Morris spokesman, said in a statement.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb recently proposed a broad tobacco policy shift that would reduce nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels while increasing development of lower-risk alternatives for those unable to quit.

The iQOS is a sleek, penlike device that heats tobacco but does not ignite it  an approach Philip Morris says produces far lower levels of carcinogens than regular cigarettes. It is used by nearly four million people in 30 markets outside the United States but needs FDA authorisation to be marketed in America.

Last month, a Reuters investigation described irregularities in the clinical trials that supported Philip Morris iQOS application to the FDA.

The companys shares fell 2.8 per cent to $107.49 on Thursday afternoon, after falling as much as 6.8 per cent.

Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said panellists identified that serious questions remain about the companys application. He said it could amend the application and the panels recommendation does not rule out an ultimate approval.

The panel said Philip Morris had not proven that iQOS reduced harm compared with cigarettes. It did conclude that the product exposes users to lower levels of harmful chemicals but said the company had not shown that lowering exposure to those chemicals is reasonably likely to translate into a measurable reduction in disease or death.

Philip Morris needs to show both in order to claim in its marketing materials that the product reduces a users exposure to harmful chemicals.

Some panellists were concerned that not all the harmful or potentially harmful chemicals in iQOS were lower than in cigarettes. Philip Morris presented data showing an overall exposure reduction of about 95 percent.

Business news: In pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Business news: In pictures Business news: In pictures Flybe collapses Airline Flybe has collapsed. All future flights on the Exeter-based airline have been cancelled  leaving more than 2,300 staff facing an uncertain future, and wrecking the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of passengers. The chief executive, Mark Anderson, said: Europes largest independent regional airline has been unable to overcome significant funding challenges to its business. AFP via Getty Business news: In pictures Future product placement will be 'tailored to individual viewers' Marketing executives say that product placement in films and televison shows on streaming services such as Netflix may be tailored to individuals in future. For instance, if data shows that a viewer is a fan of pepsi, a billboard in the background of a shot would host an advert for pepsi, while for a viewer known to have different tastes it could be for Coca-Cola Paramount Business news: In pictures Corbyn wishes Amazon a happy birthday In a card sent to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the company's 25th birthday, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn writes: "You owe the British people millions in taxes that pay for the public services that we all rely on. Please pay your fair share" Business news: In pictures No deal, no tariffs The government has announced that it would slash almost all tariffs in the event of a no-deal Brexit. Notable exceptions include cars and meat, which will see tariffs in place to protect British farmers Getty Business news: In pictures Fingerprint payment NatWest is trialling a new bank card that will allow people to touch their hand to the card when paying rather than typing in a PIN number. The card will work by recognising the user's fingerprint NatWest/PA Wire Business news: In pictures Mahabis bust High-end slipper retailer Mahabis has gone into administration. 2 Jan 2019 Mahabis Business news: In pictures Costa Cola Coca-Cola has paid 3.9bn for Costa Coffee. A cafe chain is a new venture for the global soft drinks giant PA Business news: In pictures RIP Payday Loans A funeral procession for payday loans was held in London on September 2. The future of pay day lenders is in doubt after Wonga, Britain's biggest, went into administration on August 30 PA Business news: In pictures Musk irks investors and directors Elon Musk has concluded that Tesla will remain public. Investors and company directors were angry at Musk for tweeting unexpectedly that he was considering taking Tesla private and share prices had taken a tumble in the following weeks Getty Business news: In pictures Jaguar warning Iconic British car maker Jaguar Land Rover warned on July 5, 2018 that a "bad" Brexit deal could jeopardise planned investment of more than $100 billion, upping corporate pressure as the government heads into crucial talks AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures Spotif-IPO Spotify traded publically for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday. However, the company isn't issuing shares, but rather, shares held by Spotify's private investors will be sold AFP/Getty Business news: In pictures French blue passports The deadline to award a contract to make blue British passports after Brexit has been extended by two weeks following a request by bidder De La Rue. The move comes after anger at the announcement British passports would be produced by Franco-Dutch firm Gemalto when De La Rues contract ends in July. The British firm said Gemalto was chosen only because it undercut the competition, but the UK company also admitted that it was not the cheapest choice in the tendering process. Business news: In pictures Beast from the east economic impact The Beast from the East wiped 4m off of Flybes revenues due to flight cancellations, airport closures and delays, according to the budget airlines estimates. Flybe said it cancelled 994 flights in the three months to 31 March, compared to 372 in the same period last year.

The negative recommendations did not come as a surprise, said Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association. He said the panellists disconnected themselves from the facts in favour of ideology.

The FDA is expected to decide whether Philip Morris International can sell iQOS within the next few months. It will decide separately whether to authorise the modified-risk claims. There is no time frame for when that decision might come.

If cleared, iQOS would be sold in the United States by Philip Morris partner Altria Group. Altria shares closed 2.3 per cent lower on Thursday at $69.91.

ReutersWalmart has forged another alliance to counter Amazon, partnering with Japans Rakuten to sell e-books in the US and improve its online grocery business in the Asian nation.

The collaboration will bring Rakutens Kobo device and e-book catalogue to Walmarts US stores later this year, the companies said in a statement on Thursday. The partnership also includes a revamp of Walmarts online grocery service in Japan that will roll out in the third quarter. Rakuten shares rose as much as 4.9 per cent at midday in Tokyo.

The alliance with Rakuten, the so-called Amazon of Japan, is Walmarts latest step to team up with technology companies that can help it battle the Seattle e-commerce giant.

Last year, it aligned with Google to let shoppers order by voice over Google Home devices. It is also working with Uber to deliver groceries in some cities.

We are excited to collaborate with the top online shopping destination in Japan, Walmart chief executive Doug McMillon said in a statement.

About one in four online purchases in Japan take place using Rakuten's marketplace, Ichiba, and the company has expanded into sports, credit cards and family planning.

But the 21-year-old company is relatively unknown outside its home market, leading its chief executive Hiroshi Mikitani to make investments abroad, including a $1bn deal for online coupon service Ebates and a stake in ride-sharing service Lyft.

For Kobo, the partnership could offer another shot at the US market. Founded in Canada, the e-book company initially entered the US through a partnership with Borders. That ended unceremoniously when the book chain went bankrupt in 2011, forcing Kobo to sell through its own website and a few hundred independent book stores. Soon after, Rakuten bought Kobo for $315m. The business currently has 30 million readers globally.

Walmart will become the exclusive retailer of the Kobo brand in the US, and will begin offering Kobos nearly six million eBook and audio book titles later this year. The retailer will also sell digital book cards in stores, enabling them to carry a broader selection of titles. The two companies will introduce a co-branded app to access e-book content. A spokeswoman for Walmart declined to say at what price it would offer e-readers and e-books.

The US e-books market has slowed, with net revenue declining 5.3 per cent from January to August last year, according to the Association of American Publishers. It is also becoming a crowded market, with Apple working on a redesigned version of its own e-book reading application.

Amazon has fought a slump in tablet sales by introducing lower-cost versions, extending battery life and adding its voice-activated digital assistant Alexa to read books aloud. Amazon ranks third in global tablet sales behind Apple and Samsung, according to industry researcher IDC.

The new online grocery delivery service, dubbed Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper, aims to be more convenient for shoppers and to offer more items such as meal kits and cut vegetables. It will also boost capacity by opening a dedicated grocery fulfilment centre this year, the companies said.

Walmart entered Japan in 2002 with a small stake in Seiyu, and took majority control in 2005. Despite a sluggish performance, Walmart has remained in Japan, even as other global retailers like Carrefour and Tesco have pulled out.

BloombergOxford University has offered more places to women than men for undergraduate courses for the first time in the history of the institution.

The university offered places to 1,275 female 18-year-old applicants and 1,165 to male applicants last year, according to data from the admissions service Ucas.

The figures show 1,070 women won undergraduate places to start at Oxford in September, compared to 1,025 men.

The data also shows of applicants of all ages from the UK, women received more offers to study as undergraduates than men, despite fewer applying.

Although the first womens colleges were established in the 19th century, women were unable to become full members and graduate until 1920.

Five all-male colleges -Brasenose, Jesus College, Wadham, Hertford and St Catherines - first admitted women in 1974.

All colleges have admitted both men and women since 2008.

The data also showed a record number of students from the poorest background are entering top universities, but the wealthiest 18-year-olds are still nearly six times more likely to secure a place.

Applications from the most advantaged students were also at a record high last year.

Oxford University faced allegations of sexism last year after its history department announced it would allow students to sit exams from home in order to help close the gender gap.

The move, designed to boost results for female students who are statistically less likely to graduate with a first-class degree in the subject than their male peers, was criticised for implying women are the weaker sex.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

Amanda Foreman, an honorary research senior fellow in history at the University of Liverpool, told The Telegraph: The reason why girls and boys perform differently in exams has nothing to do with the building they are in.

You are saying that the girls cant take the stress of sitting in the exam room, which does raise ones anxiety levels. I dont think girls are inherently weaker than boys and cant take it.Theresa May has again been accused of using deliberately misleading statistics to play down the severity of the winter crisis in the NHS.

Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones has written to the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) about the Prime Ministers selective misuse of data following her attempt to deflect criticism of the health services performance onto the Welsh NHS at Prime Ministers Questions.

Mr Jones' intervention is the second time the Government has been called up on its use of statistics, with senior Tory MPs condemning the disingenuous use of data to stifle the much needed discussion about NHS pressures.

Recommended Furious Tory MPs turn on Theresa May over NHS crisis failures

In the Commons on Wednesday Ms May claimed the number of patients forced to wait more than 12 hours in A&E in Wales, which has a Labour government, is nearly eight times higher than in England.

However hospitals in England only measure 12 hour waits from the time a senior clinician has seen the patient and made a decision that they should be admitted.

In Wales the countdown begins at the point the patient registers at A&E.

Senior NHS doctors told The Independent the English figures in no way reflect the time patients spent in A&E and warned that actual numbers of breaches may be higher.

Ms May, at Prime Ministers Questions, said: The latest figures show that, in England, 497 people were waiting more than 12 hours, but the latest figures also show that, under the Labour Government in Wales, 3,741 people were waiting more than 12 hours.

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

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn warned that the NHS was suffering a death by a thousand cuts at the hands of the Conservatives.

His warning followed a winter crisis that saw staffing and funding shortages leading to tens of thousands of operations cancelled and doctors warning patients were dying prematurely in corridors.

In his letter to Sir David Norgrove, chairman of the UKSA, Mr Jones said comparable figures reveal England performs far worse.

NHS Digital data on 12 hour waits in 2016-17 shows there were 262,367 patients waiting more than 12 hours in A&E, compared to 3,502 who waited more than 12 hours for admission after a decision to admit.

Mr Jones said the figures were simply not a valid comparison of accident and emergency performance and called for an investigation.

The selective misuse of statistics like this does not allow for a fair debate on the NHS, he added.

When asked about the figures by The Independent the Department of Health and Social Care claimed Wales still performed worse with comparable data, although it shows this by a much smaller margin, but the Department was unable to provide the figures it had used to establish this.

Conservative MP, and chair of the Commons Health Committee, Dr Sarah Wollaston, has already criticised the Governments misuse of winter data, after she had tried to ask about the lack of beds in hospitals.

Health minister Philip Dunne claimed bed occupancy was below safe levels, but cited the only day this winter where that was true: Christmas Eve.

Mr Dunne lost his position shortly afterwards in the Cabinet reshuffle.

A spokesperson for the Royal College of Emergency Medicine told The Independent: "It is wrong to compare 12 hour breaches in England and Wales.

The 12 hour wait statistics for England in no way reflect the actual time the patient is kept waiting and we suspect that the number of breaches is actually much higher than is being reported.

The College has long argued for this metric to be changed to start at the moment the patient arrives.

A Department of Health and Social Care Spokesperson said: The latest annual data shows the number of patients spending more than 12 hours in A&E in Wales is proportionately 2.6 times higher than in England.

We have supported the NHS with an additional 437 million this winter to deal with increased demand.We are as close to apocalypse as weve ever been before, in part because of Donald Trumps tweets, scientists have warned.

The Doomsday Clock now stands at two minutes to midnight. It has only been that dangerous during the depths of the nuclear age, they warned.

The change came with a warning from many of the worlds most eminent scientists: that if politicians arent doing enough to keep the world safe, they must rise up and force them to do so.

Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Show all 30 1 /30 Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Farmer works in a field Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Women soldier walk on the street Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A female soldier guards railway Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of platform of Pyongyang Railway Station Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Students stage a protest against South Korea and the US in Pyongyang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Students rehearsal for celebrating the 70th birthday of Workers' Party of Korea Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone People enjoy the cool at the carriage door Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of countryside Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Korean People's Army soldier rest on the rail 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A little boy begs food on the platform in Hamhung Railway Station in Hamhung 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Children swim in a river in noon Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone People cross a railway crossing 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A boy collects corn cob beside a railway Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officer is seen on the train No.100 from Moscow to Pyongyang at Tumangang railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officer checks a passenger's mobile device on the train to Pyongyang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of the railway station in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Kids pass by Tumanggang railway station in Tumanggang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A general view of Tumangang - a small town located at North Korea and Russia border Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A train carriage on it's way to Pyongyang is delayed for a day and half due to military transportation in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A customs officers talks to a passenger at Tumanggang railway station in Tumanggang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone A little girl walks on the street in Tumanggang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone An elderly man is seen in Tumangang Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Kids go to school in morning in Tumangang 2015 Getty Images Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone Life in North Korea captured with a mobile phone

New danger is being brought to the world because the US administration finds it so hard to formulate nuclear policy, scientists said. That is partly due to Donald Trumps habit of tweeting inflammatory messages to enemies including North Korea, said the Bulletin of Nuclear Scientists, which runs the clock.

The scientists also made specific reference to the breakdown in negotiations between the US and both Russia and Iran. It said that arms control talks have failed in both countries, and suggested the world was dangerously close to falling into a nuclear arms race.

But the scientists said there was the possibility of reversing the trend of increasing danger. Moving closer to midnight was a recognition of the danger but also a plea to move it back again  something that could be done by getting back to arms control and responding to the threat of climate change.

The change was a recognition that those efforts were not happening enough yet, however. Scientists said that the change wasnt simply a recognition of the threat of climate change or nuclear war  but also that the media, science and even truth were being undermined, hampering their ability to respond to the problems.

The last time the world was in this much danger was 1953, when both the US and the Soviet Union launched their hydrogen bombs.

Before today, the clock stood at two-and-a-half minutes to midnight. That was already among the most dangerous times that the world has seen since the clock began in the 1940s.The discovery of a fossil in Israel has revealed humans left Africa far earlier than previously thought.

Scientists have long thought humans  or Homo sapiens  left Africa around 100,000 years ago.

But the new fossil known as Misliya-1 after the cave it was found in is estimated to be between 175,000-200,000 years old - by far the oldest evidence for modern humans found outside of Africa.,

Calling it "an exciting discovery," Professor Rolf Quam, an anthropologist at Binghamton University and co-author of the study said: "It provides the clearest evidence yet that our ancestors first migrated out of Africa much earlier than we previously believed."

Professor Israel Hershkovitz, an anthropologist at Tel Aviv University who led the study which was published in the journal Science, added: This changes the whole concept of modern human evolution."

The new finding is also consistent with genetic studies, which have previously suggested the possibility that modern humans dispersed out of Africa around 220,000 years ago.

Close-up view of the fossilised teeth belonging to the Misliya-1 specimen (Gerhard Weber, University of Vienna)

Professor Quam said that it meant that modern humans had ample opportunity to interact with other species of ancient humans.

It also means that modern humans were potentially meeting and interacting during a longer period of time with other archaic human groups, providing more opportunity for cultural and biological exchanges, he said.

Professor Hershkovitz said the issue of when humans started moving out of Africa, and the route they took to do so are the two most important questions in recent human evolution.

The Misliya fossil consists of an upper jawbone and several teeth.

Recommended Established story that humans came from Africa may be wrong

The researchers used several dating techniques in order to obtain an accurate age for the specimen, and analysed it using microCT scans and 3D virtual models to compare it with other human fossils from around the world.

"While all of the anatomical details in the Misliya fossil are fully consistent with modern humans, some features are also found in Neandertals and other human groups," said Professor Quam.

"One of the challenges in this study was identifying features in Misliya that are found only in modern humans. These are the features that provide the clearest signal of what species the Misliya fossil represents."

Besides the fossil itself, archaeologists have excavated stones nearby shaped by humans in a sophisticated way known as the Levallois technique.

The technique involves chipping away at fragments of stone to form tools, and has been documented in early human specimens found in Africa.

This archaeological evidence demonstrate that these early Middle East settlers were capable hunters of large animals.

This is an incredibly exciting piece of archaeology; its always exciting to find new fossils, especially when they have such early dates, said Dr Simon Underdown, an anthropologist at Oxford Brookes University who was not involved with the study.

A view of Misliya Cave, where the ancient human specimen was discovered by archaeologists (Mina Weinstein-Evron, Haifa University)

Dr Underdown noted the rigorous methods that the researchers had applied to the Misliya specimen in order to confirm the accuracy of their date.

Whats really nice is they have used loads of different types of dating  this is not just one date or one piece of rock, he said.

By spreading out of Africa, humans were behaving much like other animals migrating in search of resources, he added.

We know loads of other animal species were doing this, following food resources and moving in response to climate change and environmental shifts, he said. "This is early humans doing exactly that.Celebrated neuroscientist Wilder Penfield (1891-1976) is the subject of today's animated Google Doodle on what would have been the 127th anniversary of his birth.

A brilliant man once hailed as "the greatest living Canadian", Penfield is known for developing the Montreal Procedure along with colleague Herbert Jasper in 1950, a treatment for cerebral seizures that destroys troublesome nerve cells by zapping them with electrical probes while the patient is still awake.

More famously, Penfield's experiments with charged stimulation led to his being able to map the brain's sensory and motor cortices and discovering in the process that physical parts of the brain could be teased into evoking memories, like recalling the unmistakeable odour of burnt toast.

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This finding enabled Canada to lead the post-war world in neuroscience and healthcare and offer better lives to those suffering with epilepsy. His work also advanced our understanding of such phenomena as hallucinations, illusions and deja vu.

Penfield was actually born in Spokane, Washington, in the US, however. He grew up in Hudson, Wisconsin, before studying at Princeton and earning a Rhodes scholarship to Merton College, Oxford, in 1915. Interrupting his neuropathology studies almost immediately to serve in a French military hospital during the First World War, he was wounded the following year when the SS Sussex was torpedoed.

Returning to Oxford, Penfield married his sweetheart Helen Kermott and returned to the US to study at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, before spells in Boston, New York City and Germany.

Wilder Penfield playing American football at Princeton in 1913 (Rex/Shutterstock)

From the mid-1920s, Penfield spent his days at the Neurological Institute of New York working on a cure for epilepsy. However, when academic politics saw Rockefeller-funding for a new research institute blocked in 1928, Penfield relocated to Quebec, teaching at the prestigious McGill University and Royal Victoria Hospital before serving as Director of the former's new Montreal Neurological Institute. He became a Canadian citizen in 1934 and went on to achieve the breakthroughs for which he is best known.

The recipient of innumerable honours, Penfield was immortalised by the great science fiction writer Philip K Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (1968), the basis for Ridley Scott's film Blade Runner (1984). Dick used his name for the "Penfield Mood Organ", which allowed his characters to dial up any emotion they wish to feel on demand. His first name was adopted by another dystopian author, J.G. Ballard, for the protagonist of his late novel Super-Cannes (2000), one Wilder Penrose.Ukraine's SBU Security Service has passed on a list of 23 additional Serb nationals who are participating in military actions in eastern Ukraine on behalf of illegal armed formations. Belgrade has not yet responded, said SBU chief Vasyl Hrytsak.

"As for the Serbs, starting from October 2017 we have handed over the names of 103 Serbs, who are participating in the military conflict in eastern Ukraine," Hrytsak said in Kyiv on Thursday. He added that the names of 23 Serbs (included in the list of 103 persons) are serving under the Russian private military company Wagner.

"Unfortunately, we have not received any official reaction from the Serb side, but I would like to point out that one of the 103 Serbs in 2004-2005 recruited Ukrainians to carry out terrorist acts in European Union member state. We have given his surname to Serb authorities," the SBU chief said.

Hrytsak said in October 2017 that around 300 Serbs were serving in the Wagner private army and that his agency has a lot of information about each of them.A police officer lays flowers passed over by a member of the public, close to Finsbury Park Mosque in north London (PA)

The defence of the alleged Finsbury Park terror attacker is due to start on Monday at Woolwich Crown Court.

A brief hearing on Friday was adjourned after the judge, Justice Cheema-Grubb, told the jury further time was needed to prepare the case.

Darren Osborne, 48, denies charges of murder and attempted murder after allegedly ramming a van into Muslim worshippers on 19 June.

The attack, deemed by prosecutors to be an act of terrorism, killed one man and seriously injured nine others, including one victim who was left trapped under the van.

Mr Osbornes partner previously told the court that the father-of-four became brainwashed after watching a drama on grooming gangs and reading far-right social media posts.

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On Thursday, the court heard that 51-year-old Makram Ali collapsed of unknown causes after leaving Ramadan prayers at the nearby Muslim Welfare House.

He fell to the ground just two minutes before the van struck and killed him shortly after midnight on 19 June, the court heard.

Some of the witnesses who rushed to help the grandfather previously speculated that he may have suffered a heart attack, but a Home Office pathologist said there was no abnormality.

Dr Simon Poole said low blood sugar or muscle weakness could have led to Mr Alis collapse but he was alive, talking and moving in the moments before being struck.

The injuries are best summarised as being catastrophic, he said. The heart and lungs ceased to function abruptly... He would have died virtually instantaneously.

Reports from forensic collision investigators concluded that Mr Osborne intentionally steered the van, which he hired in Cardiff and drove to London, into the crowd of worshippers.

Tests found that the vehicle was in good condition and there was nothing in the road that would have caused Mr Osborne to swerve or crash.

Finsbury Park attack Show all 14 1 /14 Finsbury Park attack Finsbury Park attack Police officers attend to the scene after a vehicle collided with pedestrians in the Finsbury Park, killing one person and injuring eight Reuters Finsbury Park attack The incident is being treated as a potential terror attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder Reuters Finsbury Park attack Police cordon off a street in Finsbury Park AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack A man prays in the street after the attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack Men gather and pray together in the street in the aftermath of the attack AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Reuters Finsbury Park attack PA Finsbury Park attack Onlookers gather near a police cordon EPA Finsbury Park attack Forensic investigators arrive at the scene PA Finsbury Park attack A forensic tent stands next to a van PA Finsbury Park attack A police officer talks with residents AFP/Getty Images Finsbury Park attack Onlookers watch proceedings at the security cordon AFP/Getty Finsbury Park attack Local residents react at the scene AFP/Getty Images

The court previously heard the pro-Palestinian al-Quds Day march may have been the father-of-fours original target but he found surrounding roads closed and started searching for mosques in London.

Mr Osbornes partner said he became brainwashed after watching a television programme on grooming gangs in Rochdale and the investigation of phones and an iPad showed he read posts by far-right figures including Tommy Robinson and Jayda Fransen.

Police body-worn camera footage played to the jury earlier this week, showed the defendant launching into expletive-filled rants targeting Muslims, grooming gangs, Sadiq Khan, Jeremy Corbyn, Lily Allen and the Labour Party.

The same themes were repeated in a note found in his van, which the court heard Mr Osborne wrote while telling drinkers in a Cardiff pub: Im going to kill Muslims, your family are going to be Muslims, theyre all terrorists and Im going to take it into my own hands.

The trial continues.The release of black cab rapist John Worboys from prison has been put on hold after victims won the first step in a legal challenge.

Lawyer Harriet Wistrich said an urgent application had been made to the High Court on behalf of two of his victims for a stay of his release pending a further permission hearing.

She said: Update  we have been granted a stay on his release until an oral application between February 6-8.

The Parole Board provoked fury this month when it directed Worboys release after a decade in prison.

He was jailed indefinitely in 2009, with a minimum term of eight years, for drugging and sexually assaulting women passengers.

Worboys was convicted of 19 offences against 12 victims, but has been linked to more than 100 complaints in total.

His convictions included one count of rape, five sexual assaults, one attempted sexual assault and 12 of administering a substance with intent.

Earlier this week it was announced that police were investigating a fresh allegation of historical sexual assault believed to have been made against Worboys.

The incident was said to have taken place in 1997 and was reported to police earlier this month.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: The Metropolitan Police Service is investigating an allegation of non-recent sexual assault which was reported to police in January 2018.

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. 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Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. 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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 incident is reported to have taken place in 1997. Enquiries by officers from the Child Abuse and Sexual Offences Command are ongoing.A young British aerospace engineer has been found dead on a hiking trail in Argentina.

The local civil defence said the body of David Minn was found on a mountainous hiking track near the city of Ushuaia which is close to the Esmeralda Lagoon.

A group of hikers raised alarm bells on Monday after the 24-year-old did not return to the hostel where he was staying in Ushuaia - the worlds southernmost city.

Reports suggest Mr Minn suffered catastrophic head injuries after falling more than 100 feet.

Defensa Civil Ushuaia said it is believed the former Sheffield University student, who graduated last year, may have fallen.

They said the area, which is close to the Martial mountain range in Tierra del Fuego province in the far south of the country, is popular with tourists.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are supporting the family of a British national who sadly died in Argentina, and we are in contact with the local authorities.

His sister, Hayley, who is a journalist for the Daily Mirror, expressed her sadness at the news on Twitter.

The 26-year-old said: We got the devastating news we didnt want and its breaking my heart."

She added: Weve just found out its not good news. We dont know anything else right now, Im so numb.

Mr Minn, a former pupil of the Jewish Free School in North London, was on a seven-month tour of South America. He has previously done work at Camp Tevya in New Hampshire in the US - a Jewish summer camp for children.

He has also worked as an aerospace engineering intern for Oxfordshire-based technology company Satellite Applications Catapault.

According to The Times, his family travelled to Argentina last month to celebrate his birthday.

Additional reporting by Press AssociationThe BBC is facing multiple investigations after being accused of silencing gender discrimination and harassment victims through its use of non-disclosure agreements, The Independent can reveal.

Tony Hall, the director general, will be questioned on the issue by the influential Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee next week, while the Women and Equalities Select Committee would also now debate the issue, its chair Maria Miller said.

Dozens of cross-party MPs have also written to the National Audit Office (NAO) demanding it too launch a formal inquiry.

Recommended BBC presenter off air after giving support for Carrie Gracie

The broadcaster stopped using so-called gagging clauses in 2013 in the wake of the Jimmy Savile scandal. But there are fears the BBC is using public money to fund court confidential settlements, known as non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), in order to keep allegations secret.

In a joint letter signed by 30 MPs including senior Conservative Nicky Morgan, the former Education Secretary, and parliamentarians from Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats, they suggested the BBCs use of the legal documents was silencing the voices of victims.

The letter said: In our view the use of public money  collected from our constituents through the license fee  to conduct legal proceedings which pay off and silence victims whilst covering up wrongdoing would be wholly unacceptable and we feel that this matter must be investigated as a matter of urgency.

Last night, the BBC confirmed that it continues to use settlement agreements that include confidentiality clauses to stop employees speaking out. It refused to disclose how many have been issued in recent years and said their use was limited.

Tory MP Damian Collins, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, told The Independent the issue was likely to be raised on Wednesday, while Ms Miller, a former Conservative culture secretary, said the use of NDAs was an issue we should all be concerned about.

Across the board non-disclosure agreements are being used to silence people and stop them talking about their experiences within organisations, she said.

There is a real concern that these agreements are being used to disguise unlawful activities.

She added: "Public bodies should not be using taxpayers money to potentially stop people talking about their experiences of behaviour that is unlawful."

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA 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. 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Ms Miller suggested organisations could be forced to publish how many NDAs they have entered into, and criticised the BBC for refusing to disclose to The Independent how many settlement agreements it has utilised in recent years.

She added: I think its unacceptable that an organisation like the BBC would refuse to acknowledge or make public how many settlement agreements theyve entered into. Without that transparency its impossible to know the scale on which theyre being used.

It comes after Downing Street announced Theresa May would look at the wider use of NDAs following the scandal over the Presidents Club dinner, at which numerous women allege they were sexually harassed. Many of the victims had been made to sign NDAs in relation to the event.

Speaking to The Independent, two former Conservative culture secretaries also raised concerns over the BBCs approach.

In addition to Ms Miller, John Whittingdale said the BBC should not be using public money to silence victims.

Im very uncomfortable with the idea of the BBC enforcing non-disclosure agreements, particularly since I was the one who pushed for transparency over top salaries at the BBC, he said.

Any money paid out by the BBC is ultimately public money and Im not comfortable at all with the idea the public arent being told how their money is being spent.

If it falls within the remit of the National Audit Office, Im sympathetic to the suggestion they should investigate.

Mr Whittingdale also said it was right for the DCMS Select Committee to look at the issue. If I was running the select committee this is something I would be looking at closely, he said.

Labours David Lammy MP, a former culture minister who is co-ordinating the letter from MPs, said: I was alarmed to read Carrie Gracies resignation letter and it is wholly unacceptable for taxpayers money to be spent on these legal proceedings, out of court settlements and agreements and there is a significant public interest in getting to the bottom of this issue.

I fear that the widespread use of non-disclosure agreements in silencing accusers means that institutions can avoid facing up to wider, systemic problems at play here that must be tackled in a transparent and open manner.

The BBC said it had not used a settlement agreement in relation to an equal pay issue for two years but confirmed the agreements are still used in relation to other disputes.

The BBCs former China Editor criticised the use of non-disclosure agreements when she resigned from the role over pay inequality earlier this month.

 Carrie Gracie on quitting the BBC over equal pay: There is a 'hunger for an equal, fair and transparent pay system'

In her resignation letter to BBC executives, Carrie Gracie, who is also appearing before the committee on Wednesday, wrote: Speaking out carries the risk of disciplinary measures or even dismissal; litigation can destroy careers and be financially ruinous. The BBC often settles cases out of court and demands non-disclosure agreements.

The Independent understands that former BBC employees who have signed NDAs believe they are only allowed to speak about their experience if forced to do so in court or when protected by parliamentary privilege, such as during a select committee appearance.

A BBC spokesman said: The BBC hasnt settled an equal pay claim raised by an employee with a settlement agreement for over two years. Since the pay disclosures last year, its been widely reported that a number of women have come forward raising queries about their pay. We have resolved a number of these, none of which has involved requiring confidentiality.

The BBC also has clear processes so staff can raise any concerns about bullying, harassment and unfair treatment, and whistleblowers are protected by law even if they have entered into a settlement agreement.The UKs Brexit negotiators are considering asking the EU for a longer transition period than the one they have been offered, amid concerns it will not be long enough to prepare the country for exit.

The possibility of a longer transition comes amid increasing discontent from the Tory right about the period as an EU vassal state, and with negotiations on the issue set to start in earnest in the coming weeks.

A Brussels source told The Independent that British officials had asked about the feasibility of extending the period in a recent meeting, while UK diplomats admitted that it might need to stretch beyond the start of 2021 and would not rule out pushing for a later date in upcoming talks.

 Brexit minister apologises for incorrect comments on Article 50

Some experts and EU countries have called for the transition to be as long as five years. Irelands then foreign minister Simon Coveney said in November that a two-year transition period was unrealistic and that the duration should not be set to meet some kind of political electoral cycle. Labour Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell has also suggested three or four years.

Michel Barnier, the European Commissions chief negotiator, has said that the transition period should run until 31 December 2020  one year and nine months after Brexit. Theresa May said in her Florence speech that she wants a transition period of around two years.

But although Mr Barniers suggested date appears to broadly fit with the lower end of the PMs suggestion, UK officials are worried that the UK economy might require a transition that stretched towards the upper end of around two years, into 2021.

Recommended UK will have no right to be in room while EU laws are made

A government spokesperson also left the door open to an even longer transition period, suggesting that a length of around two years is merely a current assessment of the requirements of the UK economy.

The possibility of an extended transition comes amid growing disquiet about the implementation period on the right wing of the Conservative party. Jacob Rees-Mogg, who has become the public face of Eurosceptic discontent with the direction of Theresa Mays Brexit, has repeatedly claimed that he thinks Britain will become a vassal state of the EU for its duration.

There have also been unconfirmed reports in the press that Ms May could soon face a vote of no confidence from her own MPs, as the number of letters from discontented parliamentarians lodged with the 1922 Committee chair nears 15 per cent of the parliamentary party stipulated under Tory rules.

Some Tories are irritated at the prospect of the transition because Brussels is insisting, according to leaked draft documents on its negotiating position, that the UK will have to follow and implement all new EU rules drawn up during the period, but have no say in shaping them nor even have an automatic right to be in the room while they are being decided. European Commission negotiators are also being instructed to demand a veto over any trade deals with other countries that Britain wants to sign, for the duration of the period.

Jacob Rees-Mogg has become a spokesperson for hardcore Brexiteers in the Tory party (Getty)

Mr Davis has, however, suggested he is broadly comfortable with the nature of such a transition as a short-term measure. In a speech in the north-east of England on Friday he effectively confirmed that the UK was signed up to the broad terms of the transition deal as spelled out by the EU, as reported by The Independent last week. He said the transition deal was a bridge to the future.

Asked whether the UK could push for a date later than the one proposed by Michel Barnier, a spokesperson for the Department for Exiting the European Union said: The UK is looking to agree, by March, a time-limited implementation period on current terms, meaning there will be just one set of changes for businesses to manage.

The duration should be determined simply by how long it will take to prepare and implement the new processes and new systems that will underpin our future partnership with the EU. Our current assessment points to a period of around two years.

Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop  with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same  under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters

Anti-hard Brexit campaigners seized on the possibility of a longer transition. Alex Sobel, a Labour MP who supports the Best for Britain campaign, told The Independent: The Government is clearly unable to progress a negotiation which makes a clear case for a longer transition to stop the UK going over a cliff edge.

Fabian Hamilton, another MP said: A transitional period after leaving the European Union is vital to maintaining economic stability.

However, during the transitional period, the Government must put jobs first and aim to secure a Brexit deal that prioritises the working people of this country. Otherwise, were at risk of a largely pointless Tory transitional period that puts the economy at risk.No 10 has been forced to rebuke Philip Hammond over his call for only very modest changes after Brexit, following a furious backlash from anti-EU Tories.

Downing Street initially refused to criticise the Chancellors comments, but eventually did so amid anger among Eurosceptic MPs  one of whom told Mr Hammond to put a sock in it.

While we want a deep and special economic partnership with the EU after we leave, these could not be described as very modest changes, a source said.

Recommended May faces Brexit revolt as Hammond vows to keep UK and EU interlocked

As the fragile Tory truce on Europe threatened to collapse, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt was sent out to defend Theresa May, saying it was absolutely wrong to use the word timid about this prime minister.

On Thursday night, Jacob Rees-Mogg put himself at the head of a growing Brexiteer revolt, condemning a withdrawal strategy that was timid and cowering and terrified of the future.

Meanwhile, some Tories have suggested a vote of no confidence in Mrs May is getting nearer, as the number of MPs demanding a ballot creeps closer to the 48 required to trigger it.

Speaking in Davos, the Chancellor enraged hard Brexit supporters with his support for only very modest changes to the UKs trading rules with the EU, setting out the risks of trying to break free.

He went out of his way to praise the call by the CBI employers organisation for the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK post-Brexit  days after it called for permanent membership of the customs union.

Britain must not agree to anything that throws away all the benefits we have of the complete alignment of our regulatory systems, the complete integration of our economies, Mr Hammond said.

Later, Mr Hammond published two tweets insisting, despite his comments, that he was clear that Britain was leaving the single market and customs union.

Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop  with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same  under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters

Andrew Percy, a former minister, was among Tories to criticise the Chancellor publicly, saying he should put a sock in it and stop mocking other Cabinet ministers by writing his own Brexit policy.

Former Scottish Secretary Lord Forsyth said Mr Hammond appeared to be completely at odds with what the Prime Minister said in her Lancaster House speech - and that she needs to get a grip on her Cabinet.

Speaking on BBC Question Time, the Vote Leave supporter added: If people [in Cabinet] dont agree with the policy of the Prime Minister, then they leave and they resign.

The No 10 reprimand of the Chancellor was the second issued by the Prime Minister in just three days - laying bare her weakness, many Conservatives believe.

On Tuesday, she slapped down Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, in Cabinet over his call for the NHS to receive an extra 5bn a year immediately after Brexit.

However, Mr Hunt told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: Anyone who uses the word timid about this Prime Minister is absolutely wrong.

This is the Prime Minister that gave us absolute clarity after the Brexit vote that we were going to get back control of our laws, our borders, our money - the most profound strategic decision any prime minister has to make in the current circumstances.Gavin Williamson, the Defence Secretary, has confessed to having an office romance with a colleague around the time his first son was born, admitting he nearly destroyed two marriages.

The cabinet minister and future Tory leadership prospect said he made a dreadful mistake in kissing his co-worker on more than one occasion, but that his wife had forgiven him.

Mr Williamson said the flirtatious romance occurred in 2004, when he was working as a manager at fireplace manufacturer Elgin and Hall in Yorkshire. The pair shared a kiss a couple of times but the relationship never went further, he said.

He is understood to have told party officials about the infidelity when he stood to be an MP, and Downing Street is also said to have been made aware.

The disclosure now is likely to prompt speculation that the former Tory Chief Whip is seeking to ensure the fling is out in the open ahead of a possible future leadership bid.

The 41-year-old met his wife, Joanne, at sixth form college in Scarborough. They now have two children.

Mr Williamson, MP for South Staffordshire, told the Daily Mail: My family means everything to me and I almost threw it away.

Describing how the romance with his co-worker began, he said: Through work I often spent time away from home visiting customers. Sometimes, I would be accompanied by other employees.

I had a good relationship with everyone I worked with, but with one person this started to develop into something more.

We had to travel together and spent a lot of time in each others company, the relationship became flirtatious and a couple of times we shared a kiss.

It never went further than that, but this had a profound impact on us both and those close to us. It was a dreadful mistake and stopped as suddenly as it had started.

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. 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He said the liaison with his colleague caused problems for her, as it did for me and described telling his wife what had happened as one of the most difficult conversations of my life.

Ill never truly understand how she found it in her heart to forgive me, but I tell myself every day how lucky I am to be with such an amazing person, he said.

Mr Williamson said he quit his job immediately after the incident because he felt continuing to work for the company would remind me that I had let down the person I love more than anything.

He added: This incident nearly destroyed two marriages. It will always be part of my past, but has not stopped my wife and I from building a wonderful family together.

Family will always be central to what I do and what I believe in. It was the experience of nearly losing mine that made me realise how much mine really matters to me.

Mr Williamson took over as Defence Secretary in November after his predecessor, Sir Michael Fallon, was forced to resign amid allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards women.

After being elected in 2010, the South Staffordshire MP served as David Camerons parliamentary aide and was promoted to Chief Whip by Theresa May when she became Conservative leader in 2016, having previously managed her leadership campaign.Philip Hammond has urged Tory MPs plotting to bring down Theresa May to stick with her, even as one leading Eurosceptic suggested he should be sacked for disloyalty.

The Chancellor and David Davis, the Brexit Secretary, rallied around the Prime Minister after a fresh outbreak of infighting over Europe plunged her leadership into further doubt.

However, Mr Davis was accused of leaving the country none the wiser about the Governments Brexit strategy, after a much-hyped speech fell flat.

Speaking in Middlesbrough, he restated the plan for what has been dubbed a standstill transition period, during which Britain would replicate the EU customs union and accept free movement of people

But Hilary Benn, the chairman of the Commons Brexit Committee said Mr Davis had said nothing new about future trading rules with the EU.

Mr Benn said: What we really needed to hear is what the Governments proposals are for the most important trade negotiation of all with the European Union; ie covering trade in goods and services with the other 27 member states after we have left. On that, we are none the wiser.

A row broke out in the Conservative Party when Mr Hammond called for only very modest changes after Brexit  while key Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg condemned a timid and cowering approach to the talks.

Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit  sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop  with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same  under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters

Some Tories have said a vote of no confidence in Ms May is getting nearer. It will be triggered if 48 MPs demand a ballot.

Asked about talk of a leadership contest, Mr Hammond told ITV News: I would say to my colleagues, stick with the Prime Minister.

Shes navigating a very tricky, difficult negotiation process. We have to get the implementation period agreed, then we have to negotiate the best possible deal for Britain for the future relationship with the European Union.

I have confidence in the Prime Minister to deliver that and I would urge them to get behind her.

The intervention came as Brexit backer Bernard Jenkin said it was not sustainable for Ms May and her Chancellor to have big ideological divisions saying: The Prime Minister will need to address that one way or the other.

He told the BBCs Daily Politics: The parliamentary party as a whole would like to see her impose her authority  let the leopard come bounding out of the cage.

In a further sign of discontent, a usually loyal MP went public to speak out about growing frustration among his colleagues at Westminster.

Mark Pritchard, MP for The Wrekin, who has previously called for ministers showing disloyalty to the Prime Minister to be sacked, warned that Ms May was coming under fire for taking her allies for granted.

Writing on Twitter, he said: No major revolt on the Tory back benches. However, there is a growing frustration that No 10 is not plugged into the views and opinions of many backbench MPs or even interested.

The PM is also being criticised for taking her very small group of allies for granted. A big mistake!

Meanwhile, Mr Davis insisted the Cabinet was united and on course, saying: There is no difference between myself, the Chancellor and the Prime Minister.At least 1.3 million people have been displaced in the Democratic Republic of Congo by inter-ethnic violence and clashes between the regular army, militia and armed groups, according to a Unicef report.

More than 800,000 children have been displaced in just two provinces - Tanganyika and South Kivu - with many facing sexual abuse or forced to serve as soldiers.

The country is now home to one of the largest displacement crises in the world for children.

Unicef and its partners identified more than 800 cases of sexual abuse, although the true scale of sexual violence against children is believed to be much larger.

More than 3,000 children have been recruited by militias and armed groups over the past year.

Yves Willemot, the charity's head of communication in the DRC, told The Independent: There has been a direct impact on local people.

The number of malnourished people in increasing rapidly because their communities are no longer producing food as violence has prevented people growing crops in fields.

Health centres are not functioning anymore, so malaria cases are becoming more deadly than they used to be. Schools are not functioning anymore, which is affecting children in the long term."

He added: The most important thing is these children are being denied the chance to be a child - it affects their long term development and opportunities."

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

Tajudeen Oyewale, Unicef's acting representative in the DRC, said: Children in the eastern DRC continue to suffer devastating consequences as waves of violence destabilise the region.

Hundreds of thousands of children in the region no longer have access to health care and education, while many have suffered atrocities at the hands of combatants.

It is simply a brutal situation for children with no end in sight.Wildlife conservation groups have criticised plans by Tanzanian authorities to auction 3.5 tonnes of hippo teeth next week. They said the move could increase poaching.

Licensed dealers will be able to bid for 12,500 pieces of hippo teeth at the tourism and natural resources ministry in the city of Dar es Salaam, wildlife authorities in the east African nation said.

Conservationists said the sale could encourage the killing of the creatures, which are classified as vulnerable on the international red list of endangered species.

There are up to 130,000 hippos in sub-Saharan Africa, according to estimates.

But the animal has become increasingly threatened by a demand for their meat, skin and teeth as well as habitat loss.

A regulated trade in hippo parts is allowed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Their teeth are carved for ornaments and sold in parts of Asia.

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 bones predominantly come from Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi, according to CITIES data.

Even though some countries still have healthy populations, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) "discourages the consumption of hippopotamus ivory and are disappointed to see auctions such as this taking place, said Colman O'Criodain an expert in wildlife trade at the organisation.The Venice Commission does not agree with Budapest's demands for the exclusive use of the Hungarian language in the educational process for the Hungarian population in Ukraine, but insists that Kyiv provide guarantees for minority languages.

"The Venice Commission does not agree with Hungary's demand to keep in Ukraine the possibility of teaching exclusively in Hungarian," Venice Commission Secretary Thomas Markert said in an interview with the Yevropeiska Pravda media outlet, which was published on Thursday, January 25.

The Venice Commission believes that the students of the region should also study the Ukrainian language.

"We do not share this position. We believe that the state can switch from a purely Hungarian-speaking system to a mixed one, where part of hours will be taught in Hungarian and part in Ukrainian. Moreover, it is even better for the students themselves if they receive education in two languages," he said.

Markert also noted that criticism from Hungary was justified as long as there were no guarantees for minority languages. He stressed the need to adopt by-laws to establish such guarantees.

"At the same time, the state language should also be taught in sufficient amount, in particular, so that a person could integrate, be competitive in the labor market - and for this purpose it is necessary to speak well in Ukrainian, and not only in Hungarian. Bilingual education in itself is an advantage," he said.

As reported, the Ukrainian law on education came into force on September 28, 2017.

Among other things, the law stipulates that the state language is a language of learning at educational institutions, but one or several subjects in two or more languages, namely, the state language, English and other European Union official languages can be taught in compliance with the educational program.

People, who belong to ethnic minorities, are guaranteed the right for learning in the native language along with the Ukrainian language in separate groups of municipal pre-school and primary school institutions.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry sent the education law for examination by the Venice Commission.

On December 8, the Ukrainian Education and Science Ministry reported that the Venice Commission had not supported Hungary's accusation of narrowing the rights of national minorities in the article on the language of instruction in Ukraine's law on education.

On December 11, the ministry said that it was grateful to the Venice Commission for its work on providing conclusions on the language of instruction article of the education law, was ready to implement its recommendations and had already developed three models for the implementation of this article in the law on general secondary education.

On December 13, Ukrainian Education and Science Minister Lilia Hrynevych said that a draft law on secondary education with explanations on the use of languages in education, in accordance with the conclusions of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission), was to be submitted for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada in the spring of 2018.

"Now, given these conclusions, we need to formulate models of education for national minorities in the law on general secondary education. That is, we will not make any changes to Article 7 [on the language of instruction] of the law on education," she told journalists.It is one of America's most enduring mysteries, troubling investigators for decades and inspiring Hollywood cinema.

Now a letter has emerged which appears to shed light on the fate of three prisoners who escaped from Alcatraz in 1962.

Authorities have never determined whether brothers John and Clarence Anglin and fellow inmate Frank Morris survived the daring jail break.

Recommended How Alcatraz escapees got stuck between the Rock and a hard place

The FBI closed its case in 1979, concluding the men were unlikely to have survived the 1.5-mile journey across San Francisco Bays frigid waters from the island prison to the mainland.

But no conclusive evidence of the prisoners deaths has ever been found, and the US Marshals Service continues to investigate their disappearance to this day.

A letter has now come to light that claims the trio of bank robbers survived their perilous escape and lived into old age.

My name is John Anglin, the handwritten missive begins. I escape from Alcatraz in June 1962... Yes we all made it that night, but barely!

San Francisco police received the letter in 2013 (KPIX 5)

Anglins cell is now a highlight for tourists, who can see the ventilation shaft he squeezed through with his fellow escapees before they floated off from Alcatraz in raft made of raincoats inflated with a concertina. They had spent six months beforehand carving holes with sharpened spoons and stolen saws to crawl into a network of pipes and plumbing so they could evade guards.

The fugitives were never seen again and the FBI said they were likely to have drowned.

However, according to the letter, Morris lived until 2005 and Clarence Anglin died in 2008.

The letter was sent to San Francisco Police Department in 2013 but was not publicly disclosed by the force. The document has come to light five years later after it was obtained by local TV station KPIX 5.

The letters writer says he spent years living in Seattle following his escape before moving to North Dakota and Southern California.

He says he is now 83 years old and in bad shape and tries to strike a bargain with police.

I have cancer, the letter reads. If you announce on TV that I will be promised to first go to jail for no more than a year and get medical attention, I will write back to let you know exactly where I am. This is no joke.

Alcatraz pictured in 2006 (AFP/Getty)

The letter was passed to an FBI laboratory to be examined for fingerprints, DNA and handwriting. But the results provided few answers.

"Handwriting samples of all three escapees, John Anglin, Clarence Anglin and Frank Morris, were compared to the anonymous letter, and the results were deemed 'inconclusive'," said a statement from the US Marshals Service.

The escapees' family are also undecided about the letter's authenticity.

"I really haven't come to a conclusion whether I believe that it's John reaching out or not," said the Anglin brothers' nephew, David Widner.

But he said he thought his uncles could still be alive, revealing that his grandmother received roses with a card signed with their names for several years after their escape.

"It's always been talked about through the family," added Mr Widner. He also criticised authorities, who never contacted his family about the letter.

"For him to say he had cancer and was dying, I feel like they should have at least reached out to the family and let them know it existed," 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 three inmates remain on the US Marshals Service watch list, along with photos of what they may look like today.

Their break-out was immortalised in the 1979 film Escape from Alcatraz, starring Clint Eastwood as Morris.

Alcatraz was shut down in 1963, a year after the famous escape.

Although authorities at the time insisted deadly currents meant no one could survive the swim from Alcatraz to the San Francisco shoreline, the route is now regularly tackled by triathletes.A billionaire philanthropist and his wife who were found dead side-by-side were both murdered, police have confirmed.

Toronto officers confirmed the deaths of Barry Sherman, 75, and Honey Sherman, 70  one of Canadas richest couples  as a double homicide.

We believe we have sufficient evidence to describe this as a double homicide and that both were targeted, detective sergeant Susan Gomes said.

The couple were found dead by an estate agent on 15 December in the pool area of their mansion in North York, Toronto.

An initial autopsy showed the couple had died from strangulation.

The couples home was up for sale at the time and police say there were no signs of forced entry.

The family said in statement shortly after the police update: The announcement by the Toronto Police Service that the tragic deaths of their parents are being investigated as a double homicide was anticipated by the Sherman family.

This conclusion was expressed by the family from the outset and is consistent with the findings of the independent autopsy and investigation.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

The family continues to support the Toronto Police Service in their efforts to seek justice for their parents and pursue those responsible for these unspeakable crimes.

Mr Sherman founded the company Apotex Inc in 1974, which is now the largest Canadian-owned pharmaceutical company.The lawyer for Mexican drug kingpin Joaquin El Chapo Guzman says jurors presiding over his federal trial in New York do not need special protection, his defence lawyer has said.

He was extradited to the United States from Mexico last year and faces federal charges for his alleged role running a drug empire responsible for deaths and trafficking. Mr Guzman has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Prosecutors in the case have requested that Brooklyn Federal Court Justice Brian Cogan  who is overseeing the case  impanel an anonymous jury with armed guards as protection, and to house those individuals in a secure location, in order to keep them safe. The trial is expected to last for months later this year.

In requesting the special protections, the prosecution had cited Mr Guzmans alleged history of violence, and said that he is believed to have tried killing witnesses in the past.

The defence argued that special protections would only deny Mr Guzman the presumption of innocence that the US Constitution promises.

Giving jurors special protections sends the message that he or she needs to be protected from Mr Guzman. From there, members of the jury could infer that Mr Guzman is both dangerous and guilty, Eduardo Balarez, Mr Guzmans defence attorney, wrote in a court filing on the matter.

 Mexican judge who heard El Chapo's appeal killed while out jogging

Mr Balarez continued to argue that the governments argument of a threat is based on untested and suspect statements from cooperators seeking to reduce their own sentences. He also suggested that the juror names could be withheld from Mr Guzman, and that the media could be barred from reporting on their identities.

The judge is still considering the best course of action going forward.

Mr Guzman has been accused of a laundry list of crimes, including international cocaine trafficking.

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 indictment filed against Mr Guzman this month say that Mr Guzman directed a large scale narcotics transportation network involving the use of land, air, and sea transportation assets, shipping multi-ton quantities of cocaine from South America, through Central America and Mexico, and finally to the United States.:

The profits from that drug smuggling operation were then laundered back to Mexico, the indictment claims.

Mr Guzman, prosecutors say, hired hit men who carried out hundreds of acts of violence, including murders, assaults, kidnappings, and acts of torture.

The Mexican government has approved of the charges being filed against Mr Guzman.

The drug kingpin, aside from the notorious crimes allegedly carried out by him and in his name, is well known for his previous ability to elude capture and, then, for his escape from prison through a tunnel that was built into his bathroom in Mexico.

American authorities are confident that Mr Guzman wont be able to escape their prisons, though.

Hes about to face American justice. ... And I assure you, no tunnel will be built leading to his bathroom, Angel Melendez, the special agent in charge of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement investigations in New York city, told NPR when legal proceedings first began this month.Two former lawyers of rap record producer and music executive Marion Suge Knight have been arrested for acting as accessories after the fact as part of the music moguls ongoing murder trial.

Matthew Fletcher and Thaddeus Culpepper were allegedly attempting to bribe eyewitnesses to help Mr Knight's case.

Both deny the allegations and are being held on $1m bail, according to Los Angeles County police.

Recommended Suge Knight fuels popular conspiracy theory about Tupac Shakur

The arrests stem from an August 2017 court filing by prosecutors in Mr Knights case that the former impresario and his attorneys had discussed bribing witnesses in the case.

Mr Knight is standing trial on charges that he drove his vehicle into Terry Carter and Cle "Bone" Sloan in parking lot in the Compton neighbourhood of Los Angeles in January 2015.

The incident allegedly took place after the men got into an argument while filming a commercial for the film Straight Outta Compton.

Mr Carter died of his injuries.

 Suge Knight charged with murder and attempted murder - London Live

There is security camera footage from the burger stand where the incident took place which shows Mr Knight allegedly driving his car into men and fleeing the scene.

He later turned himself in to the police but has claimed he was acting in self-defence and pleaded not guilty. Mr Knights lawyers have based their case on claiming Mr Carter and Mr Sloan were in possession of guns at the time.

As the LA Times reported: In a series of recorded phone calls beginning in early 2015, prosecutors say, Knight, Fletcher and others discussed paying witnesses to say they saw either the victims or others at the burger stand in possession of a gun.

Normally the calls would have been protected by attorney-client privilege but the judge had allowed them in case they heard a third party on the calls, which would break the privilege rule.

Mr Knight has also been charged with robbery and threatening F Gary Gray, the films director. However, those are separate cases.

Mr Fletcher is currently on a two-year probation by the State Bar of California for unethical practices as well.If you havent been on the internet lately, youd be forgiven for thinking the texts was the name of some new millennial boy band.

If youve been anywhere near a computer or iPhone, however, you likely know that the texts refers to hundreds of recently released messages exchanged by two FBI agents working on the Special Counsel investigation into Donald Trumps possible ties to Russia.

The messages set off a firestorm on the right, with conservatives claiming they contain evidence of everything from biased FBI agents to the existence of a secret society within the agency. But whats really contained in these texts, and what do they mean? Keep reading for everything you need to know.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

What are the texts?

The texts is shorthand for the text messages exchanged by FBI agent Peter Strzok and FBI lawyer Lisa Page over the last two years. The two briefly worked on special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia. They also reportedly engaged in an extramarital affair.

A number of the messages exchanged before the election contain anti-Trump, pro-Clinton sentiments  including several where Mr Strzok calls the President an idiot. Many of the texts were exchanged while Mr Strzok was working on an investigation into Hillary Clintons private email server.

Mr Strzok was removed from the Mueller investigation in June of last year, after the messages were discovered. Ms Page left several weeks earlier for unrelated reasons, according to the Justice Department.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after briefing members of the US Senate (REUTERS/Joshua Roberts)

How did they come to light?

Michael Horowitz, the Justice Department Inspector General, discovered the texts during a review of the Clinton email investigation last year. The Justice Department handed over almost 400 of the messages to Congress that December.

Earlier this month, however, the Justice Department said that another batch of texts  those exchanged between 14 December, 2016, and 17 May, 2017  had been lost due to a technical glitch. The five-month period of time included the day former national security adviser Michael Flynn was fired, and ended the day the special counsel was appointed.

After a flurry of condemnation from conservatives, Mr Horowitz announced this week that his office had recovered the texts via forensic tools. The Inspector General said in a letter to Congressional leaders that he would provide copies of the messages to the Justice Department, and would not object if the Department turned them over to Congress.

 Donald Trump calls Robert Mueller story 'fake news' and compliments 'tremendous crowd' in Davos

What are the conspiracy theories around them?

Conservatives leapt on the first batch of texts  in which Mr Strzok called Mr Trump and idiot and Ms Page called him a loathsome human  as evidence of anti-Trump bias in the FBI and Mr Muellers team.

But when the Justice Department announced it had lost five months worth of the pairs text messages, the allegations of bias turned to cries of coverup.

Are we really supposed to believe that the FBI simply lost text messages from that important time frame? This is like Watergate but far worse, Fox News host Sean Hannity told his viewers. This reeks of law-breaking, it reeks of conspiracy, and it reeks of obstruction of justice.

Even Mr Trump weighed in, calling the missing texts "one of the biggest stories in a long time.

"The FBI now says it is missing five months worth of lovers Strzok-Page texts," he tweeted, "perhaps 50,000, and all in prime time. Wow!"

Senator Ron Johnson, the chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, even suggested that one of the texts alluded the the existence of a secret society inside the FBI. Mr Johnson refused to publicly release the full message, but claimed a whistleblower had corroborated his theory.

Senator Ron Johnson raised the possibility of a secret society inside the FBI (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Do any of these theories have legs?

The secret society theory appears to be crumbling as fast as it materialised. Several news outlets gained access to the full text message this week, revealing that the comment was likely made in jest.

"Are you even going to give out your calendars? Ms Page wrote to Mr Strzok the day after Mr Trump was elected. Seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society.

After the full text was published, Mr Johnson admitted that it was a real possibility that the secret society reference was a joke.

The Justice Department, meanwhile, has attempted to dispel theories of an agency-endorsed cover-up. The agency said the lost messages  the ones re-discovered by Mr Horowitz went missing while the FBI was upgrading its Samsung 7 phones.

In a letter to House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, the agency said that the phones, "did not capture or store text messages due to misconfiguration issues related to rollouts, provisioning, and software upgrades that conflicted with the FBI's collection capabilities.

 Donald Trump claims he would be interviewed 'under oath' by Robert Mueller

Why is the right so focused on these messages?

Conservatives claim that these texts show anti-Trump bias  and even possible anti-Trump conspiracies  within the very offices tasked with investigating him and his election rival.

Right-wing pundits have long claimed that the FBI investigation into Ms Clintons email server was flawed. (Mr Trump even cited James Comeys handling of the investigation when he fired his former FBI director last year.) The text messages provide the clearest evidence to date of some kind of bias within the FBI  even if it was just private messages between two employees.

The messages also come as Mr Muellers investigation appears to be entering the home stretch. The special counsel has spoken to members of Mr Trumps White House  and even his family  and is now reportedly seeking to interview the President himself.

According to Democrats, the outcry over the text messages is just an attempt to undermine Mr Muellers team, and to distract from whatever conclusion he puts forward.

Ever since special counsel Mueller was appointed, Republicans and the right-wing media have been desperate to distract the nation from his investigation, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Thursday. ...That political smear campaign has now bled into a spiralling and delusional attack on the FBI itself.US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has responded to rumours that her swift ascension into President Donald Trumps inner circle was a pleasant perk of an affair with the former business mogul.

Ms Haley, speaking to Politicos podcast Women Rule, said the rumours are highly offensive and disgusting.

Theyre not true, she said, and are simply the predictable result of a strong woman earning seats of power.

 Nikki Haley: Iranians have become "so fed up with their oppressive government"

It is absolutely not true, Ms Haley said. I have literally been on Air Force One once and there were several people in the room when I was there.

The rumours began after journalist Michael Wolff told television comedian Bill Maher that he was absolutely sure that Mr Trump was having an affair. Mr Wolff wrote the recently released book Fire and Fury: A year inside the Trump White House, which details a turbulent first year in Mr Trumps presidency.

That book has also been criticised for sloppy copy editing, and glaring factual inaccuracies.

Mr Wolff, speaking to Mr Maher, said that he was absolutely sure that the President is having an affair, but wasnt confident enough to include the allegation in his book.

Now that Ive told you, when you hit that paragraph, youre gonna say, Bingo, he said.

That comment sparked a furious search by people online to try and identify the sentence he referenced.

Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

They landed on this line from Mr Wolffs book: The president had been spending a notable amount of private time with Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a national political future.

He says that Ive been talking a lot with the president in the Oval about my political future. Ive never talked once to the president about my future and I am never alone with him, Ms Haley said on the podcast.

So, the idea that these things come out, thats a problem, Ms Haley continued. But it goes to a bigger issue that we need to always be conscious of: At every point in my life, Ive noticed that if you speak your mind and youre strong about it and you say what you believe, there is a small percentage of people that resent that and the way they deal with it is to try and throw arrows, lies or not.

Ms Haley was the governor of South Carolina during the 2016 campaign, and was reluctant to throw her support behind Mr Trumps campaign. At one point, Ms Haley said that she was not a fan of Mr Trump, prompting the then-candidate to claim that her constituents were embarrassed by her.

The former governor was already seen as a rising star in the Republican Party when she later joined the Trump administration, and had been picked by the party to deliver the yearly rebuke to President Barack Obama in 2016.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the rumours.Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is now joining Democrats in their calls for the release of a transcript of the Senate Judiciary Committees closed-door interview with Donald Trump Jr.

Mr Grassley, the chairman of the committee, is also moving to release all of the panels interviews relating to the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between a Russian lawyer and the Presidents eldest son.

Let the public have access to it, Mr Grassley said of the transcripts during a committee hearing, expressing that he believed the panels probe into the Trump Tower meeting was complete.

He said the release of the documents can hopefully be done through agreement with the Ranking Member, but if not, possibly through a committee vote.

Id like to work on getting that done as soon as possible, Mr Grassley added.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is one of multiple congressional panels investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with the Kremlin. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is also heading a probe into the matter.

President Donald Trump has insisted there was no collusion.

Revelations about the Trump Tower meeting caused quite a stir in Washington last year. During the presidential campaign, Mr Trumps eldest son met with the Kremlin-connected lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya after being promised dirt on his fathers opponent Hillary Clinton.

The Presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort also attended the meeting.

Senator Dianne Feinstein, the Senate Judiciary Committees top Democrat, expressed delight in response to Mr Grassleys comments.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

Im very grateful for your decision to proceed, she said after his statement at the committee hearing. I think thats very helpful.

Ms Feinstein angered Mr Grassley this month by releasing the transcript of the panels interview with Glenn Simpson, a co-founder of Fusion GPS  the private research firm behind the infamous dossier alleging Mr Trumps ties to Russia.

Mr Grassley suggested on Thursday that Ms Feinsteins action spooked other potential witnesses.

As a result, it looks like our chances of getting a voluntary interview with Mr Kushner have been shot, Mr Grassley said.

A person familiar with the exchange told Reuters that Mr Kushners legal team did not decline an appearance with Senate Judiciary. Instead, the team asked for guidance on when committee members are allowed to disclose information.

Asked why the committee wouldnt subpoena Mr Kushner, Mr Grassley responded that the Presidents son-in-law has already spoken to a separate committee, the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to CNN.Donald Trump reportedly sought to fire special counsel Robert Mueller but relented when the White Houses top attorney threatened to resign.

According to The New York Times, the President ordered Mr Muellers firing in June, saying he could not impartially oversee an investigation into whether the Russian government colluded with Mr Trumps presidential campaign.

Mr Mueller was appointed special counsel and tasked to lead the probe in May.

White House counsel Donald McGahn reportedly pushed back against the order, refusing to have the Department of Justice dismiss Mr Mueller and threatening to quit rather than carry it out, the paper said.

The White House did not respond to The Independents request for comment.

For months, Mr Trump has rejected Mr Muellers probe as a baseless witch hunt aimed at discrediting his presidency. The revelation that he sought to dismiss Mr Mueller bolsters Democrats warnings that the President is willing to disregard limits on executive power by undermining an investigation of his own circle. Critics have warned that jettisoning Mr Mueller could lead to a constitutional crisis.

It was another high-profile dismissal - Mr Trumps decision to nix FBI director James Comey - that led to Mr Muellers appointment. That decision, too, drew accusations of dangerous presidential overreach.

The investigation led by Mr Mueller has already led to indictments against multiple Trump aides.

Former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn have pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI while former campaign chair Paul Manafort has pleaded not guilty to money laundering charges.

The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images

In recent weeks the investigation has drawn closer to Mr Trump himself, with Mr Mueller said to be exploring the departures from the administration of Mr Comey and Mr Flynn. The President said this week he was looking forward speak with Mr Mueller.

According to a document released by Mr Trumps attorney John Dowd, more than 20 White House staffers have spoken to Mr Muellers team.America's military must prepare for a physical, violent ground war with North Korea, according to the head of the US Marine Corps.

General Robert Neller said everybody is going to have to be mentally prepared for the possibility of conflict with the secretive communist state, although he made clear he was not predicting a war.

Im not trying to glorify this. I believe however it turns out it will be a very, very kinetic, physical, violent fight over some really, really tough ground and everybody is going to have to be mentally prepared, he said.

The Marine Corps commandant was speaking at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, US broadcaster CNN reported.

His comments come amid heightened tensions between North Korea and the US.

Last year the pariah state conducted a series of long-range intercontinental missile tests, some of which flew over the Japanese mainland.

In September it claimed that it had successfully tested a nuclear weapon that could be loaded on to a long-range missile.

Hours after seismologists had detected an earth tremors, it said its sixth nuclear test had been a "perfect success". Experts later disputed this claim.

US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have also exchanged a series insults.

After the Mr Kim boasted about his nuclear button, Mr Trump responded by claiming his was "a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Show all 13 1 /13 North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Pyongyang residents react after the news of the successful launch of the new intercontinental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Images North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un signing an order to test-fire the newly developed inter-continental ballistic missile KRT via AP Video North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch A news broadcast displays Kim Jong Un's signed document AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch People cheer as they watch the news broadcast announcing Kim Jong Un's order to test-fire the new inter-continental ballistic missile AFP/Getty Images North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Residents react after the document signing AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Pyongyang residents celebrate Kim Jong Un's announcement AFP/Getty North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Cheering Pyongyang residents react AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch To counter North Korea's missile test, South Korea fired missiles into the East Sea The Defence Ministry/Yonhap via REUTERS North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The Hyunmu-2 missiles firing during the drill South Korean Defense Ministry vi North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The exercise was carried out in an attempt to counter Kim Jong Un's order South Korea Defense Ministry via AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch The South Korean army continue to carry out military exercises AP North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch Where K-9 self-propelled howitzers were taking part in a drill Rex Features North Korea announces intercontinental missile launch US soldiers are also present in the border city of Paju AFP/Getty Images

General Neller did not mention his leader's comments but he said that any war with North Korea would be a different sort of fight that would not just involve a bunch of things flying around.

His assessment comes just a month after he warned 300 marines stationed in Norway to prepare for a bigass fight.

I hope Im wrong, but theres a war coming, he told the Marine rotational force at the Norwegian Home Guard base near Trondheim in December.

Youre in a fight here, an informational fight, a political fight, by your presence, he said.The siege had endured for 51 days.

For 51 days, for hour after hour, the FBI negotiators had sought agreement with a sect leader who veered between cracking jokes and threatening to start World War Three, between lucid civility and incoherent rambling about the scriptures. About the Book of Revelation in particular.

To himself and to his followers in the Branch Davidians sect, David Koresh, 33, was the almighty Lamb of God, commanding men to surrender their wives to him, fathering babies with children as young as 12, preparing them all for the imminent apocalypse.

Confronted by snipers and combat vehicles, facing an armed siege that had come to resemble the final cataclysmic battle with the government that their leader had prophesised, the Davidians refused to desert either Koresh or their squalid compound near Waco, Texas.

Instead they held children up to the windows and unfurled a sign proclaiming: Flames Await.

And so, wittingly or unwittingly, the Davidians foretold the denouement.

On the morning of Monday 19 April 1993, with the FBI team still seemingly divided about whether force or negotiation was the answer, the agents of law enforcement began their assault, to the accompaniment of military-grade tear gas being fired from Army-issue combat vehicles.

Only nine sect members emerged alive.

Somehow, a fire was started. Fanned by a 30mph wind, the flames destroyed the Davidians compound, the Biblically-named Mount Carmel Centre.

That day saw the deaths of 76 Davidians, including Koresh, 24 followers who were British citizens, and more than 20 children.

Women and children, huddling under wet blankets for protection from the blaze, were killed by falling debris. Many others were killed by smoke inhalation.

Some, though, were found shot in the head at close range. Several young children were shot and one toddler died from a stab wound to the chest.

It seemed that as the flames and federal agents approached, some Davidians followed their leader Koreshs order to commit suicide, and took the children with them.

That, at least, is one account of the siege of Waco.

Almost every aspect of it could be, and indeed has been, challenged.

And now a new American miniseries, its first episode broadcast on Wednesday, is again stirring the embers of Waco.

If the TV drama Waco is attracting enormous attention, thats hardly surprising.

The Waco siege was never just about a bizarre sect, a failed negotiation and a disastrous raid.

In some ways, it was a fatal collision of things that have helped make, and occasionally threaten to break, America.

Waco combined God and guns  the right to religious freedom and the right to bear arms  with the fear that federal government would remove those rights, and federal governments fear of its more extreme citizens.

It saw a government acting partly out of fear of domestic terrorism embark on a siege that would come to support narratives later exploited by domestic terrorists.

Because in some quarters, Koresh and the Davidians were martyrised as a community of God-fearing if unconventional Christians whose freedoms should have been guaranteed by the US Constitution, but who were instead killed by an ever more controlling government.

David Koresh (wikimedia)

And two years to the day after the end of the Waco siege, such views were taken to perverse extremes. On 19 April 1995 Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh claimed to be avenging the Davidians when he killed 168 people in his attack on the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building.

Small wonder, then, that from how it started to how it finished and beyond to its aftermath, everything about Waco is contested.

The Paramount Network miniseries seems to be leaning towards a view that Koresh and his followers were without violent intent, and misunderstood.

And thats not totally implausible. The Davidians were well known locally, and maintained friendly relations with outsiders, earning some of their income from a scrupulously legal retail gun business called the Mag Bag.

According to this version, the 80 armed Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) operatives were the ones acting excessively  and firing first  when they embarked on the botched raid of 28 February 1993 that left four agents and five Davidians dead, and started the siege.

According to FBI evidence later presented in court, however, the fears informing the original ATF search warrant  that semi-automatic guns were being illegally modified to fire in fully automatic mode  were justified. The FBIs experts testified that 46 illegally modified assault rifles were among the hundreds of weapons found at the Davidians compound.

And looming behind the official worries about modified weapons was an even greater fear: that the Branch Davidians werent just a sect, but an abusive doomsday cult positively itching for the Apocalypse.

The day before the ATF raid, some of these fears were made public by an explosive report in the Waco Tribune-Herald.

Headlined The Sinful Messiah, it claimed that Koresh rules Mount Carmel by virtue of the belief that he alone can open the Seven Seals in the Book of Revelation, setting loose catastrophic events that will end mankind and propel [him] and his followers into heaven.

It was said that Koresh had claimed the divine right to take every mans wife and established a harem of at least 15 women, producing children who were supposedly destined to rule the Earth with him after he and his male followers slay the unbelievers.

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. 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Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. 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. 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Initially, Koresh might not have seemed like charismatic leader material. Born Vernon Howell, to a 15-year-old mother and a 20-year-old father she never married, he had been a lonely child, who dropped out of high school aged 17 and then drifted in the hope of becoming a rock star, marrying a 14-year-old in his early twenties.

But from an early age Koresh had found solace in the Bible, apparently memorising the New Testament by the time he was 12. He was baptised as a Seventh Day Adventist aged 20, but expelled from the church two years later for being a bad influence on the young.

Shortly afterwards, in 1981, Koresh joined the Branch Davidians, and found a far more receptive audience.

Here, an October 1993 Department of Justice (DOJ) report noted, Koresh could find people of such low self-esteem that he could elevate himself to near God-like status.

The US government report seemed to confirm many of the Waco Tribune-Herald claims.

Koresh, it said, preached that as the Lamb of God only his seed was pure, meaning that only he could have sex with the over-puberty aged girls and women in the compound, and that none of the men could have sex.

Koresh even convinced [his second-in-command Steve] Schneider to give up his wife, Judy. Koresh would humiliate Steve Schneider by talking about his sexual experiences with Judy in front of all the Davidians at their Bible study sessions.

Nor did the official report flinch from allegations of Koreshs sexual abuse of girls.

Using his original surname Howell, it cited the testimony of former compound resident Jeannine Bunds that Howell had fathered at least 15 children with various women and young girls at the compound. Some of the girls who had babies fathered by Howell were as young as 12 years old. She [Bunds] had personally delivered seven of these children.

And if Koresh got his followers to accept this kind of abuse, surely he could also convince them the Apocalypse was nigh, that it would come with the US government killing him, before he and the exalted who died alongside him rose again?

They believed Koresh was the Lamb through whom God communicated to them, said the DOJ report. They also believed the end of the world was near, that the world would end in a cataclysmic confrontation between themselves and the government, and that they would thereafter be resurrected.

The February 28 ATF raid, the report added, only reinforced the truth of Koreshs prophetic pronouncements in the minds of his followers.

Koresh had  planned for the predicted apocalyptic showdown by massively arming himself and his followers beginning in early 1992 and continuing through early 1993.

But come 19 April 1993, the final day of the Waco drama, was Koresh still determined to go through with it?

Was he, still, as one FBI-commissioned analyst put it, planning to bring the siege to a magnificent end that would take the lives of all of his followers and as many of the authorities as possible.

The letter that Koresh had sent to the FBI on 9 April, telling them the heavens are calling you to judgement, was heavily analysed from the moment it was received, but the experts were unable to agree on whether Koresh was determined to have a suicidal, apocalyptic last battle.

And so the subsequent media reports have tended to disagree. Some have stressed the military-style training at the camp, the firearms drills, the sewing of specially designed vests with pockets for extra ammunition clips, the school bus that was buried to serve as a bunker.

Others have suggested that Koresh was planning to surrender after writing down his interpretation of the Seven Seals, only to be interrupted by the FBIs attempt to storm the compound.

The DOJ, though, said Koresh had repeatedly lied about leaving the compound. On 2 March he said he would come out peacefully immediately a 58-minute recording he had made was broadcast over the radio. After the recording was transmitted, Koresh told the FBI negotiators that God had ordered him to wait.

And one Davidian who was allowed out of the compound mid-siege told the ATF that Koresh hadnt been planning to leave peacefully on 2 March. The sect members testimony, the DOJ report stated, was that: Koresh planned to exit the compound with [follower] Greg Summers, who would have an explosive device strapped around his waist so that they would blow themselves up in front of the FBI.

In addition, the people inside the compound planned to blow themselves up so that we would all go to heaven that day.

Such testimony may also seem to prove that the Davidians were indeed intent on mass suicide. Again, however, the evidence does not offer a clear picture.

Koresh and his followers inside the compound told the FBI negotiators that they did not intend to kill themselves, since this would be against the leaders teachings.

That, though, did not rule out some sort of suicide by cop.

As the siege was ongoing, former sect members told the ATF that Koreshs teaching was that law enforcement officers had to be the ones who killed him. His prophesy wouldnt be fulfilled if he simply took his own life.

Adding to the confusion is the fact that some evidence points to more active plans for suicide.

The DOJ said Kiri Jewell, a teenager who left the compound shortly before the siege, told the FBI that the Davidians had discussed mass suicide by shooting or by cyanide.

The investigations that followed 19 April also appear to have been inconclusive.

The FBI has always maintained that none of its agents fired their weapons, despite some being fired on. But if that is the case, it still doesnt necessarily mean that the gunshot wounds on some Davidian bodies are evidence of mass suicide.

When a Frontline documentary team investigated, they said they were told by coroners office and FBI sources that the positions of most of the bodies found with gunshot wounds on 19 April were inconsistent with mass suicide.

Some have suggested the shootings were mercy killings, the Davidians preferring a quick death from a bullet over a lingering one from flames and smoke inhalation.

But there is an even grimmer possibility. As one DOJ report put it: It is possible that some people were shot [by their fellow sect members] to prevent their escape from the compound.

It is not certain whether a substantial number of the persons who died in the compound on 19 April remained inside voluntarily, were being held in the compound against their will or were shot in order to prevent their escape from the fire.

It is also possible that those who werent shot actually welcomed the fire, choosing to die alongside their leader as prophesied.

The fire at Branch Davidian headquarters in Waco, Texas (Reuters)

Koresh, though, was not one of those killed by the flames. He was found with a bullet wound to the forehead. And if it wasnt the FBI that did the shooting, who fired the bullet?

One theory has it that his loyal lieutenant Schneider, finally realising that the man who had so humiliatingly taken his wife was a fraud, shot Koresh and then turned the gun on himself  a kind of justice, perhaps, albeit not necessarily of the divine sort.

The Waco siege lived on, in lawsuits. Survivors and relatives of the Davidians sued the government and claimed the fire in which so many died was caused by one of the combat vehicles knocking over a lantern.

Arson investigators, however, said that the Davidians themselves started the blaze, setting the compound alight in at least two different locations.

Listening devices, smuggled in by the FBI inside milk cartons offered to the Davidians, also picked up sect members saying things like start the fire and spread the fuel.

So the October 1993 Department of Justice report was able to come to a conclusion that was reassuring, for officialdom: Probably the most important observation that can be made about the Waco standoff is that after all is said and done, after all the analysis, investigations, hearings, and so forth, nothing would have changed the outcome because the people who remained inside had no intention of leaving.

As the new miniseries seems to suggest, many remain unconvinced.

Indeed in some accounts, it is not Koresh, but the federal government  a federal government then led by President Bill Clinton  that remains the villain.

Some choose to minimise or dispute the child sex abuse allegations: a disgruntled parent involved in a custody case, and we all know how that goes.

In these accounts the Branch Davidians become a multi-racial community, made up of Christians who played music, worked on their cars, conducted a legal arms business, and loved their children.

Federal government should have left these people alone, the theory goes. Instead, in the form of the ATF, it sought to abuse their civil and religious rights, and in so doing started a calamitous siege.

In the Nineties such arguments bolstered a freedom-loving, gun-bearing, sometimes survivalist suspicion of government, of Washington, and of politicians like Clinton.

Today, perhaps you could be forgiven for wondering what small part Waco might have played in shaping the destiny of America.

In the reactions to what happened 25 years ago, is it possible to glimpse a flicker of sentiments that would help pave the way for another controversial leader  a man who also encouraged distrust of traditional government, and who promised to drain the swamp?The Court of Appeal of Kyiv has dismissed a request by Leader of the Rukh of New Forces Party, ex-president of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and his lawyers to remove prosecutor Oleksandr Hovoruschak from the consideration of the appeal of the Prosecutor General's Office against Pechersky District Court's ruling to refuse home arrest for Saakashvili.

The corresponding decision was announced by the panel of judges at a sitting on Friday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported.

As reported, as earlier reported in July 2017, Poroshenko stripped Saakashvili, who was abroad at that time, of his Ukrainian citizenship.

Head of Ukraine's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) Yuriy Lutsenko said Saakashvili was suspected of receiving $500,000 from disgraced Ukrainian businessman Serhiy Kurchenko, a crony of Ukraine's fugitive president Viktor Yanukovych. The PGO released snippets of audio recordings with voices purported to belong to Kurchenko and Saakashvili to back up the claims. Saakashvili supporter David Sakvarelidze said that the published recordings have been doctored and that he is planning to submit them for an expert evaluation abroad.

As reported, on December 5, Saakashvili was detained, but his supporters blocked the police van and "freed" him. The politician was placed on the wanted list. Saakashvili was detained again on December 8. On December 11, the court refused to grant the motion submitted by the prosecutor's office to choose a measure of round-the-clock house arrest to Saakashvili.China has outlined its ambitions to extend President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road Initiative to the Arctic by developing shipping lanes opened up by global warming.

Releasing its first official Arctic policy white paper, China said it would encourage enterprises to build infrastructure and conduct commercial trial voyages, paving the way for Arctic shipping routes that would form a Polar Silk Road.

China hopes to work with all parties to build a 'Polar Silk Road' through developing the Arctic shipping routes, the paper, issued by the State Council Information Office, said.

China, despite being a non-Arctic state, is increasingly active in the polar region and became an observer member of the Arctic Council in 2013.

Among its increasing interests in the region is its major stake in Russia's Yamal liquefied natural gas (LNG) project, which is expected to supply China with four million tonnes of LNG a year, according to the state-run China Daily.

Shipping through the Northern Sea Route would shave almost 20 days off the regular time using the traditional route through the Suez Canal, the newspaper reported last month. COSCO Shipping has also previously sailed vessels through the Arctic's northeast passage.

China's increasing prominence in the region has prompted concerns from Arctic states over its long-term strategic objectives, including possible military deployment.

Some people may have misgivings over our participation in the development of the Arctic, worried we may have other intentions, or that we may plunder resources or damage the environment, Vice-Foreign Minister Kong Xuanyou said at a briefing.

I believe these kinds of concerns are absolutely unnecessary.

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 white paper said China also eyes development of oil, gas, mineral resources and other non-fossil energies, fishing and tourism in the region. It said it would do so jointly with Arctic States, while respecting traditions and cultures of the Arctic residents including the indigenous peoples and conserving natural environment.

China's Belt and Road initiative aims to connect China to Europe, the Middle East and beyond via massive infrastructure projects across dozens of countries, reflecting Xi's desire for China to take on a more prominent global leadership role.

ReutersVoters are going to the polls in the Czech republic to decide their next president, in a knife-edge contest between a pro-Western liberal challenger and populist incumbent Milos Zeman.

Jiri Drahos, an eminent chemist who is running as an independent on a centrist political platform, is challenging Mr Zeman who has been in office since 2013, following a spell as the countrys prime minister at the turn of the millennium.

Mr Zeman, formerly a social democrat, has taken an increasingly populist stance in recent years, flirting with the far-right as well as anti-Islam and anti-immigration narratives.

The candidates politics has drifted so far from its origins that his former party, the Czech Social Democrats, have refused to endorse him, and its youth wing has gone as far as to endorse his opponent Mr Drahos.

Mr Drahos has complained of low blows from Mr Zeman in the contest and insinuated that he has received support from Russia  a country the incumbent president has been close to in world affairs. The former head of the countrys academy of sciences claims to have been smeared as a paedophile and a pro-immigrant elitist.

The issue of immigration and the refugee crisis has played a significant role in the campaign so far, with the candidates stances on refugees facing interrogation. Both oppose migrant quotas from the EU, but Mr Zeman has taken a more extreme position, ruling out Czechia taking any refugees at all. Billboards have also been erected around the country by a group supportive of Mr Zeman with the phrase Stop immigrants and Drahos! This country is ours.

Polling stations are open on both Friday and Saturday, with surveys suggesting the result is on a knife-edge. Match-up polling between the two candidates going into the contest gave Mr Drahos a marginal lead though some surveys have seen Mr Zeman close the gap and even pull narrowly ahead. The two candidates are so close that even the smallest error in polling could see the result reversed, however.

Mr Zeman topped the first round with 38.5 per cent of the vote, while Mr Drahos came second with 26.6 per cent. Now in the second round, the top two candidates go head to head and are competing for the votes that originally went to the other, now eliminated candidates.

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

Though the Czech presidency is an ostensibly ceremonial role with little day-to-day power, the victor could play an influential role in resolving an ongoing political scandal affecting Andrej Babis, the countrys prime minister and head of government.

Mr Babis lost a no confidence vote in the Czech parliament last year, around a month after taking office, and the new president will set the shape of negotiations to form a new government.George Soros used his speech at Davos to launch a searing attack on Donald Trump and argue the President has set the US on course for nuclear war.

The billionaire hedge fund manager, who is a leading Democratic donor, argued the Trump administration constituted a grave danger to the world and the survival of our whole civilisation was at risk.

Mr Soros, who ranks 20th on Forbes magazines list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, said he nonetheless remained optimistic that this was a fleeting situation which would resolve itself in 2020 - if not before.

I consider the Trump administration a danger to the world but I regard it as a purely temporary phenomenon that will disappear in 2020 or even sooner, he said during his keynote speech at the World Economic Forums annual meeting in Switzerland.

The 87-year-old said relations between the US and North Korea had worsened with Mr Trump in the White House.

Mr Soros said: The situation has deteriorated. Not only the survival of open society, but the survival of our entire civilization is at stake. Both [Kim Jong-un and Mr Trump] seem willing to risk a nuclear war in order to keep themselves in power.

He added: The United States is set on a course towards nuclear war by refusing to accept that North Korea has become a nuclear power. This creates a strong incentive for North Korea to develop its nuclear capacity with all possible speed, which in turn may induce the United States to use its nuclear superiority pre-emptively; in effect to start a nuclear war in order to prevent nuclear war.

Soros, who founded international pro-democracy organisation The Open Society Foundation, argued the only sensible strategy was to come to terms with the fact North Korea is a nuclear power.

Soros called for the use of carrots and sticks toward North Korea  via cooperation with China - which could lead to a freeze-for-freeze agreement. This would see the US and South Korea suspend military exercises in return for North Korea demonstrably suspending nuclear weapon development.

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

Soros said the US president was keen to create a mafia state that represses individual rights but is not able to due to the US constitution, institutions, and a vibrant civil society.

Soros, who made substantial donations to Hillary Clintons unsuccessful bid to be president, said he was keen to help rebuild a healthy functioning two-party system in the US but argued this was dependent on the Democrats gaining a landslide in 2018.

This will require not only a landslide in 2018 but also a Democratic Party that will aim at non-partisan redistricting, the appointment of well-qualified judges, a properly conducted census and other measures that a functioning two-party system requires, Soros said.

He said he had high hopes for an avalanche Democrat win in 2018 due to the anger Mr Trump has provoked in his opponents.

I give President Trump credit for motivating his core supporters brilliantly, he said. But for every core supporter, he has created a greater number of core opponents who are equally strongly motivated. Thats why I expect a Democratic landslide in 2018.

Mr Soros also turned his attentions to Google and Facebook and argued they were in need of regulation. Branding the companies a menace, he warned against the rise of ever more powerful monopolies.

The power to shape peoples attention is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few companies, he said. It takes a real effort to assert and defend what John Stuart Mill called the freedom of mind. There is a possibility that once lost, people who grow up in the digital age will have difficulty in regaining it.

He added: People without the freedom of mind can be easily manipulated. This danger does not loom only in the future; it already played an important role in the 2016 US presidential elections.

Despite being obviously concerned about the direction the world is heading in, Mr Soros ended his speech on a positive note and said he saw hope in the endeavours of citizens.

He heaped prose on those who risk their lives to fight back against would-be dictators in Kenya, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who he claimed had perpetrated electoral fraud on an unprecedented scale.

Our goal is to empower local people to deal with their own problems, assist the disadvantaged and reduce human suffering to the greatest extent possible," he said while addressing the work carried out by his foundations. "This will leave us plenty to do well beyond my lifetime.

Mr Soros made headlines in October for giving 13.7bn ($18bn) to Open Society Foundations in one of the biggest transfers of wealth ever made by a private donor to a single institution. He has donated the majority of his estimated $24.6bn fortune to the philanthropic network.

Mr Soros, who was born in Hungary to a non-observant Jewish company, survived Nazi-Occupied Hungary and emigrated to England in 1947. He rose to fame by betting against the pound in 1992 and used Quantum Fund to bet successfully that sterling was over-valued against the Deutsche Mark, forcing then Prime Minister John Major to pull the pound out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism.The Netherlands and Belgium are launching the worlds first zero-emissions, autonomous container barges dubbed the Tesla of the canals.

Each fully-electric boat will transport 24 containers weighing up to 425 tonnes from ports in Amsterdam, Antwerp and Rotterdam.

The five barges, which are launched this summer, are set to vastly reduce the use of diesel-powered lorries transporting freight, with 23,000 expected to be taken off the roads as a result.

The vessels, made by Dutch manufacturer Port Liner, will be powered by 20ft batteries that provide 15 hours of continuous power.

Ton van Meegen, Port Liner chief executive, told logistics website The Loadstar: The containers are charged onshore by carbon-free energy provider Eneco, which sources solar power, windmills and renewables.

The barges measure 52 metres in length and 6.7m wide, with an extra 8 per cent of space compared to traditional barges due to its lack of an engine room.

 Germany unveils zero-emissions train

Although they will be initially manned, the barges are expected to pilot themselves once new infrastructure is built to accommodate them.

Port Liner is planning to introduce six 110m-long barges at a later date.

The bigger boats will be able to carry 280 containers and run for 30 hours without needing to recharge. It is estimated they alone could lead to a reduction of 18,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

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The European Union has handed more than 6m in subsidies towards the project, with additional contributions from the ports who will receive the barges.

Mr van Meegen said it was only the low bridges in Belgium and Holland that prevented the barges from carrying more containers.Paris Zoo was evacuated after four baboons escaped from their enclosure.

Police surrounded the area during a search for the missing monkeys after an employee encountered one in a corridor and raised the alarm.

The zoo said a recapture procedure was immediately launched and all four primates were located in a closed area.

They were captured with the use of sedative arrows and returned to their enclosure, which houses 50 baboons.

Initial reports suggested all 50 baboons had escaped but a zoo spokesman told The Independent this was not the case.

None of the monkeys roamed into public areas, he added.

The attraction remained closed until the monkeys are back in their enclosure. Pictures on social media appeared to show armed police surrounding the zoo, with nearby roads shut.

Guinea baboons, originated from West Africa, are classified as a near threatened species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Visitors can usually admire them around the zoos Big Rock, which towers over the Bois de Vincennes park in eastern Paris.

It is the second time that an escaped animal has caused a security alert in the French capital.

In November a tiger escaped from a circus cage and roamed the streets. The animal was later shot dead by its owner.A pair of Russian newlyweds have become the first same-sex couple to have their marriage recognised in their home country, after finding an apparent legal loophole.

Eugene Wojciechowski and Pavel Stotzko tied the knot in the Danish capital of Copenhagen earlier this month.

On their return home, they submitted their passports with an updated marital status. But they did not expect their union to be recognised, as same-sex marriage is illegal in the country.

Speaking to the Russian channel TV Rain, the couple said their marital status had been validated by a member of staff without superfluous questions.

He did not even change his expression, the couple said.

Russia does not register same-sex marriages, but the countrys law states that marriages conducted abroad are deemed legitimate if there is nothing contradicting Article 14 of the Family Code.

The article appears to contain a loophole as it prohibits marriages between close relatives and people who have already been registered as married, but does not state same-sex unions can be disqualified.

Recognition of the couples marriage (Facebook/Pavel Stotsko)

There is a line stating the mutual voluntary consent of the man and woman entering in marriage is required to validate the union.

However, a press officer at the Moscow office where Mr Wojciechowski and Mr Stotsko had their marriage approved did not tell TV Rain that a mistake had been made.

He said: Your question would make sense if the Russian Federations Family Code used a different formulation, for example, voluntary consent of persons entering into marriage.

Although homosexuality was decriminalised in Russia in 1993, homophobia is rife.

In 2013, the country introduced a gay propaganda law which banned the promotion of homosexuality among under 18s, which critics say has incited homophobic violence and stigma.

A survey earlier this month by the Levada Center found that more than 80 per cent of Russians consider gay sex reprehensible.

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

Last year, reports emerged of a mass crackdown on gay men in the autonomous Russian region of Chechnya.

The independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper reported police in the region were rounding up men believed to be gay and holding them in detention, where they were subjected to beatings and torture.

Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov denied the allegations, claiming the reports are a myth to destabilise the government.Vladimir Putin says Russias purchase of 10 hi-tech supersonic bombers will strengthen the countrys nuclear capabilities.

The modernised TU-160M strategic bombers, codenamed Blackjacks by Nato, will be delivered to the Russian Air Force between now and 2027 at a cost of 15 billion rubles (189m).

The giant plane, which is able to sweep its wings backwards for extra speed, is a modernised version of a Cold War-era bomber the USSR would have deployed in the event of nuclear war.

This is a serious step towards developing our hi-tech sphere and strengthening the countrys ability to defend itself, said Mr Putin, who watched the strategic bomber in flight on Thursday.

The TU-160M is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 7,500 miles non-stop without refuelling.

Mr Putin, who is standing for re-election on 18 March, a contest polls show he is likely to easily win, inspected the factory in Kazan, a city in Tatarstan, where the new plane is being built, as well as an airstrip, hangars and modernised workshops.

 US air force carries out drill over Korean Peninsula triggering Pyongyang nuclear war warning

Under Mr Putin, who has dominated the political landscape for the last 18 years, Russia has significantly increased defence spending and used military force in Georgia, Ukraine and Syria.

Existing versions of the TU-160 have flown from bases in Russia to Syria where they have bombed forces opposed to president Bashar al-Assad, one of Moscows closest Middle East allies.

Vladimir Putin signs a picture of a TU-160M nuclear bomber (Reuters)

Tupolev, the planes manufacturer, says the modernised version will be 60 per cent more effective than the older version with significant improvements to its weaponry, navigation and avionics.

Rinat Khamatov, the plants chief welder, said Russia needed a modernised version of the bomber.

North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Show all 6 1 /6 North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters North Korea threatens 'sacred' nuclear war Reuters

The TU-160... is a weapon of deterrence and it is great that Russia is able to start making it again, he said.

Russia also aims to produce a modernised version of its Il-78 refuelling tanker, codenamed Midas by NATO, which can refuel the TU-160 mid-air, enabling it to reach any point on the planet.

Additional reporting by ReutersThe US Justice Department ratcheted up pressure on Russia on Friday, issuing sanctions to approximately 40 companies and individuals it says were involved in the Ukraine conflict. The list includes bureaucrats, a deputy minister and leading businessmen.

The press release announcing the new measures came just as the US Special Representative to Ukraine Kurt Volker was holding talks with Russian counterpart, presidential aide Vladislav Surkov, in Dubai. It is unlikely to have improved the chances of their success.

Even before todays development, it was expected there would be a further digging in on the Russian side. In an extended interview with the Kommersant newspaper on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, said the West had been infected by unprecedented Russophobia, making negotiations impossible. It wasnt even like this during the Cold War, he said.

Todays announcement placed sanctions on leading Russian enterprises that it says were involved in infrastructure projects in Crimea. The former deputy energy minister Andrey Cherezev is also targeted. The Treasury Department said that 11 of the people in the list are Ukrainian citizens, and include officials of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. Russia formally annexed Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 following a disputed referendum.

Recommended Former Georgian President says he is trying to save Ukraine

On Monday, the US Treasury is set to follow up sanctions with its long-awaited Kremlin report. This document is set to name and shame businessmen who make up Russian President Vladimir Putins inner circle. Sanctions will not necessarily follow inclusion in the list, but reputational damage is likely.

The imminent delivery of Javelin anti-tank weapons to the Ukrainian army also upped the stakes ahead of todays talks.

Alexei Chesnakov, an expert in close contact with the Russian point man Vladislav Surkov, told the Independent that a breakthrough was not imminent. It is impossible to have a negotiation with someone who is always looking to worsen your position.

Special Representative Volker explained the delivery of anti-tank weapons as a response to Russias inflexibility. There has been no movement by Russia towards actually ending the conflict in Ukraine, he said.

The appointment of Mr Volker as US Special Representative to Ukraine in July was seen by some as a new beginning. The former ambassador to NATO was always considered a Russia hawk, but he was well-respected in Moscow. There had been a six-month absence of the US from foreign policy, and many hoped his knowledge and optimistic can-do approach could, perhaps, force progress.

Volkers strong rhetoric has certainly made him a popular figure in Kiev. Oleksii Makeiv, political director at the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, told The Independent that Ukraine was very happy with the Special Representatives efforts to coordinate his positions. He talked with President Poroshenko before the Dubai meeting, and he will meet with him afterward, the diplomat said. The Russians thought they could drive a wedge between us and the West, but Mr Volker has shown that will not happen.

But with high trust comes problems, says the Ukrainian Rada Deputy Oleksiy Ryabchyn. The political elite all adore what he says, but he has raised expectation so high that the reality is likely to disappoint.

For now, the reality remains a war on the edge of Europe that refuses to go away. Regular losses on both sides continue to add to the estimated 9,940 plus who have lost their lives over the four-year conflict.

According to Igor Sutyagin, Senior Research Fellow at RUSI an international defence and security think tank based in London, the sides have now reached a military parity of sorts. After several bloody defeats, the Ukrainian army has built up a fighting resistance. A major offensive by either side is now likely to prove costly. Dr Sutyagin estimates the number of Ukrainian forces in the conflict zone at 40-50,000  compared with 30,000 in separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine. A further 30-40,000 troops are located on Russian territory the other side of the Ukrainian border.

Fighting once again draws on the full range of lethal weaponry. It includes the howitzers, tanks and rocket launchers that were supposed to have been withdrawn under the Minsk Peace Accords signed in February 2015. The heaviest of the equipment was once hidden from view, but no one is bothering with the pretence anymore.

Ukraine tried to withdraw weapons at first, says Dr Sutyagin. But it had to be realistic. Unilateral disarmament is not popular in eastern Ukraine.

For now, Mr Volker remains the most optimistic man in the room. This week, he suggested the full list of Minsk commitments could be met within 12 months. Including as it does ceasefires, safety guarantees, controversial legislation in Ukraine, elections and the return of control of the eastern border from Russian-backed forces, that seems a tall order.

Even if you take into account all the technical elements of the agreements, you are looking at a minimum of two and a half or three years, says Mr Chesnakov. And that doesnt include the politics. Volker always underestimates the political issues  even though Moscow keeps telling him about them.Every January on Holocaust Memorial Day, the world remembers the millions of people who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis during the Second World War.

Observed on 27 January each year, the day itself marks the anniversary of the Red Armys liberation of Auschwitz in 1945.

What was uncovered on that bitter winter morning shook the world.

Gradually it would emerge that six million European Jews had been systematically executed in Nazi concentration camps like Auschwitz, as part of Adolf Hitlers Final Solution  the official code name for the murder of all Jewish people within reach.

The Allied forces fighting Third Reich totalitarian aggression in Western Europe since 1939 had little idea what had been taking place behind the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Bergen-Belsen, Buchenwald, Dachau and the rest of the camps.

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It had been assumed they were merely conventional prisoner of war camps to which the Geneva Convention applied.

The truth of the Holocaust (or Shoah as it is known in Hebrew) is beyond comprehension.

Facts can be learned, statistics absorbed, survivors spoken to and testimony heard. It is possible to visit Auschwitz itself, but only the survivors can know the true horror of what took place behind the camps gates.

Today Holocaust Memorial Day also marks those who have died in subsequent purges in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur.

But it was originally created to highlight the mass slaughter of Europes Jews between 1941 and 1945 - the worst act of genocide ever conceived and carried out by man - in the hope that people will heed the lessons of history and never repeat them.

However, even in those darkest of times, heroes emerged.

While the stories of Oskar Schindler and Sir Nicholas Winton are well known, here are the tales of three less-heralded saviours to whom thousands owe their lives.

Irena Sendler

Irena Sendler (Wikimedia Commons)

Polish nurse Irena Sendler (1910-2008), often known as Jolanta, served as head of the childrens department of Zegota, the Polish Council to Aid Jews. It was operated by underground resistance fighters in German-occupied Warsaw between 1942 and 1945.

She is credited with smuggling 2,500 Jewish children out of the Polish capitals ghetto.

Using her brief as a medical officer carrying out sanitary inspections as cover, she would conceal the children in prams, ambulances and even suitcases.

Sendler would hide the children with Polish Catholic families, giving each one a Christian pseudonym and false identity papers. She wore a yellow Star of David throughout her activities, in solidarity with the victims of Nazi tyranny, and kept meticulous records of the childrens whereabouts.

These documents had to be disposed of quickly when the Gestapo finally arrested her.

Brutally tortured by her captors and sentenced to death by firing squad, Jolanta managed to evade execution when fellow Zegota members bribed Nazi guards.

She would go on to survive the war and Polands subsequent occupation by the USSR. She died 10 years ago, aged 98.

Every child saved with my help is the justification of my existence on this earth and not a title to glory, she said.

Frank Foley

Frank Foley (Wikimedia Commons)

A British Secret Intelligence officer who became known as the Scarlet Pimpernel, Frank Foley (1884-1958) had a reputation for bending the rules while working undercover at a passport control office in Berlin and allowing Jews to escape Germany.

As an infantry captain with the Hertfordshire Regiment during the First World War, Foley proved himself adept at languages and was duly encouraged to join the Intelligence Corps by the War Office.

He organised and ran a small unit of secret agents in France, Belgium and the Netherlands and was subsequently dispatched to Germany to recruit and manage field agents there, a task he undertook with great skill and discretion throughout the Twenties and Thirties.

His insights into Hitlers Nazi government allowed Foley to foresee which way the wind was blowing.

So he stamped passports and issued visas allowing fleeing Jews to escape to Britain and Palestine in defiance of the authorities during the Kristallnacht pogrom.

He was tasked with questioning Rudolf Hess, Hitlers deputy, after the latters flight to Scotland in 1941 and was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George that same year.

It was said at Adolf Eichmanns trial in 1961 that Foley, had died three years earlier at 74, was responsible for saving tens of thousands of lives.

Raoul Wallenberg

Raoul Wallenberg (Wikimedia Commons)

Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (born 1912) played a similarly pivotal role in rescuing Jews from Hungary.

There, he issued protective passports recognising them as Swedish citizens.

He also sheltered those victimised by the Nuremburg Race Laws (imposed by Germany in 1935) in 32 government buildings across Budapest, which he had designated Swedish territory.

Eichmann, one of the architects of the Holocaust, nevertheless deported over 400,000 Hungarian Jews to Auschwitz.

Wallenberg would later be arrested by the USSR following the Siege of Budapest on 17 January 1945 and charged with espionage.

He subsequently disappeared and the date of his death remains unknown, although it is thought he may have died while imprisoned by the KGB in Lubyanka in 1947.

The Swedish Tax Agency only officially recognised Wallenberg as legally dead in October 2016.

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Wallenberg was posthumously made an honorary citizen of several countries in tribute to his heroics, including Hungary, Israel, Canada and Australia.

He became the second man after Sir Winston Churchill to be made an honorary citizen of the US.At least 30 African refugees and migrants have drowned off the coast of Yemen after the boat they were travelling on capsized. Smugglers reportedly also fired on passengers.

At least 153 Ethiopians and Somalis were aboard the vessel as it set sail from the port of Aden in Yemen.

It was headed towards Djibouti, a tiny country on the Horn of Africa, the United Nations (UN) said.

"Survivors of the incident have reported to UN and partner staff that an over-crowded boat packed with at least 152 Somalis and Ethiopians departed 23 January from the Al Buraiqa coast in Aden in a boat headed across the Gulf of Aden towards Djibouti," the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.

"The boat capsized amid reports of gunfire being used against the passengers."

The tragedy comes five months after it emerged people smugglers deliberately drowned up to 50 migrants off the coast of Shabwa province in southern Yemen.

Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Show all 7 1 /7 Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants arriving in Italy on MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie DeardenI Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing health checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants undergoing security checks after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily Refugees and migrants being fingerprinted after disembarking from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden Refugees and migrants arriving in Catania, Sicily A man being taken to hospital from MSF rescue ship the Bourbon Argos in Catania, Sicily Lizzie Dearden

In August, the IOM told The Independent smugglers were pushing migrants into the sea away from Yemens mainland for fear of government boats, amid reinforced border controls, or to avoid encountering armed groups on shore in the war-torn country.

The smugglers are well aware of whats happening in Yemen, so it may just be theyre trying to protect their own neck while putting other peoples lives at risk," IOM spokesperson Olivia Headon said.

She added: "Theyre sold this idea of a future that probably doesnt even exist in the gulf countries where they can make money they wouldnt make at home, where they can get a job and start providing for themselves or their families."An organized criminal group led by the former director general of the Ukrspyrt state enterprise, which committed a number of contract killings and assassination attempts, also plotted terrorist attacks against government institutions, Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov has said.

"We are talking about a large group of criminals who committed several contract killings and assassination attempts in the city of Kyiv. Not all of them were named, only those which the investigation decided to disclose," the Interior Ministry's media liaisons office quoted him as saying at a briefing in Khmelnytsky on Friday.

Avakov noted that the criminal organization plotted terrorist attacks against state institutions.

"A group of militants prepared terrorist attacks against state institutions, including the removal of a number of state functionaries, the [interior] minister and other officials," he said.

The detention of the former director general of the Ukrspyrt state enterprise, Mykhailo Labutin, in Romania was reported on January 25, 2018.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, he was in charge of a criminal organization whose participants committed several serious crimes, including the murder of the adviser to the Ukrspyrt director on May 30, 2017, and also planned the murder of Ukraine's Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

A request was sent to Romania for Labutin's extradition to Ukraine to bring him to account.More than three-quarters of the civilians killed during the four-year war against Isis in Iraq and Syria occurred during Donald Trump's presidency, new figures show.

A total of 831 civilians have been unintentionally killed over the period, according to the US militarys own figures.

Data released by the Combined Joint Task Force for Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) on 2 January 2017, just a few weeks before Mr Trump took office, said it is more likely than not, at least 188 civilians have been unintentionally killed by Coalition strikes since the start of the operation in 2014.

But that has increased significantly over the last 12 months since Mr Trump took office.

Although the coalition takes extraordinary efforts to strike military targets in a manner that minimises the risk of civilian casualties, in some incidents casualties are unavoidable, the task force wrote in the last report.

Recommended Government rejects case for stronger checks to prevent Iraq War repeat

However, there is still an imprecise count of civilian deaths in the conflict.

The coalition has been criticised by several experts for under-counting the number of civilian deaths. It did not start issuing monthly civilian casualty numbers until March 2017.

Airwars, a journalist-led watchdog of the coalition, has said the number is closer to 6,047 civilians who have been killed since the start in 2014.

The group also said the number of airstrikes by the coalition, made up almost entirely of US planes, had increased by nearly 50 per cent in Iraq and Syria in 2017 compared with the previous year. Civilian deaths rose by 215 per cent, The Guardian reported.

 Explosions as Turkey confirms airstrikes on Afrin, Syria

According to a New York Times report about civilian casualties in November, in the effort to expel Isis from Iraq and Syria, the coalition has conducted more than 27,500 strikes to date, deploying everything from Vietnam-era B-52 bombers to modern Predator drones.

Major Shane Huff, a spokesman for the US Central Command, told the newspaper that it is one of the most precise air campaigns in military history.

The coalition command did not immediately respond to a request for comment on what metrics were used to determine credible reports versus those that were deemed non-credible.

In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Show all 30 1 /30 In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian family arrives at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian woman, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, reacts as she stands with her children in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past resident fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood , after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-regime fighters, gesture as they drive past residents fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood, after regime troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian residents, fleeing violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood, arrive in Aleppo's Fardos neighbourhood Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-regime fighter speaks with a child, as residents flee violence in the restive Bustan al-Qasr neighbourhood. Syrian rebels withdrew from six more neighbourhoods in their one-time bastion of east Aleppo in the face of advancing government troops AFP/Getty Images In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Smoke rises as seen from a governement-held area of Aleppo, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers targeting rebels-held areas in the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo, Syria. According to media reports, the army is now holding on 99 percent of Aleppois eastern neighborhoods EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian pro-government forces patrol Aleppo's eastern al-Salihin neighbourhood after troops retook the area from rebel fighters Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian soldiers rest following the battle at al-Sheik Saeed neighborhood in Aleppo, Syria EPA In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian pro-government fighter walking past closed shops in the Bab al-Nasr district of Aleppo's Old City. Once renowned for its bustling souks, grand citadel and historic gates, Aleppo's Old City has been rendered virtually unrecognisable by some of the worst violence of Syria's war Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The crucial battle for Aleppo entered its 'final phase' after Syrian rebels retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The retreat leaves opposition fighters confined to just a handful of neighbourhoods in southeast Aleppo, the largest of them Sukkari and Mashhad Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilans arrive at a checkpoint, manned by pro-government forces, at the al-Hawoz street roundabout, after leaving Aleppo's eastern neighbourhoods. Syria's government has retaken at least 85 percent of east Aleppo, which fell to rebels in 2012, since beginning its operation Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian civilians flee the Sukkari neighbourhood towards safer rebel-held areas in southeastern Aleppo Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrians celebrate in the government-held Mogambo neighbourhood of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo, after rebel fighters retreated into a small pocket of their former bastion in the face of new army advances. The fall of Aleppo would be the worst rebel defeat since Syria's conflict began in 2011, and leave the government in control of the country's five major cities Getty In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee Aliya inside the tent where she lives with her husband and ten children in a camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Syrian refugee women and children outside the entrance to their tents in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA Wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A Syrian refugee woman outside the entrance to the tent where her family live, in the refugee camp in the Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, close to the Syrian border PA wire In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria A vehicle drives past a mosque at night in Idlib, Syria. Picture taken with a long exposure Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria The night sky is seen through damaged windows in the rebel-controlled town of Binnish in Idlib province, Syria Reuters In Pictures: The crisis unfolding in Syria Damaged buildings stand in the rebel-controlled area of Maaret al-Numan in Idlib province, Syria Reuters

Some experts have noted that part of the issue may be Mr Trumps lack of involvement in military operations compared to his predecessor.

In mid-April 2017, Mr Trump declared he was giving US military generals total authorisation to make complex decisions on the ground in conflict zones, which alarmed some national security experts who felt the lack of a civilian check on military operations would harm civilians caught in the conflict.

We have the greatest military in the world and theyve done a job as usual. We have given them total authorization and thats what theyre doing and, frankly, thats why theyve been so successful lately, Mr Trump said.

It was a move away from the policies of the previous Obama administration, who had been deeply involved in strategic decisions.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed told Roll Call: By definition, hes commander in chief so I would think that thats not the way I would phrase delegation of authority to subordinates if I were commander in chief...Its difficult to understand his involvement. Whether he wants to be briefed before [an operation] or briefed after or briefed at all, I dont know.

Defence Secretary James Mattis said at the time on CBS Face the Nation programme: I would point out here that we have not changed the rules of engagement. There is no relaxation of our attention to protect the innocent. We do everything we can to protect the civilians, and actually lowering-- delegating the authority to the lower level allows us to do this better.Billionaire casino mogul Steve Wynn forced a manicurist to have sex and then paid her a $7.5m (5.2m) settlement, a report has alleged.

Mr Wynn, who turns 76 on Saturday, is said to have pressured the married woman to take her clothes off and lie on the massage table he kept in his office, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.

After being told of the allegations, the womans supervisor said she filed a detailed report to the casinos human-resources department recounting the incident, the newspaper said.

Mr Wynn is a former casino-business rival of President Donald Trump, who has referred to Mr Wynn as a great friend and that he values his advice. After Mr Trumps election, Mr Wynn became the finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.

The Journal also spoke to dozens of people who have worked at Mr Wynns casinos. They reportedly described behaviour that indicated a decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct by Mr Wynn.

Mr Wynn has denied all sexual assault allegations and said the accusations are the work of his ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, with whom he is currently engaged in a nasty legal battle.

Mr Wynn said in a written statement to the Journal that the idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He said in a statement: The instigation of these accusations is the continued work of my ex-wife Elaine Wynn, with whom I am involved in a terrible and nasty lawsuit in which she is seeking a revised divorce settlement.

A lawyer for Ms Wynn did not immediately respond to The Independents request for comment.

The Journal said Mr Wynn did not provide any further response to other allegations of sexual misconduct that the newspaper asked about.

Early on in his career, Mr Wynn oversaw the construction and operation of hotels and casinos that have become famous fixtures on the Las Vegas strip, including the Wynn, the Mirage and Treasure Island. He is currently behind a $2.4bn (1.7bn) casino in the Boston area, according to the Journal.The Republic of Macedonias Alexander the Great airport will be re-named to help end a 27-year long feud with Greece, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev announced on Wednesday 24 January.

He said the decision to rebrand the Skopje airport was made to show practically that we are strongly committed to find a solution, following talks with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Davos economic summit.

The dispute has been running since Greece objected to the Republic of Macedonia, a former province of Yugoslavia, gaining independence in 1991.

Much of the enmity has been rooted in the name Macedonia  also the name of an historic adjacent region in Greece. Millions of Greeks from this northern province identify as Macedonians, and therefore object to the use of the term Macedonian for the people and language of the neighbouring country.

The Republic of Macedonia has also been accused of appropriating symbols and figures that are historically considered part of Greek culture, such as Alexander the Great.

A date for the renaming of the airport has not yet been confirmed, nor has an alternative name been decided upon; but Mr Zaev has said the north-south Alexander the Great motorway ending at the Greek border will be renamed Friendship Highway.

A Macedonian diplomat told Agence-France Presse that the airport rename could be a major step in improving relations between the two.

The decision follows a protest on Sunday 21 January by some 90,000 Greeks in Thessaloniki  capital of the Macedonia region in Greece  against the use of the name Macedonia by the adjoining nation.

The issue has hampered the Republic of Macedonias progress on the world stage  Athens used its vote to prevent Macedonia from entering the European Union and NATO, and would only agree to the country becoming part of the United Nations on the proviso that it was known as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

Click here to compare flight options with SkyscannerIts below zero degrees on the vast dirt hillside above Totah but through the mist and freezing rain, I can see the Syrian generals target, a small Isis-held village across a valley of mud. Theres a crash of artillery fire from his Shilka guns, and you wait several seconds before the shells fall behind a clump of hillside trees. The smoke billows into the cold air and it takes another few seconds before the sound of the explosions reaches back to us. Then another few seconds before Isis shoots back at the Syrians. Heavy machine gun fire that echoes and thumps up the wadis. Isis is not beaten yet. It still has food. From the UK, no less. Of which, more later.

The general, I should add, is nicknamed Caesar. Military headquarters in Damascus have now forbidden officers to give their real names  because, they say, several have been assassinated after appearing by name in the Syrian media.

For myself, I wonder if they also want to prevent generals getting big heads.

Caesar  not to be confused with his friend, the even more aggressively named General Nimr (Tiger)  is indeed a large man, seemingly immune to the evening frost forming on the mud, a woollen hat on his head and shades strapped over it. He used to work at the presidential palace in Damascus. And he is a man who can reveal tantalising secrets.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

He reckons there are two Brits among the Isis fighters at Akerbat  his soldiers hear them on the radio  and he is certain there are two Chechen Islamists. He doesnt speak Chechen but our Russian friends tell us they can hear them talking on their radios.

And then when I ask what he has found when he took territory from Isis in this Islamist pocket of Syria south-east of Hama, he answers at once. Six Isis suicide bomb vehicles, a huge armoured car for carrying fighters and lots of food.

Where did the food come from? Italy  but my soldiers ate most of the food. I asked to see what was left.

 Vimto advert shows energy-boosting popularity in Middle East during Ramadan

And then comes an odd moment. Theres no surprise about an army eating its enemys supplies. The Red Army did that at Stalingrad when they broke through the front lines of Hitlers Italian and Rumanian allies and found them well stocked with wine. But when a Syrian soldier walks up with two cans of peeled plum tomatoes captured in an Isis food store, Im in for a shock. Though the contents are from Italy, they were canned in the United Kingdom. In fact, the label says they were sold by East End Foods of West Bromwich. His soldiers do not read the English. But of course I can: Specially packed for East End Foods, plc, it says. East End House, Kenrick Way. West Bromwich B71 4EA. Suitable for vegetarians. The telephone number and the website of the company were also on the label.

Caesar guesses these products were smuggled in from Turkey but it would be interesting to know how those cans from the West Midlands reached this gaunt and frozen hill in central Syria. What is the East End Foods, plc, Caesar asked? His soldiers, I should add, said that they enjoyed the food.

Officially, Isis is surrounded here  hence the so-called Isis pocket  although the general, sometimes shouting to be heard above the gunfire, agrees that he cannot control every wadi in an Isis enclave that is 14 miles wide and 30 miles long. The German lines at Stalingrad  mercifully, the last World War Two reference in this dispatch  was only nine miles long at the end of the battle. In fact, Syrians fighting for Isis in the enclave are supposedly given the option of crossing the lines and returning home if they wish after a reconciliation meeting.

Even Isis, if they want to get out of Syria  this can be made available for them. Not to their countries  but to the terrorist organisations that send them.

But the most unexpected moment comes when Caesar says that 20 per cent of his own fighting units are former members of the Free Syrian Army, one of the first armed opposition groups in which the West invested money and guns. It has been a spent force for many years  although David Cameron famously claimed in a parliamentary speech of deep fantasy that there were 70,000 of them  but according to three sources in Syria, the generals statement is correct.

The ex-FSA men are paid the same wage as other regular Syrian military personnel, there are officers among them  none in Caesars force, he assures me  and some were actually Syrian regular troops before they defected to the opposition in 2011 and 2012. If they are martyred in battle, their parents will be paid compensation; a grim conclusion, no doubt, to their hectic side-changing lives.

We open the door to any Daesh [Isis] people, who want to come over, Caesar insists. A group of families came over three months ago, from the Hama countryside. Although it helps Daesh, we allow food across the lines, because there are families over there. They are not our people, but the families of the terrorists. Already, we have seized mobile phones from prisoners and they have given us the numbers of many of the senior people in the Daesh.

In the surrounding countryside, Isis huge earth revetments cross the landscape  newly captured by the army  that look like First World War trenches, miles of them, hilltop dugouts still complete with empty rocket cartridges. And apart from the six iron suicide cars, Caesar, who is the Syrian armys field commander for this entire area, found an even more monstrous iron wagon in the newly captured village of Akerbat, perhaps the largest vehicle of its kind ever built by the Islamist cult.

The sinister hulk of Isis most frightening iron suicide carrier, captured by the Syrian army (Yara Ismail)

It stands now in the forecourt of his headquarters, a most sinister vehicle with iron sides, iron roof, reinforced iron petrol tanks, its metal mesh rail shields painted brown and its entire hulk painted  of course  in black. It could hold up to 20 men, presumably individual suicide bombers for a mass attack. The reinforced iron flanks of this grim machine appear to be oil pipes from the petroleum industry, cut in half and then sealed onto the wagon in slices. The Syrians found that many of these vehicles had been made in an industrial estate constructed by Isis several years ago. So much for the Iraqi prime ministers claim in Davos on Thursday that Isis was training suicide bombers in Syrian government-held territory.

And what of the Isis dead? Are they buried? Or left for the dogs as I know they have been in northern Syria? Isis does the same to the Syrian dead. They blow themselves up rather than surrender to us, Caesar announces. They all have explosives on them. And with a sharp smile, he produced a Galaxy tablet of photographs of Isis corpses, all of them blown in half, their heads partly torn, one of them perhaps Sudanese. Isis does the same, of course. And in Hama later that same night, a younger officer showed me a picture of himself with one foot on the chest of a half-naked Isis mans dead body. Never before, I reflected to him, had I seen a war in which so many people took photographs of so many of their dead enemies. Another product, I guess, of the Facebook age.

As for Caesar, his last words were a trifle disturbing. Everything you write, he said to me on his chilling hilltop, has two meanings. A smart general.Seldom has an important new US foreign policy crashed in flames so quickly and so spectacularly, achieving the very opposite results to those intended.

It was only ten days ago that the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson unexpectedly announced that American military forces would remain in Syria after the defeat of Isis. Their agenda was nothing if not ambitious: it included the stabilisation of the country, getting rid of Bashar al-Assad, rolling back Iranian influence, preventing the resurgence of Isis and bringing an end to the seven-year Syrian war. Tillerson did not seem to care that this new departure was sure to offend a lot of powerful players in and around Syria and was quite contrary to past US pledges that it was only fighting in Syria to defeat Isis and had no other aims.

In effect, the US was reversing its old policy of trying to keep its distance from the Syrian quagmire and was blithely plunging into one of the messiest civil wars in history.

The first sign of this radical new development came early last week with an announcement that the US was going to train a 30,000-strong border force that, though this was not stated, would be predominantly Kurdish. This was furiously denounced by Turkey and Tillerson appeared to disavow it. But his speech spelling out the new interventionist American policy on 17 January was just as explosive and was the reason why, five days later, Turkish tanks were rumbling across the Turkish-Syrian border into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin.

World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty

A fertile and heavily populated pocket of territory, this is one of the few parts of Syria that had not been devastated by the war. But this is changing fast as Turkish bombers and artillery pound the town of Afrin and the 350 villages around it. The Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) have been fighting back hard, but unless there is some diplomatic solution to the crisis, the enclave will end up looking like much of the rest of Syria with whole streets reduced to mounds of smashed masonry.

The fighting over the last five days has exposed as a dangerous fantasy the US hopes that its new interventionist policy would stabilise northern Syria. Instead of weakening President Bashar al-Assad and Iran, it will benefit them, showing the Kurds that they badly need a protector other than the US. The Kurds are now demanding that the Syrian Army go to Afrin to defend it against the Turks because it is an integral part of Syria. A military confrontation between Turkey and the US would be much in the interests of Tehran and Damascus. The Iranians, denounced by the US as the source of all evil, will be glad to see America in lots of trouble in Syria without them having to stir a finger.

Yet the outbreak of a new Kurdish-Turkish war over the last week should have been very predictable. The US became militarily engaged in Syria in 2014 in order to prevent the capture of the Kurdish city of Kobani by Isis. American intervention in the siege was successful and was the beginning of an alliance between US air power and YPG ground troops that was to defeat Isis.

This development was deeply alarming for Turkey which felt threatened by seeing a well-armed, US-backed, de facto Kurdish state expanding along its southern frontier. Even worse, from the Turkish point of view, this new entity, known to the Kurds as Rojava, was controlled by the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) that has been leading a Kurdish rebellion in Turkey for over 30 years.

The US had reassured the Turks that the American alliance with the YPG was purely military, tactical and directed against Isis. But, if the 2,000 US troops remain in Kurdish-held Syria, they change the military balance in the region because they are backed by the gigantic firepower of US Air Force. In effect, the US will be guaranteeing with military force the practical independence of a Kurdish state in northern and eastern Syria. Given the oppression and violence the Kurds have suffered in Syria and elsewhere, they have every right to seek a degree of autonomy close to national self-determination, but neither the Turkish nor the Syrian governments will accept this.

Up until now President Trump had made few changes in President Obamas strategy in Iraq and Syria which was more forceful than it looked. But it was also cautious because Obama had an acute sense of what could go wrong in such ventures. He was careful not to overplay his hand or allow himself to be manipulated by regional powers.

The post-Isis US policy in Syria and Iraq coming out of the Trump administration has more far-reaching goals than before, but is vague on how they should be achieved. There is the same whiff of wishful thinking about Tillersons speech as brought about past US disasters in the Middle East.

Ominous precedents include Lebanon in 1983 where the US had a limited military presence in Beirut as a symbol of US power and determination. But a symbol can also be a target and on 23 October of that year a vehicle packed with explosives was driven into the US Marine barracks near Beirut airport and blew up, killing 241 US service personnel.

A similar self-destructive sense of self-confidence and superiority was very evident among the Americans occupying Baghdad in 2003. US generals believed that they were fighting the remnants of the old regime when, in fact, they were facing a mass uprising and soon only controlled islands of territory.

The US may want to get rid of Assad and weaken Iran across the region but it is too late. Pro-Iranian governments in Iraq and Syria are in power and Hezbollah is the most powerful single force in Lebanon. This is not going to change any time soon and, if the Americans want to weaken Assad by keeping a low-level war going, then this will make him even more reliant on Iran.

The present Turkish incursion shows that Ankara is not going to allow a new Kurdish state under US protection to be created in northern Syria and will fight rather than let this happen. But the YPG is highly motivated, well-armed and militarily experienced and will fight very hard, even though they may ultimately be overwhelmed by superior forces or because the Turkish and Syrian governments come together to crush them.

It was a bad moment for the US to stir the pot by saying it would stay in Syria and target Assad and Iran. A Kurdish-Turkish war in northern Syria will be a very fierce one. The US obsession with an exaggerated Iranian threat  about which, in any case, it cannot do much  makes it difficult for Washington to mediate and cool down the situation. Trump and his chaotic administration have not yet had to deal with a real Middle East crisis yet and the events of the last week suggest that they will not be able to do so.Former Miss India and actress Pooja Chopra will be seen playing the role of an army captain who leads four men for a covert operation in Neeraj Pandeys Aiyaary. (photo provided)Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has said that the fight against corruption in Ukraine is a priority of his presidential policy.

"I'm organizing the fight against corruption in Ukraine not because of visa-free travel, not because of this IMF tranche, but because fighting corruption is a priority of my presidential policy. This is me who created independent anti-corruption institutions - NABU and SAPO, which are effectively functioning together with other institutions and deliver the first very promising results," he said during an interactive session of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Friday.

Poroshenko recalled that a number of anti-corruption requirements had been laid in the visa liberalization plan with the European Union.

"We had a full list of what had to be done, and we fully implemented it," he added.Sonam Kapoor says, "When we educate girls about their bodies and its changes, we empower them to not only take care of themselves but also feel more confident in doing so. (IANS photo)U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley arrives to attend a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, at the United Nations headquarters in New York on Jan. 18, 2018. The Indian American diplomat told Politico that rumors of an affair with the president are "absolutely not true." (Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images)Vivek Viswanathan, who served on Democrat Hillary Clintons presidential campaign and as a special advisor to California Governor Jerry Brown, announced Jan. 17 that he is running for California State Treasurer. I was inspired by Governor Browns leadership in California. Ive watched him pursue bold, progressive goals. I want to be among the next generation of bold, progressive leaders and the state treasurers office is the perfect place to do that, the Indian American candidate told India-West. (photo courtesy of Vivek Viswanathan)A soda ash anti-dumping ruling, which is being challenged in India's courts, has pushed manufacturers costs upward by 5-15%.

The ruling on September 2017 by the High Court of Gujarat extended the duties on soda ash imports from seven markets. The United States and China - which are the worlds two largest producers - received the highest duties at $38.79 per tonne and $38.26 per tonne, respectively.

The Indian industrys concerns have been compounded by glass and glassware being dumped into the Asian sub-continent from China and Malaysia. This material is "cheaper and probably better quality," according to Vinit Kapur of the All India Glass Manufacturers Federation (AIGMF).

There are currently tariffs on tempered glass and fiberglass from China but Indias manufacturers, which are largely concentrated in the glass-production hub of Agra, are looking for more protection against cheap foreign imports - presumably in the form of tariffs.

Thousands of jobs depend on the glass industry in Agra yet, despite the trade headwinds facing the sector, no manufacturers are looking to lay off workers or cut back their operations.

Globally, the construction industry is the primary driver for glass consumption, for its use in windows. But the Indian market is unique because more than half of the demand is for container glass as opposed to flat glass. And domestic demand for such products is growing by 6-7% per year.

"As the middle classes are becoming more aware of the need for [healthier, more environmentally friendly] materials, consumers now believe that glass is the best packaging [material] and people are switching over," Kapur said.

India has been grappling with various pollution problems, with Delhi experiencing smog so heavy that it has caused flights to be suspended.

But in mid-December, the glass containers segment got another boost when the National Green Tribunal, a statutory body set up in 2010 to deal with environmental cases, moved to ban the use of plastic containers in towns and cities along the River Ganges.

"We are also optimistic [about the market for glass] because of the requirement [for use] in construction and automobiles," Kapur added.



Europe

Container glass continues to be the strongest growth area for producers in the European Union, with the market growing by 6% over the past five years, and by 3% in 2016 alone.

A major driver for growth was exports, with Switzerland accounting for 15%, the US for 13% and Serbia for 7%.

"[There is] a big increase in [glass used for storing and transporting] food products - that is the growing market," Adeline Farrelly, secretary general of the European Container Glass Federation (FEVE), told Industrial Minerals.

A good example of this is that more than 85% of consumers in the region now get their drinks in glass bottles.

As is the case in India, the glass industry in the EU is looking at ways to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.2% every year. This will primarily be achieved through developing the circular economy of recycling and reuse, Farrelly said.

"We are very keen to know what our suppliers are doing to help us," she added.

The glass industry has actively promoted recycling for 40 years, developing ways in which resources can be reused as opposed to being mined, used and thrown away after one lifecycle.

For soda ash producers, however, this could lead them to explore other lines of business such as pigments, dyes and colorings.



China

In China, French multinational entity Saint-Gobain is primarily involved in the production of automotive glass.

Chinas car production in the first ten months of 2017 totaled 22.98 million vehicles, according to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Automotive glass production is expected to increase by 2-3% in 2018. This will be driven largely by the continued rise in spending power of the countrys middle class, although softened by the ending of some tax incentives on vehicle purchases.

From January 1 this year, for example, small-engine vehicles have been taxed at the standard rate of 10% - up from 7.5% in 2017, and by 5% from 2016 - because tax incentives have been gradually phased out.

The growth of the Chinese automotive industry slowed sharply over the course of 2016, although this was offset somewhat by stronger demand for hybrid-power and electric cars, which jumped by 51.4%.

Windshields for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and the replacement sector provided the demand for exports, although this was "a small portion" of total production.

The domestic Chinese construction sector was another key driver for glass demand in the country, but sentiment was mixed because many developments remained unsold or empty.

Despite this, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed continued growth in real estate investment over 2017, providing more reassurance for the soda ash supply chain.What was your experience before joining Lomon Billions?I graduated from Canterbury University, New Zealand, with a degree in chemical engineering and started out in the oil and gas industry around 25 years ago. I moved to the mining industry in the early 2000s. Before joining Lomon Billions as senior vice..."Security of supply will drive demand," the boss of the rare earth mining junior Northern Minerals told Industrial Minerals, while work nears completion on the first non-Chinese heavy rare earths capacity.

Construction on Northern Minerals Browns Range pilot plant in Australia, which is being shipped in parts from China, is expected to be completed by June 30, with the first shipments of rare earth carbonate by 30 September.

Northern Minerals has already mined the ore for the pilot plant's planned run of 60,000 tonnes per year of rare earth oxides, 15% of the finished plant's planned capacity.

Northern Minerals has signed a three year offtake agreement for mixed heavy rare earth carbonate from its pilot plant, with Chinese company JFMAG.

But the company has yet to lock in buyers for its planned total offtake, which it plans to make available to "as wide a range of buyers as possible".

But as well as expanding to a full-sized plant, Northern Minerals also has plans to develop its own separation capacity, a move which would break the Chinese stranglehold on the rare earths market.

Northern Minerals is currently raising A$5 million, with a share purchase plan, in order to explore its lease. A larger confirmed resource will encourage buyers, Bauk said, adding, "The end users want a bigger life of mine," he said. The money will also help to cut mining costs.

The company is also planning to review the possibility of developing its own separation process for terbium oxide and dysprosium oxide, the key heavy rare earth magnet minerals.

Magnet demand

"At the moment magnet minerals will make up 82% of our revenues," Bauk said, continuing, "The key revenue drives are dysprosium and terbium."

Dysprosium or terbium are used to improve performance in permanent magnets, which primarily consist of iron, boron, and the light rare-earth mineral neodymium.

These rare earth permanent magnets, which are much stronger than other magnets, are a key element in the high power-to-weight engines needed for electric vehicles (EVs), meaning demand for these magnets is rising rapidly alongside EV production.

"Its a matter of speed in which the EVs are taken up," Bauk said, adding that the average EV engine contains 100 g of dysprosium.

Rare earth magnets are also used in wind energy generation, another growing market. But even as demand booms, heavy rare earths production is currently restricted to China.

"Theres really no supply of heavy rare earths planned outside of China," Bauk said, adding that production inside China was being restricted.

The high grade of the Browns Range reserve boasts a rare earth oxide content of around 6,600 parts per million, of which 8.9% is dysprosium.

Longer term, the company is interested in a a light rare earth project, which would widen the range of oxides the company could offer buyers, Bauk said.Trump Signs Law Allowing Mass Spying on Citizens

By Andrew Napolitano

January 25, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - During the past three weeks, Congress passed and President Donald Trump signed into law vast new powers for the NSA and the FBI to spy on innocent Americans and selectively to pass on to law enforcement the fruits of that spying.

Those fruits can now lawfully include all fiber-optic data transmitted to or in the United States, such as digital recordings of all landline and mobile telephone calls and copies in real time of all text messages and emails and banking, medical and legal records electronically stored or transmitted.

All this bulk surveillance had come about because the National Security Agency convinced federal judges meeting in secret that they should authorize it. Now Congress and the president have made it the law of the land.

This enactment came about notwithstanding the guarantee of the right to privacy  the right to be left alone  articulated in the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and elsewhere. Though the surveillance expansion passed the Senate by just one vote, it apparently marks a public policy determination that the Constitution can be ignored or evaded by majority consent whenever it poses an obstacle to the government's purposes.

The language of the Fourth Amendment is an intentional obstacle to the government in deference to human dignity and personal liberty. It reads: "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

This specific language was expressly written to prevent the bulk suspicionless surveillance that the British government had used against the colonists. British courts in London issued general warrants to British soldiers in America, authorizing them to search wherever they wished and seize whatever they found. These warrants were not based on probable cause, and they did not describe the place to be searched or the people or things to be seized.

The Colonial reaction to the British use of general warrants was to take up arms and fight the American Revolution.

Last week, Congress and the president chose to ignore our history and the human values underlying the right to privacy. Those values recognize that the individual pursuit of happiness is best actualized in an atmosphere free from the government's prying eyes. Stated differently, the authors and ratifiers of the Fourth Amendment recognized that a person is not fully happy when being watched all the time by the government.

Yet the constitutional values and timeless lessons of history were not only rejected by Congress but also rejected in ignorance, and the ignorance was knowingly facilitated by the members of the House Intelligence Committee.

Here is the back story.

The recent behavior of the leadership of the House Intelligence Committee constitutes incompetence at best and misconduct in office at worst. The leadership sat on knowledge of NSA and FBI surveillance abuses that some committee members have characterized as "career-ending," "jaw-dropping" and "KGB-like," while both houses of Congress  ignorant of what their 22 House Intelligence Committee colleagues knew  voted to expand NSA and FBI surveillance authorities.

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Stated differently, the 22 members of the committee knowingly kept from their 500 or so congressional colleagues incendiary information that, had it been revealed in a timely manner, would certainly have affected the outcome of the vote  particularly in the Senate, where a switch of just one vote would have prevented passage of this expansion of bulk surveillance authorization.

Why were all members of Congress but the 22 on this committee kept in the dark about NSA and FBI lawlessness? Why didn't the committee reveal to Congress what it claims is too shocking to discuss publicly before Congress voted on surveillance expansion? Where is the outrage that this information was known to a few in the House and kept from the remainder of Congress while it ignorantly voted to assault the right to privacy?

The new law places too much power in the hands of folks who even the drafters of it have now acknowledged are inherently unworthy of this trust. I argued last week that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes was up to something when he publicly attacked the trustworthiness of the NSA and FBI folks whose secret powers he later inexplicably voted to expand. Now we know what he was talking about.

What can be done about this?

The House Intelligence Committee should publicly reveal the contents of its four-page report that summarizes the NSA and FBI abuses. If that fails, a courageous member of the committee should go to the floor of the House  as Sen. Dianne Feinstein once took the CIA torture report to the floor of the Senate  and reveal not just the four-page report but also the underlying data upon which the report is based. Members of Congress enjoy full immunity for anything said on the House or Senate floor, yet personal courage is often in short supply.

But there is a bigger picture here than House Intelligence Committee members sitting on valuable intelligence and keeping it from their colleagues. The American people are entitled to know how the government in whose hands we have reposed the Constitution for safekeeping has used and abused the powers we have given to it. The American people are also entitled to know who abused power and who knew about it and remained silent.

Does the government work for us, or do we work for the government? In theory, of course, the government works for us. In practice, it treats us as children. Why do we accept this from a government to which we have consented? Democracy dies in darkness. So does personal freedom.

Judge Andrew P. Napolitano was the youngest life-tenured Superior Court judge in the history of New Jersey. He is Fox News senior judicial analyst. Napolitano has been published in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications. He is the author of the best-seller, "Lies the Government Told You: Myth, Power, and Deception in American History."

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Join the DiscussionJohn Pilger: Mainstream Media and Imperial Power



Noted journalist and filmmaker John Pilgers collection of work has been archived by the British Library, but deep-rooted problems of Western media create an increasingly difficult landscape for ethical journalism, as Pilger explained in an interview with Dennis Bernstein and Randy Credico.



By Dennis J Bernstein and Randy Credico

January 25, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Randy Credico and Dennis J Bernstein spoke with Pilger on January 18 about the multiple failures of the corporate press in fanning the phony flames of Russiagate, and turning its back on Julian Assangeacting more like prosecutors than journalists, whose responsibility it is to monitor the centers of power and report back to the people.

They also spoke with Pilger about the recent decision by the British Library to acquire his substantial works and invaluable archives and make them readily available to a much wider audience

Dennis Bernstein: Congratulations, John. Your work has now been made a part of the collection at the British Library.

John Pilger: To see all my written work over the years go onto a single hard drive was a sobering experience. I am pleased, however, because now in the digital age people can access all of my work and I myself can access information I may have forgotten.

Dennis Bernstein: I would like to read a little of what they said on the record when they welcomed your material into the library. They write, Throughout his career, John Pilger has demonstrated the power and significance of investigative journalism in uncovering stories of people who have been ignored by the mainstream media or left otherwise without voice. His groundbreaking work in Cambodia revealed the devastation caused by the Khmer Rouge and his film Year Zero: The Silent Death of Cambodia has subsequently been described as one of the ten most influential documentaries of the twentieth century.

I would like to read now a little of the statement that you sent to the Worlds Socialist Conference where they were discussing the deep nature of censorship. You wrote, Something has changed. Although the media was always a loose extension of capital power, it is now almost fully integrated. Dissent, once tolerated in the mainstream, has now regressed to a metaphoric underground as liberal capitalism moves toward a form of corporate dictatorship. And it is getting worse at an exponential rate, wouldnt you say?

John Pilger: Yes. Chris Hedges is an example of that. He was right in the mainstream at The New York Times and now finds himself outside it. Another example is Americas most celebrated investigative journalist, Seymour Hersh, who it appears now can only get published in Germany. Hersh has effectively been ejected from the mainstream in the United States.

In my own case, I navigated my way through the mainstream. My films are still shown on commercial TV in Britain. My written journalism, however, is no longer welcome. Its last home was The Guardian, which three years ago got rid of people like me and others in a kind of purge of those who were saying what The Guardian no longer says anymore.

That has happened right across the liberal media. The Washington Postwhich is at the moment going through a period of self-aggrandizement with the release of the film The Postis also the notorious source of a site which listed some of the most distinguished dissenting sites in the United States, including Consortiumnews, Black Agenda Report, Counterpunch and others, as sources of Russian propaganda. It is forcing all of us into this margin, when really the mainstream is in the margin and the margin is in the mainstream.

Dennis Bernstein: Could you talk about the work of Julian Assange in the context of this corporate censorship machine?

John Pilger: Julian Assange has personally borne the brunt of much of this historic shift. He and Wikileaks have exposed so much, and that is unforgivable. There is no doubt that what Wikileaks has done is the most important disclosure journalism of my lifetime. Around the world, politicians who have been deceiving the public have been caught out by the revelations of Wikileaks. It is quite an epic achievement.

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Anger has been directed at Julian by people in the media who have been shamed by Wikileaks. Because Wikileaks did the job that journalists ought to have been doing for many years. Wikileaks has done it across such a spectrum and put to shame those who are paid to keep the record straight. That has been Assanges crime.

Dennis Bernstein: It has come to the point where to tell the truth is to commit professional suicide.

Randy Credico: At the recent World Socialist Conference, Julian Assange warned of what he called the super states on the internet and how much power they havethe Facebooks and Googles, etc.

John Pilger: He raised the whole specter of artificial intelligence and how it can be abused by the undemocratic forces that control so much of the world. I think what he had to say was very interesting and extremely timely. It is important to remember that Assange is a refugee and that the refugee is almost a symbol of our times. There are those who try to cross the Mediterranean and dont make it or who cross deserts to get work to support their families.

Julian is a political refugee who is trying to inform us of something we either dont know about or are unwilling to talk about. The United Nations has recognized that he is being detained unlawfully. It is interesting to hear what he says but we also have to keep an eye on his welfare. His situation should be a burning issue for journalists everywhere. If it can happen to him, it can happen to any of us.

Randy Credico: A lot of mainstream journalists complain when Trump refers to them as the enemy of the people, but they have shown themselves to be very unwilling to circle the wagons around Assange. What is the upshot for journalists of Assange being taken down?

John Pilger: Trump knows which nerves to touch. His campaign against the mainstream media may even help to get him re-elected, because most people dont trust the mainstream media anymore.

In my experience as a journalist, the public have always been ahead of the media. And yet, in many news outlets there has always been a kind of veiled contempt for the public. You find young journalists affecting a false cynicism that they think ordains them as journalists. The cynicism is not about the people at the top, its about the people at the bottom, the people that Hillary Clinton dismissed as irredeemable.

CNN and NBC and the rest of the networks have been the voices of power and have been the source of distorted news for such a long time. They are not circling the wagons because the wagons are on the wrong side. These people in the mainstream have been an extension of the power that has corrupted so much of our body politic. They have been the sources of so many myths.

This latest film about The Post neglects to mention that The Washington Post was a passionate supporter of the Vietnam War before it decided to have a moral crisis about whether to publish the Pentagon Papers. Today, The Washington Post has a $600 million deal with the CIA to supply them with information.

Media in the West is now an extension of imperial power. It is no longer a loose extension, it is a direct extension. Whether or not it has fallen out with Donald Trump is completely irrelevant. It is lined up with all the forces that want to get rid of Donald Trump. He is not the one they want in the White House, they wanted Hillary Clinton, who is safer and more reliable.

Dennis J Bernstein is a host of Flashpoints on the Pacifica radio network and the author of Special Ed: Voices from a Hidden Classroom . You can access the audio archives at www.flashpoints.net .

This article was originally published by Consortiumnews -

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Join the DiscussionEuropes Pandering to Trump Risks Killing Iran Nuclear Deal By Finian Cunningham January 25, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Its not looking good. The European powers are shamelessly pandering to US President Trumps threats to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. By doing so, the EUs backsliding will likely kill the landmark accord.

What a difference a fortnight makes to EU foreign policy. Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany were all sternly warning Washington not to undermine the Iran nuclear deal. That was January 11, the day before Trump was due to make a decision on whether to extend sanctions relief to Iran. Together with the EUs top diplomat Federica Mogherini, the foreign ministers issued a statement saying that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, as the 2015 nuclear accord is formally known) was essential for international security. The Iran nuclear accord makes the world safer, said Britains Boris Johnson, while Germanys Sigmar Gabriel claimed: We want to protect the deal from any decision that undermines it. Two weeks later, Britain, France and Germany are now shilly-shallying after the US secretary of state flew into London, Paris and Brussels, evidently to bang a few heads together. Earlier this month, on January 12, Trump ignored his European partners appeals when he announced that he was waiving sanctions on Iran for the last time. Trump then issued the ultimatum that the EU had 120 days to fix the flaws in the JCPOA or face the prospect of the US withdrawing from the deal. All the signs now are that the Europeans are indeed caving into Trumps demands to, in effect, re-write the nuclear accord. Following Tillersons visit to European capitals this week, the EU partners have agreed to set up a working group along with the US which will look into ways of addressing Trumps concerns over what he calls a disastrous deal.

Iran has warned categorically that there can be no renegotiation of the JCPOA, which was co-signed by the US in July 2015 under President Obama, along with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council: Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany. The European Union is also a formal signatory.

Russia and China have repeatedly stated that the international accord, which was approved by a UN Security Council Resolution, must be upheld by all parties. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said this week if the landmark agreement collapses then the repercussions will be severely destabilizing for global security and diplomacy over other matters, such as the North Korea crisis.

Leonid Slutsky, of Russias parliamentary committee on foreign relations, called the setting up of a working group by the US and EU to review the nuclear accord a very negative signal. He added: Signing additional agreements or creating other mechanisms will have an adverse effect on implementation of the existing JCPOA.

So, what does Trump want? The president - along with many hawkish members of Congress  want a follow-up agreement to plug what they claim are flaws in the JCPOA. Congress is already working on legislation at Trumps behest allowing the US to re-impose tough sanctions on Iran based on certain conditions.

Those conditions include: international inspectors to be given full access to all Iranian military sites; the permanent extension of sunset provisions in the JCPOA limiting Irans nuclear activities; the inclusion of ballistic missiles in the ban on nuclear weapons; and a mechanism for reviewing Irans regional relations, which the US alleges involves sponsorship of terrorism.

If these conditions are not met to Washingtons satisfaction, then Trump is warning that the US will finally walk away from the JCPOA.

Knowing full well that Iran will not tolerate such a radical re-writing of the nuclear deal, the Europeans appear to be moving towards a fudge.

Officially, the EU states are saying that they are standing by the accord, but they are now considering the establishment of a side-agreement to go parallel with the JCPOA. That is where this new working group comes in.

The US and EU have reportedly agreed on an expert panel hammering out provisions specifically on Irans ballistic missile program, and concerns about Tehrans regional conduct.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed this week that there are valid apprehensions over Irans ballistic missiles development.

Germanys Sigmar Gabriel is also urging Iran to engage in negotiations to discuss these concerns.

Such a US-EU move evidently shows bad faith towards the international accord ratified by the UN. It is cynically being presented as a follow-on agreement where it might be claimed that the EU is abiding by the JCPOA. But what it means in practice is the JCPOA being amended after that deal was done more than two years ago.

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Also, the Europeans are indulging Washingtons dubious claims about Iran being a sponsor of terrorism and a destabilizing influence in the Middle East. This is bitterly ironic given that Irans military intervention in Syria, along with Russia and Lebanons Hezbollah, has helped to stabilize that country following a US- and European-backed proxy war using terrorism groups to overthrow the government in Damascus.

France, in particular, has reiterated provocative allegations made by Washington that Iran is supplying ballistic missiles to Houthi rebels in Yemen. No evidence has ever been presented to back that up, even though the US, Britain and France are arming the Saudi regime to bomb Yemeni civilians mercilessly for nearly three years.

Further, the JCPOA does not preclude Iran from developing conventional military defenses, including ballistic missiles. The only restriction is if the ballistic missiles are designed to carry nuclear warheads, which Iran says it is not doing.

Trump is motivated by an irrational Iranophobia and obsequious kowtowing to the Israeli government. He wants to throttle the JCPOA signed by his predecessor Obama regardless of international legal obligations. Trumps boorish business practice of bullying other parties is evidently working on softening up the Europeans towards his demands.

The trouble is that, by capitulating to Trump, the Europeans are likely to infuriate Iran. Any attempt to undermine the JCPOA or put restrictions on Irans conventional military defenses are red lines for Tehran.

How futile can you get? The weak-kneed European governments are not representing the interests of their people. The JCPOA has already resulted in economic benefits for European workers, exporters and investors. If the EU crashes this deal out of elite pandering to Trump and hawkish Washington prejudices, the consequences for European governments credibility will be grave.

The EU had a chance to really stand up to Washingtons bad faith and unscrupulous foreign conduct by upholding the Iran nuclear accord. Instead, the European governing wimps are backsliding in the most shameless manner.

The damage goes way beyond harming Europes own economies if the Iran accord falls through  as looks likely from the way the EU is estranging Tehran. The perfidy would be a grievous blow to international law and the role of diplomacy in resolving disputes.

In that event, the message is: the US and its European allies are not to be trusted; their word isnt worth the paper its written on.

Ominously, the US and its European partners appear ready to recklessly trash any international standards.

Finian Cunningham has written extensively on international affairs, with articles published in several languages. He is a Masters graduate in Agricultural Chemistry and worked as a scientific editor for the Royal Society of Chemistry, Cambridge, England, before pursuing a career in newspaper journalism. He is also a musician and songwriter. For nearly 20 years, he worked as an editor and writer in major news media organisations, including The Mirror, Irish Times and Independent.

This article was originally published by RT -

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Join the DiscussionPresident of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is optimistic about the relationship with Washington and declares substantial support from the United States under the presidency of Donald Trump.

"Ukraine has a brilliant dialogue with Mr. Trump. I spent two full meetings, numerous discussions. We received weapons, and extremely strong support from the U.S. Congress, notably from both parties. And we can be optimistic because of it," Poroshenko said, speaking at the panel discussion of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday.The Russiagate Stakes Are Extreme

By Paul Craig Roberts

January 25, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - The Republicans delay in releasing the summary of the House Intelligence Committees Russiagate investigation is giving weight to the presstitutes claim that the report is not being released, because it is a hack attempt at a Trump coverup that is not believable. Only Republicans are stupid enough to put themselves in such a situation.

Readers ask me why the summary memo is not released if it is real. There must be some reasons besides the stupidity of Republicans. Yes, that is so. Among the many reasons that might be blocking release are:

1) Republicans are very national security conscious. They dont want to provide precedents for the release of classified information.

2) Many Republican congressional districts host installations of the military/security complex. Upsetting a large employer and directing campaign financing to a challenger is a big consideration.

3) The George W. Bush/Dick Cheney regime was a neoconservative regime. One consequence is that Republicans are influenced by neoconservatives who stress the alleged Russian threat.

4) The Israel Lobby can unseat any member of the House and Senate. The Israel Lobby is allied with the neoconservatives and this alliance intends to keep the US militarily active against perceived threats to Israels hegemony in the Middle East and against Russia, which supports Syria and Iran, countries perceived as threats by Israel.

5) Many Republicans are themselves invested in false Russiagate allegations against Trump and would like to replace him with Pence. Other Republicans believe that Trump is undermining Washingtons expensively-purchased foreign alliances and, thereby, undermining US power.

Many Americans do not seem to understand what is at stake. What America is confronted with is a coup conspiracy organized by top officials of the Obama Justice Department, FBI, CIA, the Hillary DNC, and the presstitute media to overturn the result of a democratic election and remove the president from office. The basis of the coup is a fake dossier purchased for money that consists of unsupported allegations against Trump and that was used to obtain warrants from the FISA count to spy on Trump and various associates hoping to find something that can be used against Trump. Regardless, the false allegations could be fed to the CIAs media assets and used to create a scandal requiring a special prosecutor to investigate Russiagate. Once the investigation was under way, the presstitutes kept the scandal alive hoping to convince enough Americans that Trump must have done somethingwhere there is smoke, there is firethat justifies his removal. It worked against Richard Nixon, but not against Ronald Reagan, and Trump is no Reagan.

If the highest reaches of the police state agencies can get away with an attempted or successful coup against the president of the United States, then that is the complete end of democracy and all accountability in government. The House, Senate, and judiciary will become as powerless as the Roman senate under the caesars. We will live under a dictatorship ruled by police state agencies.

Many Americans say they dont need the House Intelligence Report, because they dont believe the Russiagate BS in the first place. They miss the point. They need the report, because those responsible for this attempt at a coup must be identified, charged, and prosecuted for their act of high treason.

This is not minor stuff. This goes to the heart of whether any form of liberty will exist. We all know that the ability of the people to hold government accountable is not assured by democracy. However, there is no prospect of holding government accountable if it is a police state, a road that the US has been going down for some time. The audacious coup attempt against President Trump is our opportunity to stop the momentum to a police state.

Despite my recent postings, many people do not understand that the somewhat redacted FISA court document that has been declassified and released and explained by myself, William Binney, and former US Attorney Joe di Genova (see: https://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2018/01/22/here-are-all-the-facts-about-russiagate/ ) contains admissions by the FBI and DOJ that they improperty spied and obtained warrants from the court under false pretenses. In other words, we have it on the authority of the FISA court itself that the FBI and DOJ have admitted to the court their transgressions. When Department of Justice (sic) congressional liaison Stephen Boyd says the DOJ is unaware of any wrongdoing, he is lying through his teeth. The DOJ has already confessed its wrongdoing to the FISA court.

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(See Lendman on Boyds claim that releasing the memo would harm national security and ongoing investigations. This is always the claim made when government has to cover up its crimes. http://stephenlendman.org/2018/01/memo-detailing-russiagate-abuses-names-high-level-us-officials/ )

When Admiral Rodgers, director of the National Security Agency, discovered that the FBI and DOJ were misusing the spy system for partisan political reasons, he let it be known that he was going to inform the FISA court. This caused the FBI and DOJ to rush to the court in advance and confess to mistakes and to promise to tighten up procedures so as not to make mistakes in the future. It is these mistakes and corrections that the FISA court document reveals.

In other words, the information already exists in the pubic domain that proves that Russiagate was a conspiracy organized for the purpose of bringing down the elected president of the United States.

A case can be made that it would be just as well if the coup succeeds as it would bring an end to Washingtons cover as the government of a great democracy with liberty and justice for all. Most other governments, and one would hope certainly the Russian and Chinese governments, would see the coup as Americas final transition into a police state and give up their utopian ideas of reaching accommodation with Washington. The constraints on Washingtons ability to bully the world would be greatly strengthened by the universal perception that the government of the United States had devolved into a police state.

Dr. Paul Craig Roberts was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy and associate editor of the Wall Street Journal. He was columnist for Business Week, Scripps Howard News Service, and Creators Syndicate. He has had many university appointments. His internet columns have attracted a worldwide following. Roberts' latest books are The Failure of Laissez Faire Capitalism and Economic Dissolution of the West , How America Was Lost , and The Neoconservative Threat to World Order .

- See Also - DOJ recovers missing text messages between anti-Trump FBI agents Strzok and PageTrump is Helping to Make the Region a Crueller Place



A presidency built on such weak foundations will do little to help little to help any negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and has already made things worse



By Robert Fisk

There really is no point any more in talking about Donald Trump or US foreign policy. They do not exist. Indeed, the Trump presidency is about as real as Palestine. Both deserve inverted commas although the first fantasy would clearly represent white and largely Christian Americans trying to make their country great again at the expense of lesser creatures, while the second  which is not even a state  obviously qualifies as a Trump s***hole country; its people are not exactly white, they are largely Muslim and many seek asylum from the enslavement of the longest military occupation of modern times. For Norway, of course, read Israel.

So in the crazed mind of the booby who thinks hes running the United States, theres not much point, surely, in peace between a modern and much loved ally and the third world people forced to live in the manure pits further east and south. Jerusalem is thus the capital of Israel, the Oslo of the Middle East, built on the green hill far away  though in the hymn it is supposed to be without a city wall. But what the hell? Trump likes walls, and Cecil Frances Alexander, the 19th century Irish hymnodist of There is a Green Hill Far Away also wrote All Things Bright and Beautiful which surely appeals to the crackpot in the White House who speaks so eloquently about beautiful babies (in Syria, when they are dead) and beautiful weapons (in Riyadh, before they have killed any babies).

In fact, to talk about Trumps Middle East, its necessary to enter the lunatic asylum. After all, Palestine does not qualify as a state and Israel, which does, has not the slightest idea where its eastern border lies geographically. In the middle of Jerusalem? Halfway across the Palestinian West Bank? Along the entire length of the Jordan river? And what about poor Gaza? When the Israelis bombed the place to bits in 2008-2009 (they did the same again in 2012 and 2014), they dropped munitions on the Palestinian sewage system and contaminated both drinking water and the sea with  Oh well, yes, of course, they turned part of Gaza, quite literally, into a s***hole.

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Not even Jared Kushner, the beloved son-in-law and real estate magnate and dealmaker supreme  a woeful Dickensian hero, if ever there was one  can work out the dimensions of this particular Middle East property or, for that matter, either part of it. Since, along with the US ambassador to Israel, Kushner supports the Jewish colonisation of the Arab West Bank  and, believe me, there are no s***holes on those hilltop settlements  even he will not be able to tell us exactly where the eastern border of Israel runs, or may run or will run, eternally and forever and ever, Amen.

And thats the problem, I fear, for the crank in the Oval Office. Much of the world is a land of vapours  the kind that supposedly affected your brain (Trump might consult Caliban about this)  and apparitions. The Middle East, as we all know, is a place of djinns, ghosts, Crusaders, Saracens, Apocalypses, 12th Imams and Christ figures and bearded men in caves. But all of them have a greater chance of appearing or reappearing in the second year of Trumps presidency than a peace between two states whose physical dimensions are way beyond the comprehension of Jared and his Kushner Companies.

Acknowledging all this has a price, of course. Several times, most recently in Dublin, I have pointed out  in discussions about the Middle East, especially after the US claim that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel  that Donald Trump is mad, insane, crackers, and should be in a mental institution. And on each occasion Ive been reminded  by presenters or producers  that I am not qualified to say this since I am not a medical doctor. I find this strange. If, for example, I had stated that Trump was utterly sane and level-headed, I dont think I would have been reminded of my lack of medical qualifications. Nor would this have happened if I had described (as I have) Muammar Gaddafi as a lunatic, which he was.

But you have to watch out for those Trumpites who pop up to call you fake news and who frighten radio station editors. The medias continuing respect for fair play when discussing a president who is self-evidently a dangerous and racist xenophobe (as opposed, for example, to the Arab variety) should one day be examined. Gaddafi, mad. Ahmedinejad, mad. Abu Nidal, mad. Saddam, mad. But try that on Trump and, hem hem, youll have to produce your general practitioners certificate to make any such aspersion abut this infantile person.

So lets not be fooled. Trump, in whatever fantastical, delusional form, is making the Middle East a more brutal and cruel place, and will continue to do so, aided by his ever-smiling, ever hopeless son-in-law and his clutch of generals  Mad Dog Mattis did not earn his nickname because of his military wisdom, and his conviction that Iranian Shiites rather than Iraqi Sunnis messed up Americas plans in post-invasion Iraq suggests that he is dangerously emotional rather than professionally rational. Its easy to convince oneself that very odd soldiers  chaps who ride across the Rubicon, capture Moscow when its on fire or wear moustaches after serving as Unteroffiziers on the Western Front  dont really have much influence on history.

The Arabs know all about the power of soldiers. Remember Colonel Nasser and Colonel Gaddafi, Colonel Ali Abdullah Saleh, Air Force Commander Assad and Air Chief Marshal Mubarak and former Second Lieutenant Sadat and Field Marshal al-Sisi? Three were assassinated, two died of heart attacks and two more are joyfully still with us. Of course, they all live or lived in nations which Trump would presumably categorise as s***hole countries. But at least they werent all fantasists.

This article was originally published by The Independent -

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Join the Discussion"Who Lost Turkey?" - The U.S.-Kurdish Project In Syria Endangers NATO

By Moon Of Alabama

January 25, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Back in the 1950s the U.S. political sphere was poisoned by a groundless smear campaign against country-experts in the State Department who were identified as those who lost China . If the Trump administration proceeds on its current course we may soon see similar accusations. The accused, those "who lost Turkey", will again be the ones who warned of the possibility and not the real culprits.

The Turkish attack on the Kurd held Syrian canton of Afrin (Efrin) is not progressing as fast the Turks had hoped. The infantry component of the operation are Turkish proxy forces in Syria. These Chechen, Uighur, Turkestanis and other Takfiris are cannon fodder in the operations, not a well integrated component of an army.

The Kurds know their local mountainous territory, are well armed and willing to fight. They can holdout for a while. Politically they will still be the ones who will lose the most in the conflict. The above linked piece noted that the Kurdish YPG/PKK leaders had rejected the Syrian and Russian government offer that would have prevented the Turkish attack. The offer still exists but the conditions will become less favorable as longer the Kurds hold out.

Elijah Magnier just published more details on that offer and analyses the strategic situation:

[T]he US is observing the performance of the Turkish army with interest and wishes to see Erdogan humiliated, broken on the rocks of the Kurds in Afrin. Indeed, the US has delivered anti-tank weapons, already effectively used by the Kurds against the Turkish army (many tanks damaged during the attack on Afrin).

...

The US cant understand that Ankara is not ready to see a rich and well-armed Kurdish state on its borders, disregarding the USs tempting and generous offer [of a "safe zone" (see below)]. Actually, the US is offering a territory that not only does not belong to the Americans but is actually occupied by the US forces in north east Syria. The US is one of the losers in this battle, regardless of the results, because Turkey will continue its operations until the defeat of the Kurds, either by military means or if Afrin returns to [Syrian] central governments control.

I am not convinced that the above prediction will hold. There is still a possibility that Turkey might again change sides and (again) join the U.S. "regime change" efforts in Syria.

This depends on the winner of a conflict within the U.S. military where opposing forces are pulling for the Turkish and respectively the Kurdish side. Should the pro-Turkish side win, Erdogan can be offered a new deal and might be induced to again change sides from his current pro-Russian (pro-Damascus?) position back towards a pro-NATO/U.S. stand. (There is also a tiny chance that Turkey already has a secret back deal with the U.S. administration but I see no indication for it.)

From the very beginning of the conflict in Syria Turkey worked with the U.S., NATO, the Saudis and Qataris, against the Syrian government. It supported the Saudi and U.S. position of "regime change", let ten-thousands of terrorists pass through its borders and delivered ten-thousands of tons of weapons and supplies to the forces fighting the Syrian government. Finally Russia entered the picture, defeated the Takfiris, put harsh pressure on Turkey and offered new economic deals. At the same time the U.S. attempted "regime change" in Ankara and allied with the Kurdish YPG/PKK in Syria and Iraq.

Erdogan, though unwillingly, changed sides and now works with Russia (and Syria) to bring the war to a conclusion. "Regime change" in Damascus has become an unlikely scenario he no longer supports. At the same time he is still willing to invest money and forces to gain something for his failed investment in the war. Taking Afrin to later incorporate it into an enlarged Turkey is one of those plays. He is clearly still aiming for additional territory. The U.S. now offered him some in form of a safe zone in Syria:

Ilhan tanir @WashingtonPoint - 7:50 PM - 24 Jan 2018

This map being discussed all day on Turkish TVs as Turkeys planned security zone/safe zone on Syria border.

Reportedly OKed by Sec.Tillerson though nobody on the American side confirms it

If the U.S. indeed made the "safe zone" offer - Tillerson did not deny today to have made such - it found a rather cold response :

Washingtons proposal for the creation of a security zone along Turkeys 911-kilometer border with Syria has received a cool reply from Ankara, with Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu urging the U.S. to first take steps to re-build trust between the two allies before discussing such military matters.

...

The U.S. needs to stop delivering weapons to the YPG. It needs to push the YPG to withdrawing from Manbij if it wants to re-build confidence with Turkey  We have to see all these commitments fulfilled, Cavusoglu said.

It is the U.S. supported founding of a Kurdish state-let in north-east Syria which is Ankara's most serious security concern. No "safe zone" will help if the U.S. military continues to build and supplies a Kurdish "border force" that can penetrate Turkey's south-eastern underbelly - now, tomorrow or in ten years. Unless the U.S. stops that project and retreats from the area Turkey will continue to push against it - if necessary by force .

The Turkish people support the fight against U.S. supported Kurds and are willing to pay the price for it. The Kurdish YPK leaders are delusional in their demands and overestimate their own political position. The U.S. can not have both, Turkey as an ally and a Kurdish proxy state-let. It has to decide.

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Yesterday President Trump and Erdogan had a phonecall to discuss the situation. It did not help. The White House readout for the call includes some noticeably harsh language:

President Donald J. Trump spoke today with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey. President Trump relayed concerns that escalating violence in Afrin, Syria, risks undercutting our shared goals in Syria. He urged Turkey to deescalate, limit its military actions, and avoid civilian casualties and increases to displaced persons and refugees.

...

President Trump also expressed concern about destructive and false rhetoric coming from Turkey, and about United States citizens and local employees detained under the prolonged State of Emergency in Turkey.

The Turkish side denied that such language and these issues were part of the talk:

The White House's written statement differs from the truth discussed between the Turkish and U.S. Presidents' phone conversation on Wednesday, according to Anadolu Agency sources. Speaking on the condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, the sources said President Donald Trump did not discuss any concerns 'of escalating violence in Afrin' during the phone call with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

...

The sources also stressed that President Trump did not use the words "destructive and false rhetoric coming from Turkey."

...

They also said that there was no discussion of the ongoing state of emergency in Turkey.

It is very unusual to dispute the content of such readouts. Is Turkey obfuscating here or did someone in the White House put harsher language into the readout than was actually used in the call?

Trump had in general good relations with Erdogan and the readout language does not sound like him. The Turkish side also added this:

"In an answer to President Erdogan's highlighting request from Washington to stop providing arms to the PYD/YPG terrorists in Syria within the scope of fighting against terrorism, President Trump said the United States are no longer providing PYD/YPG with weapons," the sources added.

Already in November the Turks had said that Trump promised to stop the delivery of weapons to the YPG forces in east-Syria. But the White House was evasive on the issue and the U.S. military Central Command has acted contrary to that promise. If the Magnier report is correct CentCom also delivered anti-tank missiles to the Kurds in Afrin.

I have for some time presumed that are different opinions in the White House and especially in the Pentagon with regards to Turkey and the Kurds. The realist-hawks and NATO proponents are on Turkey's side while the neoconservative "liberal" forces are on the Kurdish side. Yesterday the NYT noted the split:

The White House sent out a message aimed at mollifying Turkeys president on Tuesday, suggesting that the United States was easing off its support for the Syrian Kurds. That message was quickly contradicted by the Pentagon, which said it would continue to stand by the Kurds, even as Turkey invaded their stronghold in northwestern Syria.

The former director of the Council of Foreign Relations, Richard Haass, takes the pro-Kurdish position. Linking to the NYT piece above he says:

Richard N. Haass @RichardHaass - 12:00 PM - 24 Jan 2018

Pentagon right; US should be working w Kurds in Syria for moral and strategic reasons alike. A break with Erdogans Turkey is inevitable, if not over this than over other differences. Time for DoD to come up with plan to substitute for Incirlik access.

It is not only the Incirlik air-base which is irreplaceable for NATO's southern command. Turkey also controls the access to the Black Sea and has thereby a say over potential NATO operations against southern Russia and Crimea.

In a Bloomberg oped former U.S. Supreme Commander of NATO Stavridis takes a pro-Turkish position:

At the moment, Washington is trying to sail a narrow passage between supporting its erstwhile Kurdish combat partners and not blowing up the relationship with Turkey. But the room for maneuver is closing and a choice is looming. What should the U.S. do?

...

[W]e simply cannot afford to "lose" Turkey.

...

The Turks have a strong and diversified economy, a young and growing population, and have stood alongside the U.S. for much of the post-World War II era. Their importance both regionally and globally will continue to grow in the 21st century. Yes, U.S. officials can and should criticize Turkish actions where they violate international law or human rights -- but in private, at least at this stage of the situation.

...

[T]he overall U.S. strategic interest lies in keeping Turkey aligned with NATO and the trans-Atlantic community. It would be a geopolitical mistake of near-epic proportions to see Turkey drift out of that orbit and end up aligned with Russia and Iran in the Levant.

It is unclear where in the Trump administration the split between pro-Kurdish and pro-Turkish positions actually is. (Or is it all around chaos?) On which side, for example, is Secretary of Defense Mattis and on which side is the National Security Advisor McMaster? This clip from the NYT piece above lets one assume that they pull in opposite directions:

For its part, the White House disavowed a plan by the American military to create a Kurdish-led force in northeastern Syria, which Turkey has vehemently opposed.

...

That plan, a senior administration official said Tuesday, originated with midlevel military planners in the field, and was never seriously debated, or even formally introduced, at senior levels in the White House or the National Security Council.

...

But the Pentagon issued its own statement on Tuesday standing by its decision to create the Kurdish-led force.

Discussing NATO relations with Turkey, several western "experts" agree that the current situation damages NATO but not one of them expects that Turkey will leave the alliance:

NATO needs Turkey and cannot afford to push it further into Russias arms. Erdogan also needs NATO. He has overplayed his hand in Syria and in his struggle with the Kurds, and is isolated in the EU. His relationship with Moscow is problematic and he does not want to face Putin without NATO membership. This is an alliance that remains based on real strategic interests and that will continue long after Erdogan is gone.

Maybe. I am not so sure.

The last thing the EU now wants or needs is Turkish membership. The U.S. instigated a coup against Erdogan and its Kurdish project is threatening Turkey's strategic interest. Trump's continued push to take Jerusalem "off the table" in Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is an insult to all Muslims. An increasingly Islamic Turkey will not accept that. Turkey's natural gas supplies depend on Russia and Iran. Russia builds nuclear power stations in Turkey and will deliver air defense systems that can defend against U.S. attacks. Russia, Iran, Central Asia and beyond that China are markets for Turkish products.

Putting myself into Erdogan's shoes I would be very tempted to leave NATO and join an alliance with Russia, China and Iran. Unless the U.S. changes course and stops fooling around with the Kurds Turkey will continue to disentangle itself from the old alliance. The Turkish army has so far prevented a break with NATO but even staunch anti-Erdogan officers are now on his side .

If the U.S. makes a real offer to Turkey and adopts a new position it might be able to turn Turkey around and to put it back into its NATO fold. Is the Trump White House capable of defying the pro-Israel/pro-Kurdish voices and move back to that realist view?

If it can not do that the real answer to the question "Who lost Turkey?" will be obvious.

This article was originally published by Moon Of Alabama -

- See Also -

US Bombings Kill 15 Civilians in Deir Ezzor, Syria

Syrian Army repels ISIS attack on Deir ez-Zor military posts  state media

Fact or fiction; 260 killed in 4-day Turkish Syria offensive

Erdogan says to extend Syria operation despite risk of U.S. confrontation

Ignorance feeds hypocrisy: Donald Trump warns Turkey over Syria incursion: White House

Turkey to extend Syria campaign to Kurdish-controlled Manbij

US concerned about safety of American forces in Manbij

Turkey's Erdogan Told Trump US Should Withdraw From Syria's Manbij

Syria, Russia and Iran Win Major Base, Split Rebels in Two as War Shifts West

Join the DiscussionNigerian veteran rapper, Ruggedman who is part of the on-going reality show Celebrity Housemates, while chatting with Junior Pope and Funky Mallam, bragged about buying Chocolate Citys act, Ice Prince his first ticket to London back in 2010.

Ruggedman said;

When I tell am say make we go London go shoot him video he shock. Na so I buy am ticket, I even leave am for London for one week before I go join am so tey he con dey fear.

Recall that Chocolate City act, Ice Prince, who broke into the Nigerian music scene with Oleku, which he had ex-label mate, Brymo on, in a new Twitter exchange, admitted that he is back to being an upcoming act.

The now former superstar rap sensation, had this exchange with a follower who tweeted about his recent single Replay. The tweet read;

With d way dis @Iceprincezamani s Replay is sweet ehn, he might be nominated 4 @The_Headies NextRated. Iz not me dat said it oo #OkBye

Replying the tweet, Ice Prince tweeted;

Never been nominated, Im still upcoming but Im getting Moneyyy #GiveThanks.

Recall also that in an interview in 2017, Ice Prince Zamani, said artists in the country deserve kudos for making waves and giving Nigerian music more global recognition.

Ice Price, whose real name is Panshak Zamani, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that growth in the Nigerian music industry had encouraged acceptability globally.

He made mention of Wizkids winning of the highly coveted Best International Act: Africa at the 2017 BET Awards.

One can see that Nigerian artistes themselves have made efforts at stepping up their game and making it more acceptable internationally.

So much impact  like Wizkid is currently the Best African Act at the just concluded BET Awards in America, which just gives every other person hope.

It is amazing how fast the Nigerian music industry has evolved these past years. Im really grateful to everybody that has worked toward opening the doors; from the likes of Fela, Sunny Ade, 2face, Dbanj, Don Jazzy.

Theyve been doing amazingly well, and may God keep granting them success as they keep opening doors.

It seemed impossible, and right now it just feels like one of those things already. Featuring a Nigerian artist would now be a major thing.

Theres so much big stuff coming up; it feels good to be a part of the industry that is really growing so fast right now, he said.US President Donald Trump on Friday asked the African Union chairman to pass on his warmest regards to other regional leaders at a summit this weekend, after sparking outrage with a reported slur against Africans.

The outspoken US leader congratulated Rwandan President Paul Kagame on taking over as chair of the African bloc, which Trump said was a great honour.

I know youre going to your first meeting shortly. Please give my warmest regards, Trump told Kagame after they held a one-on-one meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The US president ignored questions shouted by journalists about his reported dismissal this month of African nations as shithole countries, during a meeting on immigration with congressional leaders.

The reported remark drew outrage around the world and prompted several African governments to demand explanations from their US ambassadors.

The 55-nation African Union chaired by Kagame demanded an apology, although Trump has denied making the remark as relayed by US lawmakers who were present at the meeting.

Trump said he had tremendous discussions in Davos with Kagame, who for his part said they had good discussions about the economy and trade.

Source: ( AFP )Notorious leader of a kidnapping syndicate in Kagarko-Jere axis of Kaduna state has been arrested.

The man identified Yau Ahmadu aka Dogo Russia is said to be responsible for killing 2 policemen and abduction of 2 Americans and 2 Canadians last week was arrested by DCP Abba Kyari.

Combined teams of Intelligence Response Team IRT, Counter Terrorism Unit CTU and Kaduna Police Command all deployed by Inspector general of police; Ibrahim K Idris rescued the 3 white men and one white woman (2 American and 2 Canadian Citizens) who were abducted by unknown gunmen.

The four expatriates were abducted along Kwoi-Jere road in Kagarko local government area of Kaduna State on Tuesday.

Two Nigerian policemen were killed by the gunmen in the course of the abduction.

-PunchThe stories of riches are dreamy and fascinating, so is of London based Sikh businessman Sardar Reuben Singh, who owned a fleet of Royals Royces and matched them with his turban color.

He started out young and exhaled well in his business before becoming bankrupt in 2007 according to reports.

According to reliable sources, from 1999-2007, Mr Singh founded and grew alldayPA, which unfortunately he lost control of in 2007, due to his personal bankruptcy.

Then between 2007-2017, he worked hard to successfully regain control of alldayPA to once again become the CEO of the company.

In 2015 he took back control of the alldayPA.

Reuben, however, has come out large to prove the report wrong having worked hard over the last 11 years becoming more successful in his businesses.

Today, Mr. Singh as the CEO and owner of Isher Capital and alldayPA Group that employs over 500 people with a 30 million+ annual revenue is also a philanthropy among other things.

The pictures used in this story were actually taken less than a month ago and he still owns these cars, as part of his large collection.

These pictures and the reasons for which they were taken, are actually a very new story.

Recently, someone made a racist remark against Mr. Reuben, one thing led to another and a bet was laid between them for charity.

The bet was that he could not match his cars to the colour of his turbans for seven straight days. As evident in the images in the story (more photos below), Reuben managed to complete the challenge.

This occurred less than a month ago and culminated in a donation being made to charity.

Reuben who actually completed this challenge recently and at ease owns the cars and is very much in charge of his companies, Isher Capital and alldayPA Group.

Read more on Sardar Reuben Singh motivating story below:

Sikhs and royalty go hand in hand, the legends of their exemplary tales are mesmerising enough to leave you cursing your daily 9-5 jobs.

One such inspirational story is a London based Indian businessman. Sardar Reuben Singh who owned a set of the famous Rolls Royce matching his turban colour. Legend had it that he challenged an Englishman who made fun of his turban and told him that he will match all 7 days of the week at work in a Rolls Royce with his turban colour. A legendary classic car freak, Singh brought in a host of Rolls Royce and matched them with his turban colour gracefully.

While we keep cribbing about not being able to match our Tees and jackets with same colour shoes, Reuben Singh earned enough on his own to build an empire which saw him amass big fortunes.

Termed as the British Bill Gates for his young endeavours as an entrepreneur, Singh accumulated huge wealth with his own ventures and never asked for a share in his fathers already established business. He founded a fashion chain: Miss Attitude, which became widely popular in the 90s Britain.

He started out by working over 20 hours in his first Miss Attitude store at the age of 17. With the hunger to build an empire for him, he kept striving for more and achieved a lot before being forced to sell out his debt-laden business for a shocking 1 (approx Rs 80) to American financier Gary Klesch.

The once abounding media went all gun blazing on Singh as he suffered huge losses and couldnt pay back loans of over 11million pounds (approx Rs 10 crores).

The media also alleged that Singh took the shelter of favoured articles and columns to establish him as an influential business figure. However, the Rolls Royce owner defended himself and floored the rumours suggesting that they are only jealousy based and made to hurt his reputation.

Talking about the elite Rolls Royce cars, the brand in itself is a huge name and is famous for rejecting customers who dont fit in their criteria of being reputed enough to carry a Royce key. Some big Bollywood names who own one of the perfectly crafted beauties are Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Akshay Kumar and Priyanka Chopra. But certainly, Singhs impressive numbers can put to shame any other Rolls Royce owner.

Though now the elite brand has a number of owners in India, to own a Royce during the early 2000s was in itself a big feat which Sardar Reuben Singh aced perfectly.The National Harmonised Traders Union of Nigeria on Thursday endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari to re-contest for the Presidency in 2019.

The President of the association, Bature Abdulaziz, made this known to newsmen in Kano.

He said the decision of the union to declare its support for Mr. Buhari to re-contest for the presidency was borne out of its firm believe that Mr. Buhari would take the country to greater heights considering the achievements he recorded in the last two and a half years.

Though we are a non-partisan organisation, we will support you (Buhari) to contest for the second term and this time we will put more effort than we did before.

We advise you (Buhari) to remain resolute on your trust to Nigerians in your quest to ensure peace and unity in the country, he said.

Mr. Abdulaziz commended the president for the successes recorded in tackling the Boko Haram insurgency and the fight against corruption in the country.

Your efforts in infrastructural development especially road network development across the 36 states is gradually taking shape.

We congratulate you on the effort being made to revamp our rail transport system to a 21st century standard, he said.

He said the rail lines when fully operational would boost growth in the commerce sector in moving goods easily across the country as well as ease the sufferings of travellers.

He lauded Federal Governments effort over the significant improvement recorded in the energy sector and called for more to be done in view of the importance of the sector toward the development of the country.

We have noticed a significant improvement in the energy sector but we expect more to be done as the sector is a major key to commerce, industry and trade, he said.

On security, the president of the association called on Mr. Buhari to personally monitor the use of one billion dollars earmarked recently to fight insurgency so as ensure accountability and transparency.

He however charged Mr. Buhari to expose and punish all known saboteurs who are bent on sabotaging his administrations effort toward making Nigeria a better country.

Source : (NAN)Nollywood actor, James Ikechukwu Esomugha, popularly known as Jim Iyke, is not cut out for critics online, and he has taken to Instagram to express himself.

Jim is one Nigerian celebrity who doesnt just over look negative comments on his social media pages.

According to him, if you cross the line, he will refuse to be urbane. He wrote;

The moment of clarity is the weirdest gift life gives u. keeping with the joneses makes one a walking target. I termed it Industry wisdom. Close quarters makes for strange bedfellows. To labour the point is pointless. I see the world behind my curtain thru filters beyond the conventional. I share my elan, thoughts and life miles on this platform to tutor, guide, inspire, vent and learn in return. My private life remains intact. This is a stretch without bias nor pressure im willing to offer. It finds incredible resonance with many people. It also apparently irks others for no apparent reason.My passion is shared collectively by the ensemble i belong to; my sensitive super smart boy, i build everything for. My nuclear family that thinks Im Zeus. Parents Ive being a son to ten times over. True fans that truly believe in me. It is my gauge of manhood. My sense of a great collective higher purpose. Unapologetically its not designed for everyone. We can argue about civility and tolerance all day. Im a man that is fairly versed in most stations and circle of travel. Im exceedingly patient and dexterous with kind and open people. Ive zero tolerance for bullies and trolls. Their satisfaction is to disseminate their virus until it is hosted by everyone on their wake.Their choices is a by product of weakness. Their weakness is their strength. It can prove cancerous and has driven many innocents to an early grave or a derail of self worth. Insideous words can manipulate the spirit and soul.

Nigeria fans are some of the most gracious people in the world. Given to such grand gestures of voracious loyalty and generosity.

Some are also capable of unprecedented cruelty and vindictiveness given the slightest turn of tables. It is impossible to keep up with our multi facet maelstrom. It is as funny as it is tragic.

To overfeed the Dragon is precarious. To underfeed is an uphill task. It is to constantly recreate the scenerio of the devil and the deep blue sea in ones life.

We can convey our disapproval and disagreement under an auspice of modernity. U dt like it pls ff or block. I refuse to be urbane if anyone cross the lines. Its my prerogative. God bless. #ICONIC

-GistreelThe Brigade Commander, 23rd Armoured Brigade, Yola, Bello Mohammed, said seven policemen and two soldiers lost their lives within the past two months as a result of Numan sectarian crisis involving herdsmen and farmers.

Mr. Mohammed, a brigadier general, made this known Thursday in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, while addressing a town hall meeting of stakeholders on the crisis.

Mr. Mohammed said the military organized the meeting to sound a final warning to those involved that it would henceforth be hard on those who failed to embrace peace and dialogue in resolving differences.

The crisis that initially started in Numan and environs spread to four LGAs namely; Girei, Demsa and Lamurde, and later to parts of Taraba.

Sadly, the measures and strategies employed by security agencies have not yielded the desired effect; the stakeholders have regarded our soft handedness measures as weakness and incapable of dealing with the situation.

Henceforth, we members of the security agencies forum have collectively resolved to tackle this mayhem and unwarranted killings at all cost.

The first deliberate step towards permanently resolving this issue is this town hall meeting. It is part of soft power approach to internal security situations, it would be followed by hard and smart power approaches. To be forewarned is to be forearmed, Mr. Mohammed said.

While lamenting that elites, politicians and traditional rulers in the affected areas were not helping matters in addressing the problem, Mr. Mohammed said warring parties were also fond of over-reacting and mostly on baseless and unconfirmed information.

The brigade commander said that as part of measures taken by security agents to tackle the security situation in Numan, resisting an arrest or obstructing security personnel from carrying out their duties would be considered as serious offence.

Other actions that constituted serious offences according to him included unlawful assemblies and movement of persons with arms in affected communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that those who spoke at the meeting included representatives of farmers, herdsmen, politicians, traditional and religious leaders.

They all condemned the crisis and resolved to mobilize their people towards peaceful coexistence and the need for dialogue in resolving conflict.

Source : (NAN)Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, second Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma has asked Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadiy Zubko to settle the situation with mobile communications in Donbas, Kuchma's press secretary, Darka Olifer, has said.

"Ukraine's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, Leonid Kuchma, addressed Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine Hennadiy Zubko with the request to settle the situation with mobile communications in Donetsk and Luhansk regions," she wrote on her Facebook page on Friday.

Earlier, Director for Corporate Management and Control at Vodafone Ukraine Oleh Prozhyvalsky said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine that the main reason of non-operation of Vodafone Ukraine's network in the occupied areas of Donetsk region was equipment blackout.

According to him, if the so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" (DPR) is interested in the full restoration of communications with Ukraine in the region, access for specialists of the operator to repair wire lines in Olenivka should be provided, and it would be the duplicating line.

He said that at present, over 30% of Vodafone Ukraine's towers in the ATO zone were not operating. Due to failures in operation in occupied areas of Donetsk region the operator cannot finish the transfer of some subscribers to other tariffs.

In addition, problems with mobile communications were also recorded in January in Luhansk region due to damage to equipment in uncontrolled territories.The World Health Organization (WHO) has pledged to donate 20 million doses of vaccines annually, to aid the eradication of yellow fever in the country.

This is following the commencement of the second phase of vaccination against the disease in four states, Kogi, Kwara, Zamfara and Borno.

The campaign is targeting people between nine months to 45 years of age.

About 10.4 million people were vaccinated in the first phase of the exercise, which covered 20 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, on Tuesday, WHO Representative, Fiona Braka, said every effort must be geared towards containing the outbreak.

The global body is ready to assist the country in achieving the total vaccination of the populace in line with the Elimination of Yellow fever Epidemics (EYE) by 2026.

The global community is committed to this course and has pledged 20 million doses available annually to achieve the target despite the global vaccine shortfall, she said.

Until the recent outbreak, Nigeria had received a clean bill of health from WHO which certified Nigeria as a yellow fever endemic free country.

However, the recent pocket of outbreaks in Kogi, Kwara, Zamfara, Niger, Kebbi and Nasarawa may have reversed the trend.

The first outbreak was recorded in September 2017.

The Executive Secretary, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib said that the global non availability of vaccines resulted in the plan to phase the campaign for the next nine years.

He said that all the states will be vaccinated in phases and a tentative plan to that effect has been approved by development partners.

He said about one million doses have been planned for utilisation in Borno during the campaign which has been slated for February, 5-14, 2018.

Source: ( Punch Newspaper )A self-storage variance granted by the Derry, N.H., Zoning Board of Adjustments (ZBA) in May has been upheld in superior court, but the town council is appealing the decision to the state supreme court. When the board approved property owner Robert Allens proposal to develop a 138-unit facility on 3 acres of residential land at 343 Island Pond Road, the council asked the board to reconsider. When the ZBA reaffirmed its position, the council appealed to superior court, which upheld the approval in December. The New Hampshire Supreme Court is expected to decide whether to review the case in the next few months, according to the source.

The town council argues the self-storage project fails to meet its development criteria and contends the facility would damage the character of the neighborhood and pose a danger to pedestrians due to increased traffic. Allens proposal includes four storage buildings and an office structure. The Institute of Transportation Engineers estimates the facility would result in 17 visits per day.

On Dec. 22, judge Andrew R. Schulman ruled the ZBA decision was in the spirit of the ordinance, based on evidence that the facility wouldnt significantly impact traffic, cause increased noise or spur commercial growth in the rural neighborhood, the source reported. The approved variance is neither unreasonable nor unlawful, Schulman wrote in his decision.

The council formally appealed Schulmans ruling on Jan. 16 with a 5-2 vote. Now that the town has appealed the decision to the supreme court, our appeal will be shared with opposing counsel, who will have time to review and submit their own briefs on our appeal, town administrator David Caron told the source.

Allen has spent $200,000 to clean up environmental hazards on the property, though the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services has indicated unknown hazards may still exist on the site. The property was previously used as an illegal junkyard where solid and hazardous wastes were dumped for about 50 years. Schulman noted in his ruling that town and state officials observed batteries, empty oil drums, piles of used tires, assorted vehicle parts and construction debris at the site. He also observed that Allen dug up an entire airplane that had been buried on the property.

The members of the ZBA were familiar with the junkyard that Mr. Allen purchased and cleaned up, Schulman wrote. They were familiar with Island Pond Road and, more particularly, with the stretch of Island Pond Road that surrounds these lots. Neither the town council nor any other party in opposition to the proposed use presented any meaningful evidence tending to show that the use would depress property values.Self-storage properties are constantly changing hands, and Inside Self-Storage is regularly notified of these market transactions. Many are covered in detail on the ISS website and available for viewing on the Acquisitions and Buying topics page. Following are additional acquisitions and sales that werent covered.

A Low Cost Self Storage in Baytown, Texas, was sold to The Storage Space, which owns 14 facilities along the Texas Gulf Coast. The facility at 1600 Mabry St. comprises 35,214 square feet of storage space and includes 1.5 acres for expansion. The buyer and the seller, a limited-liability company (LLC), were represented in the transaction by Dave Knobler, first vice president of investments for Marcus & Millichap (M&M).

AAA Self Storage in High Point, N.C., was sold for $1.075 million to an LLC. Built in 1998, the property at 3128 E. Kivett Drive comprises 24,200 square feet of storage space in 184 units. The buyer and the seller, a private investor, were represented in the transaction by Gabriel Coe, senior associate, and Brett R. Hatcher, vice president of investments, for M&M. They were assisted by fellow broker Allen Smith.

Two Air Control Storage facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, were sold. Together, the properties at 3614 McCart Ave. and 2912 W. Pafford St. contain 532 climate-controlled units, with room for expansion. The buyer and the seller were represented in the transaction by Richard D. Minker, senior vice president, and Chad Snyder, senior associate, for Colliers International Self Storage Advisory Services Group. Both are also affiliates of the Argus Self Storage Sales Network.

American Mini Storage in Sierra Vista, Ariz., was sold for $5.45 million to an entity formed by AMERCO Real Estate Co., the real estate arm of U-Haul International Inc. The 6-acre property at 4029 E. Golden Acres Drive contains 846 units and more than 100 vehicle-parking spaces. The buyer was represented in the transaction by Jeff Gorden, vice president, and Kyle Topper, associate, for Eagle Commercial Realty Services, both Argus broker affiliates.

Bay Area Mini Storage in Corpus Christi, Texas, was sold to a private investor. The facility at 2301 Rodd Field Road was constructed in 2003 and expanded from 2006 to 2016. It comprises 95,479 rentable square feet of storage space in 635 units. The buyer and the seller, an LLC, were represented by Jon Danklefs, senior associate, and Michael A. Mele, senior vice president of investments, for M&M.

Baywood Self Storage in Mabank, Texas, was sold to a Southlake, Texas, buyer. The property at 13101 Highway 198 S. Suite comprises 66,518 rentable square feet of storage space and contains two apartments. The Kemp, Texas, seller was represented in the transaction by John Arnold, Bill Belomy and Michael Johnson of Bellomy & Co. The buyer was represented by Anne Williams, first vice president of investments for M&M.

Bethel Self Storage Park in Bethel, N.Y., was sold to private investors for $2.1 million. Opened in 2004, the property at 1998 NY-17B contains more than 200 storage units in 11 buildings, and has room to expand. It also includes outdoor parking spaces, carports, barn-storage units, a rental house, and an apartment above the 400-square-foot rental office. The sellers, Steve and Angela Daley, were represented in the transaction by George Hatchard, a brokerage advisor for Investment Real Estate (IRE) LLC.

A CubeSmart facility in Flushing, N.Y., was sold for $27 million to Whitestone Expressway Realty LLC. The 1.9-acre property at 31-40 Whitestone Expressway comprises 70,368 square feet of storage space, with room to expand. The seller was represented in the transaction by Nicholas J. Malagisi, managing director of SVN Commercial Realty. He was assisted by SVN Managing Director Hans Hardisty.

Citadel Self Storage in Colorado Springs, Colo., was sold for $3.05 million. The property at 3979 Bijou St. comprises 35,000 gross square feet of self-storage space, two 1,768-square-foot duplexes, and 81,000 square feet of land approved for expansion. The seller was represented in the transaction by Argus broker affiliate Joan Lucas of Joan Lucas Real Estate Services.

Concho Mini Storage in Concho, Ariz., was sold for $225,000 to a local buyer. The 2-acre property at 24 CR 5064 Concho Drive contains 117 units. The seller was represented in the transaction by Gorden and Topper.

Eagle Canyon Storage in Phoenix was sold for $17.5 million to a local buyer. The 4.5-acre property at 3050 W. Camelback Road contains 754 units, some of which are climate-controlled. The buyer and the local seller were represented in the transaction by Gorden and Topper.

Encanto & 83rd Self Storage in Phoenix was sold for $3.85 million to a company formed by Wentworth Property Co. LLC. The 2-acre property at 8225 W. Encanto Blvd. contains 375 units. The seller was represented in the transaction by Gorden and Topper.

Handy Storage in Thornton, Colo., was sold for $3.2 million to a local storage operator. The property at 2045 Coronado Parkway comprises 32,464 rentable square feet in 215 units. The seller was represented in the transaction by Lucas.

Hawthorne Self-Storage in Hawthorne, N.Y., was sold for $14.1 million to US Storage Centers Inc. The 1.5-acre property at 130 Brady Ave. comprises 40,452 square feet of storage space, with room for expansion. The seller, Goodfriend Self-Storage, was represented in the transaction by Malagisi, again assisted by Hardisty.

Judson Self Storage in San Antonio was purchased by Store It All Self Storage of Rockville, Md. The property at 14989 Judson Road comprises 129,573 net rentable square feet of storage in 606 units and parking spaces. The buyer was represented in the transaction by Arnold, Belomy and Johnson. The local seller was represented by Harry Botkin, managing partner of HLB Investments LLC.

Keep It Here Storage in Effort, Pa., was sold for $2.6 million to a private investment group. Built in 2002, the 1.6-acre property at 3211 PA-115 comprises five buildings containing nearly 300 units and a 400-square-foot rental office. The seller, Al Natale, was represented in the transaction by Hatchard.

Mini Storage Depot in Wyoming, Mich., was sold to an out-of-state LLC. The property at 4975 Clyde Park Ave. S.W. comprises 63,150 rentable square feet of storage space in 530 units, with room for expansion. The buyer and the seller, an LLC, were represented in the transaction by Coe and Hatcher. Fellow M&M broker Steven Chaben assisted.

Right Move Storage in Houston was sold to a local buyer. The 7.98-acre property at 12310 Perry Road comprises 99,455 net rentable square feet of storage in 742 units and vehicle-parking spaces, with room for expansion. The buyer and the seller, Storage Solutions Perry Road LP of Pasadena, Calif., were represented in the transaction by Arnold, Belomy and Johnson.

Storage Solutions of Frisco in Frisco, Texas, was sold to a corporation. The property at 6707 Eldorado Parkway contains 492 units, some of which are climate-controlled. The buyer and the seller, an LLC, were represented in the transaction by Brandon Karr, senior associate for M&M.

TD Storage of Greenville, S.C., purchased 1.3 acres of land in Austin, Texas, on which it plans to build a self-storage facility. The property is at the corner of Interstate 35 and Teri Road. The buyer and the seller, Liberty Storage Austin South LLC of Orlando, Fla., were represented by Arnold, Belomy and Johnson.

Wasatch Storage Partners acquired a 4.49-acre property in Minneapolis for $1.56 million on which it plans to build self-storage. The Inver Grove Heights City Council recently approved the plans for the 83,000-square-foot facility, which will contain 754 units. The seller, a local partnership, was represented in the transaction by Tom Flannigan of KW Commercial, an Argus broker affiliate.

A private investor purchased 3.7 acres of land in the Oklahoma City suburb of Edmond on which it plans to build a self-storage facility. The seller, B&G Capital LLC, was represented in the transaction by Jared Jones, an Argus broker affiliate.

A three-property portfolio in Western Michigan was sold. It included Felch Street Self Storage at 12285 Felch St. and Lakewood Self Storage at 257 W. Lakewood Blvd., in Holland, Mich., and Georgetown Self Storage at 7062 12th Ave. in Jenison, Mich. Together, the sites comprise 213,793 rentable square feet of storage space in 1,361 units. The seller was represented in the transaction by Mark Floria, an advisor with Pogoda Cos.

Argus is a Denver-based network of real estate brokers who specialize in storage properties. Formed in 1994, the company has 36 broker affiliates covering nearly 40 markets.

With offices in Atlanta as well as Austin and Houston, Texas, Bellomy & Co. focuses on the sale of self-storage, industrial, office and retail properties nationwide.

Colliers is a global commercial real estate services firm employing more than 16,000 professionals who operate out of 554 offices in 66 countries. The company offers a variety of services for investors, business owners and developers.

Founded in 1994 and based in Texas, HLB Investments is involved with the brokerage and management of self-storage and multi-family properties.

Since its inception in 1998, IRE has provided brokerage, construction, development and management services to self-storage owners and investors.

Founded in 1971, M&M is a commercial-property investment firm with more than 1,500 investment professionals in offices throughout Canada and the United States.

Based in Farmington Hills, Mich., Pogoda is a self-storage operator with approximately 2 million square feet of self-storage space in Michigan and Ohio. The firm also provides brokerage, consulting, investment and management services to the self-storage industry through Pogoda Group Inc. and Pogoda Management Co.

SVN has broker representation in more than 100 markets across the United States. Its team specializes in the marketing, sale and disposition of self-storage properties nationwide.Update 3/6/18  VentureSpace has yet to decide if it will move forward with its mixed-use project for New Berlin following pushback from residents last month. The company might even sell the property if it becomes too difficult to meet demands from the city and community, Frede told a source.

We have communicated with the city and we are not quite sure how we want to proceed, Frede said. We need to make a financial decision and we just havent made that yet.

Since the public hearing, Ament told Frede he needs to address resident concerns and create a more palatable plan. In particular, city officials want to see changes to the number of proposed units, and specific information about property setbacks and how the company will use screening for the parcel, which is between National and Racine Avenues.

If we think its good enough, we will hold another public-information meeting, Ament said. We dont want to have them spend money on design only for it to be shot down.

Frede noted the company isnt facing any deadlines to make a decision about the project, but is considering its options. We definitely dont want to sit on it real long, he said.

2/5/18  Several residents who could be impacted by the VentureSpace proposal to replace the former Prospect Hill Elementary School with self-storage and commercial condos spoke against the project last week. Those living near the site didnt like the prospect of an industrial development in the neighborhood, according to the source. Approximately 75 residents attended the 2.5-hour meeting.

I think the biggest thing was that they were concerned this could create a business park, Ament told the source. They didnt like the density; there were too many units; and they were uncomfortable that the questions and answers were vague at this point about where the entrance would be.

Though the majority of residents in attendance protested the plan, Frede said several called or e-mailed him the next day to indicate their support. The developer told the source hed follow up with city officials to gauge their opinions. If they are against it, it wont go any further, he said. If they are supportive, we will look to adjusting the concept and have another public meeting.

The city remains neutral on the subject because no formal proposal has been submitted. We dont know how many units theyre talking; we dont know about the entrances; we dont know about traffic impact, Ament said. We do know that the vast majority of the people at the meeting (last Tuesday) and the one about a year ago do not like the idea for a lot of reasons, and they are the ones that would have to live with it.

1/25/18  VentureSpace LLC, a commercial real estate developer specializing in duplex-style commercial condominiums, has acquired a property in New Berlin, Wis., half of which will be sold to a self-storage company, with a condo complex to be built on the remaining parcel. The site at 5330 Racine Ave. housed the former Prospect Hill Elementary School, which has been vacant for more than a decade, according to the source.

VentureSpace owner Michael Frede will present his plan to residents during a Jan. 30 neighborhood meeting, which will be co-hosted by Mayor Dave Ament, and aldermen Ken Harenda and Keith Heun.

The reason we are having a public meeting is because we like to get input and feedback from people living in the area. We want to be sensitive to peoples concerns, and feedback can influence how our development would actually look, Frede told the source. We dont want to be a thorn in peoples sides.

Based in Nashotah, Wis., VentureSpace is focusing on condo developments in the southeastern portion of the state, according to its website. It has properties in Oconomowoc and Sussex, and is developing a mixed-use project in Cedarburg, which is expected to include self-storage.

Its condominiums are targeted at businesses and hobbyists. The typical unit size is 1,500 square feet with 14-foot ceilings. Custom options include air conditioning and bathrooms.

Sources:

GM Today, Developer Uncertain About Prospect Hill Plans after Pushback

GM Today: Neighborhood Meeting Set for Prospect Hill School Redevelopment Plan

GM Today: Residents Oppose Commercial Development at Prospect Hill School Site in New Berlin

VentureSpace: WebsiteAmazing Spaces Storage Centers, which operates five self-storage facilities in Houston, is supporting the Montgomery County Womens Center (MCWC), a nonprofit that provides support and services to women affected by domestic violence. Two Amazing Spaces facilities will act as off drop-off sites for donations of new and gently used purses for MCWCs Feb. 23 fundraiser, Open Your Purse for Change. Donations can be made at 18250 I-45 S. in Shenandoah, Texas, and 32620 F.M. 2978 in Magnolia, Texas.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will support MCWC services, including a 24-hour crisis hotline, advocacy, counseling, legal services, emergency shelter, transitional housing and community outreach, according to a press release.

Giving back to our communities is one of the foundational pillars of our corporate mission and operating vision. We're always looking for new ways to help our community, said Kathy Tautenhahn, who co-founded Amazing Spaces in 1998 with her husband, Scott Tautenhahn.

Now in its fifth year, Open Your Purse for Change was created by Ally Seder, who serves as co-chair with Shirelle Chimenti and Terry Larson. This years luncheon will be held at the Woodlands Country Clubs Legacy Ballroom, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $150 per person, with table sponsorships also available.

We're so excited to be able to help this wonderful organization and make it easier for people to give back to those in need, said Angela Vaughn, team development manager for Amazing Spaces. We feel fortunate to operate within such amazing communities, and believe it is our duty to give back as much as we can.

Amazing Spaces is celebrating 20 years in business. It operates facilities in Houston, Magnolia, Spring and The Woodlands, Texas, and will open a second location in Spring next month.Ukraine has managed to block the initiative to return the Russian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), PACE Vice President and Bloc of Petro Poroshenko MP Volodymyr Ariev has said.

"We managed to stop the blitzkrieg on the return of the Russian Federation and hold many important negotiations that add optimism to the future. Our struggle for truth, the rule of law and human rights continues. Everything is only ahead at the PACE session in 2018," he wrote on his Facebook page on Friday.

According to him, PACE supported important amendments from the Ukrainian delegation to the resolution on the development of the monitoring procedure.

"In addition to another reminder of aggression in Donbas and annexation of Crimea, the assembly again demanded that the Russian Federation comply with PACE resolutions on these issues. In the context of efforts by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and other supporters of Russia's return without any prerequisites, this may be an important signal for those who want to sell principles for the restoration of Russian financing," Ariev wrote.

The Russian delegation was deprived of its voting rights in PACE in 2014 due to the situation in Ukraine. Russian parliamentarians, in turn, refused to attend PACE sessions.Leader of the New Forces Movement party, ex-President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili has said that he and his supporters will continue protests in order to remove President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko from power.

"Petro Oleksiyovych, you're messing with the wrong guy. I'll be fighting until the last profiteer is removed from power," he said in the hall of the Kyiv's Appeals Court, which ordered on Friday that Saakashvili be placed under house arrest at night time.

Saakashvili said he plans to go to Lviv and Vinnytsia.

He is convinced that the authorities do not want him to move around the country and be interviewed by Ukrainian TV channels.In Ukraine, within the framework of the visit of Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano on January 30, the Ukrainian-Italian business forum will be held, the press service of the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI) has reported.

"On January 30, 2018, the Ukrainian-Italian High-Level Business Forum will be held at the Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the framework of the official visit to Ukraine of the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Italian Republic Mr. Angelino Alfano," the CCI website said on Friday.

According to the report, the event is expected to involve foreign ministers of Ukraine and Italy.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry told that the Italian side is interested in sending a delegation consisting of members of the government, leadership of the relevant state agencies and associations, as well as Italian enterprises, to participate in the forum.President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko says he hopes that the UN Security Council will adopt a resolution on the deployment of a peacekeeping mission to Donbas in 2018.

"I'm still optimistic that it [the UN resolution on the peacekeeping mission in Donbas] can happen in 2018. At least I, as president of Ukraine, and Ukrainian diplomats, on my instructions, will do our best," he said after a meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in Davos on Friday.Political experts split in their opinion on Poroshenko's running for second term

KYIV. Jan 26 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukrainian political scientists are split in their opinion about the possibility and expediency that Petro Poroshenko could run for a second term in Ukraine's presidential elections.

Director of the Ukrainian Barometer Sociological Service Viktor Nebozhenko said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Friday that Poroshenko would take part in the presidential campaign.

"He does not have another option. He will definitely run for a second term," he said.

"There is simply no way out for Poroshenko. He must run for a second term, because, in general, he must preserve his wealth, and, in general, there's no place where he can run away," Nebozhenko added, noting that it is important for Poroshenko to preserve his political future.

He also said that "he [Poroshenko] will start preparing for the second term from spring."

At the same time, Nebozhenko noted that "if President Poroshenko's entourage does not feel in a few months that he is ready to run for a second term... then they will start looking for another person with whom they can work."

Director of Ukraine's Institute for Global Strategies, Vadym Karasiov, in turn, believes that Poroshenko will not run for the second term as president.

"I do not quite agree that the incumbent president will run for a second term, I think that what he said in Davos was just a slip of the tongue... It's clear that he is hesitating," he said.

"I do not think that our Western friends and partners will be delighted that he will again run for a second term without tangible chances of victory," Karasiov added.Lauding the US ministers official visit, President Quang expressed his belief that the trip will contribute to developing the Vietnam-US relations more practically, in line with their comprehensive partnership for peace, prosperity and development of each country as well as in the region and the world.

The President affirmed that Vietnam will fully and effectively cooperate with the US in searching for the remains of US missing-in-action soldiers.

The two sides should work together closely in organising the visit to Vietnam by a US aircraft carrier in March 2018, while strengthening the collaboration relating to the search and rescue of and natural disaster response activities, law enforcement at sea, personnel training, military medicine and defence industry, he said.

Secretary Mattis said that the US attaches great importance to the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and will work with Vietnam in boosting cooperation in all fields.

Holding that the defence cooperation between the two countries is growing effectively, he said that the US is working hard, together with Vietnam, in dealing with war aftermaths such as dioxin decontamination and searching for missing US servicemen.

Regarding regional and international matters, the minister affirmed that the US will support Vietnams active role in the ASEAN community as well as multilateral forums within the ASEAN framework.

The US will continue backing Vietnam and regional countries in observing the rights to freedom of navigation and aviation in line with international law for common prosperity, Mattis said.

In the regional and international aspect, President Quang suggested that the two sides continue consulting and coordinating closely with each other at multilateral forums, especially those chaired by the ASEAN.

The President also appreciated the US for its effective cooperation and assistance towards Vietnams forces who are joining the UN peacekeeping operations over the past years, suggesting that the two sides continue working together in the work.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis inspect the guard of honour. (Credit: VGP)



On the same day, Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Ngo Xuan Lich and US Secretary of Defence James Mattis held talks in Hanoi.

During the talks, both sides discussed a variety of regional and international issues of mutual concern and emphasised the importance of a peaceful and stable environment for development.

The two sides spoke highly of the defence cooperation between Vietnam and the US over the past few years. Accordingly, the results of the cooperation have achieved practical results, consistent with the comprehensive Partnership, meeting the aspirations and interests of both peoples.

Both sides also agreed to continue their efforts to address the consequences of the war, including bomb and mine clearance, environmental detoxification, and the search for soldiers listed as missing in action, as well as strengthening their mutual trust and understanding to further develop the bilateral ties.Critics of the government in Azerbaijan have been arrested under suspicious circumstances and convicted [HRW report] this month on politically-motivated charges, Human Rights Watch said Thursday.

Gozel Bayramli, a member of the opposition party, Azerbaijan Popular Front Party, and Afgan Mukhtarli, a journalist, were arrested at two separate places along the Georgia border. During the arrests, authorities allegedly planted sums of foreign currency on the dissidents in excess of the amount allowed to be brought into the country.

Bayramli [RFE/RL story] and Mukhtarli [Azerbaijani Vision story] were both charged with smuggling under Article 206 of the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan [text, in Azerbaijani] and Mukhtarli was additionally charged with illegal border crossing under Article 318, and resisting police under Article 315.2. Bayramli was convicted on Tuesday in a court in Gazakh, and Mukhtarli was sentenced earlier on January 12 in Baku.

Azerbaijan has received backlash from human rights experts for its treatment of critics, and following Mukhtarlis sentencing, a spokesperson for the European Commission called [press release] for Azerbaijan to review cases of imprisonment involving exercise of fundamental rights. The US State Department also urged [press release] the Azerbaijan government to release Mukhtarli and all those imprisoned under similar circumstances.A federal judge granted a request to acquit [order, PDF] Senator Bob Menendez and his friend Salomon Melgen Wednesday on several charges in a bribery case that ended in a mistrial [JURIST report].

The democratic senator from New Jersey was charged in 2015 with 18 counts of bribery, fraud, violating the Travel Act and making false statements to government officials. In the bribery charges, it was alleged that Melgen had bribed the senator with political donations and an extravagant vacation in Paris. When the jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict a mistrial was declared. After the jury deadlocked the defendants moved for acquittal. This motion was granted on the seven counts related to the political donations because the government failed to sufficiently prove a connection between the donations and specific public acts taken by Menendez.

The Department of Justice was already planning for a retrial when Wednesdays judgement was announced. Attorneys for Menendez and Melgen have requested the government reconsider the retrial. Since the jury voted 10-2 for acquittal and the judge repudiated [opinion, PDF] part of the governments case, the prospects of success upon retrial are doubtful. If there is a retrial, a will be a new judge handling the case. Upon granting the acquittal he also recused himself from all further proceedings related to these charges.

Menendez is running for re-election in 2018 and is favored to win.[JURIST] The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) [union website] and Mexicos National Workers Union (MNWU) filed a complaint [text, PDF] with the US National Administrative Office (NAO) [DOL backgrounder] Thursday claiming that Mexico is preparing to undermine its own labor laws, adding to decades of alleged non-compliance with its labor obligations under the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC) [materials].

The organizations primary issue with Mexicos approach to labor rights are so-called protection contracts, a form of collective bargaining agreements that are made between employers and worker unions without the involvement or even knowledge of the workers the union is supposed to represent. The complaint alleges that, at times, these agreements are reached before the employer has even hired a single employee represented by the relevant union. AFL-CIO and MNWU argue that these agreements lock in low wages and protect the employer from having an independent union in its workplace. When workers attempt to negotiate another bargaining agreement, the complaint states that the employer, the union involved, and the government collude to intimidate the workers through delays, verbal threats, physical violence and dismissal.

In 2016 President Enrique Pena Nieto [official website] sent numerous constitutional reforms to the Mexican Senate which the complaint claims addressed some of the issues with Mexicos labor laws. These reforms were adopted in October 2016 and entered into force in February 2017. However, the reforms also required the passing of secondary legislation. Nieto introduced pieces of the required secondary legislation in December. This legislation, AFL-CIO and MNWU argue, is aimed at undermining the new protections afforded to unions under the 2017 reforms and are in violation of Mexicos obligations to provide high labor standards and to strive to improve these standards under NAALC.

AFL-CIO and MNWU are asking NAO to take action to dissuade Mexico from enacting this secondary legislation, or, in the alternative, seek to repeal or amend the legislation to bring it in conformity with the NAALC. Lastly, they urge the United States to work with Mexico  to develop a process for expedited challenges to protections contracts and to facilitate an environment for workers to elect freely the representatives of their choosing.

The complaint comes as the sixth round of NAFTA overhaul negotiations are taking place [Reuters report] in Montreal. Representatives from Mexico and Canada have stated that the US representatives have been inflexible with their demands for more North American content to be included in automobiles and a sunset clause which would allow for any party to remove itself from the agreement after 5 years. That parties are facing a March deadline to reach an agreement in terms of restructuring NAFTA.The German government said Friday it had asked a US court to throw out a lawsuit brought by indigenous groups from Namibia seeking reparations for the genocide of their peoples under German colonial rule.

It was the first time Berlin has formally responded to the class-action suit launched by the Herero and Nama people last year over the tens of thousands killed in the 1904-1908 massacres.

Berlins position is that the complaint is inadmissable because of the principle of state immunity, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Adebahr told reporters, a day after a New York judge held a 10-minute hearing in the case.

In accordance with US law it was necessary to formally convey this to the court. We did this through a lawyer, Adebahr said.

US District Judge Laura Taylor Swain agreed to consider Germanys request, but set no date for ruling on it. The next hearing in the case has been set for May 3.

Germany has acknowledged that atrocities occurred at the hands of German colonial authorities, but it has repeatedly refused to pay direct reparations.

It has argued that its development aid worth hundreds of millions of euros since Namibias independence from South Africa in 1990 was for the benefit of all Namibians.

Aside from financial compensation, the plaintiffs also want to be included in ongoing negotiations between Germany and Namibia aimed at reaching a joint declaration on the massacres.

The dispute harkens back to a period over a century ago when South West Africa, now known as Namibia, was a German colony.

The suit alleges that from 1885 to 1903 about a quarter of Ovaherero and Nama lands  thousands of square miles  was taken without compensation by German settlers with the explicit consent of German colonial authorities.

It also claims that those authorities turned a blind eye to rapes by colonists of Ovaherero and Nama women and girls, and the use of forced labour.

Tensions boiled over in early 1904 when the Ovaherero rose up, followed by the Nama, in an insurrection crushed by German imperial troops.

In the Battle of Waterberg in August 1904, around 80,000 Herero fled including women and children.

German troops went after them across what is now known as the Kalahari Desert. Only 15,000 Herero survived.

The smaller Nama tribe faced a similar fate. Around 10,000 of them were killed as they sought to rebel against the Germans during the conflict.Michel Gbagbo, son of Ivory Coasts former president Laurent Gbagbo, was sentenced Friday to six months jail and a fine for complicity in disclosing false news, his lawyer said.

In an interview with the Koaci.com news website in May 2016, Gbagbo said 250 people are still in prison after a political and military showdown in 2010-11 when his father refused to accept electoral defeat at the hands of Alassane Ouattara, the incoming president.

Michel Gbagbo also said 300 other people who have been charged and placed under arrest since 2011 are held to be missing.

But the Abidjan criminal court ruled the claim false, said lawyer Rodrigue Dadje.

Gbagbo was fined 500,000 CFA francs (760 euros/$950) in the case.

His fellow defendant Laurent Despas, the French director of Koaci.com, was fined 10 million CFA francs (15,200 euros/$18,950) for spreading false news, Dadje said.

Dadje said he would appeal against the sentences, which could constitute a serious precedent with regard to press freedom in Ivory Coast.

Journalists might from now on be convicted for having simply collected the views of people or prominent figures if the Ivorian regime considers that they do not share its point of view, he said.

Ouattara on Thursday congratulated the media for making steady progress in the annual press freedom ratings by the NGO Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters Without Borders). The west African country took 81st place in the rating for 2017.

Laurent Gbagbo is on trial at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, accused of crimes against humanity allegedly committed during the power struggle in Abidjan.The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Friday condemned a deadly attack on a Benghazi mosque which left at least 37 dead, and renewed calls for the arrest of a wanted Libyan commander.

These bombings and executions demand both condemnation and a meaningful response, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said in a statement.

At least 37 people died and scores were wounded after Tuesdays two car bombings outside a mosque frequented by jihadists in Libyas second city Benghazi.

The attack was followed by video and photographs on social networks Wednesday, appearing to show wanted Libyan commander Mahmoud al-Werfalli carrying out summary executions in retaliation.

Bensouda said she was deeply concerned by the bombings, but also appalled at the reports of the executions of 10 people in front of the mosques.

Witnesses said Werfalli, who is wanted for war crimes by the ICC, had carried out the public executions in revenge for the Tuesday mosque attack.

In one video, a uniformed officer, said to be Werfalli, is seen making the blindfolded suspects in blue prison uniforms kneel in front of him before shooting them one after the other in the head.

The ICC has issued an arrest warrant for Werfalli, accusing him of participating in seven similar incidents between 2016 and 2017 in which 33 people were executed.

The UN Support Mission in Libya has also demanded Werfallis immediate surrender to the ICC in The Hague.

Bensouda also appealed to military strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose forces control eastern Benghazi and to whom Werfalli is loyal, to work with the Libyan army to arrest the wanted commander.

The appalling cycle of violence and impunity in Libya cannot be allowed to continue for the sake of the Libyan people, she added.

The ICC, is the worlds only permanent war crimes court, seeking to prosecute those behind the worst atrocities where national courts cannot or will not investigate.

The latest violence in Libya came as UN envoy Ghassan Salame held talks in the east with Haftar in efforts to end the political chaos that has gripped the country since longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011.

A UN-backed unity government based in the capital Tripoli has struggled to assert its authority outside western Libya. Haftar supports a rival administration based in the east.Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a keynote speech at the opening of the 2017 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, Jan. 17, 2017. Since Chinese President Xi Jinping made landmark speeches at the WEF in Davos and at the UN Office at Geneva a year ago, the idea "to build a community with shared future for mankind" has gained wider international recognition for offering China's solutions to cope with global challenges. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

President's idea echoed globally in face of threat of parochialism

President Xi Jinping's vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind has become an important international consensus echoed by many countries, organizations and political parties in the past year, according to international relations analysts.

As political leaders including US President Donald Trump are meeting in Davos, Switzerland, to discuss the future of the global economy and politics this week, the proposals raised by Xi during his Swiss trip a year ago remain a positive force to improve global governance systems, analysts said.

Xi said that by building a community with a shared future for mankind, people's lives around the world can be improved, a view that still enlightens political and business leaders at this year's meeting.

On Jan 18, 2017, Xi made a keynote speech at the United Nations Office in Geneva titled Work Together to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind, offering China's solutions to cope with global challenges.

"Building a community with a shared future is an exciting goal, and it requires efforts from generation after generation," Xi said. "China is ready to work with all the other UN member states as well as international organizations and agencies to advance the great cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind."

The president's speech drew strong and positive feedback from the international community. A month later, the Chinese concept of building "a human community with shared destiny" was incorporated into a UN resolution for the first time at the 55th UN Commission for Social Development on Feb 11.

Since then, the idea has been endorsed by the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly, turning the Chinese concept into an international consensus.

Xi put forward the notion of "a community of a shared future" as early as March 2013, when he delivered a speech at Moscow State Institute of International Relations during his first trip overseas as president. Human society is becoming a community of a shared future, Xi said in the speech.

During annual meetings of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference from 2013 to 2015, Xi proposed to create the mentality of a community with a shared future, march to a community with a shared future, build a community with a shared future for Asia, and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Rana Mitter, director of the Dickson Poon University of Oxford China Centre, said that China's role "continues to be central" to this year's World Economic Forum meeting in Davos from Tuesday to Friday.

"Xi's speech last year set an agenda, and it is important that China continues to express a collaborative and engaged viewpoint as these questions are debated in the year to come," he said.

Issues of shared human values, economic integration and engagement during international crises, whether in the Middle East, South Asia or elsewhere, continue to be central global concerns, and China's attitude toward these questions is crucial, he added.

Jon Taylor, a China scholar and professor at the Political Science Department at Houston's University of St. Thomas, said that Xi's concept of a shared future for mankind is still quite relevant in a world in which Trump thinks that the parochial economic interests of the US take precedence over a global approach that is marked by increasing trade, capital flows and economic integration.

"Xi's observation from his 2017 Davos speech continues to resonate today in light of Trump's populist and protectionist rhetoric: 'Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from,'" he said, quoting Xi.

Erik Berglof, director of the Institute of Global Affairs at the London School of Economics, said that Xi's speech at the UN Geneva Office a year ago came at a time "when much of the world was looking for leadership on the global issues of trade, climate and development and a more optimistic view of the opportunities coming from globalization".

Berglof spoke highly of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, saying that it is "clearly a bold and open vision for global development".

The Belt and Road Initiative, which comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa via overland and maritime routes.

Since Xi put forward the initiative in 2013, China has signed cooperation documents with 80 countries and organizations, carried out industrial cooperation with more than 30 countries and helped build 75 economic and trade cooperation zones in 24 countries.

In May, representatives from 130 countries, including 29 heads of state or government, and scores of international organizations, participated in the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing, where more than 270 projects aimed at enhancing the global cooperation network were finalized.

Stephen Perry, chairman of The 48 Group Club trade association, said that with regard to Xi's comments on globalization and the Belt and Road Initiative last year, the concrete impact and outcomes "are to be seen in transnational infrastructure development being incorporated across the world".

"Nations are not thinking of just building infrastructure for themselves, but for them and their neighbors. The world cannot do it on a national basis anymore. That is what they take from President Xi's words," he said.

Although Xi is not present at this year's panoply of leaders gathered in Davos, his presence and the presence of China has been felt there, said William Jones, the Washington bureau chief for Executive Intelligence Review, a US newsmagazine founded more than 40 years ago.

"The rise of China, with its own particular philosophical outlook, has brought with it a new spirit, a spirit of harmony and cooperation," he said.

Scott Kennedy, deputy director of the Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, said that the leaders of the World Economic Forum "are very sensitive and aware that Xi Jinping's speech last year was historic and very well received".

"They are also worried about the state of globalization, and the possibility of the outbreak of a US-China trade war, and the general anxieties about globalization that we've seen in Brexit, worries about the stability of the EU, the potential breakup of NAFTA and other areas," he said.

"My hope would be that the rhetoric of openness and liberalization and reform ... increasing productivity is matched by actions by China and by others," he said.

Economic globalization

Xi, the first Chinese head of state to have attended the Davos meetings, called at last year's World Economic Forum for joint efforts to chart the course of economic globalization and forge new models of global growth, cooperation, governance and development.

"Whether you like it or not, the global economy is the big ocean that you cannot escape from. Any attempt to cut off the flow of capital, technologies, products, industries and people between economies, and channel the waters in the ocean back into isolated lakes and creeks, is simply not possible," Xi said.

The president called on the international community to face up to the problems caused by globalization instead of dodging them.

Klaus Schwab, founder and chief executive of the World Economic Forum, told Xinhua News Agency recently that Xi's address at the 2017 forum was historically significant.

"What most impressed participants and the media was the president's commitment to an open and collaborative spirit when addressing shared challenges," Schwab was quoted as saying.

On Tuesday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his speech at the forum that protectionism was resulting in new trade barriers and reduced investment across borders.

"The forces of protectionism are raising their heads against globalization," he said. "Their desire is to not only save themselves from globalization, but to reverse the natural flow of globalization altogether."

Xi "delivered a similar message in 2017," CNN said of Modi's speech.

CNN said it is the second consecutive year that the leader of a major Asian power has used the coveted speaking slot to warn against a retreat from globalization.

"President Xi Jinping's statements, a year on, continue to be an important stage-setter for the argument that international trade must continue to flow openly and freely," said Mitter of the Oxford China Centre.

If China and Europe cooperate in maintaining a liberalized global trading system, it will be an important signal to the wider world, he said.

Zhao Huanxin and Chen Weihua in Washington contributed to this story.iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Drinking -- just one reason why teenagers cant wait to leave home and head to college. And its also a situation that has parents concerned.

So it's little surprise, then, that many parents allow their kids to partake in drinking years before legal age -- in some cases even supplying them with the alcohol at home -- to try and protect them from the downsides of alcohol.

Now, a new study out of Australia suggests that this commonly used strategy may be misguided.

Researchers at the National Drug and Alcohol Centre in Australia surveyed a group of 1,927 parents and adolescents over a six-year period to find out what happens when parents provide their kids alcohol.

It is an approach often identified as associated with the Mediterranean countries -- a Mediterranean model -- wherein it is stated that early introduction to small amounts of alcohol reduces excessive drinking in adulthood, said lead study author Richard Mattick in an email to ABC News. Mattick added that he thinks this same logic is used by some in the United States.

Matticks team studied the negative effects of alcohol consumption in teens -- binge drinking, experience of alcohol-related harm, and alcohol dependence or abuse. The researchers found that teenagers who received alcohol from their parents at a young age were actually more likely -- not less -- to obtain it through other means later on.

They also found that early exposure to alcohol did not seem to offer any protection against the adverse outcomes from alcohol use.

The new research backs up what some previous studies have shown.

We see this in parenting surveys, said Emily Feinstein, executive vice president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, who was not involved with the research. There is no scientific research to suggest that giving your kids alcohol early on prevents addiction.

Each year you delay the introduction of alcohol will decrease future risk of addiction.

Feinstein added that when a childs brain is developing, alcohol and drugs can have a negative impact.

Importantly, the new study was disproportionately weighted toward teens living in higher socioeconomic level households -- a fact that led the researchers to note in their study that future research should also involve more adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, since these kids tend to be at higher risk for substance abuse.

But for now, Mattick said, the bottom line for parents should be clear.

Dont supply, he said. Advise kids that the supply is not appropriate and they should not use alcohol. It is a rational and careful discussion.

Copyright  2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.A screengrab of an online video

Fourteen trains halted operations along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway on Thursday after a high-speed train caught fire at Dingyuan Station, Anhui province.

All the affected trains are running from Beijing to Shanghai: G139, G3, G143, G17, G43, G59, G35, G45, G147, G37, G151, G39, G167 and G135.

Passengers who bought tickets for these trains could get a full refund on Tuesday.

Setting off from Qingdao at 6:30 am, the train, G281, stopped at Dingyuan station due to electric problem, and the No 2 cabin caught fire at 11:53 am, according to Shanghai Railway Group.

No casualties were reported. An emergency plan was immediately launched and the cause of the blaze is under investigation, said the group on its official microblog account.

Short videos taken by onlookers circulating on Sina Weibo show black smog soaring into the sky from the train as heavy snow falls.

The train was scheduled to arrive at Hangzhou at 13:37 pm.Public welcomes online course launched by renowned sexologist

A screen grab of Chinese renowned sexologist Li Yinhe's paid sex course on the Chenzao applicaion.

Prominent Chinese sexologist, Li Yinhe, has recently launched an online course that she hopes will bring concepts such as early sex education for kids and respect for homosexuals to her audience through what she calls a "new publishing mode," she said on Tuesday.

"Hello, Li Yinhe",is the name of the course which Li Launched in January on Chenzao, a women-oriented mobile application backed by a technology company in Beijing under the same name.

The course consists of eight parts with topics ranging from sexual pleasure and masturbation to LGBT issues, and charges 199 yuan ($31.20) for access.

"Using my expertise in my fields of research - marriage, family, gender and sex, which my audience are most concerned with - my course aims to address the problems they may encounter in their daily lives, such as how to educate their children on sexual knowledge and how to deal with extramarital sex or forced arranged marriages," Li told the Global Times on Tuesday in a special interview.

According to the sexologist, who has has around 1.8 million followers on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like platform, tickets were soon booked out after launch, and the Chenzao company is adding space for another 2,000 viewers.

Online paid courses on applications and paid Q&A sessions on platforms including Sina Weibo have become a new publishing form and trend for knowledge, and my target audience [for the sex course] are people in their 20s and 30s, while around 90 percent of them are women, Li said.

Need to know

Most Chinese netizens welcomed the idea.

A survey carried out by Tsinghua University in 2013 shows that 71 percent of Chinese people have premarital sex.

Among them, 100 percent of people born in the 1980s and 1990s have sex before marriage, though only a relatively small proportion of them are well-educated about sex.

"The course comes just in time. China is in dire need of sex education. I myself had zero idea until I became an adult. I recently met a little girl, as young as 12 years old, who expressed her doubts online about sex, which illustrates how precious and rare Li's course or similar courses on sex are in China," wrote a Weibo user with the name "Angel-fool" under Li's Weibo post on January 10.

However, some expressed worries that the courses would be taken down or censored if it got too popular, as it touches on one of the most sensitive topics in China.

However, when asked for comment on how to strike a balance regarding how far the course would go on the topic and the depth of each talk, Li said that she has not yet received any rectification notice from the authorities and nothing could be regarded as taboo in her studies, including section that addresses the issue of homosexuality.

Li's online course is a great method for bringing sex education to the public, and the content is as good as those in face-to-face lectures, Peng Xiaohui, a sexology professor at Wuhan's Central China Normal University and a research fellow of the China Sexology Association, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Following the law

China's Population and Family Planning Law stipulates that schools shall, in a manner suited to the characteristics of the receivers and in a planned way, conduct among pupils education in physiology and health, puberty or sexual health.

However, many principals and heads of primary schools, middle schools and even colleges and universities neglect the law, putting sex education aside for fear they will draw criticism from conservative parents, Peng explained.

Admittedly, promoting sex education in China remains an arduous mission, but progress has been made as the government is now discussing how to conduct this kind of education, rather than talking about if it was necessary at all, Peng said.

Peng continued to stress that although the Internet-plus mode can greatly facilitate sex education, the threshold for online sex education-related content should be set strictly by the authorities so that only those who have spent years conducting earnest research in the field are allowed to provide such content, otherwise it could be abused by irresponsible lecturers.

Peng also warned that people with entrenched traditional attitude on sex could take advantage of online sex knowledge platforms to cause trouble under the guise of LGBT or feminist movements.Boao Forum for Asia to highlight reform, opening up, innovation

This year's annual meeting of Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) will highlight themes of reform, opening up and innovation, organizers said Thursday.

Scheduled for April 8 to 11 in Boao, a coastal town in China's southern island province of Hainan, the conference will be themed "An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity", BFA secretary-general Zhou Wenzhong said at a press briefing.

"Asia and the Pacific need more open, better coordinated, more inclusive and balanced development than ever before," Zhou said.

As 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening up drive, the conference will also focus on structural reform, Zhou added.

"This year's conference will have two sessions exclusively dedicated to China's 40 years of reform and opening up in addition to other supporting sessions on topics such as capital market reform, monetary policy normalization, tax cuts and rural rejuvenation," he said.

The four-day event will see around 60 formal discussions.

Heads of state, government officials, scholars and entrepreneurs have been invited.

Entrepreneur forums will cover fields including innovation, the sharing economy, blockchain, new retail and Xiong'an New Area.

Founded in 2001, the BFA is a non-governmental and non-profit international organization committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries closer to their development goals. Oil spill caused by foreign crude tanker collision in East China Sea continues to spread off the Chinese coastline

 Serious long-term impact on local marine environment has been predicted by experts

 China's major fishing hub is bracing for potential ecological and economic damage

This picture from the Transport Ministry of China on January 15 shows offshore supply ship De Shenworking at an oil spill area off the coast of East China after the Sanchisank. Photo: VCG

As a massive oil spill caused by the crash of Iranian tanker Sanchiearlier this month continues to spread across the East China Sea, fishermen and sea farmers in China's largest fishing hub are worried about potential ecological damage.

The fully laden crude tanker, owned and operated by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC), suffered a major explosion and sank eight days after its collision with Hong Kong-flagged freighter CF Crystal.

The foreign tanker was carrying condensate, an ultra-refined, highly volatile form of ultra light oil used to make products such as jet fuel. Satellite images show that the spilt oil covered 332 square kilometers of water on Sunday, The Cover reported.

In the winter, low temperatures reduce evaporation speed, leaving massive condensate floating on the surface as waves spread. Experts warn of the serious immediate and long-term impact on the marine environment.

"The oil on the surface evolves to be highly concentrated, which hinders the respiration of marine life. Oily water containing sulphide can also poison and even kill sea creatures. Without professional treatment and scientific management, its harm will soon become obvious," Huang Weiqiu, a professor at Changzhou University Petroleum Engineering Department, interpreted.

The unpredictable expansion of the massive oil slick worries many fishermen in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, which is China's biggest and most important fishery hub.

Sun Yun (pseudonym), who farms mussels in the sea off Zhoushan, is one of them. After the crash, he was in a panic and rightly concerned about the potential ecological and economical effects on his livelihood. He recruited people to observe if there was oil floating near his sea area and purchased heavy metal test papers to prepare for subsequent risks.

Some other local residents remained relatively calm about the potential risks, counting on pure speculation. "The sea area is vast. I guess there would not be a serious problem as long as the wind blows strongly," a resident who lives in Zhoushan city was quoted by Chinese media jiemian.com as saying.

A sea farm for mussels in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. Photo: VCG

Local impact

Regarding the public's concern over seafood safety, Professor Huang said, "it will definitely have an impact on local fish spawning and nursery areas, which in turn will affect food safety." Now it is imperative to calculate the size of the involved area and analyze the specific composition and concentration, he said.

He advises local fishermen to stop their activities in the area, at least temporarily. "Fisheries must make a quick assessment about the severity of pollution via visual or osphresis (smelling) inspection," he added.

On January 18, China's Ministry of Agriculture launched an investigation of the impact of the Sanchi collision on Chinese fisheries. Two investigative ships departed from Zhoushan fishing port on the same day to the wreck.

Currently, rescue teams are working against the clock to clean up oil slicks. China's State Oceanic Administration (SOA) is preparing to use professional air-sea stereoscopic equipment to continuously carry out monitoring. They are paying increased attention to protecting the valuable marine ecosystem and find solutions to safeguard local residents' health and productivity.

On January 22, SOA China Marine surveillance team #2502and Xiangyanghong #06and #19patrolled and monitored the vicinity. Due to furious billows, there was no obvious oil pollution observed on the surface, Xinhua reported.

As jiemian.com reported, a local environmental group is also heading to coastal fishing villages along Zhoushan to learn more about the situation. He Li, founder of the group, told media that he is collecting more information on the dangers of pollution brought by this particular collision, in order to inform local fishermen.

"They have right to understand the impact on their future business," said He Li.

How to scientifically deal with the Sanchioil slick and avoid a "worst-case scenario" has become a top priority for Chinese maritime authorities.

On Thursday, maritime authorities with the Chinese mainland, Iran, Panama and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region signed an agreement to launch a joint investigation into the collision between the Sanchiand the CF Crystal, the Ministry of Transportannounced.

Meanwhile, an innovative, new oil-absorbent material invented by Suzhou University has attracted the attention of the Shanghai Maritime Bureau, reported Chinese State media dyol.com.

The material, called "oil absorption treasure," was developed by Professor Lu Jianmei, vice president of Suzhou University, and her team. Its unique advantages include fast, large-volume absorption and cyclic utilization. It won second place in the National Prize for Progress in Science and Technology 2014 awards.

Soochow University Material and Chemistry Department said that relevant maritime sectors have loaded 15,000 square meters of this "oil absorption treasure" onto rescue vessels preparing to dispose the leaked condensate.

Lu told media that the concept of her research was a result of the Gulf War disaster. The war left many pipelines leaking crude oil into the sea, causing tremendous harm to sea life as well as mankind. This poignant memory impelled Lu to develop a high-efficiency oil absorption material to tackle future oil slicks.

"The magic is its innovative chemical structure," Lu said, explaining that similar products normally require four to six hours to complete a clean-up while their material takes only two to eleven seconds to "lock up oil."

Its quick reaction makes it especially suitable for large-scale emergencies like the Sanchispill. Reportedly, this "oil absorption treasure" has been used in previous oil crises including the Dalian Xingang oil pipeline explosion and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010.MEDFORD, Ore. -- The Medford Schol District is graduating more students this year than each of the past 3 years. 78% of the Class of 2017 graduated in 4 years. That's just 1% better than the previous year. But when you look 3 years back, that rate was just 65%.

The State of Oregon has a rigorous graduation requirement - it mandates more credits to graduate than other states. It also requires a demonstration of essential skills, which is not expected in many other states.

Looking at the individual high schools, North Medford High School reached an historic 90%. That's up 6.5% over last year. The Medford School District says that means NMHS has the highest graduation rate of public high schools in Southern Oregon. South Medford High School dipped to 83%.

The Medford School District says their short-term success strategies include:

 Analyzing credit acquisition for every student, every quarter, and providing interventions for credit recovery early in the process.

 Continuing efforts to increase student attendance.

 Continuing programs like Freshman Academy that help freshman acclimate to high school and be successful.

Long-range success strategies include:

 Expanding personalized learning options with flexible menus for students that include combinations of online school, homeschool, traditional classroom, and college.

 Expanding the MSD Pathways Program by adding plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, computer science and more health care options. This is in addition to pre-existing pathways such as pre-engineering, pre-law, and pre-education.

 Supporting the whole student with increased mental health supports by hiring more guidance counselors and expanding its partnership with the Maslow Project, which serves homeless youth in Southern Oregon.

 Increasing post-high school options for students by paying for students college tuition while in high school.

A stand-out increase in the graduation rate comes from students who experience disabilities. That rate is up 25% in the past 2 years.

Special Education and Student Services Director Tania Tong credits a number of programs to the graduation rate of students experiencing disabilities, including:

 The Check and Connect Program where trained, caring adults connect weekly with students on class work, assignments, and attendance.

 Increased behavioral supports for students with social and emotional needs.

 Increased academic support for students experiencing disabilities in traditional classrooms with a co-teaching model.

 Implementation of restorative practices, which keeps students in school as opposed to exclusionary discipline.

Medford Superintendent Biran Shumate says there is still more work to be done, even though this is the "highest graduation rate in the history of the Medford School District.A bullet train runs through a bridge over Wujiang River, a tributary of China's longest river, Yangtze, on the Chongqing-Guiyang line in Zunyi City, southwest China's Guizhou Province, Jan. 25, 2018. A railway connecting Chongqing and Guiyang, two major cities in southwest China, started operation Thursday. Designed for trains running at a speed of 200 km per hour, the 347-km rail line will cut travel time between Chongqing and Guiyang from the current 10 hours to 2 hours, and shorten travel time between Chengdu, capital of Sichuan, and Guiyang from current 11 hours to 3.5 hours. (Xinhua/Liu Xu)WHITE CITY, Ore. -- One man is in the hospital Thursday after an officer-involved shooting at the White City VA. The Jackson County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to help VA Police when a patient became combative with the admissions area.

Rhonda Haney, Public Affairs Officer, said the facility went into a lockdown and stayed locked down for the rest of the day. Haney said all appointments are cancelled Thursday and Friday.

Joel Setzer, Out-patient Veteran, said it's a sad day for the VA.

"I hurt inside because it shouldn't have come to this. It shouldn't take a shooting to have them open up their eyes on healthcare for mental health here," Setzer said.

One veteran who witnessed the shooting did not want to be identified, but described the scene. He said he was walking down the hallway to get his medicines when he heard the argument.

"It didn't seem like it was a big deal so I continued on, got my medicine, two minutes later I'm walking up the hallway and it's getting louder. I looked down the hallway and I heard someone yell 'He's got a knife', and then boom."

Kathy Negrete, the veteran's Mother, said her son has been trying to get healthcare at the VA for several months now. She said she does not know what her family will do next.

"What am I supposed to do now, that's our biggest concern, what are we supposed to do now, where are we supposed to go now to get our son help," Negrete said.

She said her son served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, which had a very significant effect on him.

"You can have five members of your family calling out there crying saying he needs help and they'll put you on hold," Negrete said.

Setzer said he wants to know why officers shot the man.

"Why did they shoot him, that's my big question is why, knowing the PTSD issues that vets have here," Setzer said.

The Jackson County Sheriff's Office will continue to investigate the shooting. Anyone who saw or heard anything should call them.China's Alipay rolls into the Middle East, with Israel as the first station

Alipay officially announced its entry into Israel, the mobile payment service which can provide convenience for many Chinese tourists.

(Photo: Global Times)

Alipay said that famous jewelry stores Diamond Mines and Caprice and skincare brand AHAVA are the first to accept Alipay, allowing visitors to scan the QR code to pay with their phones. Besides, duty-free chain shop James Richardson and Israel Airlines El-Al will soon introduce Alipay service.

According to the latest statistics released by Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Israel in 2017 has reached 123,000 for the first time, increasing by 45 percent since 2016.

Israeli Ministry of Tourism predicted that the number of Chinese tourists traveling to Israel would reach 200,000 within two or three years. According to statistics collected by Israeli Ministry of Tourism and Israel Chamber of Commerce in China, Chinese tourists stay in Israel for an average of nine days with an expenditure of $300 (1896 yuan) per person per day.

Reports on Alipay's entry in the Middle East by Israel Broadcasting Authority

Wang Li, Alipay regional director in Europe, the Middle East and Africa said Chinese tourists prefer the mobile payment service they are familiar with when traveling abroad. "Alipay is glad to cooperate with Israeli partners to provide better service for Chinese tourists."

Alipay has already covered 38 countries and districts including Europe, US, Japan, South Korea Southeast Asia and so on. People can use Alipay in restaurants, stores, duty-free shops, overseas airports, etc. Moreover, there are 24 countries which can provide tax rebate services to Alipay.

(Compiled by Lu Fangzhu)Exterior view of the building complex which houses the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service in Zoetermeer, Netherlands, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. The Netherlands' spy services AIVD and MIVD broke into the computers used by a powerful Russian hacking group and may be sitting on evidence relating to the breach of the U.S. Democratic National Committee, a Dutch newspaper and television show jointly reported Friday. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)Jessica Clark-Bojin puts the finishing touches on an apple pie that she made bearing a likeness of actor and comedian Betty White, at her home in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday January 25, 2018. Clark-Bojin remembers at one time having a reputation for her lack of cooking skills."I couldn't crack an egg. I was shooed out at family gatherings," says the Vancouver native, laughing. "I had no experience in a kitchen whatsoever." THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckSenior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of Chinas Ministry of Nation Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND, answers reporters questions at a monthly press conference on January 25, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Li Aiming)

Chinas military authorities on Thursday scoffed the parlance of Chinese military threat after a U.S. think tank ranked the country as the biggest risk for the world in 2018, noting that such sick mentality needs to be adjusted.

I noticed that there are some individuals and forces who are always reluctant to accept the development of China and its military. They jump out once in a while to play up so-called China military threat. No matter what they are trying to do, their effort is doomed to fail, said Senior Colonel Wu Qian, who is also the spokesperson for Chinas Ministry of National Defense (MND), at MNDs press conference on Thursday.

Wus remarks are the latest response to Western countries hyping up of the China military threat. According to Top Risk Report 2018 released by U.S. consultation company Eurasia Group in January, even terrorism and wars have lost the top spot to China on the list of world threats, as the country has been criticized for filling a power vacuum that was created by the U.S. due to the latters isolationism.

Denouncing the groundless accusation, Wu also cited an international rescue mission conducted by the Chinese military in December 2017, adding that three foreign travelers, who are from Switzerland, France, and Poland, respectively, were rescued from their grounded boat by Chinese military forces in the Nansha Islands.

The rescue mission is very professional. The Chinese military helped us mending our boat, as well as saving our lives. The kind moves have shown their dedication and care for all people, Michael Hoorn, the rescued Swiss traveler, was quoted as saying by Chinese Central Television.

Frankly speaking, the development of China is a fact that cannot be denied, while the growth of China is the growth of peaceful forces in the world, Wu noted.

This is not the first time that the "China military threat" has been hyped. According to unclassified pages of the 2018 US National Defense Strategy published in January, China is described as a strategic competitor using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbors while militarizing features in the South China Sea.Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, hosts a meeting with members of Canada's NAFTA Council about the renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement in Toronto on Thursday, January 18, 2018. Freeland has met her American NAFTA counterpart today on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan DenetteThe monument honouring RCMP Constables Fabrice Gevaudan, Dave Ross and Doug Larche, gunned down in 2014, is seen in Moncton on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017. The RCMP has been ordered to pay $550,000 for failing to provide its members with proper equipment and training in the wake of a fatal shooting rampage four years ago in Moncton. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew VaughanAymen Derbali poses for a photo in Quebec City on Wednesday, December 27, 2017. Aymen Derbali, the father of three shot seven times and partly paralyzed in the Quebec City mosque shooting last year, says Friday he's not surprised at the generosity of people around the world who have donated to his fundraiser. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Francis VachonThis Jan. 6, 2018 photo shows police crime scene tape marking off the property belonging to Barry and Honey Sherman, who were found strangled inside their home on Dec. 15, 2017. Since that time, investigators have scoured the 12,000-square foot home, hauled away the couple's cars and even checked the sewers in one of Toronto's most exclusive neighborhoods for clues. But police haven't made any arrests, announced the search for any suspects or said practically anything publicly about the deaths of the drug company founder and his wife. (AP Photo/Rob Gillies)Firefighters inspect a burnt hospital after a fire in Miryang, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 26, 2018. A fire spread flames and smoke through a South Korean hospital Friday morning, killing dozens of people, mainly from suffocation, and injuring nearly 130 others in one of the country's deadliest blazes in years. The dead included three hospital staff and several people in an intensive-care unit for respiratory illnesses. (Jeon Mincheol/Kookje Shinmun via AP)Chinese New Year Eve dinner in high demand at many restaurants

With Spring Festival drawing near, restaurants in China have almost been booked up for the New Years Eve dinner. Some catering companies even require extra charges if dining time exceeds a time limit.

A manager surnamed Xia at a star-grade hotel in Chengdu, southwest Chinas Sichuan Province, disclosed that the restaurant is fully booked for dinner on New Years Eve, and even for dinners on weekends ahead of the Spring Festival.

Some hotels even set 1.5-hour dining time for customers, and will charge 100 yuan ($15.8) per hour in extra fees if they exceed it.

Zheng Fengsheng, a lawyer at a Sichuan-based law firm, said that setting a time limit on dining violates consumers right of free choice and the contract law.

Although the act is understandable during the legal holiday, the time limit must be set within a reasonable range, said Zhang Wei, an official from the citys consumers association.Is this the death warrant for USA Gymnastics? US Olympic Committee says they will decertify the sport's governing body if the WHOLE board doesn't resign in six days in the wake of the Larry Nassar abuse scandal

17 remaining USA Gymnastics board members have until Wednesday to resign

Otherwise the USOC will decertify the body, revoking its status with Olympics

Former national team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison

He abused more than 100 female athletes including many Olympians

At least four members of the USA Gymnastics board have already resigned

The US Olympics Committee has threatened to decertify USA Gymnastics unless the entire board resigns by Wednesday.

The threat, along with a slew of other mandatory conditions to avoid decertification, came on Thursday in an email from USOC CEO Scott Blackmun to the USA Gymnastics board obtained by USA Today.

It comes amid amid increasing public pressure after disgraced long-time national team doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for abusing young female gymnasts.

After condemning him to the rest of his life behind bars, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina told Nassar: 'I just signed your death warrant'.

Four of the 21 USA Gymnastics board members had already resigned by Thursday, including the chair, vice chair and treasurer.

USOC CEO Scott Blackmun (above) has demanded that the entire USA Gymnastics board resign by Wednesday on threat of immediate decertification

Larry Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for abusing young female gymnasts. The fallout has prompted USOC to demand the entire USA Gymnastics board resign

Blackmun said in his email that he did not individually blame them for the sex abuse scandal, but insisted systemic change was needed.

'We do not base these requirements on any knowledge that any individual USAG staff or board members had a role in fostering or obscuring Nassar's actions,' Blackmun wrote.

'Our position comes from a clear sense that USAG culture needs fundamental rebuilding,' he continued.

The deadline for resignation came after a more general call for the board to resign in an open letter from Blackmun earlier in the week.

Blackmun listed a slew of demands in the email to the USA Gymnastics board

Nassar is escorted into the courtroom during his sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to 175 years

Blackmun's email laid out the other following mandatory steps for USA Gymnastics to avoid immediate decertification:

An interim board must be in place by February 28. No one currently serving on the board is eligible to be an interim member except the five athlete representatives.

USA Gymnastics then has 12 months to replace the interim directors. Current board members are not eligible for those seats, either.

Also within 12 months, USA Gymnastics must cooperate with the independent investigation into whether anyone knew about athlete complaints of Nassar's abuse and failed to report them.

The new board must 'substantively discuss' at each of its meetings how the federation is progressing in implementing 70 recommendations made by former federal prosecutor Deborah Daniels and report back regularly to USOC.

All USA Gymnastics staff and board members must complete SafeSport training offered by the US Center for Safe Sport within three months.

All staff and board members must complete a comprehensive ethics training unit within the next six months.

USA Gymnastics said in a statement posted on its website that the body 'completely embraces the requirements outlined in the (email)'.

Nassar had agreed to serve a minimum sentence of 40 years as part of a plea deal, with that prison time coming after he completes his 60-year federal sentence for child pornography charges

'We understand that the requirements imposed by the letter will help us enhance our ability to build a culture of empowerment throughout the organization, with an increased focus on athlete safety and well-being,' said USA Gymnastics.

The fallout from the Nassar case has continued to spread, with Lou Anna Simon, the president of Michigan State University where Nassar also worked, stepping down late on Wednesday night.

'As tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable. As president, it is only natural that I am the focus of this anger,' Simon said in her resignation letter.

Michigan State University President Lou Anna Simon also resigned from her role as president at the university where Nassar also worked (Simon above in court last Wednesday)

On Thursday, Kevin Martinez, an ESPN executive, became the latest USA Gymnastics board member to resign.

'I joined the board just nine months ago, well after Nassar's departure from USAG, in the hopes of helping to move the organization in a positive direction,' Martinez said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

'That hope for this board is no longer possible so I submitted my resignation.'

The webpage listing USAG's board members had been taken down on Thursday without explanation.

Most of the remaining 17 board members contacted by Reuters either declined to comment or did not return requests for comment.A memorandum of understanding was signed between the management bureau of Jiuzhaigou tourist site in southwest Chinas Sichuan province and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on Jan. 25, to renovate the world heritage site after last years major earthquake, China News reported.

Under the framework, the IUCN will organize scientific research on the geographical conditions, eco-systems renovation, and optimization of the area, and offer intellectual support and technological guidance to the renovation project.

The IUCN will also help improve the monitoring system in the scenic area, support the area to apply for the Green List of Protected Areas under the IUCN, and make specific management measures for the scenic area.

The Jiuzhaigou scenic area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. Last August, the area was jolted by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake. The country responded with a massive rescue and recovery effort.South Korean firemen extinguish a fire in South Korea's southeastern Milyang city, Jan. 26, 2018. The death toll from a hospital fire, which occurred in South Korea's southeastern Milyang city, has risen to 15, local broadcaster YTN reported Friday citing the firefighting authorities. (Xinhua/Newsis)

SEOUL, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon ordered a probe into the cause of a deadly hospital fire on Friday that has killed 37 and injured dozens in the southeastern city of Miryang, local media said.

"There can be questions about how this amount of damage occurred in such a short period of time," Yonhap News Agency quoted Lee as saying. "We have to offer convincing explanations to the people in a detailed and transparent manner and determine who is responsible."

In Miryang, Lee also offered an apology, saying the government previously vowed to prevent such a disaster from happening again after a fire claimed 29 lives in December.

Friday's blaze is the worst fire the country has witnessed in more than a decade.

The blaze happened at about 7:30 a.m. local time Friday (2230 GMT Thursday) at the Sejong Hospital in Miryang city, South Gyeongsang province. It started in an emergency room on the hospital's first floor.

At least 37 people were confirmed dead, and tens of others injured. The death toll could rise as many were suffering serious injuries.

About 100 patients were originally in the hospital, some 390 km southeast of the capital Seoul. All of the 93 patients at an adjacent nursing home were evacuated safely.

The hospital was reported to have treated patients suffering mainly from cerebrovascular disease and stroke.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in convened an emergency meeting with his senior secretaries, ordering a thorough response to the blaze. The presidential Blue House ordered the national crisis management center to deal with the disaster.

The fire came just about a month after a building fire accident which killed 29 people in Jecheon city, North Chungcheong province, roughly 170 km southeast of Seoul.EUGENE, Ore. (AP) - The family that owns The (Eugene) Register-Guard newspaper has agreed to sell it to GateHouse Media, one of the country's largest publishers of local news.

The newspaper reported the deal Thursday. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The Register-Guard has been owned and operated by the Baker family since 1927, the year Alton Baker Sr. purchased The Eugene Guard. Three years later, he merged the Guard with the Eugene Register.

His grandson, Tony Baker, said Thursday it's increasingly difficult for a stand-alone, family-owned daily newspaper to compete successfully.

GateHouse Media publishes 630 community publications in 38 states, including 130 daily newspapers, and over 540 websites. It officially takes ownership of The Register-Guard on March 1.

The Register-Guard has 240 full-and part-time employees.China to take measures to guarantee employment for 8.2 million graduates this year

China will see 8.2 million college and university graduates in 2018, which means more than 15 million people will join the workforce, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said on Friday, China News reported.

Ministry spokesperson Lu Aihong told a press briefing that the employment of these graduates is closely related to the happiness of their families and social stability.

Lu said the ministry will prioritize employment of the group and work with related departments to guarantee full-time, higher-quality employment.

They will expand employment channels in multiple areas by guiding local departments to implement policies to facilitate employment and entrepreneurship and by creating multiple job opportunities for the graduates.

The ministry will also actively strengthen employment services and offer special support to graduates from poor families by making customized schemes for them and providing employment information and professional guidance to them.Chinas leading e-commerce firm JD.com vowed to become the top enterprise of its kind in China within four years, according to Richard Liu, chairman and CEO of the company.

Liu made the remarks on Jan. 24 during an interview in Davos, Switzerland. It was the first time for the business tycoon to attend the World Economic Forum.

Liu pushed back against the claim that JD.com is just another Amazon, saying he had never heard of Amazon when he started his business back in 2003.

The CEO explained that it was the SARS outbreak that inspired him to move his business online, since it reduced the risk of face-to-face infections. Lower operation costs were another reason.

At first, electronic products were the main part of his business, but in 2015, Liu expanded the scope of his business to meet the growing demands of his customers.

Now, the company employs 161,788 staff and has annual revenue of $60 billion. In addition, it owns 500 logistics centers in China.

According to Liu, he is now considering to expand his business to major cities around the world. Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam will be his next target after the company has entered Indonesia and Thailand, he said.

At present, the company is focused on bringing overseas products to China, but he hopes to introduce Chinese brands to foreign countries in the future. However, the export of Chinese brands is no easy task, and it might take 10 to 15 years, Liu added.

Currently, JD.com is increasingly expanding its investment in the logistics sector in a bid to better serve its e-commerce. Now, we are financing the sector, and our logistics company will go public in the future, Liu noted.DES MOINES, Iowa (AP)  Authorities have arrested a state worker at the Iowa Capitol.

The Iowa State Patrol says staffers at the House of Representatives noticed Wednesday morning that the woman was acting strangely and smelled of alcohol. Troopers say the woman became belligerent when they contacted her and say she pushed and kicked them, screaming as they escorted her out of the building.

Polk County records say 21-year-old Jessica Leeper, of Altoona, is charged with public intoxication and disorderly conduct. The records don't list the name of an attorney who could comment for her.

Authorities say she worked in the Capitol as a clerk.CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - Police say Dawn Debell remains missing, although she was reportedly seen at a home in Mason City around 4:30 pm Thursday.

The last confirmed sighting of the 50-year-old woman remains Wednesday in Clear Lake.

Police say they are working Debell's family and continue to ask the public for their help in locating her.

Previous story below

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - The Clear Lake Police Department is asking for the public's help in finding a missing woman.

Police tell KIMT News 3, 50 year-old Dawn Renae Debell was last seen in Clear Lake on Wednesday.

They say she was wearing black pants, a black plain sweatshirt, a black leather jacket, and gray shoes.

Dawn's vehicle is a green 1994 Mazda Truck, Iowa license plate FNK064.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the police department at 641-357-2186 or email police@cityofclearlake.org.MASON CITY, Iowa - Theres a bill being talked about at Iowas capitol.

It's one allowing public schools to offer a Bible literacy program. Malorie Yezek would tell you she comes for a religious background, so learning more about the Bible doesn't bother her.

It would be a great help as I go to church but I could also have some insight, Yezek said.

Zander Ketchum, however, doesn't go to church at all, he says.

Since Im not super religious it would be a way to learn more about it, Ketchum said.

To them, hearing that a dozen lawmakers want to pass a bill that would allow public schools to offer a Bible literacy program doesn't bother them.

As long as its not mandatory.

Its OK to offer it but not to force it, Ketchum said.

Republican Representative Tedd Gassman is backing the bill. He stresses this wouldn't be mandatory, just an option. He says with what's happening in today's world, he believes a course like this could change social norms and create a better life for students.

I feel like it is a great idea as long as its not mandatory for everybody; you're not forced to take the class, Yezek said.

Democratic Representative Sharon Steckman says the best place to teach the Bible, Quran, and Torah would be in a church, synagogue, and mosque. Yezek says this proposal really isn't surprising.

In my government class and history classes we already talk about it a lot, everyone is from different areas, its already been brought up, Yezek said.

Gassman tells us he doesn't feel a bill like this will pass this year.

The bill states the course would focus on Hebrew Scriptures along with the Bible's New Testament.MASON CITY, Iowa - The state of Iowa has been granted $9.1 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Devlopment (HUD) to fund homelessness assistance initiatives through the Continuum of Care (CoC) program.

The program provides needed support to local programs that serve individuals and families experiencing homelessness, with the ultimate goal of ending homelessness.

There are three CoCs in Iowa, including Des Moines/Polk County, Sioux City/Woodury County, and the Iowa Balance of State CoC, which covers the rest of the state outside of Council Bluffs, which is included in the Omaha CoC.

For Northern Lights Men's Shelter Monitor Stephen Raymond, he says this money would be beneficial in a variety of ways.

"There are some improvements needed on the shelter, but also some new programs to help the guys get on their feet," Raymond says.

For HUD Beneficiary Emily Willemsen, she says that the assistance she gets from those programs has gone a long way for her.

"If I didn't have the assistance, I probably would be staying in a shelter. I've applied for more jobs, but times were tough, and it's helped me out," Willemsen says.

Approximately 11,900 Iowans experienced homelessness in 2016, a statistic that is declining.OSAGE, Iowa  A new county supervisor has been appointed in Mitchell County.

Shannon Paulus had to step down from the 3rd District Supervisor Seat after she was appointed to replace Pamela Meyer as County Treasurer. That position was filled Friday morning when Amanda Adams of Stacyville was picked to replace Paulus.

Adams will serve the 11 months remaining on the current term. The 3rd District seat will be up for election in November.AMES, Iowa  A Mason City man has been sentenced to jail time in central Iowa.

38-year-old Luis Serra pleaded guilty to 3rd degree theft and trespass for an incident on October 4, 2017 in Ames where he was accused of breaking into a residence in the 1300 block of Truman Place and taking cash and a cell phone.

On Thursday, Serra was given a total of 150 days in the Story County Jail, with credit for time already served, and ordered to pay $690 in fines.WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is proposing a plan that provides a path to citizenship for 1.8 million of the so-called Dreamer immigrants, tighter restrictions on legal immigration and $25 billion in border security, the White House said, putting forward an outline likely to find resistance from some of Trumps conservative allies.

Senior White House officials offered a preview of Trumps immigration framework Thursday, casting it as a compromise that could pass the Senate. The proposal represents a reversal for the president, who once promised to eliminate an Obama-era program protecting immigrants brought to the U.S. as children and now in the country illegally. He later urged lawmakers to extend the program, but maintained he was not considering citizenship.

The Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program currently covers roughly 690,000 of those younger immigrants  about half the number who qualified for the program, according to independent estimates. Trumps plan would expand this further by adjusting some of the requirements, officials said, but they would not offer specific details. It would not allow parents of those immigrants to seek lawful status, the officials said.

The White House will be releasing a legislative framework on immigration Monday, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. Sanders wont say whether that framework will include a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers. (Jan. 24)

On Wednesday, Trump said he was open to a pathway to citizenship for younger immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children. Were going to morph into it, Trump told reporters. Its going to happen, at some point in the future, over a period of 10 to 12 years.

Legal status for the recipients would be revocable for criminal behavior and national security threats, the officials said, and eventual citizenship would require still-unspecified work and education requirements  and a finding that the immigrants are of good moral character.

Trump ended the DACA program in September, setting a March 5 deadline for Congress to provide legal protections or the programs recipients would once again be subject to deportation. The officials said Trump would only sign legislation providing those protections if the other immigration changes he is proposing are implemented.

Trumps plan would restrict new family-based immigration to spouses and minor children, doing away with provisions allowing parents, adult siblings and others to enter the country. The officials said it would only end new applications for visas, allowing those already in the pipeline to be processed.

It would also end the diversity visa lottery program, which drew Trumps attention after the New York City truck attack last year, redirecting the allotment annually to bringing down the existing backlog in visa applications.

The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the plan before its release.

Trump had previously ruled out the idea of citizenship for the Dreamers, saying in September: Were not looking at citizenship. Were not looking at amnesty. Were looking at allowing people to stay here.

Trump had deferred to a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to craft an immigration proposal, saying he would sign whatever they passed. But as talks on Capitol Hill broke down  in part because of controversy Trump ginned up using vulgar language to describe other countries  the White House decided to offer its own framework.

The release follows on concerns raised by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that the president had not sufficiently laid out his priorities. One official said the Thursday release represents a plan for the Senate, with the administration expecting a different bill to pass the House.

Democrats said they were heartened Thursday by Trumps support, while Republicans were more cautious.

The presidents most loyal media ally, Breitbart News, attacked Trump as Amnesty Don.

Moderate Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said he was very encouraged by Trumps surprising words, which the president made late Wednesday in impromptu comments to reporters.

Among Republicans, Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford said he supports the citizenship pathway Trump described. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., called Trumps words positive and said Trumps description gives us a better sense of his views, but added, We have a long way to go yet.

Some of Congress more conservative members seemed unwilling to open the citizenship door for the Dreamers.

DACA itself didnt have a pathway to citizenship, said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who battled Trump in 2016 for the GOP presidential nomination. So I think it would be a profound mistake and not consistent with the promises we made to the voters, to enact a pathway to citizenship to DACA recipients or to others who are here illegally.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said he supports a more conservative, more sweeping immigration bill proposed by House members, including House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., which has won strong support from House conservatives. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., has promised to push for support for that measure.FOREST CITY, Iowa  The man accused of shooting a pellet gun at a school bus is pleading not guilty.

32-year-old Martin Sherman Tindall of Forest City is charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon and 4th degree criminal mischief. Authorities say Tindall fired a high-powered air rifle at a Forest City school bus on Jan. 5 as the bus was southbound on Clark Street.

The pellet shattered one of the rear windows but none of the students inside were hurt. The pellet did land in one students hair.

A trial is now scheduled for March 28 in Winnebago County District Court.An internationally backed ceasefire monitoring team in South Sudan said it has asked the U.N. Security Council to say whether leaders violating a peace treaty should face asset freezes, regional travel bans, or an arms embargo.

The statement comes a day after Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, urged the body to impose an arms embargo and spoke of growing international frustration with the South Sudanese government.

South Sudan has been riven by civil war since 2013 after clashes between troops loyal to former vice president Riek Machar and President Salva Kiir. The fighting took on ethnic overtones, killing tens of thousands of people, causing widespread hunger and forced a third of the population to flee.

The ceasefire monitoring commission, chaired by former Botswana president Festus Mogae, is supposed to oversee a largely ignored 2015 peace deal. Both sides have repeatedly violated it. A ceasefire negotiated in December was violated within hours, the monitors have said.

We cannot stand by as South Sudanese leaders sign an agreement one day and authorise or allow its violation with impunity the next," Mogae said in the statement on Thursday after addressing the U.N. Security Council via videolink from Juba.

South Sudans government spokesman Michael Makuei Lueth told Reuters on Thursday that the ceasefire monitors were unfair and relied on second-hand information.

This is very unfortunate and it is a misleading report and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) should not have listened to such report," he said. "They are working hard to weaken the government so that the rebels become stronger and they take over."

Rebel deputy spokesman Lam Paul Gabriel said they would welcome any intervention by the international community to enforce the tattered ceasefire.

We welcome his idea to make sure those who violated the ceasefire are held responsible," he said. "We need proper investigations to find out who is responsible for the violation of the ceasefire this time."

Haley had warned bluntly that the administration was running out of patience with South Sudan's leaders.

"Things are going backwards in South Sudan," she said, noting that despite promises from Kiir, aid workers still faced huge fees and restrictions and that the government had promoted three generals sanctioned for severe human rights abuses.

"The time has come to acknowledge the hard reality that the leaders of South Sudan are not just failing their people, they are betraying them," she said. "Its long past time that the Security Council establish an arms embargo on South Sudan."

Short link:

MASON CITY, Iowa  A woman arrested early Thursday morning for drug charges in Worth County is now facing a felony forgery charge in Cerro Gordo County.

Emily Buttshaw, 35, of Manly, is accused of stealing and writing herself a check in the amount of $500 from a person who never issued her a check.

Mason City police say on Jan. 18, a local business owner was alerted by his bank that Buttshaw went to his back with one of his checks that was made out to her. Police say since she didnt have an account at that bank, she was required to show identification. The teller was given an ID card identifying her as Buttshaw.WATERLOO, Iowa  Police are asking for the publics help in finding a woman missing since Saturday.

The Waterloo Police Department says Lakisha Quintel Williams was last seen around 5 pm on January 20 in the 3800 block of Paige Drive. The 40-year-old woman is described as 53 tall and 180 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. Authorities say she also goes by her maiden name of Lakisha Owens.

Anyone who has seen Williams or has information about her whereabouts is asked to call Waterloo Police at (319) 291-2515.By Alex Dobuzinskis

Jan 25 (Reuters) - New York's Guggenheim Museum offered to lend an 18-karat gold toilet to President Donald Trump after the White House asked to borrow a painting by Vincent Van Gogh, the Washington Post reported on Thursday.

The museum's chief curator offered to loan the toilet, which had been used by tens of thousands of visitors, in a Sept. 15 email to a Trump administration official, the newspaper reported.

A Guggenheim spokeswoman declined immediate comment on the Washington Post report and White House officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It was not clear how the White House responded to the Guggenheim curator's offer.

The piece, by Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan's, is an 18-karat gold, fully functioning toilet. It is called "America."

It was put on display in 2016 in a single-stall bathroom at the Guggenheim, where it was used in private luxury by more than 100,000 people, according to a Guggenheim blog post. The museum said the object, which was on display for a year, "skewers social complacencies" and the extravagances of the wealthy.

Trump, a real estate developer turned reality television star, campaigned for president as a savvy businessman with the commercial sense to succeed in the White House. His exact personal wealth is unknown.

The offer came in response to a White House request to borrow the painting "Landscape with Snow" by 19th century Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, for installation at the president and first lady's private living quarters, the Washington Post reported. The request for the painting was declined.

Guggenheim chief curator Nancy Spector had previously written about the toilet in a 2017 blog post, in which she took swipes at the president. She wrote that the "Trump reference" inherent in the gold toilet resonated with people "during the sculpture's time at the Guggenheim."

"When the sculpture came off view on Sept. 15, Trump had been in office for 238 days, a term marked by scandal and defined by the deliberate rollback of countless civil liberties, in addition to climate-change denial that puts our planet in peril," Spector wrote.

Trump is known to have a taste for gold and gilded objects. On Christmas Eve, he took calls from children while seated on a gold chair in a tapestried room at his Florida vacation home. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis in Los Angeles; Editing by Scott Malone and Susan Thomas)SHANGHAI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Finance auctioned 10 billion yuan ($1.58 billion) of 3-month bills in the interbank market on Friday at an average yield of 3.2775 percent, traders said.

The auction yield was below Thursday's benchmark secondary market yield of 3.3514 percent for 3-month government bonds .

For stories on Chinese debt issues, click on . ($1 = 6.3289 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by the Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)SHANGHAI, Jan 26 (Reuters) - China's central bank on Friday lifted its official yuan midpoint for the sixth straight day to 6.3436 per dollar, the strongest level since November 2015, supported by solid spot yuan performance from a day earlier. Friday's midpoint was 288 pips, or 0.45 percent, firmer than Thursday's fix of 6.3724 and was the strongest since Nov.5, 2015. China's yuan finished the domestic session on Thursday at the strongest since October 2015, supported by continued sell-offs in the greenback. (Reporting by Winni Zhou and John Ruwitch; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.Guy Faulconbridge, Jonathan Saul, Polina Nikolskaya

PARIS/LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - North Korea shipped coal to Russia last year which was then delivered to South Korea and Japan in a likely violation of U.N. sanctions, three Western European intelligence sources said.

The U.N. Security Council banned North Korean exports of coal last Aug. 5 under sanctions intended to cut off an important source of the foreign currency Pyongyang needs to fund its nuclear weapon and long-range missile programs.

But the secretive Communist state has at least three times since then shipped coal to the Russian ports of Nakhodka and Kholmsk, where it was unloaded at docks and reloaded onto ships that took it to South Korea or Japan, the sources said.

A Western shipping source said separately that some of the cargoes reached Japan and South Korea in October last year. A U.S. security source also confirmed the coal trade via Russia and said it was continuing.

Russias port of Nakhodka is becoming a transhipping hub for North Korean coal, said one of the European security sources, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of international diplomacy around North Korea.

Russias foreign ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment sent on Jan 18. Russias mission to the United Nations informed the Security Council sanctions committee on Nov. 3 that Moscow was complying with the sanctions.

Two lawyers who specialize in sanctions law told Reuters it appeared the transactions violated U.N. sanctions.

Reuters could not independently verify whether the coal unloaded at the Russian docks was the same coal that was then shipped to South Korea and Japan. Reuters also was unable to ascertain whether the owners of the vessels that sailed from Russia to South Korea and Japan knew the origin of the coal.

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday put the owner of one of the ships, the UAL Ji Bong 6, under sanctions for delivering North Korean coal to Kholmsk on Sept. 5.

It was unclear which companies profited from the coal shipments.

RUSSIA URGED DO MORE ON SANCTIONS

North Korean coal exports were initially capped under a 2016 Security Council resolution that required countries to report monthly imports of coal from North Korea to the councils sanctions committee within 30 days of the end of each month.

Diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russia had not reported any imports of North Korea coal to the committee last year.

The sanctions committee told U.N. member states in November that a violation occurs when activities or transactions proscribed by Security Council resolutions are undertaken or attempts are made to engage in proscribed transactions, whether or not the transaction has been completed.

Asked about the shipments identified by Reuters, Matthew Oresman, a partner with law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman who advises companies on sanctions, said: Based on these facts, there appears to be a violation of the U.N. Security Council resolution by the parties involved.

Also those involved in arranging, financing, and carrying out the shipments could likely face U.S. sanctions, he said.

Asked about the shipments, a U.S. State Department spokesman said: Its clear that Russia needs to do more. All U.N. member states, including Russia, are required to implement sanctions resolutions in good faith and we expect them all to do so.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The independent panel of experts that reports to the Security Council on violations of sanctions was not immediately available for comment.

North Korea has refused to give up the development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States. It has said the sanctions infringe its sovereignty and accused the United States of wanting to isolate and stifle North Korea.

An independent panel of experts reported to the Security Council on Sept. 5 that North Korea had been deliberately using indirect channels to export prohibited commodities, evading sanctions.

Reuters reported last month that Russian tankers had supplied fuel to North Korea at sea and U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters in an interview on Jan. 17 that Russia was helping Pyongyang get supplies in violation of the sanctions.

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday imposed sanctions on nine entities, 16 people and six North Korean ships it accused of helping the weapons programs.

TWO ROUTES

Two separate routes for the coal were identified by the Western security sources.

The first used vessels from North Korea via Nakhodka, about 85 km (53 miles) east of the Russian city of Vladivostok.

One vessel that used this route was the Palau-flagged Jian Fu which Russian port control documents show delivered 17,415 tonnes of coal after sailing from Nampo in North Korea on Aug. 3 and docking at berth no. 4 run by LLC Port Livadiya in Nakhodka. It left the port on Aug. 18.

The vessel had turned off its tracking transmitter from July 24 to Aug. 2, when it was in open seas, according to publicly available ship tracking data. Under maritime conventions, this is acceptable practice at the discretion of the ships captain, but means the vessel could not be tracked publicly.

Another ship arrived at the same berth -- No. 4 -- on Aug. 16, loaded 20,500 tonnes of coal and headed to the South Korean port of Ulsan in Aug. 24, according to Russian port control documents.

Reuters was unable to reach the operator of the Jian Fu, which was listed in shipping directories as the China-based Sunrise Ship Management. The Nakhodka-based transport agent of the Jian Fu did not respond to written and telephone requests for comment. LLC Port Livadiya did not respond to a written request for comment.

The second route took coal via Kholmsk on the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin, north of Japan.

At least two North Korean vessels unloaded coal at a dock in Kholmsk port in August and September after arriving from the ports of Wonsan and Taean in North Korea, Russian port control data and ship tracking data showed.

The Rung Ra 2 docked in Kholmsk three times between Aug 1 and Sept. 12, unloading a total of 15,542 tonnes of coal, while the Ul Ji Bong 6 unloaded a total of 10,068 tonnes of coal on two separate port calls -- on Aug. 3 and between Sept. 1 and Sept. 8, according to the official Russian Information System for State Port Control.

The coal did not pass Russian customs because of the UN sanctions taking effect, but was then loaded at the same dock onto Chinese-operated vessels. Those vessels stated their destination in Russian port control documents as North Korea, according to a source in Sakhalin port administration who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Reuters has seen the port control documents which state the destination of the coal as North Korea. But the vessels that loaded the North Korean coal sailed instead for the ports of Pohang and Incheon in South Korea, ship tracking data showed.

The Chinese commerce ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday included the owner of the Ul Ji Bong 6 under sanctions for delivering North Korean coal to Kholmsk after the sanctions took effect.

It was unclear which companies profited from the coal shipments.

Asked about the shipments, a South Korean foreign ministry official said: Our government is monitoring any sanctions-evading activities by North Korea. Were working closely with the international community for the implementation of the sanctions.

The official declined to say whether the ministry was aware of the shipments reported by Reuters.

The Japanese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The European security sources said the route via Russia had developed as China, North Koreas neighbor and lone major ally, cracked down on exports from the secretive Communist state.

The Chinese have cracked down on coal exports from North Korea so the smuggling route has developed and Russia is the transit point for coal, one of the European security sources said.

Writing by Guy Faulconbridge and Jonathan Saul; Additional reporting by Michele Nichols in New York, Oksana Kobzeva and Gleb Stolyarov in Moscow, Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, William James in London, Muyu Xu and Josephine Mason in Beijing, Aaron Sheldrick and Linda Sieg in Tokyo, and Mark Hosenball and Matt Spetalnick in Washington; Editing by Timothy HeritageLONDON, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May believes it is crucial that Britain is able to take back control of its trade policy after it leaves the European Union, her spokesman said on Friday.

"While we are pursuing a bold and deep future partnership with the EU, with a customs relationship which is as frictionless as possible, we also crucially are taking back control of our trade," the spokesman said.

He added that May's cabinet was fully signed up to her Brexit plan.

(Reporting by William James; Editing by Alistair Smout)PRAGUE, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Czech financial markets on Friday.

ALL TIMES GMT (Czech Republic: GMT + 1 hours) =========================ECONOMIC DATA==========================

Real-time economic data releases.................... Summary of economic data and forecasts........... Recently released economic data.................. Previous stories on Czech data............. **For a schedule of corporate and economic events: =========================NEWS===================================

PRESIDENT: Pro-EU academic Jiri Drahos is seeking to unseat anti-immigration political veteran Milos Zeman, who has sought closer relations with Russia and China, in a tight run-off of the Czech presidential election starting on Friday.

Story: Related stories: CENTRAL BANK: The Czech National Bank said on Thursday that two members of the seven-strong governing board, Vice-Governor Mojmir Hampl and board member Oldrich Dedek, will miss the next monetary policy meeting on Feb. 1.

Story: Related stories: UNIPETROL: Czech downstream oil group Unipetrol reported on Thursday a drop in fourth-quarter net profit to 737 million crowns ($36.13 million) after an unplanned shutdown.

Story: Related stories: CEE MARKETS: Central European currencies and stocks eased and government bonds firmed on Thursday ahead of the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting where many investors expect it to try to talk down the surging euro.

Story: Related stories: ***For real-time stock market index quotes click in brackets: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX For updates on CEE currencies TOP NEWS -- Emerging markets Prague Newsroom: +420 224 190 477

E-mail: prague.newsroom@thomsonreuters.com

(Reporting by Prague Newsroom)ATHENS, Jan 26 (Reuters) - Greek private sector bank deposits increased by 2.0 percent in December, rising for a third straight month, central bank data showed on Friday. Business and household deposits rose to 126.35 billion euros ($157.37 billion) from 123.86 billion in November. Greek banks have seen small deposit inflows over the space of more than two years after the country clinched a third bailout to stay in the euro zone in July 2015. While they remain dependent on central bank borrowing to plug their funding gaps, banks have reduced their exposure. ($1 = 0.8029 euros)

(Reporting By George Georgiopoulos, writing by Michele Kambas)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.MOSCOW, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The board of Russia's second-largest lender VTB will recommend increasing dividend payments on its ordinary shares for its 2017 financial results, RIA news agency quoted Deputy Chief Executive Herbert Moos as saying on Friday. "I see room for higher dividends," Moos told RIA on the sidelines of an annual economic forum in Davos, Switzerland. For 2016, VTB paid 15 billion roubles ($269 million) in dividends.

(Writing by Andrey Ostroukh; Editing by Mark Potter)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.The chairman of the liberal Wafd Party, El-Sayed El-Badawi, underwent on Friday the medical examination required for those who are seeking to become candidates in the March presidential elections, pending a final decision by the party's higher commission on fielding a candidate in the election.

The examination took place at the state medical council in Sheikh Zayed, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported.

The deadline for medical exams for potential candidates is Sunday.

The Wafd, which is the country's oldest political party, currently holds the third largest number of seats in Egypt's parliament, 46, after the Free Egyptians Party and the Future of a Homeland party.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is the only potential candidate so far who has submitted the required endorsement forms and has undergone the required medical exam for candidacy.

Yasser El-Houdeiby, a deputy head of the Wafd Party, explained to Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the party's higher commission agreed in a meeting on Thursday to ask El-Badawi to apply for the medical check-up, but that does not necessarily mean that the party head will put his candidacy forward.

The move, El-Hodeiby explained, is aimed to ensure El-Badawi a place as a potential presidential candidate before the medical examination period closes on Sunday.

Suleiman Wahdan, a senior Wafd MP and deputy speaker of parliament, told Ahram Online that the party's higher commission is set to meet again on Saturday to decide on the matter.

There are a large number of members of the higher commission who want El-Badawi to run, but there others who are strongly opposed, El-Houdeiby told Al-Ahram Arabic.

He added that though all indicators suggest that President El-Sisi will comfortably win the 26-28 March vote, the Wafd intends to carry out a respectful election battle.

The deadline for submitting necessary documents to become a candidate in the presidential elections is Monday 29 January.

Who is El-Sayed El-Badawi?

El-Badawi was born in 1950 in the city of Tanta in the central Nile Delta.

He graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Alexandria in 1973.

El-Badawi joined the Wafd Party in 1983 and has served as the party's chairman since 2010.

He is a wealthy businessman with large investments in the pharmaceutical industry and in Egyptian television.

He is currently the CEO of Sigma Pharmaceuticals and Al-Hayat TV channels.

In 2013, El-Badawi served on the 50-member committee which drafted Egypt's new constitution following the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi.

Read more

Short link:

JOHANNESBURG, Jan 26 (Reuters) - South Africa sold 1.8 billion rand ($152 million) worth of three-month Treasury bills on Friday, at an average yield of 7.34 percent compared with 7.37 percent last week, central bank data showed. The bid-to-cover ratio fell to 3.4 from 3.7. Auction date: 26/01/2018 Settlement date: 31/01/2018 Days 91 182 273 364 Amount received (R'bln) 6.112 6.493 7.923 3.525 Amount on offer (R'bln) 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.3 Amount allotted (R'bln) 1.8 2.0 2.1 2.3 Bid-to-cover ratio 3.4 3.2 3.8 1.5 Avg discount rate (pct) 7.21 7.28 7.18 7.09 Average yield (pct) 7.34 7.55 7.59 7.62 ($1 = 11.8383 rand)

(Reporting by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 26 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump denied a report on Friday that he had ordered Special Counsel Robert Mueller fired last June, calling it "fake news". The New York Times reported on Thursday that Trump backed down from his order after the White House counsel threatened to resign rather than follow his directive, citing four people told of the matter. "Fake news, folks, fake news," Trump told reporters in Davos, when asked about the report.

(Reporting by Steve Holland)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.(Updates with Slovenia response, details)

BRUSSELS/LJUBLJANA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Friday it had opened an in-depth investigation into new commitments made by Slovenia regarding the restructuring of its top lender, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB).

Slovenia, which fully owns the bank, pledged to sell 75 percent of NLB by the end of 2017, but put the sale plan on hold last June.

It said the expected price, which would value the whole bank at a minimum of 1.1 billion euros ($1.37 billion), was too low. The government, which injected 1.55 billion euros into NLB in 2013 to prevent it from collapsing under a large amount of bad loans, notified the Commission of a set of new commitments in December.

Its proposals consist of an extension of the deadline for the sale until 2019 as well as the appointment of an independent trustee to oversee shareholders rights in the meantime.

"At this stage, the Commission has doubts whether the new Slovenian proposal can be considered equivalent to Slovenia's original commitment," the Commission, which oversees competition policy in the European Union, said.

Slovenia's finance ministry gave no immediate comment on Friday.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Mateja Vranicar Erman told reporters she did not expect that the European Commission to order NLB to return the state aid.

"After the European Commission decides (about our proposal), the government has one month to respond. During this time there is room for constructive talks," Erman said.

($1 = 0.8029 euros)

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek, additional reporting by Marja Novak in Ljubljana; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Jason Neely)(Adds details, quote)

RICHARDS BAY, South Africa, Jan 26 (Reuters) - South Africa's Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) said on Friday 2017 coal exports surged to a record high of 76.47 million tonnes from 72.6 million tonnes in 2016, despite port closures during poor weather.

RBCT, Africa's largest coal export facility, said it aimed to export at least 77 million tonnes this year.

"We have lost 38 days in 2017 to weather which actually caused a queue at some point at the coal terminal," said Nosipho Siwisa-Damasane, RBCT chairwoman.

Asia took the bulk of the coal exports, with a share of 81.6 percent of all exports in 2017 versus 75 percent in 2016.

(Reporting by Tanisha Heiberg; Writing by Olivia Kumwenda-Mtambo; Editing by Mark Potter)(Updates with finance ministry response)

BRUSSELS/LJUBLJANA, Jan 26 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Friday it had opened an in-depth investigation into new commitments made by Slovenia regarding the restructuring of its top lender, Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB).

Slovenia, which fully owns the bank, pledged to sell 75 percent of NLB by the end of 2017, but put the sale plan on hold last June.

It said the expected price, which would value the whole bank at a minimum of 1.1 billion euros ($1.37 billion), was too low. The government, which injected 1.55 billion euros into NLB in 2013 to prevent it from collapsing under a large amount of bad loans, notified the Commission of a set of new commitments in December.

Its proposals consist of an extension of the deadline for the sale until 2019 as well as the appointment of an independent trustee to oversee shareholders rights in the meantime.

"At this stage, the Commission has doubts whether the new Slovenian proposal can be considered equivalent to Slovenia's original commitment," the Commission, which oversees competition policy in the European Union, said.

Slovenia's finance ministry said in a statement on Friday that it plans to lead "a very intensive dialogue" with the European Commission before it officially replies to the Commission in a month.

"The key goals of the government in the continuous talks remain keeping a controlling stake of 25 percent ...in NLB, pursuing privatisation in line with market conditions that will enable maximum return of taxpayers money invested in the bank in 2013 and enabling the bank to remain an important regional financial institution," the ministry said.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Mateja Vranicar Erman told reporters she did not expect the European Commission to order NLB to return the state aid. ($1 = 0.8029 euros)

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek, additional reporting by Marja Novak in Ljubljana; editing by Philip Blenkinsop and Jason Neely)(Adds JD.com's response)

Jan 25 (Reuters) - China's JD.com Inc is preparing to enter the United States by the end of this year in a move that will challenge its Chinese rival Alibaba Group Holding Ltd and U.S.-based Amazon.com Inc , Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

JD.com is seeking funds for its international expansion and is in final talks to sell 15 percent of its logistics arm to shareholder Tencent Holdings Ltd and other investors in an early fundraising round, Bloomberg reported. ( )

"Southeast Asia is our international focus for now, with the U.S. being a longer-term aspiration," a spokesman for JD.com told Reuters. "We are considering different options, but any near-term efforts in the U.S. would likely look at partnership models."

Tencent will get about a third of the shares on offer and the deal will be completed by the middle of next month, JD.com founder Richard Liu told Bloomberg in an interview.

The move is a precursor to an initial public offering of the logistics unit in China or Hong Kong in about three years, Liu told Bloomberg.

JD.com has kicked off a fundraising round at its logistics unit with a target of at least $2 billion, and eventually plans to list the business overseas, Reuters reported earlier this month. Tencent was not available for comment on the Bloomberg report. Wal-Mart Stores Inc , one of the largest shareholders in JD.com with a more than 10 percent stake, also did not respond to a request for comment.

Large Chinese retail companies have been looking to enter the Untied States by tying up with American retailers. Alibaba and U.S. grocer Kroger Co have had early discussions on working together, a source told Reuters on Thursday.

These discussions come as Amazon.com expands aggressively into groceries with its acquisition of Whole Foods Market.

(Reporting by Shubham Kalia and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru and Cate Cadell in Beijing; Editing by Amrutha Gayathri)Friends Furever Animal Rescue in Twin Falls recently received a donation of 8,000 pounds of dog food from Animal Supply in Meridian.

"He contacted me, and fortunately I was able to accept that load,' said Dave Wright, the founder of Friends Furever.

The problem was the rescue had no way to transport the donation to the Magic Valley, so Wright posted to Facebook for help.

"Kruse Nationwide, a local trucking company immediately stepped up," he said.

The company is based out of Filer, and when staff heard about the donation they offered to drive it down in one of their empty trucks, free of charge.

"We had a truck that emptied out with a load of wine from California into Idaho and was coming home empty and I thought let's get it picked up and get it moved down," said co-owner Lorie Kruse.

Now that the food is safely stored in Filer, Wright is contacting rescues and shelters in the area to fill food needs.

"Were probably looking in the neighborhood of about 400 pounds per request," he said.

Wright said this size of donation will help buy food many of the local shelters can't afford.

"Small town shelters, their budgets are either small or nonexistent, so they rely on this kind of donation," he said.

As for the Kruse family, they aren't planning to write off the trip. They said they just want to see dogs happy and safe.

Ive never had a dog not tell me thank you, Kruse said. "If everybody in the community works together, gives what you can, do what you can, the problems seem to start taking care of themselves and working themselves out."

Wright said he hopes more corporations in the community step up to help.

"I'd like to see our community step up to that," he said, "our other businesses and corporations in our community to step up to that too and to just see the benefit that they'll reap from it."

If you are in need of some dog food, or want to volunteer to help distribute the donations, you can contact Wright on the

Facebook page.The chairman of the liberal Wafd Party, El-Sayed El-Badawi, who is considering a candidacy in Egypt's 2018 presidential elections was born in 1950 in the city of Tanta in the central Nile Delta.

He graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Alexandria in 1973.

El-Badawi joined the Wafd Party in 1983.

He was elected to a number of top posts in the party and represented Wafd in parliament before becoming the party's chairman in 2010.

Founded during the 1919 revolution against the British occupation, the Wafd is the country's oldest political party.

Wafd played a central role in mobilizing for Egyptian independence in the period between 1919 and 1952.

In 1953, the party was dissolved - along with other political parties - by the late President Gamal Abdel-Nasser following the 1952 revolution.

However, in 1978, under the late President Anwar Sadat, the party was allowed back into political life, reconstituting itself as the New Wafd Party.

The reconstituted party participated in a number of parliamentary elections during the 30-year tenure of former President Hosni Mubarak, including the last parliament polls under Mubarak's in October 2010.

In the years following the 2011 ouster of Mubarak, the party took part in the two parliamentary elections that were held, securing dozens of seats.

In 2013, following the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Morsi, El-Badawi represented the party in the 50-member committee which drafted Egypt's new constitution.

Wafd currently holds the third largest number of seats in Egypt's parliament, 46, after the Free Egyptians Party and the Future of a Homeland party.

El-Badawi is a wealthy businessman with large investments in the pharmaceutical industry and in Egyptian television. He is the founder and the CEO of Sigma Pharmaceuticals and Al-Hayat TV channels.

Short link:

By Yoon Ja-young



Korea is considering levying retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products, following the U.S. decision to slap tariffs on washing machines and solar panels exported by Korean manufacturers.



According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, it is considering requesting the World Trade Organization (WTO) to allow it to suspend concessions on U.S. products. This means Korea will stop tariff reductions on some U.S. products as a retaliatory action.



The decision follows U.S. President Donald Trump's signing on safeguard measures against imported washers and solar panels, including those of Korean companies, Monday. It plans to impose up to 50 percent tariffs on washers exceeding 1.2 million units a year, and tariffs up to 30 percent on solar panels. Though the U.S. ITC recommended excluding washers made in Korea from the safeguard actions on the determination they are not the cause of the damage, Trump refused.



Separate from the action against the latest U.S. safeguard measures, Korea requested the WTO approve suspension of concessions regarding another Korea-U.S. dispute over washers. Back in September 2016, the WTO ruled the United States had exaggerated Korea's dumping margin when it imposed antidumping duties on Korean washers. The U.S. used a "zeroing" method, which is against the WTO's anti-dumping agreement. The United States was obligated to implement the WTO ruling, but it didn't do so within the "Reasonable Period of Time for Implementation" set by the WTO.



According to WTO regulations, a country that wins a dispute can demand suspension of concessions against the losing country if it doesn't implement a WTO decision.



Korea thus requested an annual $711 million suspension of concessions, which is based on the loss incurred on its washer exports. Korea can levy retaliatory tariffs on any U.S. exports items to Korea.



The U.S. president's decision stirred controversy in the United States as well, as the conflict will only get worse. According to The Hill, a U.S. magazine, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, who heads the Senate's agriculture committee, showed concern Trump's tariffs will invite retaliatory measures targeting U.S. agricultural products.



The trade ministry held a government-business meeting to cope with the U.S. safeguards, Friday, where participants agreed the U.S. actions were excessive and violated WTO rules. The ministry showed its disappointment, pointing out Korean businesses' contribution to the U.S. economy and jobs by setting up factories there.



Meanwhile, Korea and the United States will sit for the second round of negotiations to revise the free trade agreement between the two countries, which will be held in Seoul on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.



The two countries held the first round of talks in Washington, D.C., early this month, following continuous criticism by the U.S. president the deal is causing a trade deficit. Back then, Korea focused on investor-state dispute settlements (ISDS) while vehicles and automotive components, Korea's main export items to the United States, took much of the U.S. interest.



By Kim Se-jeong







The Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that rejecting childcare and daycare support for parents with overseas residence permits is unconstitutional.







In a unanimous vote, all nine justices said the government's policy toward these parents is discriminatory.



"These parents are no different from other Koreans.







They pay taxes and therefore should be able to benefit from basic benefits provided by the government," the court said in the ruling.







The plaintiffs were Koreans who had lived in Japan who were denied childcare for their children when they moved back to Korea, although the children had been granted Korean citizenship.







"Even parents with dual citizenship are eligible for childcare support. There's no reason Koreans should be rejected for the support. That is discrimination without any good reason," the court said.







The government provides parents with support for childcare and daycare centers until a child becomes eight years old. Daycare center support is designed for working parents and the government covers the entire costs.







The childcare support is 100,000 won per month.



Currently, 48,441 families with overseas resident permits live in Korea, according to the Ministry of the Interior.

By Lee Kyung-min



Professors at 29 universities named their children as co-authors in dissertations over the past decade as a deceitful means to help boost their academic profiles ahead of the university admissions, the government said Friday. The Ministry of Education said it reviewed dissertations published between February 2007 and last October and found 82 such instances nationwide. Most of the children were high school juniors or high school seniors.



Of the total, 39 cases found at 16 universities were part of a joint program by high schools and universities in which the latter supervises paper writing of the former. Sungkyunkwan University had eight cases, followed by Yonsei (seven), Seoul National (six) and Kookmin (six). The remaining 43 cases found in 19 universities had no such program. Seoul National University had six cases, followed by Yonsei (four), and Catholic University of Korea (four). Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Sookmyung Women's University each had three. Of the total, 80 cases were science and engineering, with humanities studies accounting only for two cases.



The ministry requested each university submit explanations over whether the detected cases had irregularities including whether the authors met due requirements and made sufficient contributions to be named as such. The ministry said admissions will be cancelled if any of the dissertations were used to help grant admission to universities. "Naming children, who have made no contribution in the study, as name authors in a dissertation is a grave offence," Education Minister Kim Sang-kon said. "If any irregularities are confirmed, we will seek punitive measures according to principle."



This is one of many university admissions frauds in Korea, where entering a good university is considered the sole education objective for children. Last December, police reviewed admissions records of more than 200 universities over the past five years with a four-year curricula after four students were found to have been admitted due to lax reviews of government-issued certificates for the physically challenged. One of them was admitted to Korea University and the other three to the University of Seoul. The universities are required to voluntarily report any irregularities they were aware of by end of this month, or be subject to prosecution.



Students and their parents believe the university they attend determines the rest of their adult lives. The yearly held College Scholastic Aptitude Test (CSAT) is considered the most important priority. Students who are not confident in getting high scores or do not want to risk everything on the once-in-a-year opportunity try to increase their chances of admissions into prestigious universities by applying for early decisions or other means, including fraud.













Lee Sang-deuk, an elder brother of former President Lee Myung-bak, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office on Friday. / Yonhap



An elder brother of former President Lee Myung-bak was questioned by prosecutors on Friday over allegations that he accepted bribes from the state spy agency while Lee was in office.

Lee Sang-deuk, a former six-term lawmaker, appeared at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office at around 10:20 a.m.

He is suspected of taking hundreds of millions of won in 2011 from then-National Intelligence Service chief Won Sei-hoon, in return for helping Won keep his job when a failed NIS operation in Indonesia sparked opposition calls for his resignation.

Lee, 83, arrived in an ambulance from a hospital where he had been undergoing treatment since Wednesday, after briefly losing consciousness after he was called in for questioning on Tuesday by the prosecution.

Lee did not respond to questions from reporters as he was brought to the building in a wheelchair.

Lee was initially ordered to face interrogation on Thursday, but asked the prosecution to reschedule the date, citing health reasons. Prosecutors accepted and ordered him to appear Friday.

Prosecutors are widening the investigation into a string of corruption allegations against the former president and his family, including suspicions of a slush fund and power abuse involving his other brother's auto parts company, whose real owner is said to be the former president.

Prosecutors are also digging into allegations that while Lee was in office, his wife took $100,000 from the spy agency for her personal use. (Yonhap)

By Kim Hyun-bin



In the digital age, online sex crimes have become prevalent online and an increasing number of people are falling victim each day.



The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Friday that 40 percent of unwanted sexual videos and photos are uploaded by victims' ex-boyfriends.



"Sexual videos spread fast online, which can cause severe mental trauma for the victim as well as a feeling of societal isolation," the Seoul city government said. "To erase all traces online, the victim needs to hire a specialist, which can cost up to 3 million won ($2,815). It's an expensive procedure."



The city obtained the figure after helping to resolve 81 online sexual assault cases between October and December last year. The city said it was almost the first initiative done by the regional government.



Most of the cases, accounting for 25 cases (31 percent), dealt with unauthorized video uploads, which was followed by cyberbullying with 13 cases (16 percent), threats to release images with 12 cases (15 percent) and hidden cameras with 11 cases (14 percent).



"In some cases, the videos were approved by the victim at the time, but later were used for blackmail purposes," the city said. "Some hidden camera footage was also used to blackmail the victim for money."



Out of the 81 cases, most victims were female accounting for 76 cases, while four cases involved male victims. One case had both female and male victims.



Most of the video footage was uploaded to pornographic sites accounting for 21 cases (42 percent), followed by social media in 15 cases (30 percent), and five cases (10 percent) with Webhard, a Korean file-hosting service operator.



Online sex crimes are becoming a grave social issue with unwanted sexual videos or photos becoming public with just a click of a button.



Removing the files falls to the victims who are asked to pay a lot of money. To make it worse, it's almost impossible to remove the uploaded files permanently.



Last year, President Moon Jae-in stressed the gravity of online sex crimes and vowed to put a stop to them.

On Thursday, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced it would create a special team investigating online sex crimes.

By Lee Kyung-min



The prosecution questioned Lee Sang-deuk, the elder brother of former President Lee Myung-bak, Friday, over allegations he received money from former National Intelligence Agency (NIS) chief Won Sei-hoon, in return for exerting undue influence with lawmakers that demanded Won's resignation over a botched intelligence operation. The questioning is the latest development in the ongoing investigation into the former president, whose family members are coming under growing suspicion over a wide range of alleged wrongdoings mostly concerning abuse of the presidential office.



The elder Lee, 83, arrived at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in an ambulance from the Seoul National University Hospital, where he had been staying for treatment after he lost consciousness during lunch, Wednesday.

Assisted by his aides and prosecution officials, Lee was taken inside the building in a wheelchair without answering any questions.



The prosecution suspects Lee received hundreds of millions of won (hundreds of thousands of dollars) in agency funds from Won in early 2011 amid mounting criticism over his incompetence, after NIS officials, who attempted to secretly obtain confidential data from an Indonesian presidential delegation, had their cover blown. A member of the Indonesian delegation saw a group of men _ who later were confirmed to be NIS officials _ attempt to "obtain" a laptop belonging to a member of the delegation at Lotte Hotel in downtown Seoul in February 2011. Lawmakers in unison demanded the agency be dissolved and the chief resign over such a "shameful failure." But Won managed to retain the post, which prosecutors believe was the result of Lee's influence and clout within the Assembly. The suspicion is substantiated by a statement from a former NIS official who told the prosecution he gave agency funds to Lee under orders from Won.



Meanwhile, the investigation into Lee is expected to gain momentum following a statement from Kim Paik-joon, a key former aide to the former president. Kim, who was arrested on Jan. 17 following a court-issued arrest warrant, recently admitted to receiving NIS funds, reversing an earlier statement. Kim said the former president was deeply involved in receiving and spending the funds, denying allegations he was never allowed to use the money for personal benefit. The prosecution may question former first lady Kim Yoon-ok, following statements from Kim Hee-jung, a key former aide to her husband for 15 years, who said in a recent media interview he gave $100,000 in agency funds to a former Cheong Wa Dae official who then gave it her.



The questioning also comes amid an intensifying prosecution investigation into DAS, a scandal-ridden company many believe Lee Myung-bak used to manage 12 billion won ($11 million) in slush funds. Investigators from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Offices searched the company headquarters and a company affiliate in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, to confiscate documents and computer hard drives. Prosecutors searched the homes and offices of the affiliate, owned by a man who was earlier questioned by special counsel Jeong Ho-young over suspicions he managed the former president's personal wealth including the slush funds in 2008.



Prosecutors believe Lee Myung-bak managed the slush fund using the affiliate, whose controlling stake used to be held by a woman surnamed Kwon, the sister-in-law to the former first lady. Kwon paid an inheritance tax with part of the controlling stake, thereby forfeiting the controlling stakeholder status, further raising suspicion Lee Myung-bak was the de facto owner of DAS. Prosecutors believe the former president used multiple government agencies to ensure the recovery of what could have been a failed investment of 14 billion won via DAS, which was among only a few investors that recovered the initial investment, unlike 5,500 others who lost 100 billion won in a stock rigging scandal in 2001.

A contractor is taken to an ambulance after passing out while working in a cooling tower at steelmaker POSCO, Thursday. Four workers collapsed and all died in hospital. / Yonhap



The government told POSCO CEO Kwon Oh-joon Friday to investigate thoroughly the deaths of four contractors at one of its plants and to take measures to prevent a recurrence.



It is rare for the government to mention the head of a company over an accident. But it signifies the high priority the Moon Jae-in government puts on preventing fatal workplace accidents.



Vice Employment and Labor Minister Yi Sung-ki toured the steelmaker's facility in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, where the workers are believed to have suffocated while working in a cooling tower on Thursday.



"Anybody who is found to be responsible would be held accountable irrespective of their position," Yi said.



The four men were replacing interior materials in the cooling tower that provides oxygen for furnaces when they inhaled leaking nitrogen gas before passing out. They died in hospital. Nitrogen is not fatal by itself but can be suffocating in the absence of oxygen.



The ministry organized a committee to deal with the aftermath of the accident, ordering the steelmaker to inspect all 40 factories inside the complex to discover whether they are complying with standing procedures. If necessary, the inspection will spread to POSCO's other factories in Gwangyang.



The cooling tank will not be used until experts finish their investigation and declare it safe.



The four men were among over 10,000 contract workers hired by the steelmaker for dangerous jobs. Six people have been killed and six injured in accidents at POSCO in the past five years.



One former POSCO contract worker was quoted by the Pressian online newspaper as saying: "Contract workers are often assigned to difficult jobs but the pay is half of what regular POSCO workers receive."



POSCO allocated an extra 100 billion won to increase pay for contract workers in September after they demanded better working conditions as the labor-friendly Moon Jae-in government took over. POSCO also promised to raise irregular workers' pay to the level of regular workers in stages.

By Shlomo Ben Ami





TEL AVIV  Israeli and Arab leaders have spent years warning of the rise of an Iranian-led Shia empire covering much of the Middle East. With Iran now linked to the Mediterranean through a land corridor that extends through Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, many are claiming vindication. But fear of Iran as a regional hegemon is vastly overblown.



There is no denying that the Middle East is rife with localized conflict, often fueled by rivalries among warlords. But a major conflagration is in no regional actor's interest. This is particularly true for Iran, which is incapable of projecting conventional military power beyond its borders.



In fact, Iran's nuclear program was intended to compensate for its conventional military weakness in a neighborhood where it has more enemies than friends. Yet, by spurring the international community to impose crippling sanctions, Iran's nuclear effort ended up undermining the country's progress further, by impeding technological progress and military investment.



Meanwhile, its enemies, particularly Israel and Saudi Arabia, which both have far larger military budgets, were acquiring the most advanced Western military technologies.



Given this weakness, Iran's land corridor, which inspires so much fear in its regional neighbors, depends on unreliable local proxies, making it unsustainable. And that doesn't even account for its vulnerability to American airstrikes.



Iraq, a vital link in the corridor, was supposed to be Iran's unconditional Shia fiefdom. But ending the dominance of the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), an Iran-sponsored umbrella of Shia militias, in areas vacated by the Islamic State (ISIS) is a top priority for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who has the backing of Iraq's supreme Shia authority, Ali al-Sistani.



The situation in Syria is more complicated, but not much more favorable to Iran, which, after years of propping up President Bashar al-Assad's regime, has found that the real hegemon in the country is Russia.



President Vladimir Putin knows that convincing the Sunni rebel groups to lay down their weapons as part of an effective peace agreement will be a lot more difficult if Iran retains a large presence in the country. Likewise, Assad knows that he cannot hope to build bridges with Syria's Sunni majority if his regime is administering an Iranian protectorate.



Yet Iran's biggest problems in Syria are the United States and Israel. The former has maintained its military presence in the country, even after having defeated ISIS, in order to prevent Iran from consolidating control. And Israel's potent air force would never allow a meaningful Iranian military presence in Syria. Iran's leaders know that risking a war there would leave their country's nuclear infrastructure vulnerable.



Iran's influence is also faltering in Lebanon. After years of service to the Assad dynasty, Hezbollah is now working to recover its domestic legitimacy, even pushing for the return of Saad Hariri, the Sunni leader of the anti-Iranian March 14 Alliance, to his post as prime minister. This reflects a strong desire to maintain some semblance of institutional order in Lebanon, and indicates that a war with Israel is no more in Hezbollah's interests than it is in Iran's.



To be sure, Iran, much like the Soviet Union, has long viewed expansion abroad as the best way to protect the revolution's results at home. But, as both Soviet and Iranian experience has shown, failure to manage domestic challenges poses a greater threat to the regime's legitimacy. While the future of Iran's land corridor depends on its foreign proxies, the Islamic Republic's future depends on its leaders' capacity to deliver at home.



Yet Iran's leaders seem to be placing their proxies above their citizens. Despite the failure of the 2015 nuclear deal to meet Iranians' high economic expectations, the authorities continue to spend billions of dollars on the likes of Hezbollah, Hamas in Palestine, and the Houthis in Yemen. Iran has spent close to $10 billion in Syria alone to prop up Assad.



The resulting fiscal strain has forced Iran to slash some of the lavish subsidies that have long buttressed the regime's popular support. Protests staged by mostly working-class young men against deep reductions in food and fuel subsidies quickly evolved into demonstrations against Iran's theocracy, reflected in chants of "Death to Ali Khamenei," the Islamic Republic's supreme leader.



Three generations is a long time for any revolutionary utopia, whether Iran's Islamic Republic or the Soviet Union, to survive, as citizens become increasingly disconnected from  and even skeptical of  the original cause. This is all the more true today, when digital technology has deepened the generational divide.



In the 1980s, in the face of a brutal assault by Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Iranians rallied behind the regime to ensure their country's survival. They will not submit to similar hardships today in the name of maintaining outposts in Syria and Yemen, or a land corridor to the Mediterranean. With about half of Iran's population under the age of 30, and youth unemployment at around 25 percent, it should come as no surprise that some recent demonstrators chanted, "Give Up on Syria! Think of us!"



Iran's interest in avoiding all-out war should be good news for its enemies, which are not in a particularly strong position to manage further foreign military entanglements. Saudi Arabia, in particular, is facing difficult domestic reforms, including efforts to diversify its economy, while mired in its own military interventions in Syria and Yemen.



Iran can be a spoiler in the Middle East, but not a hegemon. To argue otherwise, as Israeli and Arab leaders are wont to do, merely makes more likely a horrifically bloody, destructive, and destabilizing conflict that all parties have a fundamental interest in avoiding.





Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, is vice president of the Toledo International Center for Peace. He is the author of "Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy." Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org).



By Hyon O'Brien





We just returned from a two-week trip to India cruising the River Ganges from Kolkata to the holy city of Varanasi. Among the myriad visual images I brought back from this awesome trip, if someone were to ask me what will remain in my memory years from now, I'd say without hesitation that I will never forget the smiles on the faces of the people of India.



In Kolkata we made a short visit to Mother Teresa's (1910-1997) mission center, the Mother House of the Missionaries of Charity, where we could view her tomb. The Missionaries of Charity have grown to almost 6,000 sisters, brothers and priests in some 140 countries around the world. The congregation has managed homes for people dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, running soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics and family counseling programs, orphanages and schools.



Mother Theresa famously said, "Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love"  a lesson the people of India seem to know instinctively.



Starting in Kolkata and all throughout the journey that finished in New Delhi, I was constantly amazed by the friendliness and smiles on the faces of people in India. The wide-spread poverty didn't seem to affect their sweet nature. Despite the horrible pollution (visibility 700 yards, and sometimes as bad as 175 yards compared to 10 miles visibility in Miami and 6 miles in Seoul), traffic jams that even Seoul cannot match, hunger and the ubiquitous trash. How is this possible? It's as if all of them had reached nirvana collectively and learned to transcend all these issues that could easily destroy one's well-being.



Many young people with smart phones approached us with a sweet smile to request selfies. I had a feeling that perhaps they were collecting foreigners as a hobby, but it didn't diminish the pleasure of the experience. From time to time I would meet the eyes of older women who smiled broadly and immediately showed enthusiasm to take pictures with us and instructed their children to take the picture. These connections with local people made our visit there real and engaging. We truly felt welcomed.



Back home, I continue to smile everyday as I browse the thousands of pictures I took in India. They captured the happy smiles of many of the Indians I met, and remind me of their hospitality.



Smiles lead to laughter, but when I was growing up in Korea, as a girl I was cautioned to laugh, if at all, in a restrained, feminine way, covering my mouth lest anyone see my teeth. In other words, laughing with total abandon was discouraged as that was deemed unfeminine and tomboy-like. I always chafed under that prohibition in Korea. Nowadays, I laugh loudly and don't worry about vexing my late mother.



As a bookworm, I enjoy books that are funny and make me laugh. The witty books of P.G. Wodehouse, with engaging and amusing characters like Jeeves and Bertie Wooster, have entertained me greatly for years. All Bill Bryson's books are delightfully funny with informative content and writing of literary merit. One of my favorites is "A Walk in the Woods," which made me laugh as I read his description of his abortive walk on the Appalachian Trail with his out-of-shape friend.



In Miami, our own Dave Barry is always good for a laugh. Barry began his writing career as a columnist at the Miami Herald. Even while we were living in Asia, my husband and I always looked forward to Barry's satirical "Year in Review," which he still produces (along with a Christmas gift-giving guide) although he no longer produces a regular column. For the past seven years, we have had a delightful time hearing him in person at book talks when he brings out a new book. He is as funny in person as he is as a writer, as well as being a warm and kind person.



W. H. Auden once said, "Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh."



Last month when we were staying at our daughter's place in Washington, her two year old boy, Julian, our third grandchild, asked me one morning, "Did you sleep well?" That innocent but thoughtful enquiry set me to laughing for some minutes ? it was so unexpected. Upon reflection, I was deeply moved that my well-being seemed to matter to him. He is no longer a totally self-focused child if he can say that. It was my "Thank God, Julian is not selfish" moment. Am I reading too much into it? As a grandma, I am entitled to take the liberty of soaking up joy and happiness from our grandchild's beautiful words.



So this year, let's laugh, and smile  and repeat again and again every moment possible. I regard laughter as the best gift from God. It is the best medicine and a healing agent. Thank you, people of India, for this precious reminder!



May God bless you, my beloved readers, with the gift of laughter and a smile, today and always!





Hyon O'Brien (hyonobrien@gmail.com) is a former reference librarian now living in the United States.

Egypt's National Elections Authority (NEA) announced on Friday that endorsements for potential candidates for the upcoming presidential elections have surpassed one million, NEA spokesman Mahmoud El-Sherif said in a statement.

Hopeful candidates must receive endorsements from a minimum of 20 MPs or 25,000 citizens from at least 15 governorates, with at least 1,000 endorsements from each governorate. The timetable set to collect endorsements has been set for 20 to 29 January.

The vote for president is set to take place on 26 to 28 March, with candidates required to submit all the necessary papers to the NEA between 20 and 29 January.

On Friday, chairman of the liberal Wafd Party El-Sayed El-Badawi underwent the medical examination required for hopeful candidates.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has been the only candidate so far to submit the required endorsement forms and has undergone the required medical exam for candidacy.

The NEA is also set to start reviewing Saturday requests by NGOs to monitor the elections, with approvals to be issued starting from Monday until the start of February, according to El-Sherif.

Last Saturday, parliament's human rights committee said that it will be supervising the performance of NGOs and civil society organisations participating in monitoring the elections.

El-Sisi won the last presidential elections in 2014 with 96 percent of the vote, assuming office in June after defeating his sole competitor, leftist politician and leader of the Egyptian Popular Current Hamdeen Sabahi.

If no other candidate runs against El-Sisi, Article 36 of the law regulating the presidential elections says that a vote will still be held, requiring a yes vote from only 5 percent of eligible voters. If the sole candidate fails to obtain the required number of votes, the NEA should set a new date for elections within 15 days of the announcement of poll results.

According to the constitution, the Egyptian president can serve for a maximum of two four-year terms.

The upcoming presidential elections are Egypt's third since the 25 January 2011 revolution.

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Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi will travel to Addis Ababa on Saturday for an African Union summit, his spokesman said.

During the visit, El-Sisi will hold a string of bilateral talks with African leaders to discuss mutual ties as well as the latest developments in Africa and the region.

The heads of states will also attend a closed session to address the main issues on the summit's agenda, including institutional reforms of the 55-nation bloc, as well as efforts to establish an African free trade zone.

The 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, scheduled from 22-29 January, is being held under the theme Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africas Transformation.

The Egyptian president is also scheduled to head a gathering on cross-border terrorism by the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the AU body in charge of maintaining continental peace and security, which Egypt is heading in January.

On the sidelines of the summit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a series of talks with African counterparts in the Ethiopian capital on Thursday and Friday, including the foreign ministers of Sudan, Djibouti, Kenya and Malawi.

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Fifteen days ago, all seemed normal at the Sams Club in Moline.

Today, which is the stores final day of business, shelves are mostly barren.

All they have left is tires, smokes, and booze, a Galesburg Facebook user commented on Wednesday.

The Moline store, which opened three-and-a-half years ago, is one of more than 60 across the country which Walmart announced on January 11 is being closed.

Stores like the one in Moline have been holding going-out-of-business sales with merchandise 25 and 50 percent off.

While shoppers may be rejoicing, many of the 155 employees of the Moline store face uncertain futures while city leaders are concerned about how to replace a major retail presence.

They are one of the top sales tax revenue generators in the city of Moline, so, yeah, we're definitely surprised by the decision, said Ray Forsythe, the planning and development director for the City of Moline.

I believe they told the mayor it was a corporate decision and there was multiple locations that were closing, Forsythe told KWQC, adding there was no indication the store was in trouble when he spoke with the stores manager in November.

Sams Club membership cards are valid at other locations, including the location in Davenport, Iowa, which is remaining open.Four Egyptian fishermen were killed, six are missing, and five have been rescued after an Egyptian fishing boat sank on Friday in international waters in the Mediterranean, the head of the fishermens union Ahmed Nassar in the Delta's Kafr El-Sheikh told Al-Ahram Arabic news website.

The boat, which set sail from Egypts Kafr El-Sheikh and was carrying 15 fishermen, sank due to bad weather near the coast of Libya.

Libyan coast guards are still conducting search and rescue operations, one of the surviving fishermen told Nassar.

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Turkey's health minister said on Friday that 14 Turkish soldiers and Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels were killed and another 130 people were wounded following Turkey's incursion into Syria's Afrin region.

Speaking to reporters after visiting wounded soldiers in hospitals, Ahmet Demircan said three Turkish soldiers and 11 fighters from Turkey-backed FSA factions have been killed so far in clashes in northern Syria.

He said 130 people had been brought to Turkish hospitals and that 82 of them had been released after receiving treatment. None of the wounded were in critical condition, he said, adding that additional medical personnel were sent to the area.

On Saturday, Turkey launched an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia, which it views as a security threat, in Syria's Afrin, opening a new front in the multi-sided Syrian civil war and further straining ties with its NATO ally Washington.

Dozens of combatants and more than two dozen civilians have been killed so far in the offensive, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, has said.

The Turkish military said in a statement on Friday it had killed at least 343 militants in northernSyria since the operation started.

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) however, a YPG-dominated umbrella group backed by the United States in the fight against Islamic State, has previously said that Turkey was exaggerating the number of the dead.

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The Syrian opposition may decide on Friday whether to attend peace negotiations next week hosted by Damascus's close ally, Russia, an opposition spokesman said.

His comments came as negotiators settled in for a long, final day at separate U.N.-mediated talks in Vienna aimed at ending Syria's civil war, in which hundreds of thousands have died and 11 million have been driven from their homes.

The U.N.-brokered talks - of which this is the ninth round - have made little progress so far.

Having regained the upper hand on the battlefield after nearly seven years of conflict, President Bashar al-Assad appears unwilling to negotiate with his enemies at all, let alone step down as part of any peaceful solution as rebel groups have demanded.

Arriving at the U.N. offices in Vienna on Friday morning, the talks' host, U.N. Special Envoy forSyria Staffan de Mistura, told reporters he expected "a long meeting".

With a breakthrough unlikely, a question at the centre of Friday's discussions was whether the opposition will attend a Syria peace conference next week in the Russian Black Sea resort town of Sochi, which Moscow announced after the last round of U.N. talks in December.

Western powers and some Arab states believe Sochi is an attempt to create a parallel political track that would undermine the United Nations and lay groundwork for a solution more suitable to the Damascus government and its allies.

"We will tell you today, hopefully," opposition spokesman Yahya Aridi told reporters as his delegation arrived, when asked if the opposition would attend Sochi.

The warring sides have not spoken face to face -- a Syrian government delegation was due to meet De Mistura in the afternoon. De Mistura was expected to make a statement at the end of the talks.

Neither side has commented on the content of this week's closed-door talks.

Previous rounds have taken place sporadically in Geneva, with a mandate to discuss new elections, reformed governance, a new constitution and the fight against terrorism.

At the last round in December, the Syrian government delegation objected to the opposition's tough line on the future of Assad, and those talks achieved nothing.

Syrian government forces are pursuing offensives against two remaining rebel pockets, Idlib in the northwest and eastern Ghouta near Damascus. Turkey has poured troops into the north to fight Kurdish militias that have established regional autonomy and are seen by Ankara as a menace to its security.

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Rome, January 26 - Lower House Speaker Laura Boldrini said Friday that League leader Matteo Salvini should apologise after a group of young supporters of his anti-migrant, Euroskeptic party burned a puppet with her face on. "The time has come for Salvini to say sorry," said Boldrini, a member of the leftwing Free and Equal (LeU) party. "Not to me, he wouldn't be capable. But at least to the citizens of (the northern city of) Busto Arsizio and all the Italian people for the bad impression he is giving of our country".Its finished! The expansion of the Dan McKinney Family YMCA at 8355 Cliffridge Ave. is now complete, and was celebrated by a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Jan. 18 that drew officials including District 1 City Council member Barbara Bry.

Bry, who said her grown daughters, Sarah and Rachel, learned to swim at this YMCA as children, called the newly expanded facility a great addition to the community and issued YMCA executives a proclamation from Mayor Kevin Faulconers office naming the day after their institution.

Opened in 1967 as the Northwest YMCA, and later known as the La Jolla YMCA, the facility underwent renovation in four phases starting in September 2015, when a $21 million expansion project broke ground. It adopted the Dan McKinney Family name after longtime La Jolla resident and beverage distributor McKinney, who died in 2016, donated $5 million to the project. The renovation added 25,000 square feet to the structure, which now measures 59,000 square feet.

It was a challenge going through two-and-a-half years of construction and staying open, La Jolla YMCA district executive Sue Ball told the Light. But it was a very old facility that needed to be renovated, and the feeling of accomplishment is so worth it, I feel like this is the biggest accomplishment of my 33-year career at the Y.

After 90-year-old Harry Boyajian made a valiant attempt to lead a rambunctious group of Dan McKinney Family YMCA pre-schoolers through a rendition of You Are My Sunshine, a red ribbon was cut by Bry and YMCA officials in front of about 100 onlookers. Then, La Jolla High School music teacher Michael Fielder conducted his woodwind band, The Polymetrics, through an instrumental version of (what else?) the Village Peoples YMCA.

History Lesson

The YMCA was founded  in London in 1844  as the Young Mens Christian Association, focusing on religious charity. Its since grown into a worldwide organization with a U.S. membership of 9 million youths and 13 million adults. The Y is now a leading nonprofit organization for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

The world has modified, its changed. Its grown into something that reflects the needs and the wants of our community today, La Jolla YMCA past board chair Mark Broido told the audience. And so has our Y, just generally. The YMCA is no longer so male, so young and so Christian anymore, and at the same time, I think its also changed in that its no longer as much about the trophies and ribbons and the competition that I grew up with in the programs here. Its more about the teamwork and the fairness and the friendships that our programs foster. Kids today are focused on the Y values of strength, of character, and teamwork and self-respect.

The Dan McKinney Family Ys final expansion phase included new childcare facilities (areas for preschool and after-school care), a youth studio for childrens classes and a three-story adventure center play structure. Previous phases debuted renovated womens, mens and family locker rooms; a community space; steam room and sauna; a massage room; cafe; outdoor wellness terrace and patio; teaching kitchen; and the Ann Woolley Aquatic Center, featuring a cool-water, eight-lane lap pool and a warm-water activity pool, plus a therapeutic spa, a splash pad for youth water play as well as an outdoor fitness playground.

Y what, when, where and how much?

Monthly membership fees (includes access to all Ys across the United States): Ages 13-25, $37. Ages 36-64, $48. Ages 65+, $42. Dual Adult, $73. Family 1 (one adult and children), $68. Family 2 (two adults and children) $88. (Each membership category requires a one-time $50 joining fee. Family memberships include two free hours of child watch with each visit. For scholarships, visit ymca.org/community-support/scholarships

Dan McKinney Family YMCA members: 18,000 people through membership, programs, services and outreach.Want to know more? Reach the Dan McKinney Family YMCA at (858) 453-3483, lajolla.ymca.org and facebook.com/LaJollaYMCATensions are escalating in southern Yemen between the leaders of the southern resistance forces and the Southern Interim Council, on the one hand, and the government of Prime Minister Ahmed Obeid bin Daghr who represents the internationally recognised Yemeni government in its temporary capital of Aden.

The leadership of the southern resistance forces, an unofficial army formed during the Houthi incursion into the south in 2015, threatened to form a parallel war government if Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who currently resides in Riyadh, does not dismiss the Bin Daghr government, which has been described as corrupt and responsible for the deterioration in standards of living in the south.

Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi, commander of the southern resistance forces and former mayor of Aden, declared a state of emergency in the southern capital and announced the beginning of measures to oust the government and replace it by a government of patriotic technocrats.

The leaders of the southern resistance forces released an official statement expressing their opposition to any non-southern military presence in the south, whether northern forces affiliated with the legitimate government supported by the Arab coalition or others (referring to the Houthi and the General Peoples Congress forces).

On the other hand, they stressed that they would back any northern forces, under the leadership of the Arab coalition, in the fight to liberate the north from the Houthis. It is noteworthy, that the statement also opposed any Muslim Brotherhood presence in the south and equated the Muslim Brotherhood and its political facade, the Congregation of Reform (Islah) Party, with the Houthi movement. General Ahmed bin Braik, chairman of the Southern Interim Councils National Association, said, The land of the south is now forbidden to the Ansar Allah (Al-Houthi) group and those affiliated with the Islah Party.

It appears, in light of the foregoing, that the southern resistance forces are in the process of transforming into a standing southern army and that this army rejects the presence, in the south, of the official army even if it supports the officially recognised government politically. Even then, it supports President Hadi as the chief representative of the legitimate authority, but no one else. Hadi represents the international consensus.

As for the others, they represent the Muslim Brotherhood. This applies, above all, to Mohsen Al-Ahmar, a prominent military official in the Hadi government who is known to be close to the Islah.

There are clear signs that the UAE supports this outlook. If so, it means that the meeting brokered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman between Emirati Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed and Muslim Brotherhood Secretary General Mohamed Al-Yadoumi several weeks ago failed. It also indicates that the southerners refuse to allow Aden to serve as the interim capital for northern decision-makers and that they insist on having the primary and ultimate say there.

This puts President Hadi in a spot. Either he will have to dismiss the Bin Daghr government or he will have to relocate it at a time when the government is taking measures to remain in the south until the war against the Houthis in the north ends and Sanaa is retaken from Houthi control.

Yemeni political analyst Abdel Hakim Al-Mayouni told Al-Ahram Weekly by phone from Aden that current disputes between leadership figures in the south may put paid to the southerners bid which, he said, only serves the interests of certain parties as opposed the higher national demand. He added that there were confirmations that the declared southern position had been prepared in advance and put to southern leaders without consultations, which angered many and led them to lash out against it.

Some Yemeni sources have been struck by the fact that, as preparations are under way to convene the parliament, which is made up of pro-Hadi government representatives, Tarek Mohamed Saleh, the nephew of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, arrived in Aden. Saleh, who had managed to escape during the assassination operation against the former president, is assembling the core of a military force consisting of southerners who supported the Saleh faction in the General Peoples Congress (GPC). This, too, has sparked tensions with southern forces who reject northern intervention in the south.

Things are growing extremely complex, especially in areas that involve the relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia, observed the Yemeni journalist Hossam Radman in a telephone interview from Aden. The southern resistance forces are receiving Emirati support. But will Riyadh agree to push for the dismissal of the current government and the creation of an alternative that meets the southerners specifications? Or will the situation spiral into military clashes? He noted, in this regard, that Aidarus Al-Zoubaidi is manoeuvring to impose new rules of engagement in the south, in spite of many obstacles.

At another level in the Yemeni conflict, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed has officially notified UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres that he does not wish to continue in his position in Yemen beyond the end of his current contract which ends in February 2018. In an official press release, he expressed his gratitude to the Guterres for his strong and determined support to reach a political solution to the conflict that has engulfed the country.

He also said his thoughts go first to the Yemeni people who are worn out by this conflict and are enduring one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in the world, adding that he remains committed to pursue through diplomacy an end to the violence and a political solution that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people, until a successor is named.

Ould Cheikhs decision is another reflection of the current state of affairs in Yemen: the stalled negotiating process and the complexities of kick-starting it again, the military escalation with no prospects of a political or a military solution in sight and, as he noted, the worsening humanitarian tragedy.

Concerning the humanitarian crisis, the Arab coalition announced that it had launched a comprehensive humanitarian operation, donating $1.5 billion to cover a number of initiatives. The coalition, following a meeting of coalition of foreign ministers in Riyadh in the middle of last week, announced that Al-Khadra Border Crossing would be opened to facilitate the arrival of aid to Yemen and that commercial ships would be allowed entry into ports to deliver supplies, including fuel.

The coalition also stated that the port capacities in Yemen had been increased in order to receive the aid. Coalition Spokesman Colonel Turki Al-Malki said that the blockade on the port of Al-Hodeida would be lifted for 30 additional days to facilitate the arrival of aid and that 17 security corridors leading from six locations would be used to deliver the aid to Yemen. He simultaneously stressed the coalitions full commitment to protecting relief workers.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri announced that Cairo has already sent over two aid packages that were delivered via the King Salman Relief Centre. He added: We are currently preparing a new package of humanitarian aid that includes foodstuffs, medicines and medical supplies.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

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FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Belt and Road May Be Next Phase of Global Growth, Says Singapore Minister in Davos

Jan. 25, 2018 (EIRNS)Speaking at a session on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Jan. 24, Singapore Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing, a former Chief of the Army, described the Belt and Road Initiative as "a potential catalyst for the next phase of growth in the global economy," Agence France Presse reported today.

Pointing out that he has heard people in the region are hesitant about China's massive economic growth, Chan said: "But this is an important historical opportunity for China to convince the rest of the world that actually its actions have a broader perspective. If China is able to use its power and capacity to catalyze this, it will win the trust and confidence of the world."

The panel was attended by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Jin Liqun, Caixin Global Managing Director Li Xin, Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev, AECOM CEO and Chairman Michael Burke, Singapore Minister Chan Chun Sing, and China National Machinery Industry Corp. Chairman Ren Hongbin, Pakistan Today reported.

Pakistan's Premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also addressed the panel. In his speech, Abbasi said Pakistan is one of the 80 countries through which the Belt and Road passes or which it would have an impact upon, stating that Pakistan calls it the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). CPEC's impact is already being felt by Pakistan as new power projects are coming up, and the country's railway sector is being upgraded, along with the building of new motorways, road structures, and more.FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

Italian Elections Debating Issues of Glass-Steagall, Infrastructure vs. EU Budget Rules

Jan. 25, 2018 (EIRNS)Three Italian political parties, Five Star Movement (M5S), Lega, and Fratelli d'Italia (FdI, Brothers of Italy) have Glass-Steagall in their party platform. Lega and Fratelli are part of the center-right coalition, together with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia.

M5S and FdI have also called for a Glass-Steagall bank separation between depository commercial banks and speculative private banks in a draft for the final report of the Parliamentary Investigative Commission on banking crises. However, Commission head Pierferdinando Casini (allied to the Democratic Party, PD), told Corriere della Sera that "such a proposal is being examined by the EU Commission, which has no intention of approving it."

FdI head Giorgia Meloni went further this morning in a Raitre television talk show. Commenting on a commuter train derailment due to a rail failure south of Milan early this morning, which left 3 dead and some 50 injured, many seriously, Meloni said that this highlights the idiocy of EU budget laws that prevent investment in infrastructure. It's one thing to have a budget deficit to finance current expenses, but another thing to finance infrastructure. It is legitimate to leave a debt to posterity, Meloni said, when posterity is going to receive something productive. She stressed the importance of infrastructure for Southern Italy.

All three parties in the center-left coalition have targeted the EU deficit rules. Lega head Salvini said that "if it is not good for Italy, the [EU] 3% rule will be ignored."FROM EIR DAILY ALERT

South Africa Takes the First Step To Join the Global Nuclear Industry

Jan. 25, 2018 (EIRNS)A major milestone has been reached in South Africa's nuclear program: It is now the first African nation to obtain certification for a nuclear plant component it has manufactured, from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). ASME develops and oversees the global qualification standards for the manufacture of nuclear components. The certification is for a locally designed and manufactured safety-critical component for the Koeberg plant, the only nuclear reactor in Africa, reports South Africa's Engineering News.

The air receiver vessel was designed at the government's Pelindaba Enterprises division, under the South African Nuclear Energy Corp. (NECSA). It was delivered to the Koeberg plant on Jan. 24.

Before independence, South Africa had some nuclear manufacturing capabilities, but when apartheid ended, these were shut down. Pelindaba Enterprises senior executive manager Ruby Ramatsui explained: "This is a process of restarting what we had before," but this time, he said, the aim is to be commercially competitive, to become a manufacturer in the global nuclear supply chain. He pointed to South Korea (which is currently building four reactors in the United Arab Emirates) as a good example. "We can do it!" he asserted.

NECSA has a vision to become a manufacturer of nuclear products for an expanding nuclear industry in South Africa, which plans to build a handful of new reactors, and to branch out internationally, pointed out NECSA Pelindaba Chief Engineer Jaco van der Merwe. In order to do that, they have built a team of engineers and artisans, such as boilermakers and welders. They next identified any gaps and shortfalls in quality and management and rectified the shortfalls.

The importance and potential future impact of this development had no effect on South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who, in direct opposition to President Jacob Zuma's vision for the country's future, told media at Davos, "We have excess power right now and we have no money to go for major nuclear plant building."

It should be pointed out that until the financial crisis, South Africa was also a leader in developing the next-generation fission technologythe pebble bed gas-cooled high-temperature reactor. There is discussion of restarting that program, which would have a global impact on both energy production and on desalination of seawater.Morgan Jerkins first book, This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America, is a beautiful example of possibility, nuance and passion coexisting, even in our heightened political moment.

In 10 essays, Jerkins doesnt allow for easy binaries, nor does she heatedly attack or call names, as she explores what its like to be a black girl, and later a black woman, in contemporary U.S. society. She writes with single-minded intensity about the complex spaces black girls and women find themselves navigating both in the world and in themselves.

The chapters cover a wide range of cultural criticism, including the authors experience as one of the few black female students at Princeton and her appreciation of Beyonces Lemonade, but there are some points Jerkins makes several times over, because they bear repeating. The focus of these points of tension is the way our society treats black women as inhuman, their bodies consumable or publicly available. Jerkins allows her lens to go deep into contemporary culture, with her essays almost free-associating at times.

She writes with single-minded intensity about the complex spaces black girls and women find themselves navigating both in the world and in themselves.

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In Human, Not Black, Jerkins tells us about her fascination with Dostoevskys books, her visit to Russia, how she felt like a gentrifier in Harlem, her discovery of Sailor Moon, her decision to study Japanese in college and how she was studying abroad in Japan when Trayvon Martins killer was acquitted. These seemingly disparate subjects are not so disparate, even though there are moments during the essay when the reader is ejected from one subject and plunged immediately into the next with only a blank space and nary a sentence of connective tissue between.

Yet this associative writing is doing double work: It is a stylistic choice on behalf of Jerkins and, presumably, her editor; it is also exemplifying Jerkinss ideology regarding black narrative. In Who Will Write Us, she writes that her idea of a black narrative is one that subverts, flips, and undermines rule until that final product cannot be duplicated by anyone other than one with black hands. I wish that this sentence had come earlier in the book, because it changed the way I approached its structure and allowed me to see the essays internal logic and organization with a fresh eye.

Jerkins allows her lens to go deep into contemporary culture.

Two essays in the book are structured as lists, and they are mirror images of one another. The first, How to Be Docile, addresses mothers of black girls, and reminded me of Jamaica Kincaids story Girl and its particular brand of brutality. When your black girl child exits your womb, Jerkins writes, and you hear her loud wailing, savor and remember it for as long as you can. Thats the loudest the world will ever allow her to be in a room where multiple people are present. The rest of the essay continues in this vein, and it is heartbreaking. The emotional and natural response to it is the more uplifting How to Survive: A Manifesto on Paranoia and Peace, in which Jerkins urges black girls and women to take care of themselves, to believe their experiences, to see the ancestors blessing upon [their] brow, to remember that they still exist in this world, and that should be a source of pride, not shame.

At the end of the books opening essay, Monkeys Like You, Jerkins writes that the book is not about all women, but it is meant for all women, and men, and those who do not adhere to the gender binary. For good measure, she addresses the reader directly: It is for you. You. Jerkins knows her audience, and its a clever insertion she will be able to point to if there is any angry white feminist backlash against the book: Look, shell be able to say, I said upfront that it is not about but rather for you. Its unfortunate that such a security measure is needed, but it is also a nod at the reality within which Jerkins is writing, a reality where many readers  and most editors, agents and book critics (myself included)  are white.

This book really is meant for many of us, especially right now. A black writer and critic I know posited that the book is too concerned with whiteness, with falling short of it, trying to avoid it, walking around it, aspiring to it, measuring the self against it. Perhaps that is true for some black readers. As a white Jewish one, I can speak only to my experience, which is that this book feels incredibly important for white people to read (and, Id venture, for nonblack people of color as well, and for men, all men, in general), because there is a brutal honesty Jerkins brings to the experiences of black girls and women that is vital for us to understand as we strive toward equality, toward believing womens voices and experiences, and toward repairing the broken systems that have long defined our country.

Masad is an Israeli-American fiction writer and book critic, and is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

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This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female, and Feminist in (White) America

Morgan Jerkins

Harper Perennial: 272 pp., $15.99 paperWynn Resorts Ltd. faced calls Friday to oust or investigate Steve Wynn, the companys founder, chairman and chief executive, over allegations that he sexually harassed or pressured numerous women who work for him.

Wynn investor Richard Trip Miller, managing partner of Gullane Capital Partners, recommended an outside investigation, similar to six years ago when Wynn Resorts hired former FBI chief Louis Freeh to investigate claims that company co-founder Kazuo Okada had bribed foreign casino officials. As result of that report, Wynn Resorts unilaterally bought out Okadas shares.

These are darn serious allegations, said Miller, whose company is based in Memphis, Tenn. We would welcome someone like that coming back and doing a full investigation.

Wynn, who serves as finance chairman for the Republican National Committee, paid $7.5 million to settle claims brought by a former manicurist at his resort who said the executive pressured her to have sex with him, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. Wynn coerced massage therapists to perform sex acts for $1,000 tips, and others at the spa created fictitious appointments to avoid contact with him, said the newspaper, which contacted more than 150 people who worked with the casino magnate.

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Wynn, who is turning 76 Saturday, denied the allegations. The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous, he told the Journal.

In response to the allegations, Wynn Resorts pointed to Wynns ex-wife, Elaine Wynn, accusing her of running a smear campaign in an attempt to pressure a revised divorce settlement from him. An attorney for Elaine Wynn told the Journal that she did not instigate Fridays report.

The legal settlement detailed by the Journal in Fridays report has become a major focus of a lawsuit between Steve Wynn and Elaine Wynn, who is seeking to gain control of her 9% stake in the casino giant. Steve Wynn has long sought to maintain his hold over the company because he lost his previous business, Mirage Resorts, to an unsolicited bid from mogul Kirk Kerkorian.

The Republican National Committee  which urged the Democratic National Committee last year to return campaign donations from movie mogul Harvey Weinstein when Weinstein was accused of sexual assault  did not respond to a request for comment.

Wynn Resorts shares slumped 10.1% on Friday, their biggest decline since December 2016. Even with the drop, theyre still up nearly 89% over the past 12 months.

Were aware of the situation and reviewing the information, Becky Harris, chair of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, said in a statement. The board is the chief regulator of casinos in the state.

In Massachusetts, where Wynn Resorts is building a $2.4-billion Boston Harbor casino project, regulators also plan to review the allegations. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission is taking very seriously the troubling allegations detailed in the Wall Street Journal article, the agency said in a statement.

Nita Chaudhary, co-founder of the womens advocacy group UltraViolet, called on the board of the casino company to fire Wynn and for the Republican National Committee to remove him as finance chair.

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Steve Wynn needs to go, Chaudhary said in a statement. He is a predator of the worst kind who used his position of power to sexually coerce his female employees.

Wynn Resorts is based in Las Vegas, but it generates more than 70% of its business in the Chinese gambling market of Macau. After reporting better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings this week, the company said it plans to develop the next phase of the $4.2-billion Wynn Palace there on 11 acres.

The company also announced plans for a new 2,500-room property across Las Vegas Boulevard from its current towers on the site of the former Frontier casino and is constructing a new hotel, convention and lake resort behind its existing properties.

Palmeri writes for Bloomberg.

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UPDATES:

2:10 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional details and comments, including from the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m.U S. trade officials Friday rejected a complaint by Boeing Co. that it was harmed by the alleged dumping of regional jets made by Canadian rival Bombardier  a surprising conclusion to a trade dispute that has stirred up rancor between the two nations and threatened to aggravate efforts to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement

The 4-0 decision by the independent U.S. International Trade Commission is a blow to the Trump administration. The Commerce Department had recommended slapping tariffs of almost 300% on Bombardier. Commerce officials last year agreed with Chicago-based Boeings allegations that the government-subsidized Canadian aircraft manufacturer had sold its C-series airplanes to Delta Air Lines at a price below the cost of production.

Under U.S. law, a finding of injury or threat of injury is required for the Commerce-proposed tariffs to take effect. Bombardier had argued that Boeing did not suffer harm because it does not compete with the kind of C series 100- to 150-seat planes it sold to Delta. And Delta had said Boeing was not in consideration for the business that Bombardier won because Boeing did not offer new competing products.

The decision comes just days after President Trump slapped big tariffs on imported solar panels and washing machines, in what some analysts regarded as possibly the beginning of the tough hand in trade that Trump has been promising for months.

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Trump has tended to wrap his trade politics in a way to placate critics and those in his party worried that he is leading the country down a dangerous path of nationalism. The commissions decision Friday shows some of the constraints that even the president faces. The International Trade Commission is an independent quasi-judicial federal agency made up of members of both parties.

There was no immediate comment from the Trump administration on the ruling, although the issue has been a sore point between the two close allies and drew others into the dispute, including British Prime Minister Theresa May. She met Trump on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to lobby on behalf of Bombardier, a Montreal-based company that makes its wings in Northern Ireland.

Boeing expressed disappointment with the vote, saying that we are feeling the effects of those unfair business practices in the market every day.

Bombardier called the decision a victory for innovation, competition and the rule of law.

The trade commissions decision could help ease tensions between the U.S. and Canada as the two nations have also sparred over Canadian exports of lumber and newsprint.

In anticipation of tariffs on the Bombardier planes, the Canadian government had scrapped a plan to buy 18 military fighter jets from Boeing, opting instead to purchase 18 used F-18 fighters from Australia. Canadian officials also had mentioned the possibility of resisting any tariffs on Bombardier by protesting to the World Trade Organization or contesting the tariffs through a dispute-resolution mechanism under the North American Free Trade Agreement  a mechanism that Trumps top trade official, Robert Lighthizer, is trying to discard in revamping NAFTA.

Chrystia Freeland, Canadas minister of foreign affairs, said we are very pleased by the commissions vote and that the Canadian government will always vigorously defend the Canadian aerospace industry and its workers against protectionist trade practices.

The sixth round of NAFTA renegotiation talks are underway this week in Montreal. Trump said earlier in the week that the talks were proceeding pretty well, although he has continued to hold out the threat of a withdrawal from the 24-year-old pact that binds the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

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In a speech Friday to global political and business leaders in Switzerland, Trump did not talk like someone who wanted a trade war, saying that the U.S. economy was open for business and that his America First policy does not mean America alone. The president stated, however, as he did at the United Nations last fall, that leaders of all nations should put their own countrys interests first.

Trumps tough rhetoric on trade has emboldened companies to file complaints with the U.S., although Scott Paul of the Alliance for American Manufacturing said that Boeing, Whirlpool and solar panel makers probably would have done so under any administration  and found similar outcomes.

Whats new under Trump is that his administration has moved to revamp NAFTA and the U.S. trade pact with South Korea, and has opened up trade investigations without anyone bringing a formal complaint to the government.

While the tariffs imposed earlier this week on imported Chinese solar panels and washers from South Korea drew attention  as well as criticism from trading partners  Trump has yet to announce decisions on some critical cases involving China that his officials initiated. In those matters, the president does not need anyones approval to impose tariffs and other sanctions.

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In the coming weeks, Trump is expected to reveal how severely he intends to punish China for allegedly stealing intellectual property and dumping steel and other exports.

What he does on China  that will be the test, said William Reinsch, a trade expert and senior advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. I think hes going to hit them pretty hard, he said, adding that Trump might slap sweeping tariffs or expanded restrictions on Chinese investments in the U.S.

Many trade analysts agree that China has persisted in engaging in mercantilist behavior and that the global economy and current trading system have been painful for some Americans even as they have benefited from cheap foreign goods. But many of the same experts fear Trumps actions will lead to a tit-for-tat escalation of trade conflicts, particularly with China, that will prove costly to American consumers, importers and the economy.

Trump and his top trade officials are betting that China and other countries will decide that they cannot afford not to do business with the United States, and will absorb new tariffs or change their behavior in response to them. One possible outcome that Trump has sought is for more foreign firms to open plants in the United States, just as Japanese automakers did starting in the 1980s as a way to defuse American political pressures.

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And there are signs that is starting to happen. While the Trump administration was pursuing a complaint against imported washing machines brought by Whirlpool last year, both Samsung and LG, the two South Korean firms that will feel the brunt of the new tariffs, undertook moves to manufacture washers in the United States. Samsung said this week that its washer assembly plant in South Carolina had opened this month with more than 600 workers.

Bombardier also is following a similar playbook. The Canadian company has said it is planning a partnership with Airbus, Boeings principal rival, to open a plant in Alabama for final assembly of smaller jets  the kinds of aircraft that, until Friday, were facing the prospect of crippling tariffs.

Boeing, meanwhile, is attempting to buy the Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer, which makes planes that compete with Bombardier.

don.lee@latimes.com

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Follow me at @dleelatimes

UPDATES:

2:25 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction from Bombardier, Boeing and trade experts and additional analysis.

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This article was originally published at 1:50 p.m.Its every pet owners worst nightmare: Your beloved furry friend comes down with a serious, costly illness. Thats why pet insurance in the United States has grown into a nearly $900-million business.

But, as with human health insurance, claims for critters frequently can be denied by insurers for a variety of reasons. Most often, its because the illness is deemed a preexisting condition, which few pet policies will cover.

Challenging such denials can be frustrating, especially if your pets medical needs are urgent.

Thats where Pasadena resident Samantha Bonar found herself. Her pit bull, Kaya, survived cancer several years ago. Now she has cancer again.

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Kayas veterinarian said the two cancers were unrelated. But the dogs insurer, Healthy Paws of Bellevue, Wash., refused to cover Kayas treatment, ruling the latest diagnosis a repeat of the first.

Bonar, 48, appealed that decision but got nowhere. When we first spoke this week, it had been more than two months since her initial claim was rejected.

Meanwhile, the costs of Kayas care were climbing.

With cancer, youre racing against time, Bonar told me. It seemed like the insurance company was delaying in hopes shed just die.

Harsh. But then, millions of people have experienced the indignity of fighting denied claims and have wondered if their insurer was making the process deliberately troublesome in hopes the patient would just give up and go away.

Healthy Paws said in a statement to me that Bonars claims for Kayas care took an unusually long time due to the large number of claims under review.

I wrote on Tuesday about how my insurer recently rejected my claim for a new insulin pump because of lack of medical necessity  an unexpected decision in light of the fact that I have incurable Type 1 diabetes and have worn a pump for years.

It turned out my insurer was simply missing a form, which I was able to untangle with a series of time-consuming calls and emails. What steamed me, though, was the fact that a simple clerical error had resulted in a full-on claim denial.

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A 2011 study by the California Nurses Assn. estimated that the states top insurers rejected about a quarter of all claims. A separate federal study that year by the Government Accountability Office found that denied claims were reversed in about half of all appeals, for those with the stamina to work the system.

The same dynamics play out with pet insurance. But because preexisting conditions are almost always grounds for a claim denial, its far easier for pet insurers to cut you off if your animal is prone to accidents or sickness.

In Britain, a 2016 report found that 37% of all pet insurance claims were denied. I couldnt find a commensurate figure for this country, but it has to be close.

Bonars dog was diagnosed with a tumor on her larynx  laryngeal rhabdomyosarcoma  in 2013. Bonar described the cancer as very rare and unusual.

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And she should know. Bonar, who worked at the L.A. Times until 2007 (the same year I arrived; we never met), now works part time as a writer for Duartes City of Hope, a leading cancer facility. She interviews oncologists and patients for the medical centers Breakthroughs blog.

So when Healthy Paws ruled that Kayas new cancer on her jaw  mandibular anaplastic sarcoma  was related to the first, Bonar immediately said, no, they have it wrong. I understand this stuff, she told me.

Kayas vet, Dr. Jared Lyons, did as well. He submitted a letter to the insurer saying the new cancer is in no way related to the earlier tumor.

He said it would be incredibly unlikely for the first cancer, after successful treatment with surgery and radiation, to lay dormant for over four years and suddenly grow in a completely different location and spread to the rest of the body.

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I reached out to other veterinary oncologists for their opinions. Dr. Michael Kent at UC Davis said its highly unlikely the two cancers are related.

These are very different cancers, he told me. Its like saying a dog had an infection and then got another infection years later, so its a preexisting condition.

Dr. David Vail, an oncologist at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine, said he would tend to agree that the two are unlikely to be related.

And what do you know? Just hours after I contacted Healthy Paws and shared Kents and Vails opinions, Bonar received an email from the insurer saying a review of her appeal had determined that the two cancers are unrelated.

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Ms. Bonars claim will be paid in full, Healthy Paws told me in its statement.

That includes the nearly $13,000 Bonar said shes spent so far on Kayas illness, which some people who dont own pets might think is crazy but which many pet owners will understand immediately.

When we spoke after the company reversed course, I told Bonar she must be pleased.

She said yes, but shes also angry because its easy to imagine that lots of people, faced with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs after a denied claim, might choose to put their pet down.

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This could have gone very differently, she said.

Her advice: Fight.

Educate yourself and use every resource available, Bonar said. Dont give up.

I agree. Whether were talking pooches or people.

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David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.For thousands of years, the land where the city of San Gabriel now sits was the home of the Tongva people. Their territory stretched westward all the way to the Pacific Ocean and from the San Fernando Valley to present-day Orange County.

The Tongva first met the vanguard of the Spanish conquest in 1769 when Gaspar Portola stopped in the region.

Portola was followed by a contingent of Franciscan friars who began to establish a series of missions throughout the state in a systematic effort to convert the native peoples of California to Christianity. That led to the formation of the Mission San Gabriel Arcangel, located first near present-day Montebello and later moved to its current location after flooding devastated the original in 1776.

The interloping Franciscans were not at first welcomed by the Tongva, who had good reason to suspect that the arrival of the Spaniards augured poorly for their future. Legend has it that a large group met the missionaries with the aim of pushing them from their land but that upon being shown a painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, they relented and allowed them passage.

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Whether it was an appreciation of unfamiliar religious iconography that did the trick, or some subterfuge on the part of the Franciscans, the result was the same: the 5,000 members of the Tongva tribes were now under Spanish rule.

The mission itself, much of which still stands, is testament to the work that the Tongva did in building what became one of Alta Californias wealthiest missions. The San Gabriel mission was so well-established that it dispatched settlers to found a pueblo on the shores of a rio to the west, which the Spanish called El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula  or Los Angeles, for short.

For much of its subsequent history, San Gabriel was primarily an agricultural center. In the 1930s and 40s, the citys economy shifted from farming to commerce and manufacturing. The population exploded from 2,000 in the 1920s to 20,000 by 1950.

Todays San Gabriel is a suburban community with a large ethnically Chinese population, as the San Gabriel Valley has supplanted urban neighborhoods such as L.A.s Chinatown as a destination for upwardly mobile immigrants and their families.

(@latimesgraphics )

Neighborhood highlights

Valley Boulevard of culinary dreams: If you like Asian food, San Gabriel has you covered, with some of the Southlands best Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants.

History you can touch: With one of Californias best-preserved missions, the beautiful Mission Playhouse and other historic sites, San Gabriels past shines through.

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A rich cultural heritage: From the Tongva people to recent immigrants from China and Latin America, San Gabriels residents have brought layers of traditions that make it a vibrant place.

Neighborhood challenge

Sticker shock: Although not quite hitting the highs of other San Gabriel Valley markets such as Arcadia and San Marino, homes in San Gabriel are often asking well north of $1 million.

Expert insight

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Kathleen Mueller of Mueller Realty said that as the city continues to grow, two separate identities are forming.

The San Gabriel of old  longtime residents and small homes with Spanish flair  sits north of Las Tunas Drive, whereas development to the south has brought in new homes, new developments and new demographics.

Were seeing lots of hotels pop up because of the increase in tourism, Mueller said, referencing an uptick in visitors to the historic Mission District. Thats also an area where homes are being torn down and replaced by multifamily units and box-type mansions.

Market snapshot

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San Gabriel is split into two ZIP Codes. To the north, in the 91775 ZIP Code, based on 17 sales, the median sales price for single-family homes in November was $950,000, up 13.1% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

The median sales price for homes in the southern area, ZIP Code 91776, based on seven sales, was $722,000 in November, up 14.8% year over year, according to CoreLogic.

Report card

Five of the six public schools within the San Gabriel boundaries scored over 800 in the 2013 Academic Performance Index. Coolidge Elementary scored 899, Washington Elementary scored 884 and McKinley Elementary scored 858.

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Gabrielino High and Dewey Avenue Elementary recorded scores of 844 and 843, respectively.

Times staff writer Jack Flemming contributed to this report.

hotproperty@latimes.com

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Former Dodger Mark Grudzielanek bids farewell to ocean-view town home in CardiffWe owe our uninterrupted existence in this region for a thousand years to our courage and patience But while we are patient, we will not refrain from performing the duties that are incumbent upon us, declared Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to his supporters at the ruling Turkish AKP Partys provincial congress in the city of Kutahya this week.

Erdogans words trumpeted the news of the Turkish invasion of Afrin in northwest Syria in order to wipe out the terrorists who were not members of the Islamic State (IS) group or Al-Qaeda, he said, but Syrian and other Kurds.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitoring organisation with wide contacts inside Syria, said 24 civilians had died after three days of intense shelling and Turkish airstrikes on the city, as well as 25 Syrian rebels fighting alongside Turkey and 26 Kurdish fighters.

Turkeys military offensive, named Operation Olive Branch, was sparked by a US announcement that it intends to build a 30,000 strong force to patrol Syrias frontiers.

Though Turkish forces, together with fighters from the Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army, captured higher ground and three villages near Afrin on Monday, military analysts said the campaign was dependent on Russias agreement to open up the areas airspace to Turkish jets. Russia controls Syrian airspace in the region west of the Euphrates River, which includes Afrin, while the United States controls the skies east of the Euphrates.

Kurdish militias shelled the Turkish province of Kilis across the border in response to the Turkish attack.

Turkish regime ideologues went into overdrive to lend a sacred aura to the battle. Ibrahim Karagul, a favourite media pundit of Erdogans and a columnist in the newspaper Yeni Safak, wrote that the Seljuk/Ottoman-Turkish Republic has established a new ambit and entered a new phase of ascent. The role of history-maker has once again fallen on our nations shoulders. There is no longer just Turkey; there is Turkey with its geographical hinterland. Turkey is no longer the frontline country for others; it is now a hub country in its own right. There is now a Turkish-centred axis.

Such was Karaguls fervour that he omitted to mention those countries supposedly revolving around this centre. As the Turkish opposition pointed out in response to Erdogans speech, it would be difficult to find them anywhere in the neighbourhood, as these countries harbour deep resentments and mistrust towards Ankara.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglus visit to Iraq, coinciding with the second day of Operation Olive Branch, failed to dispel the essential disagreements between Baghdad and Ankara, especially as concerns the future of the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad in Syria.

Damascus regards Ankara as its mortal enemy, and when the Afrin Operation began Al-Assad described it as part of the policy the Turkish regime had adopted since the first day of the Syrian crisis and that is built on its support for terrorism and terrorist organisations.

Iran, the centre of an axis of its own, is a firm Al-Assad supporter, and in spite of its hysteria concerning its own Kurdish population, it called for an immediate halt to the Turkish attack.

US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said Turkeys ground and air offensive against a Kurdish enclave in Afrin was distracting from international efforts to ensure the defeat of IS. He said it risked worsening the humanitarian crisis in Syria and that the renewed violence in the Afrin region could be exploited by IS, though he added that the US understood Turkeys security concerns.

Russia, meanwhile, has been playing its cards close to its chest. It seems to harbour strong reservations regarding the Turkish actions, and Turkish chief of general staff Hulusi Akar flew to Moscow last Thursday to seek a green light for the campaign to attack Afrin.

The Turkish objective, announced after the launch of the operation, was to establish a 30km buffer zone inside Syria to shield Turkish border towns from incursions or rocket attacks.

However, it seems that the Russian-Turkish meeting did not go quite as expected, as contrary to Turkish claims the Russians did not pull their observers out of Afrin in order to clear the way for Turkish forces. Instead, they relocated them in Afrin in order to avert possible provocations and to keep Russian soldiers out of the line of fire.

Meanwhile, the state-controlled Turkish media has been putting out a seemingly endless stream of propaganda in support of Erdogans latest action to counter the effects of any media remaining outside of government control.

Readers of the Turkish press and viewers of Turkish television have been warned of the failed coup attempt allegedly masterminded by renegade preacher Fethullah Gulen in the US and of the plots and stratagems that he and his aides, with support from the White House, have been weaving in order to destroy and divide Turkey, using the Kurds in Syria as a means to an end.

It is these plots, the Turkish government says, that justify the attack on Afrin. This aims to defeat the nest of terrorists across the border and to confront the foreign interventions in Turkey using the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK) in Turkey and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in Syria (also labelled PKK on Turkish maps) as a means to do so.

The idea is to forestall a Kurdish terrorist corridor to the Mediterranean, the state-controlled media says, with the attack on Afrin, according to Erdogans propaganda machine, being in the interests of self-defence. The attack is an attempt to eliminate the greatest and most immediate threat to Turkey and its territorial unity, the media says, and as a result no one abroad has the right to voice an objection.

Opposition opinion at home knows that to speak out would be to run an enormous risk in the present jingoistic climate in Turkey. But the countrys opposition parties have still voiced their views, and the pro-minority rights Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) has denounced the war and the Republican Peoples Party (CHP), which cautioned against becoming embroiled in the Syrian quagmire from the outset of the crisis, has warned of the huge costs of an adventure that has no regional or international support.

Critics have also pointed to the first Euphrates Shield Operation in which 78 Turkish soldiers lost their lives even as it failed to achieve its objectives.

Demonstrations against the Turkish attacks have been organised in Western capitals and elsewhere in protest against the unprovoked Turkish invasion and to voice solidarity with the Kurds. But Erdogan, armed with the Turkish emergency laws that have recently been extended, has warned the Kurds at home not to contemplate protest.

Those who do should be aware that the security forces will be following you wherever you go, he said.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link:

You browse a store online for an item but dont make a purchase. Then advertisements begin appearing on websites and apps you visit, reminding you of that item.

These are called reminder ads, and Google says it now will allow anyone to mute them on any apps or sites that partner with it.

Reminder ads like these can be useful, but if you arent shopping for Snow Boot Co.s boots anymore, then you dont need a reminder about them, Jon Krafcik, group product manager of data privacy and transparency at Google, said in a blog post Thursday.

Apps and sites can be muted by visiting Googles Ad Settings, which requires a Google account. The muting applies to both mobile and desktop browsing.

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Although not all reminder ads run through sites partnered with Google, the overwhelming majority do. Google says its ad network reaches 90% of the worlds internet users.

Google  a division of Alphabet Inc.  said it plans to expand the muting option to include its other properties: YouTube, Search and Gmail.

By offering to mute reminder ads, Google can demonstrate a commitment to privacy and transparency without sacrificing much ad revenue, said Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at New York Universitys Stern School of Business.

Retargeting creates a decent number of creepy moments, and giving people the chance to switch off is an attempt to starch their hat white without sacrificing any real revenue, Galloway said. Consumers are lazy, and a small number will go through the hassle of enacting the controls.

david.pierson@latimes.com

Twitter: @dhpierson

UPDATES:

8:25 a.m.: This article was updated with comment from marketing professor Scott Galloway.

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This article was originally published at 7:45 a.m.On Dec. 21, four women accused Charles Dutoit of sexual assault. The famed Swiss conductor has strongly denied the allegations (as he has with other women who have subsequently come forward). But in less than 24 hours, he was forced to withdraw from all future engagements with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, of which he had been artistic director and principal conductor since 2009 and with which he had a major West Coast tour coming up.

Thursday night that tour began at Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. It might seem that the London orchestra didnt look too far for a Dutoit replacement with Thierry Fisher, who is also Swiss and also a conductor with a penchant for French music and works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The two programs for the tour, now traveling up the state, have remained the same, as have the soloists.

But thats about as far as it goes. Dutoits not just gone, hes really gone. Fischer, who is music director of the Utah Symphony and has a taste for orchestral opulence, is a completely different kettle of conducting fish. As far as the struggling, if not exactly failing, Royal Philharmonic goes, that might not be such a bad thing.

The orchestra, founded in 1946 by Thomas Beecham, was once the musical epitome of Englishness, lofty but lovable, a vehicle for Beechams warmth, wit and irrepressible grandeur. But despite the eight notable chief conductors  none British  who succeeded Beecham, the orchestra has been on a long decline toward obscurity.

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When Andre Previn became music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1985, that was international news. The same year he also took over the RPO, and hardly anyone noticed, even in London, despite Previns celebrity. Today, the RPO cant hope to compete in the orchestra-sated English capital with the likes of Simon Rattle at the London Symphony Orchestra, Esa-Pekka Salonen at the Philharmonia and Vladimir Jurowski at the London Philharmonic.

Even so, it remains an impressive ensemble. The Segerstrom program was full of flashy music, beginning with Respighis Fountains of Rome and concluding with Stravinskys Petrushka, the ballet performed in its original 1911 version, which is to say with an enormous orchestra. Fischer went all out in both with vast extremes in dynamics and knock-em-dead dramatic effects.

But the best place to begin is with Saint-Saens Piano Concerto No. 5, known as the Egyptian, having been written on holiday in and under the influence of North Africa. A decade ago Dutoit made a revelatory recording of the Egyptian with pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet and LOrchestre de la Suisse Romande.

A model of clarity, the recording helped begin a process of reevaluation of the French composer, who was dismissed in sophisticated circles as a lightweight reactionary at a time when Paris was where it was all happening. Ravel, Debussy and Satie were coming on the scene, and Stravinsky was about to arrive from Russia.

Thibaudet showed that under all Saint-Saens incessant charm there were hints at the harmonies existing for no other reason than their colors. For all the concertos showpiece vulgarities, it also has stunning qualities of floating on a new air, even bringing in hints of the Indonesian gamelan which was to have such an influence on Debussy. Thibaudet and Dutoit brought out the exoticism like no one before them.

Thibaudet was again the soloist in the Saint-Saens concerto at Segerstrom. This time Fischer held back for no one, laying on so thick an orchestral accompaniment that Thibaudet had one option only  to showboat. That wasnt altogether awful, since Thibaudet can pull off an Egyptian as old-fashioned fun.

If the RPO sounded nothing like a Dutoit orchestra, it did sound like a Dutoit-trained orchestra. The playing was on the highest quality Id heard from it in years.

Going in for big effects in the splashy Fountains is a no-brainer, Respighis score beginning with glassy early morning spray, turning up the tap as the sun rises and fading into an enchantingly romantic Rome night. Fischer has a flair for contrasts, loud and soft, fast and slow, which is pretty much how Roman plumbing works.

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It was in Petrushka, however, where Fischer really went to town showing off the orchestras robust strings, robust brass, robust percussion and startlingly robust winds. No doubt Stravinsky would have hated so overblown a performance, given his penchant for instrumental lucidity and interpretive understatement.

But if the composer might have preferred Dutoit, the audience surely would prefer the theatricality of Fischers Petrushka any day. Fischer has had a great success in Salt Lake City at least in part through extravagance. He just recorded Mahlers monumental Eighth Symphony with his Utah Symphony, and his Petrushka with the RPO was a bigger-than-life account of the puppet who comes to life and falls in love.

Drama became melodrama as the winds blared out villainy and the puppets fought. A trumpet solo had the smoke of Miles Davis. The racket the RPO made during the The Shrovetide Fair festivities had all the verisimilitude of being in a deafening, chaotic carnival crowd.

Under Fischer, not just Saint-Saens but even revolutionary Stravinsky came across as cinematically old-fashioned, an equivalent of a CinemaScope, Technicolor epic. If I thought too hard about it, I would take Stravinskys side. But in the concert hall, the performance was a blast. And a blast is just what the Royal Philharmonic needs.

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Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

What: Debussys Petite Suite, Haydns Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major and Stravinskys The Firebird

Where: The Soraya (formerly the Valley Performing Arts Center), 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge

When: 8 p.m. Friday

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Tickets: $43-$85

Information: (818) 677-3000, valleyperformingartscenter.org

mark.swed@latimes.com

MORE MUSIC:

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Candide on the coast, Part 1: The report from San Francisco

Three cellists save the day with last-minute theatrics for the L.A. Phil

Leonard Bernstein at 100: Why the music world is making this the Year of LennySince the late 1970s, hip-hop has made its way from insurgent music genre to the defining cultural movement of our times. But it hasnt been entirely about the music. To look at fashion today is to understand that hip-hop has been an undeniable influence on the way we dress. From Run-DMCs endorsement of Adidas and Sean Combs launching his own fashion label to Kanye West and Pharrell embracing the world of high-end European fashion, heres a look at the players who led the way.

Dapper Dan

Rappers Salt-N-Pepa and their DJ Spinderella pose for a portrait in 1988 wearing Dapper Dan's originals. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

Daniel Day, a.k.a. Dapper Dan, took leathers decorated with logos from high-end labels in the early 1980s and created outlandish apparel and accessories from them. He took inspiration from European houses Gucci, Louis Vuitton and others and re-imagined their looks for the streets, an idea that would be adopted by the luxury brands decades later.

Run-DMC

Run-DMC, from left: Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels and DJ Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell photographed in New York, 1988. Frank Micelotta / Getty Images

With the members graphic tees, track pants and sporty sneakers, Run-DMC embodies hip-hops early days. Their love of Adidas shoes was chronicled in the 1986 song My Adidas and led to an unprecedented $1-million deal with the brand, which presaged many more to come.

Run-DMC Adidas during the 35th anniversary of the Adidas Superstar sneaker honoring the life of Jam Master Jay at Skylight Studios on February 25, 2005 in New York City. Paul Hawthorne / Getty Images

Will Smith

Will Smith and Janet Hubert in a photo from Season 1 of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." NBC via Getty Images

Before his many movie roles, Smith, who as an MC went by the moniker the Fresh Prince, brought street style to the masses with the debut of the NBC show The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in 1990. From colorful, graphic shirts to Nike sneakers and Zubaz pants, hip-hop fashion gained a wide audience thanks to his show.

LL Cool J

Rapper LL Cool J pokes out of the sunroof of a limousine circa 1988 in New York. Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

With his airbrushed T-shirts, Kangol hats and heavy chains, youd be hard-pressed to find a better spokesman for what fly rappers dressed like in the mid-1980s. More than a decade later, the musician would make waves starring in a Gap commercial but doing so while wearing a FUBU hat and sneaking in the companys for us, by us motto into his rap.

Watch Oprah talk with LL Cool J about his 1997 Gap commercial.

Sean Combs

Hip-hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs during his birthday celebration presented by his own Ciroc vodka at New York's Plaza Hotel in 2009. Jemal Countess / Getty Images for Bad Boy Entertainment

Combs is perhaps one of the first people to think expansively about how his name could be spun out into a lifestyle brand, well beyond the confines of music-making. With his brand Sean John, he elevated hip-hop style, mimicking luxury labels but with a mass-market end-goal. The company bridged streetwear and high fashion, setting the foundation for brands such as Public School and Yeezy.

Looks from the the Sean John Fall 2002 fashion show in New York. Stuart Ramson / AP

Pharrell Williams

Portrait of American musician Pharrell Williams. Anthony Barboza / Getty Images

Seen by many as the avatar of hip-hops remix culture, Pharrell took far-reaching tastes in music and fashion (he wears and collaborates with Chanel and is a fan of Hermes Birkin bags) and blended them into an eclectic-yet-polished style. The mainstream took notice of his style in 2014 when he wore a much-copied Canadian Mountie-style hat by Vivienne Westwood. Since then, his boundary-defying tastes have set forth the foundation for todays anything-goes ethos.

Pharrell Williams in his Vivienne Westwood Canadian Mountie hat at the 56th annual Grammy Awards, where he won four Grammys, including album and record of the year. Invision/AP

Kanye West

Kanye West during the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015. Lester Cohen / WireImage

Kanye West has long been obsessed with style  and chronicled the topic in his work  but by launching his own line with Adidas, known as Yeezy, in 2015, he brought his vision to the masses. Now, the oversized athleisure-meets-apocalypse stylings are an undeniable influence.

Models walk the runway at the Adidas Originals x Kanye West Yeezy Season 1 fashion show during New York Fashion Week fall 2015. Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Adidas

Nicki Minaj

Nicki Minaj at the 2012 Grammy Awards in Los Angeles wearing a hooded scarlet red Versace ensemble. Chris Pizzello / AP

Minaj is one of hip-hops few female stars, and she embraces high-end luxury labels with a sexy spin that can verge on cartoonish. Shes been welcomed by the fashion world, landing magazine covers, front-row seats at fashion shows and advertising campaigns.

Nicki Minaj accepting the hip-hop video of the year for Anaconda at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2015. Matt Sayles / Associated Press

ASAP Rocky

ASAP Rocky seen leaving the Gucci show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 20, 2017. Jacopo Raule / Getty Images

Rapper ASAP Rockys playful style  Gucci track pants, oversized Balenciaga duds has landed him advertising campaigns with Dior Homme and Calvin Klein as well as earned him fawning praise from GQ magazine. Hes the poster boy for todays bold and swaggering aesthetic.

ASAP Rocky poses for a portrait to promote the film "Monster" at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. Taylor Jewell / Invision / AP

Salt-N-Pepa

Salt-n-Pepa group portrait in 1989. Michael Putland / Getty Images

Hip-hop has been a male-dominated genre, so the women who populated it made sure to utilize fashion to their advantage. During the release of Salt-N-Pepas hit single Push It, the rappers interpreted the big trends of the day including bold graphic prints, light-wash denim and flashy accessories, giving streetwear a decidedly masculine-meets-feminine twist.

Grand Puba

Grand Puba during a 2006 LL Cool J album release party. L. Busacca / WireImage

This popular MC, best known as part of the group Brand Nubian, name-dropped Tommy Hilfiger on the Mary J. Blige track Whats the 411? making the designer a must-have of the hip-hop set, challenging Polos dominance.

Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.

image@latimes.com

For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.UNDERRATED

Ingrid Goes West (2017): Starring Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen, this edgy comedy about a stalker energized and enabled by her Instagram feed isnt quite the biting satire of social media and its many hashtag-adorned #influencers we need, but it comes close. Plaza is an unsettling bundle of need as Ingrid, who sets about rebuilding her life in the image of Olsen, who portrays any number of digital tastemakers curating their brand through their image-conscious shots of launch parties or Joshua Tree weekends. Judgment doesnt come easy for anyone here; the rest of us maybe arent so lucky.

Acetones 1992-2001: Specializing in a languid blend of spacious psychedelic rock and Americana that paired well with hazy L.A. summers, the indie rock band Acetone broke up far too soon in 2001 with the suicide of bassist-vocalist Richie Lee. Though the bands last and best album, York Blvd., provides a poignant epitaph, Light in the Attic recently released this career-spanning collection of superb outtakes and under-heard tracks along with a novel-length band biography that testifies to what drew a cult-like legion of fans that includes Spiritualizeds Jason Pierce and Hope Sandoval of Mazzy Star.

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OVERRATED

The Boss Baby (2017): Forever known as The Oscar-nominated Boss Baby  thanks to the academys nominations announcement this week, this movie featuring the voice of Alec Baldwin as an infant in a suit made a lot of money and, therefore, apparently deserves a shot in the animated feature category. While theres some comfort for fans of the snubbed Lego Batman in knowing this category belongs to Pixars beautiful Coco (which could have landed in the best picture category), theres some question how this middling movie got here. Maybe voters thought it was an SNL sketch?

The indie cred of streaming TV: Back when internet upstarts were striving to disrupt the programming dominance of the major networks, you could count on the likes of Amazon, Netflix and Hulu to cast a wide net for an audience with idiosyncratic shows like Lady Dynamite, One Mississippi and Difficult People. But now that some time and money has passed, everyone wants an awards-gobbling blockbuster series, and all of the above shows have been canceled. While you could argue some were too wonderfully weird for a big stage, it seems the more an industry is disrupted, the more it stays the same.

See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour 

chris.barton@latimes.com

Follow me over here @chrisbarton.

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Overrated/Underrated: Alexa and our voice-driven machines, and a fond farewell to Joe Frank

Review: Black Mirror returns with more grim looks at the future

Sarah Silverman on leaving her bubble for I Love You, AmericaTheres a lot of marching left to do, said Rashida Jones, who was co-host of an intimate cocktail soiree alongside Tracee Ellis Ross, Rowan Blanchard, Amanda de Cadenet, Busy Philipps, Cindi Leive and designer Rachel Comey. The group gathered to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Womens March as well as the recent publication of Together We Rise, a Conde Nast-produced book that chronicles last years inaugural event.

This [book] is the first step in immortalizing the conception of something, added Jones, a member of the Times Up coalition. I looked at the book and thought, This should be a series because theres a lot of resisting left to do. This is just the beginning.

Rachel Comey, left, and Cindi Leive attend Conde Nast and the Women March's dinner in Los Angeles. Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for Glamour

The event

Held on Jan. 24, the party also drew Womens March leaders Sarah Sophie Flicker and Paola Mendoza to Rachel Comeys Los Angeles boutique off Melrose Place. Im always happy to open the store for a cause I believe in, Comey said. There are so many interesting, powerful, brave and talented women here. Its nice to get together and exchange ideas and missions.

The New York-based designer said shed only be in town for two days because shes busy preparing for her upcoming fashion show at New York Fashion Week. Its always a deadline, Comey chuckled. I spent one day here working with my local factories because I do my denim in Los Angeles. Ive got to multi-task.

Sarah Gibson Tuttle, from left, an unidentified guest, Olivia Munn and Sophia Bush at the gathering at Rachel Comey's store. Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for Glamour

The crowd

The night also attracted Ellen Pompeo, Olivia Munn, Constance Wu, Felicity Huffman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jordana Brewster, Sophia Bush, Jaime King, Ahna OReilly, Katherine Schwarzenegger, Erika Christensen, Gabrielle Carteris, Trace Lysette and a slew of Womens March organizers from as far away as Antarctica. Guests were treated to cocktails by Wolf restaurant, where the celebration later continued, and a performance by musician Miya Folick.

Ava Phillippe and Gideon Adlon at the gathering celebrating the Women's March and the publication of the "Together We Rise" book from Conde Nast. Getty Images for Glamour

The scene

Reese Witherspoons daughter, Ava Phillippe, hung out with Gideon Adlon and Blanchard, the latter of whom will soon be seen in Ava DuVernays A Wrinkle in Time with Phillippes leading lady mom.

The Womens March was one of the most significant days of my life, said Blanchard, who contributed an essay to the book as did fellow feminists Gloria Steinem, Ashley Judd and America Ferrera. The day felt really defining in my teenagehood. I wanted to be a part of a solidifying example of that day.

Blanchard said she spent time backstage during the most recent march on Jan. 20. I got to be with a lot of the Times Up ladies, said the 16-year-old, clad in a Brock Collection top with Rachel Comey jeans. Its an interesting point in Hollywood and across all industries where were really forced to confront and rethink a lot of the things that weve all witnessed or gone through.

Rashida Jones Getty Images for Glamour

The quotes

Following the Golden Globes fashion blackout, Jones said she hopes social and political sartorial statements continue to be made through the rest of awards season. These shows are sold on the backs of women looking beautiful, Jones said. There are so many industries that are tied to fashion and makeup and styling and all the red carpet stuff. So I think the first acknowledgment of that [at the Golden Globes] was really important. It is a power that we hold. Men dont have it as much. So I hope that continues.

Jones also commended Comey for bringing a really strong voice to her collections. Shes a very political person, Jones said, wearing a head-to-toe look by Rachel Comey. You see it in her clothes, and I love that.

Another guest, Ahna OReilly, admitted she missed the most recent march, but the actress had a unique excuse. I wasnt there because I was doing a doula workshop, she said. I was learning about how to empower women and give women a voice and be an advocate for women in their birth process. I felt like if there was anywhere else to be, it was doing that.

Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.

image@latimes.com

For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.If youre flummoxed as to what to wear to that Grammys viewing party on Sunday, heres an idea. Bloomingdales recently launched its Music Is Universal collection, partly in conjunction with artist merchandise company Bravado, spanning a range of rock-inspired pieces including bomber jackets, skinny leather pants and concert tees. These separates can be worn year-round, conveying something of a pop-rock sensibility.

Musicians have some of the biggest influences on fashion, said Kevin Harter, Bloomingdales group vice president of integrated marketing, who helped curate the collection. Its more than seeing their image on a T-shirt, but trying to emulate the artist from a point of their personal style.

The 253-piece offering extends beyond clothing and accessories to include accessories for the home as well as speakers and turntables. The collection is available at a pop-up at Bloomingdales in the Beverly Center in Los Angeles and online until the end of February. Prices range from $12 to $2,500. The Grammy Awards will be presented on Jan. 28 in New York and air on CBS.

Louis Vuitton

A traveling pop-up from Louis Vuitton  a tricked-out retro Volkswagen van filled with getaway-inspired spring/summer 2018 offerings  arrives in Beverly Hills. Paul Warchol / Louis Vuitton

Hit Rodeo Drive to enjoy the surprising sight of a retro Volkswagen van emblazoned with tropical prints parked outside the Louis Vuitton store.

The Traveling Pop-Up from the venerable French luxury house was curated by the brands outgoing mens artistic director, Kim Jones, who conceived of a way to highlight the labels lightweight, colorful, vacation-friendly spring/summer 2018 staples. That would be to put those pieces in a van and send them to three U.S. cities known for their beachy lifestyles.

The vehicle containing Vuittons tropical-themed apparel, accessories and palm-tree-patterned surfboards had its debut in Miami, and will be in Los Angeles for a couple of weeks before ending its run in Honolulu in mid-February.

Louis Vuittons Traveling Pop-Up, Jan. 26 to Feb. 5, 295 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, www.louisvuitton.com

Tiffany & Co.

Dog tags from Tiffany & Co. can be personalized at a special pop-up at the Grove in Los Angeles. Tiffany & Co.

The iconic New York brand synonymous with Audrey Hepburn and pretty blue boxes has opened its first West Coast pop-up.

Spurred by the inevitable jewelry gifting of Valentines Day, Tiffany & Co. will have a 200-square-foot pop-up at the Grove in Los Angeles, in which customers can personalize some of their gifts, including the Tiffany T bracelet and the Tiffany Tags. Engraving, which can be names, initials or a favorite short saying, will all be completed on-site. Prices of products on sale run from $95 for the Everyday Objects paper cup in bone china to the Tiffany T Square Bracelet in 18-karat gold at $5,200.

Tiffany Pop-Up at the Grove, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday; 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Through Feb. 24. www.tiffany.com

Ermenegildo Zegna

The XXX Reversible Bag from Ermenegildo Zegna made its debut on the fall/winter 2018 runway in Italy, and was made available for sale immediately after the men's fashion show. Ermenegildo Zegna

Guests at the Ermenegildo Zegna Couture fall/winter 2018 show in Milan earlier this month saw more than the sleek and sporty attire that the Italian menswear brand is known for. Also debuting during the mens runway show was the new XXX Reversible Bag ($995), a deerskin and calfskin combo in three color ways with the triple-x hand-painted onto one surface. The shopping/gym/carry-all bag is part of Zegnas see now, buy now initiative, releasing certain products for instant sale instead of having to wait until the new season arrives.

Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you.

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For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter.The first time I visited the Hearth & Hound in Hollywood, not long after the restaurant opened in December, I was happy to find icy oysters zapped with sorrel, whole roasted beets smeared with creamy blue cheese, Moroccan-ish roast lamb with carrots and black lime, and possibly the best chicharrones I had ever tasted outside Baja. The wine list included a page  Diggin in the Crates!  of Burgundies and such from the cellar of Beastie Boy Mike D. Some of the vegetable plates included snips of roots and tops, which struck me as the plant-kingdom equivalent of garnishing a rabbit saute with its own kidneys. There was a white-chocolate flying saucer, glazed with a mosaic of passion-fruit seeds vivid enough to induce panic in even a casual trypophobe, and a fancy kind of banana bread. Top Chefs Tom Colicchio was yakking with friends a couple tables away.

April Bloomfield is a wonderful chef.

Still, I had difficulty processing my thoughts about the meal. This was only a week or so after the sexual misconduct allegations against the restaurants co-owner, Ken Friedman, had been reportedby Julia Moskin and Kim Severson in the New York Times. It was hard to avoid the idea that to dine there was in some way to endorse the supposed reprehensible acts of Friedman, who is on an indefinite leave from his restaurants.

Yet Bloomfield, who seems to have taken full control of the restaurants, is a force in American cooking at the moment, and her aesthetic of powerful small-plates cooking, simple yet so full-flavored that it often borders on the transgressive, has spread to restaurants all over the world. She is a product of the most formidable female-run kitchens in Britain (Londons River Cafe) and the U.S. (Chez Panisse). She started the gastropub craze at New Yorks Spotted Pig  you can probably blame her for the deviled eggs and fancy cauliflower at every beer bar on Ventura Boulevard  and she turbocharged the modern steakhouse at the Breslin.

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I will never quite forget my first taste of her fried pigs ear, her lamb with parsley or her lovely sheep-cheese dumplings moistened with a bit of browned butter. At the Spotted Pig, Bloomfield is the kind of chef who can persuade you to order a plate of roast kidneys even if it is the sort of thing you wouldnt eat on a bet, and even if you discover that you still dont like them, you at least understand why.

Cabbage with oyster emulsion and meat drippings. (Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times )

So, if you boycott the Hearth & the Hound to express your distaste for Friedmans alleged acts, are you silencing an important womans voice? Does the ineffectiveness of Bloomfields responses to Friedman make her complicit in his alleged misconduct? (I know that it wasnt enough, she posted on Twitter.) Or could she have been as fearful of the wrath of a powerful industry figure as were the former employees who spoke out against him? Is it more important that she apparently brushed off complaints about Friedman, or that she did the proper thing and referred some of the women to outside labor counsel? Did she need to quit her job? If you had built an empire through your imagination and sweat, would a partners alleged misbehavior cause you to dissolve it?

In a way, these are questions better suited to philosophers than to restaurant critics. Even then, it is difficult to plug your ideas about the dilemma into W.V. Quines web of belief and expect to come up with a perfect answer. I have friends who refuse to set foot in the place, and I respect their values. I think it may be more important that Bloomfields talent is heard. But Im a white dude  this line is not mine to draw. And whichever side of the question you lean toward, it is hard not to feel queasy at the result.

The Hearth & Hound is a handsome place, a dark, sprawling den in the shell of the old expat pub Cat & Fiddle, with hunting prints on the walls, rough wooden tables and an unusual spaciousness  it was designed for people who may not want to be disturbed, and the dining patio out front is as large as the restaurant proper. The Cat & Fiddle was said to be haunted; it is hard to see where a ghost might hide in the renovated dining room. It was rumored that bits of Casablanca were filmed here, but any signs of Ilsa Lund and Capt. Renault have pretty much been erased too, unless theyre flicking around the ashes from the huge wood-burning grill.

Surprisingly, the Hearth & Hound is nothing like a gastropub, although a lot of the activity does seem to cluster around the cocktail bar and the snacky stuff is limited to the odd pickle plate, fluffy dinner rolls whose recipe may include Jerusalem artichokes, and salty, finger-size stripes of whipped cod roe on toast that would seem to be the ideal accompaniment for a dry martini. If you are here looking for the dripping burgers, oozy beef tongue or devils on horseback for which the Spotted Pig is known, youre going to be out of luck.

In a way, the menu at the Hearth & Hound may be a little timid. Bloomfield had originally planned to open a Middle Eastern-ish restaurant in Los Angeles, and a lot of the plates lean that way: a coarse steak tartare with soaked kamut and harissa presented as a riff on Syrian kibbeh nayeh; sauteed spinach with house-made tahini sauce and a handful of smoked chickpeas; and a lovely plate of soft, sweet roasted squash buried under a pile of bitter greens cooked down with a dash of the North African spice mixture baharat. Tiny potatoes are scored halfway through in the manner of Hasselback potatoes, crisped, and served with chewy braised chard.

(You will find a certain similarity here to multiculti dishes on the menu at places like Kismet and Baco Mercat  Bloomfield has clearly studied the rhythms of the local scene. You will also find a decent grilled hanger steak with black cabbage and a perfectly crisp flattened chicken seasoned with far too much salt.)

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A basic salad of bibb lettuce leaves is much better than youd think it might be, sprinkled with poppy seeds and slicked with a fresh, lemony emulsion the waiter identifies as fermented ranch dressing. And my favorite dish in the restaurant is a wedge of steamed, lightly pickled cabbage flavored with meaty beef drippings and slumped onto a puddle of a briny oyster puree  the dish tastes like a marvelous sea creature you have never before encountered but cant wait to taste again.

Might your personal web of belief be expansive enough to include fancy banana bread after the cabbage instead of a slab of pork with quince? Professor Quine, I believe, would approve.

::

The Hearth & Hound

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Chef April Bloomfields Hollywood restaurant showcases her vegetable-centric cooking.

LOCATION

6530 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, (323) 320-4022, thehearthandhound.com

PRICES

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Starters $12-$21; vegetables $12-$16; meat and fish, $28-$36.

DETAILS

Dinner 6 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The bar opens at 5:30 p.m. Credit cards accepted. Full bar. Valet parking.

RECOMMENDED DISHES

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Whipped cod roe on toast; charred chicories with fromage blanc; cabbage with oyster emulsion; chicken with green peppercorn jus.

jonathan.gold@latimes.com

@thejgoldGiven the severity of flu cases sweeping through the U.S., including California, fighting off the illness is a priority these days.

And while many over-the-counter medications are effective, they also contain fillers, including chemical dyes and GMOs that have been banned in most European countries, and sorbitol, an artificial sweetener that can have a laxative side effect.

As an alternative, some companies have created nature-based, toxin-free remedies to boost immunity and stave off symptoms, especially when taken at the first sign of the flu. Of course, if conditions persist, see your doctor.

Freeze-dried extract of Austrian Haschberg elderberry is at the heart of ViraPro from the Terry Naturally brand.

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Why? Elderberry is said to deliver an array of natural immune-supporting compounds, including anthocyanins, quercetin and rutin that help restore the bodys ability to fight off invaders, said Cheryl Myers, chief of education and scientific affairs for Terry Naturally. (Proponents also swear by elderberry extract as a natural way to defend against colds and flu, and take the edge off symptoms.) Other ingredients in ViraPro tablets include vitamin A, known for its anti-viral effect, and vitamin C, which Myers says can reduce the incidence of colds when taken as a preventative.

Info: $39.95 at terrynaturallyvitamins.com and through health food stores.

Proponents swear by elderberry. (Marx Photography )

Max Spielberg said he was inspired to co-found Genexa when he discovered that the active ingredients in many over-the-counter medicines were only 10% of the dose -- the rest being made up of synthetic ingredients. I realized that the medicines themselves could be healthier, he said.

Genexas all-organic Flu Fix is a non-drowsy remedy that advocates say will help fight off flu symptoms including headache, coughing, body aches and congestion: The homeopathic-based pills are made from medicinal plants including allium cepa (from red onion) and echinacea, which is thought to beat back infections.

Info: $15.99 at genexahealth.com, GNC, CVS.

A non-drowsy remedy. (Genexa )

French homeopathic brand Boiron, founded in 1937 by pharmacist Jean Boiron, makes a flu remedy so popular that the 12- and 30-dose versions sold out in many places earlier this month. Its Oscillococcinum -- known as Oscillo -- are tiny, sweetened pills that come in a small tube; dissolve the contents of the tube in the mouth every six hours. It is said to help reduce chills, aches and fever.

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Info: Prices starting at $12.19, available at Walgreens, Rite-Aid, Target. boironusa.com

Fans swear by this.. (Boiron )

With ingredients known for their health-boosting properties -- apple cider vinegar, honey, cinnamon, cayenne -- Matys Organic Cough Syrup is as natural as a homemade concoction, proponents say. The brand, founded by New York holistic practitioner Carolyn Harrington, encompasses several flu-symptom-fighting products, including a petroleum-free vapor rub made with sunflower, coconut, castor, peppermint and eucalyptus oil, and another syrup specifically designed for mucus coughs  it contains oregano, thyme and ginger  and helps break up phlegm.

Info: Matys Organic Cough Syrup is $12.99 on Amazon. More information at matyshealthyproducts.com and carolynharrington.com

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All-natural cough syrup (Matys )

READ ON!

Yes, you can eat your way to beautiful skin

10 high-tech gadgets to help you get to sleep

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How Scandals Katie Lowes hid her psoriasis

7 steps to making your health your No. 1 priority

He lost 84 pounds in four months  and kept it offJonathan Gold was the restaurant critic for the Los Angeles Times. He won the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2007 and was a finalist again in 2011. A Los Angeles native, he began writing the Counter Intelligence column for the L.A. Weekly in 1986, wrote about death metal and gangsta rap for Rolling Stone and Spin among other places, and was delighted that he managed to forge a career out of the professional eating of tacos. Gold died July 21, 2018.

Jonathan Gold | 1960-2018

Matt Hamilton is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with colleagues Harriet Ryan and Paul Pringle and was part of the team of reporters that won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of the San Bernardino terrorist attack. A graduate of Boston College and the University of Southern California, he joined The Times in 2013.Relations between Sudan and the Arab Gulf countries have been strained during the past year despite the fact that Khartoum has been an active member of the Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting a nearly three-year-old war in Yemen.

This may have been what led Khartoum to lean towards the Doha-Ankara axis and agree to the establishment of Turkish facilities, of an officially undefined nature so far, in Suakin on the Red Sea, setting off alarm bells in Cairo, Riyadh and even Abu Dhabi.

Last week, UAE Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed flew to Khartoum on an unannounced visit, during which he met with Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir and a number of other Sudanese political and security officials.

At the same time, the Saudi Ambassador to Khartoum Hassan bin Ali, addressing a society at the Sudanese parliament, said that certain parties were trying to undermine relations between his country and Sudan.

The two moves were significant against the backdrop of the tensions in the Gulf with Qatar, which have reached a level unprecedented since the 1990s.

The Gulf cannot do without Sudan, said Walid Sayed, a Sudanese diplomat posted in his countrys embassy in Washington. Sudan is an energetic participant in the Storm of Resolve operation in Yemen. It sided with its brothers in the Gulf and severed relations with Iran so that all could unify ranks against Tehrans interventions in the Arab world.

For two decades, Sudan had forged strong relations with Iran, a major ally of the Islamist regime in Khartoum. They were so strong, in fact, that some prominent members in the Sudanese government claimed that their country had become part of the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance, although not many believed the claim.

The Sudanese press devoted considerable attention to the UAE deputy prime ministers visit and the Saudi ambassadors speech in parliament. The Sudan Today news site wrote that President Al-Bashir expressed to the Emirati envoy his dismay at the Saudi attitude towards Khartoum, which was standing by Riyadhs side in Yemen. Al-Bashir, the report relates, mentioned the great Sudanese sacrifices in Yemen, which were unappreciated by the Saudis and which led to a strong naval presence of the Houthis in the Red Sea, threatening Sudans maritime interests.

According to Sudan Today, Al-Bashir also complained that his country was gripped by economic crisis as a result of the largest protest demonstrations since 2013 and the return of bread and fuel lines, but that Riyadh was not lending a helping hand.

Simultaneously, a chorus of calls rang out urging the government in Sudan to withdraw its forces from Yemen. Al-Tayeb Zein Al-Abidin, political science professor at Khartoum University, suggested they were orchestrated by Al-Bashir in an attempt to cast himself as facing popular pressure in order to obtain more in return from the Gulf.

Fayez Al-Slek, editor-in-chief of the Sudanese newspaper Al-Tayyar, believes that Al-Bashir had expected an offer from the Gulf in exchange for not fulfilling his agreement with Erdogan over Suakin. But apparently the UAE sent its delegate merely to seek clarification on the Suakin deal.

Sudan Today, however, reports that Abu Dhabi did, indeed, make an offer to Al-Bashir to persuade him to renege on his pledge to the Turks but that he resisted.

That is unlikely, said Al-Slek. It is well known that Al-Bashir is a pragmatist. No agreement is worth more than his own interests.

On the other hand, Mohamed Abu Al-Dahab, a journalist close to the government, said that Al-Bashir turned down the UAE offer because Abu Dhabi did not try to stop Egypt from attacking Sudan. He explained, Sudan anticipates an attack from Eritrea but Asmara cannot do this alone without help from Egypt.

Sudan has amassed its troops, backed by informal militias, along the border with Eritrea on the grounds that Eritrean forces, allegedly backed by Egyptian forces, are readying to launch an attack against Sudan. Al-Bashir, himself, has refuted this pretext and said that the forces are there in order to prevent smuggling in the eastern state of Kassala.

Several days later, President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi said that Egypt would never fight its brothers in Sudan or anywhere else.

Some Western media attributed the tensions between Egypt and Sudan to the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, in which Sudan has taken sides with Ethiopia. That Khartoum is inclined towards the Islamist groups that are hostile to Egypt is another source of mutual tension.

Saudi Arabia, for its part, argues that it has not abandoned Sudan, as Al-Bashir claimed. In his speech to the Saudi-Sudanese Parliamentary Friendship Society, which took place in the Sudanese parliament building, Saudi Ambassador Hassan bin Ali said that relations between the two countries could not be better. He denied rumours of tension and added that Riyadh and Khartoum were in the process of concluding economic and military agreements. He also stressed that Saudi investors were preparing to enter the Sudanese market now that the Americans had lifted sanctions against Khartoum in October.

In a related development, Saudi Crown Prince and Minister of Defence Prince Mohamed bin Salman sent Assistant Defence Minister Mohamed bin Abdullah Al-Ayesh to Khartoum to meet with Sudanese Defence Minister Awad Mohamed Ibn Ouf and Chief-of-Staff Emadeddin Mustafa Adawi. The visit occurred a few days after the announcement of the Sudanese-Turkish agreement over Suakin. Fayez Al-Slek read the visit as an attempt on the part of Riyadh to dissuade Khartoum from shifting entirely in favour of Ankara.

Professor Zein Al-Abidin believes that Riyadh and Abu Dhabi are trying to keep Doha from monopolising influence over Khartoum, which is gripped by economic straits.

There appears to be another dimension involved here. There is increasing talk in government and pro-government circles about amending the constitution to enable Al-Bashir to run for a seventh term as president in 2020, Zein Al-Abidin said. He pointed out that Al-Bashir could not easily engineer a constitutional amendment given the current economic and political situation in the country, the deterioration in living standards and the fact that the army is involved in a war that the Sudanese have nothing to do with. Given such a situation, Al-Bashir could press ahead with military confrontation against Eritrea as a means to silence all opposition voices calling for improvements to the conditions affecting peoples lives in Sudan.

Omar Al-Bashir came to power through a military coup in 1989 and served as chairman of the Revolutionary Command Council until 1993 when an appointed parliament appointed him president. In 1996, he was elected president and he was re-elected in the presidential elections in 2000.

In 2005, Al-Bashir signed a peace treaty with the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement (SPML). The agreement granted him another five-year term, lasting until 2010. He was re-elected again in the general elections that were held that year and then again in the elections that were held in 2015. His current term is due to end in 2020 by which time he will have ruled Sudan for more than 31 years.

Apparently, some pro-Bashir circles fear that he will go the way of former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe or that of former leader of Burkina Faso Blaise Compaore who was forced to stand down in the face of the furore triggered by a constitutional amendment project. On the other hand, there were a number of cases in which African leaders succeeded in abolishing the two-term limits in their countries constitutions, such as Uganda, Rwanda and the Congo.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link:

In June, voters in Santa Clara County will be asked whether Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky should be removed from the bench.

This is not the standard, every-six-year retention vote faced by California judges. This is a recall, born of outrage and frustration at the way Persky mishandled a sexual assault case involving a Stanford swimmer named Brock Turner and an unconscious young woman, known to the public only as Emily Doe.

Rather than send Brock to prison for six years, as the prosecutor recommended in 2016, Persky opted for a lenient penalty: Six months in jail and three years of probation. Turner served half his sentence and was freed after 12 weeks in county jail. For Turner, a slap on the wrist. For his victim, a slap across the face.

More than 96,000 signed the recall petition in Santa Clara County, which stretches from the upscale tech environs of Silicon Valley to the garlicky fields of Gilroy.

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If the effort succeeds, Persky will become the rare judge to be recalled. His supporters  and even critics who found Turners sentence too lenient  claim the recall represents a threat to judicial independence.

I say hogwash.

In the same way that Democratic U.S. Sen. Al Frankens resignation last year sent a clear signal that Democrats would not tolerate sexual harassment of any stripe in their ranks, the recall of Persky will send a powerful message that the abuse of women  by men or by courts  will no longer be tolerated by Californians.

In the words of Stanford law professor Michele Dauber, a leader of the recall campaign: Enough is enough.

::

Stanford law professor Michele Dauber is a leader of the recall campaign against Santa Clara Superior Court Judge Aaron Persky.

On a drizzly morning this week, I met up with Dauber in her third-floor campus office. We had 90 minutes before she was due downstairs to teach a course on campus sexual assault law. Several years ago, she led the process that revised Stanfords policy on sexual assault.

Dauber, 52, a constitutional scholar with an expertise in the American welfare state and disaster relief, is also, as it happens, a family friend of Emily Does. She was galvanized by her outrage at Turners light sentence.

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In the past 18 months, the Recall Judge Aaron Persky campaign has raised more than $700,000 and is on track to raise an additional $500,000, Dauber said. We have over 4,000 individual donors, averaging around $100. There are a couple of really generous larger donors, but this is a grass-roots effort.

The campaign used both paid and volunteer signature gatherers. We left no area uncovered, Dauber said. We walked precincts in every incorporated community. We went to turkey trots, farmers markets, coffees, block parties, all kinds of political and social events.

When I first met Dauber at the beginning of the recall effort, I was impressed by her passion. But I was also pretty sure that the recall process would take so long and create so many procedural hurdles that by the time the signature gathering got underway, peoples outrage about the Turner sentence would have cooled.

Then came the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape where he bragged about sexually assaulting women, his subsequent election, the Womens March, the pussy hats. Last year, came the exposes about Harvey Weinstein, Charlie Rose, Matt Lauer, Garrison Keillor, etc., etc., etc. Getting fired for sexual harassment is the new black.

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And the botched Turner sentence still feels as fresh and outrageous as the day it was handed down.

::

In 2016, a bereft Emily Doe stood in a Santa Clara County courtroom and addressed Turner, who had sexually assaulted her while she lay unconscious outside a frat party on the Stanford campus. It was more than a year before dozens of women in Hollywood found the courage to reveal the sexual harassment and assault perpetrated upon them by powerful men.

A jury convicted Turner of three felonies, including digital penetration and attempted rape. Emily Doe wanted to bear witness, to tell Turner to his face how she was tormented to learn after the fact what he had done to her.

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It was the victim impact statement that was heard around the world.

You took away my worth, my privacy, my energy, my time, my safety, my intimacy, my confidence, my own voice, she said, until today.

Then Persky began his remarks. He acknowledged that Emily Does life had been devastated by Turner.

But then, in an extraordinary misstep, Persky handed down his minimalist sentence.

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Obviously, Persky said, a prison sentence would have a severe impact on him.

Isnt that the very point of prison sentences?

Of course, she couldnt have known it at the time, but Emily Doe was at the forefront of our current national reckoning about sexual harassment and assault.

She insisted on being heard. She refused to allow the crime against her to be minimized.

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In November 2016, Glamour magazine named her a woman of the year, and said she had changed the conversation about sexual assault. At that point, her statement had been read more than 11 million times.

She inspired the California Legislature to change the legal definition of rape to include digital penetration, and to require prison terms for rape when victims are unconscious or unable to give consent.

Persky, who has widespread support in the legal community, tried to keep the measure off the ballot on a number of technical points. None of them succeeded.

His own day of reckoning awaits.

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robin.abcarian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AbcarianLATThe corpse found in the backyard of an Alhambra house Thursday afternoon had a bloodied head, and the body was crammed between a concrete step and a water heater.

When investigators entered the house, they found close living quarters. The single-family home had been divided into eight small bedrooms, with three more in the garage.

Now, homicide detectives believe that one of the residents killed the man in the backyard because he suspected the victim was having an affair with his wife, Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department said Friday.

Alhambra police were called to the house in the 1200 block of South Sierra Vista Avenue at about 4:40 p.m. Thursday.

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Someone initially called 911, reporting that a woman was in the backyard, authorities said.

It was one of the residents, we think its another roommate, who called and said, Hey, this persons lying in the backyard, bleeding from the head, Corina told reporters Thursday night.

The 55-year-old dead man was found face-down, his head bleeding badly. It was difficult to see his face since he was wedged in such a small space, authorities said.

A cardboard box had been placed over his head.

We dont know if one of the residents did that, like a sign of respect just covering the body, or how it got there, Corina said.

The house was being rented to people of Chinese descent, four of whom were found at the residence Thursday night, authorities said. Those residents agreed to be taken to the Alhambra police station to be interviewed with the help of a Chinese translator, according to the Sheriffs Department.

Corina said Friday that investigators, after conducting interviews, believe the killing to be a domestic situation.

Detectives believe the 51-year-old suspect killed the man then went to a nearby location to try to kill himself, Corina said. He survived the suicide attempt and was soon found by investigators.

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The man was taken to a local hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries and was in stable condition Friday, Corina said. He is in police custody.

Corina said detectives have spoken with the suspects wife.

Shes upset, he said.

The names of the suspect and the victim have not been released by authorities.

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The joint investigation by the Sheriffs Department and Alhambra police is ongoing.

We still have a lot of loose ends to tie up, Corina said.

hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybranson

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UPDATES:

1:15 p.m. This article was updated with additional information from sheriffs Lt. John Corina about how the suspect and victim may have known each other.

6:41 a.m. This article was updated with additional information from sheriffs Lt. John Corina.

This article was originally published at 6:25 a.m.As the sky grew dark Thursday, about two dozen people gathered in Anaheim to protest the Orange County district attorneys decision not to press criminal charges against an off-duty Los Angeles police officer who fired his gun during a confrontation with a group of teens.

The February 2017 incident, captured in a viral video that triggered days of unrest, stirred a national debate on race because the officer, who is white, was heard hurling profanity at a 13-year-old girl and later seen dragging and threatening her male friend. Both are Latino.

Orange County Dist. Atty. Tony Rackauckas announced Wednesday that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to prove that Officer Kevin Fergusons behavior was criminal, even as his staff had harsh words for the mans actions, calling them vulgar and flat-out horrible.

Protesters said they were livid that Ferguson escaped prosecution.

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People who join the police department are supposed to act better, do better, said Joese Hernandez, whose family settled in Anaheim more than 25 years ago. They are trained to de-escalate violence in a situation, not to escalate it.

As he spoke, demonstrators chanted, Should have grabbed his badge, not his gun. Then they marched up and down the block, shouting, No justice, no peace! No racist police!

Those kids were not looking for problems. They were just walking home. An adult shouldnt be manhandling a child like that, said protest organizer Naui Huitzilopochtli. Kids will cross over your grass when you live near a school. To explode in anger is inexcusable.

Ferguson, through a lawyer, has said he acted in self-defense.

Anaheim police kept watch over the protest after circulating fliers about legal protest protocol to ensure neighborhood safety.

anh.do@latimes.comSheriffs detectives in Northern California say a man has been arrested after two womens bodies were found on his fathers property  one in a freezer and the other in a pond.

The Colusa County Sheriffs Office said Martin Ehrke was arrested Thursday.

Detectives had been called to the property in Arbuckle  48 miles northwest of Sacramento  on a report that a womans body had been found. Detectives discovered her in a large freezer in a bedroom.

Armed with a search warrant, detectives hours later found the woman in the pond and arrested Ehrke. He is in Colusa County Jail on suspicion of homicide. Its not clear whether he has an attorney.

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The name of Ehrkes father, who was home during the investigation, has not been released. The names of the women are being withheld until relatives can be informed.The Trump administration is jumping into the fracas over free speech at UC Berkeley.

The Justice Department has filed a statement of interest supporting two conservative groups who sued the school last year. The groups alleged that administrators and campus events policy unfairly hampered their ability to book right-leaning speakers like Ann Coulter and ultimately led to the events being canceled or modified.

Associate Atty. Gen. Rachel Brand wrote in a Fox News opinion piece that certain Berkeley policies relating to location restrictions  among other things  are onerous and applied selectively. It doesnt require much creativity to turn this policy into a hecklers veto, she wrote Thursday.

She criticized the policies of several colleges across the country but was sure to single out Berkeley.

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Free speech is under attack at college campuses across the country, Brand wrote. The problem is not limited to a few colleges barring radical speakers to avoid a riot. Universities large and small, public and private, are restricting students and professors speech or enabling others to silence speech with which they disagree.

In its legal brief, the Justice Department took aim at the campus events policy, writing that the allegations, if proven, would sufficiently demonstrate the high risk of viewpoint discrimination inherent in the Policies grant to administrators of unchecked discretion over student-sponsored speech.

Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions has been outspoken on his departments desire to protect free speech on college campuses. In a September speech at Georgetown University, Sessions poked fun at the fact that Berkeley offered counseling to anyone in the community in advance of conservative speaker Ben Shapiros appearance on campus.

In the end, Mr. Shapiro spoke to a packed house, Sessions said. And to my knowledge, no one fainted, no one was unsafe. No one needed counseling.

Partly as a result of its liberal legacy, Berkeley last year became the center of a national conversation about free speech on college campuses. Controversial right-wing speakers including Milo Yiannopoulos, David Horowitz and Ann Coulter attempted to speak on campus and were met with protests, which sometimes turned violent.

After Coulters April appearance was scuttled, the Berkeley College Republicans and the Young Americas Foundation sued university officials. That case was thrown out, but the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint in November.

The lawsuit alleged that though UC Berkeley promises its students an environment that promotes free debate and the free exchange of ideas, it had breached this promise through the repressive actions of University administrators and campus police, who have systematically and intentionally suppressed constitutionally-protected expression by Plaintiffs (and the many UC Berkeley students whose public policy viewpoints align with Plaintiffs), simply because that expression may anger or offend students, UC Berkeley administrators, and/or community members who do not share Plaintiffs viewpoints.

Harmeet Dhillon, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, noted that the Department of Educations general counsel signed the statement of interest. Dhillon said she hoped the university will conform its policies to the Constitution.

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Im glad the DOJ weighed in. It would have been a natural case for them take on their own, she said. I think its helpful. I mean its the United States supporting our position on a constitutional legal issue.

In an emailed statement, Berkeley spokesman Dan Mogulof called the entire lawsuit unfounded, adding that political views dont factor into who gets to speak on campus.

The campus is committed to ensuring that student groups may hold events with speakers of their choosing, and it has expended significant resources to allow events to go forward without compromising the safety or security of the campus, said Mogulof.

This suit has already been dismissed by the court once. The campus will continue to vigorously defend itself against these allegations.

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benjamin.oreskes@latimes.com

@boreskesSanta Ana winds, dry air and potentially record-breaking heat will increase the chance of wildfires in Southern California this weekend, according to the National Weather Service.

The risk of wind-driven fires  especially in the mountain areas of Los Angeles and Ventura counties  will be greatest Saturday evening through Monday afternoon, forecasters said. A fire weather watch is in effect.

An upper-level ridge of high pressure building over the West Coast will bring powerful northeast winds, said Joe Sirard, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard.

Forecasters are expecting 25-to-35 mph winds, with gusts of 45 to 55 mph, he said. There is a potential for isolated gusts up to 60 mph.

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Relative humidity levels are expected to drop to the 15%-to-25% range, Sirard said.

Temperatures across the Southland are expected to reach the upper 70s to the mid-80s on Sunday. By Monday, they could approach or even break record highs.

It will be rather warm for this time of year, Sirard said.

On Monday, a high temperature of 87 degrees is forecast for Long Beach. The record for that day is 83 degrees, which was set in 1992, Sirard said.

Downtown Los Angeles could see a high of 86 degrees Monday, approaching the record high of 88 in 1971, Sirard said.

The high for Burbank is forecast at 85 degrees, one degree shy of the 86-degree record in 1971. Woodland Hills could hit 85 degrees; Westwood, 84 degrees; and Lancaster, 74 degrees.

Monday should be the warmest day, Sirard said. There will be a slight cooldown next week, but temperatures will still be above normal.

Similar conditions will exist in Orange and San Diego counties, with temperatures 15 degrees or more above average, according to the National Weather Service in San Diego.

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hailey.branson@latimes.com

Twitter: @haileybransonAn Agoura Hills man who posted anti-Muslim rhetoric on the Islamic Center of Southern Californias Facebook page has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges, the state attorney generals office announced Friday.

The statement said that the defendant, Mark Feigin, also made threatening phone calls to the center. But Feigins attorney denies that his client ever made any calls and said the threat charge was dropped.



For the record: A previous version of this article said Feigin pleaded guilty to the charges. He pleaded no contest.

It is disgraceful for a prosecutor to drop a charge, and then issue a press release implying that it got a conviction on that charge, attorney Caleb Mason said in a statement to The Times on Saturday. An accurate press release would have read: We dropped the threat charge against Mr. Feigin because we didnt have a case against him. 

A representative for the attorney generals office did not immediately return a request for comment Saturday.

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The Los Angeles Police Department launched an investigation into Feigin, 41, after the Islamic center received telephonic threats, LAPD officials said after they arrested him during a traffic stop. Those threats, however, did not come from Feigin, Mason said.

Police searched Feigins Agoura Hills home and found several guns  rifles, shotguns and handguns  and thousands of rounds of ammunition, police Cmdr. Horace Frank said.

One of Feigins defense attorneys, Robert Sheahen, said at the time that his client was a collector but never fired the weapons or planned on using them.

According to the attorney generals office, Feigin pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor counts of harassing electronic communications and attempting to dissuade an officer from testifying against him. His sentencing is scheduled for May 1.

We will not turn a blind eye to violent threats targeted at individuals based on prejudice, whether because of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation, Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra said in a statement. An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. The California Department of Justice will vigorously prosecute those who commit crimes motivated by hate. This plea reinforces our commitment.

Mason, Feigins attorney, in his statement to The Times, further criticized the attorney generals office for issuing false information in its statement on Friday.

The prosecution started this case with a press conference accusing Mr. Feigin of making a threatening call before anyone had ever looked at the phone records to see who the caller was, Mason said. The evidence, which we uncovered through the discovery process over the opposition of the prosecution at every stage, showed that Mr. Feigin never called the Islamic Center.  The prosecution refuses to admit that it charged the wrong man, and that it publicly smeared him as a violent threat despite having no evidence against him.

joseph.serna@latimes.com

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For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter.

UPDATES:

1:20 p.m., Jan. 27: This article was updated to include new comments from Mark Feigins attorney.

This article was originally posted at 12:55 p.m., Jan. 26.For about two years, James Todd Brown did odd jobs for a family in Palmdale. During that time, he paid rent to live in a trailer on their two-plus-acre property.

Nearly two weeks ago, investigators say, the man disappeared. In the home, they found the family  a married couple and a son  stabbed, beaten and suffocated to death. Their three dogs had also been killed.

Now Los Angeles County sheriffs detectives are asking for the publics help in finding Brown, a suspect in the slayings of Richard Gardner II, 78, his wife; Pepper Gardner, 56; and the mans son, Richard Gardner III, 52. Last week, they identified Brown as a person of interest.

Were telling the public, Hey, consider him dangerous; if you see him just call 911,  said Lt. John Corina of the Sheriffs Department, who added that the killings may have stemmed from a dispute over rent.

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Detectives responded to the house after the sister of one of the victims became concerned about her brother and called authorities.

Investigators believe Brown, who has family and friends in the Inland Empire and Antelope Valley, is still somewhere in the Southland. He recently lost a workers compensation claim for disability, which may have had something to do with his state of mind, Corina said.

Brown is white, 54 years old, 6 feet tall, 265 pounds, and has brownish gray hair and brown eyes. He may be driving a 2002 silver Toyota Tacoma pickup with a camper shell. The California license plate number is 42198C1.

Anyone with information about Browns whereabouts is asked to call Sgt. Eric Arias or Det. Gail Durham at (323) 890-5500.

Investigators believe Brown drives a 2002 silver Toyota pickup with a camper shell. (Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department )

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchekA 35-year-old man was arrested Thursday on suspicion of setting on fire a tent where two people were sleeping, Santa Ana police said.

The morning of Jan. 19, authorities said, James Anthony Lawlor approached the tent, which was pitched in a vacant lot, and told the occupants they had 15 minutes to leave. Otherwise, he told them, hed come back with his Glock handgun, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

When a man inside the tent popped his head out, police allege, Lawlor kicked him twice and then fled in a black truck.

About five minutes later, Lawlor returned, carrying a red gas container, police say. He then poured gasoline on the tent and set it on fire.

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The man and woman inside were able to flee. The man suffered some minor burns, as well as injuries from the two blows to his head.

Investigators arrested Lawlor at his home, and took him into custody on suspicion of attempted murder, arson of an inhabited structure and other charges.

alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @AleneTchekWhen Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi announced last week that he was entering into an electoral alliance with leaders of the countrys Shia-led militias, many questioned the rationale behind the gambit.

Many of Al-Abadis supporters voiced concerns that the Shia prime minister had taken a miscalculated risk and one that could cost him the popularity he gained after declaring victory over the Islamic State (IS) terror group and the blocking of the Iraqi Kurds bid for secession.

Al-Abadi sprung a pre-election surprise on many Iraqis on 14 January by declaring that he and the leaders of the Iran-backed Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF) had signed an electoral pact for parliamentary polls in the country on 12 May.

Al-Abadi is hoping to secure a second term in office in the elections, building on public approval of his government following the Iraqi security forces successes against IS terrorists and Kurdish separatism.

This alliance will continue to maintain the victory and the sacrifices of the martyrs and wounded heroes who have battled for Iraq, Al-Abadi boasted in a written statement published by his office.

However, the dramatic declaration of his Iraq Victory Alliance has shaken confidence in the prime minister, who had repeatedly said he would not allow the Shia militias to participate in the polls.

More importantly, Al-Abadis surprise move plunged the Shia political class into turmoil after Hadi Al-Amiri, leader of the powerful Badr Shia militia group and deputy commander of the PMF, announced his withdrawal from the new alliance less than 24 hours after he signed the pact with Al-Abadi.

Al-Amiri and other militia leaders said they had quit the alliance for technical reasons and that they were now forging their own bloc to contest the elections, putting the group on a collision course with Al-Abadi.

Al-Abadi will now have to look for a new alliance with other Shia groups in order to secure enough votes in the upcoming elections to ensure a second term.

Much will depend on what kind of compromise Al-Abadi will be able to make with his Shia rivals if he wants to make a deal over his premiership, a prospect which now seems increasingly uneasy.

Powerful Shia cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr, whose Sadrist Trend is the second-largest Shia group in Iraqs parliament, blasted the alliance as despicable and warned that it paved the way for deeper sectarianism in Iraq.

Al-Sadr said in a statement that he had been asked by Al-Abadi to join the new Iraq Victory Alliance but had turned down the request because it was designed to recycle the corrupt political class in Iraq.

The surge of the Shia militias amid the fight against IS triggered Al-Sadrs apprehension that these muscle-bound rivals could enter Iraqs political arena and rival his own populist movement.

Another sign that the Shia coalition that has held key Iraqi Shia groups together since the fall of the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein may be fraying, came only one day before the declaration of the now defunct alliance.

Leaders of the Iraqi Dawa Party, which forms the backbone of the ruling Shia alliance, split over whether its Secretary-General Nouri Al-Maliki or Al-Abadi, a senior member of the party, should top its list of candidates in the vote.

As a result, the party decided to withdraw its participation in the elections, though its members will be allowed to stand as independent candidates or join other blocs.

Tensions inside the Shia political factions over the elections have been simmering for weeks. They boiled over as a result of the continued concentration of power in the hands of a few factions and their self-appointed leaders.

But while the Shia groups seem now to be heading towards a sharp split, they have remained focused on the countrys Sunni and Kurdish political factions, which are apparently taking advantage of the Shia blocs fragmentation.

Sunni lawmakers have made several attempts this month to postpone the elections, arguing that the war-torn country is not ready to hold them. They say the destruction in the countrys Sunni-majority cities and the hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people will obstruct any free-and-fair elections in Iraq.

Kurdish lawmakers, whose parties are entangled in a simmering political crisis in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, gave their support to the Sunni MPs demands to postpone the elections.

The two main Kurdish parties, the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan Party (PUK), worry that new elections will give rise to opposition groups.

The failure of last years Kurdistan independence referendum is believed to have served as a watershed moment in the regions politics that will benefit opposition parties vis-a-vis the KDP and the PUK.

However, over several sessions, Shia lawmakers in the countrys parliament showed their usual camaraderie and torpedoed attempts by Sunni and Kurdish MPs to postpone the elections.

The attempts were finally knocked down by Iraqs Federal Court, which ruled on Sunday against postponing the elections. The ruling, requested by the government, will put off the disputes temporarily until the next major conflict.

Though the recent tensions seem to be just another political crisis since Saddams ouster in 2003, the present electoral conflict is certainly rooted in the flawed government system that was empowered by the US occupation and has been insufficiently prepared to meet the political challenges shaping the new era in Iraq.

Iraqs ethno-sectarian electoral system has been the main obstacle to both its democratisation and its stability. Since Saddams fall, all the elections in the country have produced dysfunctional parliaments and fragile coalition governments crippled by communal divisions and power struggles.

The further bad news is that Iraqs disputes have been inviting outside interference, especially from Iran and the United States, which have developed the habit of meddling in the countrys affairs.

Unsurprisingly, therefore, Iraqs latest electoral standoff has been on the radar screens of both Tehran and Washington, which have been vying for influence to keep Iraq as part of their own strategic orbits.

Iran has dispatched its point man in Iraq, general Qassem Suleimani, to Baghdad to try to broker an electoral deal between the Shia factions and hold them together in a new ruling coalition.

Iraqi media reports have suggested that Suleimani, who heads the Al-Quds Force, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for foreign operations, was behind the bid to form the Iraq Victory Alliance in an attempt to bring the Iran-backed militias into the Shia political mainstream.

The United States, meanwhile, has put its weight behind Al-Abadis government and has urged the parties to hold elections on 12 May as planned. The US Embassy in Baghdad criticised calls to postpone the vote as a dangerous precedent that could bring about the downfall of Iraqs democracy.

Washington has sent Brett McGurk, the special presidential envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat IS, to show support for Al-Abadi and to try to convince the Iraqi Kurds and Sunnis to drop their attempts to delay the vote.

Washington has also offered to provide assistance to help ensure that all Iraqi voices are heard and counted, including the approximately 2.6 million Iraqis who remain displaced from their homes in the liberated areas.

Why are the two countries so keen to intervene? The answer seems to lie in Iraqs next parliamentary elections. Many believe the ballot could ruffle political feathers both inside and outside Iraq.

As countries that have been regularly seeking to shape Iraqs politics, Iran and the United States will certainly want to affect the outcome of the crucial ballot in order to expand their influence in Iraqs domestic politics and serve their regional interests.

Together with the countrys communal rifts, this is perhaps what makes Iraqs next elections so important for all concerned.

*This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link:

Two attorneys who previously represented former rap mogul Marion Suge Knight during his ongoing murder case and were arrested on charges accusing them of acting as accessories after the fact, were released from custody Friday, authorities said.

Matthew Fletcher, 53, was initially taken into custody Thursday at the Long Beach courthouse around 2 p.m. and was held in lieu of $1-million bail, according to sheriffs Sgt. Robert Alexander.

Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida said Thursday that Thaddeus Culpepper was arrested at his home around 5 p.m. She declined to elaborate on the accessory charges or clarify whether the attorneys are accused in connection with Knights pending legal troubles.

Both Fletcher and Culpepper were released from custody late Friday, sheriffs officials said in a statement.

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The case is very complex in nature, requiring further review by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, the statement said. Mr. Culpepper and Mr. Fletcher were released from custody today, pending an evaluation into the complexities of the case.

In August, Los Angeles County prosecutors alleged that Fletcher, Culpepper, Knight and others tampered with witnesses and discussed bribes connected to the rap impresarios murder case. The allegations were detailed in a 22-page court filing.

Both attorneys vehemently denied the accusations.

Knight, 52, is scheduled to stand trial this year on charges that he barreled his truck into Terry Carter and Cle Bone Sloan in the parking lot of a Compton burger stand in late January 2015, following a dispute on the set of a commercial for the movie Straight Outta Compton. Carter, 55, died of his injuries.

Footage from a security camera shows Knight  who has pleaded not guilty and says he acted in self-defense  plowing his truck into the men. Knight, who fled the scene but later turned himself in, also is accused of robbery and threatening the films director, F. Gary Gray, in separate cases.

Ruby Peralta, Fletchers wife, said that she did not know if her husband was being represented by an attorney and was uncertain about the reasons for his arrest.

I dont know anything right now, Peralta said.

The August filing by the district attorneys office asked the court to conduct an inquiry into whether Fletcher had a conflict of interest in representing Knight against the threat charges involving Gray.

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Prosecutors said investigators had gathered evidence of possible witness tampering, bribery, conspiracy to violate a court order and obstruction of justice on the part of attorney Fletcher.

By that point, the lawyer was no longer the attorney of record in Knights murder case. The evidence was likely to be raised by prosecutors during the murder trial, the district attorneys filing said.

In a series of recorded phone calls beginning in early 2015, prosecutors say, Knight, Fletcher and others discussed paying witnesses to say they saw either the victims or others at the burger stand in possession of a gun, a move that would bolster Knights self-defense claim.

In one call, to an unidentified woman, Knight said he needed a witness to claim they saw guns on the day of the hit-and-run, according to the district attorneys filing. Later that day, prosecutors said, Knight, Fletcher and Knights business partner were involved in a conference call in which the possibility of exchanging cash for testimony was discussed.

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And you all went over there and you saw these guns removed from these two people, Fletcher said, according to prosecutors. Yes, yes. Fine, dude, youre done. Heres your money.

Though calls between Fletcher and Knight normally would have been protected by attorney-client privilege, a judge allowed investigators to listen to recordings if Knight called someone who then put Fletcher on the line, thus breaking the privilege.

Prosecutors said they believe that Knight and Fletcher agreed that witnesses would need to be paid in order for the defendant to obtain his freedom.

In the filing, prosecutors also said Culpepper agreed to pay an informant for his sworn testimony that he was present at the time of the crime and [witnessed] evidence favorable to the defense.

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Prosecutors contend that Knights legal team will argue at trial that the victims or others were armed on the day of the crime  a theory prosecutors say isnt supported by the evidence.

The district attorneys filing also accuses Fletcher of playing a role in the leak of a key piece of evidence  surveillance video of Knights red truck barreling into the two men at the Compton burger joint. A judge had ordered that the video not be given to the media.

On March 9, 2015  the day, prosecutors say, Fletcher became Knights attorney of record in the murder case  the video was published by the celebrity news website TMZ.

Last year, Knights fiancee, Toi-Lin Kelly, pleaded no contest to violating a court order for helping to arrange the sale of the video to TMZ for $55,000. Knights business partner, Mark Blankenship, has also been charged with helping to arrange the deal; he has pleaded not guilty.

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Fletcher previously told The Times that he never had possession of the video and therefore couldnt have leaked it.

He said prosecutors had taken his words out of context and were trying to discredit defense witnesses before they testified. Fletcher also expressed outrage that a judge authorized investigators to listen to his conversations with a client.

If you cant speak to your lawyer over the phone without the government listening to it, I find that fairly reprehensible, he said.

Culpepper also chastised the district attorneys office.

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The facts in this case are extremely compelling and overwhelmingly prove Mr. Knights innocence, Culpepper wrote in an email to The Times in August. No amount of prosecutorial spin or mudslinging will change that!

Both attorneys have been faulted by the agency that disciplines lawyers in California.

Culpepper, a lawyer in the state since 2002, failed to appear at multiple hearings for a client in 2010 and 2011 and did not release his client after the case was taken over by another attorney, according to State Bar of California records. In 2010, he was rebuked by the agency for failing to report sanctions from a judge and neglecting to competently work as an attorney.

During more than 20 years of practicing law in California, Fletcher has twice been disciplined.

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In 2006, the agency rebuked him over his conduct at two different criminal trials. During one in 2002, he laughed at a judge who issued an unfavorable ruling, according to state bar records. After the judge admonished him, Fletcher, who is black, accused the judge of racial bias and vehemently objected.

I have no idea where you think that you have the basis to tell me that I cannot laugh, he told the judge.

After the trial, another judge found that Fletcher committed nine acts of contempt and sentenced him to two days in jail.

The bar also took issue with Fletchers actions in a 2005 trial. The lawyer accused Superior Court Judge David Wesley of racial bias after the judge questioned him for tardiness at a hearing, according to agency records.

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In October, the State Bar of California suspended Fletchers law license for 30 days and placed him on probation for two years. A state bar judge found that Fletcher accepted more than $20,000 from family members of a defendant without first obtaining the consent of the defendant.

james.queally@latimes.com

Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT

matt.hamilton@latimes.com

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Twitter: @MattHjourno

UPDATES:

7:25 p.m.: This article was updated with a statement from sheriffs officials that both attorneys were released from custody.

Thursday, Jan. 25:

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9:20 p.m.: This story was updated with information about the arrest of Thaddeus Culpepper.

8:45 p.m.: This story was updated throughout with additional background about Fletchers law career as well as details about allegations of witness tampering in Suge Knights murder case.

This story was originally published at 7:15 p.m. ThursdayOlivia Cole, who won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Mathilda, wife to Chicken George in the landmark miniseries Roots, has died at her home in central Mexico.

Cole died Jan. 19 in San Miguel de Allende, said Linda Cooper, executive secretary of the mortuary there handling her arrangements. Cole was 75.

The actress received an Emmy Award for her role in ABCs smash hit 1977 drama based on African American writer Alex Haleys book Roots, which dramatized the lives of his ancestors from West Africa to slavery and post-Civil War America.

She was the first African American to win an Emmy in the category of best supporting actress in a miniseries.

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RIP Olivia Cole Dies at 75. She became the very first African American actress to win an Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Television Movie, for her performance as 'Mathilda' in Roots https://t.co/F9VuQ541WC pic.twitter.com/cUXvxwbzfr  Wilson Morales (@blackfilm) January 24, 2018

In the late 1970s, Cole reportedly lamented that Hollywood failed to respond to Roots with more opportunities for black actors and actresses. She wasnt alone.

Youd think somebody might have followed up with stories about other black families and experiences. Nobody followed up, series executive producer David L. Wolper told the Associated Press in 2002, on the dramas 25th anniversary.

Ben Vereen played Chicken George in the ensemble cast that also included LeVar Burton, Leslie Uggams, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr. and Madge Sinclair.

Cole, a native of Memphis, Tenn., attended New York Citys Hunter College High School, Bard College in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, from which she graduated with honors in 1964.

She also earned a theater arts masters degree from the University of Minnesota.

Her first credited screen performance came in the daytime serial Guiding Light in 1969, with other TV and movie credits including North and South, Oprah Winfreys The Women of Brewster Place and Coming Home.

Cole received a lead actress Emmy nomination for the 1979 miniseries Backstairs at the White House.

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She embraced stage work, appearing regularly on Broadway in the 1960s and 70s in plays including The Merchant of Venice, 'You Cant Take It With You and The School for Scandal.

In her adopted town of San Miguel  a city known for its vibrant arts scene and large U.S. expatriate community  Cole held readings of Shakespeares plays for three decades, the New York Times said.

She once told me that she thought she had done her best work in the Shakespeare group, just because she was learning so much, Wendy Sievert, a friend of Coles, told the newspaper.

Cole was divorced from actor Richard Venture, who died last year.The engineer at the throttle of an Amtrak train that flew off a curve and crashed in Washington state last month, killing three and injuring dozens, has told federal investigators he missed  or misinterpreted  a sign that might have alerted him to the passenger trains dangerous speed, nearly 50 mph over the safe limit.

The National Transportation Safety Board has determined Amtrak Cascades train No. 501 was going almost 80 mph when it zipped past the sign limiting speeds to 30 mph. It was the trains inaugural trip on a new route and included a happy crowd of commuters and train enthusiasts. The three who died all bought tickets to be among the first to experience and celebrate the new route.

Amtrak officials have said they undertook extensive trial runs to prepare for the route.

But in an investigative update issued Thursday, the NTSB said the 55-year-old engineer, whose name was not released, told investigators last week that it was only his second time at the throttle southbound on the new stretch of tracks between Seattle and Portland. He had been at the controls for two practice runs northbound as well, he said.

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The engineer told investigators that he was aware that the curve with the 30 mph speed restriction was at milepost 19.8, and that he had planned to initiate braking about one mile prior to the curve, the report said.

The engineer said that he saw mileposts 16 and 17 but didnt recall seeing milepost 18 or the 30 mph speed sign, which was posted two miles ahead of the speed-restricted curve. He did see a signal near 19.8 milepost but mistook it for another signal, which was north of the curve.

The report continued: He said that as soon as he saw the 30 mph sign at the start of the curve, he applied the brakes. Seconds later, the train derailed as it entered the curve. The engineer also said that he would not have gotten behind the throttle if he had any reservations about his readiness to operate the train.

The agency did not speculate on what might have distracted the engineer. The NTSB said in a preliminary report in December that he was not using his cellphone when the accident occurred.

One other person, a train conductor, was also in the locomotive at the time of the crash. He heard the engineer say or mumble something, looked up and then sensed that the train was becoming airborne, the report said.

The train left the tracks, continuing straight ahead, half of it landing on and near Interstate 5 during the Dec. 18 morning rush hour in DuPont, Wash. Some cars were left dangling off the left side of a trestle over the roadway. Of the 14 rail cars, only the rear locomotive was left standing.

Most of the 77 passengers and several motorists suffered minor to major injuries, tossed around amid broken glass, flying metal and cars turned upside down without lights.

The three who died  all of them train buffs  were Jim Hamre, 61; Zack Willhoite, 35; and Benjamin Gran, 40. Hamre and Willhoite, both from the Tacoma area, were friends and members of All Aboard Washington, a rail enthusiasts group. Their volunteer efforts helped establish the new, faster route they died on. Gran, of nearby Auburn, was described by a relative as an Amtrak fan to the max.

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The new, $180-million track south of Tacoma, known as the Point Defiance Bypass, was created to make train travel safer and faster, cutting 10 minutes off the Seattle-Portland jaunt.

The conductor and the engineer were both seriously injured, leading to almost a months delay before officials could talk with them. The conductor, Garrick Freeman, 48, is among at least 12 employees or passengers whove filed lawsuits against Amtrak so far. He is one of four Amtrak employees suing over injuries suffered in the crash. One passenger, a teen boy, is still in the hospital, paralyzed by the crash.

Transportation experts have said that the crash could have been avoided if a partially installed high-tech braking system had been operational. Positive train control technology senses when to slow trains that are going too fast, should engineers become ill or distracted.

Such a system, available since the 1970s, probably could have prevented at least two dozen crashes over the last 20 years, officials say. The railroad industry began to see the benefits of safer trains and lower costs from accidents after the collision of a freight train and a Los Angeles Metrolink commuter train in 2008. An investigation determined the trains engineer was texting on his phone, ran a stop signal and caused the death of 25 commuters.

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The auto-braking system on the Point Defiance Bypass was to be installed by the end of 2018, but is now being rushed to completion and could be available on the route within a few months.

Anderson is a special correspondent.It is the job of U.S. Border Patrol agents to capture people crossing into the country illegally. In Arizona this month, they chose another target: one of the many volunteers who provide food, water and other supplies aimed at helping migrants survive in the desert.

Scott Warren, 35, a faculty associate at Arizona State University and longtime volunteer with aid group No More Deaths, was arrested Jan. 17 near the town of Ajo and charged in federal court with felony alien smuggling.

Immigrant advocates say the charge is retaliation against the Tucson-based aid group, which released a report and videos alleging Border Patrol agents destroyed supplies left for migrants.

This is really an escalation in the criminalization of humanitarian aid work, said Lee Sandusky, a volunteer with the group, which this week publicized the arrest. Weve long had a tenuous relationship with Border Patrol and other agencies in the borderlands, and there seems to be an uptick in the targeting of humanitarian aid work in the past year.

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The arrest comes a month after federal officials filed a range of misdemeanor charges against nine volunteers from the same group for leaving plastic jugs of water in the desert.

Several groups routinely leave aid for migrants along the southern border from California to Texas. Volunteers say their goal is to save migrant lives, not break the law.

No More Deaths has attracted dozens of volunteers, many from out of state, since its founding in 2004.

The group largely avoided clashes with the Border Patrol, which has long had a policy of not disturbing vital supplies left for migrants. Officials said they encourage aid groups to file complaints if the policy is violated.

But Sandusky said Border Patrol supervisors have been reluctant to punish agents even when volunteers showed them videos of misconduct.

There is no means to hold these agents accountable, which is part of the reason for the report, Sandusky said.

The report said that more than 3,586 gallon jugs of water left for migrants had been destroyed in an 800-square-mile area in southern Arizona between 2012 and 2015. Videos posted with the report on Facebook drew nearly 700,000 views.

Hundreds of vandalism acts cannot be dismissed as the misguided behavior of a few bad apples, the report said. The culture and policies of the U.S. Border Patrol as a law-enforcement agency both authorize and normalize acts of cruelty against border crossers.

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Warren was arrested hours after the report was released.

Agents were surveilling a building known as the Barn, saw what they believed to be two immigrants entering, and intervened, according to the federal criminal complaint. The men identified themselves as Mexican nationals and told the agents they knew there would be food and water inside because they researched their route online, looking for the best ways and methods to cross the border illegally, the complaint said.

Warren met them outside and gave them food and water for approximately three days, it said. One of the migrants, Jose Arnaldo Sacaria-Goday, told the agents that Warren took care of them in the Barn by giving them food, water, beds and clean clothes.

Warren is free while he awaits trial. No date has been set.

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William Walker, an attorney for No More Deaths, said Warren did nothing illegal.

Everyone knows this building, he said. Border Patrol has watched it for years. They know its used as a medical facility, for people to get respite, get an IV and food. Just providing food and water and medical care is not a crime.

Its if you hide them, he said. Scott didnt hide them.

A Border Patrol spokesman denied that the agency targeted Warren or the aid group.

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Its not retaliation, said Steven Passement, the agencys acting special operations supervisor in Tucson. We have a mission to do. If were focusing on the same folks, obviously were going to cross paths. We have tried to work with the groups out here. They want to save lives; we want to save lives. Intentionally targeting them and looking at them  thats not what were doing.

Along the Arizona frontier, the Border Patrol maintains a system of 34 rescue beacons, some paired with satellite phones, to aid migrants stranded in remote areas.

Passement said water left for migrants in the desert will never be enough to sustain them and instead is giving them false hope.The founder of a neo-Nazi website who encouraged his followers to troll storm a Montana woman  who was then subjected to hundreds of abusive and anti-Semitic messages, including death threats  has asked a federal court to dismiss a civil lawsuit against him because his actions were protected by the 1st Amendment. Its the latest, but certainly not the last, case to question whether the the balance the courts have struck between free speech and the protection of privacy and personal safety applies to the internet.

Andrew Anglin, the founder of the Daily Stormer, is a bully and a bigot. And its impossible not to sympathize with Tanya Gersh, the real estate agent targeted by Anglin and his followers after she was involved in a dispute with the mother of white nationalist Richard Spencer. According to the lawsuit filed on Gershs behalf by the Southern Poverty Law Center, she was inundated with hateful emails. One said Merry Christmas, you Christ-killer, while another repeated Death to Tanya more than 30 times. One message suggested that Gershs 12-year-old son should crawl into an oven.

Gershs lawsuit also cites other online statements by Anglin, including a call on his website for an armed protest in Whitefish, the town where Gersh lives and works. And she claims that Anglin provided his followers with phone numbers, email addresses and links to social media profiles for Gersh, members of her family, friends and colleagues. She is suing him alleging invasion of privacy, intentional infliction of emotional distress and violation of Montanas anti-intimidation act.

Anglin has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. The only thing he did was call for people to speak, one of Anglins lawyers told CNN, but people want to draw the line for speech they dont like. As for invasion of privacy, Anglins lawyers say that the entire information defendant allegedly published about Ms. Gersh was publicly available.

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In the past, courts have rightly held that the 1st Amendment protects what Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. called the thought that we hate, including racist and anti-Semitic speech as well as speech seemingly designed to discomfit or insult individuals, so long as the speech at issue also makes a comment about matters of public concern. Seven years ago, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote that speech cannot be restricted simply because it is upsetting or arouses contempt.

The court also has made it difficult, in the criminal context, to punish people for inciting others to violence. In 1969, the Supreme Court heard the case of a Ku Klan Klan leader who exhorted his audience to seek revengeance against officials in Washington, D.C., who supposedly were conspiring to suppress the white, Caucasian race. The court overturned the Klan leaders conviction, ruling that a state may not forbid advocacy of the use of force or violation of the law except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action. That is a deliberately high bar.

Finally, in 2015, the court held that a person could be criminally prosecuted for making a threat online only if he is blameworthy in mind  for example, if he intends to issue a threat or knows that his words will be viewed as a threat. The court overturned the conviction of a man who had posted on Facebook so-called rap lyrics with violent references to his wife, co-workers, a kindergarten class and law enforcement officers.

These decisions dont mean that victims of threats and harassment committed over the internet have no legal recourse. Federal and state laws against making threats apply whether the medium of those threats is a phone call, an old-fashioned letter or an email or Facebook post. In California, threatening or abusive behavior online could lead to civil or criminal action under a variety of laws, including criminal statutes prohibiting cyberstalking (which requires the communication of a credible threat) and cyberharassment (which can take the form of repetitive emails or text messages designed to torment another person); long before the invention of the home computer, people who made crank phone calls could be prosecuted. Someone whose reputation has been falsely besmirched online can also take advantage of defamation laws or sue for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The tests for speech should be the same regardless of where and how its conveyed.

The problem, some say, is that these laws  and the way the courts interpret them in light of the 1st Amendment  dont provide enough protection for people who find themselves harassed or trolled on the internet, an environment in which a person with a large following can share a single cruel or demeaning comment with thousands of people instantaneously, potentially inspiring a virtual mob to flood someone with hostile tweets or Facebook posts.

Some would argue that new laws should be passed to allow victims of internet trolling to seek recourse even if they arent the targets of clear threats or the victims of libelous statements. Another change might be to impose strict liability on individuals for the illegal acts of others who they have urged to troll someone. (Even as he told his supporters to contact Gersh, Anglin insisted that they not do anything illegal.) Finally, the Supreme Court could carve out an exception for the internet for some of its 1st Amendment doctrines  such as the idea that offensive or distressing statements are protected if they also comment on matters of public concern.

All these ideas assume that the internet poses a unique threat to privacy and personal dignity, one that justifies scaling back protections for free speech. It does not. The tests for speech should be the same regardless of where and how its conveyed. Otherwise, each step forward in technology could ratchet back the freedom to speak in this country, chilling disruptive speakers and technological innovators alike.

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That doesnt mean that those who claim they have been the victim of illegal or defamatory acts committed online shouldnt have their day in court. But there can only be one 1st Amendment.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand FacebookThe 156 women who spoke in open court this week, chronicling Larry Nassars 20-year career as a sexual predator, seethed. They were unsparing. They were implacable. They were also brilliantly sardonic.

With icy contempt, they pronounced the oily phrases that Nassar and his enablers used to groom, manipulate and stigmatize them. Nassar was advertised to them as a miracle worker, a knight in shining armor. His sexual assaults were a medical procedure. But the survivors reserved special disdain for one word: doctor.



For the record: This article originally stated that McKayla Maroney accused both the United States Olympics Committee and USA Gymnastics of paying to stop her from speaking out against Larry Nassar. Maroney did not claim that USOC was party to the financial settlement. However, Maroney named USOC (as well as USAG and Michigan State University) in a lawsuit concerning the settlement and charged that USOC was aware of Nassars misconduct.

What kind of doctor can tell a 13-year-old they are done growing by the size of their pubic bone? Arianna Guerrero, one victim, asked. Doctors do no wrong, only heal, said Jade Capua. Clasina Syrovy sideswiped Nassar with barbed grandeur, calling him the almighty and trusted gymnastics doctor.

McKayla Maroney, the Olympic gold medalist who says she was paid $1.25 million by USA Gymnastics to stop her from speaking out, put it flatly: Dr. Nassar was not a doctor.

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No wonder the survivors chose to crush that word. Doctor was Nassars supreme and founding lie. It notarized him as a professional pledged to heal, and launched his 20-year child-molestation spree, gaining him a sturdy disguise, a complicity network, access to victims and a savage sense of entitlement.

What allowed Nasser to use the honorific? In 1993, he received a doctorate in osteopathic medicine from Michigan State University. MSU, of course, went on to protect and pay Nassar, the almighty and trusted doctor, as a faculty member for 20 years. Lou Anna Simon, MSUs president, resigned this week amid charges that the university covered for Nassar and enabled him. USA Gymnastics, where Nassar also passed as a doctor, is similarly accused of giving safe harbor to a known criminal, while hushing and deceiving his victims. Under pressure, the group announced this week that the entire USAG board would resign.

When youre a star doctor, you can do anything.

Osteopathic medicine focuses on the joints, muscles and spine. Historically, though, osteopathy  its original name  was closely associated with a set of esoteric massage styles that some researchers now consider ineffective or worse. For its part, MSUs College of Osteopathic Medicine still teaches these unusual manipulations  a special benefit unique to osteopathic medicine  describing them as a form of hands-on diagnosis and treatment.

Some historical context: Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of osteopathy, wrote of his medical discoveries in 1897: I could twist a man one way and cure flux  shake a child and stop scarlet fever  cure whooping cough in three days by a wring of the childs neck.

Modern osteopathic medicine uses none of these techniques to treat infections  or anything else. But the specter of violence and child abuse that Still conjured in his early writings continues to haunt the fringes of osteopathic medicine. These practices include intravaginal manipulation. Fisting. This was the medical procedure Nassar performed on so many young girls.

According to his victims, Nassars attention wasnt on their hamstrings or ACLs; instead, he focused on their anuses, breasts and vaginas. In January 2017, one victim spelled it out in her complaint: Nassar digitally penetrated Plaintiff Jane A. Does vagina multiple times without prior notice and without gloves or lubricant. Other victims describe Nassars forcing his dry fingers into their anuses and vaginas. The violent fisting was excruciating. Id want to scream, said Kassie Powell, an MSU pole vaulter. As Amy Labadie, a gymnast, put it: My vagina was sore during my competition because of this man.

Then came the gaslighting. When the girls blew the whistle, Nassar and his enablers tirelessly reasserted his privileges as a doctor. We were manipulated into believing that Mr. Nassar was healing us as any normal doctor is supposed to do, Capua testified. Just last year, the American Osteopathic Assn. released a statement to MLive.com, the Michigan news service, saying that intravaginal manipulations are indeed an approved, if rare, osteopathic treatment for pelvic pain.

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No need to fact-check that. Grabbing a young woman inside the vagina is not a first-line or thousandth-line treatment for anything. The victims knew this intuitively, but over and over they were told to doubt their perceptions, suppress common sense in favor of mystifying quackery and accept their unerring reflex to recoil from Nassars probes as their own failure. The takeaway was this, to paraphrase the president: When youre a star doctor, you can do anything.

Nassars story may seem like an outlier, but its only the latest entry in the master narrative of our time. A powerful man, abetted by a syndicate of sponsors and enablers, commits a violent or sky-high crime  rape, sexual abuse of children, torture, murder, conspiracy with a hostile foreign power, treason  and then moves heaven and Earth to conceal it, deride those who expose it as fake news, and smear the victims and whistleblowers. Trump. Putin. Ailes. OReilly. Weinstein. Wynn. And Nassar.

In April, following his arrest four months earlier, Nassars medical license was finally revoked. His vocation is now lifetime incarceration. Nassar is no longer a doctor, and perhaps, as the women have proposed, he never was. Their graphic, incantatory statements may dispel the fog: They inscribe reality into the record for the first time  and for all time.

Twitter: @page88

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Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or FacebookDuring his campaign, President Trump repeatedly made a symbol of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate  a homeless, undocumented immigrant and convicted felon who was facing trial for the 2015 killing of a young white woman, Kate Steinle, on San Franciscos Pier 14. My opponent wants sanctuary cities, Trump said at the Republican National Convention. But where was the sanctuary for Kate Steinle?

Garcia Zarate was acquitted of both murder and manslaughter charges in a California court last month. The jury accepted Garcia Zarates claims that his gun was fired accidentally and that the bullet ricocheted off the ground before it killed Steinle. But the jury did convict Garcia Zarate, a seven-time felon, of violating a California statute barring felons from possessing firearms.

Now, U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions Justice Department is pursuing federal criminal charges against Garcia Zarate. The DOJ has not accused Garcia Zarate of murder or manslaughter, presumably because it does not want to risk losing. Rather, it has accused Garcia Zarate of violating a federal gun possession statute that, for all intents and purposes, is identical to the California statute Garcia Zarate already was convicted of violating. The DOJ also added a second federal charge of being an illegal immigrant in possession of a gun.

The motivations behind the DOJs move are plainly political. A federal conviction will make it easier to deport Garcia Zarate, who is still in custody in California. It also will give Trump a chance to save face by sending a clear message: When his opponents give sanctuary, he takes matters into his own hands and throws murderers out.

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If the federal government gets its way, Garcia Zarate will be convicted twice for a single incident of gun possession. It may seem that a second conviction would be blocked by the Constitutions ban on double jeopardy. But in fact, an obscure legal principle called the dual sovereignty doctrine denies Garcia Zarate protection from federal prosecution. Under the dual-sovereignty exemption, a person can be convicted twice for the same offense as long as different sovereigns  in this case, California and the United States  obtain the two convictions.

Dual sovereignty makes it possible for your state to protect you when the federal Justice Department does not have your best interests at heart.

As it happens, the Supreme Court is considering whether to hear a case that would give it the opportunity to abandon the dual-sovereignty exception. In this case, Gamble v. United States, the Court has been asked to consider whether double jeopardy bars a federal prosecution when the defendant already has been prosecuted for the same offense in state court. The plaintiff is a felon who was convicted in both state and federal court for possessing a gun.

Opponents of Trumps and Sessions hard-line stance on immigration may be tempted to hope that the Supreme Court takes the case and changes our double jeopardy law, thereby scuttling the federal case against Garcia Zarate. But this would be a mistake. The dual-sovereignty exemption is law for good reason. It allows states and the federal justice departments to police each other for corrupt criminal justice practices.

It is true that the Constitutions double jeopardy clause is a check on the abuse of government power. The government gets to decide whom to prosecute. If it were allowed do-overs, it could just prosecute and prosecute until it got the verdicts it wanted.

But the dual-sovereignty exception is also a check on government power. American citizens are protected by both state and federal government. The exemption allows a state to protect its citizens even when the federal government does not do an adequate job, and vice versa.

Say that you live in a big blue state with a sizable population of people of color and that the U.S. attorney general is a former prosecutor from a red state with a long history of racist and abusive criminal justice policies. Now, imagine that the federal government acquits someone of violating a federal law on your states soil, and that the acquitted defendant is the white CEO of a big corporation accused of dumping lead into your states water.

Would you trust that the federal Justice Department did all it could to protect your citizens from the harm allegedly caused by this CEO? Wouldnt you want the opportunity to pursue charges against this CEO in your own courts, with your own judges and juries  people not beholden to the attorney general or the president who appointed him?

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Dual sovereignty makes it possible for your state to protect you when the federal Justice Department does not have your best interests at heart. It makes sure that a red states practices are not extended to your blue state via the federal Justice Department.

The Trump administration is at war with California and other blue states. Sessions is prosecuting Garcia Zarate because he wants California to use its criminal laws to purge immigrants. These are terrible motives.

But when states do not trust the federal government, and the federal government does not trust the states, we need laws that allow them to put one anothers criminal defendants in jeopardy. We should defend Sessions right to prosecute Garcia Zarate, even as we hope that his efforts fail.

Gideon Yaffe is a professor of law, philosophy and psychology at Yale Law School.

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Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or FacebookTo the editor: David L. Ulins Jan. 23 op-ed article on the recent 7-Eleven raids by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents brought to mind the fact that until 2015, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was officially against mandatory employer verification of legal status of employees (E-Verify).

Federal immigration authorities quit routinely checking restaurant employees in California for green cards decades ago. By 1985, most restaurants and other service industry businesses in California were populated with illegal workers, hired with a wink and a nod at their obviously fake identification documents. They were practically invited to be here and also work in Midwest slaughterhouses and Arkansas poultry farms.

To kick these people out now, often breaking up their families, is immoral. They deserve a path to citizenship.

If theyre thrown out, their employers should logically go with them. So should the politicians who looked the other way to allow the importation of cheaper but still reliable illegal workers.

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People who made it across our border were all but promised  wink, wink  a job and legal protection. Deport all those who colluded, or deport no one.

Mark Davidson, Santa Ana

..

To the editor: Sure, President Trumps cynically crafted publicity stunts amount to transparent political theater. But theres no denying his rare triangulation genius. Consider how two federal agencies lately undertook to reinforce the support of Trumps base.

First, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services inaugurated a Conscience and Religious Freedom Division. Most clear-thinking voters shrugged off this move as an ineffectual redundancy, but religious voters who feel current law does not allow them to practice their faiths virtually without restraint were overjoyed.

Next, ICE staged raids on selected 7-Eleven stores, purportedly to discourage businesses from hiring undocumented workers. This pleased xenophobes who advocate mass deportations, but the brunt of this stunt fell primarily on a few workers who would be deported, not on business owners.

Its no mystery why Trump so dependably values image over substance.

Nancy A. Stone, Santa Monica

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Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookAs a daily Metro bus rider, I confess to relishing the rare moments when a transit scofflaw is called out for littering, eating or manspreading (Im 6-foot-4, so if I can squeeze into one narrow seat with my belongings, so can you, skinny teenager).

Still, I was troubled by the video of an 18-year-old woman being forcibly removed from a Red Line train after she persistently refused a police officers request to take her feet off a seat  both because its disturbing to watch any young person get manhandled by a cop, and because of the womans flagrant disregard of the rules meant to keep public property in good working order.

But to the Los Angeles Times letter writers, only the womans behavior is problematic  and it isnt close. As of this writing, not a single reader has expressed great concern about the officers actions; in fact, nearly all the letter writers have applauded him for carrying out Metros seldom-enforced rules.

In his initial statement on the incident, Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said, This is not the kind of policing I want in our system. But it appears to be exactly the kind of policing our readers want.

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Mark Benoit of Long Beach bemoans the Wild West atmosphere on public transit:

I wholeheartedly support the action of the Los Angeles Police Department sergeant who was videotaped forcibly removing a young woman from a Metro Red Line train. I would probably ride the trains more frequently if I saw the rules being enforced effectively.

It is like the Wild West on those trains. Loud music is almost a given. Drinking alcoholic beverages is common. Passengers shout taunts or insults, frequently vulgar, across the cars at one another. Someone who has the temerity to look at an offender gets a menacing stare in return.

Should we deploy a team of psychologists and mediators to make troublemakers want to obey the rules they disdain? Mariana Bension, Los Angeles

Putting ones feet on a seat may seem like a minor thing, but it is one of the rules passengers agree to obey when they ride transit. Witnessing frequent violations of those rules makes a law-abiding traveler feel insecure, to say the least.

Los Angeles resident Mariana Bension wonders what deescalation strategies the officers critics have in mind:

Perhaps the Times Editorial Board, which criticized the police officer, can enlighten us on what other deescalation strategies could be applied in these situations.

Should we deploy a team of psychologists and mediators to make troublemakers want to obey the rules they disdain? Perhaps we can give them Amazon vouchers to get them to behave. How about also offering them tickets to Disneyland?

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This editorial promotes the sad cupcake culture that doesnt hold people accountable for flouting the rules that benefit us all. Officers have a hard job to do, and unless were dealing with cases of unjustified police violence, we should just let them do it.

Shari OConnell of Long Beach says its the officer who deserves an apology:

This woman was not removed from the train because she put her feet up on the seat; she was removed because she failed to comply with the commands of the police officer.

First, he asked her to take her feet down and she refused. He then asked her to get off the train, and again she refused.

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What should the officer be expected to do? Tell her to have a good day and walk away? This young woman needs to learn to respect authority and take responsibility for her own actions. An apology to the police officer is also in order.

Mary Flanagan of Los Angeles compares the police officer to an exasperated parent:

I am a Metro rider and find it not always a pleasant experience due to the boorish behavior of some riders.

This incident did not appear to be just someone displaying rude behavior; rather it was more like a tantrum thrown by a 2-year-old. The police reaction was similar to an exasperated parent who was attempting to remove this child from the scene. It was not pretty to watch.

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I sympathize with the officer as I would with any parent who has to contend with an out-of-control toddler. Reading the Metro chiefs apology for this incident just added to my disgust, as the seats are dirty, people who should know better take over multiple seats, trash is everywhere, and when the police are called in to enforce the rules, Metro does not support them.

Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and FacebookThe Russian embassy to North Korea denied reports that Russia has re-exported North Korean coal despite U.N. sanctions, Interfax news agency reported on Friday.

"This information is false," Interfax quoted an embassy official as saying.

"Russia does not buy coal from North Korea and is not a transit point for coal deliveries to third countries," he said, according to the agency.

Reuters reported earlier that North Korea had shipped coal to Russia last year which was then delivered to South Korea and Japan in a likely violation of U.N. sanctions.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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President Trump gave his salesmans pitch for America on Friday before an international crowd of corporate and political titans, and took credit for its economic success, even as he was shadowed by fresh clouds from home about his heightened jeopardy in the Russia investigation and opposition to his immigration plan.

Contrary to predictions that Trump might use his keynote address to the World Economic Forum in Davos to bash multilateral trade deals and international alliances, as he did during his campaign, he appeared to soften the edges of his America First policy in his speech to the elites who gather in this glitzy Alpine resort each winter to champion free trade and global cooperation.

America is open for business and we are competitive once again, Trump told several hundred attendees, reading his speech from teleprompters. Now is the perfect time to bring your business, your jobs and your investments to the United States.

Given the complaints here about Trumps aggressive trade policies and worries that America is withdrawing from its global leadership role, Trump received general credit for showing up and hobnobbing with fellow world leaders and moguls at an event that has not seen a U.S. president since Bill Clinton in 2000.

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Some in the crowd booed and hissed when Trump, during a question-and-answer session that followed his speech, said it wasnt until I became a politician that I realize how nasty, how mean, how vicious, and how fake the press can be.

While Trumps anti-media remarks are familiar to Americans, they struck a dissonant note on the international stage since U.S. presidents historically have been global clarions for a free press.

Although the evidence was scant, Trump dropped at least one hint he might be moderating other views.

Earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau announced here that his country would join 10 others that have agreed to move forward on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact without the United States. Trump withdrew from the proposed accord shortly after taking office, calling it a horrible deal.

In his comments here, Trump cracked the door slightly to reentering the TPP in some way, saying he was open to negotiating trade deals with the 11 countries either individually, or perhaps as a group.

That sparked a buzz of comment here and on social media. Trump vowed to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement during the campaign, but his administration is seeking to renegotiate it with Mexico and Canada. In contrast, the White House has shown no sign it is reconsidering its decision on TPP.

And while global challenges like climate change and poverty dominate the agenda here, the CEOs and other top executives Trump met in his 36-hour visit publicly applauded the corporate tax cuts he signed into law last month.

All that put Trump in a good mood.

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Ive been a cheerleader for our country, Trump said in his speech, which largely echoed familiar White House talking points. And everybody representing a company or a country has to be a cheerleader, or no matter what you do, its just not going to work.

Trump said he will put America first just as other leaders should put their countries first, a line he used in a harder-edged address he delivered at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam in November.

Trump accused some countries of exploiting the international trading system at the expense of others. He said he supports free trade, but it needs to be fair and it needs to be reciprocal.

The United States will no longer turn a blind eye to unfair economic practices, including massive intellectual property theft, industrial subsidies, and pervasive state-led economic planning, he said, probably a reference to China.

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At his raucous political rallies back home, that sentiment often generates loud cheers. The crowd at Davos stayed silent, saving polite applause for the end of his remarks.

As he often does, Trump claimed credit for the booming U.S. economy, citing growth numbers and the removal business regulations. That message was partly diluted by news Friday that U.S. growth slowed slightly in the fourth quarter to 2.6%, which was short of Trumps projections.

The Davos conference is considered the premier event for the worlds wealthy glitterati, a familiar group to the billionaire owner of Mar-a-Lago and other high-end hotels and resorts. In his speech, Trump nodded to his working-class supporters, saying that when people are forgotten, the world becomes fractured.

Trump also couldnt resist taking a jab at Hillary Clinton despite the American tradition of steering clear of partisan politics while on foreign soil. In the question-and-answer session, Trump said the stock market would have dropped 50% if the opposing party had won instead of him.

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The audience scored the tone of Trumps speech carefully, given his antagonism to international organizations and pacts, such as the Paris climate accord, trade agreements and the Iran nuclear deal that are generally celebrated at the conference.

It was partly overshadowed at home after the New York Times reported late Thursday that Trump tried to fire special counsel Robert S. Mueller III last June, halting the effort only after White House Counsel Donald McGahn threatened to resign.

Nor could Trump escape fallout here from reports that he had labeled African nations shithole countries during a recent Oval Office meeting with several members of Congress. The comments sparked widespread condemnation around the globe.

Trump ignored reporters questions about the crude language when he met early Friday with Paul Kagame, longtime president of Rwanda and incoming chairman of the African Union. Kagame is the first African leader Trump has met since his comments were reported on Jan. 11.

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The African Union had called on Trump to apologize for the remarks, which he has denied making. It is not known whether the dispute came up in Trumps private discussion with Kagame. A subsequent statement from the White House summarizing the meeting did not mention the issue.

Its a great honor to be with President Kagame, Trump told reporters as he sat beside Kagame and several aides, including Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. We have had tremendous discussions.

Kagame also tried to smooth over the dispute, thanking Trump for the support we have received from you  and your administration.

Trump also dismissed a shouted question about the Mueller development as fake news. Instead, he boasted of how his appearance had swelled the crowd at Davos this year.

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We have a tremendous crowd, and a crowd like theyve never had before. Its a crowd like theyve never had before at Davos, Trump bragged as he entered the hall with Klaus Schwab, the Germany founder of the forum.

Then, in a rare burst of modesty, he quipped, I assume theyre here because of Klaus.

noah.bierman@latimes.com

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Twitter: @noahbierman

UPDATES:

1:20 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from Trumps meetings in Davos.

6 a.m.: This article was updated with Trumps comments.

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This article was originally published at 2:10 a.m.Spain's government on Friday appealed to the Constitutional Court to block former leader Carles Puigdemont's bid to lead Catalonia again, in an escalation of tensions between Madrid and Barcelona.

Puigdemont fled to Belgium in October to avoid arrest for leading a secession bid and the government says he cannot be sworn in because he would be detained if he returns to Spain and could not rule in absentia.

Puigdemont and his allies have responded that he could rule from abroad - winning him the nickname the hologram president.

"The government must use every tool made available by the laws and the constitution to make sure that a fugitive cannot be sworn in and become the head of the regional government," Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said after announcing the appeal to Spain's top court.

Puigdemont reacted immediately. "They are panicking in the face of the will of the people," he tweeted.

The row over Puigdemont's candidacy will come to a head on Tuesday when the Catalan parliament plans to vote on it.

The newly elected speaker of the parliament, Roger Torrent, nominated Puigdemont on Monday as the sole candidate for regional leader, in defiance of Madrid's warnings.

Puigdemont has not ruled out travelling to Barcelona to take part in the parliamentary vote, but has not said he would do it either.

The Council of State - the supreme consultative council of the Spanish government which advises on serious issues - on Thursday advised against an appeal to the Constitutional Court.

Saenz de Santamaria said that if the court agreed with the government, Puigdemont's candidacy would be invalidated and the vote could not take place.

Although it was not clear when the court would hand out its ruling, a court source said any decision would be unlikely on Friday.

Catalan separatists last year ignored the court's decision banning their independence referendum and held it anyway.

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President Trump is testing the loyalty of his most ardent conservative supporters, proposing a pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million young immigrants who came to the U.S. illegally as children, while demanding that Democrats support $25 billion for border security, including his proposed border wall, and strict new limits on legal immigration.

The 1.8-million figure would go well beyond the nearly 700,000 immigrants currently covered by the Obama administrations Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, expanding the protections primarily to cover people who were eligible for DACA but did not apply.

The White House designed that element of the plan in hopes that it would provide a strong enticement for Democrats, who offered little sign of support on Thursday.

But the plan quickly generated opposition from some Republican conservatives.

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Amnesty comes in many forms, but it seems they all eventually grow in size and scope. Any proposal that expands the amnesty-eligible population risks opening Pandoras box, said Michael A. Needham, the head of Heritage Action for America, an influential conservative group. That should be a nonstarter.

And even before details of the plan emerged, blowback was building among parts of Trumps base.

Immigration Shock: Amnesty Don Suggests Citizenship for Illegal Aliens, read a headline on Breitbart News, the conservative, nationalist website once run by Trumps former strategist, Stephen K. Bannon.

At the same time, advocates for immigrant rights warned Democrats against taking Trumps bait and accepting restrictive changes to the immigration system in return for legalizing the so-called Dreamers, a group that polls show has broad support among Americans.

This is the play being run from the White House: You guys are desperate for Dreamer relief. We want most of our agenda and a little bit of yours, said Frank Sharry, executive director of the immigrant advocacy group Americas Voice.

The White House proposal, overall, would reduce legal immigration by 50% by sharply limiting which family members can be sponsored by new citizens and permanent legal residents, Sharry said, adding that the move would destroy what has been the cornerstone of our immigration system.

The American Civil Liberties Union called the White House plan a hateful, xenophobic immigration proposal that would slash legal immigration to levels not seen since the racial quotas of the 1920s.

Greisa Martinez Rosas of United We Dream, one of the leading Dreamer groups, called the plan a white supremacist ransom note.

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The heated warnings from both left and right illustrated how the immigration issue can create tension within both parties.

A bipartisan group of Senate moderates hopes those tensions will lead both sides to accept a compromise, arguing that both Democrats and Republicans need to give ground. Yet the internal divisions, especially among Republicans, have repeatedly scuttled past legislative efforts on the issue.

The new proposal emerged as Trump met with global leaders in Davos, Switzerland, leaving aides back in Washington to catch up after he unexpectedly announced an emerging immigration plan to a group of reporters Wednesday evening.

The announcement came when Trump crashed a meeting that White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly was about to have with reporters. The president staged an impromptu 15-minute news conference at which he said he had just written something out that included a path to citizenship for Dreamers that would take 10 to 12 years.

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If they do a great job, I think its a nice thing to have the incentive of, after a period of years, being able to become a citizen, Trump said.

Leniency for the Dreamers must come along with border security upgrades and changes in other aspects of immigration law, including family-unification and diversity visas, Trump said.

On Thursday, Kelly visited Capitol Hill to describe the administrations emerging proposal to lawmakers. Later, White House officials sent Republican leaders a one-page description of the new plan and briefed reporters on it.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) offered a tepid response to the proposal.

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I am hopeful that as discussions continue in the Senate on the subject of immigration, members on both sides of the aisle will look to this framework for guidance as they work towards an agreement, he said in a statement.

Other Republican senators who back restrictions on immigration, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), endorsed the White House proposal.

Democrats were mostly negative.

President Trump and Republicans will not be allowed to use Dreamers as a bargaining chip for their wish list of anti-immigrant policies, Californias Sen. Dianne Feinstein wrote in a Twitter statement.

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Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), who has been a leading Democratic advocate for Dreamers, said in a statement that the White House claims to be compromising but the plan would put the administrations entire hardline immigration agenda  including massive cuts to legal immigration  on the backs of these young people.

A bipartisan group of senators has been meeting daily in the office of Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the rush to develop legislation ahead of a self-imposed Feb. 8 deadline.

Collins told reporters that she had discussed the issue with Trump earlier in the week and urged him to protect Dreamers.

I told him I thought a path to citizenship was the right way to go for these young people who were brought to this country through no decision of their own, and that we also did need to beef up border security because of the flow of drugs into this county that have ravaged so many communities, she said.

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He listened very carefully, she added.

White House officials hope the presidents plan will help shape the bill in the Senate, pushing it in a direction acceptable to Trumps supporters. A broad Senate vote in favor of the bill along with Trumps backing would send a strong signal to the House, where the GOP majority has shown less interest in a bipartisan immigration deal, and a significant faction of Republicans are hostile.

Hard-line conservative Republicans in the House have grown adept over the years at outmaneuvering their leadership on immigration. In 2013, given their opposition, House GOP leaders didnt even consider a bipartisan immigration reform bill that passed the Senate 68 to 32.

Yet Republicans have an incentive to try to reach a deal, even though a path to citizenship for Dreamers would be a reversal for many in the party. They want to avoid a scenario in which the popular DACA recipients are detained and forced to leave the country while the GOP has control of Congress and the White House.

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On the Republican side, theres a clear understanding they want to deal with DACA, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a former governor.

Beyond the path to citizenship, the White House plan includes a list of provisions that would shift the immigration system in a more conservative, restrictionist direction.

Trump wants the current diversity visa lottery, which is geared toward people from countries that do not send many immigrants to the United States, replaced with a system that has slots for certain nationalities or a skill requirements.

He also wants to limit the family members that citizens and permanent residents can help resettle in the U.S. Under the proposal, citizens and permanent legal residents could sponsor their spouses and nonadult children. Current law allows them to sponsor parents and, in some cases, siblings and adult children.

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The White House would apply the new limits on family unification prospectively, continuing to process a backlog of hundreds of thousands of visa applications, many of which have been pending for more than a decade.

The proposal would also put $25 billion in what the White House referred to as a trust fund that could be used for building walls or fences along the southern border as well as for other security purposes.

But lawmakers said the White House must provide more guidance on the other aspects of an emerging deal, especially because they could take fire from the partys restrictionist wing. They recall Trumps promise at the White House earlier this month to take the heat on the issue.

I think the president has to lead here, said Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.). He says hes willing to take the flak. No matter what you do, youre going to have flak.

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And some remained opposed to any deal that would legalize the status of the Dreamers.

It would be a serious mistake for Congress to pass legislation that provides amnesty or a path to citizenship for those here illegally, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters.

It is utterly inexplicable we see Republicans falling all over themselves to gallop to the left of Obama in a way that is contrary to the promises that we made to the voters who elected us, he said.

brian.bennett@latimes.com

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Twitter: @ByBrianBennett

lisa.mascaro@latimes.com

Twitter: @LisaMascaro

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7:15 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction.

5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction.

This article was originally published at 4:55 p.m.Tobacco giant Philip Morris had mixed success on Thursday in its bid to sell a federal advisory panel on the wisdom of offering U.S. smokers a potentially safer alternative to cigarettes.

After two days of meetings outside of Washington, D.C., the Food and Drug Administrations Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee offered a lukewarm endorsement of a product called IQOS, which Philip Morris and its American partner, Altria, hope to introduce to the American market.

In an 8-1 vote, the panel  made up of nine experts on tobacco and its health effects  endorsed the idea that the heated-tobacco device proposed by Philip Morris significantly reduces your bodys exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.

But when asked to judge whether that reduction would translate into better health for smokers who switched to the new product, the panel signaled that it was not convinced by the companys research.

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By a vote of 5 to 4, the members narrowly rejected the claim that switching completely to IQOS presents less risk of harm than continuing to smoke cigarettes.

Their skepticism does not seal the fate of the tobacco giants plan to market its cigarette alternative to the 42 million Americans who continue to smoke. The final say will be had sometime this spring by FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, who has said the agency aims to clarify  the role that potentially less harmful tobacco products could play in improving public health.

FDA commissioners often follow the advice of their expert panels. But they dont have to, and Gottlieb has several options for how to proceed.

He could block the sale of the IQOS system in the United States altogether. He could also green-light its sale without allowing marketing claims that it is less dangerous than traditional cigarettes.

Or, he could overrule the panel and allow the tobacco giant to sell IQOS and advertise it as a reduced risk product.

The IQOS system is already sold in close to 30 countries, including Britain and Japan. While Philip Morris touts it as an innovation that will open a safer new chapter in the history of tobacco use, critics charge that it would weaken smokers resolve to make the safest choice  quitting tobacco outright.

Critics argue that by offering past smokers, never-smokers and young people an alternative they perceive as safer, the number of Americans addicted to nicotine could actually rise.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is particularly concerned that IQOS will appeal to young people who would otherwise stay away from cigarettes.

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Philip Morris failed to provide FDA any evidence about the impact of the product on non-smoking youth, the campaigns president, Matthew L. Myers, said in a statement after Thursdays vote.

Myers noted that the panel was deeply skeptical that smokers would switch completely to IQOS. By a vote of 8 to 1, the members concluded that many smokers would become long-term dual users of both IQOS and traditional cigarettes. If so, that would negate the idea that IQOS would be a net benefit for public health, he added.

For its part, Philip Morris appeared not to be discouraged by the FDA advisory panels lukewarm reception.

We are encouraged by the recognition of the risk reduction potential of IQOS that clearly emerged from the statements of the committee members, company spokesman Corey Henry said in a statement. We are confident in our ability to address the valid questions raised by the committee with the FDA as the review process for our application continues.

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For a product offered as a modern take on tobacco use, the IQOS system certainly looks the part. Available in matte black or modern white, its sleek cylinder encloses a filtered roll of dried tobacco product called a HeatStick. With a click, the holder draws a blade heated to 350 degrees through the dried leaf. After 14 puffs or six minutes, a user returns the holder to a case that looks like it could be the latest wireless device. The system is quickly recharged and ready to toast up another heat stick.

For the user, the IQOS system delivers nicotine like an e-cigarette, but with the taste and buzz of tobacco. A cigarette burns at 600 degrees, but at 350 degrees, the HeatStick tobacco never ignites. The user exhales a largely odorless vapor in which some of the most toxic byproducts of combustion  carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, mercury and ammonia  are reduced by 69% to 99.9% compared to the average cigarette on the market.

In two days of hearings, Philip Morris International  the company that supplies Marlboros, Parliaments and Virginia Slims to smokers across the globe  said it is prepared to tell potential customers that IQOS is not danger-free. But it hopes to bolster IQOSs appeal by positioning the product as a way to improve the health prospects of smokers who cannot or will not quit.

In Britain and Japan, public health officials have been receptive to the idea of risk reduction when it comes to smoking. In the interests of offering committed smokers something that may expose them to less harm, they have been willing to entertain the possibility that some new smokers may be created.

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Certainly, these countries have a more caveat emptor approach in which consumers are encouraged to make choices under circumstances of uncertainty, said Marc Scheineson, a former FDA associate commissioner for legislative affairs who helped draft the 2009 Tobacco Control Act expanding the FDAs power to regulate tobacco products.

Scheineson, now a partner with the law firm Alston & Bird, said he wasnt surprised that the scientists and public health experts on the advisory panel were not wholly convinced by Philip Morris research findings. Whether the Trump administrations penchant for reducing regulatory barriers will play out in the FDAs final decision will be the interesting thing to watch, he added.

melissa.healy@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATMelissaHealy

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Another way the flu could kill  increasing your risk of a heart attackAn unusual spider lurks in Madagascars rainforests.

With an elongated neck and a curved, beak-like mouth, this spider bears a striking resemblance to a pelican. But to other arachnids, these pelican spiders look like an eight-legged nightmare  if they even see them coming.

The tiny assassins hunt other spiders, and they use their strange features to help them do it.

Pelican spiders stalk their victims, often by following a line of web left by the unwitting target. When the predator finds its prey, it raises one of its elongated jaws and stabs the spider with a venom-tipped fang. The hunter dangles its prize and waits for it to die before moving in to eat it.

A pelican spider dangles its prey by its elongated mouth. Nikolaj Scharff

Arachnologists discovered pelican spiders in 1854, finding a specimen preserved in 50-million-year-old amber. At the time, experts assumed the odd-looking spider was extinct. But a few decades later, a species remarkably similar to the amber-entombed fossil was found thriving in Madagascar.

Eriauchenius workmani is the most common type of pelican spider in Madagascars eastern rainforest. Its also the largest, about the same length as a grain of rice.

You dont need to look at it under a microscope to appreciate it, said Hannah Wood, curator of arachnids and myriapods (a group that includes centipedes and millipedes) at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. Its a really pretty species, I think. You look at it and you wont even think its a spider  because it looks so bizarre.

Since E. workmanis discovery, the number of known pelican spider species has exploded. It ballooned again this month with the unveiling of 18 additional species that hail from Madagascar, home to the largest branch of the strange spider family.

The largest species of pelican spider, Eriauchenius workmani of Madagascar, is about 1 centimeter in length, or slightly larger than a grain of rice. Hannah Wood / Smithsonian

Wood and Nokolaj Scharff of the University of Copenhagen and the Natural History Museum of Denmark described the new species (along with eight others) in the journal Zookeys.

The total number of pelican spider species in Madagascar now stands at about 40, but Wood believes there could be up to 40 more waiting to be found. Its common for arachnids to hide in leaf litter during the day, making them hard to spot even if youre looking for them, she said.

There have been times when Wood went searching for a particular species but found a whole new one instead.

Every time someone goes there, it seems theres a new species that turns up, she said.

Many of these species, such as the triangular-headed Eriauchenius pauliani, are known from only one or two museum specimens.

I really want to collect this spider alive and just see what its doing, but so far this species has proven to be quite elusive, Wood said. I hope its still alive. The last specimen was collected in the 1960s.

During a 2008 expedition in Andohahela National Park, Wood searched in vain for a species shed described based on two females and a juvenile specimen stored in the collection of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.

In the Zookeys paper, she named the spider Eriauchenius milajaneae, after her daughter Mila Jane, in the hope that one day she will go to Andohahela to find this spider.

The pelican spider Eriauchenius milajaneae was named after researcher Hannah Woods daughter. It is known only from one remote mountain in the southeast of Madagascar. Hannah Wood / Smithsonian

Woods fascination with pelican spiders (and the four other members of the superfamily Palpimanoidea) goes back 10 years. Previously, she unraveled the secrets of trap-jaw spiders, a related family with lightning-fast mandibles.

From the beginning, Id look at these [pelican] spiders and I wanted to know why they looked the way they did, she said.

By building out the species evolutionary relationships, Wood and colleagues hoped to uncover answers about how these spiders developed their strange traits.

Pelican spiders probably spread more than 180 million years ago, while the super-continent Pangea was still intact. The spiders that ended up on the northern continent of Laurasia (which became North America, Europe and Asia) eventually went extinct. Living pelican spiders are found only in Madagascar, South Africa and Australia.

Archaea paradoxa preserved in Baltic amber. Hannah Wood

Fossilized pelican spiders have shorter necks and jaws than their modern-day descendants. As the spiders features stretched out, they were able to take advantage of a new and dangerous prey: other spiders.

If thats not weird enough, consider this: Their heads are stretched into a tubular structure that gives the appearance of a separate head and neck. The spiders mouths are actually below the neck.

The head-like bulb is loaded with muscles to power their highly maneuverable jaws, which they use to impale their prey.

Pelican spiders hunt other spiders, plucking at their webs to lure the prey closer and then using long necks and jaws to hold them at a distance.

Other spiders can potentially harm them [with] venom or silk, Wood said. Essentially, theyre attacking their prey at a distance and keeping it very far away until its dead.

Pelican spiders may sound intimidating, but theyre actually afraid of anything that isnt their potential prey.

Ive never been bit by one, Wood said. Theyre going to be very scary if youre another spider, but for everything else theyre just going to drop to the ground. Theyre not fighters at all.

In Madagascar, the pelican spiders live far from humans in pristine mountaintop rainforests. But the island has lost a large amount of its forests to logging and rice farming, threatening its diverse array of life.

Im very certain we already lost numerous pelican spiders that we never knew existed, Wood said.

An adult male Eriauchenius workmani found in Madagascar. Nikolaj Scharff

sean.greene@latimes.com

@seangreene89

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Tobacco giant presses its case for a better-for-you cigaretteAn ex-Disney star could spend over 60 years in prison for a series of armed robberies in Burbank that he allegedly committed earlier this week with his girlfriend, authorities say.

Adam Hicks, 25, and 23-year-old Danni Tamburo both face three counts of attempted second-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree robbery. The Los Angeles County district attorneys office said the charges also include allegations that a handgun was used on victims over the age of 65.

Tamburo faces more than 15 years in prison for her alleged participation in the crimes. Authorities said she acted as Hicks getaway driver.

Hicks was the co-star of the Disney XD series Zeke and Luther, which ran from 2009 to 2012, and currently co-stars on the Hulu show Freakish.

Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman with the Burbank Police Department, said the first of the robberies occurred around 5:15 a.m. Wednesday morning when a 52-year-old man was walking near Burbank Boulevard and Griffith Park Drive.

A man armed with a gun, said to be Hicks, approached the walker and demanded his wallet. The 52-year-old was able to escape unharmed, Green said.

Officers then discovered three more robberies occurred in the same neighborhood in the span of an hour. Two of the victims were women in their early 70s, according to the district attorneys office.

Each victim provided officers with a matching description of the robber and the vehicle he used to flee. Witnesses also said a getaway driver was involved with each robbery, Green said.

Police eventually found the car, a dark-colored Kia, near an apartment in the 1600 block of Scott Road. Green said Tamburos mother was behind the wheel. The mother had told officers she was picking up the car from her daughter, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Property belonging to one of the robbery victims was also found inside the vehicle and seemingly discarded on the street, according to Green. He said the police activity in the area may have prompted the littering.

The male suspect started throwing items all over the place, he said.

Around 1:15 p.m., detectives and members of Burbanks SWAT team arrived at a home in the 1800 block of North Niagara Street that was believed to be connected to the suspects based on information provided by the mother.

Hicks and Tamburo were inside and placed under arrest. During a search of the home police uncovered additional items that were stolen from the robbery victims.

Green said two handguns were also recovered from the home.

Hicks is currently held on $550,000 bail and Tamburo on $350,000 bail. The pair is expected to reappear in court on Feb. 16.

Anyone with additional information about the robberies can contact Burbank police at (818) 238-3210.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_Truc

UPDATES:

Jan. 26, 2:00 p.m.: This article was updated with information on charges filed against Adam Hicks and Danni Tamburo from the Los Angeles County district attorneys office.

This article was originally published on Jan. 25 at 11:25 a.m.The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health will host an informational meeting at John Burroughs High School on Friday to educate parents and students about tuberculosis.

On Wednesday, the Burbank Unified School District sent a letter to John Burroughs parents informing them that county officials have identified an individual at the high school who has been diagnosed with a possible case of tuberculosis.

It is unknown if the person who may have contracted the serious but curable disease is a student or faculty member at Burroughs High, located at 1920 Clark Ave. However, Burbank Unified spokeswoman Kimberley Clark said no other tuberculosis cases have been found at other schools in the district.

The meeting on Friday with county health officials will be held at 3:30 p.m. in the school auditorium, where they will be answering any questions parents may have regarding the disease.

Additionally, health officials, with the help of John Burroughs staff, will be checking to see if there are any other students or faculty members who may have contracted the airborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis is a disease caused by a bacteria that primarily attacks a persons lungs. Those who are infected with tuberculosis do not always show signs of the illness, but the disease can be fatal if not treated properly.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include chest pain, a cough lasting longer than three weeks, coughing up blood, weight loss, fatigue and fever, according to the federal health agency.

Anyone with questions can contact Lenora Aguilera, the school nurse at John Burroughs, at (818) 729-6900, Ext. 61999.

anthonyclark.carpio@latimes.com

Twitter: @acocarpioAlmost 150 volunteers fanned across Burbank on Tuesday night, walking down alleys and peering behind train tracks to count homeless people in an effort to get a snapshot of an issue that has been deemed a growing crisis by some city officials.

Coordinated by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, the count marked the launch of a three-day exercise throughout Los Angeles County that gives the public agency a comprehensive indication of how many homeless people are living in different parts of the county, allowing it to better direct its resources, including money and personnel.

Last year, the count found that nearly 58,000 homeless people were living in the county, with 7,459 of them in the San Fernando Valley.

Youve got to define an issue before you can get your arms around it, said Brian Wren, a Burbank site coordinator. Its a big problem in Los Angeles, and we want to try to do our part to get it fixed and address it as much as possible.

The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in order for the city to receive federal funding. Los Angeles has been participating in the national project since 2005.

For the past two years, the Burbank count has started at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center, where Wren works as a social services manager.

He said it was a natural fit because the hospital provides significant homeless services, including treating homeless people daily in the emergency room.

At around 8 p.m., a diverse group of volunteers from across the city met in a hospital conference room for a brief training session before heading out in small groups to explore about 30 census tracts determined by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Theres not much that I can do in my day-to-day life to help the homeless, said Bronwyn Mauldin, a volunteer returning for her third count.

If helping to get an accurate count of the number of people who are in the streets helps to ensure that they get the services they need, I feel like Ive done my little bit for the cause, Mauldin added.

Much of the Burbank count is conducted from cars, but some areas, such as parks and parking structures, have to be canvassed on foot.

Burbank natives Wen Li and James Velandria hopped out of a car to explore retail corridors off San Fernando Boulevard, where they said homeless people tend to congregate, play music and ask for change.

Volunteers were instructed not to interact with the people they were counting, but simply make tally marks based on the groups collective judgment.

The groups also record other signs of homelessness, such as tents, encampments and cars that are being used as shelter. A separate survey is held by the homeless services authority to determine demographic information.

The entire count covers an area of almost 4,000 square miles that includes 2,160 census tracts. Tom Waldman, the authoritys communications director, said the project would be impossible without the thousands of volunteers who sign up to help.

This year, more than 8,200 people donated their time, which exceeds last years number by several thousand.

The response of the community has been really tremendous, Waldman said.

The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority employs a data research team that works in conjunction with researchers at USC to study the information collected.

The results of the 2018 count are expected to be released in late May.

Lila Seidman is a contributing writer to Times Community News.An Orange County Superior Court judge this week ordered a private court inspection of a report prepared by a firm that investigated an award controversy involving Mariners Elementary School in Newport Beach.

The Newport-Mesa Unified School District was required to submit the documents within five days of Mondays ruling so Judge Linda Marks can determine how much, if any, can be made public. The review will be conducted within 20 days of receiving the documents.

Teachers alleged inaccuracies in a Gold Ribbon Award application that then-Principal Laura Canzone submitted to the California Department of Education in fall 2015, when she was known as Laura Sacks.

Canzone later requested new duties and was transferred to Costa Mesa Middle School as a principal on special assignment.

Shortly after the district said an independent investigation into the matter had been completed, Canzone submitted a letter of resignation in March 2017 and was on paid administrative leave through June 30.

The district has said it would not publicly disclose the findings of the investigation or any actions resulting from it because of employee privacy rights.

But Marks wrote in her decision that given the public nature of the allegations against Dr. Sacks, her privacy interest is minimal and does not outweigh the publics interest in understanding why Sacks was exonerated and how the district treated the accusations.

John Caldecott, the districts former director of human resources, petitioned last year for a court order, seeking the public release of documents related to the Mariners investigation.

The court denied that petition, but Caldecotts attorney, William Crosby, called the decision to review the documents a victory.

The court also ordered that the school district pay Caldecotts attorney fees.

The district said in a statement Thursday that it opposes the disclosure of the report, to protect the confidentiality of all individuals who participated in this investigation, including employees, students and parents.

This matter has not yet been fully resolved, and we have no further comment on this pending litigation, the statement said.

Priscella.Vega@latimes.com

Twitter: @vegapriscellaThe Newport Beach City Council this week denied a yacht charter companys appeal of Lido Marina Villages city-approved parking plan, steering clear of what some council members saw as a private parking dispute between a landlord and tenant.

Last spring, the shopping centers management, DJM Capital Partners, changed its parking practices, allowing the use of nearby office building after regular business hours and letting employees to park for free in an onsite customer parking garage.

Previously, workers chose between two options: pay $85 a month to park at a medical office building about a mile and a half away and take a shuttle or seek free parking in the Finley Tract residential neighborhood across the street from the recently refurbished center. Many took their chances on the latter, to the dismay of residents.

In October, the city Planning Commission signed off on the changes. Lido Marina Village maintains its shuttle system for busy periods.

City planning staff recommended that the council uphold the commissions decision because it allows flexibility.

DJM doesnt need city approval for pricing in its private parking structure  namely, giving tenants employees free parking, said Jim Campbell, city deputy community development director.

But allowing employees of the centers roughly 30 businesses to use the garage has become a problem for one of the tenants, Electra Cruises, the yacht charter companys lawyer, Mark Huston, told the council Tuesday.

He said he didnt know when DJM and the city began talks to amend the parking plan, but we knew when all of a sudden all the employees starting parking in that structure, our guests started having problems.

Huston said Lido Marina Village management failed to honor a private parking agreement with Electra and misled the city by not sharing the scope of the centers parking circumstances.

DJM President Lindsay Parton said management is living up to its agreement. And, he said, Electras workers are using the garage too.

Huston told the council that Electra wasnt asking the city to weigh in on the private arrangement with DJM but to be aware that some cruise guests end up parking in the same neighborhood where employees once went.

Parking frustrations are especially risky for Electra, Huston said, as boats promptly leave the docks as scheduled.

Many of the events are weddings with large guest lists, he said, and upset brides leave negative reviews online.

Its not missing a reservation at Nobu and being 10 minutes late, Huston said, referring to an upscale restaurant at Lido Marina Village.

Several Finley Tract residents told the council that the Lido Marina Village-related parking and traffic spillover on their streets has been easing with the introduction of free employee garage use but is still an issue.

Councilwoman Diane Dixon said the matter is something Lido Marina Village and Electra should work out.

Councilman Scott Peotter said he hopes they can find a compromise.

I do look at this as an internal squabble, and no matter what the squabble is, right now I see the Finley Tract paying the penalty, he said.

hillary.davis@latimes.com

Twitter: @Daily_PilotHDOrange County Fair Board members decided Thursday to move forward on a policy that would prohibit marijuana-related events at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.

Board members raised concerns with how such events might affect nearby properties or conflict with the organizations mission.

Just because we can do something doesnt mean we should do something, member Ashleigh Aitken said. And I dont feel that this is part  of how were trying to present ourselves to not just the Costa Mesa community but the larger community.

Following Thursdays 7-0 vote  with board Vice Chairman Robert Ruiz and member Gerardo Mouet absent  staff of the OC Fair & Event Center will develop an official policy for review at a future board meeting.

While the decision of whether to permit cannabis events is up to individual fairgrounds, the California Department of Food and Agriculture has outlined some general recommendations.

Among them is to consider the distance between the fairgrounds and schools, day care centers, recreation facilities and other areas where minors congregate. Medical marijuana use areas cannot be within 1,000 feet of such facilities, according to the departments guidelines, and it is illegal to smoke or use cannabis within that distance of a school or youth recreational area while children are present.

Given that the Orange County fairgrounds is surrounded by Costa Mesa High School, Davis Magnet School, Orange Coast College, TeWinkle Park and Vanguard University, virtually the entire property would be precluded from hosting cannabis events under the distance criteria, according to Michele Richards, the Fair & Event Centers vice president of business development.

Board members pointed out that the fairgrounds also contains venues such as Centennial Farm and the Heroes Hall veterans museum, which regularly host youth educational programs and field trips.

I think its very unlikely that you could ever coordinate some kind of event here that wouldnt impact something that were already doing, said board member Douglas La Belle.

According to the state guidelines, another consideration is the surrounding communitys feeling about cannabis.

Though California voters legalized recreational cannabis use in 2016, the law allowed cities to ban marijuana businesses.

In Costa Mesas case, the city really prohibits almost all marijuana uses and activities, Assistant City Attorney Tarquin Preziosi told the board.

The major exception is Measure X  a local voter-approved initiative that allows businesses that research, test, process and manufacture some medical marijuana products to open in an area north of South Coast Drive, west of Harbor Boulevard, south of MacArthur Boulevard and east of the Santa Ana River.

Any type of retail sale or distribution is expressly prohibited, Preziosi said.

City Council members voted several times last year to keep in place an urgency ordinance that allows Costa Mesa to continue prohibiting marijuana-related activities to the extent possible under state law.

I think, clearly, at least the immediately surrounding community is not supportive of something like this, board member Newton Pham said of cannabis events.

luke.money@latimes.com

Twitter @LukeMMoneyKen Kurtz cranks a blower as its gears scream, stoking flames in the blacksmiths forge, the center of the coals reaching more than 2,000 degrees.

He removes a piece of metal from its resting place in the extreme heat. Kurtz sets it, glowing orange, against an anvil with his tongs and begins to work the now malleable material with his hammer.

A few minutes later, Kurtz dips the metal piece into a vat of water and it emerges a newly-minted nail. Blacksmiths like Kurtz need only heat and some tools to create their work.

Kurtz, 70, of Anaheim, considers his antiquated craft to be not only a form of art, but an institution worthy of preservation.

Kurtz is the senior member of the Orange County Blacksmith Guild. The group works out of a blacksmith shop at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana.

He, along with members Rudy Soper and Caroline Smith, teaches classes the first four Saturdays of each month at the shop. The mission of the guild is to educate people about a dwindling 4,000-year-old practice so it doesnt disappear.

We just want to keep the craft going, Kurtz said. I dont want it to die.

Blacksmiths were relied upon in the past, not only for the creation of weaponry, but for crafting many of the necessities of daily life. The practice of working with metal paved the way for the further evolution of civilization, with the nails forged by blacksmiths being the basic building block of progress.

Journeyman blacksmith Gil Ramirez, left, turns the mechanical bellows to blow air into a coal forge while Chris Cole inspects his work at the blacksmith shop at Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana. (Photo by Gary Ambrose )

To realize their goal of keeping blacksmithing alive, the guild holds an introductory class on the first Saturday of each month, open forge days on the second and fourth Saturdays and a class for more advanced students on the third Saturday. Open forge classes are open to anyone.

The intro class costs $20 and open forge is $15, which covers fuel and power equipment costs.

Kevin Cabrera, executive director of the museum, said the 20-year-old guild and blacksmith shop have become a highlight to many visiting the grounds.

Anyone who comes is always really excited to see the blacksmiths working just because its something you dont see every day, Cabrera said. To be able to see the fire, smell the coal burning and touch these things, you are utilizing all your senses and its the whole idea of that hands-on approach that allows people to learn and comprehend a concept more easily.

While the blacksmith guild works on the museum grounds, they are not employees. They pay for the use of the property by being members of the museum and putting on demonstrations, largely for the 18,000 students that visit each year for field trips.

Kurtz said these demonstrations are one of his favorite parts of the guild. With 11 grandkids, he is no stranger to showing children the ins and outs of blacksmithing.

Visitors watch outside the blacksmith shop at the Heritage Museum of Orange County in Santa Ana. (Photo by Gary Ambrose )

He finds it particularly important to display the craft to kids because it showcases an important part of history.

Where would they ever go to see something like this? Kurtz asked. We need to show them what it used to be like.

They see me make a nail and it takes five minutes. I ask them, How many nails do you think it would take to build a house? Then they start thinking, Thats a lot of work. It gives them a sense of how things got built. In their world, the electronic world, this is a whole different thing for them.

Kurtz began blacksmithing about 17 years ago after enrolling in a class in San Diego. That, coupled with the help of a few books, was all Kurtz needed to teach himself the basics. When he retired a few years later, he was able to fully devote himself to the craft.

Aside from being a member in the guild, Kurtz blacksmiths at his home and sells products out of a portable shop. His work can be found on his website.

Through the years, Kurtz came to realize that he enjoys making fireplace sets, despite their lack of popularity in the warm terrain of Southern California. He also likes making props for his granddaughters dance recitals.

Kurtz hopes through the guilds efforts, others can find similar fulfillment in the art of blacksmithing.

The Orange County Blacksmith Guild hosts classes the first four Saturdays of each month at its shop at the Heritage Museum of Orange County at 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana. Participants must be more than 13 years old. For more information about the specific classes, visit ocblacksmith.com/.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilotThe foreign ministers of Egypt and Sudan stressed during a meeting on Friday, which took place on the sidelines of the African Union summit in Addis Ababa, that the two countries aim to clear up any "misunderstanding" that has resulted in tensions in recent months.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and his Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim Ghandour described the relations between the peoples of Egypt and Sudan as being of deeply rooted historical significance, according to Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid.

The spokesman said that the two ministers were keen on holding this meeting to emphasise their eagerness to protect these relations against instability and take practical measures to restore them to their normal course.

The two FMs also agreed on the need to preserve bilateral relations and refrain from reacting to rumours or misinformation that might harm these ties.

Shoukry and Ghandour also stressed the national responsibility of the media in both countries and the need to avoid any abuses, stressing their full respect for the political leadership of both countries.

The two ministers also discussed the importance of following up on the implementation of the decisions of the joint high committee between the two countries and all related committees.

Relations between the two countries have been strained in recent months over Sudans claims of sovereignty over Egypts southern Halayeb Triangle region, as well as the Sudanese stance in the talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).

Following the talks, Shoukry told reporters that the two leaders agreed to work together to clear up any misunderstanding and put bilateral relations on a trajectory that serves the interests of the peoples of both countries.

Ghandour said that he and Shoukry agreed to work together to put relations back on the right path.

"Some differences [of opinion] can occur between neigbours and brothers. Our role is to contain any disagreement that might arise," Ghandour told reporters in a video released by the Egyptian foreign ministry.

Sudan recently recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultations without citing an official reason or revealing when he might return.

Khartoum has previously accused Cairo of meddling in Sudans internal affairs, while Cairo has accused Sudan of harboring Egyptian Islamist extremists that are wanted in Egypt.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said earlier this month that Egypt does not interfere in other countries affairs, and has no intention of fighting its brothers in Sudan.

Shoukry said that he and Ghandour also discussed African issues as well as an expected meeting between the leaders of Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt to discuss the GERD situation.

Shoukry has been holding talks with other African counterparts on Thursday and Friday in the Ethiopian capital, including with the FMs of Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Malawi and Kenya.

Short link:

While there are many theories on how to counteract the growing issue of homelessness in Orange County, Garrett Dunbar has employed a particularly unique strategy: burritos.

Dunbar, 27, of Fountain Valley runs Orange County Burrito Project, a nonprofit that uses community outreach and burritos to aid the hundreds of homeless that live in an encampment at the plaza of the Santa Ana Civic Center.

Usually twice a month, a group of volunteers gathers in a kitchen at the Fourth Street Market in Santa Ana and crafts about 200 burritos. Then a larger group that sometimes reaches about 100 volunteers heads over to the plaza to hand out burritos, toiletries and water bottles.

The group passes out about 200 to 600 burritos a month and has eclipsed 7,500 burritos served since its founding in November 2015.

Dunbar started the organization after witnessing the massive encampment at the Civic Center during an internship with the county. At the time, he was attending Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa.

On my first day showing up to work I saw homeless people lining the walkway, Dunbar said. I couldnt believe that was happening and that all these buildings housed all of the employees in charge of the county and they just kind of walked to work and saw that every day and werent fazed by it.

Volunteers with the Orange County Burrito Project make burritos for the homeless. (Courtesy of Garrett Dunbar )

During the early days of the Burrito Project, Dunbar and some of his friends would meet at his apartment and cook. Initially, the burritos were nothing special, just boiled pinto beans, but the recipe has grown in complexity.

Now they use pinto beans, green chiles, tomatoes, onion, garlic, cumin, some chili powder, cayenne and paprika.

I just let that boil for six to eight hours, Dunbar said. Its actually pretty good.

The work is done in a large commercial kitchen at the Fourth Street Market with donated time. The only thing the group has to pay for is $20 a month for storage.

Its great what Garrett does, said Robert Chang, organizer of #HashtagLunchbag Orange County. Hes promoting awareness of the homeless.

Changs nonprofit mirrors the Burrito Project, except it covers different areas and passes out lunch bags.

Before his enlightenment at the Civic Center, Dunbar became exposed to homelessness while attending UCLA as an undergraduate. While involved in a program aiding homeless students, a greater empathy and comradeship formed between him and those in need.

It opened my eyes to the concept that there are people who can be affected by homelessness that are in the same category as me, Dunbar said. That was something I had never really thought of before.

You always think that the homeless must be older than I am or theres something different about them. Having that closeness, feeling that heres someone whos homeless who goes to school with me and needs food and lives in the library. That was truly eye-opening.

Volunteers at the Orange County Burrito Project, a nonprofit that hands out burritos to the homeless. (Courtesy of Garrett Dunbar )

But, Dunbar was destined to attend law school and take the helm of his fathers firm, so he went to Whittier, where he attained his juris doctor degree in 2016.

I thought that was what I was supposed to be doing, Dunbar said. I thought, this is my path, I dont get to choose.

However, his experiences with the Civic Center and subsequent work with the Burrito Project are leading him in a different direction.

Dunbar works part-time at a firm in Santa Ana that specializes in consumer financial protection and as an outreach coordinator for a nonprofit childrens mental health clinic. While he plans on taking the bar exam, hes focusing a lot of his attention on expanding the Burrito Project.

I am looking to make the Burrito Project my main thing in the future, Dunbar said.

As part of this process, Dunbar will be taking a 12-week intensive course in Los Angeles at Jump Start, which is a fellowship program for individuals who want to work with mentally ill adults.

For more information about the Orange County Burrito Project, visit ocburritoproject.org.

benjamin.brazil@latimes.com

Twitter:@benbrazilpilotCosta Mesa Mayor Sandy Genis called Friday night to make sure Id seen the citys press release regarding a temporary solution for the citys stray animals now that the contract with the controversial OC Humane Society in Huntington Beach has ended.

I had.

And I was pleased the city signed an initial contract with the Newport Center Animal Hospital and Pet Hotel Suites, 1333 Avocado Ave., and its owner, Dr. Antony Rizk.

Genis agreed this was a good first step in the process and possibly in finding a permanent solution to the citys shelter issue.

Located in Fashion Island, the hospital has impressive customer reviews on Yelp, unlike the OC Humane Society.

And the location is closer than OCHS, and will open more opportunities for Newport and Costa Mesa residents to adopt animals.

I called Rizk Monday and asked about his background and plans for Costa Mesa.

Rizk has worked with golden retriever and Labrador rescue and done pro bono work for the Orange County Animal Shelter.

But it was his time at OCHS in which I was mostly interested.

Rizk explained right out of veterinary school he worked for OCHS.

I was basically an employee, he told me.

Citing professional courtesy, he wouldnt say anything negative.

The big thing I want to give everyone is confidence we are a different facility, he said. We are all inside and climate-controlled.

Hes open to the public taking tours, asking questions because hes all about transparency.

Rizk understands the negativity surrounding OCHS and said its time to put that in the past.

This is a new beginning, he said. Im really excited and glad to be back in shelter medicine. We got our first three strays in today.

As part of the citys temporary solution, Rizks practice will receive $20,833 per month for veterinary services.

Rizk said the city is still trying to figure out how adoptions will be handled, due to insurance and liability issues.

Hed prefer to take care of the animals on Day One, using the adoption process at his facility.

Im all about the animals. I dont want to see animals suffer because people cant make up their minds, he said.

After strays are medically checked out by Rizk, the city has a non-exclusive agreement with Priceless Pets Rescue, a no-kill shelter with locations in Chino Hills and Claremont.

Admittedly, locations arent convenient to Costa Mesa, but the city is also contacting almost every rescue organization in O.C. to work on adoptions temporarily, Councilman John Stephens explained.

Rizk is excited about working with the city and is already developing a plan to become its permanent animal-care solution.

He said by remodeling his facilitys second floor, providing a separate entrance, an isolation space for new arrivals and a comfort room where families can bring their own pets to meet potential adoptees, this would be a state of the art shelter/adoption facility.

And hes willing to spend what it takes of his own money  an estimated $100,000, plus  to make the changes it if the city sees his office as a long-term solution.

In the interim, hes eager to start a foster care program for cats and dogs and a volunteer training program. Those cant get underway until the city sorts out volunteer procedures, insurance, etc.

Stephens said volunteers can get on a waiting list by calling the city at (714) 754-5000.

Its commendable that city leaders have moved quickly here, but more, obviously, needs to be hashed out.

Stephens said hes pleased the transition coincides with the launch of the citys new Animal Services Committee.

It gives them laser focus right out of the gate, he said.

Committee member Christie McDaniel met with Rizk this week and toured the facility.

McDaniel told me shes convinced Rizk will do whatever he can to accommodate the concerns and questions that residents may have, adding that hes kind and gracious.

No one loves animals more than me, Rizk said, adding he plans on offering a free office visit to any animal adopted there, as well as discounts for future visits.

He doesnt want the Fashion Island address to scare off folks concerned about pricing.

When he took over the practice in 2016, office visits cost upward of $70. Rizk reduced that to $48.

I want this to be the shelter on Avocado that every knows and get rid of the stigma of doggie jail, he quipped.

I like Rizks enthusiasm, sense of humor and genuine love for what he does.

Costa Mesa is on the right track here, and might be on the verge of becoming the gold standard in animal services.

BARBARA VENEZIA lives in Newport Beach. She can be reached at bvontv1@gmail.com.Its never the dogs fault.

In some ways you can blame the Americans with Disabilities Act. But mostly, you can just blame the dogs owner.

Dogs are everywhere, and theres not a lot you can do about it.

They block aisles in restaurants, begging for food.

They soil sidewalks and tag everything with wet graffiti.

They fight among themselves in retail stores, banks and offices.

Big and small, docile and hyper, droolers and yippers, they have surpassed screaming children on the annoying scale.

Are dogs usually adorable? Absolutely.

Do they need to be constantly underfoot? Absolutely not.

And yet owners insist on bringing little Shih Tzu to a crowded protest march where they are accidentally stepped on, kicked and, well, assaulted.

In 1990 when the newly minted ADA started allowing legitimate service dogs to help the disabled, it opened the doggie door to scam artists. Slowly but surely, the non-disabled started feeling entitled.

The line began to blur between service dogs and everything else. Now there are emotional support dogs, therapy dogs, comfort dogs  none of which are supposed to have carte blanche.

But they do.

And, by the way, its not limited to dogs. Technically, you can have an emotional support turtle, snake or hedgehog.

According to the National Service Animal Registry, all domesticated animals are able to qualify as an official emotional support animal.

The only requirement is that the animal is manageable in public and does not create a nuisance, the group says.

The challenge for businesses is that its tough to keep up with the various designations, and a mistake can be costly.

If a business confronts a suspicious dog owner, only to find out that its a real service dog, the fine can be $2,500 in California. By law, businesses can only ask, Is this a service animal? and What is it trained to do? Any inquiry beyond that is a violation of the ADA.

The fines and confusion have led to a pervasive, public dog park. A study by UC Davis found that the number of emotional support animals registered by animal control facilities increased 1,000% between 2002 and 2012.

The study also said that too many emotional support tags were being issued  wrongly.

The state governmental registering system does not work properly, the study said. Also, a substantive number of ID tags were issued to dogs that seem not appropriate to use as assistance dogs, such as old dogs which were registered for the first time when they were 10 years or older.

And this is from people who were trying to get a tag the right way. Now, a simple Internet search and some cash can land bogus credentials and fake dog vests with free two-day delivery.

To its credit, California has the nations toughest fake service dog law, but its rarely enforced. If someone attempts to pose a regular pet as a service dog, the maximum penalty is a $1,000 fine and up to six months in jail.

Apparently, however, people view the laws as all bark and no bite because violations are obvious. Stories abound of obnoxious dog owners claiming their rights.

The allure of bringing Fifi to coastal tourist cities is understandable. Play in the water, fetch, take the cutest-ever videos, troll pet-friendly stores for treats.

But is it really necessary to go to concerts, parades, poetry readings and churches?

Dogs have sensitive ears. They generally dont like crowds. They are not slaves.

I loved my golden retriever and chocolate Labrador and all the other dogs in my life.

My neighbors call me the dog whisperer as they regularly ask me to dog sit.

But there are lines that should not be crossed.

And turning dogs into fake, illegal toys for our own amusement is one of them.

DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.The Glendale Police Department is searching for additional victims of a serial flasher who allegedly exposed his genitals to several people over a period of six months.

Chad Nacapoy, a 28-year-old local resident, was arrested Wednesday after police identified him as the suspected flasher.

Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the department, said police began investigating a series of indecent exposure incidents in August 2017 that involved a man waving female students over to his car while they were walking to school.

In all but one case, the man was driving a black sedan. The other time he was seen in a red SUV.

He would get their attention and ask them for directions, Suttles said. Hed say he couldnt hear them and asked them to come closer.

The man would then expose his genitals while the young women walked toward the passenger side of the vehicle. Suttles said six people gave similar descriptions of the flasher, and the victims ranged in age from 16 to 23.

Officers surveilled the neighborhood where the incidents occurred, looking for potential suspects and soon found Nacapoy. Officers discovered a black Honda Accord and red Ford Explorer parked near his home, and he matched the victims descriptions, according to Suttles.

Nacapoy was taken into custody without incident and charged with six counts of indecent exposure by the Los Angeles County district attorneys office. He is being held on $30,000 bail.

Anyone with additional information about the case can contact Glendale police at (818) 548-3106.

andy.nguyen@latimes.com

Twitter: @Andy_TrucForget stars homes. These tours visit pot growers and bong makers By Hugo Martin In Napa and Sonoma, tour bus operators ferry oenophiles between tasting rooms and vineyards. In Hollywood and environs, they shepherd the starstruck past the homes of the rich and famous. Now theyre giving customers a mind-expanding look at one of Los Angeles burgeoning industries: pot. Since recreational use of marijuana became legal a year ago, a pot tourism business has emerged, taking visitors behind the scenes of Californias estimated $7-billion cannabis industry. Read More Facebook

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Plans for a state-backed pot bank arent feasible, a study says By Sam Dean Hopes that California might create a public bank to serve the states legal marijuana industry are nothing but a pipe dream, the authors of a new feasibility study told state officials Thursday. In the end we were not able to find any approach to doing this that makes any sense whatsoever, said William Roetzheim, founder and chief executive of Level 4 Ventures, the consulting firm hired to carry out the study for the State Treasurers Cannabis Banking Working Group. California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize growing, possessing and selling marijuana for recreational use. But since cannabis remains illegal under federal law, most banks which are federally chartered and insured by the FDIC  refuse to hold weed money. Read More Facebook

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Santa Cruz marijuana company fined $50,000 for explosion that badly burned employee By Hannah Fry A Santa Cruz-based marijuana manufacturing company is being fined more than $50,000 by state regulators for safety violations after an employee was severely burned in a propane explosion, officials have announced. An employee at Future2 Labs Health Services was working alone inside a 128-square-foot portable storage container in Watsonville on June 19, extracting oil from cannabis leaves with propane, when a spark ignited the tank and it exploded. The worker was hospitalized with severe burns, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The process of using a highly flammable gas to extract oil from cannabis leaves is dangerous, Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum said Thursday in a prepared statement. Read More Facebook

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FDA casts shadow on hemp win, calling CBD products illegal By Associated Press The hemp industry still has work ahead to win legal status for hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD oil, as an ingredient in food or dietary supplements despite the big farm bill President Trump signed this week designating hemp as an agricultural crop. CBD oils have become increasingly popular in lotions, tinctures and foods, but their legal status has been murky and the Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to some companies making health claims for CBD. In a statement following Thursdays bill signing in Washington, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb restated his agencys stance that CBD is a drug ingredient and therefore illegal to add to food or health products without approval from his agency. Read More Facebook

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One year of legal pot sales and California doesnt have the bustling industry it expected. Heres why By Patrick McGreevy When Californians voted in 2016 to allow the sale of recreational marijuana, advocates of the move envisioned thousands of pot shops and cannabis farms obtaining state licenses, making the drug easily available to all adults within a short drive. But as the first year of licensed sales comes to a close, Californias legal market hasnt performed as state officials and the cannabis industry had hoped. Retailers and growers say theyve been stunted by complex regulations, high taxes and decisions by most cities to ban cannabis shops. At the same time, many residents are going to city halls and courts to fight pot businesses they see as nuisances, and police chiefs are raising concerns about crime triggered by the marijuana trade. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, who played a large role in the legalization of cannabis, will inherit the numerous challenges when he takes office in January as legislators hope to send him a raft of bills next year to provide banking for the pot industry, ease the tax burden on retailers and crack down on sales to minors. Read More Facebook

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Hemp is about to be legal under the 2018 farm bill. You cant get high from it  but you can wear it By Kurtis Lee Hemp  a close relative of marijuana that can be used to make textiles and other products  has long been classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government. Thats set to change. President Trump is soon expected to sign a farm bill that includes a section that legalizes the commercial cultivation of hemp nationwide. The bill, years in the making, comes as public support for cannabis legalization has increased over the years, offering a cover of sorts to politicians who see the potential for boosting state tax revenue. Read More Facebook

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Students sent home after Marysville middle schooler brings pot brownies for class to eat By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Several students at a middle school in Marysville, Calif., were sent home this week after eating marijuana-laced brownies, officials said. Staff at Anna McKenney Intermediate School called police Wednesday morning after learning that a 13-year-old girl had passed out the brownies to her classmates, said Marysville Police Sgt. Jason Garringer. Nine students were sent home, Garringer said, but no one who ate the brownies showed obvious signs of being under the influence. Read More Facebook

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Mistletoke, luxe vape cases and other gift suggestions for the cannabis enthusiast on your nice list By Adam Tschorn Now that some form of cannabis use is legal in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and Californias era of legal adult-use weed is almost a year old (though it remains illegal under federal law), its easier than ever to find a little something special for the cannabis consumer on your nice list. Below are a few items that  with the exception of the first item which is available in L.A. only  are legal, widely available and, if ordered soon, can still be under the tree in the U.S. by Christmas Day. For those who want to do good while feeling good  and score a little holiday decor at the same time  L.A.-based Zoma Cannabis is prepared to send some lucky L.A. residents a limited-edition floral-meets-cannabis Mistletoke arrangement that intertwines sprigs of mistletoe with three trimmed buds (roughly five grams total) of its Santa Cruz-grown True OG and/or Gelato strain cannabis flower all tied up in a big red Santa-worthy bow. No purchase is necessary, but recipients are highly encouraged to make a donation to the charity reforestation group One Tree Planted to aid in the recovery efforts from the 2017 and 2018 California fires. Zoma will match donations dollar for dollar. Each dollar donated means one tree gets planted, and that means the green you donate for its green means a greener Golden State moving forward. Zoma is set to deliver the decor right to your door if you live in L.A., are over the age of 21 and are one of the first 50 folks to fire off an email to info@zomacannabis.com with the word Mistletoke in the subject line. Supplies willing, orders placed as late as Dec. 20 will arrive in time to make your Christmas very merry indeed. Read More Facebook

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3 marijuana businesses win OK in Costa Mesa as another is put on hold By Bradley Zint The Costa Mesa Planning Commission this week approved three new marijuana facilities but postponed a decision on a fourth due to the absence of one commissioner, whose vote likely will decide the fate of the business. After two commissioners expressed support and two expressed opposition for Triiads proposal for a marijuana distribution facility, the panel voted 3-1 on Monday night, with Commissioner Jeffrey Harlan absent, to hold a special meeting Monday to reexamine the matter. Commissioner Carla Navarro Woods dissented. The proposed location at 3525 Hyland Ave., Suite 265, is in Hyland Plaza, north of South Coast Collection in an area identified under city law as permissible for marijuana uses. Read More Facebook

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Marlboro cigarette maker places a $2.4-billion bet on marijuana By Associated Press Altria Group Inc., one of the worlds biggest tobacco companies, is diving into the cannabis market with a $2.4 billion buy-in. The Marlboro cigarette maker is taking a 45% stake in Cronos Group Inc., the Canadian medical and recreational marijuana provider said Friday. Altria will pay an additional $1.4 billion for warrants that, if exercised, would give Altria a 55% ownership stake in the Toronto company. Read More Facebook

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Utah voters approved medical marijuana in November. State lawmakers just passed big changes to the ballot measure By Associated Press Lawmakers in Utah passed sweeping changes Monday to a voter-approved medical marijuana ballot measure under a planned compromise that secured the support of the influential Mormon Church but sparked a backlash from pot advocates. Supporters of the compromise cheered the vote, saying it would help suffering patients while creating safeguards against broader recreational use. I believe this agreement was a landmark day for our state, and we are helping people, said outgoing Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes, who sponsored the legislation and helped bring together the players for talks. Read More Facebook

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Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, two others arrested on drug charges after heist at pot warehouse By Maya Lau The Los Angeles sheriffs deputy pulled up to the pot-filled warehouse just after three in the morning. He held up an official-looking document to a guard, who promptly unlocked a gate. The deputy and two other men, each of them armed and dressed in sheriffs jackets, got out. After locking the guard and two other employees in the back of the deputys SUV, the men went to work lugging bags of marijuana from the warehouse. Read More Facebook

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Cannary West dispensary to host Higher Standards pop-up shop Saturday through Feb. 28 By Adam Tschorn The Higher Standards X Cannary West pop-up is slated to run from Saturday through Feb. 28. (Higher Standards) Following its successful (and still running) pop-up space inside the Pottery dispensary in L.A.s Mid-City, purveyor of luxury-level cannabis accoutrements Higher Standards has announced plans to take up temporary residence inside the Cannary West dispensary in the Rancho Park neighborhood just in time for the holidays. On track to pop-up on Saturday (with a 20% opening day discount) and run through the end of February, itll serve up a similar curated mix of high-end smoking tools and accessories from brands like Marley Naturals, Grav Labs, Dr. Dabber and Puffco (makers of the futuristic-looking Peak dab rig) as well as home goods for the discerning head by Jonathan Adler, Malin+Goetz and Forestry Wool. Higher Standards X Cannary West Where: 2435 Military Ave., Los Angeles. Entry is restricted to those 21 and older. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from Saturday through Feb. 28. Info: cannarywest.com, higherstandards.com Facebook

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I fell off the way. A charismatic pastor-turned-marijuana smuggler heads to prison By Kristina Davis On Easter Sunday 2007, Pastor John Lee Bishop drew about 15,000 worshipers to a sports arena in Portland, Ore. With a flair for showmanship, Bishop  a jeans-clad minister sporting a youthful, moppish haircut  relished building buzz around his Living Hope Church, based in Vancouver, Wash., on the north bank of the Columbia River. One time, it was bringing a Bengal tiger onstage. Another, according to an account in the Columbian newspaper, it was advertising a sermon series with the word sex prominently facing a busy street. Read More Facebook

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For all your weed needs, theres now a pot superstore in Las Vegas By David Montero The employee in the red shirt counseled the two men on what  or what not  to buy. Now, if you start thinking dolphins are talking to you, that might be too much, she explained. The two young men nodded slowly. One stroked his beard. Neither had ever talked to dolphins before. Or even yelled at them on Sundays when they play against the New England Patriots. Above them, the continuous light show on the ceiling was like an electric lava lamp  orbs expanding and dividing in an endless trip. Then it was gone and replaced by flowers and a Saturn-like planet floating in the sky. Read More Facebook

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4 more marijuana permit applications await Costa Mesa Planning Commission review By Luke Money The recent parade of permit applications from marijuana manufacturing and distribution businesses looking to open in Costa Mesa will continue next week, when the city Planning Commission is scheduled to review four more. All the requests on Mondays agenda are for conditional use permits, which are among several approvals required to open a cannabis company in the city. Here is the latest lineup of applicants: Read More Facebook

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With Jeff Sessions out at the Justice Dept., the marijuana movement exhales By Kurtis Lee He described marijuana as a very real danger and has said its effects are only slightly less awful than those of heroin. Once, during a drug hearing when he was a Senator, he said he wanted to send a clear message: Good people dont smoke marijuana. So when Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions was ousted recently, a collective sigh of relief rose up from proponents of legalized pot  activists, politicians, investors  who felt targeted by the nations top law enforcement officer. Sessionss departure has translated into spiking stocks for cannabis companies and a reset of sorts for the legalization movement which, since 2012, has seen nearly a dozen states pass recreational pot measures. Read More Facebook

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This is what a cannabis executives party pad looks like By Kavita Daswani Dont expect to find bongs, water pipes and empty packets of Funyuns at the Los Angeles-area home of Will Htun. When we asked to look inside the home of the CEO of cannabis brand Sherbinskis, we found a sleek and minimal space where he could host chef-catered, cannabis-paired dinners on the rooftop and take meetings in a high-ceilinged front room. Htun, 34, moved into the 2,700-square-foot townhouse in July 2016, after he and brand founder Mario Sherbinski, who is based in San Francisco, decided it would make an ideal live/work space. With its three en-suite bedrooms, Htun opens up the home to associates in town for business instead of housing them in a serviced apartment. Read More Facebook

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First recreational pot shops in Eastern U.S. to open in Massachusetts By Associated Press Two marijuana stores in Massachusetts have been given the green light to begin selling to recreational customers, making them the first commercial pot shops in the eastern United States. Both stores, one located in Northampton and the other in Leicester, said they would open Tuesday morning after the Cannabis Control Commission, the states marijuana regulatory agency, on Friday authorized them to begin operations. The announcement ended a long wait for commercial sales to begin in Massachusetts. The states voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana by adults 21 and older in 2016, but its taken more than two years for state legislators and regulators to reach the point where the first stores can finally open. Read More Facebook

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Heres whats behind Mexicos radical move toward legalizing marijuana during its war on drugs By Kate Linthicum Mexico may soon legalize marijuana, a radical shift for a country whose prohibition on narcotics has been at the heart of its long and violent war against drug traffickers. Legislation submitted to Congress last week by the party of leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would regulate cannabis, allowing it to be grown, sold and consumed for recreational use. Proponents of legalization say it would reduce bloodshed in Mexico by weakening drug cartels and freeing up police officers and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes. But the proposal has critics, including the Catholic Church, which holds significant sway in Mexican politics. A poll in Mexico last year showed a majority of respondents opposed legalizing marijuana. Read More Facebook

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Curious about all the CBD-infused products you see? By Kavita Daswani Some chew it, or place a few drops under the tongue or let it soak in through the skin. There are numerous ways to consume cannabidiol  better known as CBD. Its touted for its therapeutic effects, but, unlike its better-known cousin THC, does not get you high. Hemp-derived CBD is increasingly in the limelight these days, at natural products stores and even fashion boutiques, catering to widening demand from consumers who find it helps them with pain, anxiety and insomnia. Despite Californias marijuana-friendly laws, however, the state announced earlier this year it is waiting for the federal government to rule on the use of CBD oils and products before giving the green light to sales. Critics, meanwhile, have been asking for clarity, to help consumers who want options. Read More Facebook

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6 cannabis cookbooks with recipes from basic to gourmet By Amy Scattergood As cannabis is legalized  although it remains illegal under federal law and goes mainstream in California and other states, the cookbook industry has churned into high gear with books on what ways to use jazz cabbage beyond the bong. What to look for? A lot depends on your level of expertise  not just in the kitchen but with cannabis itself. If youve been making batches of pot brownies and want to expand your repertoire to, say, French macarons, there are cookbooks to help you out. Many books have lengthy introductions that outline the specifics of cooking with cannabis, so find one that fits with what you know  or dont know. Bong Appetit: Mastering the Art of Cooking With Weed by the editors of Munchies (Ten Speed Press, $30) This book, based on the Munchies and Viceland television series Bong Appetit, was published in October by Ten Speed Press. (This is in itself notable, as Ten Speed is one of the best cookbook publishers around, and continues the legitimate trajectory of the cannabis cooking genre.) The book has a comprehensive introduction that includes topics such as dosing, techniques, methods of decarboxylation and infusion, cannabis pairing tips, questions to ask your dispensary, tips on equipment and more. The recipes are sourced from the Munchies test kitchen and from many well-known chefs, whose recipes are recalibrated to add cannabis. Thus: Korean fried chicken from Deuki Hong of San Franciscos Sunday Bird; fried soft-shell crab with shishito pepper mole from Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme and Atla; and (my favorite) Joan Nathans preserved lemons. The Munchies test kitchen also has some fun ones, including herb focaccia with, well, herb; and confit octopus, in which a whole octopus is poached in cannabis-infused olive oil. If that sounds too aspirational, there are instructions for making an apple bong  a hollowed-out apple filled with weed-infused mezcal  at the end of the drinks chapter. Read More Facebook

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Sativa or indica? CBD or THC? What to know before cooking with cannabis By Brette Warshaw Dont know the difference between MSG and THC? Heres a guide to the terminology youll encounter. Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica are two of the three species of cannabis. (The third species, cannabis ruderalis, is less attractive due to its smaller stature and low concentration of THC.) Sativa is a warm-weather species characterized by tall plants and thin leaves. The plant takes 10 to 15 weeks to mature and is known for a cerebral, energetic and invigorating high thats particularly suited for daytime use. Medically, it can be used to help people with depression and chronic pain. Read More Facebook

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California pot tax revenue improves but is still short of projections (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) The amount of money collected by the state from taxes on cannabis grown and sold legally in California continues to increase but is still falling short of budget estimates, according to figures released Wednesday. Tax revenue reported from the cannabis industry totaled $93.1 million for the three months ending Sept. 30, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That is an increase from the $80.2 million collected during the second quarter of the year. If revenue continues to grow by the same 16% per quarter, pot taxes will bring in $471 million during the fiscal year that began July 1, while the budget approved by the governor and Legislature estimates the taxes would bring in $630 million during the fiscal year. Read More Facebook

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Eaze launches (nearly) nationwide delivery of hemp-derived CBD products By Adam Tschorn Eaze Wellness offers non-psychoactive CBD products derived from hemp. (Eaze) Eaze, the San Francisco-based technology platform thats been coordinating dispensary-to-consumer home deliveries of cannabis in Los Angeles since April, has expanded its reach  for CBD-containing products, that is  to most of the United States. (CBD, a.k.a cannabidiol, is a cannabis compound said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties but none of the high associated with THC. These claims have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.) Through the just-launched Eaze Wellness website, consumers over the age of 21 in 41 states and the District of Columbia can order a range of hemp-derived CBD tinctures, tablets, balms, bath bombs, patches, vape pens and pet products for delivery within four to six days. (Shipping is free for orders $50 and up; otherwise, itll cost you $5.) Much like its in-state marijuana-delivery service, which coordinates deliveries with local dispensaries, Eaze isnt doing the shipping itself, but rather working with a third-party partner to get goods from brands such as Plant People, Cannuka, BeTru Wellness and Vital Leaf from point A to point B. Although the laws surrounding the legality of CBD are murky at best (a loophole in federal law has been widely interpreted as making CBD derived from hemp grown for research purposes legal), one point B that Eaze Wellness wont be coordinating shipping to is its home state of California. (The company cites state regulations as the reason.) Yes, California, where cannabis  even the kind that gets you high  has been legal under state law since the beginning of the year. Additional information is available at www.eazewellness.com. Facebook

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What THC-infused edibles are most popular? Fruit-flavored gummies and chocolate-covered coffee beans for starters By Adam Tschorn Nearly a year in to the state-legal cannabis scene, theres no shortage of THC-infused items on the market for 21-and-older consumers, from sachets of herbal tea and cans of citrus-flavored soda to honey mustard pretzels, with analysts and dispensary owners seeing it as a growing side of the business. Since recreational use was legalized in January, edibles have seen a 20%-30% hike in sales, said Nick Danias, managing partner of the Pottery and Cannary West dispensaries in Los Angeles, who added that edibles have proved particularly popular with new cannabis users who might be reluctant to start experimenting by smoking cannabis flower. Edibles companies have been able to offer consumers micro dosing that allows for a controlled amount of THC to be ingested, he said. (State law requires that edibles be portioned or scored into servings that contain no more than 10 milligrams of THC per piece and no more than 100 milligrams of THC per package.) Read More Facebook

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5 more marijuana permit applications await Costa Mesa Planning Commission By Luke Money The torrent of applications from marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities looking to open in Costa Mesa continues Thursday, when city planning commissioners will review five more during a special meeting. Should the commission grant all the requested conditional use permits, it would bring the total number of marijuana facilities with such approvals to 22  including nine in the past month. The applications up for review this time are: Read More Facebook

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Two shot and killed in Koreatown marijuana dispensary By James Queally Two people were shot and killed early Monday morning after gunfire erupted inside a Koreatown marijuana dispensary, authorities said. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of Western Avenue in Koreatown around 4:20 a.m. Monday, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Police Department. There, they found a locked and sealed marijuana dispensary, according to the statement. A female employee told police she and several customers were inside the dispensary when they heard gunshots in the waiting room. They fled through the back of the building, and when officers gained entry, they found two people who were pronounced dead at the scene. Read More Facebook

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Party of Mexicos president-elect wants to legalize marijuana By Associated Press The party of Mexicos president-elect submitted legislation Thursday that would legalize marijuana possession, public use, growing and sales. Sen. Olga Sanchez Cordero presented the measure, saying that everyone should have the right to carry up to 30 grams [1 ounce] of cannabis. People could carry more than an ounce if they obtained a permit to do so under the proposal. From the point of view of negative effects, there is no reason why marijuana should not be legal, if alcohol and tobacco are, according to the bill. Read More Facebook

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Want to grow your own marijuana? This class will show you how By Jeanette Marantos California law lets anyone over 21 grow up to six marijuana plants in their yard or home, as long as the plants are not accessible to the public. (Check your City Hall for any additional local rules.) Unsure how to start? Check out Fig Earth Supplys two-hour workshops, Cannabis Cultivation for the Home Grower, on Nov. 10 or Nov. 17, taught by professional cannabis growers. Attendees must be at least 21. No plants or seeds will be sold. Workshops cost $95 and start at 5 p.m. at 3577 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. More info: figearthsupply.com Read More Facebook

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Whats that smell? Survey asks Venice Beach denizens if theyre vexed by odor of marijuana By Joseph Serna They descended on free-wheeling Venice Beach with clipboards and questions in hand. Their goal: to gauge humanitys tolerance for the smell and sight of public pot smoking. Akbar Karriem considered them ridiculous. Everybody be smoking, Karriem said as he sat on the boardwalk and lit a marijuana pipe. Its part of the culture here. Its like a religion. Read More Facebook

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Las Vegas newest and biggest pot shop aims to entertain By Jay Jones Prepare to be entertained at Las Vegas newest and biggest cannabis store a mile west of the Strip. Planet 13 combines light shows and fog-making fountains to wow visitors at the shop, which sells recreational pot, cannabis extracts and cannabis-infused products. The idea is to meld a cannabis shop with an entertainment complex. Visitors, who must be at least 21, can change the colors of 13 giant LED-lighted lotus flowers blooming on the roof of the building. Read More Facebook

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CBD-infused products are being sold everywhere in California  but are they legal? By Laura Newberry Greg and Gary Avetisyan make no secret of it: They proudly sell all manner of products infused with CBD, from essential oils to bath bombs to fruity tea-like beverages that promise calming relief in a frantic world. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a molecule derived from cannabis. But unlike its chemical cousin THC, it wont get you high. What it might do, according to some research, is alleviate anxiety, seizures, chronic pain and dozens of other ailments. The Avetisyan brothers belief in the alleged benefits of the extract is so steadfast that they opened Californias first CBD-only store, Topikal, in Tarzana last year and opened a second along the Venice Beach boardwalk in April. Read More Facebook

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Review: Documentary Weed the People looks at cannabis and pediatric cancer By Kimber Myers An urgent cry for help, Weed the People explores the effects of cannabis on pediatric cancer, as well as the establishments disinterest in researching its efficacy. With the lack of scientific studies available, Abby Epsteins moving documentary primarily devotes its time to five children and their families who are trying to survive using the alternative treatment. Weed the People doesnt ease into its multi-story narrative, wasting no time in sharing the stories of these kids with cancer. With parents desperate for their children to feel better, they turn to medical marijuana to ease the pain, as well as directly addressing the cancer cells. Without studies and lack of nationwide legalization, there is little regulation in the industry. Enter Mara Gordon, a former process engineer who brings precision and rigor to her medical cannabis company, offering the families hope for healing. Read More Facebook

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Denver verdict on pot odor and property values could discourage homeowners from filing RICO lawsuits By Associated Press A Colorado jury likely threw cold water on future legal challenges against cannabis companies by homeowners who consider filing racketeering lawsuits alleging that proximity to pot operations hurts their property values, analysts and industry lawyers said Thursday. A federal jury in Denver on Wednesday rejected claims involving the odor from a pot farm made in a case that was closely watched by the marijuana industry. It was the first such lawsuit to reach a jury. Three others are pending in California, Massachusetts and Oregon. Read More Facebook

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Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office makes its largest seizure of illegal marijuana plants By Joseph Serna An estimated 400,000 marijuana plants were destroyed by Santa Barbara County sheriffs investigators this week in what authorities are calling the countys largest seizure of pot plants at one site. The plants were hidden among farmland in Santa Maria and discovered by sheriffs investigators on Monday, the sheriffs office said in a statement. The crop belonged to a resident who, authorities said, had applied for a temporary state cannabis license using false information and did not have a valid cannabis license. Investigators found the 400,000 plants in various levels of maturity and tapped state Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel to help in the case. Read More Facebook

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Is Rohrabacher trying to lose Republican voters by caving on marijuana policy? To the editor: I was disappointed to read in a column on voters trying to flip an Orange County congressional district that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) wants to weaken federal laws against marijuana. Recently-approved state laws legalizing marijuana have not been beneficial. In Colorado, following the legalization of recreational marijuana, the number of traffic fatalities involving marijuana-impaired drivers more than doubled. Surveys have found a majority of marijuana users in Colorado do not believe driving high is dangerous, leading some to get behind the wheel impaired. As a retired law enforcement officer who has had the opportunity to work with people impacted by drug addiction, and as a lifelong Republican, I feel Rohrabacher is making a mistake. Read More Facebook

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Berners Melrose birthday bash celebrates a new dispensary  and a collaboration with the G Pen Gio By Adam Tschorn The Cookies dispensary at 8360 Melrose Ave. celebrated its grand opening on Saturday. (Grenco Science) On Saturday morning, the lines were stretching around the corner and down the block outside the bright blue Beverly Grove storefront with the word Cookies above the door. The enthusiastic members of the crowd werent queued up for baked goods, though. They were waiting to get into a new cannabis dispensary  and to help celebrate the birthday of its founding partner, Bay Area rapper and entrepreneur Berner (born Gilbert Millam Jr.). Minimalist, awash in natural light and appointed in the brands blue and white color scheme and emblazoned with the cookie-with-a-bite-missing logo, it marks the second Cookies dispensary in Los Angeles County; the first, Cookies Los Angeles, is located in Maywood. Like that one, its stocked with a wide variety of cannabis flower, oils, edibles and the like, with a particular emphasis on the proprietary strains from the Cookie Family collective (the growers who originated the strain formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies as well as other dessert-named strains such as Gelato and Sunset Sherbet). It also stocks three different Cookies-logoed colors (blue, white and black) of the new G Pen Gio ($29.95), a vaporizer pen that uses cannabis concentrate cartridges for a super-simple, draw-activated plug-and-puff experience. The Cookies G Pen Gio from Grenco Science x Berner collaboration officially launched at the Saturday Berner bash, and includes Gio cannabis-oil cartridges filled with Gelato, London Poundcake, Sunset Sherbet or Snowman strains ($60 for 500 mg, which Tim Patenaude, Grencos vice president of marketing, says marks the first time those Cookie strains have been commercially available as concentrates. (Gio pod cartridges are now available at 500 dispensaries across 12 states, according to Patenaude, including MedMen, BARC and the Pottery locally, as well as through the Eaze delivery service.) Shown are Berners blue-and-white birthday cake, left, and vape pens and cartridges from his Cookies G Pen Gio collaboration. (Grenco Science) Patenaude says the partnership with Berner has its roots in Grencos 2014 partnership with another rapper  Wiz Khalifa (Wiz Khalifas weed guy was Berner, Patenaude said, and thats how we first met him.). He calls Berner the most important person in cannabis today, citing not only Berner and his partners wildly successful strains, but the rapper/entrepreneurs brand-building abilities outside of the cannabis space. His Cookies clothing label is sold in every Zumiez in every mall in America, Patenaude said. In a chat with the Los Angeles Times Rolling Paper, Berner said that the Cookies SF streetwear label he launched out of his garage less than a decade ago saw $12.8 million in revenue in 2017 and that hes aiming to open a store next door to the dispensary  hopefully in time for the Black Friday shopping season. (Theres currently a single flagship store in San Francisco.) He also said the dispensary opening bash was a good way to usher in his 35th year on the planet. Man, I couldnt be happier, he said. Were turning [over] customers left and right, theres no holdup anywhere, everyone is super-juiced and there was a line down the block and wrapped around [the corner] at 6 a.m. You cant ask for anything else. Cookies Melrose, 8360 Melrose Ave. (at North Kings Road), Los Angeles. Additional information on the G Pen Gio (including local availability) is at gpen.com. Facebook

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2 Chainz wants to put a THC tiger in your tank with his new cannabis brand Gas By Adam Tschorn Rapper 2 Chainz attends the launch party for Gas, his fuel-themed cannabis line now available in flower and pre-rolled joints. (Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times) Rolling into the Friday launch party for his new cannabis brand Gas, the first thing Grammy-winning rapper 2 Chainz did was brandish a joint in one hand and a smartphone in the other to record the rows of boldly packaged cannabis flower and pre-rolled joints in a video to share with his 5.7 million Instagram followers. The second thing he did was stand back and take in the moment. I cant believe it, thats why I was over here just trying to take it all in, 2 Chainz said about seeing all the green, yellow and black plastic pouches filled with marijuana, and a jerrycan converted into a display tray overflowing with green buds. Ive been told for over a year that we were doing this line, so now Im just trying to live in the moment. I dont do that a lot. The launch party took place at the Mid-Wilshire offices of Green Street Agency, a cannabis-focused branding and licensing company that is one of the rappers two Southern California partners in the venture. The other is L.A.-based Mazel Management Group (owners of the Westside Station dispensary in Van Nuys). Before joining the throng of well-wishers, industry friends and employees dressed in logo-emblazoned overalls, 2 Chainz (born Tauheed Epps), chatted with the Los Angeles Times Rolling Paper about his new project, how cannabis branding is like music and what took so long for the project to come to fruition. (Hint: There was lots of taste-testing). The Rolling Paper: Where does the name of your line  Gas  come from and what does it mean? 2 Chainz: Its Atlanta lingo that we use that basically signifies that this is a stronger type of flower  a stronger cannabis. Ive been saying it since I came into the rap game and Ive used it in a few verses of a few songs. At first people were like: What do you mean by [the line] gas in the ashtray? After it caught on and basically went mainstream, I figured why veer off from what got me here? So we started a legal line of cannabis called Gas. TRP: Ive heard that you were pretty picky in the development process. 2C: It took months and months and about 30 different kinds of [cannabis] flower. I think I was looking for that first impression  that first pull  how it made me feel. Were there fireworks or no fireworks? What kind of memory did it create? Thats what I was looking for. TRP: The three different types of flower youre launching with dont have names but numbers  87, 89 and 93  are those supposed to be kind of like octane ratings but for marijuana? 2C: Thats a great way of describing it. The 87, for example [a Petrol OG hybrid, with a THC content of 14%] is for functioning throughout the day, [and for] people who are on the go [or] at work and cant get that whole indica sleepy feeling during the middle of the day. I think 87 will be sufficient. The 89 [a Sour Gas hybrid, 17% THC] is for when people go out for cocktails after work, when they want to get ready for the wind-down  it signifies the medium [strength]. And the 93 [an indica called Gods Fuel No. 2 with a THC level of 20%] Id definitely say is the strongest. Thats for night-night. TRP: How did the fuel theme and octane ratings and all that evolve from the name? 2C: I approached this the way I do in my music  which was come up with the concept and follow all the way through with it. So, when you have Gas, you have to have the gas cans and the imagery that actually represents the gas pumps and things that tie in to the brand itself. I think that gives it legs  gives it a little more substance and sustainability. And I used these colors because I knew they would be very catching and appealing to the eye and I know that I will kind of have to muscle my way in as far as getting where I need to be on [dispensary] shelves these days. I figure I could be on the back of the shelf and you could still see this green, this yellow and this black packaging. Gas prices range from $12 to $14 (for 1-gram pre-rolled joints) and $36 to $48 for 3.5 gram packages of flower. Currently available at Westside Station, 7022 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys. Facebook

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A chemical found in liverwort has surprising similarities to the THC in marijuana By Noga Tarnopolsky Its an amazing plant that produces hypnotic effects, according to online testimonials. Some people who have ingested it or inhaled its smoke say it gave them a mild, marijuana-like high. Now scientists have weighed in. In experiments with more than 100 mice, they found that chemicals in the liverwort plant produced four of the same key effects as THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. An hour after being injected with the experimental chemicals, the mice entered a trance-like state, lost some of their ability to move, became less responsive to pain and experienced a drop in body temperature, according to a study published this week in the journal Science Advances. Read More Facebook

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Hours-long standoff at Tarzana weed dispensary ends after police learn building is empty By Hailey Branson-Potts The police standoff lasted more than six hours, shutting down a busy six-lane stretch of Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana for most of the evening. An armed robbery suspect, authorities said, had barricaded himself inside an illegal marijuana dispensary in a strip mall in the 18300 block of Ventura Boulevard. He was believed to be one of four suspects and was thought to have a female hostage. But when officers searched the building after 8:20 p.m., there was no one inside, said Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Read More Facebook

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State officials decline to drop plan to allow home deliveries of pot in California cities that ban marijuana stores Cities and law enforcement leaders say a state proposal to allow pot delivery to homes would increase crime. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) Despite objections from cities and police chiefs, state officials on Friday declined to drop a proposal allowing marijuana firms to deliver to homes everywhere in California, including in areas that have banned pot shops. The proposed rule, which was made public in July, was opposed by the League of California Cities, which represents the states 482 municipalities, and the California Police Chiefs Assn., which said it would jeopardize public safety. But the state Bureau of Cannabis Control announced Friday that it is moving forward with the proposed rule after a series of public hearings and after weighing hundreds of comments from residents and interested parties. Read More Facebook

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San Diego plans to crack down on marijuana ads, especially billboards By David Garrick San Diego officials say they plan to crack down on marijuana advertising, particularly the billboard ads that have become increasingly common with recreational use of the drug now legal in California. Legislation proposed by City Councilman Chris Cate aims to keep marijuana billboard ads out of areas where young people congregate and to prevent illegal marijuana businesses from advertising anywhere. The proposal, which would go beyond relatively new state laws that govern marijuana advertising, will be included in a series of city code updates that Mayor Kevin Faulconers staff plans to present to the City Council next year. Read More Facebook

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Drinking before a flight is common. Now some fliers are turning to pot before takeoff By Hugo Martin Commercial flights can be so stressful  cramped seats, delays, turbulence, loud seatmates  that more than 60% of travelers in a recent survey said they down a drink or two before heading to the airport. But the survey by a drug treatment organization found that nearly as many fliers are now turning to marijuana to relax before getting on a plane. The online survey of 1,137 people who have flown in the past year was taken by Florida-based Delphi Behavioral Health Group. It found that nearly 30% of respondents said they had smoked marijuana and another 25% had consumed pot-infused snacks before arriving at an airport. Read More Facebook

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Marijuana issues dominate Costa Mesa Planning Commission agenda By Luke Money Cannabis-related companies will be front and center in Costa Mesa again Monday, when city planning commissioners will consider four applications for proposed marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities. Should the Planning Commission OK all the requests, it would bring the number of marijuana businesses with city-approved conditional use permits to 17. First up will be Aureus LLC, which is looking to open in a 5,556-square-foot industrial space at 3505 Cadillac Ave., Building A. The company proposes to manufacture cannabis concentrates, particularly oils intended for use in vaporizer cartridges, according to city planning documents. Read More Facebook

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Canada is now the worlds largest legal marijuana marketplace By Associated Press Ian Power was among the first to buy legal recreational marijuana in Canada but he has no plans to smoke it. He plans to frame it. Canada became the largest country with a legal national marijuana marketplace as sales began early Wednesday in Newfoundland. Power was first in line at a store in St. Johns, Newfoundland. I am going to frame it and hang it on my wall. Im not even going to smoke it. Im just going to save it forever, Power said. Read More Facebook

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Bloom Farms doubles its meal donations on Oct. 16 in observance of World Food Day By Adam Tschorn Bloom Farms Pineapple Single Origin vape cartridge is a World Food Day exclusive that will be available only in October. (Bloom Farms) In recognition of the United Nations designation of Oct. 16 as World Food Day 2018, Oakland-based cannabis company Bloom Farms is doubling its usual meal-donation-per-sale for purchase made through the Eaze delivery service (which is doing its part by offering a day-long 20% discount on all Bloom Farms products) as well as participating dispensaries statewide (including Buds & Roses, Urban Treez and Green Dot locally). The company says that since 2014 it has donated about 1.4 million meals to food banks statewide through its one-for-one program, with a goal of donating 5 million meals. World Harvest Food Bank in Los Angeles and the San Diego Food Bank are among the SoCal beneficiaries of the Bloom Farm donations. Although the double-down on meal donations lasts only one day, Bloom Farms has a couple of slightly less time-sensitive promotions to raise awareness and drive donations in furtherance of the U.N.s mission of a zero-hunger world by 2030. One is a partnership with vaporizer maker Pax  which has pledged $10,000 to fund meal donations  that includes a free Pax Era vape pen (custom-engraved on-site) with the purchase of two Bloom Farms Pax pods at special dispensary events throughout the month, the second is an exclusive, October-only Pineapple Single Origin vape cartridge that, after the purchase of any two Bloom Farms products  can be purchased for just a penny. Additional information  and a calendar of dispensary events and demonstrations  can be found at getbloomfarms.com/events. Facebook

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Screened at U.S. border, Canadians who are honest about using marijuana could be banned from the U.S. By Kurtis Lee Bill Powers flipped through the sworn statement he gave to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the printed pages taking him back to that August afternoon  back to the border checkpoint into Washington state where agents asked if he had ever smoked marijuana. Yes, he answered, not initially thinking much of the question. The 57-year-old Canadian has a license for medical marijuana, and pot had been legal in Washington for six years. Like that, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents turned him away with an extreme decree: He had been banned from the United States. Its absolutely out of control. Here I am being honest with the United States and I get the boot, Powers said on a recent afternoon as he stood in his driveway in this farming town an hour east of Vancouver. I have a license  yet theyre turning people away for pot? It makes not a single bit of sense. Read More Facebook

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Newport mayor says he wants to sell his boat factory site, not grow marijuana on it By Hillary Davis Despite having local and state approvals to cultivate or distribute medical marijuana on the site of his boat factory in San Bernardino County, Newport Beach Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield says he isnt a pot farmer. Rather, he says, he sought the entitlements to make the property more attractive to buyers so he can move his factory to Utah. Duffield said in a statement emailed to the Daily Pilot on Sunday that he split his 4.7-acre property in Adelanto into thirds and sought a cannabis distribution permit from the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to take advantage of increased property values that followed Adelantos passage of a medicinal cultivation ordinance in 2015 and creation of a cultivation zone in 2016 that later expanded to include the factory site. As a property owner, I am trying to maximize the value to sell the land, not grow pot, Duffield said. I am actively manufacturing electric boats at the plant and there is no room to be growing pot. Read More Facebook

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NHL: Legal pot in Canada wont affect league policy By Associated Press Now a handful of years into retirement from more than a decade of junior and pro hockey, former enforcer Riley Cote is a proponent of cannabis and its oils as an alternative to more addictive drugs commonly used by athletes to play through pain. Marijuana can be detected in a persons system for more than 30 days, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency without a specific therapeutic use exemption and is illegal in much of the United States. Canada on Wednesday will become the largest country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana. That means it will be available under the law in seven more NHL cities (its been legal to adults in Denver since 2012). The move is a step forward for those who, like Cote, believe marijuana has been stigmatized and should be accepted as a form of treatment. It was so tainted for a long time, Ottawa Senators forward Matt Duchene said. And now people are starting to learn a little bit more about it and there is definitely some positive uses to different elements of it. Read More Facebook

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Costa Mesa council to review marijuana permit decision By Luke Money Costa Mesas review process for marijuana-related businesses will enter uncharted territory Tuesday when the City Council takes a second look at an earlier decision to award a required permit. So far, whats separated this particular application by Pivot Naturals LLC from the dozen other marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities that previously sailed through City Hall isnt so much the question of whether the business should be allowed to open, but when. City planning commissioners decided last month to grant the business a conditional use permit to operate within a 5,283-square-foot industrial space in Suite 101 at 3595 Cadillac Ave. However, they added a new wrinkle by restricting hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Read More Facebook

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Business linked to Newport mayor paid councilman to help create marijuana facility in Inland Empire, records show By Hillary Davis A business linked to Newport Beach Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield paid his City Council colleague Scott Peotter to help convert part of Duffields boat manufacturing facility in San Bernardino County to a medical marijuana cultivation or distribution hub, records show. Peotter made at least $10,000 from DC Developments, a Duffield-associated company, according to Peotters state-required statement of economic interest forms. A string of corporations that financially tie the two together appears to answer a question  has Peotter ever worked for Duffield?  that has dogged them for weeks as they seek reelection in November. Read More Facebook

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Following California, pot legalization campaigns across the U.S. aim to throw out old convictions By Kurtis Lee Rob Jenkins tried for four years to find a job, scouring the internet for anything that seemed at all appealing  a maintenance position at a Chevron refinery, a counselor for foster kids, a clerk at Hertz. Some employers seemed interested, until they found out about his 2008 misdemeanor conviction for growing marijuana. I was stuck, recalled the 37-year-old college graduate. No job opportunities were coming in. Read More Facebook

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Canada is about to legalize marijuana. How did that happen? Justin Trudeau, for starters By Kurtis Lee Politicians herald it as transformative. Residents offer resounding support in the polls. Investors see billions of dollars on the horizon. When Canada legalizes marijuana on Oct. 17, it will join Uruguay as the only countries to allow recreational cannabis nationwide. The South American country became the first in 2013. The effort, years in the making, is unlike the piecemeal approaches to marijuana legalization that have been passed in the United States and the Netherlands. For pot proponents around the world, Canadas implementation of legal marijuana is being closely watched. Read More Facebook

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Can you carry marijuana in LAX? Yes, but its more complicated than that By Chris Erskine LAX wants you to know this about the marijuana you may be taking with you on your trip: Whats legal on the street is also legal in the terminals. Up to a point. Travelers can carry the legal amount of marijuana in California  up to 28.5 grams through the airport areas that are under city supervision, that is up to pre-security checkpoints. Read More Facebook

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Dont you dare light up at Las Vegas new cannabis museum By Jay Jones Inhale  we mean through your nose  in the new marijuana museum in Las Vegas. You wont smell a thing, even though recreational pot is legal in Nevada. Signs in the elevators at Neonopolis, the downtown entertainment, dining and retail center thats home to the immersive Cannabition museum, make it clear that consumption in public is still against the law. Just steps away, a colorful mural covering the museums exterior depicts the changing attitudes toward marijuana, from the scare tactics of the 1930s to strict law enforcement in the 80s to growing tolerance today. That history is depicted in greater detail once youre inside. Read More Facebook

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Costa Mesa Planning Commission awards permit to 13th marijuana business By Luke Money A 13th marijuana manufacturing and distribution facility took a step closer to opening in Costa Mesa after the city Planning Commission decided Monday to grant it a required permit. The 3-2 vote, with Chairman Stephan Andranian and Vice Chairman Byron de Arakal opposed, awards a conditional use permit to Pivot Naturals LLC to operate in an existing 5,283-square-foot industrial space in Suite 101 at 3595 Cadillac Ave. Pivot Naturals intends to process cannabis oils into a powder for use in a variety of products, including tablets, food and beverages. Read More Facebook

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Kindergartner can take cannabis drug to school, judge says By Associated Press A kindergartner can keep bringing a cannabis-based drug used for emergency treatment of a rare form of epilepsy to her public school, a judge ruled Friday. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that a judge sided with the family of 5-year-old Brooke Adams. The Rincon Valley Union School District in Santa Rosa sought to ban the ointment from school grounds because it contains the active ingredient in marijuana. Read More Facebook

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Glendale police seize hundreds of marijuana plants after reportedly discovering elaborate grow operation By Andy Nguyen What started as a routine wellness check by Glendale police officers on Monday led to the alleged discovery of an illegal marijuana grow operation and the seizure of more than 600 plants. Officers with the Glendale Police Department were in the 100 block of Wonderview Drive at around 12:40 a.m. after receiving a call about a person yelling for help from one of the homes in the neighborhood. After speaking with the homes occupant, 38-year-old Rui Yun Guan, officers entered the residence and discovered it had been converted into an elaborate marijuana grow operation, according to Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for the department. Read More Facebook

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Tilrays wild ride shows how hyped pot stocks are catching up to the crypto craze By Craig Giammona Tilray Inc. investors could probably use a bit of the companys products right now. The Canadian maker of medicinal cannabis extracts finished a whipsaw session Wednesday with its share price 38% higher. But Tilray was up as much as 94% earlier in the day, peaking at $300. Fifty-three minutes and four trading halts later, it was in negative territory. The closing flourish that added $63 to the share price  it finished up $59.08 to $214.06  took just six minutes. It left a sea of bodies, both longs and shorts, behind in its wake, said Dave Lutz, managing director at JonesTrading. Read More Facebook

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Marijuana industry fights stoner, pot and other words that stigmatizes people By Gary Robbins Theres a badge on her uniform, possibly a gun on her hip, and her arms are spread a little, suggesting shes ready for anything. You might think that youre looking at a police officer walking a beat. But what youve seen on billboards and, more recently, the internet is an effort by MedMen Enterprises of Culver City to remind you that marijuana users come from all walks of life. They can be cops, nurses, teachers, scientists, construction foremen and grandmothers. Read More Facebook

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Police arrest eight people after searching illegal cannabis store in San Fernando Valley By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Los Angeles police arrested eight people at an illegal cannabis store in the San Fernando Valley after serving a search warrant, officials said Wednesday. About 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Departments Mission Area Narcotics Unit searched a cannabis retail shop in the 15400 block of Devonshire Street and confiscated several items of evidence and contraband, police said in a news release. The store was operating without proper permits and was considered a nuisance location, authorities said. Read More Facebook

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More than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students have vaped marijuana, study finds By Karen Kaplan Electronic cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among U.S. teens, but tobacco isnt the only thing theyre vaping. A new report from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 2 million middle and high school students have used an e-cigarette to vape marijuana. That figure is based on survey results from the 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which polls a representative sample of American students in grades 6 through 12. Among the questions the 20,675 participants were asked in 2016 was, Have you ever used an e-cigarette device with a substance besides nicotine? One of the possible answers was this: Yes, I have used an e-cigarette device with marijuana, THC or hash oil, or THC wax. (THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the mind-altering chemical that produces marijuanas high.) Read More Facebook

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Police chiefs warn of increased crime if California allows pot deliveries statewide By Patrick McGreevy The prospect of vans loaded with pot delivering to homes in quiet Morgan Hill makes Police Chief David Swing uneasy. Like most cities in the state, the upscale San Jose suburb has banned pot shops. But now, as California considers a proposal to allow marijuana businesses to send home-delivery vans into communities where retail stores are prohibited, Swing and others in law enforcement say they are preparing for the worst. This will make it easier and more lucrative to rob a delivery person than a liquor store, said Swing, who is president of the California Police Chiefs Assn. He notes drivers would be allowed to carry up to $10,000 in cash. Robberies are the tip of the iceberg. They can lead to other crimes, including aggravated assaults and homicides. Read More Facebook

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Tesla erupts in chaos after senior executives leave and Elon Musk tokes up By Dana Hull The turmoil at Tesla Inc. reached a fever pitch Friday, as news emerged that two senior executives will leave Elon Musks electric-car maker a matter of hours after he smoked marijuana during an hours-long interview with a comedian. Chief Accounting Officer Dave Morton gave notice Tuesday that he was resigning less than a month into the job, according to a filing. Teslas stock plunged, then extended declines after Gabrielle Toledano, the head of human resources whos been on a leave of absence, told Bloomberg News that she wont rejoin the company. Morton, a former chief financial officer for computer-drive maker Seagate Technology Plc, joined Tesla the day before Chief Executive Musk tweeted that he was considering buying out some investors at $420 a share and taking the company private. Musk abandoned that take-private effort 17 days later, and in the process drew a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission and a series of lawsuits alleging market manipulation. Read More Facebook

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Elon Musk smokes a blunt live on YouTube with podcaster Joe Rogan By Russ Mitchell Elon Musk apparently smoked dope with comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan live on YouTube late Thursday night, then giggled about turning Mars into a big Jamaica. I mean, its legal, right? Musk said, accepting a lit blunt from Rogan in the Los Angeles studio, where The Joe Rogan Experience is webcast live. Rogan told Musk hed rolled marijuana in tobacco leaves. Musk took a single deep toke. If the pair were joking about what they were smoking, they didnt say so. Read More Facebook

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L.A. launches crackdown on unlicensed marijuana businesses; more than 500 people are charged By Joseph Serna A police crackdown on local unlicensed marijuana businesses has ended with misdemeanor charges against more than 500 people in Los Angeles, the city attorneys office said. In 120 criminal cases filed since May, City Atty. Mike Feuer has charged 515 people in connection with 105 illegal marijuana businesses, grow sites, extraction labs and delivery companies located throughout the city, his office announced Friday. All of the defendants were charged with unlicensed commercial cannabis activity within the city, which carries a potential sentence of six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. Local judges have been hearing the cases since May with arraignments scheduled through the end of October, Feuers office said. Read More Facebook

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12th marijuana business wins permit approval in Costa Mesa By Luke Money Costa Mesa planning commissioners Monday evening gave their blessing to another local marijuana manufacturing and distribution facility, bringing the total number of approvals to 12. On a 4-0 vote  with Chairman Stephan Andranian absent  the commission awarded a conditional use permit to Pure Labs Inc., which is looking to open in a 2,025-square-foot space in Unit M-103 at 3505 Cadillac Ave. The decision is final unless appealed to the City Council within seven days. Read More Facebook

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Former L.A. mayor Villaraigosa joins board of local cannabis firm MedMen By James Rufus Koren Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is joining the board of publicly traded cannabis company MedMen, marking his return to the business world following a resounding defeat in Junes Democratic gubernatorial primary. MedMen, a Culver City company that operates high-end cannabis shops in California, Nevada and New York and has aggressive expansion plans, announced Villaraigosas appointment Wednesday morning. Villaraigosa adds political and governmental experience to a board made up of branding, entertainment and accounting executives. Other recent additions to the companys board include Stacey Hallerman, a former executive at the conglomerate that owns luxury brands Montblanc and Cartier, and Jay Brown, the chief executive of of RocNation, the entertainment company co-founded by Shawn Jay Z Carter. Read More Facebook

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Newport man accused of operating illegal marijuana dispensary in Costa Mesa By Luke Money A Newport Beach man is accused of operating an illegal marijuana dispensary in Costa Mesa, according to authorities. Omid Delkash, 47, was charged Monday with four misdemeanor counts of unlawful transportation, sale and furnishing of marijuana. He pleaded not guilty and is in custody at Orange County Jail, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a pretrial hearing. Costa Mesa law prohibits the retail sale of marijuana or marijuana products anywhere in the city. Read More Facebook

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California lawmakers want the state to collect data on drivers under the influence of pot By Patrick McGreevy After she was injured in a car accident allegedly caused by a driver impaired by pot, state Controller Betty Yee is backing a bill approved Monday by the Legislature that aims to begin addressing the problem of drugged driving on California roads. The measure sent to Gov. Jerry Brown would require the California Highway Patrol to report on how many motorists stopped for impaired driving are allegedly under the influence of marijuana. Its what other states have done  like Colorado and Washington  to at least start collecting state-level data, Yee said. They just want to understand the extent of cannabis-impaired driving. Read More Facebook

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Marijuana use is rising among pregnant patients. Not so fast, doctors warn By Jenny Gold Marijuana may be losing its image as a dangerous drug, but mounting research suggests women should steer clear of it if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The advice comes as more than half of the states, including California, have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. Growing acceptance of the drug has made it seem harmless, or even beneficial. As a result, doctors fret that more and more babies are being exposed to the drug. The march toward legalization has outpaced scientific research about marijuanas health effects. Because it is a Schedule 1 drug  one with potential for abuse and no approved medical use  studies have been limited by federal law. Read More Facebook

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Mormon Church ramps up opposition to medical marijuana effort in Utah, speaking out publicly By Kurtis Lee The Mormon Church has played a quiet role in the fight against an effort to legalize medical marijuana in Utah, releasing measured statements and helping to bankroll lawsuits. But on Thursday, leaders of the powerful Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out from behind the scenes. We are deeply concerned by the history of other states that have allowed medical and recreational use of this drug  and have experienced serious consequences to the health of its citizens, Elder Jack N. Gerard, flanked by politicians, medical professionals and other church leaders, said at a news conference at the state Capitol. Read More Facebook

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California lawmakers move to help expunge pot-related convictions California lawmakers voted Wednesday to ease the process for clearing the records of those convicted in the past of marijuana offenses. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) With recreational marijuana legalized by the states voters, Californians with past convictions for cannabis-related offenses would get state help in expunging their records under a bill sent by lawmakers to the governor on Wednesday. Proposition 64, which state voters approved in 2016, legalized the sale and use of marijuana for recreational use and permitted those with past convictions for the activity to petition the courts to clear their records. But state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) told his colleagues Wednesday that the process is complicated, and many with pot convictions do not know about the opportunity. Read More Facebook

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By next year, you can buy medical marijuana in Hawaii, but youll still have to jump through some hoops By Jay Jones Out-of-state medical marijuana users next year will be able to buy cannabis products at dispensaries in Hawaii. The only hitches: Visitors will need to apply online and pay $45 (plus a $4.50 processing fee) for a temporary Hawaii medical marijuana card thats valid for 60 days. Weve been fielding a lot of calls daily about reciprocity, said George Bullock, director of the Cure Oahu marijuana dispensary in Waikiki. We really look forward to being able to serve them in the future. The Hawaii Department of Health plans to allow medical marijuana cardholders from other states to make purchases at dispensaries on Oahu, Maui and Kauai. But state officials are not using the word reciprocity because those out-of-state cards wont work. Read More Facebook

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Teen sold weed from her bedroom, with her parents as suppliers, Merced County officials say By Joseph Serna A teenage girl who sold marijuana out of her bedroom was using her gun-toting parents as her suppliers, the Merced County Sheriffs Office said. On Friday, deputies served a search warrant on the home of Jose Reyes Martinez, 44, and his wife in Delhi, Calif., where they found 80 pounds of packaged marijuana and a dozen large plants along with two firearms, officials said on Facebook. The packaged weed was found in the master bedroom closet alongside a loaded AK-47, deputies said. A makeshift greenhouse in the backyard held a dozen large plants, authorities said. Read More Facebook

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Newport Beach sues to halt what city calls a marijuana dispensary at Church of the Holy Grail By Hannah Fry Newport Beach officials are asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to block an operation that identifies itself as a church but the city says is a marijuana dispensary violating local law. Brick-and-mortar marijuana dispensaries are prohibited in Newport Beach under municipal code. Cultivation, processing, distribution and delivery of cannabis have been banned in the city since 2016. A civil lawsuit Newport filed June 25 seeks an injunction to forbid the organization known as Church of the Holy Grail from operating at 2072 Bristol St. It isnt clear how long it has been operating, though the lawsuit states the location has been running without a business license since at least Jan. 24. Read More Facebook

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Proposal to create state-chartered banks for California marijuana industry fails to advance Virgil Grant arranges containers of various strains of medical marijuana in a display case at a dispensary he runs in Los Angeles. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images) California lawmakers on Thursday shelved a proposal to allow the state to license private banks to handle the billions of dollars expected to be generated by the states legal marijuana industry amid questions about the plans feasibility. Voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize growing, possessing and selling marijuana for recreational use, but newly licensed pot shops and farms say they cannot put their money in federally chartered banks because cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) proposed that the state could license special privately financed banks that would issue checks to the businesses to pay rent and state and local taxes and fees, and to compensate vendors for goods and services provided to their businesses. Read More Facebook

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Parent of Corona beer bets $3.8 billion on U.S. love of marijuana By Bloomberg Constellation Brands Inc., which for seven decades has made its money off beer, wine and whiskey, sees its future in a marijuana leaf. In the biggest (legal) marijuana deal, the Victor, N.Y., beverage company will spend about $3.8 billion to boost its stake in Canadian grower Canopy Growth Corp., betting legalization will gain traction around the world and especially in the United States. This is rocket fuel, Canopy Chief Executive Bruce Linton said on the companys earnings call Wednesday. Were going to be way more global. Read More Facebook

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Marijuana is not really legal in California if residents dont have a reasonable way to buy it By The Times Editorial Board California law allows adults to buy marijuana. It allows licensed businesses to deliver marijuana to customers, and it says specifically that cities and counties cannot prevent delivery services from traveling on public roads. Yet even though cities cant stop deliveries traveling through their jurisdiction, many cities currently ban deliveries to their jurisdiction. That means that unlike deliveries of virtually every other legal, adult-use product  including alcohol and cigarettes, which can be ordered over the internet in California  marijuana deliveries are barred. The practical effect is that residents in some places have little to no access to legal medical or recreational cannabis products because of local regulations  which seems contrary to the intent of Proposition 64. Roughly half of Californians live in cities or counties that prohibit marijuana stores and delivery services form opening in their jurisdictions. An analysis by the Sacramento Bee earlier this year found residents in 40% of the state had to drive 60 miles or more to find a licensed dispensary to buy legal marijuana  medical or recreational. Read More Facebook

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California cities oppose plan to allow pot delivery in areas where sales are banned California cities are objecting to changes in the states rules on marijuana that they say undermine local control. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) California cities on Monday objected to a state proposal that would allow marijuana delivery to homes in areas where storefront pot sales have been banned locally. The changes, which are being considered by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control, will undermine a citys ability to effectively regulate cannabis at the local level, Charles Harvey, a legislative representative for the League of California Cities, said in a letter to the bureau. The cities group, which represents the states 482 municipalities, supports other changes to clarify the rules of Proposition 64, which was approved by voters in 2016 and allows the growing and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Read More Facebook

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Cypress Hills B-Real set to open a Sylmar dispensary, as Cannary West takes flight Saturday By Adam Tschorn B-Real, from left, Kenji Fujishima and Rojo Desantis in front of the soon-to-open Dr. Greenthumbs dispensary in Sylmar. (Dr. Greenthumbs) Rapper and marijuana entrepreneur Louis Freese, better known as Cypress Hill frontman B-Real, plans to celebrate the grand opening of his flagship dispensary in Sylmar with a day-long bash next Wednesday. Called Dr. Greenthumbs  a name music fans will recognize as the title of a 1998 Cypress Hill song  the Foothill Boulevard dispensary will be heavy on strains from B-Reals Insane brand of cannabis as well his Phuncky Feel Tips product line (glass tips designed to fit the business end of a hand-rolled joint). It will also serve as the home base for the rappers online BReal.TV network. According to todays announcement, the Wednesday event will be open to the public (though youll need to be at least 21  or 18 with a medical marijuana card) and feature a line-up of BRealTVs DJs as well as a slew of surprise guests [making] appearances throughout the day. A second Dr. Greenthumbs is expected to open in Cathedral City later this year. Dr. Greenthumbs grand-opening party, Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 12751 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar (just west of the 210 freeway between Arroyo and Vaughn streets). Cannary West In other dispensary-opening news, a rebooted and relocated Cannary West (this version by the folks behind the stylish, upscale Venice Blvd. dispensary the Pottery), officially opens its doors Saturday. Although parts of the space in the Rancho Park neighborhood are still under construction, its only because plans include adding sustainable on-site cultivation (a process also underway at the Pottery), it does already have one of Los Angeles real estates most enviable features  a dedicated off-street parking lot for customers around back. To mark the grand opening, the first 200 customers who spend $30 or more after the dispensary opens for business at 10 a.m. will receive a little something special for their efforts. Cannary West, grand opening, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 2435 Military Avenue, Los Angeles (just south of Pico and two blocks east of Sepulveda). Facebook

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As budget remedies, Huntington Beach may explore marijuana-related revenue and boosting fines for illegal short-term rentals By Priscella Vega With general-fund revenue increases projected to taper off in coming years, the Huntington Beach Finance Commission this week recommended several potential budget-tightening and revenue-generating solutions. Among them are increasing fines for illegal short-term rentals, reducing city staff and exploring opportunities for marijuana-related revenue. Some recommendations will be unpopular with employees, but at the same time we hope they realize implementing some recommendations may make funding available for salary increases, Finance Commission Chairman Nouha Hreish told the City Council during a study session Monday. Read More Facebook

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High Times rolls out new online video network By Adam Tschorn High Times, which launched as a print magazine in 1974, has added a streaming video service to its offerings. (High Times TV) Los Angeles-based cannabis media brand High Times, which launched as a print magazine in 1974, has added a streaming video service to its offerings. Announced Thursday, the ad-supported web channel High Times TV is both a showcase for the brands own content (behind-the-scenes videos from its Cannabis Cup events, for example, and how-to videos for ganja guacamole) as well as a platform for an assortment of independent cannabis-content creators like the Stoner Mom (a Colorado mother with a family of six who focuses on living a responsible cannabis lifestyle), StrainCentral (a strain review site founded by Joshua Young) and That High Couple (Hollywood-based couple Alice and Clark who chronicle their THC-infused life via social media). While High Times newest venture is hardly a unique move- there isnt a legacy media brand out there that isnt trying to capitalize on streaming video  it could end up being a lifeline for the independents in the stoner space who have seen their traditional social media channels (particularly YouTube) threatened, restricted or suspended in a cannabis-content crackdown that began earlier this year. High Times TV is now available as an app on Android, Roku and Apple TV as well as online at tv.hightimes.com. Facebook

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Newport Beach lawsuit seeks to ban marijuana business that operated in residential neighborhoods By Hannah Fry Newport Beach officials are asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to block a marijuana business from operating in two homes in violation of city law. A civil lawsuit filed May 4 seeks an injunction to forbid the business  known as OC Healing House, Bud Man OC and Bud Man Newport Beach  from operating at a home on Drakes Bay Drive in Corona del Mar and a home on Promontory Drive in Newports Promontory Point community. The city attorneys office says the business was using the homes for marijuana delivery and distribution. The lawsuit calls the business a public nuisance. Read More Facebook

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Marijuana is a gift from God. A battle over pot pits the Mormon Church against an unlikely group: other Mormons By Kurtis Lee Brian Stoll faced a dilemma as his wedding day approached. For more than a year, he had been smoking marijuana to treat severe back pain, but to remain in good standing with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and get married in the temple, he had to stop using pot. Since marijuana was illegal under Utah law, church leaders told him, it was forbidden. Stoll turned to an opioid painkiller and has continued using it since his marriage three years ago, despite unpleasant side effects and its inability to match the soothing qualities of marijuana. This was devastating ... I had to choose between my health and my fiancee, Stoll said recently. It seemed asinine that if I lived in another state, I wouldnt have to make such a difficult decision. Read More Facebook

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Roommates were unaware of drug lab operation in Glendale home, police say By Andy Nguyen Authorities arrested a man on Friday suspected of operating an illegal butane honey-oil lab out of a Glendale home. John Kelly, 52, was taken into custody after the Glendale Police Department received a tip about the suspected manufacturing operation in the 1400 block of Randall Street. The information was derived from an ongoing narcotics investigation, according to Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the department. Butane honey oil is a type of concentrated cannabis product made when marijuana is soaked in butane in order to extract the plants essential oils. The process can lead to explosions if the butane gas builds up in an enclosed area and ignites from a spark. Read More Facebook

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Rams guard Jamon Brown says marijuana is reason for suspension By Gary Klein Rams starting right guard Jamon Brown, suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy, said Thursday that the suspension stemmed from a 2017 incident in Kentucky that involved marijuana. Brown still worked with the first-team offense Thursday as the Rams held their first training camp practice at UC Irvine. Brown, a fourth-year pro from Louisville, said that before last season he was pulled over for speeding and that police found marijuana in the car. Read More Facebook

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Democrats still havent figured out that legal weed is a winning issue By Tom Angell Every Democratic U.S. senator rumored to be considering a 2020 presidential run supports marijuana legalization. So do 77% of Democratic voters. The partys 2016 national platform backs states rights on cannabis and calls for a reasoned pathway for future legalization. So why is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee  the entity charged with winning back control of the U.S. House  attacking a Republican congressman over his support for marijuana reform? And why is it citing a right-wing magazine to make the case? Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) has a cult-like fixation on marijuana, said a National Review article excerpt the Democratic committee highlighted in a tweet posted Monday. The party organ said the GOP congressmans cannabis advocacy is one reason why [Democratic nominee] @HarleyRouda needs your help flipping this seat...from #RedToBlue. Read More Facebook

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They worked at Apple, Amazon and Lyft. Now theyre working to get you stoned By Tracey Lien For much of her career, Natasha Pecor followed a path well-worn by tech workers. She built her reputation with her first employer in the industry, earning the title head of platform at Yelp. Then she jumped to one of the giants, Amazon, where she worked as a product manager. Most recently she parlayed that experience into a leadership role at a smaller start-up  a common move among techies willing to take a risk for a new challenge and perhaps a big payday. But this start-up wasnt exactly a tech company. Read More Facebook

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Fountain Valley man sentenced to life in prison in kidnapping and torture of marijuana dispensary owner By Hannah Fry A Fountain Valley man was sentenced Friday to spend the rest of his life behind bars for kidnapping a medical marijuana dispensary owner and his roommate in 2012 and torturing the dispensary owner as part of a plot to extort money. Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregg Prickett gave Kyle Shirakawa Handley, 39, the maximum sentence of life in state prison. A Superior Court jury in January swiftly found Handley guilty of of kidnapping, aggravated mayhem and torture, all felonies. Prosecutors contended that Handley, a marijuana grower who supplied the victims dispensary, and three other defendants kidnapped the man and his female roommate from their 25th Street home on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach on Oct. 2, 2012. Read More Facebook

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More California kids are having pot-related health scares, poison control officials warn By Patrick McGreevy State and local officials say they are alarmed by a spike in calls they have received to report children and teenagers ingesting marijuana products since California legalized cannabis for recreational use by adults in 2016. The number of calls to poison control centers involving people 19 and younger who were exposed to marijuana has steadily risen from 347 three years ago to 588 last year. In the first six months of this year, there have been 386 calls to poison control centers involving marijuana exposure by underage people. If that trend continues, there could be more than double the reports in 2018 as there were 2015. Nearly half of the calls received last year  256  involved children 5 and younger, including 38 children under 12 months old, and 64 toddlers who were a year old, according to Stuart E. Heard, executive director of the California Poison Control System. Read More Facebook

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With marijuana legal, California flooded with dubious health claims about the drug By Gary Robbins Spend a few minutes surfing Twitter and youre likely to encounter a startling claim that comes without proof: Cannabis cures cancer. The online world is awash with such posts, startling scientists and physicians who are urging weeds proselytizers to tap the brakes. Read More Facebook

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Gov. Jerry Brown appoints members to new cannabis permit appeals panel Marijuana on display at the Harborside dispensary in Oakland. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) Six months after California began licensing growing and selling marijuana, Gov. Jerry Brown on July 3 appointed the first members of a new Cannabis Control Appeals Panel to consider objections from those denied permits or those facing penalties for violating regulations. The governor gets to name three of the five members of the panel and appointed county prosecutor Sabrina D. Ashjian of Fresno, college lecturer Diandra Bremond of Los Angeles, and a staff attorney for the governor, Adrian Carpenter of Plumas Lake. The other two appointments will be made by the Senate Rules Committee and the speaker of the Assembly. Read More Facebook

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Federal law? State law? Which takes precedence when you want to travel with cannabis? By Catharine Hamm You cant take it with you. Actually, you can. But its not a good idea when youre traveling, especially for the risk-averse. We speak, of course, of cannabis; its use was approved by 57% of California voters in November 2016. Proposition 64, known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, allows the recreational use of marijuana in the Golden State; medical marijuana had been legal for about a decade before that. Legal, it should be noted, in California. Not legal according to federal law, although President Trump has signaled his willingness to support legislation that, according to an L.A. Times article, would end the federal ban on marijuana. Read More Facebook

TwitPassengers should expect to see whales and other sea creatures when the Silver Explorer departs from the Port of San Diego on May 2 and travels along the West Coast on its way to Vancouver, Canada.

The 11-day Silversea voyage is being billed as an enhanced whale-watching trip with a chance to encounter and engage with the oceans most majestic inhabitants en route.

The luxury cruise line recently launched a partnership with ORCA, a British marine conservation organization. The group is expected to provide conservationists who will travel on board select Silversea voyages to guide guests in collecting data on sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises.

The May 2 cruise will visit Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park, Monterey, San Francisco, Astoria and Rainier, Ore., and four Washington state ports before arriving in Vancouver. Cabin prices start at $6,400 per person, based on double occupancy.

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This partnership will allow us to reach parts of the world we have never visited, Lucy Babey, an ORCA spokeswoman, said in a statement.

The organization has championed marine conservation for more than 15 years. Part of its mission is to help people who care about whales and dolphins assume an active role in safeguarding their future.

In addition to the San Diego voyage, conservationists from ORCA will travel on board a May 13 voyage from Vancouver to San Francisco, a trip from Tokyo to Seward, Alaska, on May 12, 2019, and from Seward to Vancouver on May 27, 2019.

Info: Silversea, (888) 978-4070, or contact your travel agent

travel@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimestravelYou can fly round-trip from LAX to Tokyos Narita airport for $659 round-trip, including all taxes and fees, on Singapore Airlines.

The nice thing about this fare: The booking window is open until Dec. 31.

The fare, of course, is subject to availability. It may be scarce during cherry blossom season (March 23-April 2 this year) and during peak summer and holiday dates.

Other airlines may start matching this fare so if you cant find it on Singapore, look elsewhere, Airfarewatchdog tells us.

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Info: Singapore Airlines, (800) 742-3333,

Source: Airfarewatchdog

travel@latimes.com

@latimestravelThe names of the dead and injured were taped to an outdoor plaster wall, printed guides for relatives trying to locate the victims of a fast-moving and devastating hospital fire here on Friday.

The lists had so many names.

Among them was Kim Jeong-ja, 48, the chief nurse at a hospital where flames and smoke swept through the first-floor emergency room on Friday, killing at least 37 people and injuring scores more.

After rushing to the building  located on a narrow street in the center of this southeastern South Korean city  Kims family learned their beloved caregivers fate. Doctors pronounced her dead at another hospital across town hours after the blaze.

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This situation breaks our hearts, said her younger brother, Kim Kyung-sik, who gathered Friday night with other relatives at a funeral home.

Fridays fire, the deadliest in South Korea in recent history, was the second major blaze to strike a multi-story structure in recent weeks. A fire at a sports complex in the central city of Jecheon killed 29 and injured three dozen others last month. The owner and manager of the eight-story complex was later arrested and charged with involuntary homicide after investigators found safety violations.

The firefighters who arrived within minutes of the first alarm during Fridays incident encountered a chaotic scene in this city of about 100,000, in South Gyeongsang province about 170 miles southeast of Seoul.

Thick, black smoke clouded the air around and above the mid-rise structure, billowing in all directions and nearly blocking out the sun.

As the smoke and flames spread, the growing fire became obvious to people in the neighborhood, a central area near the citys train station. A distressed bystander could be heard pleading What can we do? as firefighters from across the region rushed to the area.

Upset relatives, unsure about the fate of their loved ones, soon gathered and paced anxiously as they waited for news. Helicopters hovered overhead, and numerous fire trucks from neighboring jurisdictions crowded into the area.

It was chaos, said Byun Song-sook, who owns a small grocery down the street. We couldnt do anything.

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The intense fire blocked the first-floor entry to the hospitals emergency room, initially impeding the firefighters efforts to extinguish the flames.

Once inside the structure, the firefighters found victims who were particularly vulnerable. Most were elderly, some confined to intensive care units or suffering from respiratory illnesses. Many died on the second floor from smoke inhalation, according to the fire officials.

We tried with all our strength to rescue them promptly and have them escape the building, said Choi Man-woo, the citys fire chief, who arrived at the scene shortly after the first call.

I feel deeply sorry for the whole nation and the families of the victims to be holding this briefing after failing to rescue everyone, he said.

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Doctors at the small hospital  which management said had no fire-suppression sprinklers  were treating about 80 patients at the time, most of them elderly. As many as 90 others from an adjacent nursing home escaped.

At least two of nurse Kim Jeong-jas medical colleagues, a doctor and a nursing assistant, also died in the fire, the building management told a horde of reporters and photographers, including one who flew a small remote-control drone to capture images above the scene.

I am truly sorry. I am sorry for the patients and their caretakers. I am very sorry, hospital director Seok Jeong-sik said.

The fire started about 7:30 a.m. Firefighters arrived within three minutes of the initial alarm, but the blocked entrance forced them to enter through windows in upper floors of the facility, which has a narrow street-side facade but extends deep within much of a city block.

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Some of those who survived escaped by climbing down ladders extended to upper-floor windows, thick smoke wafting around them. Firefighters had to coax the elderly patients and others  some dressed in hospital gowns and scrubs  to make their steep descent.

Long, vertical emergency chutes  used in South Korean buildings in which traditional fire escapes are impractical  were also deployed from the upper floors. They remained as darkness fell on the scene Friday, hanging reminders of what must have been harrowing escapes for the elderly residents.

The dead ranged in age from the mid-30s to the early 90s, according to one of the lists posted by authorities.

Throughout the day, and hours after the flames were out, a large group of fire officials remained around the area, a neighboring consumer bank commandeered as their headquarters. Nearby workers from the Korean Red Cross served hot drinks, water and ramen noodles.

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Investigators in protective gear and respiratory masks remained inside the building for much of the day, trying to determine a cause.

The source of the deadly flames and smoke remains unclear, but the incident seemed likely to stir public concern in a nation still concerned about the governments recent handling of safety issues. A major source of that concern is the 2014 ferry disaster that killed more than 300, many of them high school students, off the southern coast.

The incidents rescue and subsequent investigation caused widespread anger at former President Park Geun-hye, contributing to a political environment that led to her ouster last spring. Her successor, Moon Jae-in, came to office in May vowing to create a safer society  only to experience back-to-back catastrophic fires during his short tenure.

The death toll in Fridays fire represents a significant portion of the annual fatalities from such incidents in South Korea, population 51 million. In 2016, for example, about 280 people died in fire-related incidents, according to the Korean Statistical Information Service. By comparison there were 3,300 fire deaths in the United States, which has six times the population, in 2015, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.Thats a fire mortality rate of 10.5 per million people. South Koreas fire mortality rate in 2016 was 5.5 per million people.

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Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, who visited some of the patients displaced by the fire on Friday, called for a thorough investigation.

There can be questions about how this amount of damage occurred in such a short period of time, Lee said. We have to offer convincing explanations to the people in a detailed and transparent manner and determine who is responsible.

Such answers remained elusive for Kim Kyung-sik, the younger brother of the deceased nurse, who had recently enrolled in an online university seeking a bachelors degree and a higher-ranking job. Kim said the family, amid its grief, is consumed with questions about the incident, such as why his sister couldnt escape and whether she received immediate care.

I cant help but wonder, he said. It drove us crazy to hear the doctor pronounce her death.

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Stiles is a special correspondent.

UPDATES:

6:50 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting that includes names of some of the victims.

Jan. 26, 4:20 a.m.: This article was updated with a revised death toll of 37.

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11:05 p.m.: This article was updated with a death toll of 39.

6:40 p.m.: This article was updated with an increased death and injury toll, information from a fire official and background on a previous fire in South Korea.

This article was originally published on Jan 25 at 6:10 p.m.Brazils politics has always been tumultuous.

With two presidents impeached in the last 16 years and innumerable other politicians, including city councilors and the speaker of the house, accused and convicted of corruption in the more recent investigation code-named Car Wash, its easy to see why Brazilians have become exasperated with politics.

Now, the future of their country is more uncertain than ever.

The polling firm Datafolha found in December that the top candidate in Brazils October presidential election, with 36% of the intended vote, was former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. But this week a three-judge panel upheld his corruption and money laundering conviction.

Once the most popular politician in the country with an 87% approval rating at the end of his presidency, Lula has become a divisive figure in Brazils political sphere. In recent weeks supporters from his Workers Party have been clashing on an almost-daily basis with those who call him a thief and a liar, both online and on the streets. Heres a look at whats next in South Americas largest and most-populous nation.

So is Lulas long career finally over?

Not according to him. Lula, a former labor leader and congressman whose two terms as president ended in 2010, says he still intends to run for president this year. He aims to replace Michel Temer, who assumed the presidency after Dilma Rousseff, a Lula protege, was impeached in 2016.

What did Lula do when his conviction was upheld?

After the decision was handed down, Lula left his home in Sao Bernardo do Campo and headed to Republic Square in downtown Sao Paulo, where thousands of his supporters had gathered.

He accepted the judges decision, Lula told the crowd, but added that what he does not accept is the lie by which they made the decision. They know I did not commit a crime. I would be willing to stay with the three judges for a full day so they can show me what crime Lula has committed.

Lula was convicted on July 12 on a set of corruption charges for accepting $1.2 million in bribes from contractor OAS. Prosecutors say that in return, Lula helped the firm win contracts with state-run oil giant Petrobras. Lula was originally sentenced to 9 years in jail. The three-judge panel increased that to 12 years, one month.

Lula was originally sentenced to 9 years in jail. The three-judge panel increased that to 12 years, one month.

What happens next?

On Thursday, two attorneys filed requests with the court that heard Lulas case, asking for the seizure of Lulas passport and that he be barred from leaving the country. The attorneys argued Lula could request political asylum in Ethiopia.

Late Thursday night, federal criminal court Judge Ricardo Augusto Soares Leite granted their requests, and Lula canceled his trip to Addis Ababa. His lawyers said that they were awed by the decision and that Lula would turn in his passport Friday.

Isnt he going to prison?

Not yet. Although his appeal was rejected and his conviction upheld, Lula and his lawyers still have other recourse to stop his imprisonment, which they will present once they receive the official notification of the court decision, expected to take a few days.

His attorneys, Cristiano Zanin Martins and Valeska Teixeira Zanin Martins, said they would exhaust all possible measures in the federal regional court where the decision was made, as well as in the Superior Court of Justice and the Supreme Court in Brasilia, the nations capital.

Because the vote to reject his appeal was unanimous, his team will have fewer options. If the vote had been a split decision of 2-1, Lulas lawyers could have filed a motion for reconsideration, so that three other judges could hear the case.

One of the options left for the former presidents attorneys to request is an amendment of judgment, which does not call into question the validity of the decision, but asks for an explanation of any omissions or confusing parts in what the judges presented. Although the strategy would not change the outcome of the appeal  the same three judges would oversee the proceedings  it would delay the official conclusion of the trial and the execution of Lulas 12-year sentence.

Can Lula still run for president?

Probably not. But the final decision on that matter could take some time.

Technically speaking, Brazils Clean Slate Law prohibits electioneering for eight years by anyone who has had their mandate revoked. That applies, for example, to those convicted by a panel of judges or someone who resigned office to avoid being impeached. (Under these provisions, Lula couldnt run for office until hes 80.)

But that didnt stop the Workers Party from announcing Wednesday that it will still register Lula as its presidential candidate.

"We will confirm Lula's candidacy at the party convention and register it on Aug. 15, strictly following what electoral legislation ensures," said Gleisi Hoffmann, a senator and president of the party.

The long, strange political career of Brazil's Lula 

Once Lula is a registered candidate, it will be up to the electoral court to decide whether he is eligible to run. The deadline for the courts final decision on candidate eligibility is Sept. 17.

If hes out, whos in?

A lot can happen between now and October, but behind Lula in the recent poll with 18% was congressman and retired army Capt. Jair Bolsonaro. Once considered an embarrassing long shot, the archconservative lawmaker is now widely seen as a favorite in Octobers election. His vocal support of torture and guns, as well as his disparaging comments toward women, black people and LGBTQ people have landed him comparisons to President Trump and Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte.

Last year he said, A policeman who doesnt kill isnt a policeman and remarked that women in Afro-Brazilian communities called quilombos dont do anything  theyre not even good for breeding anymore. For the latter comment he was convicted of offending minorities and ordered to pay a $15,000 fine. He was also fined $3,000 in 2014 for saying to a fellow lawmaker on the floor of Congress, Im not going to rape you because you dont deserve it.

But Bolsonaro, whose sons are also politicians  one is a state legislator, another is a city councilman and the third is a federal congressman  is popular among Brazils wealthy, well-educated voters, particularly those between the ages of 18 and 25.

Behind him is Sen. Marina Silva, a previous presidential candidate and environmentalist running for the Sustainability Network Party, with about 10% of the intended vote.

But Im not Brazilian. Why should I care?

Lulas conviction has left investors  both in Brazil and overseas  in a lurch as they wait for election campaigns to gain steam.

The unanimous rejection of Lulas appeal leaves investors facing a highly uncertain policy outlook, said Jimena Blanco, head of Latin America at the global risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, who noted that other potential candidates have yet to reveal concrete platforms or proposals.

Tensions in Brazil have also already been running high in recent years because of its political and economic crises, and Lulas corruption conviction has made the line down the middle of the country even more concrete.

Social unrest is not what the region needs right now. Venezuela is in shambles, Peru is still recovering from severe flooding and Argentina is trying to pull itself out of debt. Brazil is a big player in South America, and its worsening political crisis could weigh heavily on its already hurting economy, which could cause a ripple effect across the continent.

Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks.

Langlois is a special correspondent.Since the start of the Cold War, Turkey has been one of the United States top allies in a region not known for pro-American sentiment.

It joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1952, helping the U.S. build a bulwark against the Soviet Union. It opened its bases to U.S. warplanes during the 1991 Persian Gulf War and the more recent fight against Islamic State. Its progressive Muslim democracy was once touted as a model for other Middle Eastern countries.

Now, the two sides cant even agree on what was said in a phone call.

That call, held Wednesday between President Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was the Trump administrations most recent attempt at repairing a relationship that reached a new nadir this week, with Ankara accusing Washington of establishing what it called a terror corridor in northern Syria.

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Turkey also threatened military action against American soldiers standing in the way of an offensive, dubbed Operation Olive Branch, to rout a Syrian Kurdish militia that Ankara regards as a terrorist group  but which the U.S. has fashioned as its on-the-ground vanguard against the militant group Islamic State. (Ankara insists the Syrian Kurds have ties to a Kurdish separatist movement it has fought at home for decades.)

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, greets a soldier during his visit to an operating base on the sixth day of Operation Olive Branch in Hatay, Turkey. (Turkish Presidential Press Service )

The offensive, which began late last week, developed into a no-holds-barred assault on the Syrian Kurdish enclave of Afrin with ground troops and Syrian rebels fighting to breach Kurdish defensive lines.

The White House said Trump had urged Turkey to de-escalate, limit its military actions, and avoid civilian casualties and increases to [the numbers of] displaced persons and refugees. It went on to say that the president urged Turkey to exercise caution and to avoid any actions that might risk conflict between Turkish and American forces.

That last reference was to U.S. troops who patrol the Syrian city of Manbij, about 60 miles east of Afrin.

It was at least the third time the administration has complained about Turkish attacks, to no apparent effect, even as the Turkish military said two soldiers and more than 260 terrorists had been killed so far in the operation.

We will not leave the blood of our martyrs on the ground and will continue our struggle until we root out terror, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

The White House said that Trump also expressed concern about destructive and false rhetoric coming from Turkey, eliciting a truculent rebuke from Ankara, which insisted that the American president did not raise objections to the Turkish military operation and that the two men merely exchanged views.

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Also on Thursday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Nechirvan Barzani, the prime minister of Iraqs Kurdish region, on the sidelines of the Davos, Switzerland, economic conference. To a reporters question, Tillerson denied he had proposed creating a roughly 18-mile-wide safe zone along the Turkish-Syrian border in an earlier conversation with Cavusoglu.

We spoke about a number of possible options, but we did not propose anything, Tillerson said.

Afrin has long been the site where the United States knotty policy toward the Kurds was most evident. In the earlier years of the Syrian war, Kurdish troops were trained and equipped by the Pentagon and fought against CIA-backed rebel factions in areas around the Kurdish enclave.

Then, as now, U.S. officials maintained they would support the Kurds in areas east of the Euphrates River as well as Manbij against Islamic State, but considered Afrin and the Kurdish militiamen stationed there to be a separate entity.

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Those contradictions could be ignored as long as Islamic State was a factor. But the groups defeat, not to mention the creation of a Kurdish-led Border Security Force, put the U.S. on a collision course with Ankara.

The Border Security Force was the last straw for Turkeys political leadership, which touted the operation in Afrin as a war not just against Kurdish forces, but also against the United States.

Obviously this is a tense situation, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said this week. We are calling on the Turks to de-escalate the situation. Were calling for a decrease in violence and thats something that is extremely important to us.

Yet there is little evidence that Ankara is in the mood for a de-escalation, especially before a Turkish public that views the operation as proof of a newfound bravado.

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The country appears to be gripped by a patriotic frenzy. The Turkish religious affairs directorate organized special prayers for the soldiers taking part in the operation, with verses from the Koranic chapter entitled Conquest read out at tens of thousands of mosques the evening the operation began and the morning after.

Turkish news channels have covered the operation extensively, with anchors trumpeting troop advances in front of green screens depicting computer-generated fighter jets and tanks spitting fiery shells.

Pro-government and opposition politicians have also raced to applaud the offensive.

In Hatay province, where Turkish soldiers and armor are being staged for the incursion across the border in Syria, mothers cooked meals and passed them out to soldiers waiting to be deployed. Dozens of members of an Ottoman-style military marching band performed for soldiers.

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There have always been a few loonies who want to fight abroad, like in the Chechen war, or in Bosnia or Kosovo, said Umut Ozkirimli, of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Lund University, who studies Turkish nationalism. But now it is more of a national hysteria.

Meanwhile, anyone in Turkey questioning the operation, Erdogan said, was a traitor. He singled out the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, which has called for protests against the incursion.

Nobody should take this call seriously, Erdogan said. They will pay the heavy price. This is a national struggle. We would crush anybody who opposes this. There will be no compromises or tolerance on this issue.

Syrian Kurds march during a demonstration in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on Jan. 24, 2018, against the Turkish assault on the border enclave of Afrin. (Delil Souleiman / AFP/Getty Images )

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Among more than 150 people detained since the start of the operation were two leaders from the party. Even though it is the second largest opposition party in parliament, more than a dozen of its lawmakers face terrorism charges because of views that the government says support the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party.

In Istanbuls Kadikoy neighborhood, popular with opposition voters, police detained 11 people at a protest against the operation, and prosecutors later charged them with participating in an unlawful demonstration. Authorities in several provinces in the predominantly Kurdish southeast imposed a blanket ban on demonstrations against the operation.

The operation has also fanned anti-American fervor.

That the U.S.  is targeting not only Syria and Iraq but also Turkey is no longer a debate, wrote Ibrahim Karagul, a columnist with the Turkish daily Yeni Safak.

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There are other fissures in the relationship between the two countries. Erdogan and his aides have accused Washington of protecting Fethullah Gulen, an Islamic cleric who they say orchestrated a failed 2016 military coup and is a terrorist. The Justice Department has said there are no grounds to extradite the cleric, who has lived in rural Pennsylvania for nearly two decades.

Trump also complained that several U.S. citizens and local U.S. Embassy employees were among those targeted by a government-led crackdown after the coup attempt, when Turkish authorities arrested or fired tens of thousands of teachers, journalists, judges, human rights activists and others.

There is debate within the administration about whether the relationship with Ankara can be repaired. Some experts believe Washington will eventually slap Turkey with sanctions related to banking practices, weapons purchases and the detention of an American pastor.

If the U.S. doesnt attach repercussions to its concerns, and make those repercussions high enough, it is not likely they will be listened to, Howard Eissenstat, an expert on Turkey at St. Lawrence University, said.

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Special correspondents Farooq and Bulos reported from Istanbul and Aleppo, Syria, respectively, and Times staff writer Wilkinson from Washington.

tracy.wilkinson@latimes.comAfter years working in restaurants, Zonia Sibri and her brothers Wilson and Mario Sibri are setting out on their own.

The three Bethlehem siblings opened Sibri's Restaurant at 147 E. Broad St. at the beginning of January, looking to fill what they saw as a hole in the neighborhood. Zonia Sibri said it lacked a neighborhood restaurant serving classic American food at affordable prices.

"There are no restaurants of this kind around here," she said.

The Sibris have been hoping to open their own restaurant for about five years now, she said. Roughly a year ago, they bought the building on East Broad Street and went to work completely renovating the first floor for the eatery. Mario and Wilson handle the cooking, while Zonia presides over the front-of-house.

Since the restaurant was first announced, its focus has shifted a bit. While early reports said that Sibri's would serve a wide-ranging menu of international cuisine, the siblings now prefer to highlight their more traditional American options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Zonia Sibri said.

Despite that new emphasis, other types of cuisine do make their way into the menu. The brothers' past work at Italian restaurants informs dinner specialties like the pappardelle alfredo and pasta rustico, while Latin American entrees like carne asada and chicken fajitas also appear on the extensive menu.

Still, Zonia Sibri said the restaurant, which seats about 30 people, wants to establish itself as a go-to spot for American cuisine. For breakfast, dishes like waffles, French toast, eggs Benedict ($7.99 to $8.25) and omelettes ($6.99 to $7.99) are their specialties.

For lunch, Zonia Sibri points to the paninis ($9.95) as a popular choice, along with the chicken noodle and French onion soups ($2.25 for a cup and $4.25 for a bowl). Sandwiches like the turkey melt on rye ($8.99) have also been popular.

Sibri's is continuing to tweak its menu according to customers' responses, figuring things out as they go.

"Every day we're getting better," she said.

Sibri's Restaurant is open 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily at 147 E. Broad St., Bethlehem.

Andrew Doerfler may be reached at adoerfler@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @adoerfler or on Facebook.A Pennsylvania congressman announced he will not seek re-election, after reports surfaced that he used taxpayer dollars to settle a sexual harassment claim from a former aide he called a "soul mate."

The decision makes U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan, the latest in a string of powerful men, including other members of Congress, to lose their positions amid a national backlash against sexual harassment.

It comes five days after the accusation and his secret settlement payout were first made public, and two days after interviews in which the congressman seemed to worsen the situation by attempting to defend his actions.

"After consultation with my wife, Carolyn, and with my three sons, and after prayerful reflection, I write to inform you that I will not seek re-election to the United States Congress for the Seventh Congressional District in 2018," Mr. Meehan, a Delaware County Republican, wrote Thursday in a letter to his campaign chairman. "Today I communicated the same to the office of Speaker Paul Ryan."

Meehan's district includes portions of Chester, Montgomery, Berks, and Lancaster counties.

The Inquirer and Daily News obtained a copy of the letter Thursday night.

Mr. Meehan, 62, is now subject to a review by the House Ethics Committee, which he sat on until the reports.

He has said he will repay the taxpayer money if the panel finds that he committed sexual harassment. But he concluded his letter by saying, "I acted, at all times, within the appropriate boundaries of the close relationship I shared with the former employee."

In the letter, Mr. Meehan also elaborated on his use of "soul mate," which drew widespread ridicule and anger after he used it in an interview with the Inquirer and Daily News.

"No characterization of the work relationship I shared with a uniquely close colleague could have been more personally harmful than when I described that coworker as a 'soul-mate,"' Mr. Meehan wrote. "I truly didn't even consider or understand the full implications of the use of that term. Quite simply to me a soul-mate means a uniquely close person who is joined with you on a daily basis, in which you both share the routine successes and strains of a work day."

DEVELOPING: I just sat down with Republican Congressman Pat Meehan who is accused of sexually harrassing a former female staffer. He used taxpayer money to pay her off. He calls her a soulmate but denies any sexual harassment. Here is a letter he sent her. LIVE at 5&6 @CBSPhilly pic.twitter.com/aKO7Ymkfjl -- David Spunt (@DavidSpuntCBS3) January 23, 2018

He said he used the term while trying to honestly answer "very difficult and probing questions," in order to be accountable to his constituents, and "in no way" intended to "suggest a romantic partnership."

"After spending a lengthy amount of time together it is also natural that the connection will be one of a caring attitude toward each other," Mr. Meehan wrote.

His decision opens a major opportunity for Democrats as they seek to recapture the House this fall. He represents a moderate suburban district that leans slightly right, but that went narrowly for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president in 2016.

Until this week he was widely seen as strongly positioned to withstand what may be shaping up as a Democratic wave. His departure could also play into the court-mandated effort to redraw Pennsylvania's congressional maps, since Republicans will not have an incumbent to protect in the Delaware County-based district.

Mr. Meehan's sudden downfall seemed inevitable to most Pennsylvania Republicans after the New York Times revealed his secret settlement Saturday, and his interviews attempting to explain his actions only cemented that belief. Mr. Meehan's letter acknowledged that reality.

Calling the news "a major distraction," Mr. Meehan wrote, "I need to own it because it is my own conduct that fueled the matter." He added, "It is clear to me that under the current conditions, any campaign I would run would not be decided over vital issues but would likely devolve into an ugly spectacle of harsh rhetoric."

He also said that he has never been unfaithful to his wife and that "characterizations of a romantic interest in a coworker are not only unfair, they are wrong."

In his interviews, though, Mr. Meehan did describe developing an "affection" for an aide several decades younger than he is, and said he felt "invited" to describe those feelings to her over ice cream one night. In his interview earlier this week, he said he hoped that by airing his feelings he could keep the relationship from becoming improper.

The aide, however, last year accused Mr. Meehan of sexual harassment, saying he turned hostile toward her after she began a serious relationship with another man and planned to leave his office.

He denied that he harassed his aide or acted inappropriately, but paid her thousands of dollars from his office fund in a confidential agreement to settle her complaint. Congressional leaders want to ban such secret, taxpayer-funded settlements, which have drawn intense scrutiny as more have been revealed.

The attorney for the former aide wrote in a text message Thursday that Mr. Meehan's decision "does not end the need for the House Ethics Committee to continue its investigation into the matter, which my client will fully cooperate with."

Mr. Meehan had been seen as the strongest GOP incumbent in several swing districts around Philadelphia. The former county and federal prosecutor was bolstered by a large campaign fund, a straight-arrow reputation, and a bizarrely shaped district drawn to favor Republicans.

Mr. Meehan's departure this fall, after four terms, will come shortly after he obtained a perch on the House's powerful Ways and Means Committee. It also likely will end a long career in politics.

He previously was the U.S. attorney in Philadelphia under President George W. Bush, and the district attorney for Delaware County. Mr. Meehan also worked as a campaign manager for former Republican Sens. Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum.

Elected to Congress as part of the 2010 tea party wave, he struck a more moderate tone compared with many of his GOP colleagues, including last year, when he voted against the Republican plan to roll back the Affordable Care Act.

His decision will leave yet another open Republican House seat in Pennsylvania, to go along with those being vacated by Reps. Charlie Dent, Lou Barletta, and Bill Shuster. Rep. Tim Murphy also resigned amid a scandal tied to an affair.

Had Mr. Meehan continued to run, his candidacy threatened to weigh on fellow Republicans, who were facing questions about whether they would continue supporting their colleague. Even in Virginia, Democrats are using Mr. Meehan's interviews to urge a vulnerable Republican there, Rep. Barbara Comstock, to return campaign donations she received from him.

Among Pennsylvania Republicans there has been informal talk about "sacrificing" Mr. Meehan's Delaware County-based district, by making it more heavily Democratic, as they try to comply with a state Supreme Court order to draw up fairer congressional maps. Republicans who control the Legislature, the thinking goes, would instead firm up GOP support in neighboring districts where incumbents face tough challenges.

Democrats do not have a clear-cut favorite in the race to replace Mr. Meehan. Their most well-known contender, State Sen. Daylin Leach, suspended his own bid after reports that he used sexually charged language and inappropriately placed his hands on women who worked for him or the party.

Republicans this week were weighing who might be able to run in Mr. Meehan's place, but recruiting may prove difficult given the uncertainty over the shape of the district and a national environment that appears to favor Democrats.Industries Codasip Announces Studio 7, Design and Productivity Tools for Rapid Generation of RISC-V Processors



26.01.2018 11:54:42 - Studio 7 is Codasip's unique collection of software tools for fast and easy generation of RISC-V processors. The latest version of Studio offers extended functionality for complete production, from customizing the design for the target application to generating the hardware and SDKs needed for deployment.



(live-PR.com) - Brno, Czech Republic, 26th January 2018.  Codasip, the leading supplier of RISC-V embedded processor IP, has announced the launch of the 7th generation of its Studio, the unique IP-design and customization software that allows for fast configuration and optimization of RISC-V processors, customer-proprietary processor architectures, and their accompanying software development toolchains.



Studio 7 adds significant new functionality and features, making - Brno, Czech Republic, 26th January 2018.  Codasip, the leading supplier of RISC-V embedded processor IP, has announced the launch of the 7th generation of its Studio, the unique IP-design and customization software that allows for fast configuration and optimization of RISC-V processors, customer-proprietary processor architectures, and their accompanying software development toolchains.Studio 7 adds significant new functionality and features, making it the most advanced and effective technology on the market for tailoring RISC-V processors to meet chip designers application-specific needs. Codasip engineers have used the Studio design flow to create the broadest portfolio of RISC-V processors in the industry, and they now put the power in the hands of customers to further customize and extend the RISC-V instruction set, based on the unique requirements of the algorithms being run.



Studio can be used for:



 processor prototyping for a specific application domain,

 fast design space exploration,

 development of custom extensions using Codasips architecture description CodAL language.



Studio then generates hardware and corresponding SDKs that are aware of the custom extensions, including



 Verilog or VHDL RTL and System Verilog UVM environments,

 testbenches and synthesis scripts,

 full compiler toolchain including advanced profiling and debugging tools,

 both cycle-accurate and fast instruction-accurate simulation tools.



Some of the new features included with Studio 7:



 Native support for industry-standard AMBA interfaces, allowing for easy replacement of other processor cores while reusing your existing, proven peripheral IP.

 IEEE 1149-7-compatible 2-wire JTAG to minimize pin-count.

 Improvements in clock-gating for low-power requirements.

 Major updates to Codespace, the optional Eclipse-based IDE, and the underlying software tools, including support for LLVM 5.0.



Studio 7 is a big step forward for Codasips advanced processor creation technology, and will take the guesswork out of implementing the ever-expanding number of ISA options in the RISC-V specification. Studio can help generate processors well-suited to the widest range of application areas, from machine learning inference engines to host processor DSP offload, networking, and storage, stated Karel Masarik, CEO and co-founder of Codasip. With Studio 7, there is no need to settle for a one-size-fits-all processor.



The Studio 7 processor design and customization tool suite is available now.





About RISC-V



RISC-V is an open, free instruction set architecture (ISA) enabling a new era of processor innovation through open standard collaboration. Born in academia and research, RISC-V ISA delivers a new level of free, extensible software and hardware freedom on architecture, paving the way for the next 50 years of computing design and innovation.



For more information about RISC-V, visit



About Codasip



Codasip delivers leading-edge processor IP and high-level design tools that provide ASIC designers with all the advantages of the RISC-V open-standard ISA, along with the unique ability to automatically optimize the processor IP. As a founding member of the RISC-V Foundation and a long-term supplier of LLVM and GNU-based processor solutions, Codasip is committed to open standards for embedded processors.



Formed in 2006 and headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic, Codasip currently has offices in the US and Europe, with representatives in Asia and Israel.



For more information about Codasips products and services, visit





For further information please contact:

Chris Jones, VP Marketing

Distributed on behalf of Codasip Ltd. by NeonDrum news distribution service (

it the most advanced and effective technology on the market for tailoring RISC-V processors to meet chip designers application-specific needs. Codasip engineers have used the Studio design flow to create the broadest portfolio of RISC-V processors in the industry, and they now put the power in the hands of customers to further customize and extend the RISC-V instruction set, based on the unique requirements of the algorithms being run.Studio can be used for: processor prototyping for a specific application domain, fast design space exploration, development of custom extensions using Codasips architecture description CodAL language.Studio then generates hardware and corresponding SDKs that are aware of the custom extensions, including Verilog or VHDL RTL and System Verilog UVM environments, testbenches and synthesis scripts, full compiler toolchain including advanced profiling and debugging tools, both cycle-accurate and fast instruction-accurate simulation tools.Some of the new features included with Studio 7: Native support for industry-standard AMBA interfaces, allowing for easy replacement of other processor cores while reusing your existing, proven peripheral IP. IEEE 1149-7-compatible 2-wire JTAG to minimize pin-count. Improvements in clock-gating for low-power requirements. Major updates to Codespace, the optional Eclipse-based IDE, and the underlying software tools, including support for LLVM 5.0.Studio 7 is a big step forward for Codasips advanced processor creation technology, and will take the guesswork out of implementing the ever-expanding number of ISA options in the RISC-V specification. Studio can help generate processors well-suited to the widest range of application areas, from machine learning inference engines to host processor DSP offload, networking, and storage, stated Karel Masarik, CEO and co-founder of Codasip. With Studio 7, there is no need to settle for a one-size-fits-all processor.The Studio 7 processor design and customization tool suite is available now.About RISC-VRISC-V is an open, free instruction set architecture (ISA) enabling a new era of processor innovation through open standard collaboration. Born in academia and research, RISC-V ISA delivers a new level of free, extensible software and hardware freedom on architecture, paving the way for the next 50 years of computing design and innovation.For more information about RISC-V, visit www.riscv.org About CodasipCodasip delivers leading-edge processor IP and high-level design tools that provide ASIC designers with all the advantages of the RISC-V open-standard ISA, along with the unique ability to automatically optimize the processor IP. As a founding member of the RISC-V Foundation and a long-term supplier of LLVM and GNU-based processor solutions, Codasip is committed to open standards for embedded processors.Formed in 2006 and headquartered in Brno, Czech Republic, Codasip currently has offices in the US and Europe, with representatives in Asia and Israel.For more information about Codasips products and services, visit www.codasip.com For further information please contact:Chris Jones, VP Marketing jones@codasip.com (408) 857-3236Distributed on behalf of Codasip Ltd. by NeonDrum news distribution service ( www.neondrum.com) Contact information:

Codasip Ltd.







Contact Person:





eMail: eMail



Author:

Liz Hartney

e-mail

Web: http://www.neondrum.com

26.01.2018 11:54:42 -

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 Gopher's (OTCQB: $GOPH) GUARDIAN ORB - Indiegogo Campaign Goes Live Tuesday January 30, 2018



26.01.2018 19:36:43 - The crowdfunding campaign will commence on Tuesday January 30, 2018. Gopher will issue a follow-up press release when the product campaign is live with the direct link for interested consumers.



(live-PR.com) - Gopher's (OTCQB: $GOPH) GUARDIAN ORB - Indiegogo Campaign Goes Live Tuesday January 30, 2018



SAN DIEGO, CA - January 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher" and the "Company"), a development-stage company which specializes in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technologies, announces a the official launch of its Indiegogo

( - Gopher's (OTCQB: $GOPH) GUARDIAN ORB - Indiegogo Campaign Goes Live Tuesday January 30, 2018SAN DIEGO, CA - January 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher" and the "Company"), a development-stage company which specializes in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technologies, announces a the official launch of its Indiegogo www.indiegogo.com/) campaign for its proprietary pet tracking device. The team is launching the sales and marketing campaign through Indiegogo for pet lovers looking for whats next in pet security.



Read this news in full at



The team had previously launched its beta "coming soon" campaign in October 2017. As announced on December 21, 2017, in connection with the Indiegogo



The crowdfunding campaign will commence on Tuesday January 30, 2018. Gopher will issue a follow-up press release when the product campaign is live with the direct link for interested consumers.



The Guardian Orb Pet Tracker is a derivative technology of the GopherInsight technology and is designed to provide its users with local tracking capability using a re-chargeable/replaceable battery source.



The Company has engaged Large Media to run the campaign. Large Media is a Catskill Mountains-based marketing firm that utilizes a data-driven approach combined with creative thinking to deliver social and digital marketing programs. Large Media's client experience includes working with leading Fortune 500 companies, small- to mid-size businesses and the hottest startups including Tile, Coin, Navdy, Vessyl and more. Large Media's work-from-home agency model offers its clients greater attention to detail, insights backed by data and critical thinking. Large Media was founded in 2009.



About Guardian Pet Tracker

How the Pet Tracker works:



www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5ea7541f-e6f8-4010-b1bb-28d2c644d730



About Gopher Protocol Inc.

Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) (Gopher and the "Company") (



Corporate Site:

Press page/ press kit -

Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch:

GOPH disclosure: More info: SEC link /technology abstract:



Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (



Contact:

Dr. Danny Rittman

Gopher Protocol Inc.

VM Only 888-685-7336

Media:



Visit this company:



More info on GOPH at Investorideas.com Visit:



Get News Alerts on Gopher Protocol Inc. GOPH



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Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info:

for its proprietary pet tracking device. The team is launching the sales and marketing campaign through Indiegogo for pet lovers looking for whats next in pet security.Read this news in full at www.investorideas.com/news/2018/bitcoin/01261Stocks.asp The team had previously launched its beta "coming soon" campaign in October 2017. As announced on December 21, 2017, in connection with the Indiegogo www.indiegogo.com crowdfunding consumer campaign, the Company, through its joint venture partner, entered into an agreement with a developer/manufacturer to begin manufacturing prototypes of its proprietary pet tracking device. The manufacturer commenced design of three models which include the Orb Sphere shape - Mobile Unit, Portable Gateway and Static Gateway Unit - Single Channel. Construction drawing commenced, including schematic diagram of the three models, as well as specification of products, features and accessory with packing.The crowdfunding campaign will commence on Tuesday January 30, 2018. Gopher will issue a follow-up press release when the product campaign is live with the direct link for interested consumers.The Guardian Orb Pet Tracker is a derivative technology of the GopherInsight technology and is designed to provide its users with local tracking capability using a re-chargeable/replaceable battery source.The Company has engaged Large Media to run the campaign. Large Media is a Catskill Mountains-based marketing firm that utilizes a data-driven approach combined with creative thinking to deliver social and digital marketing programs. Large Media's client experience includes working with leading Fortune 500 companies, small- to mid-size businesses and the hottest startups including Tile, Coin, Navdy, Vessyl and more. Large Media's work-from-home agency model offers its clients greater attention to detail, insights backed by data and critical thinking. Large Media was founded in 2009.About Guardian Pet Tracker www.guardianpettracker.com/ How the Pet Tracker works:About Gopher Protocol Inc.Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) (Gopher and the "Company") ( gopherprotocol.com/) is a development-stage company which consider itself Native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technology. The Company has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that when commercialized will include smart microchips, mobile application software and supporting cloud software. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile device worldwide. Gopher envisions this system as an internal, private network between all enabled mobile devices providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features.Corporate Site: gopherprotocol.com Press page/ press kit - gopherprotocol.com/?page_id=228 Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch: www.guardianpatch.com/ GOPH disclosure: More info: SEC link /technology abstract:Forward-Looking StatementsCertain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( www.sec.gov) . In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release.Contact:Dr. Danny RittmanGopher Protocol Inc.VM Only 888-685-7336Media: press@gopherprotocol.com Visit this company: gopherprotocol.com/ More info on GOPH at Investorideas.com Visit: www.investorideas.com/CO/GOPH/ Get News Alerts on Gopher Protocol Inc. GOPHThis news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leadersDisclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: GOPH is a PR, social media and publishing client and compensates Investorideas.com (effective April 4, 2016 - three thousand five hundred per month) More disclaimer info: www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894 . Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Contact information:

Gopher Protocol



San Diego, CA



Contact Person:

Danny Rittman

CTO

Phone: 888-685-7336

eMail: eMail



Web: http://gopherprotocol.com/

Author:

Dawn VanZant

e-mail

Web: http://www.investorideas.com

Phone: 800-665-0411 26.01.2018 19:36:43 -

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.Computer & Technology Horst Eckenberger to leave primion

Jorge Pons Vorberg

26.01.2018 11:59:04 - CEO since 2012 / implemented important strategies



(live-PR.com) - Stetten a.k.M., 23rd January 2018. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of the primion Group have informed the staff that CEO Horst Eckenberger has not extended his contract. He will leave the company when his current contract expires at the end of February 2018.



Supervisory Board member Eduardo Unzu Martinez: Mr Eckenberger has decided to take this step for personal - Stetten a.k.M., 23rd January 2018. The Executive Board and the Supervisory Board of the primion Group have informed the staff that CEO Horst Eckenberger has not extended his contract. He will leave the company when his current contract expires at the end of February 2018.Supervisory Board member Eduardo Unzu Martinez: Mr Eckenberger has decided to take this step for personal and family reasons. During his time as CEO, the customer portfolio underwent a successful strategic expansion and many new and important customers were added. Profitability improved significantly and the mechatronic business unit was augmented through the acquisition of the OPERTIS company.



The Supervisory Board thanks Horst Eckenberger for his successful commitment to the company and wishes him all the best for the future.



Horst Eckenberger was appointed to the Board and made CEO of the company by the Supervisory Board from 1st February 2012. Horst Eckenberger: During the last six years, we have been successful in repositioning primion Technology AG step-by-step and in driving forward the integration of the foreign subsidiaries, GET in Belgium and DIGITEK in Spain. The strategy of manufacturing hardware and software in-house, of carrying out continuous development and of implementing the latest technologies has proved itself to be the right one. I am pleased to have been able to be a part of primions success.



There are no plans to change this strategy going forward. Jorge Pons Vorberg, CFO of primion Technology AG has agreed to take over the position of CEO on an interim basis. He has been with the company since 1st March 2014 and has played an important role in all the strategically important decisions.

The primion group is an internationally operating group of companies, with subsidiaries and regional offices throughout Europe and a widespread international network of System Integration Partners. primion develops, produces and installs Access control and Time recording software and hardware together with systems for comprehensive security management. primion offers tailored security technology and hazard management solutions from standardised components for security-critical environments and infrastructures such as airports, research institutes, laboratories, banks, public buildings, and many more. We are continually expanding our position in the market with our reliable solutions, our innovative products and our top consultancy services across all industries and for all sizes of company and organisation. First class references from around the world as well as our numerous awards and certificates and sought-after international Design Prizes add weight to this claim. Around the world, more than 5,000 customers have placed their confidence in the primion solutions. primion, its subsidiaries Opertis, primion S.A.S. In France, GET in Belgium and Digitek in Spain as well as System partner companies operating around the world, share the responsibility for sales and of course for the full range of after-sales services.

The primion group is an internationally operating group of companies, with subsidiaries and regional offices throughout Europe and a widespread international network of System Integration Partners. primion develops, produces and installs Access control and Time recording software and hardware together with systems for comprehensive security management. primion offers tailored security technology and hazard management solutions from standardised components for security-critical environments and infrastructures such as airports, research institutes, laboratories, banks, public buildings, and many more. We are continually expanding our position in the market with our reliable solutions, our innovative products and our top consultancy services across all industries and for all sizes of company and organisation. First class references from around the world as well as our numerous awards and certificates and sought-after international Design Prizes add weight to this claim. Around the world, more than 5,000 customers have placed their confidence in the primion solutions. primion, its subsidiaries Opertis, primion S.A.S. In France, GET in Belgium and Digitek in Spain as well as System partner companies operating around the world, share the responsibility for sales and of course for the full range of after-sales services.

and family reasons. During his time as CEO, the customer portfolio underwent a successful strategic expansion and many new and important customers were added. Profitability improved significantly and the mechatronic business unit was augmented through the acquisition of the OPERTIS company.The Supervisory Board thanks Horst Eckenberger for his successful commitment to the company and wishes him all the best for the future.Horst Eckenberger was appointed to the Board and made CEO of the company by the Supervisory Board from 1st February 2012. Horst Eckenberger: During the last six years, we have been successful in repositioning primion Technology AG step-by-step and in driving forward the integration of the foreign subsidiaries, GET in Belgium and DIGITEK in Spain. The strategy of manufacturing hardware and software in-house, of carrying out continuous development and of implementing the latest technologies has proved itself to be the right one. I am pleased to have been able to be a part of primions success.There are no plans to change this strategy going forward. Jorge Pons Vorberg, CFO of primion Technology AG has agreed to take over the position of CEO on an interim basis. He has been with the company since 1st March 2014 and has played an important role in all the strategically important decisions.The primion group is an internationally operating group of companies, with subsidiaries and regional offices throughout Europe and a widespread international network of System Integration Partners. primion develops, produces and installs Access control and Time recording software and hardware together with systems for comprehensive security management. primion offers tailored security technology and hazard management solutions from standardised components for security-critical environments and infrastructures such as airports, research institutes, laboratories, banks, public buildings, and many more. We are continually expanding our position in the market with our reliable solutions, our innovative products and our top consultancy services across all industries and for all sizes of company and organisation. First class references from around the world as well as our numerous awards and certificates and sought-after international Design Prizes add weight to this claim. Around the world, more than 5,000 customers have placed their confidence in the primion solutions. primion, its subsidiaries Opertis, primion S.A.S. In France, GET in Belgium and Digitek in Spain as well as System partner companies operating around the world, share the responsibility for sales and of course for the full range of after-sales services.The primion group is an internationally operating group of companies, with subsidiaries and regional offices throughout Europe and a widespread international network of System Integration Partners. primion develops, produces and installs Access control and Time recording software and hardware together with systems for comprehensive security management. primion offers tailored security technology and hazard management solutions from standardised components for security-critical environments and infrastructures such as airports, research institutes, laboratories, banks, public buildings, and many more. We are continually expanding our position in the market with our reliable solutions, our innovative products and our top consultancy services across all industries and for all sizes of company and organisation. First class references from around the world as well as our numerous awards and certificates and sought-after international Design Prizes add weight to this claim. Around the world, more than 5,000 customers have placed their confidence in the primion solutions. primion, its subsidiaries Opertis, primion S.A.S. In France, GET in Belgium and Digitek in Spain as well as System partner companies operating around the world, share the responsibility for sales and of course for the full range of after-sales services. Press Information:

primion Technology AG



Steinbeisstr. 2-5

72510 Stetten a.k.M.





Contact Person:

Jittamas Sauer

Marketing

Phone: 0 75 73 / 95 2-0

eMail: eMail



Web: http://www.primion-group.com





26.01.2018 11:59:04 -

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.Wirtschaft & Industrie



SCHWING Technologies at Plastindia 2018

Andreas Guderjahn, Sales expert - SCHWING Technologies, Photo credit: SCHWING Technologies, Alexandra Schonberger

25.01.2018 23:38:16 - February 2018 is all about this years edition of the leading Indian fair in the field of plastics, Plastindia. For the tenth time, visitors have from 7th to 12th February 2018 the chance to learn in Indian Gandhinagar about the trends and innovations in the international plastics industry.



25.01.2018 23:38:16 - (live-PR.com) -

Neukirchen-Vluyn, 24th January 2018. February 2018 is all about this years edition of the leading Indian fair in the field of plastics, Plastindia. For the tenth time, visitors have from 7th to 12th February 2018 the chance to learn in Indian Gandhinagar about the trends and innovations in the international plastics industry. The thermal cleaning expert SCHWING Technologies is present as exhibitor on the spot (Hall 8, Booth E 37) and informs about its tailor-made solutions for energy efficient cleaning of polymer-contaminated tools and machinery parts. With its Green Cleaning Solutions, SCHWING is a successful specialist internationally and a leader in technologies for removing all types of plastics. Made in Germany - since 1969.



SCHWING Cleaning Solutions

The German machinery producer has brought to show to the Indian and international audience at Plastindia 2018 four different systems for all types of polymers. With our VACUCLEAN, MAXICLEAN, INNOVACLEAN and COMPACTCLEAN lines, and with our cleaning know-how, we guarantee perfect cleaning results, testifies Andreas Guderjahn, SCHWING Sales Expert. Our systems operate perfectly efficiently and reliably. They clean in an entirely non-destructive, energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner, and positively without addition of any chemicals, and optionally also without the use of gas.



Benefits for the Plastics Industry

Every three years, the industry meets in the most prominent fair of the Indian plastics industry. We expect great interest in our systems and solutions, says Guderjahn. Many plastics manufacturers still clean in India manually and mechanically and are eminently interested in our equipment. India is a fascinating and expanding market. Thats why it makes perfect sense to show yourself in the fair and excite new customers for our solutions and technologies. Indian customers appreciate the direct and personal exchange on the spot and the opportunity to outline their specific needs and consult various topics, according to the SCHWING expert. Along with his Indian colleague Sunil Chalishajar, he would be able to explain each system in a very targeted manner, with a focus on actual needs and in great detail. Additionally based on positive cleaning results, he would be able to practically demonstrate the actual potential of SCHWING equipment. This means many benefits for our customers: there is a substantial improvement in availability of machinery, explains Guderjahn. This in turn saves time and costs and results in better quality of plastics manufacturing. Because quality is paramount.



SCHWING Cleaning Systems

For the plastics manufacturing industries, German cleaning specialist SCHWING supplies a number of different systems. These are all precisely controllable and user friendly, operate in an energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner and remove reliably and with no residues all kinds of polymers.



VACUCLEAN Vacuum Pyrolysis System

Machinery parts involved for example in extrusion processes can be perfectly cleaned with the easy-to-install, gas-free VACUCLEAN vacuum pyrolysis system. The system cleans large tools and components in a highly precise, safe and non-destructive manner. At the end of a cleaning procedure, pelletizing nozzles and heads, filter bundles, filter discs, blow film dies, extruder screws and spinning, meltblown or spunbond nozzles all look like new.



INNOVACLEAN Fluidised Bed System

INNOVACLEAN stands for a fluidised bed technology that is primarily aimed at the injection moulding industry. The technology is perfectly suited for all polymers including high-temperature polymers such as LCP, PEI, PPS, PI, but also PVC and halogenated polymers such as PTFE. The system is particularly useful to clean perforated plates, screw elements, special profile dies, hot-runner systems, spinning nozzles and assembled spin packs.



MAXICLEAN Pyrolysis System

Large tools and components such as heat exchangers, extruder screws, large extrusion moulds, pelletizing discs or large hot-runner moulds can best be cleaned in the gas-heated MAXICLEAN pyrolysis furnace.



COMPACTCLEAN Pyrolysis System

For small tools and components, SCHWING recommends the COMPACTCLEAN compact pyrolysis line. In a single procedural step, the system removes all organic contaminants for example from small parts such as spray nozzles, needle valve nozzles, perforated plates, non-return valves, screw tips, filter discs, mixers and hot-runner systems.



Additionally, SCHWING offers complete cleaning processes: from disassembly through thermal cleaning and after-treatment up to inspection.



Further informationen:



SCHWING Technologies

SCHWING Technologies has been operating since 1969 and is the worldwide technological leader for high-temperature systems for thermal cleaning, thermo-chemical finishing and heat treatment of metal parts and tools. The owner-managed company constructs, manufactures and operates its systems at its headquarters in Neukirchen-Vluyn in Germany's Lower Rhine region. Built upon the achievements of German engineering, the medium-sized business is globally the best-known specialist in the removal of plastics. Among its around 2,500 international clients are companies from the plastics and fiber industries, as well as from the chemicals, metals and automobile sectors. With its 80-strong personnel, the company is equipped with the tools and systems for any cleaning need and delivers the best economy, ecology and quality. SCHWING is also a reliable service partner for contract cleaning by cleaning more than 250,000 tools and parts each year to the highest environmental and qualitative standards. In the words of Ewald and Thomas Schwing, the two managing directors at SCHWING Technologies GmbH, So far, there has not been a single component that we have not been able to free from polymers and inorganic contaminants.









Presse-Information:

SCHWING Technologies GmbH



Oderstrae 7

47506 Neukirchen-Vluyn

Germany



Kontakt-Person:

Nicola Leffelsend

Public Relations

Telefon: +49 2845 930 146

E-Mail: e-Mail



Web: http://www.schwing-technologies.com

Neukirchen-Vluyn, 24th January 2018. February 2018 is all about this years edition of the leading Indian fair in the field of plastics, Plastindia. For the tenth time, visitors have from 7th to 12th February 2018 the chance to learn in Indian Gandhinagar about the trends and innovations in the international plastics industry. The thermal cleaning expert SCHWING Technologies is present as exhibitor on the spot (Hall 8, Booth E 37) and informs about its tailor-made solutions for energy efficient cleaning of polymer-contaminated tools and machinery parts. With its Green Cleaning Solutions, SCHWING is a successful specialist internationally and a leader in technologies for removing all types of plastics. Made in Germany - since 1969.SCHWING Cleaning SolutionsThe German machinery producer has brought to show to the Indian and international audience at Plastindia 2018 four different systems for all types of polymers. With our VACUCLEAN, MAXICLEAN, INNOVACLEAN and COMPACTCLEAN lines, and with our cleaning know-how, we guarantee perfect cleaning results, testifies Andreas Guderjahn, SCHWING Sales Expert. Our systems operate perfectly efficiently and reliably. They clean in an entirely non-destructive, energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner, and positively without addition of any chemicals, and optionally also without the use of gas.Benefits for the Plastics IndustryEvery three years, the industry meets in the most prominent fair of the Indian plastics industry. We expect great interest in our systems and solutions, says Guderjahn. Many plastics manufacturers still clean in India manually and mechanically and are eminently interested in our equipment. India is a fascinating and expanding market. Thats why it makes perfect sense to show yourself in the fair and excite new customers for our solutions and technologies. Indian customers appreciate the direct and personal exchange on the spot and the opportunity to outline their specific needs and consult various topics, according to the SCHWING expert. Along with his Indian colleague Sunil Chalishajar, he would be able to explain each system in a very targeted manner, with a focus on actual needs and in great detail. Additionally based on positive cleaning results, he would be able to practically demonstrate the actual potential of SCHWING equipment. This means many benefits for our customers: there is a substantial improvement in availability of machinery, explains Guderjahn. This in turn saves time and costs and results in better quality of plastics manufacturing. Because quality is paramount.SCHWING Cleaning SystemsFor the plastics manufacturing industries, German cleaning specialist SCHWING supplies a number of different systems. These are all precisely controllable and user friendly, operate in an energy efficient and environmentally friendly manner and remove reliably and with no residues all kinds of polymers.VACUCLEAN Vacuum Pyrolysis SystemMachinery parts involved for example in extrusion processes can be perfectly cleaned with the easy-to-install, gas-free VACUCLEAN vacuum pyrolysis system. The system cleans large tools and components in a highly precise, safe and non-destructive manner. At the end of a cleaning procedure, pelletizing nozzles and heads, filter bundles, filter discs, blow film dies, extruder screws and spinning, meltblown or spunbond nozzles all look like new.INNOVACLEAN Fluidised Bed SystemINNOVACLEAN stands for a fluidised bed technology that is primarily aimed at the injection moulding industry. The technology is perfectly suited for all polymers including high-temperature polymers such as LCP, PEI, PPS, PI, but also PVC and halogenated polymers such as PTFE. The system is particularly useful to clean perforated plates, screw elements, special profile dies, hot-runner systems, spinning nozzles and assembled spin packs.MAXICLEAN Pyrolysis SystemLarge tools and components such as heat exchangers, extruder screws, large extrusion moulds, pelletizing discs or large hot-runner moulds can best be cleaned in the gas-heated MAXICLEAN pyrolysis furnace.COMPACTCLEAN Pyrolysis SystemFor small tools and components, SCHWING recommends the COMPACTCLEAN compact pyrolysis line. In a single procedural step, the system removes all organic contaminants for example from small parts such as spray nozzles, needle valve nozzles, perforated plates, non-return valves, screw tips, filter discs, mixers and hot-runner systems.Additionally, SCHWING offers complete cleaning processes: from disassembly through thermal cleaning and after-treatment up to inspection.Further informationen: www.schwing-technologies.com SCHWING TechnologiesSCHWING Technologies has been operating since 1969 and is the worldwide technological leader for high-temperature systems for thermal cleaning, thermo-chemical finishing and heat treatment of metal parts and tools. The owner-managed company constructs, manufactures and operates its systems at its headquarters in Neukirchen-Vluyn in Germany's Lower Rhine region. Built upon the achievements of German engineering, the medium-sized business is globally the best-known specialist in the removal of plastics. Among its around 2,500 international clients are companies from the plastics and fiber industries, as well as from the chemicals, metals and automobile sectors. With its 80-strong personnel, the company is equipped with the tools and systems for any cleaning need and delivers the best economy, ecology and quality. SCHWING is also a reliable service partner for contract cleaning by cleaning more than 250,000 tools and parts each year to the highest environmental and qualitative standards. In the words of Ewald and Thomas Schwing, the two managing directors at SCHWING Technologies GmbH, So far, there has not been a single component that we have not been able to free from polymers and inorganic contaminants.

Erklarung: Der Autor versichert, dass die veroffentlichten Inhalte in dieser Pressemitteilung der Wahrheit entsprechen und dem gesetzlichen Urheberrechte unterliegen.Stock Market News

China's economic 'brain' Liu He named vice premier 26-01-2018 13:03



Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.ukA state appeals court cast doubt Thursday on the constitutionality of the bail system in California, saying the common practice of setting cash amounts so high that a suspect cant afford them is justified only for those who are too dangerous to release before trial.

A defendant may not be imprisoned solely due to poverty, said the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco in a ruling that ordered a new bail hearing for a robbery suspect held on $350,000 bail, which he cant afford to pay.

Legislation is desperately needed, the court said, to address the enduring unwillingness of our society, including the courts ... to correct a deformity in our criminal justice system.

The ruling, if it stands, would require judges across the state to change their common practice of setting bail in fixed amounts determined by the crimes charged and the defendants record.

The cash bail system is under attack on multiple fronts in California. Critics  including the states chief justice, Tani Cantil-Sakauye  say it doesnt promote public safety and is unfair to the poor, who remain in jail while wealthier defendants charged with the same crimes are freed. Defenders of the system, including bail bond companies, say bail provides the best assurance that a defendant will show up in court.

Legislation is pending in Sacramento to overhaul the system and require judges to assess defendants individually and use supervised release and electronic monitoring instead of monetary bail in most cases. A federal judge in Oakland, in a separate case, has cleared the way for a trial on the constitutionality of the bail system.

Attorney General Xavier Becerra has joined the critics, saying in a court filing in the current case that his office would not defend any application of the bail law that does not take into consideration a persons ability to pay, or alternative methods of ensuring a persons appearance at trial. His office also agreed that the defendant, Kenneth Humphrey, is entitled to a new bail hearing.

Humphrey, 63, of San Francisco, is charged with entering the apartment of a 79-year-old man in May, threatening to put a pillowcase over his head and stealing $5 and a bottle of cologne.

Humphrey, a retired shipyard worker who lived in the same building, had been addicted to drugs most of his life, was enrolled in a rehabilitation program and had felony convictions from 1992 and earlier. A Superior Court judge initially set his bail at $600,000 based on the charges and Humphreys record, and later lowered it to $350,000 based on his willingness to undergo treatment. It was still an amount Humphrey could not afford, and he remains in jail.

The appeals court said the trial judge must hold a new hearing and determine how much bail Humphrey can afford and whether he could be safely released without bail. The judge can set bail in a higher amount only after finding by clear and convincing evidence that there was no other way to protect the public or to assure Humphreys return to court after release, the court said.

It is the trial judges responsibility to ensure that a defendant not be held in custody solely because he or she lacks financial resources, Presiding Justice J. Anthony Kline said in the 3-0 ruling. That duty cannot be met by relying on a fixed bail schedule that effectively results in pretrial detention orders, he said.

Humphreys lawyer, Alec Karakatsanis of the nonprofit organization Civil Rights Corps, praised the ruling.

The use of money bail to detain impoverished human beings in cages as they await trial has caused enormous suffering for far too long in California, he said. This ruling will go a long way toward ending that costly and devastating system.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter:@BobEgelkoHeavens on Earth: The Scientific Search for the Afterlife, Immortality, and Utopia

By Michael Shermer

Holt. 305 pp. $30

---

Midway into this ambitious, erudite volume, science historian and professional skeptic Michael Shermer relates this intriguing personal story: In 2014, his fiancee (now wife) Jennifer Graf had moved to California from Germany, bringing with her a Philips transistor radio, a gift from her late and beloved grandfather, Walter. Walter had been a surrogate father to Graf, and she had fond memories of listening to music with him, but the radio wasn't working. She and Shermer switched out the batteries, tried various stations and otherwise fiddled with the machine, but in frustration ended up tossing it into a desk drawer in the bedroom.

Months later, following a small wedding ceremony at their home, Graf was feeling melancholy and disconnected from her family. The newlyweds took a quiet moment together, away from the group, and at that precise moment music started wafting from the bedroom. They followed the sound, which was a love song, and traced it to the desk drawer, indeed to the "broken" radio. It was, Shermer recalls in his book "Heavens on Earth," a "spine-tingling experience."

And it gets better. The radio could have been tuned to any station, or to no station at all, but it was playing just the kind of emotionally comforting music the couple needed at that moment. The radio continued to broadcast similar music all evening, then went silent. It has remained silent since, despite Shermer's efforts to revive it.

What are we to make of Shermer's "spine-tingling experience?" What does Shermer make of it, long after the fact? He is a trained scientist and, more important, a devoted skeptic who has built a career debunking any and all claims of the paranormal. Yet by his own account he has difficulty dismissing this extraordinary experience as a psychic anomaly. The physics of the radio suddenly playing might be easily explained - a change in humidity, a speck of dust, whatever - but the timing and emotional significance of the experience are uncanny, and indeed impossible to explain with the scientific insights available to us now.

Shermer devotes considerable space to this personal story, as I have here, because it encapsulates the human condition. Ever since the earliest humans became aware of their mortality, they - we - have been striving to make sense of the big chill and what comes after. Death is undeniable, yet unknowable, a mystery that eludes our intellect, so we must come up with ways to make it all meaningful, something more than nothingness. This dilemma leads inevitably to explanations - beliefs - that include immortality, the soul, resurrection and, most important here, heaven.

Consider the vocabulary we humans have invented for heaven: the afterlife, Arcadia, dreamland, Eden, Elysium, hereafter, kingdom come, paradise, land of milk and honey, nirvana, Shangri-La, Zion. By any other name, Shermer writes, heaven is "the empyrean residence of gods and other preternatural essences - angels, demons, ghosts, souls - that have, to append a few common idioms, transcended, crossed over, passed through, passed away, given up the ghost, or gone the way of all flesh from the here and now into the hereafter." The belief that death is not final is overwhelmingly popular: Since the 1990s, the Gallup polling organization has consistently found that about 3 in 4 Americans believe in heaven of some kind. A survey of people in 23 countries found that more than half of respondents believe in an afterlife. So pervasive is this conviction that even a third of agnostics and atheists proclaim belief in an afterlife.

Shermer acknowledges that some believers draw solace and sustenance from their belief in heaven and that they require no proof. But as a professional skeptic, he thinks it's important to put these powerful and pervasive ideas to the test, with the same rigor that one would use with ESP or alien abduction. Approximately 100 billion humans have come and gone since the beginning of time, he notes, and not a single one has returned to confirm the existence of an afterlife, "at least not to the high evidentiary standards of science."

The core of "Heavens on Earth" does just that, bringing the high evidentiary standards of science to bear on heavenly claims. Shermer examines the claims of spiritual seekers, who see consciousness as primary, an essence from which all human experience is derived. He tries to take these views seriously - especially those of his friend and intellectual rival Deepak Chopra, the most prominent American proponent of these ideas. He even attends a conference and meditation training at the Chopra Center in California. But in the end he is critical of Chopra's lack of rigor, dismissing his writing and thinking as "gobbledygook" and "pseudo-profound bafflegab."

He also essays the claims of those who have documented near-death experiences, especially those who use these anecdotes as evidence of afterlife and resurrection. As intriguing as these reports from beyond may be for some, their characteristics - the out-of-body experiences, the bright lights and dark tunnels - can be better explained by neuroscience than accepted as miracles. Shermer is similarly dismissive of other psychological anomalies that have been offered and taken as evidence of reincarnation and time travel, among other phenomena. He includes his own radio experience with these unconvincing proofs of the paranormal.

So what did happen on the evening of the wedding ceremony, when Graf's grandfather, Walter, seemed to comfort her from the great beyond? For an answer, Shermer turns to the sci-fi film "Interstellar," in which the hero passes through a wormhole and saves humankind by communicating through portals from another dimension. It's a far-fetched plot - and a bizarre explanation for the well-timed love song - but Shermer argues that it's at least grounded in natural law and forces. What if grandfather Walter exists in another dimension, where he can see Graf at all times of her life simultaneously and use gravitational waves from a near wormhole to turn on his old radio?

Okay, so this is wild speculation. We don't yet have the science to explain spectacularly unlikely events. But until we do, Shermer says, we don't have to fill in the explanatory gaps with gods and preternatural forces. Instead, he concludes: "Revel in the mystery and drink in the unknown. It is where science and wonder meet."

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Herbert is the author of "On Second Thought: Outsmarting Your Mind's Hard-Wired Habits."Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics

By R. Marie Griffith

Basic. 416 pp. $32

---

Late last fall, as the #MeToo movement gained traction, a Time magazine poll found that Democrats were more likely to believe women's allegations of sexual harassment than their Republican counterparts, and that Republicans were twice as likely to think that the men in question were being treated unfairly by the media; more than half of the Republican respondents saw the movement as a "distraction." December also brought a sharp contrast between the resignation of Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) after accusations of inappropriate sexual behavior and President Trump's support for Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore, who faced allegations of sexual conduct with a minor.

Partisan responses to sexual harassment are nothing new. In her magisterial new book, "Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics," R. Marie Griffith takes us back to the 1990s and incisively compares two moments from that era: Anita Hill's testimony during Justice Clarence Thomas' confirmation hearings and Paula Jones' allegations against President Bill Clinton.

When conservative Christian leaders pilloried Hill but rallied to Jones' defense, they "flipped from merely opposing 'sexual harassment' as an idea cooked up by lefty feminists to deploying it selectively in defense of Christian virtue." Griffith's observations are eerily prescient. Whether one tolerates misogyny or apologizes for it is a highly variable thing. Where were the conservative Christians calling for Moore's downfall the way they called for Clinton's?

"Moral Combat" is an impressive history of the massive fault line running through American history and politics: namely, sex. In eight rich chapters that span a century, Griffith traces the ridge where the tectonic plates of very different kinds of Christians have abutted, telling the "story of the steady breakdown, since the early twentieth century, of a onetime Christian consensus about sexual morality and gender roles and of the battles over sex among self-professed Christians - and between some groups of Christians and non-Christians - that resulted."

The book's vast scope is humanized through Griffith's artful use of key figures to anchor each chapter. It begins with Margaret Sanger and the birth-control fights of the 1920s, then moves through censorship wars and the spiritual mysticism of novelist D.H. Lawrence; anti-miscegenation statutes and the groundbreaking work of anthropologist Ruth Benedict; Alfred Kinsey's work on female sexuality; and, bringing us to the late 1960s, Mary Steichen Calderone's advocacy for sex education and Billy James Hargis' vehement opposition to it.

The abortion wars of the 1970s and 1980s are refracted through the story of Howard Moody, a Baptist minister who supported women seeking safe abortions. After a foray into the sexual harassment scandals of the 1990s, Griffith parses the breakneck pace of changes in LGBTQ rights (and rites) in the early 2000s by focusing on Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church.

The long reach of "Moral Combat" demonstrates that "the virtual civil war that has come to seem such a disheartening and permanent part of our nation's social and political fabric" has a long, nuanced history. It is a history in which Kinsey received fan mail from ministers, and leaders of many religious groups advocated for the right to safe abortions. It is also one in which New York pastor John S. Wimbish declared that Kinsey's report "constitutes an attack on our American way of life more overwhelming than that of Pearl Harbor" and in which the Rev.Jerry Falwell famously blamed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on "the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians." Griffith clearly demonstrates that American history is not a story of religion vs. sexual freedom. Rather, it is one of extraordinarily varying religious approaches to such freedoms.

With its crisp prose and lively quotations, "Moral Combat" is accessible for a wide readership. It is also a critical scholarly contribution to the intersecting histories of sex, race, politics and religion in the United States.

My chief concern about this otherwise fantastic work is that it is set up as a kind of declension narrative: itself a popular American Christian genre as old as the republic. Further, despite the book's nuanced readings, the focus on conflict could lead some readers to reduce the story to one of sex-positive Christians vs. sex-negative ones. To be clear, this is not Griffith's intent. The voices of her diverse cast of characters shine forth in moments of ambiguity and richly drawn portraits that belie easy caricatures.

If anything, binaries emerge from "Moral Combat" because some of the actors portrayed within it luxuriate in the rhetoric of battle. Terms such as "militant feminists" and "femi-Nazis" jump out from the page. The virulent hate mail sent to Calderone in the late 1960s is telling. Enraged by her advocacy for sex education in Southern California, opponents called her "a reptile of a woman" and a "misfit prostitute of hell," among other choice epithets.

This level of vitriol - and worse - is familiar to most Twitter users today, particularly to female activists. Like sexual harassment and partisan bickering, it is not new. If Griffith depicts a war, perhaps it is because the evidence points that way.

The question moving forward, then, is this: Is there a way out of our polarized national struggle over sex? As the book's epilogue attests, the 2016 election was the zenith of this conflict, a battle over "the candidates' very identities, embodying the culture war over sexuality in the most literal way." One year later, the pendulum on sexuality in America keeps swinging. Sometimes it seems to shift in a single news cycle. In tracking its perennial arcs, Griffith's history reveals the high stakes and human costs of these battles.

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Eichler-Levine is the Berman professor of Jewish civilization and an associate professor of religion studies at Lehigh University. She is the author of "Suffer the Little Children: Uses of the Past in Jewish and African American Children's Literature."Westerns must be shot big, but their stories must be small.

The uniquely American film genre is uniquely ours, if only because we're the ones with the necessary landscape. Even countries that do have the land don't have the mythos; the Canadians might have land from sea to shining sea, but they never had a Wild West. If anything, they had a Mild West, amirite? (Thank you! Tip your waitress!)

"Hostiles" gets the look of both the West and the Western right. Joseph Blocker, an Army captain (Christian Bale, turning the glowering up to 11) takes on One Last Job: escorting a dying Cheyenne chief (Wes Studi) - who Blocker once met in combat - from New Mexico to Montana so he can die in his homeland.

On the way, Blocker and his Merry Band of Western Cliches find Rosalie (Rosamund Pike), a woman whose entire family was murdered by Indians in one of the film's most gripping scenes. As the group moves farther and farther north, a lot happens. So much happens. SO MUCH happens that a more accurate title would be "Hostiles: Oh, God, NOW What?"

As the film moves from sandy scrub to lush prairie, writer-director Scott Cooper ("Crazy Heart") captures the scenery admirably well. "Hostiles" looks like a Western, but Scott seems to have forgotten that all the best Westerns, no matter how big the landscape, are each about one thing. Obsession in "The Searchers." Greed in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." Solitary bravery in "High Noon." Even the TV miniseries "Lonesome Dove," which is six hours long, is, in the end, about friendship.

Cooper expects Blocker, Bale and the movie as a whole to shoulder theme after theme and carry them every step of the way. At various points, "Hostiles" hits on forgiveness, the existence of God, grief, the difference between justice and revenge, the systematic cruelty of some whites toward Indians, the intermittent brutality of some Indians toward whites, and an absolute chuck wagon full of guilt. There is so much to do that none of it gets done well.

The most American thing about Westerns is that they emphasize individuality, the role of one man (usually) in a large expanse. America has - for good or for ill - so emphasized individuality that the genre of film that most belongs to us uses it as its defining feature. So much of our country is so big - deals and ideas, men and myths - that it can be hard to remember that the story of America is not some behemoth that leapt from the Mayflower fully formed. It is a collection of millions of little tales: Some of them are about standing up, some of them are about standing out and some of them are about sitting silently by.

"Hostiles" tries to sum up America's experience in the West in one movie and in one man, but that's not how a Western or, frankly, life works. The sky is big - it's the stories that are small.Los Angeles

Olivia Cole, who won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Matilda, wife to Chicken George in the landmark miniseries "Roots," has died, a burial association executive said. She was 75.

Cole died last Friday at her home in San Miguel de Allende, a central Mexico city, said Linda Cooper, executive secretary of the 24 Horas de San Miguel de Allende cremation and burial group.

The cause of death was a heart attack, Cooper said.

Cole received an Emmy Award for her role in ABC's smash hit 1977 drama based on African-American writer Alex Haley's book "Roots," which dramatized the lives of his ancestors from West Africa to slavery and post-Civil War.

She was the first African American to win in the Emmy category of best supporting actress in a miniseries.

In the late 1970s, Cole reportedly lamented that Hollywood failed to respond to "Roots" with more opportunities for black actors. She wasn't alone.

"You'd think somebody might have followed up with stories about other black families and experiences. Nobody followed up," series executive producer David L. Wolper told The Associated Press in 2002, the drama's 25th anniversary.

Ben Vereen played Chicken George in the ensemble cast that also included LeVar Burton, Leslie Uggams, Cicely Tyson and Madge Sinclair.

Cole, a native of Memphis, Tennessee, pursued her education at New York City's Hunter College High School, Bard College in New York and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, from which she graduated with honors in 1964. She also earned a theater arts master's degree from the University of Minnesota.

Her first credited screen performance came in the daytime serial "Guiding Light" in 1969, with other TV and movie credits including "North and South," Oprah Winfrey's "The Women of Brewster Place" and "Coming Home."

Cole received a lead-actress Emmy nomination for the 1979 miniseries "Backstairs at the White House."

She embraced stage work, appearing regularly on Broadway in the 1960s and '70s in plays including "The Merchant of Venice," "You Can't Take It With You" and "The School for Scandal."

In her adopted town of San Miguel de Allende, Cole held readings of Shakespeare's plays for three decades, The New York Times said.

"She once told me that she thought she had done her best work in the Shakespeare group, just because she was learning so much," Wendy Sievert, a friend of Cole's, said.

Cole, who was divorced from actor Richard Venture, is survived by cousins, according to Cooper.Fiction

1. The Woman in the Window: By A.J. Finn. A recluse who drinks heavily and takes prescription drugs may have witnessed a crime across from her Harlem town house.

2. The Wife Between Us: By Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. The connections linking a hedge fund manager, his ex-wife and his fiancee are explored from several points of view.

3. Origin: By Dan Brown. A symbology professor goes on a perilous quest with a beautiful museum director.

4. The Rooster Bar: By John Grisham. Three students at a sleazy for-profit law school hope to expose the student-loan banker who runs it.

5. Little Fires Everywhere: By Celeste Ng. An artist upends a quiet town outside Cleveland.

6. Sing, Unburied, Sing: By Jesmyn Ward. A 13-year-old boy comes of age in Mississippi while his black mother takes him and his toddler sister to pick up their white father, who is getting released from the state penitentiary.

7. The Immortalists: By Chloe Benjamin. Four adolescents learn the dates of their deaths from a psychic and their lives go on different courses.

8. Before We Were Yours: By Lisa Wingate. A South Carolina lawyer learns about the questionable practices of a Tennessee orphanage.

9. Blood Fury: By J.R. Ward. The third book in the Black Dagger Legacy series.

10. Robicheaux: By James Lee Burke. A bereaved detective confronts his past and works to clear his name when he becomes a suspect during an investigation into the murder of the man who killed his wife.

Nonfiction

1. Fire and Fury: By Michael Wolff. A journalist offers an inside account of the first year of the Trump White House.

2. When: By Daniel H. Pink. Research from several fields reveals the ideal time to make small decisions and big life changes.

3. Astrophysics for People in a Hurry: By Neil deGrasse Tyson. A straightforward, easy-to-understand introduction to the universe.

4. Leonardo Da Vinci: By Walter Isaacson. A biography of the Italian Renaissance polymath that connects his work in various disciplines.

5. The Last Black Unicorn: By Tiffany Haddish. The comedian recounts growing up in South Central Los Angeles, exacting revenge on an ex-boyfriend and finding success after a period of homelessness.

6. Grant: By Ron Chernow. A biography of the Union general of the Civil War and two-term president of the United States.

7. Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans: By Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson takes on the British in Louisiana.

8. Promise Me, Dad: By Joe Biden. The former vice president recalls his toughest year in office, as his son battled brain cancer.

9. Hillbilly Elegy: By J.D. Vance. A Yale Law School graduate examines white working-class struggles.

10. Killers of the Flower Moon: By David Grann. The story of a murder spree in 1920s Oklahoma that targeted Osage Indians.

New York TimesBirth defects strongly linked to Zika during pregnancy have increased in southern Texas and other parts of the United States where mosquitoes infected women in 2016, according to a new report.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Thursday reported a 21 percent increase in abnormally small heads (microcephaly) and other neurological defects during the second half of 2016 in those areas where women contracted the virus - Texas' Cameron County, south Florida and Puerto Rico.

"This report highlights the critical importance of documenting birth defects possibly related to Zika and our need to maintain vigilance," Dr. Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the CDC, said in a statement. "Babies with Zika-related birth defects need all the help they can get."

RELATED: Pregnant women unaware of Zika basics

But CDC researchers said they do not know if the increase is due to the local spread of Zika or other factors because there isn't laboratory evidence of infection in most mothers who delivered babies with defects associated with the virus  either because they were never tested, weren't tested at the right time, or weren't exposed to the virus.

Houston Zika expert Dr. Peter Hotez said it would be good if Texas health officials doubled back to test the mothers of such babies for the virus, given that Zika antibodies should still circulate if they were infected. But a Texas department of health spokesman said there are no such plans.

"I predicted we'd see this jump, which is why I advocated so vocally for federal funding," said Hotez, founding dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital. "Transmission might have been more extensive than we know and it could take years before pediatric neurologists fully comprehend the long-term neurological effects of Zika."

RELATED: Doctors brace for generation of Zika babies

CDC researchers, who analyzed nearly 1 million births from 2016 in 15 states and territories, found about three of every 1,000 babies in those locations had a birth defect possibly associated with the Zika virus. Of those, about half were born with microcephaly or other brain abnormalities; 20 percent had neural tube defects and other early brain abnormalities; 10 percent had eye abnormalities; and 22 percent had nervous system damage, such as joint problems and deafness.

CDC officials said they anticipate there could be another increase when 2017 data is analyzed because many pregnant women exposed to Zika in late 2016 gave birth in 2017. There were 48 cases of Zika in 17 counties reported in Texas in 2017, including 11 in Harris County. All but two of those cases, in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, involved women infected while traveling south of the border. There were six locally transmitted cases in Cameron County in 2016.

You can read the report here.1 Deputy killed: Authorities in Colorado are searching for two additional suspects wanted in connection with the killing of a sheriffs deputy causing the shutdown of some schools in the area. Adams County Sheriffs Deputy Heath Gumm, 32, was killed Wednesday night, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said. Gumm was shot when deputies responded to a call in a residential area about 8 miles north of downtown Denver, the sheriffs office said. One man has been arrested. Hickenlooper said Gumm was married and had worked for the sheriffs office since 2013.

2 Fake urine: Shoppers can now buy fake urine to defeat drug tests, but Mississippi lawmakers are fighting back with what they are calling the Urine Trouble bill. Republican Rep. Andy Gipson says synthetic human urine products are being sold in truck stops. During a meeting of a state House committee Thursday, Gipson held up what he said was an $18.99 vial of liquid that was sold just a few miles from the state Capitol. The Mississippi Association of Self-Insurers is pushing the bill to ban fake urine. The groups director, Dan Gibson, says its a safety concern because drug tests should accurately reveal whether truck drivers have dangerous chemicals in their bodies. The bill passed a committee and goes to the full House for consideration. Several states have already banned synthetic urine.On Monday, when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down the state's Republican-drawn congressional district maps, Gov. Tom Wolf, D-Pa., achieved a sort of lifelong dream. Thirty-six years earlier, he published a dissertation on "conflict and organizational accommodation in the House of Representatives" from the end of the 19th century to the first decades of the 20th. "Gerrymandering is only effective in a stable or static political environment," Wolf wrote at the time.

In an interview, his first since the court win, Wolf said he'd been outraged by gerrymandering "as soon as I found out what it meant, that politicians were choosing their voters." Democratic judges (Pennsylvania is one of the few states where judges run in partisan elections) struck down a 2011 map designed to split the state's 18 districts into five deep-blue ghettos (in and around Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley) and 13 Republican-leaning seats. The court gave lawmakers until Feb. 15 to submit new maps; Wolf pledged to reject anything with a similar partisan bent.

Republicans are not going along meekly with the ruling. At a debate this week, the three leading candidates for the party's gubernatorial nomination defended the existing map.

"It was a bipartisan vote," said Mike Turzai, the speaker of the House in Harrisburg.

"Democrats and Republicans came together and voted the current system into place," said businessman and state Sen. Scott Wagner.

"It's constitutional," said businessman Paul Mango. "You know what that means? Elections have consequences."

On Thursday evening, the party asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and add Pennsylvania to the list of states - Maryland, North Carolina and Wisconsin - where partisan gerrymanders are under review.

Wolf doesn't expect that to fly. "The Wisconsin case is based on federal issues; this was about our state constitution," he said. "I believe we should be focused on getting a fair map in place."

In the meantime, he wanted and expected gerrymandering to become an issue in the 2018 elections - in his own, and in any state not among the few that let judges or commissions draw nonpartisan maps.

This Q&A has been lightly edited for clarity.

---

The Post: What was the argument for keeping the maps as they were?

Gov. Tom Wolf: The most specious argument I heard was that some Democrats voted for this, and that somehow made it legitimate. There was a time when there were more competitive districts in our institutions, and the House more closely reflected voter sentiments. Gerrymandering goes back to the 18th century, but it's really reached a crescendo as people shamelessly tried to vote themselves into safe seats. We've ended up with a democracy that is anything but democratic, because it's undermined by the maps.

WP: The last good-government issue that really became a popular cause was term limits. Why hasn't gerrymandering attracted the same kind of attention?

TW: Well, first off, I think this has taken over from term limits. I think it's taken longer to gestate as an issue, but if you look at Pew, every year they try to gauge the level of trust in federal government. In the 1950s, people trusted the government to do the right thing. That's been fading ever since, and people are getting more and more cynical for good reasons. In 2003, Tom DeLay and that group [of Texas Republicans] said, let's take cynicism to extreme, let's explicitly gerrymander this state for our advantage - and it worked.

So, I think my cynicism, some of that voter cynicism has been well placed. Now I think we're at the end of our toleration for this. People are saying, enough, enough - I've had enough of this kind of stuff: "If they're going to keep doing this stuff, I'm going to vote to blow things up." That's the reaction.

WP: What would be your ideal mapmaking process? An independent commission? A panel of retired judges?

TW: I think an independent commission is good idea. But some good work is also being done on objective mathematic algorithms, saying here's what we agree should go into fair maps. If you have fair-minded individuals working on the math, they can take those criteria and produce something neutral. There's a great mathematician at Tufts working on this; some other researchers are working at that.

WP: Is there a risk for Democrats here? If the party wins control of states ahead of the next redistricting cycle, would it be giving away an advantage, the chance to draw favorable maps?

TW: It'd be far worse for Democrats if our democracy was overthrown and delegitimized. It's not a partisan issue. Here's an example: I'm a Phillies fan. If I go to a game, I don't want my Phillies to get five strikes and the other guys to get three. I want them to win a fair contest. We have a bipartisan stake in health of our democracy.

WP: Have you talked to Eric Holder, who runs the National Democratic Redistricting Campaign, about this?

TW: Before the decision, I might have spoken to Holder once, to say I'm a supporter of fair maps, and he said we're on same page.

WP: Have you been talking to other governors about what happened in Pennsylvania?

TW: No, I haven't, but to anybody who mentions the issue to me, I say I've studied this - by the way, the American Political Science Association said that [mine] was the best dissertation of that year. I'd point out that this lawsuit was brought by the League of Women Voters, not by Democrats.

WP: Does the Voting Rights Act need to be amended to bring this about? How do you handle the issue of majority-minority districts?

TW: You've got to be careful, but it's not about the kind of map; it's about outcomes. If you imagined a state tilted slightly toward Democrats, with 18 seats in the House, and only five held by Democrats - I'm talking about Pennsylvania, obviously - that doesn't pass the smell test. Even if you didn't have districts that look like Goofy kicking Donald Duck, I'm not sure how that works.

WP: But isn't a lot of the slant against Democrats coming from geographic sorting? There are more and more Democratic votes in the suburbs and cities; there are less in rural areas.

TW: If people were sorting themselves out, you wouldn't have to make maps that look like Goofy kicking Donald Duck.

WP: The constitution's pretty clear on the district system, but what do you think of the idea - totally hypothetically - of electing the House by proportional representation?

TW: I understand the issue, and geographic representation is, in some ways, becoming more and more outdated. But I grew up in a small town, I live in that town, and geography matters to me. I'm not sure we, as human beings, have advanced so much that we're thinking past geography.

WP: Are you going to launch any kind of national campaign to promote this in other states?

TW: I'm happy to make it an issue - but I want to be clear, I'm not the one making it an issue. It's made by the voters. It's an embarrassment. Your newspaper says the 7th District is one of the most gerrymandered in the United States. I'm very happy to be a standard-bearer in our democracy. I want to make it clear that the people of Pennsylvania are the ones leading this charge.Twenty years ago, on Jan. 26, 1998, President Bill Clinton stood at a White House podium and told the world, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."

The fact check of Clinton's statement took place over a period of months, both in media leaks and legal depositions, climaxing in the fall of 1998 with the publication of a bodice ripper with an unusually long title.

The title was:

"Communication from the Office of the Independent Counsel, Kenneth W. Starr, transmitting appendices to the referral to the United States House of Representatives pursuant to Title 28, United States Code, section 595(c)"

When publishers in New York rushed out copies to America's bookstores (which still widely existed), they shortened the title to "The Starr Report," which was easier to market. And that was exactly the point - to turn a prosecutorial document into a Danielle Steele novel.

Starr, the independent counsel who investigated Clinton for years, expressed surprise when his report shot up bestseller lists around the world. But historians, political analysts and even literary critics say he is a very unreliable narrator in describing his reaction.

They have two reasons.

First, the writers he chose.

Starr turned to two experienced lawyers/authors on his staff to write the bulk of the 475-page report, including Stephen Bates, who already had written several books and contributed to magazines such as The New Republic and Playboy before penning the ultimate Penthouse Letter.

Which leads to the second reason - the writing itself.

Readers, including professional readers like book critics and actual authors, immediately noticed the report had an unusual tone and structure. "The prose, far from a dry, factual recitation, contained rich, erotic details of the sort we expect from a book-club romance," wrote Daniel M. Filler, a prominent law professor, in a California Law Review article.

Here is but one example:

"En route to the restroom at about 8 p.m., she passed George Stephanopoulos's office. The President was inside alone, and he beckoned her to enter. She told him that she had a crush on him. He laughed, then asked if she would like to see his private office. Through a connecting door in Mr. Stephanopoulos's office, they went through the President's private dining room toward the study off the Oval Office. Ms. Lewinsky testified: 'We talked briefly and sort of acknowledged that there had been a chemistry that was there before and that we were both attracted to each other and then he asked me if he could kiss me.' Ms. Lewinsky said yes. In the windowless hallway adjacent to the study, they kissed. Before returning to her desk, Ms. Lewinsky wrote down her name and telephone number for the President.

"At about 10 p.m., in Ms. Lewinsky's recollection, she was alone in the Chief of Staff's office and the President approached. He invited her to rendezvous again in Mr. Stephanopoulos's office in a few minutes, and she agreed. (Asked if she knew why the President wanted to meet with her, Ms. Lewinsky testified: 'I had an idea.') They met in Mr. Stephanopoulos's office and went again to the area of the private study. This time the lights in the study were off."

This time.

This time!

You might be wondering what happened next. Not to worry - the writers do not leave their audience hanging: "She and the President kissed. She unbuttoned her jacket; either she unhooked her bra or he lifted her bra up; and he touched her breasts with his hands and mouth."

There was, ahem, more to that little moment.

In addition to the clumsy, awkward sex, there were also clear attempts by the authors to establish Clinton and Lewinsky as literary characters, with hopes and dreams and even favorite books. (Clinton gave Lewinsky a copy of Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," which immediately also shot up the bestseller lists.) The writers even employed the old show-don't-tell rule, meaning they used precise details to establish tension and character.

An example:

"Both before and after their sexual contact during that encounter, Ms. Lewinsky and the President talked. At one point during the conversation, the President tugged on the pink intern pass hanging from her neck and said that it might be a problem."

Classic narrative understatement. A problem. Um, yeah. But what kind of problem? Boss sleeping with intern? President sleeping with intern? Intern doesn't have the proper pass to be with the president, clothed or unclothed? Readers would have to use their imaginations.

And keep reading.

Critics were not impressed.

"Every time we see Clinton he's unzipped, and every time we see Monica she's got her mouth open," the esteemed writer Cynthia Ozick told the Los Angeles Times. "The narrator is dark, but there's no introspection, as there would be in a Hawthorne novel. If you want to view this as a literary tale, there's no search for meaning or a higher truth."

The novelist Pam Houston read it differently. This wasn't really about sex at all. It was deeper. So deep.

"These are people in real pain, like millions of other people in this country, and they need our compassion," Houston said. "If you read carefully, this is the tale of two slightly overweight people who desperately need to be validated."

While members on opposite sides of the aisle in Congress did not agree about nearly anything in the report, it seems safe to assume that neither party was sympathetic to the validation interpretation. (We can't say for sure because the minutes of congressional book clubs are not a matter of public record.)

"The Starr Report" is still being sold. On Amazon, you can buy it for as little as 99 cents.

One armchair reviewer piped up to bemoan a review that compared Starr's report to work by the late novelist Harold Robbins.

"Contrary to what your biased review indicates, this is not a book at all," the Amazon reviewer wrote. "It is a comprehensive report to Congress."

Maybe, but it had a pretty gripping epilogue: Less than a month later, the president was impeached.

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Part of a continuing series about facets of the past that remain relevant.

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Video: On Jan. 26, 1998, President Clinton denied having an affair with former intern Monica Lewinsky.(C-SPAN)

Embed code:Earlier this month, the New Zealand-based private spaceflight company Rocket Lab successfully delivered its first orbital payload. Rocket Lab's Electron rocket released, along with three commercial satellites, an art installation-as-satellite called the Humanity Star.

The satellite, a highly reflective 65-faced ball crafted of carbon fiber, will orbit Earth for nine months. Around October, its orbit will decay, and the satellite will disintegrate as it descends in the atmosphere. Until its destruction, the Humanity Star will twinkle so brilliantly it can be witnessed by observers below. It will be most visible at dawn or dusk, creating an effect Rocket Lab likened on its website to a "bright flashing shooting star."

Rocket Lab's goal is nothing less than a reflection on the cosmos. "Wait for when the Humanity Star is overhead and take your loved ones outside to look up and reflect. You may just feel a connection to the more than seven billion other people on this planet we share this ride with," founder Peter Beck said in a statement on the company's website (which also hosts a location tracker for the orb).

But the giant Dungeons & Dragons die floating through space is not a critical hit. Not among professional stargazers. On Wednesday, Mashable journalist Miriam Kramer collected criticisms from astronomers on Twitter. The scientists described the Humanity Star as vandalism, a disco ball, "space graffiti" and "space garbage." Naked eyes can already see the International Space Station, astronomer Eric Mamajek tweeted, and sending reflective objects into orbit has not, in the past, prompted "awe and world peace."

Columbia University astronomer Caleb Scharf, writing at Scientific American, said the idea "sounds like jolly nice fun" but also fills him "with a big dose of dread." The satellite, in his perspective, is an unwanted intrusion into an environment increasingly crowded by satellites.

There are a few thousand satellites in Earth's orbit. And our ability to deploy a bunch of satellites at once is growing: In February, India deployed 104 small satellites from a single rocket, setting a world record. Decades before space powers had such capabilities, NASA astrophysicist Donald Kessler worried about space debris triggering a chain reaction of collisions among a sky thick with satellites, a scenario termed the "Kessler syndrome."

This is not to suggest that the Humanity Star will be the spark that sets off a Kessler syndrome. "Kessler was describing an orbital Nagasaki, where everything was annihilated," Federal Communications Commission economist Peter Alexander, who has written a paper on space trash, told The Washington Post in 2013. "But there are degrees in which the environment gets degraded even before that sort of collisional cascade," he added.

"I don't want to be too negative about the Rocket Lab ball - I salute them for their success in putting it into orbit," New York University astrophysicist Benjamin Pope told The Post. He also pointed to a tweet that suggested not everyone in the field was opposed, summing up the counternarrative: "It is probably short lived and kind of cool."

That said, he disagreed with Rocket Lab's decision. "Privately sending bright toys up there can harm the international astronomical community's use of it," he said.

Satellites do not need to be chronic pests or annihilators to cause headaches. A quick blaze through a telescope's field of view can disrupt research. "Astronomers are well used to finding their hard won images streaked with the destructive light trails of glinting objects as they pass overhead," wrote Scharf, who also compared launching the Humanity Star to sticking a "big flashing strobe-light on a polar bear."

"This Humanity Star could well be a minor annoyance," Pope said, "in particular, as it zooms through the sky it will pass through the fields of view of ground based observatories and ruin patches of their data." He could only find limited information about the object's orbit, but he was concerned it might travel above large observatories in Hawaii or Chile, which are particularly sensitive to bright objects.

Rocket Lab did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But when Pope tweeted, "Oh god why would you do this to us astronomers," the company replied that the object's presence will be short-lived.

"The Humanity Star will blink across the sky for just a seconds, and it won't be visible in your region for the full 9 months in orbit," Rocket Lab tweeted Wednesday. "Our hope is that it draws people's attention to the stars, then leaves them looking to the universe long after The Humanity Star has passed."

The company is also "considering future iterations of the Humanity Star" once this one is destroyed, according to its website.Alexa, what time is the apocalypse?

Ulp.

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists advanced the symbolic Doomsday Clock a notch closer to the end of humanity Thursday, moving it ahead by 30 seconds. It is now set at two minutes to "midnight."

In moving the clock 30 seconds closer to the hour of the apocalypse, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists cited "the failure of President Trump and other world leaders to deal with looming threats of nuclear war and climate change."

The organization now believes "the world is not only more dangerous now than it was a year ago; it is as threatening as it has been since World War II," Bulletin officials Lawrence M. Krauss and Robert Rosner wrote in an op-ed published Thursday by The Washington Post. "In fact, the Doomsday Clock is as close to midnight today as it was in 1953, when Cold War fears perhaps reached their highest levels."

Krauss, a theoretical physicist, and Rosner, an astrophysicist, added: "To call the world nuclear situation dire is to understate the danger - and its immediacy. North Korea's nuclear weapons program appeared to make remarkable progress in 2017, increasing risks for itself, other countries in the region and the United States."

The clock, a metaphorical measure of humankind's proximity to global catastrophe, also advanced 30 seconds last year, to 2 1/2 minutes to "midnight" - the closest to the apocalyptic hour it has been since 1953, after the United States tested its first thermonuclear device, followed months later by the Soviet Union's hydrogen bomb test.

Before Thursday's announcement, experts said there was only one direction the clock could possibly move, given recent geopolitical events - including North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile test and the my-nuclear-button-is-bigger-than-yours war of words between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

"I think it would be very hard for the clock not to move forward," Alex Wellerstein, who specializes in the history of nuclear weapons at the Stevens Institute of Technology, said in an email leading up to the announcement. "We have members of Congress, White House advisers, and even the president implying that they think war with a nuclear state is not only likely, but potentially desirable. That's unusual and disturbing.

"The question I have is: How much forward can they go?"

Another 30 seconds, to be exact.

The clock is symbolic, sitting at the intersection of art and science, and it has wavered between two and 17 minutes until doom since its inception in 1947.

A board of scientists and nuclear experts meets regularly to determine what time it is on the Doomsday Clock. This group, called the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, was founded by veterans of the Manhattan Project concerned about the consequences of their nuclear research. One of them, nuclear physicist Alexander Langsdorf, was married to artist Martyl Langsdorf, who created the clock and set it at seven minutes to midnight, or 11:53, for the cover of the group's magazine. Her husband moved the time four minutes ahead in 1949.

Since then, the bulletin's board has determined when the clock's minute hand will move, usually to draw attention to worldwide crises that, the board believes, threaten the survival of the human species. The group's reasoning focuses almost exclusively on the availability of nuclear weapons and a willingness among the world's great powers to use them.

"Whenever the clock is set, we answer two basic questions," Rachel Bronson, president of the Bulletin, said in an interview last fall. "Is the world safer, or at greater risk than it was a year ago? And is it safer or at greater risk than it was ever in the clock's history?"

The group's reasoning has traditionally focused on the availability of nuclear weapons and a willingness among the world's great powers to use them. But in recent years, the scientists have also considered the threat posed by climate change, which they said in 2007 is "nearly as dire" as the dangers of nuclear weapons.

In advancing the famed clock last year, the group noted that "the global security landscape darkened as the international community failed to come effectively to grips with humanity's most pressing existential threats, nuclear weapons and climate change."

But the organization also cited the election of Trump - "who has promised to impede progress on both of those fronts," Krauss and retired Navy Rear Adm. David Titley wrote in an op-ed last year. "Never before has the Bulletin decided to advance the clock largely because of the statements of a single person. But when that person is the new president of the United States, his words matter."

Daryl Kimball, executive director of the nonprofit Arms Control Association, said a symbolic move toward "midnight" makes sense - and that nuclear risks alone justified it.

"Over the year, there has been increased tensions with North Korea, nuclear threats conveyed by President Trump and Kim Jong Un, tensions with Russia are higher - perhaps as difficult as they have been since the end of the Cold War," he said Wednesday. Within days, Kimball noted, the Trump administration is set to announce a nuclear strategy that calls for expanding the role of U.S. nuclear weapons. "So the risk of a nuclear conflict by accident or by design is unfortunately growing higher," he added.

In a September speech at the United Nations, Trump threatened to "totally destroy North Korea" to defend the United States or its allies, and referred to Kim by the new nickname he had just given the dictator on Twitter, saying: "Rocket Man is on a suicide mission for himself."

Trump tweeted "I spoke with President Moon of South Korea last night. Asked him how Rocket Man is doing. Long gas lines forming in North Korea. Too bad!"

Trump tweeted "Just heard Foreign Minister of North Korea speak at U.N. If he echoes thoughts of Little Rocket Man, they won't be around much longer!"

Kim responded with an arcane insult, declaring in an unusually direct and angry statement published by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency: "I will surely and definitely tame the mentally deranged U.S. dotard with fire." (Oxford defines dotard as "an old person, especially one who has become weak or senile.")

Two months later, North Korea tested a new kind of intercontinental ballistic missile, which it called the Hwasong-15 and said could carry a "super large heavy warhead." Following the test, Pyongyang declared that the entire U.S. mainland is within reach, and experts calculated that the missile flew 10 times higher than the International Space Station and could theoretically reach Washington, D.C.

After Kim proclaimed in his New Year's Day address that "the whole territory of the U.S. is within the range of our nuclear strike," Trump responded on Twitter, saying: "North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

The remarks were regarded by North Korea's state news agency as "just a spasm of a lunatic frightened by the might of Juche Korea and a bark of a rabid dog."

Then there was the errant alert that went out to Hawaii residents and tourists earlier this month: "BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND TO HAWAII. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL."

It all prompted an op-ed last month from Bulletin contributor Jeffrey Lewis: "This is how nuclear war with North Korea would unfold."

As The Post's Emily Guskin reported, a recent Washington Post-ABC News poll revealed that 38 percent of Americans surveyed said they trust Trump to responsibly handle his authority to order nuclear strikes - and 60 percent do not. Among those who are wary, nearly 9 in 10 said they are very or somewhat concerned he might launch an attack.

Last fall, Bronson called the current nuclear situation "precarious."

"It's easy to imagine misconceptions and accidents quickly ratcheting up an escalation ladder that spirals out of control," she said.

The outlook for the environment isn't much better, Bronson noted. Last year was among the warmest on record, and one in which the effects of climate change were keenly felt: Hurricanes lashed Texas, Florida and the Caribbean and wildfires scorched the American west, southern Europe, Chile, Siberia, even Greenland. In Bangladesh, floods killed more than 100 people and displaced thousands.

Meanwhile, Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.

Despite the new time on the Doomsday Clock, Kimball urged people to remember that it is a symbol, "not an absolute measure."

"What matters is whether it is moving farther or closer to midnight," he said. "That's the key."

The Bulletin said it's simply meant to be "an urgent warning of global danger."

"We hope this resetting of the clock will be interpreted exactly as it is meant: an urgent warning of global danger," the op-ed said. "The time for world leaders to address looming nuclear danger and the continuing march of climate change is long past. The time for the citizens of the world to demand such action is now. It is time to rewind the Doomsday Clock."

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The Washington Post's Peter Holley and Amy B Wang contributed to this report.

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Video: Members of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists explain why they advanced the symbolic Doomsday Clock a notch closer to the end of humanity on Jan. 25.(The Washington Post)

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Video: On Jan. 13 the state of Hawaii spent 38 minutes in terror after a text alert was mistakenly sent out warning of an incoming nuclear missile attack. If you're not old enough to remember "duck and cover" school drills, preparing for a nuclear attack isn't something you're familiar with. We asked Alex Wellerstein, a nuclear historian and creator of the Nukemap, what you can do to help keep yourself safe when a nuclear bomb is dropped.(Daron Taylor/The Washington Post)

Embed code:For the second year in a row, the Kuwaiti embassy will hold a large National Day celebration at PresidentDonald Trump's hotel in downtown Washington.

An invitation obtained by The Washington Post said the event is scheduled to be held in the hotel ballroom the evening of Feb. 26. A source familiar with the plans, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the event is private, confirmed the details of the invitation.

Before Trump's election, Kuwait had held its National Day celebrations repeatedly at the Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown - and asked the Four Seasons to reserve a day for the event to return in 2017. But then, after Trump won, Ambassador Salem al-Sabah switched the event to the Trump International Hotel - which opened in late 2016 on Pennsylvania Avenue NW.

"I do not know President-elect Trump. Or his people. No one has contacted me about moving the event," Sabah said in late 2016. "It was solely done with the intention of providing our guests with a new venue. We have been holding the event at the Four Seasons for years. There is a new hotel in town, and we thought we would give it a try."

Sabah did not return requests for comment. A Trump Organization spokeswoman declined to comment.

The new Kuwaiti Embassy event was first reported on Friday by the website ThinkProgress.

After the 2016 election, the Trump hotel also hosted the embassy of Bahrain, which held a National Day party. The government of Azerbaijan co-hosted a Hanukkah party there.

Since then, those events have been cited in at least two lawsuits alleging that Trump is violating the Constitution by accepting payments from foreign governments at his hotel. The Constitution bars federal officers from taking "emoluments" from foreign states.

On Thursday, a federal judge in Greenbelt, Maryland heard arguments in one of those cases, a lawsuit against the president brought by the attorneys general of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

"It is not mere speculation" that Trump has received payments from foreign governments, Maryland attorney Steven Sullivan said at that hearing. "The president has received, is receiving, and will receive prohibited emoluments." He listed the Kuwait event as proof.

In that case, the attorneys general of D.C. and Maryland are now waiting to see if Messitte will dismiss their case - or let it proceed, and allow them to search records showing the Trump Organization's payments from foreign states.

"This is really all within the records of the Trump International Hotel," said Loren AliKhan, a deputy solicitor general for the District.

Neither Bahrain nor Azerbaijan, the two other countries that held embassy events at the Trump hotel after the election, returned for a second year.

Jordan Libowitz, at the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said he was not surprised that the Trump Organization had continued to book events with foreign embassies - despite the trouble it has brought in court.

"If making money through potentially unconstitutional means [still] means making money, it doesn't seem to stop them," Libowitz said.

His group filed a separate lawsuit alleging that these embassy events showed Trump was violating the "foreign emoluments clause." But a federal judge threw it out in December, saying the group lacked legal standing to sue.LISD Superintendent Sylvia Rios received positive remarks from the districts school board in her first formal evaluation as the school chief.

Rios, who has been superintendent for six months, was commended for her accomplishments thus far. The board evaluated Rios on her leadership and her ability to move the district forward, among other things.

Were very happy with her leadership and continue to support her, said LISD school board president Hector Garcia.

READ ALSO: Breaking: Alexander hires Salinas away from United South

Since Rios has been at the helm for only a short period of time, Garcia said the board will meet again later this year to evaluate her performance. Trustees on Thursday did not discuss her contract. When she was hired in July, she received a three-year contract with an annual base salary of $200,000.

For Rios, this support is the most important thing she has been given in her role as superintendent. The boards confidence and guidance, Rios said, is what has enabled the district to accomplish its goals.

I think were collaborating well and working toward to improve our district, Rios said. Im a first-time superintendent, so Im learning a lot from the experience and expertise of the trustees, some of whom have been on the board for quite a few years. Theyre guiding me.

Theyve given me that responsibility but not only is it a responsibility, I see it as a privilege to be that leader.

As LISD enters the second half of the 2017-18 school year, Rios said they are focused on ensuring the districts facilities are where they need to be in order to further promote student achievement. Rios also noted the continuous effort to provide a conducive environment for everyone in the district.

When asked if there was any area she felt she could improve upon, the lifelong educator said she believes there is always something more to learn.

Evaluations of school superintendents in Texas are confidential under state law.A man indicted on murder and aggravated assault charges in connection to a January 2017 shooting appeared in court Thursday to request a bond reduction.

49th District Court Judge Jose Lopez denied Guillermo Capetillos request for a second time. Capetillo had initially asked for his $250,000 bond to be reduced in June.

Capetillo, 28, is accused of killing Sergio Ramirez Jr., 27, and causing serious bodily injury with a firearm to Leonel Maldonado Jr., 22.

Defense attorney Ana Garza asked the court to consider Capetillos indigent status and the fact that his family has been unable to come up with the money to bond him out of jail.

Assistant District Attorney Rene Benavides said that due to the nature of the crime, the bond amount was reasonable. He said that evidence from the police report identified Capetillo as being gang-affiliated and that he was a potential flight risk.

We are denying that he has any gang affiliations, Garza said. There is no evidence of that.

Garza said Capetillo is willing to wear an ankle monitor if released.

Capetillos attorney, George Altgelt, told Laredo Morning Times that confidential communications between an attorney and a client are important to preparing a good defense. But thats hard to do when a defendant is behind bars, Altgelt said. He said that in order for Capetillo to fully exercise his right to an attorney, he needed to be out of jail.

In this particular case, we know were going to trial, Altgelt said. We need him to assist us in his own defense.

Altgelt also said Capetillo maintained his innocence and that he was looking forward to his day in court.

Capetillo was indicted in August on an unrelated charge of deadly conduct, discharge of a firearm in connection to a June 2015 shooting. His next court setting is scheduled for Feb. 23.

Deadly shooting

At about 5 a.m. Jan. 9, 2017, police and the Laredo Fire Department responded to a shooting by North Arkansas and Price Street. There, EMS encountered Ramirez and Maldonado.

Ramirez had at least one gunshot wound to his head and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports.

Paramedics treated Maldonado for multiple gunshot wounds sustained to his chest and right bicep area. He was alert and oriented, according to the Fire Department. He was rushed in critical condition to Laredo Medical Center, authorities said.

Police said they learned that an altercation had occurred inside a home on Arkansas and it escalated into a shooting outside in the street.

Officers found several .40-caliber casings at the crime scene, reports state.

Joana Santillana may be reached at 956-728-2528 or jsantillana@lmtonline.com. LMT reporter Cesar G. Rodriguez contributed to this report.Peter Mayle, a writer and onetime advertising executive who transformed his fumbling adjustment to life in the south of France into the best-selling "A Year in Provence" and other books, sending thousands of people to the Mediterranean in search of the sun, food and wine, died Jan. 18 at a hospital near his home in Lourmarin, France. He was 78.

His publishing company, Alfred Knopf, announced the death. The cause was not disclosed.

Mayle (pronounced "Mail") had been an advertising executive in New York and his native England before he and his wife bought a ramshackle stone house in Provence in 1986.

"We saw it one afternoon and had mentally moved in by dinner," he wrote in "A Year in Provence."

A comical cast of local tradesmen came and went, working only when in the mood, as Mayle's 200-year-old farmhouse remained uninhabitable.

"Every time I sat in one room and tried to work on the novel," he told the New York Times in 1991, "the builder would come in and say, 'We're knocking a hole in that wall, so you'll have to go somewhere else.' "

Mayle made little progress on the novel he hoped to write, writing letters to his agent describing his frustrations. The agent suggested he shelve the novel and write about life in Provence. Soon enough, Mayle developed a growing admiration for the Mediterranean pace of life, built around visits to the town cafe, where timetables were ignored in favor of conversation, crusty bread and a bottle of wine.

He wrote "A Year in Provence" as a chronicle of a calendar year, beginning with a New Year's Day lunch and ending with a Christmas feast - in Mayle's new home, renovated at long last.

Published in Britain in 1989 and in the United States a year later, it was expected to sell only a few thousand copies. But the book caught on through word of mouth, as readers were charmed by Mayle's evocation of a rural world where the only thing that seemed to matter was the quality of life.

"I confess to having read this delightful memoir not once, not twice, but four times now," critic Michele Slung wrote in her Washington Post review.

Practically every page throbbed with mouth-watering descriptions of the local food and wine.

A local restaurant owner "rhapsodized over the menu: foie gras, lobster mousse, beef en croute, salad dressed in virgin oil, hand-picked cheeses, desserts of miraculous lightness, digestifs. It was a gastronomic aria which he performed at each table, kissing the tips of his fingers so often that he must have blistered his lips."

More than 5 million copies of "A Year in Provence" were sold worldwide.

Mayle quickly followed with a second bestseller in 1991, "Toujours Provence." A British TV series was based on "A Year in Provence," and soon hordes of visitors were arriving in southern France, crowding the streets, knocking on Mayle's door and casting shadows over the idyllic life he had described. He found people picnicking on his doorstep, walking through his property and splashing in his backyard pool.

"These visitors have become pests," he said in 1993. "We cannot take it anymore and we want to be out of here by the end of the summer."

There was an inevitable backlash from local residents and British expatriates, who accused Mayle of ruining their Provencal paradise.

"What did you learn from this book?" a French neighbor told The Post in 1994. "That we eat a lot, that we drink a lot, that everything happens slowly."

The local bar owner fumed, "Are my glasses dirty? Did you catch fleas in here? Are the toilets really disgusting?"

Mayle moved to Amagansett, on New York's Long Island, for several years, writing novels and other books evoking the life of Provence. He returned to France in the late 1990s, settling several miles from his original house but careful not to reveal the exact location.

Peter Gareth Mayle was born June 14, 1939, in Brighton, England. His father worked for British foreign service.

Mayle left school at 16 and by his early 20s was working in New York for a firm led by British advertising tycoon David Ogilvy. After considerable success, Mayle set out on his own in the 1970s to write books, specializing at first in children's titles, often on such sensitive subjects as sex, divorce and death.

His humorous children's guide to reproduction, "Where Did I Come From?," was widely translated and sold more than 2 million copies. He also published several books in the "Wicked Willie" series, featuring a talking cartoon penis.

Mayle eventually published the novel he first set out to write in Provence, "Hotel Pastis" (1993), along with several others, including "A Good Year," about an Englishman who enters the wine business. It was adapted into a 2006 film starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ridley Scott - one of Mayle's neighbors in Provence.

He also published a series of mystery novels set in the Mediterranean and published other books about Provence and the finer things in life, including custom-made shoes.

His marriages to Pamela Mayle and Nicola Mayle ended in divorce. Survivors include his wife of more than 40 years, Jennie Mayle; three sons from his first marriage; two daughters from his second marriage; and several grandchildren.

In 2006, Mayle described the kind of life he learned to lead in Provence after a high-pressure career in advertising.

"I don't want to do 50 pushups before breakfast," he said. "Instead, I want to enjoy the things that one can enjoy at my age: friendship, food and drink, the beauties of nature. The only thing I want from tomorrow is that it should be as good as today."Authorities are searching for a 22-year-old man who allegedly bound and tortured his ex-girlfriend and then attacked two other people with a machete in Austin.

Carlos Mejia apparently drove to Bexar County after the attack and then abandoned his vehicle on Interstate 35 south of San Antonio, according to a statement from the Travis County Sheriff's Office. He may still be in the area.President Donald Trump, commenting for the first time on reports that he tried to fire special counsel Robert Mueller in June, called the story "fake news."

"Fake news, folks. Fake news. Typical New York Times fake stories," he said when asked about the reports Friday as he attended the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump publicly pushed back Thursday against a characterization by White House Chief of Staff John Kelly that the president's views on a southern border wall had "evolved" and privately fumed about the episode.

"The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it," the president said in a morning tweet. "Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water."

Trump's comments on Twitter came a day after Kelly told Democratic lawmakers that some of the hard-line immigration policies Trump advocated during the campaign were "uninformed," that the United States will never construct a wall along its entire southern border and that Mexico will never pay for it, according to people familiar with the meeting.

Later Wednesday, Kelly confirmed his comments during a television interview but attempted to play down differences with the president while describing him as a willing negotiator as a government shutdown looms.

"He has evolved in the way he looks at things," Kelly told Fox News. "Campaign to governing are two different things, and this president has been very flexible in terms of what's in the realm of the possible."

Trump had only positive things to say about Kelly when talking to reporters Thursday, but several Trump associates said the president was furious with his chief of staff both for what he said and for the tone he used, which Trump thought made it appear he was a child who had to be managed.

One Trump associate who spoke to the president Wednesday night said Trump thought Kelly's comments made him look bad and like he was giving in to Democrats.

The president, this person said, particularly disliked the word "uninformed" that appeared in news reports and has chafed for weeks at the characterization of himself as not intelligent and flighty in the best-selling book about his presidency by Michael Wolff.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk more candidly, said it was "inevitable" for Trump to be angry with his chief of staff and that it was surprising that it hadn't happened before.

It was a positive sign for Kelly, the person said, that Trump didn't mention the chief of staff's name explicitly in the tweet. There seems to be no effort afoot to make a change in the chief of staff position, the person said.

Christopher Ruddy, a Trump friend and president of the conservative media outlet Newsmax, agreed with that assessment, although he said he has not spoken with the president since Kelly made his remarks.

"The president is pretty happy with his job overall," Ruddy said of Kelly. "Trump's the type of guy who will dress you down if he doesn't like what you say, but it's got to be a whole long list of things before he takes action against somebody. Generally, in my personal view, he's very happy with General Kelly, overall."

Speaking to reporters ahead of an event Thursday afternoon in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, Trump praised Kelly, who spent part of the afternoon representing the White House in meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.

"He is great, I think he is doing a great job," Trump aid. "I think General Kelly is doing a really great job. He is a very special guy."

Trump disputed that Kelly had told Congress that Trump's views on immigration were not fully formed during the campaign.

"No, he did not say that," Trump said. "He didn't say it the way you would like him to say it."

White House spokesman Raj Shah said Trump was frustrated by the media coverage of Kelly's comments.

"His only frustration is with the media," Shah said. "They have a great relationship, and that continues."

Trump and Kelly spoke Thursday at the White House before the Pennsylvania trip and talked through the chief of staff's comments, with Kelly explaining what he said and offering further context, according to two people familiar with the exchange. The meeting ended amicably and Trump was in a good mood as he departed the White House, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the exchange.

Another person close to Trump said he asked Kelly why he would go on television and criticize him. This person said Kelly tried to explain to the president that he wasn't criticizing him and was just explaining his position, but Trump wasn't hearing it.

One top Republican who has friends inside the White House said Thursday that Kelly could still be on "thin ice" with Trump.

"He used to call [former chief of staff] Reince Priebus a very special guy, and then he was fired, so you can't take what he says as a guarantee that all is well inside the White House," the Republican said.

A second Republican with ties to the White House added: "This kind of thing isn't that different than how everything runs every day. The president will hear or see something and then either get told that it was taken out of context and move on or grow even angrier about whatever it is."

Both Republicans spoke on the condition of anonymity to offer a more candid assessment.

Ruddy said Kelly may have struck a nerve by speaking out on immigration, in particular.

"In President Trump's world, you can have disagreements privately or publicly, but immigration is a hot-button issue for him, and it's something he doesn't like to see disagreements on, especially publicly," Ruddy said. "He knows how important it is to his base."

Another Trump associate familiar with the president's reaction to Kelly said his rage was similar to his response in summer 2016 when Paul Manafort, then his chief strategist, told a Republican National Committee meeting in Florida that Trump had been playing a "part" on the campaign trail but was starting to pivot toward presenting a more businesslike and presidential "persona."

"Kelly thinks he knows what policies are important and what aren't, but Donald Trump is the president of the United States," said the associate, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk more candidly.

In another tweet Thursday morning, Trump insisted Mexico would pay for the border wall.

"The Wall will be paid for, directly or indirectly, or through longer term reimbursement, by Mexico, which has a ridiculous $71 billion dollar trade surplus with the U.S.," Trump said. "The $20 billion dollar Wall is 'peanuts' compared to what Mexico makes from the U.S. NAFTA is a bad joke!"

Kelly's original comments came during a closed-door session at the Capitol on Wednesday with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md. Kelly repeatedly said that Trump supports enacting permanent legal protections for "dreamers," people brought to the country illegally as children or who overstayed their visas as children, and that he has helped the president evolve on immigration policy, according to people there.

After the meeting, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., one of the participants, put out a statement that Kelly said Trump's views were "not fully informed."

"A concrete wall from sea to shining sea" is not going to happen, Kelly said, according to attendees. Instead, "a physical barrier in many places" is what the administration is requesting. Kelly used the term "physical barrier" several times during the meeting, attendees said.

A "concrete wall is not a realistic solution in many places," Kelly said - noting that topography, among other issues, makes building a physical wall difficult along certain parts of the more than 2,100 miles between the United States and Mexico.

Instead, "we need 700 more miles of barrier," Kelly said - a concession that a physical barrier does not need to stretch the entire length of the border.

A "concrete wall would be good in only certain places," he added, saying manpower and drone technology should suffice in others.

Kelly also said that there will be no wall "that Mexico will pay for."

Later in the Fox interview, Kelly confirmed that the administration is seeking 700 miles of new wall and reiterated Trump's view that the United States would be able to use a renegotiation of NAFTA to get Mexico to fund the wall.

"In one way or another, it's possible that we could get the revenue from Mexico, but not directly from their government," he said.

- - -

The Washington Post's Ed O'Keefe and Philip Rucker contributed to this report.Texas was the first state Sonia Sotomayor, the associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, visited after her book tour was launched in 2013. While in Austin, she discovered that busloads of San Antonians had come to see her.

I was so deeply touched that people did that, that I made a promise: I told them that the next time I came to Texas, San Antonio would be my first stop, she said.

And so it was, with the justice wandering among rows of audience members, shaking hands and offering warm smiles throughout a talk Thursday morning at the University of Texas at San Antonio. It drew more than 1,000 people to a small auditorium and overflow rooms.

Responding to a series of student-generated questions, Sotomayor, 63, wove together a story of perseverance and discovery.

She talked about being born into a Puerto Rican family in the Bronx in New York City, about dealing with a diabetes diagnosis at the tender age of 7 and about an alcoholic father who died before she was 10.

To become a Supreme Court judge, the odds are worse than being struck by lightning, Sotomayor told the students before her.

She urged them to reach for higher and loftier goals  to measure their success by the impact of their positive contributions and the stretch of their empathy.

As the first Hispanic justice to sit on the nations highest court, her background and accomplishments inspire the campus, UTSA President Taylor Eighmy said.

Shes a role model for all of us, a daughter of immigrants who, through extraordinary determination and belief in herself, has risen to the top of her field, he said.

Last week, national headlines reported paramedics were called to Sotomayors house to address an issue of low blood sugar.

I didnt have a scare, everybody else did, she joked. Everybody else sees it and they panic

Turning more reflective, Sotomayor added, Of all the different conditions God couldve given me  some are harder.

She credited her professional achievements to her life experiences  and her mother, who had imparted the importance of education and of forgiveness. In one story, Sotomayor recounted her mother signing up to join the U.S. Army to make a better life for herself. She was accepted, but there was a catch: she was only 17.

So my aunt did something that in retrospect was not proper. But I think were past the statute of limitations, Sotomayor explained to a laughing crowd. She had an affidavit made up by a local dignitary, and my mother magically turned 18.

From that family story, Sotomayor developed an understanding of wrongdoing, and the reasons behind it, that would later present itself in case after case on the high court.

Hence Im to understand that sometimes people do the wrong thing, but maybe for the right reason, she said. And if youre caught, you have to be punished, but we have to understand that committing a crime is not always that youre a bad person. So thats a lesson Ive taken my entire life.

Sprinkled into accounts of her life was evidence of her Latino background, which many in the crowd shared. At one point, Soy Latina was all she had to say to prompt whoops and cheers. Later, when she was expressing thanks, she allowed a superstitious nature to show through.

Im gonna knock on wood, whatever wood there is, she said, rapping her head instead. You know, the Spanish in me.

Everyone laughed. It was these bits and pieces of familiarity incorporated into powerful messages from a revered figure, that made Jaslyn Garza, 22, choke up.

I loved how she shook as many hands as she could. It showed her character and her background because we Latinos are always like  she gripped her friend in a tight embrace  Hi, how are you? It helped me connect with her.

Sotomayor said she goes to bed asking herself two questions that she must be able to answer: What did I learn new today? And, Did I do something nice for somebody else?

Victoria Rojo, who is 37 and working toward her bachelors in bilingual education, teared up.

If you just hear her, and then touch her soft hands  its amazing. Theres a humbleness and a willingness to help others, she said. She was so inspiring to the Latino community. It was like, si se puede.Immigration and Customs Enforcement

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has confirmed that operations seeking immigrants with criminal backgrounds in the Austin area last year lasted two days longer than initially reported as a result of separate operations being combined into one.

During local and national media coverage of the nationwide ICE operation that netted almost 700 immigrants in February 2017, it was reported that 51 people were apprehended in Austin.MIAMI - The kinds of birth defects associated with Zika, including microcephaly and other brain abnormalities, have increased in parts of the United States where mosquitoes were spreading the virus in 2016, according to a new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Areas with local spread of Zika - including South Florida, a portion of South Texas, and Puerto Rico - saw a 21 percent spike in these kinds of birth defects during the second half of 2016 compared with births that took place during the first half of that year, CDC officials reported.

However,researchers said they do not know if the increase is due to local spread of Zika or other factors because most mothers who delivered babies with birth defects associated with the virus did not have laboratory evidence of infection. Those mothers either were never tested, were not tested at the right time, or were not exposed to Zika, CDC officials said.

Researchers analyzed nearly 1 million births from 2016 in 15 states and territories as part of the report, which provided the first comprehensive data on the prevalence of birth defects potentially linked to Zika.

They identified 2,962 babies and fetuses with birth defects potentially related to Zika, including 1,456 with brain abnormalities or microcephaly - which causes abnormally small heads and incomplete brain development. There was no state breakdown.

An additional 581 had neural tube defects, 262 had eye abnormalities and 662 had some other form of central nervous system dysfunction.

Among the nearly 3,000 birth defects identified, though, a total of 2,821 cases either never received Zika testing or their results were not available for the report.

Because the increase in birth defects was detected during the second half of 2016, CDC researchers said more surveillance is necessary to capture births from 2017, when many pregnant mothers affected by Zika would have delivered their babies.

Zika is spread primarily by the bite of an infected mosquito, most commonly the Aedes aegypti species, but the virus can also be transmitted by sex and through blood transfusions.

Pregnant women are considered to be at the greatest risk from Zika because the virus has been shown to cause microcephaly and other neurological disorders in children born to mothers infected while pregnant.

In 2016, the CDC and Florida Department of Health identified Miami's Wynwood neighborhood as the first area in the continental United States with local spread of Zika by mosquitoes, triggering a travel advisory that warned pregnant women to avoid travel to Miami. Local spread of the virus also cropped up in areas of Miami Beach and Miami's Little River neighborhood.

That year, a total of 299 pregnant women in Florida were reported to have laboratory-confirmed Zika, and four babies were born with congenital Zika syndrome, according to the state's surveillance data.

A total of 1,469 Zika infections, most acquired by people traveling outside the country, were reported in Florida in 2016.

Zika waned in 2017, with 249 cases statewide, including 127 pregnant women and three babies born with congenital Zika syndrome.Danville, WV (25053)

Today

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low near 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%..

Tonight

Thunderstorms during the evening will give way to mostly cloudy skies after midnight. Storms may contain strong gusty winds. Low near 60F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%.Quality of growth put ahead of speed, experts say

Chinese provinces that have released their GDP growth targets for 2018 so far have either lowered their economic growth goals compared with 2017, or have set the same targets.

This shows a trend in which local governments are more inclined to focus on the quality of economic growth than the speed, experts told the Global Times on Thursday.

Fourteen provinces and regions have revealed their GDP growth targets for 2018 in their government work reports released during provincial "two sessions" meetings.

The local "two sessions" - annual meetings of provincial lawmakers and political advisors - discuss local economic and social development in the past year and make plans for the year to come.

Nine provinces and regions have lowered their economic growth targets for 2018. For example, North China's Tianjin Municipality set a 5 percent GDP growth goal for this year, compared with 8 percent in 2017.

Northwest China's Gansu Province set a target of about 6 percent in 2018, down from the 7.5 percent growth goal in 2017.

Central China's Hubei Province also lowered its GDP growth target slightly from about 8 percent in 2017 to 7.5 percent for 2018.

There are also provinces that plan to maintain the same economic growth speed in 2018. East China's Jiangxi Province has targeted GDP growth of about 8.5 percent in 2018, the same as the goal for 2017.

Can't be like the past

Liu Xuezhi, a senior expert in macroeconomics at Bank of Communications, said that as the domestic economy is slowly transforming from an investment-driven model to a consumption-driven model, it will be very hard for the Chinese economy to maintain the high growth momentum seen in the past.

"The major characteristic of an investment-fueled economy is fast but volatile economic growth, while growth in a consumption-driven economy will be more mild but stable," Liu told the Global Times on Thursday.

China's fixed-asset investment grew by 7.2 percent on a yearly basis in 2017, compared with 8.1 percent growth in 2016, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed on January 18.

Liu said that the real estate sector in China has reached a point where it's likely to slow down after years of strong growth, which will also put pressure on domestic economic growth in 2018.

Opting for quality

Liu Dongliang, an analyst with China Merchants Bank, said that the lowering of GDP growth targets also shows that local governments are now focusing more on quality of economic growth.

"If quality and speed clash, now local governments would go for quality," he told the Global Times on Thursday.

And such "clashes" do exist, according to Xu Hongcai, an economist with the China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

"For example, many local governments are shutting down small plants that pollute the environment, but that means they have to lose the potential contribution those companies make to the local GDP," he told the Global Times on Thursday.

"Also, when the central government reduces its requirement for economic growth speed, local governments want to 'de-stress' by setting an easier goal," Xu said.

The experts also noted that the change of the central government mind-set has prompted local governments to pursue more genuine GDP growth. In early 2018, two provincial regions, North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Binhai New Area, a State-level development zone in Tianjin, admitted to having falsified economic data and said they would have to revise down their 2016 GDP figures.

"The two regions might have set an example for other provinces to be more pragmatic in setting their own economic growth goals," Liu Xuezhi said.

But Liu Xuezhi also said that China's overall target of 6.5 percent growth set by the central government for 2016-20 will not be hard to achieve given China's GDP performance in 2016 and 2017, and that will make the economy more resilient amid a possible slowdown.The MAORI personalised number plate is for sale on Trade Me with a starting price of $49,000.

Formerly owned by Kim Dotcom, the plate is described as a "rare opportunity to buy a unique plate" by the seller.

"The asking price for the plates reflects its uniqueness, its history and its relevance to this country & its people," the listing reads.

The one-of-a-kind plate was originally owned by multi-millionaire David Blackmore, who made the purchase when personalised plates were first released in 1987.

It then landed in the hands of Mr Dotcom, who also owned the plates: GUILTY, MAFIA, POLICE, STONED, GOOD and EVIL.

It was sold to Bruce Haliday, a collector, in 2011.

There are no bids on the plate so far and the auction closes on Sunday at 1pm.

Newshub.Shailene Woodley took her New Zealand-based rugby player boyfriend, Ben Volavola, to a Paris Fashion Week event this week, and has reportedly made their relationship official.

The Big Little Lies star documented the trip on her Instagram story, including an intimate photo of the couple in a romantic, eyes-closed smooch.

Related: Shailene Woodleys dating a lucky player from Aucklands North Harbour rugby team

Related: Shailene Woodley declares her love for boyfriend Ben Volavola

Woodley and Volavola, who has played for the Crusaders and North Harbour, met in New Zealand last year when she was here filming a new movie entitled Adrift.



She's appeared to have been absolutely smitten with him ever since, posting loved up images on social media declaring her love for him.

Woodley's Instagram story featured three posts from her date with Volavola to the Valentino Haute Couture Spring Summer 2018.

In addition to the kissing snap, she posted a photo of them standing in front of the Valentino logo, and also a sneaky photo of Volavola asleep after the event.Kiwi music star Stan Walker has had a "number of health scares", his manager has confirmed to Newshub.



"He has had some challenges healthwise but he will be back and working towards a new single release in March."

His manager did not specify the health issue Walker had been dealing with but confirmed he was feeling well enough to perform again this weekend at the One Love festival in Tauranga this Sunday afternoon.

Last night Walker was a guest speaker at an event hosted by the Prime Minister for around 100 inspirational young leaders.

On social media, Stan Walker described last night as a "special night, celebrating and honouring the next generation with the Prime Minister."

Jacinda Ardern also posted a picture - revealing he wasn't feeling his best: "Thanks Stan Walker for joining us despite being unwell," she said.

The organiser of the One Love festival in Tauranga said he spoke with Stan Walker's mother this morning and all was set to go as planned for his performance.

April Walker works with her son as his promoter and has had some health scares of her own - in 2016 she was diagnosed with cancer and Stan Walker cancelled his November tour of New Zealand to be with her.

He posted a video on Facebook at the time saying: "We've just found out she's got breast cancer - so I just want to be with my family, I just want to look after my mum."

Stan Walker discovered that he has the same rare cancer-causing gene mutation that had affected his mum - as well as 25 members of his wider family who have died as a result.

An estimated four out of five people who have the CDH1 gene mutation will develop stomach cancer.

Stan Walker won Australian Idol in 2009 and has gone on to be one of New Zealand's most popular artists - selling over a 100,000 albums with five platinum singles.

In addition to performing at the One Love Festival, he will perform on Waitangi Day and Creekfest in Wellington.

Newshub.Outstanding loans extended by China's micro-credit companies amounted to 979.9 billion yuan (153.8 billion U.S. dollars) by the end of 2017, data from the central bank showed Thursday.

The volume was up 50.4 billion yuan from the end of 2016.

By the end of last year, the number of micro-credit companies in China came in at 8,551, the People's Bank of China said in an online statement.

Micro-lenders largely target small companies and low-income groups in need of capital. In recent years, micro-lending companies have become an important channel for medium- and small-sized firms as well as individuals to access funds.

The central bank report showed east China's Jiangsu Province had 630 small-credit companies by 2017, the most of any provincial-level region, followed by Liaoning Province and Jilin Province.



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Commentaires via Facebook :Last month we discussed the EU's position on what they would like to achieve from the Brexit negotiations. This month we focus on the practical implications of trade mark protection in the UK with a simple Q&A.

Will I need to file separate EU and UK applications after Brexit (possibly 2019)?

Almost certainly yes, unless the UK and the EU agree a compromise.

What about my existing EU registrations?

There has been much discussion as to whether existing EU registrations will be automatically transferred over to the UK register. The favoured approach at the moment is the so called 'Montenegro Option', where all registrations would be automatically transferred without the owner needing to pay additional fees. However, as there would be a cost implication to this, there is the strong possibility that the final agreement would mean existing registration owners would have to pay an additional fee and top up application to ensure that transfer to the UK Register did indeed happen. It is now prudent to consider refiling a stand-alone UK trade mark application to ensure coverage in the UK if this market is of strategic commercial importance.

What will happen if my EU application is pending or opposed when the UK officially exits the EU?

Again, there is no clarity on this issue, however it appears that the UK and the EU are considering allowing pending EU applications (including those under opposition) to remain with the EUIPO until registration.

What about agreements and licences involving EU marks?

Co-existence agreements, licences and other agreements having effect in the EU should be reviewed now as they may need amending. Also registration owners who have been involved in litigation relating to EU should also review their settlement agreements. New licences and agreements should be worded carefully to ensure that they are 'Brexit' ready.

Will I be able to rely on use of my trade mark in the EU to support a UK registration?

If a system for transfer of EU registrations onto the UK register does come into effect, there are difficulties for the UK concerning trade mark use. All newly created UK 'Ex EU' registrations would become vulnerable to a non-use cancellation action five years after the original EU registration date. Brand owners should consider their geographic use strategy in light of this issue.

Rebecca Dobson

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Kings Park House22 Kings Park RoadSouthampton SO15 2ATUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 23 80000 2022 info@chapmanip.comMechanism to handle complex international legal disputes

China will establish courts in three Chinese cities to deal with Belt and Road initiative disputes in a move to benefit all participating countries while respecting their legal systems, experts said.

The Supreme People's Court will set up international courts in Beijing, Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province and Shenzhen, China Business News reported on Thursday.

The Xi'an court in Northwest China will serve the Silk Road, the paper said, while the Shenzhen court in South China handles Maritime Silk Road disputes. Beijing will be the headquarters.

The courts will weigh litigation, arbitration and mediation; providing legal support and solving initiative disputes, the Beijing-based paper reported, citing an anonymous source.

The plan to establish a mechanism to legally resolve trade and investment disputes arising from issues related to the Belt and Road initiative was approved during the second meeting of the Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on Tuesday, the Xinhua News Agency reported.

A dispute settlement mechanism will be created on the basis of China's current judiciary, arbitration and mediation agencies, and by absorbing and integrating legal service resources home and abroad, according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Members of the group called for equal protection for both Chinese and foreign parties' rights to create a stable, fair and transparent law-based business environment, Xinhua reported.

The current system to solve disputes was "complicated, time-consuming and costly," Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs, Renmin University of China, told the Global Times. "It applied laws from Western countries and used English as the common language."

China's new international mechanism would better serve participating countries, he said.

Building a dispute mechanism was "difficult," Bai Ming, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, told the Global Times, "as many countries that joined the initiative have different legal systems, social and cultural backgrounds."

China plans to build a mechanism for every country's benefit and based on respect for everyone's legal systems, he said.

The China Council for the Promotion of International Trade will work with other international commercial organizations to form a new non-governmental international organization that addresses disputes, an official with the council's legal department told the paper.

The council will expand Chinese arbitration and mediation agencies to enhance credibility in the international arena, the paper reported.

China will also send more arbitrators and mediators to work at international organizations, empowering Chinese legal personnel to gain more experience in international negotiations, the report said.Chennai: Tamilians from across the world were left fuming as junior Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, Vijayendra Saraswati refused to stand for the Tamil Nadu's state song during an event at Chennai, where as he stood up for the national anthem.

It is compulsory to play the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of every state function and as per custom, people present at the event must stand for the invocation, whether they are on or off stage.

Saraswati was filmed sitting through the state song. In the video, other dignitaries including the governor can be seen standing for the state song even as Saraswati is sitting with his eyes closed.

Meanwhile, the Kachi Mutt, in a clarification to local reporters, has reportedly said that he was performing meditation and hence he did not stand for the Tamil Thai Vazhthu.The share price of Wynn Resorts dropped Friday after allegations surfaced accusing CEO Steve Wynn of sexual misconduct.

The company was trading 8.47% lower at 1:30 p.m. on Friday to $183.60, following the report.

Wynn is accused of sexual harassment over several decades.

The Wall Street Journal published a report Friday citing multiple women accusing the casino magnate of inappropriate sexual behavior.

A manicurist at one of the Wynn Resorts was paid $7.5 million to settle allegations he pressured her into sex in 2005, the WSJ reported.

Wynn has denied the allegations. He claimed, in a statement released by the company, that the allegations were instigated by his ex-wife with whom he is in divorce proceedings.

"We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits," Wynn said in the statement. "It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation."

Wynn, the founder and CEO, owns a 12 percent stake in the company worth about $2.4 billion.

Wynn Boston Harbor casino is scheduled to open in Everett in June 2019.AGAWAM - A report of a threat found on social media about intended violence at the junior high school Friday has been investigated and determined to be a hoax, according to police.

As a precaution, a larger police presence was ordered for the school during the day, according to police.

A 13-year-old student notified police Thursday night of seeing a threat on social media from someone vowing to "shoot up the school tomorrow."

Detectives with Agawam and the Massachusetts State Police immediately investigated and determined the threat was not credible. It did not originate with anyone in Agawam, police said.

There was no specific threat toward any school in Agawam, police said.NORTHAMPTON -- Eric Matlock, a homeless man who was dragged off the steps of Northampton City Hall in a much-publicized incident last summer, was back in Hampshire Superior Court on unrelated charges Tuesday.

Matlock, 33, was indicted on two counts of assault and battery and one count of malicious destruction of property over $250.

Court documents show the charges stem from an incident on Dec. 19 in which Matlock allegedly attacked two people and destroyed over $250 of property belonging to them.

Last year's controversy surrounding Matlock began on Aug. 7 after he posted himself on the front steps of City Hall in protest of the removal of his children by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families.

Police determined that Matlock was blocking the entrance to the building and forcibly removed him, pepper spraying him in the process.

Video of the incident subsequently emerged, causing outcry from some members of the public and inspiring an internal police investigation into the use-of-force arrest.

The police department subsequently decided that the force in the incident was justified.

Matlock was arrested and charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and assault and battery on a police officer, to which he pleaded not guilty in Northampton District Court in December.

An arraignment date for Matlock on the new charges has not yet been set.SPRINGFIELD - A 40-year-old Tampa man was sentenced to 20 months in federal prison Thursday after admitting to distributing cocaine in Springfield in 2015.

Angel Martinez pleaded guilty in September to a single count of distributing cocaine. He was arrested as part of an 11-month investigation into gangs trafficking cocaine, heroin and firearms in Springfield.

In all 16 people were arrested as part of the investigation.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Mark Mastroianni ordered him to serve three years probation after his release.Alleged sexual misconduct by district court Judge Thomas Estes is "very disturbing" and has "damaged the public trust and confidence in the judicial system," members of the Governor's Council said in interviews Thursday.

Estes is accused in a federal lawsuit of forcing a former colleague to perform sex acts in his chambers in Belchertown. The former employee, Tammy Cagle, previously filed a sexual harassment complaint against Estes with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Both complaints also name as a defendant Cagle's former employer, Behavioral Health Network.

"I would hope that if anyone else has been victimized by him, they will come forward and provide information," said Councilor Mary Hurley of East Longmeadow, a former judge.

The Governor's Council approves or rejects all judicial nominees brought forward by the governor. The council confirmed Estes unanimously after he was nominated by then-Gov. Deval Patrick in 2014. Hurley was elected to the Governor's Council in 2016.

"How can anyone trust a decision that he has made, in light of his conduct, as alleged in this complaint?" Hurley said. "This is a new day and dawn for every man and woman who has been victimized in a work environment."

Councilor Jennie L. Caissie, of Oxford, voted for Estes' confirmation in 2014, but on Thursday called his alleged actions "offensive."

"That he would do this in a courthouse, as a judge -- the abuse of power, it violates all the codes of conduct. ... It is very disturbing," she said.

"As a taxpayer and person with great respect for law ... as a woman, this is so disturbing and disappointing that he would do that ... there has to be accountability; the people of the commonwealth deserve better," Caissie said.

Estes could not be reached for comment. Attorney David Hoose, who is representing Estes, said in a statement to the Daily Hampshire Gazette that Estes looks forward to defending himself against the allegations.

"The evidence will also show that Ms. Cagle initiated and aggressively pursued a sexual relationship with Judge Estes, even after she moved 1,500 miles away," Hoose said.

The public affairs office of the state Trial Court, in an email to The Republican on Thursday, stated: "We have no comment on the complaint."

Estes had been the presiding judge at Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown, but was removed from bench duty last year and reassigned to unspecified administrative duty in Holyoke District Court. He has not heard a case since July.

"Judge Thomas Estes was placed on administrative assignment the day after the Trial Court received notice of the MCAD complaint and his judicial duties were suspended at that time" in July 2017, the Trial Court said.

Cagle's lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Boston by her attorney Leonard Kesten, who declined comment. The case has since been transferred to federal court in Springfield.

The lawsuit alleges that Estes forced her to perform oral sex in his chambers at Eastern Hampshire District Courts in November 2016. The lawsuit details other sexual encounters in the judge's chambers and alleges Estes was physically aggressive at times. The lawsuit also alleges Estes texted Cagle that he "would appreciate it if the Plaintiff sent him 'sexy text messages.'"

Cagle worked as a clinician in the drug court program. She claims Behavioral Health Network removed her from that role after she tried to end her sexual relationship with Estes and Estes made disparaging comments about her to a supervisor.

She is seeking unspecified damages for alleges violations of her civil rights by Estes and her former employer. A trial date has not been set.

Accountability

Hurley said procedures now in place to hold judges accountable for misdeeds must be updated, saying there has been no resolution in the six months since Estes was reassigned.

"I am disappointed in how long this process is taking," she said.

"He has been paid his full salary" all along, she said.

Estes' annual salary is $172,194, according to the Trial Court. State records indicate he was paid $168,828.59 in 2017.

"Unfortunately, there is no methodology for any type of quick action to resolve this matter by the trial court office," Hurley said.

"In addition, the only method to remove him or suspsend him without pay is with the Supreme Judicial Court, according to my research," she said. "The taxpayers deserve better."

She said "99.9 percent of the judges do the job in an ethical and professional fashion (but) this has damaged public trust in the judicial system."

Caissie and Hurley said they support a bill filed by state Sen. Anne M. Gobi, D-Spencer, that would create a special commission to review the process of evaluating judges.

"The Judicial Conduct Commission investigates complaints, but there are no public findings and most complaints are dismissed," Caissie wrote in a November letter to legislators. "Lifetime tenure of our judges requires some meaningful oversight by duly elected officials who answer directly to the voters."

Once confirmed, judges in Massachusetts may remain on the bench until the mandatory retirement age of 70.

Estes, who owns a home in Northampton, was sworn in as a judge at Northmapton District Court in 2014. He had been the first justice at Eastern Hampshire District Court since Feb. 26, 2016.

Estes Complaint by The Republican/MassLive.com on ScribdMore than 100 traditional brands in China have joined hands to promote online sales, with assistance from Chinese e-commerce company JD.com.

The time-honored brands, known as laozihao in Chinese, come from 13 provincial regions. They have established a sales alliance at JD. Com, according to the Beijing Morning Post.

Featuring mainly the catering sector, the alliance is aimed at empowering the brands and expanding their market both online and offline.

JD.com has pledged to assist the alliance in lowering their distribution costs using its abilities in marketing, logistics, and supply chains.

More than 60 percent of the time-honored brands in the food industry have launched online sales through the JD supermarket platform, the newspaper said.

In 2018, the JD supermarket will provide an online sales platform for 500 national or local time-honored brand in the food industry.

Over the next three years, JD supermarket expects to have at least one time-honored brand with over one billion yuan in annual sales volume and ten with more than 100 million yuan in annual sales.

"JD would like to help the time-honored brands reduce their operation costs through our big data services," said Feng Yi, spokesperson for JD.com.

Currently 1,128 time-honored brands have obtained official recognition from the Ministry of Commerce (MOC), with the companies having an average age of 160 years. More than 60 percent are engaged in medicine and catering.

With consumption trends changing in China, many traditional brands have faced challenges due to their lack of competitiveness in production and operation.

In 2017, the MOC and 15 other central authorities jointly published a general plan to bring new life to these time-honored brands and improve their online and offline integration.When Niberd Abdalla walked out the doors of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Burlington, Mass, after over seven months in jail and a tearful reunion with his wife Ellen McShane, he was thankful for many things, he said.

His release from custody. The support of community members, his attorneys and immigration activists from Western Mass.. And, almost as importantly, his first tastes of coffee and yogurt as a free man.

"It felt like going to heaven," Abdalla told reporters hours after his release in the Northampton office of Buz Eisenberg, his attorney. "All my senses in my body were flying high. Amazing feeling, especially to have [McShane] next to me."

Abdalla, a 57-year-old immigrant from Iraq, overstayed his visa in the 1970s and lived for years in Western Mass., taking care of his ailing parents. He was issued a final order of removal by ICE in 2010, but was allowed to stay in the country as long as he checked in with authorities twice per year -- something he never failed to do, he said.

But on June 8, during his regularly scheduled check-in in Burlington, that stability vanished.

"After like an hour and a half of sitting, I had this sensation of feeling, I'm going to be arrested," Abdalla said.

Abdalla's detention and potential deportation to Iraq shocked him and McShane, she said. The pair had reconnected years earlier, reigniting a youthful romance from when they both lived in New York, and had been planning to marry.

"I jokingly said to him give me the car keys, what if they take you into custody. We were laughing, we were laughing about it, thinking, yeah right," McShane said. "It came to pass. The worst thing we never saw coming."

McShane, leaving Burlington without her partner, called the Pioneer Valley Workers Center -- an immigrant rights organization for which Abdalla had planned on volunteering before his arrest.

"I walked out of those doors in Burlington in pure shock. I am so grateful that you were there to help us because I wouldn't have known what to do," McShane said to the immigration advocates sitting in a conference room in Eisenberg's office.

For the next seven months, as Abdalla was held in the Suffolk County House of Corrections, PVWC activists and attorneys with the ACLU's Immigrant Protection Project would organize and work on his behalf. Those efforts paid off on Wednesday, when an immigration court judge ruled that Abdalla should be released as he attempts to fix his immigration status.

But until this week, Abdalla dealt with declining health behind bars, he said. He spent much of his jail time in a wheelchair due to back problems, and while he did receive medical treatment for his respiratory issues, the prison limited his access to Nucala -- a costly asthma treatment he relied on.

"They kept me alive, yes," Abdalla said. "But they never gave me that for three months, and my lungs went down. Couldn't breathe right, wheezing."

Eisenberg and Northampton immigration attorney Megan Kludt took on Abdalla's case pro-bono, and the PVWC organized support for him, culminating in a 250-person rally outside Northampton City Hall in July. Earlier this month, Abdalla and McShane were married in a ceremony at the jailhouse.

Abdalla's case received new life when on Jan. 2, a federal judge in Michigan ruled that Abdalla and a class 1,400 other unauthorized Iraqi immigrants who like him had been targeted for removal were entitled to bail hearings. Eisenberg filed a motion for his release, and on Wednesday Boston immigration judge Mario Sturla ordered his release without bail.

Now, Eisenberg is preparing legal filings he hopes will permanently take Abdall off of ICE's radar. He plans on seeking a cancellation of Abdalla's removal, adjustment of his immigration status, a reopening of his case and a petition for asylum.

Abdalla, whose Iraqi Kurdish parents sent him to the United States in the 1970s as Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath party crushed Kurdish rebellions in the north of the country, said he fears he will be killed by militants if he is deported, due to his American ties and his family's history of resisting Hussein.

"Every Americanized person, you would never even see a judge or anything. Probably within two hours you would be massacred, killed. Not with a bullet, but maybe you would be buried alive," he said. "People like me, they would be, how would you say, proud to kill me."Casino magnate and Republican National Committee finance chairman Steve Wynn, whose Wynn Boston Harbor casino is scheduled to open in Everett in June 2019, has been accused of repeated instances of sexual misconduct, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Wynn paid out a $7.5 million settlement after a manicurist at one of his casinos alleged that he pressured her into having sex against her will in 2005, the Journal reported. And dozens of people who worked at Wynn's casinos told the Journal of a years-long pattern of sexual advances toward female employees.

In a statement, Wynn denied any allegations of assault and claimed the accusations were instigated by his ex-wife Elaine Wynn, with whom he is embroiled in a divorce settlement dispute.

"We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits," Wynn said in a statement provided by Wynn Resorts. "It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation."

Wynn Resorts threw its support behind its CEO, also blaming Elaine Wynn for the allegations.

"It is clear that Mr. Wynn's ex-wife has sought to use a negative public relations campaign to achieve what she has been unable to do in the courtroom: tarnish the reputation of Mr. Wynn in an attempt to pressure a revised divorce settlement from him," Wynn Resorts said in a statement.

The company declined to address the specific claims in the Journal's report, saying it would not release any additional statements at this time.

Elaine Wynn's attorney denied any role in the story, the Journal reported.

Wynn's $2.4 billion casino is the largest private single-phase development in the history of Massachusetts, and will include a 29-story hotel, an expansive gaming floor, 13 restaurants, a spa and a ballroom.

The project has so far survived bitter, public and costly legal battles with neighboring Revere, Somerville and Boston, and aims to turn the contaminated site of a former Monsanto chemical plant into a monument of waterfront glitz.

Wynn allegedly exposed himself to and solicited sexual services from two massage therapists at the Wynn Las Vegas spa, the Journal reported. And an executive at the Golden Nugget, a former Wynn property, said in an early 1990s deposition that he regularly received sexual harassment complaints against Wynn, according to court filings reviewed by the Journal.SPRINGFIELD - A 19-year-old city man is facing a slew of charges after his arrest Thursday for leading police on a 25-minute chase that began in Springfield, wove through West Springfield and finally ended when his car conked out in Holyoke, police said.

The chase, which involved Springfield, West Springfield, Holyoke and Massachusetts State Police, started at Armory Street at around 7:30 p.m., said police spokesman Ryan Walsh.

It began when Springfield police officers on patrol spotted a Dodge Neon bearing a license plate that had been reported stolen from another vehicle in Connecticut, Walsh said.

By the time it ended, driver Ky Lindsey of Springfield was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a car, failure to stop for a police officer, receiving stolen property valued at less than $250, unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, attaching false plates to a vehicle, driving an unregistered and uninsured motor vehicle, reckless driving, negligent operation, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Officers attempted to pull the car over but it sped up, and jumped onto Interstate 291 and headed west toward Interstate 91.

Crossing into West Springfield, the car headed north, south and then north again on Route 5 and crossed into Holyoke. It continued along Main Street to the entrance of I-391 where the car stalled out. Lindsey was then taken into custody.

A passenger who was in the car with Lindsey was not arrested, Walsh said.

Walsh said that while on Route 5, Lindsey steered directly at a police cruiser and made contact with the cruiser's passenger side.

Lindsey is scheduled to be arraigned Friday in Springfield District Court.SPRINGFIELD - Narcotics detectives arrested a 21-year-old city man Friday in a 10 a.m. raid of a residence in the South End that yielded nearly 1,000 packets of heroin, police said.

Enrique Rosa is charged with trafficking heroin, according to department spokesman Ryan Walsh.

Narcotics detectives under the direction of Capt. Brian Keenan and Lt. Lawrence Murphy obtained a district court search warrant for third-floor apartment at 29 Warringer Ave. A search of the apartment uncovered 950 bags of heroin and $1,954 in cash, Walsh said.

Warringer Avenue is located off Locust Street near Mill Street.A Springfield man is under arrest in Wallingford, Connecticut, on multiple charges after police allege he attacked a woman in a parking lot in an attempt to steal her car keys, and then, in trying to carjack another vehicle, crashed into the side of a convenience store, according to reports.

Juan Laporte, 32, of Fernwold Street, Springfield, is charged with carjacking, third-degree larceny, third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, second-degree breech of the peace, third-degree attempted robbery, interfering with police and reckless driving.

According to the Record Journal of Meriden, Connecticut, Laporte had gotten into an accident on Interstate 91 by exit 14, and a woman had driven him from the highway to a nearby gas station in order for him to call police.

Instead, he attacked her in the parking lot in an attempt to take her car keys. When a passer-by stopped him, Laporte ran across the parking lot to the the pumps and tried to steal a Jeep as the owner pumped gas.

The owner and another man tried to climb into the vehicle as it drove off. The other man fell out, but the owner clung to the side of the Jeep fighting for control of the vehicle.

Surveillance video from the gas station captured all of the action, beginning with the attack on the woman and ending with the Jeep looping around the parking lot and crashing into the building.

Several witnesses apparently tackled Laporte and held him until police arrived, according to the New Haven Register.

He was being held on $100,000 bail pending his arraignment.SPRINGFIELD -- George Perrot, imprisoned for 30 years for raping a 78-year-old woman in 1985, has filed a federal lawsuit against the city, more than a dozen current and former police officers, an assistant district attorney and the FBI.

He argues he was framed.

Perrot -- 17 at the time of his arrest -- was freed from prison in 2016 after a judge granted him the right to a new trial. He was convicted of Mary Prekop's rape in 1992.

He was released on bail until the charges against him were dismissed in 2017.

He filed suit in U.S. District Court on Thursday.

A statement by his Chicago attorneys said his conviction was based solely on "false evidence manufactured by the defendants."

Lawyers for Perrot have argue he was convicted, in part, over a flawed hair analysis conducted by the FBI.

This story will be updated after further reporting.West Springfield police arrested a Springfield man after a shootout at a West Springfield motel Wednesday sent two people, including the alleged shooter, to the hospital with gunshot wounds.

Isaiah Hall, of 82 Hall St. in Springfield, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after he was discharged from Baystate Medical Center, where he was treated for a gunshot wound to the arm. Police said he was one of several people who fired at each other in the parking lot of the Express Inn motel at 1552 Riverdale St. at about 1 p.m.

He was charged with assault with intent to murder, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling, carrying a firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card.

Hall was found lying in a snow bank when officers arrived at the scene. He was transported to the hospital by West Springfield Fire Department ambulance.

West Springfield police said Hall and others exchanged gunfire in the parking lot of the motel, but none of the combatants were registered as guests. Investigators said the incident was not random and the people involved knew each other.

Several rooms sustained damage from the gunfire.

A second wounded man was taken to Holyoke Hospital and transferred to Baystate with a gunshot wound to the hand.

Police continue to investigate the incident.SPRINGFIELD -- A federal magistrate judge on Friday ordered a mother of two young children, who federal investigators say was a habitual drug and gun runner, held without the right to pretrial bail.

Nia Moore-Bush, 27, of Springfield, fought for pretrial release during a lengthy bail hearing that spanned two days after her arrest on a drug charge Jan. 12. She was arrested that morning along with her husband, Dinelson Dinzey, 34, as well as Joshua Foster, 40, Tracy Parsons, 45, and Jamieson Gallas, 36, all of Barre, Vermont.

During nearly seven hours of testimony at Moore-Bush's detention hearings, Anthony Dipaolo, special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, described Moore-Bush and Dinzey as the leaders of an interstate drug trafficking scheme, with Foster as director of street sales in Vermont and Gallas and Parsons among a collection of heroin addicts they used as mules.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson cited the last point in her decision to deny Moore-Bush bail.

"There is probable cause to believe that the individuals used by Ms. Moore-Bush and Mr. Dinzey as couriers from Springfield to Vermont (and) as distributors of narcotics in Vermont were vulnerable heroin addicts who were exploited and placed at personal risk by activities allegedly directed in large part by Ms. Moore-Bush," Robertson wrote in her decision.

Dinzey, who lived at the same home in East Forest Park as Moore-Bush, conceded to pretrial detention, while lawyers for Gallas and Parsons arranged for their clients to be released to inpatient drug treatment programs. Foster, who authorities say kept fastidious notes on his drug inventory and sales for Moore-Bush, was released on the day of his arrest.

Dinzey has another drug case pending in state court in connection with a May traffic stop during which he and Moore-Bush were arrested after a state trooper allegedly recovered heroin in their car. Dinzey took the fall and the case against Moore-Bush was dismissed, Dipaolo testified.

The agent said the couple arranged with Foster to sell heroin at a markup in Vermont to increase their profits. Foster made a distinction in his records between "straight weight" versus "our weight," according to testimony.

In one of many wire-tapped phone conversations, Foster recited to Moore-Bush the remainder of the drugs he had for sale.

"You sent us 18 half-sleeves (of heroin) and 14 balls," Foster told Moore-Bush in one conversation.

"Did you hear that?" Foster said.

"Yep," she responded.

"If you need to know who grabbed what, I've got that too," Foster continued. "I literally have it right down to the time I collected all of it."

During another recorded phone call, she and Foster lament over Gallas and another alleged courier getting pulled over by police and getting arrested with 390 bags of heroin. Gallas was taken to the hospital after swallowing 10 bags of drugs, Dipaolo said.

"What did he do, swallow all the f---ing crack? He's gonna die," Moore-Bush blurted.

Foster said he "did the whole concern thing" to Gallas' uncle to try to collect more information.

"This was such a colossal f--- up," Foster said.

Moore-Bush also threatened to kill the other woman in the car to keep her from talking to police after her arrest. She never followed up with the threat, but it made an impression on Robertson.

"Whether or not Ms. Moore-Bush intended to act on the threat she voiced, it gives rise to concerns about possible obstruction of justice," Robertson wrote.

Dipaolo testified the federal investigation into Moore-Bush and her co-defendants began when a paid ATF informant told the agent Moore-Bush was marketing "dirty guns" for sale. The informant made several "controlled buys" of firearms and ammunition from Dinzey and Moore-Bush. However, they have not yet been charged with an firearms offenses.

Each faces a single count of drug distribution conspiracy. Assistant U.S. Attorney Katharine Wagner told Robertson the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are likely.

Reached for comment, Moore-Bush's defense attorney Thomas J. O'Connor said he is contemplating appealing Robertson's decision.For the 16th year, the American Lung Association has issued its "State of Tobacco Control" report and Massachusetts, like most other states, received an "F" on tobacco prevention and cessation funding.

The report puts State Tobacco-Related Revenue at more than $880 million and says state funding for tobacco control programs is only 10 percent of what the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends.

Most states had a mixture of grades, but a few, including Mississippi and Texas, had F's in all five categories.

The commonwealth was one of the few states to receive two A's in the report - one for Smokefree Air, which relates to where smoking is prohibited, and the other for Tobacco Taxes. It also received two C's, one for Access to Cessation Services, citing there is no state mandate for private insurance to cover such services, and Tobacco 21, for failing to pass statewide legislation in 2017 to increase the tobacco sales age to 21.

The report notes that while rates of smoking have declined for both adults and young people, smoking continues to kill more than 480,000 Americans each year. It also says more than one in five high school students use at least one tobacco product, a practice it says can lead to addiction.

Seneca Egan, a registered nurse and tobacco cessation specialist, facilitates a free, four-week program, "READY, SET, QUIT! Smoking Cessation Workshop," at Holyoke Medical Center in which participants meet for one-hour each week.

She was asked here about the workshop. For information on the program in February, call (413) 534-2789 or email smokefree@holyokehealth.com



Q.

There are fewer smokers, and fewer heavy smokers in the U.S. today, but electronic cigarettes have gained popularity among teens. What danger to health does this product present?

A.

Anything new should be looked upon with caution, as all of the health ramifications cannot be totally known without the test of time.

The major damage with electronic cigarettes is that while the dangers of inhaling the tobacco are relieved, the behavioral triggers have been strengthened - as legislation has not yet caught up to regulate its use and ultimately is harder to monitor.

An example: A teen may now sit on mom's couch and "vape" and maybe she won't mind. Yet, the teen is increasing a nicotine addiction as well as reinforcing an addictive behavior. Ultimately, the pen will run out and the person will now have a two-pack-per-day habit instead.

Q.

How addictive is nicotine, and how does dependency build?

A.

Nicotine is highly addictive, it takes 7 to 10 seconds for it to reach your brain. By comparison, it takes 30 seconds to a minute for other common street drugs or minutes for alcohol. This short response time acts like the "happy chemical" dopamine to create a high that patients often report "helps relax and refocus" them. The body builds up a tolerance to the nicotine level and compels the user to maintain a higher and higher level of nicotine.

Q.

Smokers often tell of many efforts to quit. Are there any trends that you see among your workshop participants that help make this effort more successful? What does the emotional mindset need to be, and what support is needed?

A.

Most smokers have made three- to four- quit attempts in the past - with many partial attempts in between. Most participants who make small changes in preparation for their quit date, in combination with pharmacotherapy, are much more successful and stay quit.

Emotionally, a participant needs to be confident - something we build on during the workshop - and see this change as one of permanence.



Q.

How are your classes structure? What does each of the four sessions entail?

A.

The structure of the classes is fluid. Usually, I start with a PowerPoint to lead the discussion, and then the participants discuss goals, focus on coping skills and stress reduction techniques and experiential learning. Each class is designed with a theme, as outlined in the brochure, but is adapted to the needs of the participants.

Q.

Would you cite a few triggers that people face in trying to stop?

A.

Stress, schedule, and it's' a "habit."

Q.

How hard is withdrawal from cigarettes, and what medications might help?

A.

Withdrawal can be defined in physical and behavioral terms. Without Nicotine Replacement Therapy, physical withdrawal symptoms generally last about 72 hours. The severity depends on the amount of nicotine use prior.

The "behavioral withdrawal" can last longer as habits and patterns need to be purposefully broken or replaced to decrease triggers.

Q.

How many participants on average come to the four-week sessions, and what is the age range and also gender makeup?

The participant makeup varies widely. Class size is generally three to eight participants, with ages ranging from 30 to 75.

Q.

Are there any common themes you hear in terms of what made people start to smoke? Do they see it as an addiction, and why do they want to stop?

A.

Several common themes run through many of the participants, but there are outliers nonetheless. Many people started smoking by example from peers or family members or through social pressure, such as at school, during groups or in the workplace to "get a break."

Tobacco use should absolutely be seen as an addiction in that there are strong behavioral and physiologic connections that make cessation so challenging. Many participants see smoking "as a bad habit they should stop," but know from previous attempts how difficult and unfairly trivial that phrase can be.

Frequently voiced reasons to stop are "my health, the cost, the smell," while many long- term smokers struggle with the battle between "I have to stop, but I like it."

In class we spend time talking about "why and what else," working on replacement strategies and identifying alternative coping methods.

Q.

What are some of the ways you discuss to help individuals stay motivated to give up smoking?

A.

Staying motivated is a multi-faceted challenge. We talk a lot about reward systems to keep motivation up. This means small rewards daily - or hourly at first - to larger, more long-term rewards. Additionally, a support person can be very helpful for them to stay accountable and supported in their journey.

Q.

Do you have many participants who are actually able to quit by the end of the four classes, or are the classes something that helps on their journey to give up smoking? Where do they go for further support?

A.

The class is designed to offer support and strategies to become smoke-free. Each participant joins at a different point in their journey to being smoke-free. Some are ready for a quit date within those four weeks; others need to make smaller behavioral changes during the four weeks to make a quit attempt more successful.

We offer and encourage participants to continue to attend class for support and relapse prevention until they are smoke-free. I tell all my participants: "I'll be here every Monday, or available by phone, if you need some support."

Q.

What made you interested in becoming a tobacco cessation specialist? What do you enjoy about the work and how long have you been doing it?

I became a tobacco cessation specialist in 2014 when my experience as both a bedside nurse and community disease education nurse identified a gap in the resources for the chronically-ill patients.I realized that there are very few resources for smoking cessation.

Many patients have chronic conditions of the heart or lungs that are impacted, or a direct result of, tobacco use. We have so many supports for other diseases and conditions, but, with tobacco users, simply say, "Stop Smoking," like it would be the words alone that would create success.

The integrated behavioral and medical health model used in tobacco cessation counseling creates a unique approach that creates success by listening to the patient's past experience, thoughts and feelings, and developing a plan with this insight as well as evidence-based practice.

The most rewarding part of the program is when a patient has that "aha" moment where they realize they have regained some control back from smoking, changed a behavior and come that much closer to being smoke-free.News that President Nixon, er, make that Trump, moved to fire the special counsel investigating his doings leads one to ask two fundamental questions:

1) Does our nation's chief executive not understand that there are limits to his authority?

2) Is there nothing to be done to keep this guy in check?

The answer to the first question has long been obvious, and is only more clearly so now, with reports that President Donald Trump last June ordered special counsel Robert S. Mueller III fired, backing off only when the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, said he'd quit rather than carry out the president's directive.

(Details of the sordid mess first appeared in The New York Times on Thursday evening, with the account later corroborated by other news organizations. On Friday, Trump, not surprisingly, dismissed the report as "fake news.")

The second question, however, has an answer that must be qualified. Congress could act to protect Mueller's probe into Russian interference in our nation's 2016 presidential election, possible connections between the Trump campaign and those efforts, and Trump's work to quell that investigation. But so far, it has been too wimpy to do so.

There was a time -- and an awfully long time ago it seems -- when most members of the U.S. Congress saw themselves, at least in times of crisis, not first as loyalists pledged to a particular political party, but instead as the elected members of the legislative branch of the federal government. And they took seriously the fact that the Congress, established in Article I of the Constitution, was given primacy over the other branches.

No more, though. These days, Republicans in Congress bow and scrape and defend the nominal Republican president -- almost without exception. And it was much the same for Democrats in Congress back when Barack Obama was chief executive.

For so many, party comes first. Unhesitatingly. Unblinkingly.

That cannot continue at this moment.

Congress needs to act, speaking with one voice, to protect the office of the special counsel.

Following the report from the Times, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Democrat on the Intelligence Committee, said in a prepared statement that "firing the Special Counsel is a red line that the President cannot cross. Any attempt to remove the Special Counsel, pardon key witnesses, or otherwise interfere in the investigation, would be a gross abuse of power, and all members of Congress, from both parties, have a responsibility to our Constitution and to our country to make that clear immediately."

He's absolutely right, of course. Which doesn't mean that the many kiss-up Republicans up on Capitol Hill will consider the Constitution and the country before they focus instead on their political allegiances.

What's needed -- now -- is action, not more talk. Congress should pass legislation that would protect the special counsel, or any future special counsel, from being terminated by a president. Doing anything less would be to invite a constitutional crisis, if not tomorrow, than at some point down the road.200,000 residential units to be built or converted into rentals in 2018

Shanghai will enhance its effort to foster the residential leasing market this year by accelerating real estate development as well as offering support for professional home leasing companies and institutions, said Shanghai Mayor Ying Yong during the ongoing annual session of the city's People's Congress.

The effort is aimed to quell speculation in the housing market and make the city attractive to young talent, who have become the city's "primary resources"as Ying put itin building itself into a global city of excellence.

Ying said the city plans to build or convert 200,000 housing units into rentals in 2018 and add another 90,000 housing units managed by professional house rental agencies.

The city's first professional rental housing brand, Wonder, owned by State-owned Shanghai Land Group, was released on Saturday. It plans to build 20,000 rental houses by 2020 with a total construction area of 1 million square meters. Its first rental housing community in Minhang district started construction this month.

According to the city's five-year plan from 2016 to 2020, a total of 700,000 rental units are planned to be added in the city, surpassing the 450,000 new commercial housing units.

As Shanghai strives to build itself into a global innovation center of science and technologya task proposed in its master plan for 2035the city's skyrocketing property market, however, has become a deterrent to talent.

Yin Oujie, deputy to Jing'an district and vice-president of Shanghai Oriental Investment Supervision Co, said she felt it was hard to secure young talent in recent years.

"It's become harder for us to hire good fresh graduates from key universities whose homes are in other provinces as they don't see the chance of buying an apartment in Shanghai," Yin said.

In addressing the congress, the mayor said: "Talent is our primary resource that plays a decisive role in global cooperation and competition among cities."

The mayor pledged to stick to current tightening policies to quell speculation, and vowed to accelerate the pace of establishing a housing system that will ensure supply from multiple sources, provide housing support through multiple channels and encourage both house purchases and rentals.

"Houses are built for living in, not for speculation," Ying said, quoting President Xi Jinping's comment on the country's housing market.

Tang Xiaoling, deputy general manager of Shanghai Land Group and deputy to Fengxian district, said, "The rental housing community aims to provide homes for young professionals who come to the city and will be paired with commercial zones and business incubators. Their locations will be close to transportation hubs."

Different from subsidized public rental housing, there will be no requirements for tenants' income but preference will be given to people working in universities and high-tech zones, she said.

"We will likely build a rental platform with universities and high-tech parks and set aside a portion of the rental houses for them," Tang said, adding that the plan is still in its early stages.

Besides building new rental communities, existing homes from small landlords and idle space held by government-affiliated institutions and State-owned companies is the other source for rental housing.

"Some idle factories or small shabby hotels will be renovated and turned into rental housing under unified management," said Ru Guoming, director of the Xuhui district housing authority, also the district deputy to the congress. "It can thus better utilize idle resources and clear potential safety hazards."

Ru also said the rental price will be largely market-driven, but rental policies will be tilted to employees in companies with great demand for talent.President Donald Trump hit back Friday against reports that he attempted to dismiss Special Counsel Robert Mueller from a probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential campaign, calling them "fake news."

Trump dismissed the New York Times' report, which suggested that he sought to fire Mueller in June -- shortly after the special counsel took over the investigation, as the "typical" type of story the newspaper would run.

"Fake news. Fake news. Typical New York Times. Fake stories," he told reporters when asked about the report at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, according to White House pool reports.

Ty Cobb, the White House attorney focused on the Russia investigation, meanwhile, has declined to comment on the report "out of respect for the Office of the Special Counsel and its process," according to various news outlets.

The New York Times first reported late Thursday that Trump ordered Mueller's firing last summer and backed off only after White House Counsel Donald McGahn threatened to resign over such a move.

Although Trump was reportedly fine with Mueller's appointment to lead the investigation at first, he soured on the special counsel after speaking to friends and advisers who offered that Mueller would dig into his personal finances and go beyond the scope of Russian collusion, according to the Washington Post.

People familiar with the conversations told the newspaper that Trump decided to argue that Mueller had conflicts of interest and should be removed from the probe.

McGahn, in response to the president's alleged actions, reportedly threatened that he would leave the White House if Trump went through with the firing, a senior administration official told the newspaper. The president then backed off of the idea of dismissing Mueller.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information becomes available.This Sunday, eighth-graders from across Massachusetts will work together to assemble care packages for families who have moved from Puerto Rico to Springfield and Holyoke after Hurricane Maria.

The effort will help kick off a statewide community service program.

"Like so many others, we're deeply effected by the experience of families relocating from Puerto Rico to our states, and we wanted to warmly welcome them," said Carolyn Casey, founder of Project 351. "We wanted to extend warmth and compassion and care on behalf of young people from every part of the state."

The care packages are one of five service projects that will be done by Project 351 students. Project 351 is an 8-year-old nonprofit dedicated to cultivating community service among young people. The group works with eighth-grade ambassadors from each of the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts, and those students get involved in community service projects throughout the year that benefit their schools and communities.

The group has engaged 3,000 student ambassadors since 2011. The year-long program will hold its launch day this Sunday at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston with a program featuring Gov. Charlie Baker. The students will then do service projects across Boston.

In a project at the Statehouse, the governor and first lady Lauren Baker will work with the students to assemble 1,000 care packages for Puerto Rican families in Western Massachusetts.

The care packages will include school supplies like crayons, pencils and coloring books; hygiene needs like shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes; donated mittens and gloves; and handwritten welcome notes.

Massachusetts has accepted a large population of Puerto Ricans fleeing the hurricane-devastated island, with 2,440 Puerto Rican students enrolling in Massachusetts schools since September. Springfield and Holyoke have particularly large Puerto Rican communities.

The care packages will be distributed through the Department of Children and Families.

Other students will volunteer at Cradles to Crayons, Pine Street Inn and Greater Boston Food Bank. At Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. K-8 School in Dorchester, students will paint murals, paint the school cafeteria, create kits of school supplies for students and package fresh food for local families.

"In a time where polarization seems to be too dominant a theme, we look to these 8th graders as shining lights of how to build community and how to lead with kindness and how to be a catalyst for uniting people around shared goals and lifting each other up," Casey said.Former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, is running for re-election, despite the scandal involving his husband, Bryon Hefner.

Rosenberg on Friday tweeted a picture of himself at Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin's office picking up papers to run for re-election.

Picking up nominating papers to begin my run for re-election to represent the Hampshire, Franklin & Worcester District in the @MA_Senate! #westernma #mapoli pic.twitter.com/j8ohDEMxgi  Stan Rosenberg (@SenStan) January 26, 2018

Rosenberg stepped down as Senate president in December after the Boston Globe reported that Hefner allegedly groped without consent or forcefully kissed four men who had business before the Senate.

The Senate Ethics Committee hired an outside law firm to look into whether Rosenberg broke any Senate rules. A criminal investigation is ongoing into Hefner.

Rosenberg has retained some support in the state Senate and is likely to be looking to retake his old position if the investigation clears him. Rosenberg and Hefner have separated. Rosenberg maintains he has always maintained a "firewall" between his personal and professional life.U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, D-Springfield, asked Trump administration officials this week to provide an update on the federal government's efforts to restore electricity and other basic services in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands -- territories hit hard by Hurricanes Maria and Irma.

The Springfield Democrat, who recently joined other Massachusetts lawmakers in traveling to Puerto Rico, penned a Thursday letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney raising concerns about the White House's response to recovery efforts on the islands.

Contending that Mulvaney's office and congressional Republicans have fallen short in appropriating the $94 billion Puerto Rico's governor requested for recovery efforts, Neal accused the Trump administration of failing to secure "even the most basic level of support during this difficult time."

He called on the White House "to step up and support our fellow citizens in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands," as well as urged Mulvaney to provide an updated look at the administration's efforts to assist in hurricane recovery in the two territories.

"After seeing the devastation and recovery efforts first hand, I can attest to the level of support needed for these efforts. The administration's funding request is woefully inadequate and the political gamesmanship of Republicans in Congress has prevented us from fulfilling our obligation to date," he wrote in the letter. "I look to you as director of the Office of Management and Budget to come to the table in good faith for our fellow citizens."

Specifically, Neal asked Mulvaney to detail: how many hospitals in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands have physical damage, or lack permanent power sources or water; how many pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities are not yet fully operational in Puerto Rico; and how the administration plans to address the growing mental health challenges related to the hurricanes, among many other things.

The congressman took part in official visit to Puerto Rico, which U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's office organized, earlier this month.

Neal, following the trip, praised the Federal Emergency Management Agency's response to damage caused by the hurricanes, but offered that initial efforts could have been more efficient.

As of the delegation's visit -- which took place more than 100 days after the hurricanes hit Puerto Rico -- only 60 percent of power has been restored on the island and just 10 percent of the power grid is operational, Neal said.U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, slammed the Trump administration Friday for recently deciding to impose tariffs on solar panels made outside of the United States -- a move which he argued could hurt the American solar energy industry and threaten thousands of Massachusetts jobs.

Markey, who addressed reporters at SunBug Solar in Arlington, cast the move to impose tariffs of up to 30 percent on solar power equipment imported to the U.S. as "just one of a litany of environmental energy sins the Trump administration has committed over the past year."

Arguing that fewer than 2,000 of the 260,000 solar energy jobs reported in the U.S. in 2016 were related to the manufacturing of solar energy panels, the Massachusetts Democrat cautioned that the new tariffs will raise costs and could and result in the loss of 23,000 industry jobs in 2018 alone.

In Massachusetts, meanwhile, the administration's policy could threaten 2,000 of the state's 15,000 solar energy positions, Markey said.

Today Im in Boston with #MA solar energy leaders to outline how Donald Trumps decision to place new tariffs on imports of solar panels and cells could lead to the loss of 23,000 solar jobs across the country. WATCH: Posted by Senator Edward J. Markey on Friday, January 26, 2018

"President (Donald) Trump's move isn't about protecting domestic manufacturing, it's about manufacturing an excuse to attack solar energy -- to attack clean energy on behalf of big oil and big coal and their fossil fuel friends," he said, noting that the bulk of jobs available in America's solar industry -- 137,000 -- are related to panel installation.

The senator argued that the Trump administration's tariff on solar panel imports will hurt not just the economy and workers, but also efforts to combat climate change.

"This solar tariff is just one of a litany of environmental and energy sins that the Trump administration has committed over the past year," he said, pointing to policies that rolled back fuel economy standards, withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord and opened new areas for offshore drilling, among other things.

"It's only been one year, but the Trump administration is quickly positioning itself to be the most anti-environment, most anti-climate, anti-clean energy, anti-solar energy administration in the history of the United States," he said.

Markey added that he plans to fight back against the Trump administration's tariff and ensure the solar industry has the support needed to continue creating jobs in Massachusetts and across the country.

Trump signed an executive action Monday to impose tariffs on all imported solar products and residential washing machines.

The president argued that the tariffs would help protect American workers and jobs, adding that the independent, bipartisan U.S. International Trade Commission recommended the move.

"A lot of manufacturers will be coming to the United States to build washing machines and also solar. For both solar and washing machines, these executive actions uphold the principle of fair trade and demonstrate to the world that the United States will not be taken advantage of anymore. Our companies will not be taken advantage of anymore," he said before signing the order. "And our workers are going to have lots of really great jobs with products that are going to be made in the good old USA."

Although the president's executive action drew criticism from Markey, former Vice President Al Gore, a Democrat and environmental activist, defended Trump's decision to impose new tariffs on solar imports, Politico reported.

"In this case, it really did not start with him," Gore reportedly said. "This was a trade action brought by private companies. They chose a kind of midpoint in the range of alternatives ... It could have been handled differently, should have been handled differently, but it's not an utter catastrophe."Native Americans on reservations are twice as underserved for broadband access than other rural Americans, and are 16 times more likely to be underserved than their urban counterparts.

The digital divide is real and its widening. Nowhere is this more true than on our reservations around the country. The vast majority of those living on tribal lands have no options to access broadband Internet, and the longer this problem persists, the further they get left behind.

According to data from the Federal Communications Commissions most recent Broadband Progress Report, 65 percent of Montanans living on tribal land have no access to broadband Internet. Compare that to only 4 percent of Americans in urban areas who do not have broadband access.

JASON SMALL

http://missoulian.com/opinion/columnists/expand-broadband-coverage-to-close-digital-divide/article_a368e84d-9e43-5d6a-ac5a-3376dfced50a.htmlTeton Pass Ski Resort unexpectedly announced several months ago that it would not open for the 2017-2018 ski season.

Teton Pass was purchased by New Zealand native Nick Wood back in 2010.

http://www.kxlh.com/story/37343277/teton-pass-ski-resort-is-up-for-saleTheres an energy revolution happening in villages and towns across Africa  off-grid solar energy is becoming a viable alternative to traditional electricity systems. In a bold talk about a true leapfrog moment, Amar Inamdar introduces us to proud owners of off-grid solar kits  and explains how this technology has the opportunity to meet two extraordinary goals: energy access for all and a low-carbon future. "Every household a proud producer as well as consumer of energy," Inamdar says. "Thats the democracy of energy." (Followed by a brief Q&A with TED Curator Chris Anderson)

Watch now https://ted.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=07487d1456302a286cf9c4ccc&id=9467a725fe&e=d3135666a2The southern province of Guangdong has vowed to expand cooperation with the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, under the "one country, two systems" framework, to speed up the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In his government work report delivered to Guangdong Provincial People's Congress on Thursday, Ma Xingrui, governor of Guangdong, said the province aims to build a world-class bay area through cooperation with the two SARs, and to ensure new opening-up to the outside world.

In addition to Hong Kong and Macao, the Greater Bay Area includes the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Foshan, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Huizhou and Zhaoqing in Guangdong province.

Ma said Guangdong is considering further lowering its threshold for special personnel to open their offices in the province in the months ahead. The move aims to attract more skilled workers to support Guangdong's economic construction as the province - one of the country's economic powerhouses -needs a large number of professionals from home and abroad to help ensure sustainable economic growth.

The province hopes to attract more big name companies and scientific research institutes to set up research and development centers in the province, Ma said.

"Guangdong is hoping to join hands with investors from Hong Kong and Macao to develop its free trade zones, to further improve the province's trading capacity in the years ahead," Ma said.

The province's three free trade zones include Nansha, Qianhai and Hengqin, located in Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai, respectively.

According to Ma, another motivation behind the cooperation with Hong Kong and Macao is to actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative.

He said he expects the cooperation can help Guangdong to become a new international innovation center and a major transport hub, by further improving infrastructural links with the two SARs. Ma urged the relevant departments in his province to help accelerate the launch of the high-speed railway between Guangdong and Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge this year.

Guangdong, China's window of reform and opening-up, has led economic development in the mainland for 29 years straight. According to Ma, the province is targeting a GDP growth rate of 7 percent this year.

Last year, the province's GDP totaled 8.99 trillion yuan(.42 trillion), compared with the 5.8 trillion yuan recorded in 2012. The province has reported an average annual growth rate of 7.9 percent over the past five years.The Indian Law Resource Center Board of Directors announced today that they have begun a search for a new executive director. Robert "Tim" Coulter, the Centers founder and long-time executive director, has asked the Board to find his successor now, while he is in good health and able to continue working to assure a smooth transition.

"Well be looking for candidates who have the leadership skills to build on the Centers pioneering human rights work and who also have the creative vision to break new ground for indigenous rights."

http://indianlawresourcecenter.cmail20.com/t/ViewEmail/r/82AD482CD18F4E4F2540EF23F30FEDED/8F6D3386CC9956BF44D0DD5392A9C75AChinese wind turbine maker Sinovel said it is "fully prepared and will take proactive measures to protect its interests," after the company was convicted on Wednesday of multiple U.S. court charges of trade-secret theft that may lead to fines of millions of dollars on the company.

"We received our U.S. lawyers' email on Thursday morning informing us of the charges, and in response, we will resort to legal means to safeguard our legal rights as well as those of small stakeholders," read a statement the company sent to the Global Times on Thursday.

The comment came after a U.S. federal jury in the state of Wisconsin on Wednesday found Sinovel guilty on multiple charges.

It includes trade-secret theft, conspiracy and wire fraud in its business with American Superconductor (AMSC) and its related companies, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

The charges against Sinovel were brought in 2013, in which prosecutors claimed that Sinovel stole AMSC's patented information to "avoid having to pay" AMSC, Reuters reported.

A final ruling is expected on June 4. If convicted, the Chinese company could face fines up to .8 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported in January.

Shares of Shanghai-listed Sinovel declined 3.92 percent to 1.47 yuan (23 cents) at Thursday's close.

The case also came amid U.S. President Donald Trump's tougher stance against China in bilateral trade, raising concerns that friction between the two economic powerhouses, not only in trade but also other areas like intellectual property rights (IPR), could intensify in 2018.

On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said at the Davos Forum in Switzerland that property rights, steel and aluminum "will be the next for protections in the U.S."

On Tuesday, the Trump administration approved a 30 percent tariff on solar panel imports, which industry insiders interpreted as a move targeting Chinese producers.

Conflicts over IPR between China and the U.S. have existed for a long time.

In general, IPR lawsuits are used by industry leaders as a protective measure against their competitors, Dong Yizhi, a research fellow with the China e-Business Research Center, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Sinovel may countersue lawsuit to refute AMSC, he said.

Dong said such conflicts between Chinese and U.S. companies will grow as domestic companies go global, but this contributes to the development of industries once the cases are settled within an international legal framework.China's Belt and Road Initiative will bring opportunities for parties concerned to jointly build a "Polar Silk Road", and facilitate connectivity and sustainable economic and social development of the Arctic, said a whitepaper issued on Friday.

The document titled China's Arctic Policy by the State Council Information Office underscored that China has shared interests with Arctic States and a shared future with the rest of the world in the Arctic.

China's capital, technology, market, knowledge and experience is expected to play a major role in expanding the network of shipping routes in the Arctic and facilitating the economic and social progress of the coastal States along the routes, read the paper.

The document stressed that China's activities in the Arctic have expanded into areas including the platforms of global governance, regional cooperation, and bilateral and multilateral affairs, and such disciplines as scientific research, ecological environment, climate change, economic development, and cultural exchanges.

The whitepaper said, by the end of 2017, China has carried out eight scientific expeditions in the Arctic Ocean, and conducted research for 14 years with the Yellow River Station as the base.

Read more:

China publishes Arctic policy, eyeing vision of 'Polar Silk Road'

China published a white paper on its Arctic policy Friday, pledging cooperative governance and elaborating a vision of "Polar Silk Road".

"China, as a responsible major country, is ready to cooperate with all relevant parties to seize the historic opportunity in the development of the Arctic, to address the challenges brought by the changes in the region," said the white paper issued by the State Council Information Office.

China to promote sustainable development of the Arctic

China will work to safeguard the common interests of all countries and the international community in the Arctic, and promote sustainable development of the Arctic, according to a white paper issued Friday by the State Council Information Office.

China's policy goals on the Arctic are to understand, protect, develop and participate in the governance of the Arctic, it said.

China stresses 'respect, cooperation, win-win result, sustainability' over Arctic affairs

China will participate in Arctic affairs in accordance with the basic principles of "respect, cooperation, win-win result and sustainability," according to a white paper issued Friday by the State Council Information Office.

"Respect" is the key basis for China's participation in Arctic affairs.Respect should be reciprocal. It means all States should abide by international treaties such as the UN Charter and the UNCLOS, as well as general international law, it said.

China underscores rational utilization in Arctic exploration

China underscores the importance of environmental protection, rational utilization, law-based governance and international cooperation, when participating in Arctic affairs, according to a white paper.

China commits itself to maintaining a peaceful, secure and stable Arctic order, said the document titled "China's Arctic Policy," issued by the State Council Information Office on Friday.

International community share opportunities, issues in Arctic: white paper

A white paper issued by China's State Council Information Office on Friday said that the international community faces the same threat and shares the same future in addressing global issues concerning the Arctic.

According to the white paper, titled "China's Arctic Policy," temperature has been rising continuously in the Arctic over the past three decades, resulting in diminishing sea ice in summer.Globalization and free trade will continue to top the agenda for this year's annual conference of the Boao Forum for Asia, which focuses on solving the shared problems facing the Asia-Pacific region, the secretary-general of the forum said on Thursday.

In a world with a rising anti-globalization mentality and trade protectionism, the region needs open, coordinated, inclusive and balanced development more than ever before, said Zhou Wenzhong, secretary-general of the BFA at a news conference held in Beijing.

"We need to broaden the depth and breadth of regional cooperation in a way that would lead to a more open and better-coordinated Asia," Zhou said.

This year also marks the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up, and the world is eager to hear more details of China's further reform agenda, which was mapped out by the 19th CPC National Congress, he said.

This year's annual conference will be held in Boao, Hainan province, from April 8 to 11, with the opening ceremony scheduled on April 10.

"An Open and Innovative Asia for a World of Greater Prosperity" will be the theme of the conference, which will include more than 60 sessions, according to Zhou.

The forum will be divided into four segments: Globalization & the Belt and Road Initiative, An Open Asia, Innovation, and Reform.

There will also be sessions specifically addressing topics relating to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Xiongan New area and China's ecological civilization strategy.

"We are very proud to have contributed to the development of the bilateral relation between China and Australia, which have been extremely successful for the benefit of both economies," said Alison Terry, group manager of corporate affairs of Australia-based Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, one of the sponsors for the forum.

"FMG is strongly focused on successful trade with China and we look forward to continued strength in the mutually beneficial business and trade relations between China and Australia," she said.A leading Chinese exporter of laser equipment, Penta-Chutian Laser Co. Ltd. announced that the company would deliver 50 sets of large laser cutting equipment with total value of 100 million yuan (about 15 million U.S. dollars).

"A group of buyers including domestic Chinese companies, and companies in India, Malaysia, Republic of Korea and Singapore jointly placed the order through the chamber of commerce in Shanghai," said Sun Wen, board chairman of Chutian Laser Group, based in Wuhan city, capital of central China's Hubei Province. "It is the biggest order so far in Chinese laser industry."

The Chinese laser equipment industry has relied on imports in the past, but domestic companies have grown stronger in recent years.

Wuhan is the main base for the laser industry in China. It has over 200 laser equipment manufacturers, taking up about half of China's market.South Sudan and China on Thursday signed a loan agreement worth 248.8 million U.S. dollars for the establishment of an Air Traffic Management (ATM) system in the world's youngest country.

Under the pact, the two governments agreed that the money will be channeled through the Export-Import Bank of China.

Transport Minister John Luke Jok said South Sudan currently has no facility or capacity to provide air traffic monitoring and control services for itself and relies on neighboring Sudan for ATM service.

Jok said the project to be undertaken by the China Harbor Engineering Company Ltd. will take three years to complete.

"The project is great and we are so happy it reached this stage. Our greatest happiness goes to the Chinese embassy and the people of China for helping us build our own air traffic management system," Jok said.

Finance and Economic Planning Minister Stephen Dhieu Dua said the ATM would be a key infrastructure for safeguarding national security and in generating revenue for the cash-strapped government.

Dua appreciated the Chinese government for its continued support geared towards reconstruction of the war-torn nation.

"We thank our governments for bringing the two people together and we are proud of our friendship with the people of China. I want to thank the Chinese embassy in South Sudan for strengthening our bilateral relations with China," Dua said.

"We are also negotiating with the Chinese government, Chinese companies and financial institutions to fund other economic and social services projects in South Sudan," he added.

Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan He Xiangdong said once the project is completed, it will enable South Sudan to collect air traffic fees, improve monitoring of their air space and enhance safeguarding of its sovereignty.The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the central government of India to formulate a plan to curb pollution in other cities apart from the national capital.



The central government told the court that it has been working on a comprehensive action plan to deal with air pollution across the country and will finalise it soon.

In response to a PIL, the Supreme Court has asked the central government to develop a comprehensive action plan to deal with air pollution across the country.





The central government referred to a comprehensive action plan aimed at meeting the ambient air quality in the NCR that includes Delhi and areas of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.



It said the Central Pollution Control Board will issue directions to the authorities concerned on Thursday to take steps as per the timeline laid out in the action plan.



The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta.







Source: IANS "Newspaper reports say one of the cities, Raipur, is more polluted than Delhi. Patna is also there. Why should special treatment be given to Delhi? What do you propose to do for the rest of the country," the bench asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF).The central government referred to a comprehensive action plan aimed at meeting the ambient air quality in the NCR that includes Delhi and areas of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.It said the Central Pollution Control Board will issue directions to the authorities concerned on Thursday to take steps as per the timeline laid out in the action plan.The bench was hearing a public interest litigation filed by environmentalist M.C. Mehta.Source: IANS

A Division Bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta wondered why the National Capital Region, including Delhi, was receiving special treatment when air pollution in Patna in Bihar and Raipur in Chhattisgarh was even worse.China wants 500,000 more general practitioners by 2030, a health official said Thursday.

At present, China has 209,000 general practitioners, but aims to enable every 10,000 residents to have access to five competent general practitioners by 2030, said Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, at a press conference.

Citing a guideline on the development of general practitioners issued by the State Council, Zeng said that key reforms would be carried out, including increasing salaries and the social status for general practitioners and making the job a more attractive career.

"As general practitioners usually offer services in local communities, villages and towns, they are more familiar with local people's living habits and health conditions than a strange hospital in cities," Zeng said. "Therefore, general practitioners play a crucial role in local disease prevention and health care, and ease the huge workload of big public hospitals."

According to the guideline, China plans to have two or three competent general practitioners per 10,000 residents by 2020.

While medical schools are to open more programs to train general practitioners, teaching hospitals are encouraged to open general-practice departments.

The report of the 19th Communist Party of China National Congress has stressed improving community-level healthcare services, and strengthening the ranks of general practitioners.

In 2015, there were 189,000 general practitioners in China, accounting for only 6.2 percent of all doctors, with one general practitioner for every 10,000 citizens, according to the commission.Name: Joe Ankley

Age: 29

Hometown: Port Austin

Employer: North Huron School

1. Current job title/responsibilities:

Agriscience Teacher and FFA Advisor at North Huron School. I teach a variety of agriscience courses and help with advising the North Huron FFA members.

2. What is the best aspect of your job?

I get to work closely with students throughout the entire year and enjoy seeing them develop skills through classes and FFA involvement that they will be able to use the rest of their life, no matter what they choose to do after high school.

3. Why is your community a good place to live and work?

The reason why I have this job is the community. I grew up in Imlay City, and came to interview for this job in 2012. I immediately knew that the community was supportive of education, the school and the agriscience program. I was excited to start and have had the full support of the community, school board and administration in building our agriscience program to one that receives recognition around the state.

4. What one person has influenced you the most?

There's several people who have influenced me, and it wouldn't be fair to pick just one. Professionally, past educators, co-educators and administration have been very influential. Personally, my family has a big influence on me.

5. What do you do to relieve stress?

I love to go on hikes and there are a lot of great short hikes in the Upper Thumb. I also enjoy several kayak trips around the Thumb each summer too. I love traveling and exploring. I've been fortunate to visit a lot of states, (Michigan is the best though), and have traveled to Japan, Europe and Africa.

6. What are your three favorite movies?

I am a SyFy fan. My top three, in order, are: Lord of the Rings (and the Hobbit), Star Wars, and Avatar.

7. What is your favorite social media site and why?

I spend a lot of time on Facebook for myself and our FFA Chapter (check it out: North Huron FFA). However, I've been figuring out Snapchat recently, and that's what I use to communicate with my family and friends the most. I also find myself on Twitter frequently, as that's where I get most of my news. I guess I have a lot of favorites.

8. What is your favorite app?

Camera. I love to take pictures and its always available and with me.

9. Apple or Android  and why?

Apple. I started college with an iPod touch and never looked back.

10. What quote do you live by?"

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I  I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." Robert FrostBAD AXE  At this weeks Huron County Board of Commissioners meeting, the board accepted, with regret, the retirement of Register of Deeds Sheri L. Stanton.

Stanton, a 32-year employee of the office, announced her retirement last week, citing numerous changes in her life.

After accepting Stantons retirement, Commissioner John Nugent asked for a quick discussion on the matter.

Id like Lori (Neal-Wonsowicz) to explain the process of replacing an elected official, said Nugent. In this case the Register of Deeds, so that people will understand the process of whos involved.

Neal-Wonsowicz then explained the process, which is done through a committee of herself, Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski and Probate Judge David Clabuesch.

The position will be advertised with a deadline of Feb. 16. The committee will then look over resumes and conduct interviews.

The person appointed by the committee will serve until the Nov. 6 general election.

If the committee has not appointed anyone by Feb. 28, which is Stantons last day on the job, Chief Deputy Register of Deeds Sarah Durr will step into the role until a replacement can be found.

Also at the meeting, commissioners heard a presentation from Karen Currie and Karen Southgate  both members of the Huron Trauma Team.

Currie said the groups focus is on childhood trauma, which has had a significant impact on area schools and society as a whole.

Some factors that cause trauma are changing schools or experiencing abuse and neglect. During their research, Currie said theyve found children who experience four or more adverse effects during their childhood tend to be adults that struggle in society.

We have children that have faced adverse experiences, and those experiences have changed not only their physical health and their behaviors, but also their ability to learn, Currie said.

She added that as a result, this puts more pressure on teachers and school systems.

The trauma teams intent is to figure out a way to get people more informed and how it can build systems so that children can become more resilient, even when adverse experiences take place in their lives.

Also presenting was Stephan Currie of the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC).

MAC is the only statewide organization that represents all 83 counties in the state.

Currie briefed the board on the organizations services, which include education, advocacy, money-saving opportunities and efficiency.

In other business, the board:

 Approved a special county-wide election to submit the proposition to renew the Huron County Medical Care Facility millage at the special election on May 8.

 Authorized Neal-Wonsowicz to advertise for vacancies on the Mental Health Services Board (four vacancies, three-year term), Construction Board of Appeals (two vacancies, two-year term) and Planning Commission (three vacancies, three-year term).Guangdong Province plans to put another 20,000 industrial robots to work this year, sharpening its already keen manufacturing edge.

Guangdong governor Ma Xingrui announced the plan Thursday as he delivered a report to the local parliamentary session.

"We will intensify our efforts to digitize manufacturing and make our industry smarter and greener," Ma said.

Guangdong is focused on the real economy, with manufacturing at the foundation, he said.

The robot industry is a key to the "Made in China 2025" strategy.

China is already the biggest market for industrial robots in the world, producing around 10,000 a month in 2017, 70 percent more than the previous year. The value of China's industrial robot market is expected to top 4 billion U.S. dollars in 2017 and increase to around 6 billion dollars in 2020.

In 2016, Guangdong had more than 60,000 industrial robots, a fifth of the country's total. The provincial IT commission expects there to be five times that number by 2020.

In 2015, Guangdong came up with the "machine for man" plan to advance the use of robots. Close to 2,000 manufacturers signed up in 2017.

Dongguan City, the "world's factory," acted earlier. In 2014, buckling under a shortage of labor and surging wage bills, the city began a three-year push for automation, providing subsidies to make robots affordable for more businesses.

Both productivity and product quality went up and labor costs went down, according to Ye Baohua, director of the city IT commission. The proportion of products meeting quality standards has risen to 90.7 percent from 86.1 percent, while overall costs fell 9.4 percent.

Astonishingly, productivity has more than tripled. The machines have done the jobs of nearly 200,000 workers. This "man for machine" swap, however, does not mean a drop in demand for workers, Ye said. Dongguan's manufacturers are badly in need of skilled operators of intelligent equipment.

"Workers accustomed to simple tasks will learn to take on new jobs," Ye said.HARBOR BEACH -- As part of School Board Appreciation month, members of Harbor Beach's school board were honored at a recent meeting.

Superintendent Shawn Bishop told the board how important the hard working individuals are to the school district.

"Sometimes you deal with issues that are not black and white," he said. "You make very difficult decisions."

Bishop presented each member with a small gift bag and a thank you letter signed by Harbor Beach students. Afterward, Tumara Johnston, principal of the elementary and middle schools, also gave some small gifts to each board member.

In addition, she pointed out a large banner had been erected in the school library to commemorate their service.

In old business, the board passed facilities usage guidelines. The guidelines listed the various prices and expectations of those using/renting the facilities. The board also agreed upon food service collections guidelines. These dealt with procedures to collect lunch fees from those students. They also approved NEOLA policy updates.

The board approved hiring Jeff Kowaleski as the new maintenance director. His base salary will be $45,000 with additional benefits.

At the last board meeting, the group listed Jan. 14 as the last day for final bids to purchase Kipper School and property. As of that date, the high bid was from Michael Holdwick for $15,000. A higher bid was delivered by mail -- postmarked before the due date -- the following week. After a long discussion, the board agreed it was only fair to accept Holdwick's bid.

The meeting ended when the board went into closed session for the mid-year superintendent evaluation.

The board is scheduled to meet next at 7 p.m. on Feb. 7 in the high school library.CASS CITY -- Hills & Dales General Hospital recently welcomed Dr. Robert Van Howe as the Thumb's newest board certified pediatrician.

Beginning in March, Van Howe will see patients at both Thumb Pediatrics in Cass City and Millwood Street Primary Care in Caro.

"We could not be more excited to welcome Dr. Van Howe to our team," said Jean Anthony, president and CEO of the hospital. "We have seen a true need for another pediatrician in both Cass City and Caro and Dr. Van Howe is a great fit. His education, experience, and passion for pediatrics are truly remarkable and we know that patients will benefit from all of these."

Van Howe comes to Hills & Dales General Hospital after most recently working for CMU Partners in Saginaw. A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University in Chicago, Van Howe brings a wealth of pediatric experience to Hills & Dales.

Van Howe also has a master's of science from the University of Michigan, School of Public Health, in Clinical Research Design and Statistical Analysis. Additionally, Van Howe serves as the Chief of Pediatrics and Professor of Pediatrics at CMU College of Medicine. Having numerous publications, Van Howe has devoted his career to pediatric care and education.

To schedule an appointment with Van Howe, you can call Thumb Pediatrics at 989-872-8503 or Millwood Street Primary Care at 989-672-1555. The staff will assist you with scheduling on his first available clinic dates.BAD AXE  A former Elkton man was handed more time in prison this week stemming from an altercation with his girlfriend where she thought she was going to die.

As a result of my drug use, Ive made a lot of bad decisions in my life, Michael J. Weiderhold told the court during sentencing Monday. Ive had a lot of time by myself to figure out who I really am.

Weiderhold, 32, was charged with domestic violence-third offense in connection to a four-hour fight between him and his girlfriend. He is currently serving a prison sentence in Carson City Correctional Facility on unrelated charges.

According to the police report, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. on June 11-12, Weiderhold punched his girlfriend in the face and back area while she was trying to escape the home. He also kicked her in the stomach and strangled her to the point of almost going unconscious.

The officer who was called to the scene was able to see a black eye on the victim and discoloration on her neck, the report states. Weiderhold was arrested on the spot.

He later pleaded guilty as charged.

During sentencing, defense attorney Dallas Rooney said his clients girlfriend has been in contact with him since he was sentenced to prison months ago. She wants to have contact with him while hes incarcerated, he said.

He can be a productive citizen once he gets out, Rooney said, adding Weiderhold is a tutor in prison. Hes helping other prisoners learn job skills.

Rooney noted that Weiderhold has earned certificates in various areas since hes been locked up.

Going to prison this time mightve been the best thing for him this time around, believe it or not, Rooney said in his closing statements.

Weiderhold also told Huron County Circuit Judge Gerald M. Prill that he is taking courses in prison to help teach other inmates skills hes acquired over the years.

Im just trying to positively benefit the situation Im in and learn something from it, he said.

Lastly, Weiderhold apologized to his girlfriend  who was not in the courtroom  for his actions.

Prill told the defendant it was necessary to deter him from society and the situation could have been much worse.

Weiderhold was sentenced to three to five years in the states prison system. He was given credit for 209 days served.

In an unrelated case, Weiderhold was also sentenced Monday to 365 days in the county jail on four counts of obtaining a controlled substance by fraud. He received credit for 206 days in those files.

Weiderhold was charged for changing the amount of milligrams on an Adderall prescription from 10 to 20 between March 27 and May 25, 2017.

All sentences will run concurrently.UPPER THUMB  The attorney of a close relative of Huron County Sheriff Kelly J. Hanson has filed a motion to remove Huron County Prosecutor Timothy J. Rutkowski from the case due to conflict of interest.

Attorney Frank J. Manley said in a press release Thursday Rutkowski has refused his own past practice and the lead of the Huron County judge in order to remain on the case.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for 9 a.m. Friday (Jan. 26) in Sanilac County Circuit Court Juvenile Division. The case was moved to Sanilac County at the behest of Huron County judges.

(Hanson and Rutkowski) are avowed political enemies and have waged a number of very public battles concerning each others conduct, Manley stated.

Concerned that the juvenile must have his case resolved in a fair and impartial manner, (Manley) has demanded Rutowski recuse himself and his office from this case, he continued.

Manleys motion rests on a 1987 Michigan court case, People v Doyle, which states that disqualification promotes, the preservation of public confidence in the impartiality and integrity of the criminal justice system. American courts have consistently held that the appearance of impropriety is sufficient to justify disqualification of a prosecuting attorney. A defendant need not prove actual bad faith or unethical conduct on the part of the prosecutor and his staff.

Hanson told the Huron Daily Tribune Rutkowski is abusing his authority as prosecutor.

I dont know how we can get a fair and impartial trial until he and his office are removed, Hanson said.

He also noted that a second chance for a first time offense was not given, as is typically the case for juvenile defendants.

(Rutkowski is) abusing his authority as prosecutor  at the expense of a juvenile kid whos getting made an example of because hes trying to get even with me, Hanson said.

Regarding the rivalry between him and Rutkowski, Hanson said: This bad blood formed because of me having to react to things that were of his doing.

Rutkowski did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Thursday afternoon.

Rutkowski told the Huron Daily Tribune last year through an exchange of written correspondences that he is not required to recuse himself by law.

He did, however, recuse himself in a 2014 case involving then-Huron County Circuit Judge M. Richard Knoblock. He did the same in a case involving a relative of Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Dawn A. Schumacher last summer.

Rutkowski said the following on his office's website: "If there is a situation where the person charged was a close friend, that would again indicate the need for this office to be disqualified. This particular case is now before the court in Sanilac County because the Huron County family court judge and Sheriff Hanson have an ongoing social relationship. It was appropriate for him to disqualify himself for that reason.

"However, when there is no direct conflict or close ties to someone, as the chief law enforcement officer of Huron County, it is the prosecutors job to enforce the laws of this county and continue to protect the citizens of this community."

The Huron Daily Tribune does not publish the names of juveniles accused of crimes unless they are charged as adults.Unperturbed by mass street demonstrations and European Union warnings over judicial reform, Romania's ruling party is doubling down on its controversial agenda.

The Social Democrats finalized their third government in a year on Friday after picking a new prime minister last week. Accused by protesters and officials in Brussels of trying to weaken the rule of law, party leader Liviu Dragnea went further by backing people targeted in corruption probes to join the new cabinet.

"This policy trajectory will inevitably fuel a new round of public protests," Tiziana Papa, country risk analyst at BMI Research, a unit of Fitch Group, said by email. "We expect the new cabinet to focus on the speedy passage of widely criticized judicial reforms."

The selections risk further inflaming tensions in the Black Sea nation of 20 million people, where 500,000 demonstrators successfully repelled Social Democrat efforts to ease punishments for corruption a year ago. Also at stake is one of the continent's fastest-growing economies, as well as ties with the EU, which is already at loggerheads with Poland and Hungary over democratic norms.

Premier-Designate Viorica Dancila was selected after her predecessor became the second premier in six months to fall out with Dragnea, who can't take the job himself because of a criminal conviction. He calls Romania's six-year clampdown on graft a witch hunt and says ministers don't have "integrity issues."

The new Cabinet includes Deputy Premier Paul Stanescu and ex-EU Funds Minister Rovana Plumb. Stanescu is facing an abuse-of-office probe; an investigation into Plumb was halted after parliament refused to lift her immunity. Ex-Deputy Premier Sevil Shhaideh, also under investigation, will be secretary general, Hotnews.ro reported. All deny wrongdoing. Among other appointments, Eugen Teodorovici returns as finance minister.

"I set up this team with the aim of restarting Romania's strategic partnerships, especially with the EU and the U.S.," Dancila said Friday. She'll outline her plans after Monday's confirmation vote in parliament.

Protesters have joined President Klaus Iohannis in criticizing the political turmoil. They're also worried about the judicial overhaul -- which the Constitutional Court has partly halted -- and a criminal-code amendment that lawmakers will discuss next month. Plans include:

- Holding judges personally responsible for incorrect rulings, seeking to recover damages from them.

- Limiting presidential powers to nominate or reject chief prosecutors.

- Decriminalizing some abuse-of-office offenses, easing sentences for corruption

European Commission advice to change course has gone unheeded. It's urged parliament "to rethink the course of action proposed, to open up the debate in line with the commission's recommendations." Iohannis meets EU Commission Chief Jean-Claude Juncker and Council head Donald Tusk next Wednesday.

Dancila, a Dragnea ally, supported the judiciary amendments behind last year's protests. But the latest proposals could be delayed by a presidential veto. Iohannis pledges to shield the rule of law, even if that risks suspension by a Social Democrat-controlled parliament. In that instance, the Dragnea-backed Senate speaker would assume the presidency temporarily.

The Social Democrats retain about 40 percent popularity after a raft of tax cuts and wage increases for state workers. But the protests, which attracted 100,000 people last Saturday, will maintain the pressure. The leu is near an all-time low, with more demonstrations scheduled for this weekend.

"We'll be that constant pain in the neck every time they think about judicial changes that are only meant to help them escape prison," said Madalina Onea, a 35-year-old IT specialist protesting in Bucharest.MIDDLETOWN  Eiko Otake and William Johnstons latest exhibition "A Body in Fukushima: Recent Work" will be on view in the South Gallery at Wesleyan Universitys Ezra and Cecile Zilkha Gallery, located at 283 Washington Terrace on the Wesleyan campus in Middletown, Connecticut, from Thursday through Feb. 15. New extended gallery hours are Tuesday, 12-7 p.m., and Wednesday through Sunday, 12-5 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

An opening reception will be held Feb. 1 at 4 p.m. with remarks by the artists. Eiko Otake is a dancer and performer who has received numerous awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship, Doris Duke Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Rauschenberg Residency. She is the Menakka and Essel Bailey '66 Distinguished Visiting Scholar in the College of the Environment. William Johnston is a photographer and Professor of History, East Asian Studies, Science in Society, and Environmental Studies at Wesleyan University.Five Chinese companies, which together control over half of the country's smartphone market, expressed their concern on Thursday over chipmaker Broadcom Ltd's 5 billion proposal to buy Qualcomm Inc, saying they don't want to see such a change as they prepare for 5G-ready smartphones.

The remarks were made at the same conference in Beijing where Qualcomm forecast that its revenue from Chinese device-makers, which use its chips and components, will hit billion in 2019. That represents a compound annual growth rate of 17 percent from 2017 to 2019.

Also on Thursday, the United States chip giant inked billion in MoU with Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and Lenovo, in which they promised to buy more of Qualcomm's components over the next three years. The components make it easier for mobile phone antennae to be used with 5G connections. The move is part of Qualcomm's broader push to deepen ties with these smartphones vendors, in hope of launching super-speed 5G devices as early as next year.

The presidents and CEOs of the above companies and ZTE, another Chinese smartphone vendor, all voiced their objections to Broadcom's proposal to buy Qualcomm, which is the largest-ever takeover in the technology sector and would create a 0-billion-plus semiconductor behemoth.

Lin Bin, president of Xiaomi, said he worries that Qualcomm won't come up with new innovative technologies once the deal goes through. The Beijing-based company has been using Qualcomm's processors in most of its flagship smartphones.

Chen Mingyong, CEO of Oppo, the second-largest smartphone player in China, expressed similar concerns: "It is highly likely to cause a monopoly and unfair competition. More importantly, I don't think the deal is good for long-term growth. It is more like a move designed to pursue short-term interests."

Shen Wei, CEO of Vivo, said the deal will bring considerable uncertainties: "We have been cooperating with Qualcomm for more than 10 years. We don't want to see any change to that."

The senior executives' comments came as Qualcomm is caught up with more troubles in Europe and the U.S.. On Wednesday, European regulators hit Qualcomm with a 997-million-euro (.2 billion) fine for abusing its market dominance. For the past year, the company has been locked in numerous court battles with Apple, a major client.BRIDGEPORT, Conn.- The tears flowed freely as Carol Cardillo, the owner of a Fairfield, Connecticut day care, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for killing a 4-month-old Shelton boy with an overdose of Benadryl.

Even the usually stalwart Judge Robert Devlin trembled with emotion Thursday as he lamented: Adam never had a birthday party, never put on a Halloween costume, never got a visit from Santa Claus.

Speaking out for the first time, Cardillo never admitted she had killed the toddler, but rather told the judge and the infants family she was sorry for their loss.

I am very sad this happened to a beautiful little boy, but this has also caused great havoc in my family, she said.

This did nothing to appease the boys parents, Matthew and Michelle Seagull, although the couple said later on the steps of the Fairfield County Courthouse they believed justice was served.

She has presented herself as a victim of this ordeal when the real victim was our son Adam, Matthew Seagull told the judge. She is an evil person  Adam was only in her day care for 11 days. She has sentenced us to a life without Adam.

His wife then held up a photograph of their smiling son.

This evil woman has made a mockery out of our misery and loss, Michelle Seagall said, crying. I was assured by her he would be cared for and safe. Adam, you made your mommy so proud, she added.

Cardillo initially lied to police, denying she gave the boy Benadryl, an over-the-counter medication doctors say should never be given to young children, Senior Assistant Attorney Colleen Zingaro told the judge.

The autopsy revealed that the baby had 41,000 nanograms per milliliter of Benadryl in his system; 5,000 nanograms per milliliter and above is a reportable limit.

Zingaro said Cardillo repeatedly denied giving the baby Benadryl and said she did not have any in her home. However, records investigators obtained from CVS pharmacy showed that between Jan. 1, 2013 and May 24, 2016, Cardillo purchased 90 bottles of Benadryl, the last one purchased a week before the baby died.

The 90 bottles of Benadryl that were purchased show a pattern, Zingaro told the judge. She was administering it to many children, almost three gallons of Benadryl. It is a poison that caused the death, not just something people do when they become impatient with children.

But Cardillos lawyer, Eugene Riccio, argued that his client was using the Benadryl for a skin condition she had.

Ive stood next to evil and this is not an evil woman, Riccio argued. Im sure no one believes Carol Cardillo committed an intentional act.

Cardillo, 54, who operated the unlicensed daycare out of her Edgewood Road home for 11 years, pleaded no contest to second-degree manslaughter for the March 22, 2016, death of Adam Seagull. She had faced up to five years in prison.

On one hand you have Mrs. Cardillo, who has a lot of good in her life  but the other hand is Adam, young and vulnerable, Judge Devlin said in weighing his sentence.

This was not an intentional crime, it was a reckless crime and this death was 100 percent preventable, the judge continued.

He then sentenced her to 10 years, suspended after she serves 30 months, followed by five years probation.

A condition of the probation is that she not work in a child care capacity, the judge added.MIDDLETOWN  A local nonprofit is suing the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services for its alleged failure to provide services for patients confined to state-operated facilities across Connecticut.

The class action lawsuit filed this week in Superior Court in Hartford by the Middletown-based Connecticut Legal Rights Project claims conditions violate the states Patients Bill of Rights as well as the U.S. Constitution.

The Connecticut Legal Rights Project offers legal services to low-income people with mental health conditions.

Individuals have been stuck in state-operated psychiatric hospitals long after they have been clinically stabilized, because the state has failed to develop a system of community-based care to provide the services they need and a place to live, a statement from CLRP reads.

Facilities named in the suit include nearly 440 inpatients at Connecticut Valley Hospitals Whiting Forensic Division, the Connecticut Mental Health Center in New Haven, Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center in Bridgeport and Capitol Region Mental Health Center in Hartford.

We will review the complaint and respond at the appropriate time in court, said Jaclyn M. Severance, director of communications at the Office of the Attorney General.

Earlier this month, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed an executive order that separated Whiting from CVH, creating a separate Whiting Forensic Hospital, under a new structure that will allow DMHAS to focus on changes needed to improve the quality of care at the facility, according to a release.

Potential class members are civil patients only, not those under the jurisdiction of the Psychiatric Security Review Board, said Kathleen Flaherty, executive director of CLRP. Fifty civil patients are being treated at Whiting Forensic Hospital: 18 are voluntary patients and 32 are civilly committed, she added.

The suit seeks broad reform of Connecticuts mental health system, according to the release.

The plaintiff raised claims on behalf of herself and other class members for the states failure to protect their state procedural due process rights to a probate court hearing, and their statutory civil right to receive services in the most integrated setting, CLRP said.

We hope this lawsuit will address that problem and result in the state developing a plan to establish and maintain a mental health system that has the capacity at all levels of care, with a priority for supportive housing, so that institutionalized patients in state-operated psychiatric facilities may be discharged within 90 days of discharge readiness, Flaherty said in a statement.

At issue is a lack of community-based supports and services which would allow committed patients to be discharged into an integrated setting within a reasonable period of time.

The plaintiff, who is named in the complaint, was ready for discharge last August, according to her hospital treatment team. Five months later, she is still institutionalized and segregated in the hospital because there is no less restrictive community placement available to provide services to her, CLRP wrote in the statement.

All have the right to discharge planning from the time of admission, and the right not to be held in a hospital against their will once they are no longer a danger to self or others or gravely disabled, or able to receive supports and services in a less restrictive community setting, according to CLRP.

Connecticut is one of very few states that provide for unlimited civil commitments  most others authorize commitment orders of limited duration and place the burden of recommitment on the state, CLRP said.China honored a group of taikonauts Thursday with the title the "role models of our times."

The Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee granted medals and certificates of honor to all members of the Taikonaut Corps of the People's Liberation Army, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this month.

Over the past two decades, 21 taikonauts were selected from the ranks of air force pilots. They have completed six missions, conducted over 100 experiments in space and orbited the earth for a total 68 days and nights.

Among them, Jing Haipeng who flew on three missions -- Shenzhou-7, Shenzhou-9 and Shenzhou-11, was awarded the country's highest military award, the Order of Bayi, in 2017.GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Tributes from community leaders began pouring in on Friday, Jan. 26 after the death of banker and civic leader John Canepa.

Canepa, who co-founded the Grand Action Committee that built the Van Andel Arena, DeVos Place Convention Center, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre's renovation and Michigan State University School of Human Medicine, died on Thursday, Jan. 25.

The 87-year-old retired banker was injured on Monday, Jan. 22 in a car-pedestrian accident on Leonard Street NW between Seward and Quarry streets.

The New England native came to Old Kent Bank - now Fifth Third Bank - in 1972 and retired as its chairman in 1995. As a civic leader, Canepa was recognized for promoting philanthropy and cooperation between the public and private sectors.

Here are some of the tributes posted after his death:

From Grand Action co-founders Dick DeVos and David Frey:

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we bid farewell to a true giant of the greater Grand Rapids community.

"As fellow Grand Action Committee Co-Chairs over the past quarter century, John Canepa became an esteemed colleague and treasured friend to both of us. For 25 years his voluntary service to Grand Action not only changed our skyline, but fundamentally advanced a culture of collaboration which is now a hallmark of our community.

"This past November during a tribute event recognizing the Grand Action Committee, John reflected on these contributions during his remarks.

"...trust must be built and earned - it cannot simply be created...nowhere was this so profoundly illustrated than through - public/private partnerships - which served as the cornerstones of every Grand Action project..."

John's contributions to our culture of trust shall always live on in west Michigan. We join the Canepa family in mourning the loss of this giant."

From Fifth Third Bank Region President Tom Welch,

"We are proud to say that John is part of our organizational DNA at Fifth Third Bank. He was a respected leader who made a significant impact in the community.

John's work here will forever be treasured by those who had the privilege to work with him. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Marie and family. "

From Kevin Quinn, president of Aquinas College:

"It is with a heavy heart that we recognize the passing of John Canepa, a great friend of Aquinas College. John's contributions to Grand Rapids and Aquinas cannot be understated. He was a Trustee Emeritus who was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration from Aquinas at our commencement ceremony in 2003.

"To recognize them for their leadership, generosity and spirit of service, John and his wife Marie were awarded the Norbert J. Hruby Award from the college in 2014. He was a great advocate and leader for Aquinas and our community owes him our thanks. "

From Kayem Dunn, board chair of Downtown Grand Rapids Inc.:

"John Canepa was a man of good judgement and sound advice but more important, he was the most egalitarian person I have ever known. He didn't talk about his belief in human equality. He simply lived it and that informed all of his work in the community.

His contributions to this community are vast and I believe he engaged in so many, wide ranging efforts not for the glory but because he truly enjoyed playing a part in making good things happen. We will honor his memory by rededicating ourselves to continuing the city building work he loved so much."

From Birgit Klohs, president and CEO of The Right Place Inc. economic development program:

"It is with sadness that I say goodbye to a great community leader and champion of Grand Rapids, John Canepa. My heartfelt condolences go to Marie and the Canepa family.

There are only a few men in the past quarter century of Grand Rapids that can rival John's impact on our region's quality of life, economic well-being and civic philanthropy.

His love for this city was bigger than his grin. That passion is evidenced by his biggest contributions, most notably accomplished through his Grand Action leadership.

John was always an advocate for The Right Place, and economic prosperity in our community. As a longtime board member, he understood the fundamental importance of creating quality jobs for the region, and what it meant for an individual's independence.

Even though he never lost his Boston accent, Grand Rapids had become his hometown."

From Michelle Rabideau, president of the Saint Mary's Foundation.

"John Canepa's vision for our community and his call for true collaboration will be part of his incredible legacy. John and his wife Marie have played a very special and important role in much of the success at Mercy Health Saint Mary's."

From Mercy Health Saint Mary's President Bill Mann:

"John Canepa was one of the first community leaders to warmly welcome me and my family when we moved to Grand Rapids. I admired his amazing energy, his passion for community partnerships, and his visionary perspective for our organization and the greater good."YPSILANTI, MI - Ypsilanti students will test the speed of their radio-controlled electric cars at a race on Thursday, Feb. 1, before some of them head to Pennsylvania for a national competition.

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District and Ypsilanti Community Schools are hosting a Ten80 invitational for several area teams to race the model cars they've designed.

The invitational begins at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 1 at Ypsilanti Community Middle School, 235 Spencer Lane, Ypsilanti. In addition to middle school and high school teams from Ypsilanti, teams from Dearborn, Southfield and Macomb will participate.

People who want to attend should follow the middle school's usual protocol for visitors.

Ten80 is a society of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) professionals, educators and business professionals that develop programs to engage more K-12 students in STEM activities.

Their flagship program is the National STEM League student racing challenge. Teams receive an electric radio-controlled model car that can be set up in more than 4 million ways, and students modify the car to make it as fast as possible.

The Ypsilanti Community High School team also will compete at the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. conference in March in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Eight (8) YCHS students joined National Society of Black Engineers, Jr. (NSBE) and will work after school on Thursdays... Posted by Ypsilanti Community Schools on Tuesday, December 5, 2017

"Through the competition, students are introduced to mechanical and electrical engineering, as well as CAD," Jennifer Banks, mathematics coordinator for the WISD, said in a press release. "The Ten80 race also encourages collaboration, innovation, and other soft skills that are key to a successful life."

Banks along with YCHS art teacher Lynne Settles, YCHS math teacher Nicholas Bertsos, YCMS science teacher Anthony Swim and YCMS math teacher Patricia Stevenson have worked with the Ten80 teams.

Activities like the Ten80 competition help to attract middle and high school students to STEM careers, Banks said.



"Across the state there is a push to promote STEM education and to encourage students to consider projects like Ten80 to give them a sense of what it's like to work in the engineering field," she said. "It also shows them how core content areas connect to real life application. The race is a great opportunity for students to get excited about math and science and can motivate students to perform and excel."



Eight YCHS students make up the team that will join 49 other teams at the NSBE Jr. conference in Pennsylvania. The students are seeking corporate and individual sponsors to finance the $13,000 cost.CANTON TOWNSHIP - After hours of negotiation, the suspect in a bank robbery attempt that turned into hostage situation was taken into police custody Thursday evening.

Canton Township police were called to the scene of a robbery in progress about 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 at a Citizens Bank branch on Canton Center Road, just north of Cherry Hill, said Director of Public Safety Joshua Meier in a press conference after the tense standoff came to a peaceful conclusion.

When officers arrived, the suspect had barricaded himself inside the bank along with an undisclosed number of hostages, Meier said.

Police Discuss Canton Bank Robbery Director of Public Safety Josh Meier discusses the bank-robbery-turned hostage situation Thursday at the Citizens Bank in Canton, Michigan: Posted by The Ann Arbor News on Thursday, January 25, 2018

Witness told police one male suspect entered the bank with a handgun and announced a robbery. The witnesses also believed several hostages were being held inside, Meier said.

Members of the FBI, Western-Wayne Special Operations and the Hostage Negotiation Team assisted in communicating with the suspect.

Police at about 7 p.m. said two hostages had been released, and at least one remained inside.

By 7:45 p.m., all of the hostages had been freed, and police negotiated the peaceful surrender of the suspect, Meier said.

The suspect was taken into custody and the investigation was being conducted by the FBI and Canton Police Department. There were no injuries reported in the incident.

Detroit Firefighter Kris Beck said he was driving home from a shift when he saw the commotion at the bank, which is located less than a mile from the police headquarters.

"You see this all the time in Detroit, but I never thought I would see this in Canton," Beck said. "This is crazy."

Police blocked off sections of Canton Center and Chery Hill roads during the standoff.

"I've never seen anything like this in my 24 years living here," said township resident Irene Pool, who was at the scene Thursday. "It's very scary."

No further information is being released at this time.ANN ARBOR, MI - The University of Michigan will not host white supremacist Richard Spencer on its campus this semester, the university announced Friday, Jan. 26.

UM will continue to consider a request from representatives of Spencer to rent space to speak on the Ann Arbor campus, but no potential dates are being considered before the end of the academic year. The traditional academic year concludes with spring commencement April 28.

Spencer is expected to speak at Michigan State University on March 5.

University of Michigan officials said the latest communication from a representative of Spencer suggested the possibility of looking at dates later in the year. In light of that suggestion, the university will offer potential dates after the end of the current semester.

The university will continue its ongoing safety and security assessments and will offer possible dates based on these assessments.

Kyle Bristow, who represents Cameron Padgett, an organizer for Spencer's speeches, said on Jan. 12, that the two parties had agreed to continue to work toward determining a date and location for Spencer to speak from Jan. 15 to the end of the month.

On Friday, Bristow told The Ann Arbor News that the speech could be moved to the summer, noting that there was no need to host two speaking events so close together for Spencer in the state of Michigan.

Bristow also noted that three "alt-right" conferences are scheduled this spring throughout the United States, making scheduling an event at UM around the same time more difficult.

"... There are three major secret alt-right conferences that are occurring this spring throughout the United States, and having the UM event during the spring will cause major scheduling conflicts with the prospective attendees who would otherwise attend the event," Bristow said. "By holding the UM event at a time when there are no other alt-right conferences, the amount of the people who may show up in support of the speakers could number in the hundreds rather than in the dozens.

"By spacing the MSU and UM events apart, more people will simply have an opportunity to participate with them," he added.

Bristow previously told The Ann Arbor News in early December that he asked UM Vice President and General Counsel Timothy Lynch if the event could be hosted sometime during the university's break between Feb. 24 and March 4.

After UM announced at a special Board of Regents meeting on Nov. 21 that it would begin discussions with Spencer and the National Policy Institute to determine whether he will be able to speak on campus, Bristow said UM originally offered for the event to occur the following week on Nov. 29 or 30.

That would not have been enough time for speakers to obtain airfare, ground transportation and lodging, Bristow said. UM also offered to host the event "a day or two after Christmas," but there were conflicts with planned family functions during the holidays.

The two sides have been unable to nail down a date - or determine if hosting Spencer on campus is possible - since then.

Padgett originally requested a venue for Spencer to speak on the UM campus on Oct. 27, he claims, while UM confirmed the request on Oct. 31. Padgett indicated there was flexibility with the date, UM Spokesman Rick Fitzgerald noted after receiving the request.

Spencer's attorney continues to test college campuses across the country, threating litigation for denying, or in some cases, not accommodating requests for him to speak on campus.

Bristow recently filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of Padgett against University of Cincinnati President Neville G. Pinto on Jan. 8. Padgett alleges the university refused to rent a room to him to host Spencer as a speaker on its campus unless Padgett first paid $10,833 towards the cost of security. The room Padgett attempted to rent, he claims, would have cost only $500 if security was unnecessary.

UM President Mark Schlissel noted during the special meeting on Nov. 21 that if the university can't assure safety of the public, it won't let the speech go forward.

Schlissel said the law and the university's commitment to free speech forbid the university from declining a speaker based on the presumed content of speech.

Schlissel added that denying the request would provide even more attention to the speaker and his cause and allow him to claim a court victory.

"Those who would use public spaces as venues to promote hate are emboldened by denials they can fight in court. Their formula is clear: Request to use public space. Sue if not allowed to speak," Schlissel said on Nov. 21. "Claim oppression by the state to stoke outrage. Use each moment as a rallying cry for their views."

In an agreement that resolved a lawsuit filed against the university, Michigan State University has agreed to rent space to Spencer on March 5 on its East Lansing campus.

Then-MSU President Lou Anna Simon denied the request, made in July, after consulting with MSU's police department, "which had concluded, in the light of the incidents in Charlottesville, it was highly likely there would be violence if Mr. Spencer were permitted to appear on campus on September 15," the university said in a court filing. "MSU's decision, therefore, was not content based."

The university was then sued in federal court by Padgett, a 23-year-old student at Georgia State University.

MSU's denial was made following a rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, during which protesters rallied against plans by the city to remove a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee.

Spencer spoke at the rally, which later turned violent, with clashes between the white nationalists and counter protesters. One woman died and 19 were injured when a man with views sympathetic to Nazis plowed his car into a group of counter protesters.ANN ARBOR, MI - A University of Michigan doctor has lost his medical license and his job as the state investigates claims he was intimate with a patient while at work, according to an administrative complaint filed by the state.

Attorney General Bill Schuette filed the complaint in late December against Dr. Mark F. Hoeltzel, who had worked in UM's Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic in Ann Arbor.

The State of Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs' (LARA) professional licensing bureau suspended Hoeltzel's license on Dec. 21, 2017. In his complaint, the attorney general argued Hoeltzel's license should be suspended for negligence or failure to exercise due care, incompetence, lack of good moral character and unprofessional conduct.

The complaint alleges that Hoeltzel began texting a patient wishing her a Merry Christmas in early December 2015 after seeing her at the clinic when she was receiving treatment from another physician.

Hoeltzel and the patient subsequently began texting and emailing and the doctor had her treatment transferred to his care, the complaint states.

Hoeltzel treated the patient from Dec. 24, 2015 until November 2017, according to the complaint. During that time, Hoeltzel prescribed the patient various controlled substances on a monthly basis, including oxycontin and morphine sulfate.

The two continued communicating via text, email and Google hangout, state investigators allege, with the messages becoming personal and sexual in nature, according to the complaint.

In 2016, Hoeltzel and the patient began engaging in a physical, sexual relationship - some of which took place in the clinic and the patient's apartment, the complaint alleges. Hoeltzel would often bring alcohol in their encounters, which he would share with the patient despite the fact that she was not 21 and taking a number of medications, the complaint alleges.

The complaint alleges Hoeltzel also told the patient it was OK for her to drink while taking any of her medications, except methotrexate.

"(Hoeltzel's) personal relationship compromised his ability to provide (the patient) with appropriate medical treatment," the complaint states.

The complaint also alleges that in 2004, Hoeltzel exchanged emails and online messages with an 11-year-old patient he met at a UM Arthritis Camp where he was serving as a doctor.

The two exchanged messages from 2004 to 2006. Some of Hoeltzel's messages were "flirtatious and suggestive," the complaint states. The girl's mother reported the messages to the Arthritis Foundation that was responsible for the camp, leading to a meeting between UM and the foundation in which the conduct was addressed with Hoeltzel, the complaint states.

Hoeltzel admitted some of the messages were flirtatious and constituted "a major lapse in professional judgment," the complaint states. As a result, UM required Hoeltzel to undergo a "boundaries course."

UM Executive Vice President of Medical Affairs Marschall Runge said Michigan Medicine was notified that the state licensing board was investigating Hoeltzel for sexual misconduct in early December. He is no longer an employee of Michigan Medicine.

Michigan Medicine immediately took steps to protect its patients by removing Hoeltzel from patient care duties the day it was alerted of the investigation, Runge said.

"We also immediately reported him to law enforcement and have been fully cooperating with the investigation that is underway," Runge said in a statement. "In the meantime, we also have hired an experienced outside reviewer to investigate this matter. These are very disturbing and serious allegations, and we have reached out to our patients to inform them of the situation, offer resources and provide them with a way to report any concerns.

"The president and senior leaders of the university are aware and supportive of steps we are taking to address this matter," Runge said. "We must continue to do everything possible to protect the patients who entrust Michigan Medicine with their care. We also urge everyone to report any instances of potential misconduct that occur."

Hoeltzel has 30 days to submit a written response to the allegations to the Bureau of Professional Licensing. Failure to respond within 30 days, according to the complaint, is treated as an admission of the allegations contained in the complaint.

Hoeltzel graduated from UM Medical School in 2001.LINWOOD, MI -- The Pinconning-Linwood Chamber of Commerce has bestowed the Citizen of the Year Award to a local police officer.

The organization gave Pinconning Police Sgt. Terry M. Spencer the award on Wednesday, Jan. 24.

"It was really an honor to receive this recognition," Spencer said. "As a police officer, I try to do my duty to the best of my ability, with dignity and honor. As a citizen and a veteran, I've always tried to help others. It's our duty as citizens and Americans, and that's what makes this place better."

Spencer received the award in recognition of his community service beyond his official duties. Among those activities cited were distributing to local food banks, his service to veterans and their organizations, counseling school children, assisting the elderly, and other donations through Dunlop Motor Co., the business he owns in Bay City.CANTON TOWNSHIP -- A nearly four-hour standoff with a barricaded bank robbery suspect, who held at least three hostages, ended safely Thursday evening.

All of the hostages, at least three employees of the bank, were freed and the suspect was placed under arrest about 7:50 p.m. Thursday, police said.

The Canton Public Safety Department was engaged in an hours-long standoff with the suspect, who attempted to rob the Citizens Bank, located at 285 N. Canton Center Road, just north of Cherry Hill in Canton Township, about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to police.

Detroit Firefighter Kris Beck said he was driving home from a shift when he saw the commotion at the bank, which is located less than a mile from the police headquarters.

"You see this all the time in Detroit, but I never thought I would see this in Canton," Beck said. "This is crazy."

Police cordoned off the area surrounding the bank and were continuing negotiations as of 7:20 p.m.

Residents have been asked to avoid the area.

***Update*** The situation in the area of Canton Center and Cherry Hill has been resolved. At approximately 6:30 p.m.,... Posted by Canton Public Safety Department on Thursday, January 25, 2018

"I've never seen anything like this in my 24 years living here," said township resident Irene Pool, who was at the scene Thursday. "It's vert scary."

The Western-Wayne Special Operations Team was assisting Canton police at the scene.

MLive reporter Kullen Logsdon is providing updates from the scene.Some vendors on e-commerce platforms like taobao.com are selling goods to Chinese customers that they claim were produced by luxury winter coat company Canada Goose, which are described as "certificated products" but at a much lower price than the Canadian company charges.

The Global Times found that the price of the Canada Goose Expedition Parka Coat sold by some vendors on taobao.com is about 1,500 yuan (7), much cheaper than the same model on the Canada Goose official website, where it costs 8,800 yuan.

An unidentified Hong Kong-based vendor, whose Expedition Parka costs 1,468 yuan, told the Global Times on Thursday that "we directly place orders from Canada Goose's plant in Canada as our team has cooperation there. That's why our products are cheaper."

A Beijing-based vendor who declined to be identified but said she is a purchasing agent (daigou) told the Global Times that "I have first-hand suppliers of Canada Goose Expedition Parka coats from foreign markets, so I give large discounts in a bid to attract more buyers." The price of an Expedition Parka from that vendor is 1,590 yuan.

Now, the producer is fielding a lawsuit in a U.S. federal court in Chicago, suing a number of unidentified online Chinese businesses for selling fake Canada Goose goods, the CBS network reported on Tuesday. The U.S. is one the Canadian brand's largest markets.

It is also not clear why the Canadian firm brought the case to a U.S. court, and Canada Goose had not responded to an interview request from the Global Times as of press time.

The counterfeit coats sold on hundreds of unauthorized websites have siphoned off sales from the outwear brand, a spokesperson from the company was quoted as saying.

Hao Junbo, a lawyer at Beijing-based Hao Law Firm, told the Global Times that launching a lawsuit is not difficult, as the U.S. litigation documents can be served on Chinese retailers that are allegedly selling counterfeit goods through diplomatic channels in one or two years.

"But the move is more of a symbolic one, because even if Canada Goose wins the lawsuit, it can only ban Chinese vendors from exporting and selling the counterfeits to the U.S.," Hao said. "Those groups can still sell fake products in China, taking advantage of the disconnection between the Chinese and U.S. judicial systems.

Experts urged domestic clothing makers not to pursue short-term interests by taking illegal short cuts. "China is home to skilled labor and high-quality raw materials. Investing time and capital to establish a winter coat brand can yield long-term and sustainable profits," Hao noted.DETROIT -- A Michigan doctor arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last week remains behind bars after a judge rescheduled a bond hearing Friday.

Dr. Lukasz Niec, 43, a Bronson Healthcare physician who was born in Poland and has lived in the U.S. since he was 5 years old, was arrested Jan. 16 at his Kalamazoo County home.

Niec, who is being held at the Calhoun County Jail, appeared via video teleconference in Detroit immigration court for an 8:30 a.m. Friday detention hearing, but Judge Mark Jebson rescheduled it for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31.

The judge said attorneys had provided him with hundreds of documents related to the case. He said he was unable to issue a decision Friday due to the high volume of documentation to review.

Update: Niec's Attorney Christopher Vreeland said Friday afternoon that some the documents he provided the court include letters of support from the community, court documents confirming a jury's not-guilty verdict in a past domestic violence case and a results of a polygraph test in which the doctor denied any abuse of his daughter.

Niec came to ICE's attention after 18 previous encounters with police and two misdemeanor convictions.

In 1992, Niec was convicted of malicious destruction of property under $100. He was also convicted as a teenager of receiving stolen property and a financial transaction device.

Court records in Kalamazoo County show Niec has violations that include: four no proof of insurance violations, seven speeding tickets, failure to change address on license, causing an accident, careless driving, seat belt violation, driving without due care, and parking near a fire hydrant.

Niec pleaded guilty to a 2008 charge of operating impaired by liquor in Kalamazoo County. After he completed a probation term, the conviction was set aside, the plea was withdrawn and the case was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

He was also charged with domestic violence in 2013 and a jury found him not guilty, records show.

Niec's family is worried he will be deported to Poland, and has been promoting the social media hashtag #FreeDoctorNiec to bring attention to his case.

"I feel like they're trying to make an example out of someone and they chose my brother because he is a physician," his half-brother, Jan Niec previously told MLive.

"He may have have committed misdemeanors when he was 17, he may have hung out with the wrong people, but he changed everything."

Reporters Brad Devereaux and contributed to this report.Update:

Hostage situation at Canton bank after robbery attempt appears to have come to an end. https://t.co/XkO0XOsqoD https://t.co/KrPVM2u27K  MLive Detroit (@MLiveDetroit) January 26, 2018

Police at about 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25 said a suspected bank robber was barricaded inside a Citizens Bank branch at 285 N. Canton Center Road, just north of Cherry Hill in Canton Township.

He is holding hostages, who are employees of the bank. The standoff was ongoing as of 5:40 p.m.

Updates:

Police at about 6:15 p.m. said one hostage had been released.

Canton police, with the Wester-Wayne Special Operations Team, cordoned off the area surrounding the bank and shut down a stretch of Canton Center Road. Motorists and pedestrians are asked to avoid the area.

It's unknown how many employees were inside the bank.

MLive reporter Kullen Logsdon is at the scene. Police asked media not to broadcast or stream live video from the scene.FLINT, MI -- Notes about Flint and Legionnaires' were in the phone of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon six months before people here were told of a possible connection between the deadly disease and their water.

Jeff Seipenko, a special agent for the state Attorney General's Office, testified in Genesee District Court Friday, Dec. 26, that he found the notes after executing a search warrant for information from Lyon's phone.

The notes provide a new piece of the timeline showing when Lyon, a member of Gov. Rick Snyder's cabinet, was aware of suspicions that Flint water was susceptible to the growth of bacteria like Legionella, which can lead to Legionnaires'.

Public health officials have said at least a dozen people died of Legionnaires' in Genesee County in parts of 2014 and 2015, the same time the city was using water from the Flint River without proper treatment.

In September, special prosecutors claimed Lyon changed his answer on when he knew about the surge in Legionnaires' cases and the potential connection to city water.

Lyon testified before a joint committee meeting of the Michigan House and Senate on April 25, 2016, that he learned of "major health issues" regarding Flint's water in July 2015.

But the director told a reporter that same day that he learned of a Legionella outbreak in Genesee County in January 2015.

Special Prosecutor Todd Flood played video of Lyon's testimony before the joint committee on the first day of his preliminary examination, which entered its 13th day Friday.

Lyon is charged with involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office related to Flint's water crisis. Judge David Goggins is hearing the case.

In addition to his statements about when he became aware of Legionella issues in Flint, previously released state documents show Lyon forwarded an email from his government address to himself at another email address, with the subject line "FW: Legionella." in January 2015.

The notes from Lyon's phone, introduced into evidence Friday, were sparse, and included a heading of "Flint."

The notes were taken on Jul 22, 2015, and include references to "DM," whom Seipenko said he understood to be Dennis Muchmore, former chief of staff to Snyder, and "Wyant," whom he understood to be former Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant.

"Talk to Dan about potential increase lead testing ... we care," the notes read in part. "Higher levels of chlorine. Gam won't use. Pipes replaced for GM."

Seipenko said the July 22, 2015, date stood out to him because it was the same day of a meeting between Muchmore; Harvey Hollins, another aide to the governor; pastors; and other residents from Flint about the city's water problems.

According to a probable cause statement filed by Flint water prosecutors in the Lyon prosecution, Muchmore took hand-written notices indicating that lead was a big problem in Flint.

Following the meeting, Muchmore emailed Lyon, stating that residents were "concerned ... about the lead level studies they are receiving from the (Department of Environmental Quality) samples," that they are "getting blown off by us," and the citizens "are scared and worried about the health impacts."

Prosecutors have said Muchmore, who has not testified, asked Lyon to personally look into the citizens' concerns about Flint water.FLINT, MI -- The son of a Mt. Morris area man who prosecutors say died after he was a victim of Legionnaires' disease says his father had no warning about an outbreak of the disease before he was exposed to Flint water in 2015.

Robert J. Skidmore testified Friday, Jan. 1, that his father, Robert C. Skidmore, was active for almost all of his life -- even though he suffered from heart disease -- until he was hospitalized in Flint during the city's water crisis.

His testimony came during the 13th day of the preliminary examination of Nick Lyon, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services.

Lyon faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, alleged crimes related to Flint's water crisis generally and Robert C. Skidmore's death in particular.

Prosecutors have said Lyon's conduct as director of DHHS is directly tied to the death of Skidmore, a General Motors retiree who "liked to laugh ... liked to sing ... liked to be around family," according to his son.

State documents have shown DHHS employees were aware of a surge in Legionnaires' cases just months after the city changed its water source to the Flint River in 2014.

Despite the knowledge and public concerns about Flint's water quality, DHHS never warned the public about the risk of Legionnaires' in the area or issued a health warning about it.

Gov. Rick Snyder eventually announced the Legionnaires' outbreaks and the possibility they were connected to Flint water in January 2016, a few months after the city ended its use of river water.

Robert J. Skidmore said his father's health took a turn for the worse in 2015 after visiting McLaren-Flint hospital to have fluid drawn from his lungs in May -- something he had done periodically for several years because of his heart condition.

Later that year, he said, the hospital told him his father had contracted Legionnaires' disease.

"It was almost like night and day," Robert J. Skidmore said of his father's condition. "Prior to Legionnaires', he was active. After that, we brought him home. He would sit in the chair. It never seemed to get better."

Robert J. Skidmore said his family was never warned of any potential danger in Flint water.

Also Friday, Jim Henry, a supervisor at the Genesee County Health Department, testified that state officials expressed concerns when they suspected the county planned to warn the public about the Legionnaires' outbreaks.

The warning never came, and Henry said he regrets having not raised the issue sooner.

"We should have. I wish we would have," he said.ALLEGAN, MI -- An outbreak of hepatitis A previously thought to be contained in southeast Michigan has been linked to a confirmed Allegan County case of the highly contagious, potentially fatal disease.

An Allegan County resident with hepatitis A is not considered to pose a high risk of spreading the disease to others locally, according to a press release from the Allegan County Health Department.

"The hepatitis A vaccination and thorough hand washing are the best measures to prevent outbreaks," Allegan County Health Officer Angelique Joynes said in a statement.

Public health officials in Michigan have been tracking an outbreak of the disease since August 2016.

Though originally contained to 16 counties in southeast Michigan, the outbreak has grown and spread to other parts of the state.

There have been 715 cases, 582 hospitalizations and 24 deaths tied to the outbreak in Southeast Michigan, according to a state website that provides weekly updates.

A table of confirmed cases tied to the outbreak now includes single cases in about a dozen counties not included in the original 16-county area, including Allegan, Clare, Clinton, Hillsdale, Huron, Ionia, Kent, Leelanau, Mecosta, Newaygo and Van Buren counties.

The state's Department of Health and Human Services announced late last year that, as the number of cases continued to grow, they would set up an emergency center to coordinate the response and track the spread of the disease.

Hepatitis A is a disease that attacks the liver. The virus is found in the feces of those infected.

"You can get hepatitis A by eating contaminated food or water, during sex, or just by living with an infected person," the state's website says.

It generally occurs two to six weeks after exposure to the hepatitis A virus, and the resulting illness can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months, according to Allegan County Health Department officials.

Symptoms including abdominal pain, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, nausea, diarrhea, fever, joint pain and pale-colored feces. Some have no symptoms.

Most who contract hepatitis A will recover without any long-term consequences, according to Allegan County health officials. It is those with underlying health conditions who are more likely to have serious complications.

Those who believe they have been exposed to hepatitis A or who have symptoms should contact their healthcare providers immediately, officials say.

Health officials are urging people at high risk for contracting the disease to be vaccinated. This group includes those with a history of substance use, and men who have sex with men.

State health officials offer these safety tips:

Get vaccinated against hepatitis A

Wash hands after using the restroom and before eating or preparing meals for yourself or others

Use your own towels, toothbrushes, and eating utensils

Do not have sex with someone who has HAV infection

Do not share food, drinks, drugs, or smokes with other people

If you think you may have hepatitis A, see your medical provider

If you have hepatitis A, please cooperate with your local public health to help protect others

If you want to be vaccinated against hepatitis A, contact your health care provider or the Allegan County Health Department at 269-673-5411.

For more information about hepatitis A, visit www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hav or the state's hepatitis A outbreak website.GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Axis Company is spending $4 million to expand its capabilities to design, program and build robotic automation and assembly equipment.

The Grand Rapids manufacturer, at 2680 Elmridge Drive NW, will use most of that investment to add a second facility to keep up with demand for its robotic machinery.

The firm expects to hire 50 new workers over the next three years for high-tech and skilled positions.

The all-in weekly labor investment - which includes pay and benefits - per new hire is about $1,700, according to figures provided to the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The state agency is supporting the expansion effort with the approval of a $400,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant and $125,000 in support from the Michigan New Jobs Training Program.

One reason Axis qualified for the state dollars is because it opted to remain in Michigan instead of relocating to another state to be close to a major customer.

Company co-founder Boyd Vor Broker didn't return a call from MLive/The Grand Rapids Press.

Axis spun out of Challenge Manufacturing, an auto supplier with plants in Walker and Holland.

Robotics makers like Axis are an important part of West Michigan's manufacturing eco-system, says project lead Jen Wangler, business development manager for The Right Place. The Grand Rapids economic development organization assisted Axis with its MEDC application.

"Robotics and automated production technology companies like Axis are innovating the future of manufacturing and providing quality jobs in our community," Wangler said.GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Community leader John Canepa, best known for his work to revitalize downtown, has died at age 87.

Canepa was a co-founder of Grand Action with Dick DeVos and David Frey in 1993.

Canepa was injured Monday, Jan. 22 in a car-pedestrian crash on Leonard Street NW between Seward and Quarry streets. He was taken to the hospital and died Thursday, Jan. 25.

The Grand Action organization began in the early 1990s and is responsible for shepherding many projects, including DeVos Place, VanAndel Arena, the Grand Rapids Civic Center renovation and the Michigan State University School of Human Medicine and the Downtown Market.

Canepa also was president of the former Old Kent Bank for many years and worked there from 1972 to 1995.

DeVos and Frey issued a joint statement Thursday, Jan. 25 about Canepa's death.

"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we bid farewell to a true giant of the greater Grand Rapids community.

As fellow Grand Action Committee Co-Chairs over the past quarter century, John Canepa became an esteemed colleague and treasured friend to both of us. For 25 years his voluntary service to Grand Action not only changed our skyline, but fundamentally advanced a culture of collaboration which is now a hallmark of our community.

This past November during a tribute event recognizing the Grand Action Committee, John reflected on these contributions during his remarks.

"...trust must be built and earned - it cannot simply be created...nowhere was this so profoundly illustrated than through - public/private partnerships - which served as the cornerstones of every Grand Action project..."

John's contributions to our culture of trust shall always live on in west Michigan. We join the Canepa family in mourning the loss of this giant."

Canepa also was heavily involved with Grand Valley State University.

He was an advisory board member of the Grand Valley University Foundation after serving more than 20 years as the organization's director.

He was a member of the Seidman College of Business Dean's Advisory Board from 2002 to 2011.

He served on committees for the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy and several campaigns to support GVSU intiatives, including a campaign for the Cook-DeVos Center for Health Sciences.

"John was a longtime, dedicated friend to Grand Valley," GVSU President Thomas J. Haas said in a written statement. "He played a critical role in initiating Grand Valley's presence on Grand Rapids' Medical Mile, which has led to a vibrant and growing health campus. The move was considered bold at the time, and we will miss his leadership, steadfast support and wise counsel. He was a pillar in the community, and our prayers are with his wife, Marie, and his family."

Several Grand Rapids community leaders posted their memories about Canepa on Facebook on Thursday evening, including Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss.UPDATE: Police on Friday, Jan. 26 updated previously released information to say a dating relationship between homicide suspect Vicente Rodriguez-Ortiz and Laurie Lundeberg was unconfirmed.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police say a 22-year-old man charged in two killings months apart had once dated a 50-year-old woman he allegedly killed in March 2017.

Vicente Rodriguez-Ortiz is to be charged with open murder for the March 2017 shooting death of Laurie Lundeberg.

He also was arraigned Thursday, Jan. 25 on a separate murder charge for the killing of 17-year-old Andre Hawkins on Tuesday, Jan. 23 in the 1100 block of Second Street NW.

The two homicides happened just blocks from each other.

Grand Rapids police Sgt. Cathy Williams said detectives were interviewing Rodriguez-Ortiz after his Tuesday arrest along Bridge Street NW when he made incriminating statements that tied him to the Lundeberg case.

She said Rodriguez-Ortiz always had been on police radar following the Lundeberg death because they knew he was once charged with assaulting her. On

Court records show that Rodriguez-Ortiz was charged with assault and battery in September 2016 for an altercation with Lundeberg.

He was on probation until Wednesday for the conviction, Williams said.

Details about Tuesday's homicide have not been released, but police say the killing happened at the same time as a assault upon a young woman at the scene on Second Street NW.

Rodriguez-Ortiz is charged with domestic assault, as well as the murder charge and two weapons charges.GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Police have arrested a 20-year-old man for the October shooting death of a young father.

Deandre Lamar-Dante Johnson, is to be charged with open murder and firearms charges for the Oct. 22 shooting death of Daran Adams-Jackson.

Jackson was shot in his Cambridge Square apartment in the 1800 block of Mason Street NE in Grand Rapids.

He was the father of a 1-year-old boy.

Johnson is held in the Kent County Jail on an unrelated charge. Jail records show he is charged with lying to a police officer in a violent crime investigation.CALEDONIA TOWNSHIP, MI - Fire protection product manufacturer and distributor Viking Group, Inc. plans to build a new headquarters in Caledonia Township.

"The new facility will free up space in our Hastings location, which will continue to house manufacturing operations, and will be conducive to the future expansion of our manufacturing footprint," said Viking Group CEO James Golinveaux in a statement.

The yet-to-be-finalized site will be located near M-6 and M-37.

Viking Group expects nearly 100 employees -- out of 400 in the region -- will move from its Grand Rapids and Hastings offices into the new headquarters once the new building is completed in early 2019. The campus will include space for R&D and high-tech training.

The nearly century-old company anticipates adding at least 50 new positions in the next few years to support growing demand in both the U.S. and abroad.

Viking's commercial and residential products, including industry leading fire sprinklers, valves and fire protection devices, are sold in more than 90 countries.

"As our organization and industry continue to grow, and we develop more sophisticated technology to precisely detect and suppress fires, it's crucial that our manufacturing capacity keeps pace," Golinveaux said.

The Right Place assisted Viking Group in identifying the M-37 corridor in Caledonia Township as the ideal location for its headquarters.

"We knew that Viking wanted to stay close to its Hastings operations while maintaining its presence in the Grand Rapids area, so we felt that the Southeast Grand Rapids area, with M-37 access, would be ideal," said Thad Rieder, senior business development manager for the economic development group.Shanghai's food watchdog plans to draft a standard on kitchens processing freshly made food at convenience stores.

Current regulations only cover prepackaged food, such as boxed lunches, and research is being carried out on setting up kitchens at convenience stores that make fresh food and provide catering services, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration said.

"We encourage convenience stores that meet food safety and hygiene safety standards to produce and serve freshly made food," said Shen Weitao, director of the administration's food supervision and management department.

The administration is also considering rewarding whistleblowers who identify unlicensed restaurants. The current system only covers tips-off in fields such as food scandals.

Last year, whistleblowers received 779,100 yuan (US9,862) for 1,037 cases in the city.

Meanwhile, local political advisers said more accessible, or barrier-free, facilities should be established and management enhanced as many were occupied or used by others.

There are about 970,000 disabled people in the city. "An increasing number of the disabled in Shanghai are driving cars, which provide great convenience to their life, while most parking lots in the city don't have barrier-free parking space," said Shen Jie, a local political adviser.

At some public parking lots such as at hospitals, there are barrier-free parking spaces, but they are either occupied by others or locked without proper management, Shen said.

"Newly built public parking lots should set aside certain a proportion of barrier-free parking space and ensure their normal use," he said.

He also called for research and development of barrier-free buses and an increase of barrier-free taxis.

"Barrier-free facilities are not only used by the disabled, but also seniors, pregnant women and parents with baby carriages," said Shen.

The construction and management of barrier-free structures and roads should also be strengthened because barrier-free roads are often occupied by shared bikes, he said.LANSING, MI -- After more than a year investigating Dr. Larry Nassar, Attorney General Bill Schuette has turned his attention to the university, he announced in a tweet on Friday.

I stand with the victims, survivors, parents, and families who want justice at @michiganstateu. Any other words or comments are just unacceptable. That is why I convicted Nassar, and that is the focus of my ongoing investigation of MSU.  Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) January 26, 2018

Schuette promised a "review" in a statement last week, but said the coming weeks were a time for survivors to have their day in court at Nassar's sentencing hearings and he did not want to "upstage" their time for healing.

Nassar was a doctor at MSU who sexually assaulted those under his care by digitally penetrating their vaginas and anuses. More than 150 women and girls spoke at his sentencing hearing in Ingham County, where he was sentenced to 40-175 years for first-degree criminal sexual conduct charges he pleaded guilty to.

His office has refused to say whether there was an investigation going on or not. Spokesperson Andrea Bitely said information on when the investigation started would be available after the sentencing in Eaton County, which takes place next week.

The MSU Board of Trustees had called the AG to investigate last week, and reiterated those calls at a meeting Friday.

"I want to take this opportunity to ask the AG to announce his investigation as soon as possible," said MSU Board of Trustees Chair Brian Breslin.

He urged Schuette to appoint a neutral, independent party to do the investigation.Secretary of Education and West Michigan native Betsy DeVos is being sued by advocates for sexual assault victims who allege her controversial roll back of Title IX-related policy makes it harder to prove sexual violence against students, Newsweek reports.

The federal lawsuit was filed by SurvJustice in Washington, Equal Rights Advocates in San Francisco and the Victim Rights Law Center in Portland, Ore.

The plaintiffs want Obama-era guidelines that spelled out prompt investigations into sexual violence on campus put back in place. In dismantling those, they claim DeVos, her department and Candice Jackson, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, have created policy that discriminates against students who report an assault, the news magazine said.

The lawsuit accuses DeVos and others of "discriminatory - and baseless - gender stereotype that many women and girls lack credibility with regard to sexual harassment."

DeVos has said she wanted the policy going forward to be fair and impartial.

Jackson created controversy - and later apologized - for saying in an interview that 90 percent of sexual violence accusations "fall into the category of 'we were both drunk.'"By: Benjamin Raven | braven@mlive.com

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The headliners and some key acts have been announced for the sixth edition of country music's Faster Horses Festival. The three-day self-proclaimed "hillbilly sleepover" is set to take place July 21-23 from Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.

Dierks Bentley, Luke Bryan and Miranda Lambert headlined the 2017 Faster Horses Festival. Last year, all three headlining acts were Faster Horses alumni heading into the fifth-year of the country music three-day festival.

This year passes and camping tickets will go on sale 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9 on the Faster Horses Festival website.

Continue to scroll for this year's announced headliners and more scheduled to appear, and remember that set times and dates have not yet been announced:

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Get ready y'all! The #partyofthesummer returns to Brooklyn, Michigan July 20-22! Featuring Blake Shelton, Brooks & Dunn, Florida Georgia Line, Brantley Gilbert, Billy Currington, & many more!



Grab your passes & camping Fri, Feb. 9th at 10amET! https://t.co/lvyDfLXqfD pic.twitter.com/v5svCb3bho  Faster Horses Festival (@faster_horses) January 26, 2018

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Blake Shelton

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Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP, File

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Blake Shelton is known around the world whether it's for his judge duties on NBC's "The Voice," being named People Magazine's Sexiest Man of the Year or eight-time Grammy Award nominee. Shelton is even a six-time winning coach on "The Voice."

Shelton is known for hits like "God Gave Me You," 'Boys 'Round Here," "Some Beach," among many more.

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Brooks & Dunn

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Through their nearly 30 years together, Brooks & Dunn have done just about everything and stayed in the forefront as the country music landscape continued to change and evolve over the years. The two have won 17 Country Music Association awards, 26 Academy of Country Music awards and two Grammy Awards.

"Continuing to collaborate with the festival community, Faster Horses' addition of country music's most successful duo of all time, Brooks & Dunn, marks the groups debut together at the festival due to huge fan demand," Faster Horses said in a news release announcing the headliners.

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Florida Georgia Line

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Florida Georgia Line will return to the Faster Horses Festival three years after closing out the festival and sending the some-40,000 fans home in "bro-country style." Tyler Hubbard and Brian Kelley clearly have a solid relationship with Live Nation President Brian O'Connell as they pulled him on stage back in 2015 during the song "Round here," and did a couple of shots of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

The duo burst onto the scene in 2012 when they took home three Academy of Country Music awards; New Artist of the Year, New Vocal Duo or Group of the Year and Vocal Duo of the Year.

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Others announced for the show:

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Others announced to play on the main stage at this year's Faster Horses Festival in July are Ashley McBryde, Billy Currington, Brantley Gilbert, Cam, Chris Janson, Dustin Lynch, LOCASH, Midland, Morgan Wallen, Parmalee, Raelynn, Tyler Farr and Walker Hayes.

The festival says on its website that more are to be announced, and that, of course, artists are subject to change.

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Related links:

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See our 50 favorite photos from Faster Horses Festival 2017

All the big concerts announced for 2018... so far

Dierks Bentley masquerades as 'local singer' in surprise Faster Horses performance

Dierks Bentley closes out Faster Horses with second Friday performance

2017 Faster Horses sees tweaks to fan experience, not major upheaval

Faster Horses promoter praises petition, says clean up 'always takes a minute'

Miranda Lambert caps off star-studded second day of Faster Horses Festival

Luke Bryan sends 40,000 patient fans home to close out Faster HorsesLANSING, MI - A picture of comments submitted in favor of legislation allowing Michigan hunters to wear pink has gone viral on Twitter and offended some, including sportswomen.

The hullabaloo started over a re-introduced bill that would let Michigan hunters wear "hunter pink" instead of the traditional "blaze orange" required in the woods for hunter safety. The idea first came up last session, when then-Rep. Lisa Lyons, a hunter herself, introduced it. But that bill ended up leaving the decision to the Natural Resources Commission, which shot it down.

Rep. Steven Johnson, R-Wayland, took up the mantle with House Bill 5416, which would take the matter out of the hands of the Natural Resources Commission and legislatively declare hunter pink allowable.

Johnson testified along with two citizen supporters of the idea in the House Natural Resources Committee on Wednesday.

"It's a bill that gives people more options," Johnson told the committee.

The bill is still in the committee process. But one of the things to come out of that hearing was a viral photo of some language distributed to lawmakers. It was tweeted out by Rep. Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, who is not on the committee but received the memo from a colleague.

A male MI GOP State Rep introduced a bill to allow hunters to wear pink. Here is a part of the memo in support of his bill that he handed out in committee today on why this would attract more female hunters.



Wow... just wow. pic.twitter.com/eTcHeHJY7f  Senator Jeremy Moss (@JeremyAllenMoss) January 24, 2018

The memo reads, in part:

" - Using pink makes women feel more welcome and included in a sport that's always been male-dominated

- Women prefer to always look and feel attractive (even while hunting), having pink as and option can help with any insecurities over what they are wearing.

- When a woman walks into a hunting apparel retailer and can see a section of pink, she can immediately identify that that section of the store is specifically for her

- Pink is color that can immediately identify a female, women don't want to be mistaken as a man, even from a distance in the woods"

Moss said he made the memo public because it was offensive. He voted against the hunter pink bill last session, because he didn't think the legislature should be spending time on it.

"Last year it was silly. Now it's gone from silly to offensive," Moss said.

"I don't think a bunch of men need to tell women what they should wear to make themselves feel attractive while out in the woods hunting."

Drew Born, who runs an outdoors website, turned the memo in. He's surprised at the attention it's gotten, and said it was only offensive when taken out of context.

"The funny thing is, is I wrote that with a woman friend of mine and it was more of just my talking points I was going to discuss," Born said.

He said the best argument is the safety argument. It's a hunter recruitment tool, he said, and also pink is easier to identify than orange in some situations, like when leaves are turning.

Johnson said the handout did not come from him, but was submitted by a private citizen. His office did not review it. Asked if he agreed with any of the points in the memo, Johnson said he had not read it.

But when it was posted on the internet, some women rejected the memo's contents.

Comedian Chelsea Handler mocked it.

Yes, women always love to pink. Its the only color we love. pic.twitter.com/jLh4BMp6Ub  Chelsea Handler (@chelseahandler) January 25, 2018

Stephanie Ray, a Michigan hunter who has followed the issue of hunter pink and runs a popular Instagram account, said the memo was degrading. It takes the focus off the reasons women hunt, she said, like filling the freezer and a love of the sport.

"I am by no means glamorous when hunting; if it's cold, my nose is running. If I harvest an animal with fur, my eyes are swollen, I'm sneezing, and probably using an inhaler. If it's cold, my nose is red and my eyes are watering. But I love it - I'm not out there to look 'cute,' I'm out there for the love of the sport and to achieve the goals I have set," Ray said.

She said she would prefer manufacturer's make men's clothing in smaller sizes, as she's almost always disappointed in the selection available in the women's section.

"Those comments paint the picture that female hunters want blaze pink so they can 'look cute' and 'feel confident.' Confidence is built around hours of practice, mental rehearsal, experience, and the desire and drive to achieve your goals; not because of your blaze pink hat you bought in the women's section," Ray said.

The bill is still pending in the House Natural Resources Committee. It would need to pass the full House and Senate and earn a signature from Gov. Rick Snyder to become law.JACKSON, MI - After more than six months of discussions, the Jackson District Library Board approved a development agreement with the city of Jackson on Thursday, Jan. 25, to allow for a downtown parking deck.

JDL keeps ownership of its parking lot behind the administration building at 290 W. Michigan Ave., but a parking structure will be built over top. The proposed L-shaped deck includes the city lots along Blackstone Street, as well.

An easement for space behind the Carnegie Library allows for a 14-foot-wide aerial walkway to the Hayes Hotel.

The board voted down a potential development agreement on Dec. 21, which barred JDL from selling its lot to any non-government entity for 25 years. Since the city is paying for the project through tax-exempt bonds, such a sale would have caused the city to default on its bonds.

The new agreement states JDL must pay for repairs to its parking lot. All previous drafts had the city covering the costs.

"That's something we had been planning to do," newly appointed Board President Elli Blonde said. "We'll cover that cost so it doesn't affect their bond status, and we have full control over the sale of that lot for any future sales."

JDL's attorney Brendon Beer recommended the agreement for approval at Thursday's meeting. He said the current lot is in a "state of disrepair" and would need to be fixed soon anyway.

Blonde said estimated costs are between $200,000 and $300,000.

"That was just a perk that was going to be happening during the deal," Blonde said. "But it's not a problem for us to pay for it."

The city pays $1 to JDL, under the agreement, and must assure the current 28 spaces for the library will be provided in some form or another during and after the project's completion. The north side of Pearl Street will be used for temporary parking during construction.

Construction must begin by Dec. 31, 2018, or the agreement is void. It should be finished by Dec. 31, 2020, the language states.

Early estimates from council members put the parking deck at five stories with 500 spaces, costing about $12 million. The space is strategic for the city, since it would serve both the hotel redevelopment and the new Commonwealth Associates headquarters.

The vote passed 5-0 on Thursday, with new board member and city Code Enforcement Officer Shane LaPorte abstaining. New appointee and former mayor Bill Jors was excused from the meeting.

"I'm very thankful that we were finally able to reach an agreement," Blonde said. "It has been a very long process, but we're excited to see what will come from this."SUMMIT TWP., MI - Jackson County's business leaders gathered Thursday to recognize those who made significant contributions to their communities during the past year.

More than 450 people packed into the Baughman Theatre inside Jackson College's Potter Center on Jan. 25 for the 109th annual Jackson County Chamber Meeting.

The night began with a cocktail hour, which led into the award show and concluded with a networking gala.

The first award of the night went to Adriene Davis, the 2018 Albert Earle Ambassador of the Year.

Davis thanked her fellow chamber ambassadors, who act as connectors between the Chamber, its staff, members and the public. She also thanked her family.

"I really want to thank my children who put up with me volunteering mornings, evenings and weekends," she said. "I do this for them because I want them to say, 'I'm proud to be from Jackson.'"

Monica Moser, president and CEO of Jackson Community Foundation, was awarded the Athena Award. The award is given to somebody who's achieved professional excellence, has helped the community and actively pushes women to reach their leadership potential.

"I am humbled to be named among the previous Athenas in our community," Moser said. "One of the things I love about this community is you learn from and support one another. I am honored today as a good leader because I have been surrounded by great leaders and mentors along my own path. Many of whom are here tonight."

A handful of businesses were given the Brick Recognition Award, which celebrates businesses who has made significant building renovations or additions using Jackson-area contractors.

Advertising Solutions Today, Generations Financial Planning & Wealth Management, Baker College of Jackson, Center for Family Health, Lost Railway Museum, Picture This...Jackson, Professional Finishes and Willis Jurasek CPA were all given the Brick Recognition.

Bill Rayl, president of the Jackson Area Manufacturers Association, was awarded the Reach HIRE Award.

The final award of the evening was the Small Business Person of the Year Award, given to Jill McEldowney of Hirst Electric Company.

McEldowney thanked the community for assisting in the company's continued growth since it began 30 years ago.

"We are just so honored to be a part of this community," she said. "I think big things are happening in Jackson."

For Mindy Bradish-Orta, president and CEO of the Jackson County Chamber, the meeting was a success, she said.

"Whenever we are honoring people doing such great work, the night goes well," Bradish-Orta said.

The recipients of the Jackson Citizen Patriot Citizen of the Year, Youth Citizen of the Year and Corporate Citizen of Year awards were also honored Thursday night.JACKSON, MI - Westbound I-94 near Jackson is slowing down due to multiple crashes Friday morning.

Rescue crews responded to crashes at about 7:20 a.m., Jan. 26, near the N. West Avenue exit, Airport Road exit, M-60 exit ramp and the 134 mile marker.

The freeway is restricted to one lane near exit 136 while crews work the scene, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

WB I-94 at BL I-94 Exit 136

Left lane blocked

Due to a crash

Jackson County  MDOT-Lansing/Jackson (@MDOT_LanJxn) January 26, 2018

Motorists are advised to drive with caution as roadways may be slick with frost in some parts.LANSING, MI -- The family of a Michigan State Police detective who was shot in the line of duty Wednesday say they have received a lot of support from the community and they are grateful.

In a statement Thursday, they say the officer, Detective Sgt. Aaron Steensma, loves his job and they appreciate the community's response what was a "horrible" shooting incident.

"We would like to start off by saying 'Thank you' to everyone for your outpouring of support, not only from the Michigan State Police but also from surrounding police, fire and EMS agencies as well as friends and surrounding communities," the family said in a written statement released Thursday, Jan. 25, by the MSP.

"We would like to give a special thanks to the personnel who helped take care of Aaron on the scene and help get him to safety, as well as all of the medical personnel who have provided excellent treatment and care for Aaron in his time of need."

Steensma and Trooper Daniel Thayer were shot as they attempted to serve a search warrant on Wednesday, Jan. 24, at a house on Francisco Road just south of Union City.

The owner of the house, who has been identified as David Kidney, age 62, produced a rifle after the officers knocked at his door, police say. Steensma and Thayer took cover, MSP spokesmen have said. Shots were fired after Kidney came out of the house and fired at the troopers.

Kidney died apparently as a result of a wound he suffered in the exchange of gunfire. He was found in a field just south of the residence.

Steensma was listed in serious condition at Borgess Medical Center after undergoing surgery there for a bullet wound to his upper chest, in the area of his collar bone. He remains hospitalized.

Although troopers said Thayer was struck in the center of his chest by one rifle shot, he was not seriously injured. The shot was deflected by a bullet-proof vest he was wearing. He sustained a shrapnel wound to one of his hands, troopers said.

Police spokesmen have not said what they think may have caused the incident. An investigation into the shooting incident is ongoing.

Here is the remainder of the Steensma family's statement:

"Aaron is a family-oriented guy and very involved in the community. He loves being involved with his children at their sporting events and he will be greatly missed while he continues to recover from this horrifying incident. It's something we knew could happen at any time but there is no way to prepare yourself for it when it does occur. He loves his job and we are all very proud of his accomplishments while working with the Michigan State Police. Please continue to keep Aaron and our family in your thoughts and prayers as well as all of the emergency responders out protecting and serving."

Friends of the family at the Michigan State Police have arranged for donations to be made online. Those interested in making a contribution may do so at: www.mspta.net/mstaf/donations/

Those wanting to donate are asked to put D/Sgt. Aaron Steensma in the in memory/honor and support of box.

Checks can be mailed to: 1715 Abbey Rd Suite B East Lansing, MI 48823.Dr. Lukasz Niec, 43, was arrested at his home on Crooked Lake in Texas Township by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents Tuesday, Jan. 16.

Niec, a citizen of Poland with a permanent Green Card, came to the United States as a child.

Family, friends and colleagues have been advocating for his release for more than a week. Niec is sitting in a Calhoun County Jail cell as he awaits a bond hearing with the Detroit Immigration Court.

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Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com

Niec's wife, Rachelle Burkhart-Niec, said she believed her husband's arrest stemmed from two misdemeanor convictions from his high school days, one of destruction of property less than $100 and the other of receiving stolen property.

"I initially thought it was a prank," she said. "I didn't think this could happen to us."

Niec's family has promoted the #FreeDoctorNiec hashtag to gain attention for his case and plea for his release.

Jan Niec, Niec's half brother, said his family has been told it could be weeks or even months before he gets a hearing.

"We feel that's unacceptable," he said. The family is looking for ways to make it happen sooner.

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Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com

Bronson HealthCare has advocated for Niec's release by appealing to elected representatives and coordinating with his attorney to get him released.

"Since 2007, Dr. Niec has been a skilled and caring physician, a valued employee and respected member of the Bronson medical staff. His detention in a county jail while awaiting deportation proceedings simply does not make sense," Bronson said in the statement.

"Given all that he has contributed in the form of exemplary patient care, and Bronson's ongoing need for Dr. Niec's continued service as a hospitalist, we are requesting the community's best interest be considered and he be allowed to return to work and his family as soon as possible."

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Malachi Barrett | mbarret1@mlive.com

Congressman Fred Upton, a Republican representing Michigan's 6th District, called Niec's arrest evidence of a "broken immigration system."

Upton said in a prepared statement Tuesday that his office is working with Niec's legal team. The congressman said he also brought the issue to "dozens of colleagues" and the bi-partisan Problem Solvers Caucus during the weekend.

"This case, and others like it around the country, tug at the heart and soul of our conscience," Upton said. "It is why we must legislatively fix our broken immigration system. Our focus should be on removing those who threaten our country or have committed grave offenses - not productive members of our communities."

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Niec was arrested at his house in Kalamazoo County.

Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com

Representatives of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday, Jan. 23 that Niec came under their scrutiny because of 18 contacts with local law enforcement.

"Mr. Niec entered the United States lawfully in 1979. He is amenable to removal proceedings as a result of two 1992 state convictions for malicious destruction of property and receiving stolen property, both of which are crimes involving moral turpitude," ICE said.

"He most recently came under agency scrutiny as a result of 18 encounters with local law enforcement," ICE said.

The agency said Niec would remain in ICE custody pending the outcome of removal proceedings.

"As ICE Deputy Director Thomas Homan has made clear, ICE does not exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States," ICE said.

Kalamazoo County District Court records show Niec has 22 cases generated from 18 contacts with police. Violations include four no proof of insurance violations, seven speeding tickets, failure to change address on license, causing an accident, careless driving, seat belt violation, driving without due care, and parking near a fire hydrant.

Niec pleaded guilty to a 2008 operating impaired by liquor offense in Kalamazoo County. He completed probation, and the conviction was set aside, the plea withdrawn and the case dismissed, as part of a plea agreement.

He was charged with domestic violence in 2013 and a jury found him not guilty after a trial, record show.

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Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com

On Wednesday, Jan. 24, ICE officials confirmed the agency began an investigation as a result of child abuse allegations against Niec.

While a warrant was denied related to the allegations, Niec's wife said a Child Protective Services case is continuing. She said she is confident the CPS proceedings will not show any wrongdoing.

Burkart-Niec showed MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette a MSP "charging request" related to a July 14, 2017 child abuse allegation that was submitted to the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor's Office for review.

Under "explanation of denial," the document states, "It is not clear that the bruise was a bite mark, who was responsible, or when it occurred. There is insufficient evidence that (Niec) caused the harm..."

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Since MLive broke the news of Niec's Tuesday, Jan. 16, arrest, national and international news outlets have picked up the story including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Jourrnal, and others.

Niec remains in the Calhoun County Jail, in an area that holds immigration detainees, pending a bond hearing.

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Emily Monacelli | emonacel@mlive.com

After visiting her husband in jail Wednesday, Burkart-Niec said she needs him back home, noting that her daughter is distraught. They miss his cooking at home, among other things, she said. Niec's daughter was sent to her mother when Niec was arrested, Burkart-Niec said.

She said Niec was concerned about the hardships his fellow detainees face.

"It's almost like if he did get his walk out, he would let someone else go out in front of him," Burkhart-Niec said. "He's just so sad for everyone else in there too."

They're hopeful his bond hearing, originally scheduled for Feb. 7, could now happen on Friday, Jan. 26.

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Niec had denied the child abuse allegations in court, according to testimony that chronicled a custody battle between Niec and his ex-fiancee, Katherine Patel-McLellan, in Van Buren County Circuit Court.

In Van Buren County Circuit Court filings, Patel-McLellan, through an attorney, filed motions alleging improper parenting by Niec, including abuse of a minor child. She alleged that Niec bit the child in July, causing bruising, while the child was at Niec's house in July.

A judge issued a temporary order on July 25, taking away all of Niec's parenting time. The order states that the court found the child would "suffer irreparable harm without this court's protection."

Niec, while testifying during an Aug. 23 hearing in the case, said he did not abuse or bite the child.

"No, I wasn't," he answered a question about whether he bit the child. "I was chasing her around saying i was gonna eat you..."

Following testimony, a judge issued an order to extend the a July order, suspending Niec's parenting time through September.

Issuing the ruling, Van Buren County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey J. Dufon wrote that the reasonable likelihood of abuse or neglect was a factor in his decision.

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See full coverage of Niec's immigration arrest on MLive.com.MUSKEGON, MI - Muskegon County's slow recovery from the Great Recession will turn into an advantage when it sees a lesser impact from the next recession compared to its West Michigan neighbors.

All signs point to smooth sailing in 2018, but rough seas are about 18 months out, said Professor Paul Isely, associate dean of the Grand Valley State University Seideman School of Business, at the Muskegon Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce Business for Breakfast on Friday, Jan. 26.

Isely expects a recession to hit in 2019, but not as deep or broad as the Great Recession. He expects it to hit some industries, and some geographic areas harder than others.

One place he expects to be relatively OK is Muskegon County. The county will be less affected than its West Michigan neighbors, Kent, Ottawa and Allegan counties, he said during his presentation.

"Kent and Ottawa have strong dynamic economies, they're not going to suffer, but what we're seeing right now is that Muskegon is in a different part of their growth trajectory," he further explained after the presentation.

Ottawa began its recovery from the Great Recession first, and then Kent, and Muskegon was last, which means it will continue its growth even as other counties' economies start to decelerate, Isely said.

"We would expect this year, we're going to see that (Muskegon is) going to be better with employment growth and maybe sales growth than those other two counties - just because you're a little behind," he said.

Muskegon is starting to see "dynamic changes," Isely said, like more new businesses. Wages are starting to increase and equalize with neighbors, which is good for attracting workers.

The biggest thing the county needs to overcome is its relatively slow growth in the number of millennials, he said.

"That's the pile that's going to be dynamic in changing things for the next 20 years; you need them around your economy," Isely said.

The upcoming recession could prove useful for Muskegon businesses as companies outside the county downsize and those people look for work, he said.

"Be watching that, and know what you need," Isely said. "You'll be able to buy in and get the help you need."

For the timing of the recession in general, Isely is keeping an eye on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and whether businesses are investing.

"If we see businesses investing more, as opposed to doing things like stock buy backs, that could help shove the recession farther out," he said. "If we see NAFTA resolved in a way that's not a huge change, that would be a big positive for us here in Michigan."Railway police in southwest China have rescued 33 women trafficked from Vietnam and busted several cross-border human trafficking rings, local authorities announced Thursday.

Police in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, have caught 78 suspects involved in international women trafficking, Kunming railway police said.

Police launched an investigation after they found several women holding fake ID cards and unable to speak Chinese, at Kunming railway station in October 2016.

Preliminary investigation showed that gang members had colluded with suspects in Vietnam, conning Vietnamese women into China by pretending that they were offering recruitment, travel and matchmaking services.

The trafficked Vietnamese women have been transferred to Vietnamese police.SAGINAW, MI -- An 18-year-old Louisiana man who reportedly lived in Michigan for only two weeks before racking up 12 felonies will likely spend as many years in state prison.

Georgio Harvey pleaded guilty as charged Jan. 8 to felonies of first-degree home invasion, armed robbery, unlawful imprisonment and unlawful driving away an automobile, in addition to multiple conspiracy and felony firearm charges.

According to court records, Harvey's sentencing guidelines are 12 years and six months to 19 years and six months in prison. His sentencing is slated for Feb. 13.

Harvey, who was then 17, allegedly armed himself with a pistol and broke into a home in the 1500 block of Congress Avenue on Sept. 19, according to the felony complaint.

At the home, he robbed a person of medical marijuana, a television, a cellphone and car keys, the felony complaint alleges.

Throughout this time, and before he allegedly made his getaway in the person's 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix, the felony complaint states Harvey kept the victim imprisoned to facilitate the crimes.

According to court documents, Harvey allegedly conspired with another person to commit the crimes.

Harvey's alleged co-conspirator has not been charged in the case.

Harvey remains lodged in the Saginaw County Jail until his Feb. 13 sentencing before Circuit Judge Janet M. Boes.HARRISON, MI -- A 52-year-old Houghton Lake man faces a terrorism charge that he threatened to shoot up a college.

Norman Davis threatened to commit a shooting at Mid Michigan Community College in Harrison about 4 p.m. on Jan. 24, according to Clare County Sheriff John S. Wilson.

Davis, who was arraigned on one count of false report or threat of terrorism, was lodged in the Clare County Jail and held on a $300,000 cash or 10 percent bond, according to Wilson.

According to the sheriff, Davis became disruptive at the college and later made threats to come back to commit a shooting.

The school was put into outside-threat mode as a precautionary measure, according to Wilson.

Detectives located Davis at his residence and arrested him, according to Wilson.Happy birthday, Ernie Harwell.

The legendary Detroit Tigers broadcaster would be 100 years old today, Jan. 25. Born in 1918, Harwell died on May 4, 2010 after a lengthy battle with bile duct cancer. He was 92.

The team commemorated his birthday with a social media tribute showing Harwell in the broadcast booth at Tiger Stadium on Thursday.

Harwell spent 42 seasons a Detroit Tigers broadcaster during which his low-key delivery and southern accent became synonymous with summers in Michigan.

Fans will remember his tendency to call the team the Detroit "Ti-guhs," his signature homerun call "That one is long gone" and his go-to strikeout jab "He stood there like the house by the side of the road, and watched it go by."

Not to mention a whole lot of fans from a whole lot of different cities walking away with home run balls and foul balls.

Harwell was a member of numerous broadcasting hall of fames and his name lives forever on a wall in left center field at Comerica Park. He also has a statue just inside the stadium on the first base side.

The press box at Comerica Park was named the "Ernie Harwell Media Center" following his retirement from broadcasting and Wayne State University opened Harwell Field in 2017.SheKnows Media Welcomes Sponsors of #BlogHer18 Health, Jan. 30-31 in New York City

SheKnows Media, a leading women's media company that reaches 89 million unique visitors per month ( comScore (News - Alert) ) and more than 300 million social media fans and followers, today announced sponsors of #BlogHer18 Health, a health and wellness conference for women content creators taking place Jan. 30-31 in New York City.

More than 500 bloggers, social media influences, authors, entrepreneurs, brand executives and industry thought leaders will attend the conference. Mainstage speakers include: Julianne Hough, Arianna Huffington, Jillian Michaels, Camila Alves McConaughey, Latham Thomas, celebrity nutritionist and best-selling author Kelly LeVeque, HBFIT Founder Hannah Bronfman, and more.

Premier sponsors of #BlogHer18 Health include:

Sponsored by Amgen and Novartis, the #WinningWomen Morning Keynote will feature a Speak Your Migraine program ambassador to raise awareness about the total impact of migraine. While many focus on migraine attacks, the Speak Your Migraine initiative aims to drive understanding of the larger impact of the disease at work, home, among friendseverywhere. Visit SpeakYourMigraine.com to learn more. This talk will be followed by a panel discussion, highlighting the importance of self-advocacy, which can lead to more productive dialogues with healthcare providers, stronger self-care and improved migraine management.

Chase Slate is recognizing the importance of financial health and how it contributes to overall well-being. Author, television personality and Chase Slate Financial Education Ambassador Farnoosh Torabi will motivate Welltrepreneurs to focus on their financial wellness to pursue their goals during the "Passion to Purpose" keynote sponsored by Chase Slate.

#ThePitch will follow. #ThePitch is a competition at #BlogHer18 Health, in which women business owners and founders of health-related companies will pitch a high-profile panel of judges who will provide their feedback in real time from the stage. The winner is ultimately determined by popular vote among conference attendees and will be announced at the end of the day on Jan. 31.

Dove DermaSeries is the sponsor of the #LifeUnfiltered panel on Jan. 31 at #BlogHer18 Health - an honest, unabashed discussion about living with various skin disorders and chronic conditions in a 24/7 Instagram-able world. New for 2018, Dove DermaSeries is a breakthrough range of hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products formulated especially for the driest skin. The collection combines outstanding clinical efficacy with beautiful sensorials to provide instant relief and lasting comfort for those with extremely dry skin.

Pacira Pharmaceuticals will host a special event at the conference designed to educate attendees about the importance of effective non-opioid options that can help manage postsurgical pain and decrease the amount of opioids prescribed after common procedures. Pacira is the maker of EXPAREL (bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension), a specially formulated bupivacaine (a type of local anesthetic) designed to be injected at the end of surgery to release into the body over a long period of time to provide long lasting pain relief and possibly reduce an individual's need for opioids. EXPAREL can provide relief to patients following a variety of surgical procedures such as: hernia repair, weight loss, orthopedic, oral surgery, hysterectomy, C-section (Caesarean section) and breast surgeries.

"Pacira is excited to be a part of the first-ever #BlogHer18 Health event and will host a panel featuring three leading surgeons titled, 'The Operating Room: A Gateway (News - Alert) to the Opioid Epidemic,'" said Amber Sears, Vice President of Corporate Communcations at Pacira Pharmaceuticals. "Women have a powerful voice in this growing opioid crisis and, as the chief medical officer of the home, it's critical that they are aware of effective non-opioid options to manage pain following surgery for themselves and their family."

On behalf of Be Vocal: Speak Up for Mental Health, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals Inc. will sponsor a panel at #BlogHer18 Health during the #LearnFromHer lunch keynote, which will explore the representation of mental health in the media, how speaking up about mental health has evolved over the years, and the importance of accurate and honest storytelling. Be Vocal, an initiative encouraging people across America to use their voice in support of mental health, is a partnership between Sunovion and five leading mental health advocacy organizations: the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, The Jed Foundation, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Previously announced premier sponsors of #BlogHer18 Health include the SpeakENDO campaign (sponsored by global, research-driven biopharmaceutical company AbbVie), TESARO and Vagisil.

Additional sponsors of the conference include:

"Our BlogHer conference series offers a unique way for brands to interact directly and digitally with the women who purchase their products and use their services," said Samantha Skey, President of SheKnows Media. "#BlogHer18 Health has drawn unprecedented interest from wide range of companies that realize the value of being part of a growing and increasingly important and honest discussion about women's health. Thank you to all sponsors for making this first-ever #BlogHer Health conference possible."

For more information about how to register for #BlogHer18 Health, visit BlogHer.com. Learn more about SheKnows Media at www.sheknowsmedia.com.

About SheKnows Media

SheKnows Media is a top women's lifestyle digital media company with 89 million unique visitors per month (comScore) and more than 300 million social media fans and followers. The company operates a family of leading media properties that include SheKnows.com, BlogHer.com, STYLECASTER.com and HelloFlo.com. With a mission of women inspiring women, SheKnows Media is revolutionizing the publishing industry by forging a new kind of model that seamlessly integrates users, editors and content creators onto a single platform designed to empower all women to discover, share and create. Whether it's parenting or pop culture, fashion or food, DIY or decor, our award-winning editorial team, Experts, bloggers and social media influencers produce authentic and on-trend content every day. We dig deep to learn what makes our audience tick, revealing unexpected insights on women and digital media. Our robust, end-to-end suite of premium branded content and influencer marketing solutions generate nearly 1 billion ad impressions per month (sources: DFP), allowing brands to distribute authentic content and integrated advertising at scale.

SheKnows Media is based in New York and Scottsdale, Ariz., with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago. We also operate internationally in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180125006370/en/China will train about half a million general practitioners over the next 12 years to help improve healthcare and control rising medical expenditure, according to the country's top health authority.

The country plans to have five general practitioners available for every 10,000 residents in China by 2030, Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said on Thursday. That means the country will have to increase the number of general practitioners from a current 209,000 to more than 700,000.

"We are confident that the gap will be bridged with the efforts of the whole of society," Zeng said at a news conference on improving education and training of general practitioners and making the profession more attractive.

According to a regulation released by the State Council on Wednesday, between two and three qualified GPs should be available for every 10,000 people in China by 2020, and the number will increase to five by 2030.

A series of measures will be implemented to produce enough qualified GPs, including extending general medical education and practice to all students majoring in medicine, recruiting more college students for postgraduate education in general medicine, and increasing incomes for GPs.

Zeng said there are currently only 1.5 GPs per 10,000 people in China, which lags behind the international standard of one GP for every 1,500 to 2,000 people.

In addition to a shortage, the qualifications of GPs in China, especially those in rural areas, need to be improved, he said.

"Less than 40 percent of GPs working at a grassroots level hold a bachelor's degree or above," he said. "In rural areas, most of them have not received strict and standardized medical residency training."

"GPs should be the gatekeepers of people's health, and refer complicated cases to other medical institutions," he said. "GPs mostly work in communities and undertake duties such as health management and disease prevention. They also help detect diseases at the early stages, which serves to control medical expenditure."

China's medical expenditure has increased rapidly over the past few years. Total medical costs of public hospitals, which are the primary healthcare providers, should not have increased by more than 10 percent last year, according to a target set by the State Council Medical Reform Office.

Many hospitals had to suspend the use of some costly medical consumables and use cheaper ones instead at the end of last year to meet the target, according to media reports.

More than 500 million people in China were registered with a family doctor by the end of November, according to the National Health and Family Planning Commission, which added that the shortage of GPs has meant that many of those registered have not been able to benefit from the service.

Liu Zhiwen, director of Xiguan Community Health Center in Beijing's suburban Changping district, said the biggest problem the center faces is a lack of qualified GPs.

The center only has four doctors, but the population in the community is 22,000, he said.China's top banking regulator's recent fine is "credit negative" for Shanghai Pudong Development Bank Co Ltd, Moody's Investors Service said yesterday, adding that the move will harm the lender's reputation.

Last Friday, the China Banking Regulatory Commission imposed the Shanghai-based lender 462 million yuan ( million) fine for its illegal cover-up of bad loans.

The CBRC accused the bank's Chengdu branch of "knowingly" providing 77.5 billion yuan in illegal new loans to 1,493 shell companies via false declarations. Around 200 people at the Chengdu branch were held accountable.

In a credit outlook report yesterday, Moody's said the scandal illustrated deficiencies in the bank's risk management system and internal controls and and the problem was "significant" given the long period of the illicit activities, the amount of credit and the number of people involved.

Moody's said although the branch had complied with the CBRC's request for remedial action by September 2017 and resumed normal operation, it may "take some time" for the bank to revamp its control and risk management systems, and to rebuild its reputation.

Moody's, however, doesn't see the fine to really affect the lender's financial earnmings as it equals around 0.7 percent of the bank's 2017 pre-tax profit.

A preliminary financial announcement said the bank expected its net profit in 2017 to still rise by 2.15 percent from a year earlier, even after taking into account the fine.

Moody's said the fine showed China's strict scrutiny of banks and that it will deter the lenders from risk of breaches and non-compliance.live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

Dr Reddys Laboratories on Thursday said it expects the inspection of its crucial Duvvada oncology injectable formulation facility near Visakhapatnam in next 3-6 months.

The quality improvement program is in progress in line with the comments made by the agency. We await re-inspection of the site possible in the quarter or two, said Abhijeet Mukherjee, chief operating officer of

Dr Reddys, at the company's third quarter earnings call.

Dr Reddys recovery hinges on the clearance of Duvvada plant in the next re-inspection as a large chunk of lucrative pipeline including generic versions of Aloxi, Alimta, Faslodex, Gleevec, and Jevtana among others are filed from that facility.

Dr Reddy's has initiated site transfers of several of its product filings in last 18 months, but resolution of Duvvada facility will be major boost to the company in offsetting the pricing pressure it faces in US.

Dr Reddys in November said that US FDA has issued a procedural Establishment Inspection Report (EIR) to Duvvada facility following the plant audit in March 2017 but the inspection has not been closed and warning letter on the unit stays on.

In March audit of the facility, the US FDA had issued a Form 483 with 13 observations relating to deviations from current good manufacturing practices (cGMP).

US FDA issues a Form 483 if its investigators find any conditions that in their judgment may constitute violations of good manufacturing practices.

The Duvvada unit is one of the three plants that had received a warning letter from the US FDA for breach of norms in November 2015. Two active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) facilities at Miryalaguda and Srikakulam had also received warning letters.

The US FDA cleared the companys Miryalaguda plant in June this year,

while its Srikakulam unit stays under the warning letter.

The company on Thursday said it has responded to the queries sent by the regulatory agency on Srikakulam site.

Dr Reddys said the company is banking on three major limited competition generic opportunities that include copies of Nuvaring, Suboxone and Copxone 20 mg and 40 mg to drive growth in the coming quarters.

On generic version of the contraceptive vaginal ring Nuvaring, the company said with patents expiring on April 2018  it expects US FDA approval in second quarter of FY19, while Suboxone used in treatment of opioid dependence- the company said its still waiting for the outcome of patent litigation, while the filing has been "progressing well" with the regulator.

On multiple sclerosis drug Copaxone, Dr Reddys said it has received queries from US FDA related to the companys drug master file (DMG) filing. A DMF filing related to the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) of the drug. The company said its in the process of putting together a response, which it may take 4-5 months.

The company said it sees a rich pipeline of approvals in FY19 compared to the current financial year.

Factoring in Duvvadas clearance in 2HFY19 and the launches of the blockbuster products over the course of the next 2 years, we arrive at a forecasted 10 percent earnings CAGR and 30 percent earnings CAGR over FY17-20E, HDFC Securities said in its report last month.

Shares of Dr Reddys dropped 2.26 percent to close at Rs 2504 on BSE, the benchmark Sensex declined 0.31 percent to end 36,050.44 points.Most investors invest with the thought of making as much gains as possible. However, having unrealistic expectations for your investments can lead to disappointment, especially when the instrument you are investing provides market-linked returns. Here are five things to keep in mind while investing to maximise your returns and fulfil your goals:

live bse live

nse live Volume Todays L/H More 

The shift from the unorganised to the organised sector that we had highlighted while recommending the luggage sector to the investors prior to GST, seems to be playing out as is evident from the quarterly results of VIP Industries.

The company reported extremely encouraging quarterly numbers with expansion in gross margin (benefiting mainly from rupee appreciation), pick up in volume that also supported a surge in operating margin leading to 68.5% growth in after-tax profit.

Here are the key takeaways:

Healthy topline growth

While the reported topline growth was optically muted, it was on account of GST. Post GST, the entire taxation element is not a part of the revenue. Adjusting for that, the like-to-like revenue growth was 18% for the quarter. GST also distorted the operating margin (because of lower reported revenue) and the comparable operating margin growth was 100 basis points over the year-ago quarter.

Shift from the unorganised sector

VIP reported strong 18.8% growth in volume. The company attributed a large part of this gain to the shift in market share from unorganised to the organised players.

Over 50% of the market still belongs to the unorganised players and GST has reduced the price differential between the two segments. This was reflected in gain in market share in the dealer network.

The demonetisation led a shift in consumer behaviour that favoured the growth of the hypermarket, as well as the strong growth in e-commerce, also worked in favour of VIP.

Finally, the company gained market share from competitors like American Tourister and Samsonite.

Margin stability

The benefits of operating leverage coupled with rupee appreciation have aided margins. While cost pressures are now inching up, the strength of the rupee and volume traction should lend stability to margins in the near term. The company is looking forward to margin stability with the help of its Bangladesh operations (as this facility ramps up capacity) where margins are higher.

Brand positioning and market segmentation

The company has positioned Carlton and Caprese brands in the premium category, VIP and Skybags in the medium range and Aristocrat in the value segment. All the brands appear to be doing well and gaining market share.

Skybags is the leading brand in the fastest growing category of backpacks. In this category, the company has launched Aristocrat range for the value segment and VIP range targeted at professionals.

Caprese is now Rs 100-crore brand and among the top five ladies handbag in India.

Given the strong macro tailwinds of increasing affluence, growing importance of travel and tourism in Indian life and the shift from unorganised to organised segment, the market leader VIP is definitely in a sweet spot. Despite the heady run-up in the stock that has rendered the valuation a tad expensive, we recommend a gradual accumulation of this stock as a core holding in the portfolio of a long-term investor.18:42 Donald Trump gives maiden speech at Davos

"Now is the perfect time to bring in your business, your jobs to the United States," says US President Donald Trump at the beginning of his maiden speech at Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2018.

Trump extolled the ease of doing business after the deregulation programme taken up by

the US government and the tax bill that was recently passed in the country.

He stated that for every rule that was passed, two such regulations were let go. A total of 22 seperate regulationswere knocked off this way.

Trump also said that although he puts America first, but it does not equate to America alone.He also stated that the US is open to mutually beneficial, bi-lateral agreements between countries.

Trump reiterated the stance of the United States towards combatting terrorism, stating the country is still committted to rooting out terrorists in Afghanistan and other such safe havens as well increased military spending.

20:49 That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights.

20:42 Road section near Chennai metro rail work site caves in

A section of road at the arterial Anna Salai near a Metro Rail work site caved in today, officials said. However, there was no casualty or damage to property, they said.

Restoration work was on. Following the incident, vehicular traffic was regulated for a while and some diversions effected.

A similar incident had happened in Anna Salai last year when a section of the road suddenly caved in near the site of an underground tunnelling for the Metro Rail. The passengers of a bus evacuated the vehicle after the driver raised an alarm and a car's occupant jumped out after the earth started buckling in then.

20:23 'Padmaavat' row: No protests in Rajasthan, says Police

No protests were witnessed in Rajasthan today against the controversial film "Padmaavat" till afternoon, a police official said.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh was released across the country yesterday amid tight security.

The film's release was protested by several organisations, including the Karni Sena, in many states, including Rajasthan.

"No incidence of protest or rally was reported in the state as the fringe group, Karni Sena, had announced that they will not protest considering Republic Day celebrations," Additional Director General of Police, Law and Order, N R K Reddy said.

He said that yesterday an incident of stone pelting was reported in Udaipur, but no fresh incident occurred today.

20:13 10 ASEAN leaders celebrate Republic Day celebrations for the first time ever

India today celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the ASEAN leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.

Thousands of people on both sides of the Rajpath, India's ceremonial boulevard facing the seat of power on the Raisina Hill, braved the winter chill and cheered loudly as the marching contingents and tableaux went past them.

Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah were among the ASEAN leaders who attended the event.

20:07 Low intensity blasts hit Assam on Republic Day

Assam's Tinsukia district was hit by three low-intensity explosions, suspected to have been triggered by ULFA(Independent) insurgents, on the Republic Day today, police said.

There was no report of any casualty, they said.

Police said two blasts occurred within a gap of a few minutes in a drain near the Jagun police station, and the other one at Tirap colliery near the Ledo police station.

Director General of Police Mukesh Sahay told reporters in Guwahati that the explosions were of low intensity and was carried out by the ULFA(I) to prove its existence.

Investigations are on and security measures further tightened in the district, police said.

19:12 PM Narendra Modi holds talks with counterparts from Malaysia, Laos

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Nazib Razak, focusing on ways to enhance counter-terror cooperation and boost ties in areas of defence, trade and investment.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said the two leaders had an "engaging" discussion.

"An important strategic partner! PM @narendramodi met with Malaysian Prime Minister @NajibRazak. Two leaders had an engaging discussion on defence and security, trade and investment, counter-terrorism and people to people links. #ASEANIndia," he tweeted.

Razak is among 10 ASEAN leaders who participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit yesterday and watched the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath today.

18:35 A Fire broke out in the Sargam Shopping Center in Piplod area,in Surat, Gujarat. Six fire tenders present at the spot. More details awaited, tweets ANI.

18:15 'Padmaavat' not screened in Aligarh after threats to theatres

Theatre owners here did not screen the film "Padmaavat" following threats by a local organisation and the recent protests against its release in several states, including Uttar Pradesh.

The Sanjay Leela Bhansali-directed period drama starring Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor and Ranveer Singh was released across the country yesterday amid tight security.

"This is a voluntary decision taken by theatre owners. We had strengthened security outside cinema halls where the film was to be screened. However, they did not ask us for any additional security," Senior Superintendent of Police Rajesh Pandey told PTI.

The move by cinema halls came after Kshatriya Mahasabha, district coordinator, Santosh Kumar Singh, warned owners here to refrain from screening the film.

17:27 MHRD grants Rs 450 crore to IITs

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has granted Rs 456.10 crore to four older Indian Insitutue of Techonology (IIT) including the one at Kharagpur for development projects.

An IIT Kharagpur statement today quoted a tweet by the HRD ministry on the approval of the Rs 456.10 crore as a one-time additional capital funding for IIT Kharagpur and three other IITs.

The funding has been earmarked for lab infrastructure, equipment and others, the statement said.

As per the announcement by the HRD Ministry, Rs 151.19 crore has been earmarked for IIT Kharagpur followed by Rs 105 crore for IIT Delhi, Rs. 103.41 crore for IIT Madras and Rs 96.5 crore for IIT Bombay.

The funding was approved based on proposals submitted by the four IITs for augmentation of infrastructure and facilities, the statement said.

"IIT Kharagpur has been focussing on attracting young talented academicians and post-doctoral fellows from across the world. For this we need world-class laboratories, high-end equipment to conduct cutting-edge research on the one hand and on the other quality living experience such as accommodation facilities," Director, IIT Kharagpur Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti said.

The institute has already drawn the blueprint to build lab infrastructure of top global standards and acquire equipment for technological convergence domains like manufacturing, transportation, VLSI (very largescale integration) design, cloud computing, smart infrastructure and

affordable healthcare among others.

"We will soon undertake a housing project for facilitating international faculty and post-doctoral fellows,"

Chakrabarti said.

17:07 Jerusalem has to be Israel's capital: Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asserted that Jerusalem has to be the country's capital under any deal as it has been so for over 3,000 years, even as he expressed readiness for a fresh peace attempt provided Palestine does not "run away" from negotiations.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF), he said Israel will not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons and maintained that the US deciding against continuing Iranian sanctions was not a negative development as it was a bad deal in the first place.

He also recalled his India visit while talking about why countries from across the world want to sign business deals with Israel.

He said the countries want Israel mostly for security and protection from Islamic terrorism due to its expertise in intelligence and security systems, as also for securing the future generations as Israel excels in technology and innovations.

recognising

recognised

Netanyahu said US President Donald Trump made history byhistory when heJerusalem as the

capital of Israel.

18:36 A Fire broke out in the Sargam Shopping Center in Piplod area,in Surat, Gujarat. Six fire tenders present at the spot. More details awaited, tweets ANI.

17:27 MHRD grants Rs 450 crore to IITs

The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) has granted Rs 456.10 crore to four older Indian Insitutue of Techonology (IIT) including the one at Kharagpur for development projects.

An IIT Kharagpur statement today quoted a tweet by the HRD ministry on the approval of the Rs 456.10 crore as a one-time additional capital funding for IIT Kharagpur and three other IITs.

The funding has been earmarked for lab infrastructure, equipment and others, the statement said.

As per the announcement by the HRD Ministry, Rs 151.19 crore has been earmarked for IIT Kharagpur followed by Rs 105 crore for IIT Delhi, Rs. 103.41 crore for IIT Madras and Rs 96.5 crore for IIT Bombay.

The funding was approved based on proposals submitted by the four IITs for augmentation of infrastructure and facilities, the statement said.

"IIT Kharagpur has been focussing on attracting young talented academicians and post-doctoral fellows from across the world. For this we need world-class laboratories, high-end equipment to conduct cutting-edge research on the one hand and on the other quality living experience such as accommodation facilities," Director, IIT Kharagpur Professor Partha Pratim Chakrabarti said.

VLSI

largescale

The institute has already drawn the blueprint to build lab infrastructure of top global standards and acquire equipment for technological convergence domains like manufacturing, transportation,(veryintegration) design, cloud computing, smart infrastructure and

affordable healthcare among others.

"We will soon undertake a housing project for facilitating international faculty and post-doctoral fellows,"

Chakrabarti said.

16:08 Karni Sena national secretary arrested, says police

Shree

Karni

Sena

Suraj

Gurgaon

anti-Padmaavat

The national secretary of thePal Amu, was today arrested by thepolice for theviolence here, a police official

said.

Gurgaon

The outfit's leader was detained yesterday for questioning and placed under arrest this morning on charges of breaching peace in the city. He has been sent to a four-day judicial custody,Police Public Relations Officer

Ravinder Kumar said.

On Wednesday, a mob attacked a school bus with 20 to 25 children onboard in Gurgaon, where hundreds of violent protesters took to roads torching vehicles and destroying public property to oppose the film's release. The protests were led by the Karni Sena which has alleged that history had been distorted in the Sanjal Leela Bhansali- directed period drama.

Karni

Sena

Haryana

Sohna





16:34 Roger Federer enters the Australian Open finals after Hyeon Chung retired in the second set, tweets ANI

16:40 RCEP

However, the police have not named thein the FIR registered in connection with the attack on the school busand the torching of aRoadways bus onroad.Chief negotiators of 16 countries including India and China will meet next month in Jakarta forthe next round of discussions on the proposed mega trade deal

RCEP.

A government official said issues to be discussed in the week long meeting, starting February 3, include the single-

tier system of duty relaxation under the RCEP.

finalising

Under this system, the member countries would deliberate onthe maximum number of goods on which duties willeither be eliminated or reduced drastically. Matters pertaining to services sector are also expected

to figure in the meeting, the official said.

Prabhu

Commerce and Industry Minister Sureshrecently stated that India would work closely and constructively with

all the members for early conclusion of the negotiations.

15:51 AIADMK leaders remove 50 office-bearers from the party

AIADMK

Panneerselvam

Palaniswami

Topleaders Oand Kexpelled over 50 office-bearers from the party today for allegedly bringing disrepute to the

organisation.

AIADMK's

Kancheepuram

Thozhirsanga

Peravai

Those who faced the disciplinary action included 53 leaders from theCentral unit. Five members of the party's trade union wing, Anna(ATP), were also booted out. They were being removed from all their posts as well as

their primary membership, the leaders said.

Panneerselvam

AIADMK

Palaniswami

coordinator, and, the co-coordinator, announced the expulsion of the 58 people in

separate statements, signed by both of them. The two leaders said the action was being taken since the office-bearers went against party principles and "brought disrepute" to the AIADMK.

They also asked the party workers not to have any truck with them.Agni-5 is most advanced missile in the Agni series with new technologies incorporated in it in terms of navigation and guidance, warhead and engine. It has a range of over 5000 km. (Reuters)

Amid an unprecedented security cover, celebrations for the 69th Republic Day began on the Rajpath here today in the presence of the leaders of 10 ASEAN nations who are attending the event as chief guests.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid his tributes to the martyrs by laying a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti in the presence of Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the three service chiefs.

Later Modi, wearing a saffron, red and green coloured safa, reached the Rajpath and received and greeted President Ram Nath Kovind.

Most of the ministers of the Modi government including Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Health Minister J P Nadda, Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Environment Minister Harsh Vardhan were among those present on the occasion.

BJP president Amit Shah was present too.

The ASEAN leaders, here to attend the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit, are the chief guests at the Republic Day parade which was termed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "historic and unprecedented".

The ASEAN, founded in 1967, comprises Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

The ASEAN leaders attending the parade are Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, Thailand's Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao PDR's Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

Twenty-three tableaux, including those representing various states, ministries, the All India Radio (AIR) among others, will roll down the Rajpath.

Public broadcaster Doordarshan has 38 cameras installed for the coverage of the celebrations. For the first time, six cameras have been deployed for coverage beyond India Gate.

The parade commenced amid a heavy security blanket with thousands of security personnel, anti-aircraft guns and sharpshooters deployed in view of the event being attended by ASEAN leaders.

Cold weather conditions and dense fog failed to dampen the spirits of those who came to watch the parade.Companies in China received more attention from international media in 2017, as English-language media operating in the country increased their coverage of businesses, according to a report on the country's international influence in the media published on Wednesday.

Among the country's enterprises, tech giant Huawei Investment & Holding Co Ltd took the top spot in attracting media coverage from Google News, Facebook and YouTube last year, while Lenovo Group Ltd ranked No 1 for reports on Twitter, Instagram and Wikipedia, said the rankings released by the National Center for Communication Innovation Studies at Communication University of China.

Cutting-edge topics such as digitalization, automation and artificial intelligence were widely reported by international media outlets last year. Other highlighted terms include "largest", "State-owned" and "industrial".

Chinese English-language media's coverage of Chinese enterprises grew significantly last year, the report said. In a ranking of the number of media reports on Chinese companies, China Daily ranked No 4, up from No 15 in 2016, with its total coverage surging three times.

Zhong Xin, an international journalism and communication professor at Renmin University of China, said the increasing attention was due to the rise in Chinese businesses' overall strength, especially their ability to produce cutting-edge innovation.

"Artificial intelligence and driverless vehicles from Baidu, and Alibaba's online payment system, for example, are very newsworthy topics," Zhong said.

The number of patent filings in China increased 14.2 percent year-on-year to 1.38 million in 2017. About 327,000 invention patents were granted to domestic companies and individuals in the same year, up 8.3 percent, according to the State Intellectual Property Office, indicating an increased focus on innovation.

Chinese firms grabbed an unprecedented 115 places on the Fortune Global 500 list in 2017, with the number of Chinese firms making the list increasing for 14 consecutive years. China State Grid Corp, the country's largest grid operator, and oil behemoth China Petroleum & Chemical Corp ranked No 2 and No 3 on the list, respectively, with their revenue reaching 5 billion and 8 billion in 2016.

China's entering into a new era proves the validity and rationality of its development path, showing confidence in its path, theories, institutions and culture, said Liu Xin, China Global Television Network host at a forum hosted by China Daily recently.

"It consolidates reporters' confidence in telling fantastic Chinese stories based on China's successful practices," Liu said.

"Our role is not to oversell Chinese wisdom; our responsibility is to document and explain that journey and let history be our judges," she said.

The report also ranked Chinese cities in terms of international media coverage. Beijing overtook Shanghai, followed by Hong Kong and Macao.Chhattisgarh Governor Balramji Das Tandon today said doors are open for talks with Naxals if they give up arms and respect the Constitution.

He, however, warned violence and anti-constitutional activities will never be tolerated.

Tandon was addressing the main Republic Day function here at the Police Line grounds during which he also spoke about various government schemes and its achievements.

"It is our utmost duty to respect the martyrdom of those who sacrificed their lives for unity, integrity and internal security of the country," the Governor said.

"The path of dialogue is open for left-wing extremists if they respect our Constitution and democracy and shun arms. But violence and anti-constitutional activities will not be tolerated at any cost," he said.

Tandon hailed the sacrifices made by security forces in line of duty and lauded the contribution of freedom fighters.

Referring to steps being taken to improve telecom connectivity in the state, he said communication revolution, coupled with security and development measures, will help in eliminating the menace of Naxalism.

A three-tier action plan has been put in place to boost telecom connectivity, the Governor said.

All panchayats are being connected (via optical fibre network) under the 'Bharat Net' scheme. Similarly, all districts of (insurgency-hit) Bastar division will be linked under the 'Bastar Net' scheme, he said.

Besides, 56 lakh families will be given smartphones under the Sanchar Kranti Yojna (SKY), he said.

"I hope that sanchar kranti (communication revolution) along with security and development will help in getting the state rid of the menace of Naxalism as early as possible."

Several policies, including one related to mineral, and schemes have been introduced to improve the social and economic condition of the people, Tandon said.

New schools and colleges have been set up in the BJP- ruled state, resulting in an increase in admission rate. Besides, the dropout rate has declined and quality of education has improved, he said.

Various steps were taken to ensure better education and employment for the children belonging to the ST/SC and OBC categories, the Governor said.

At least 700 students from these categories, trained at the state-run Prayas Institute, have qualified for admission in premier medical and engineering colleges, including the IIT, he said.

In the current fiscal year, the government had set a target to disburse interest-free loan to the tune of Rs 3,800 crore to farmers. Of this, Rs 3,300 crore has been distributed so far, Tandon said.

A target has been set to build 11 lakh houses in the next three years under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna, he said.

Areas under all the 168 municipal bodies and as many as 18,851 villages have so far been declared open defecation- free (ODF) in the state, he added.

Earlier, the Governor unfurled the tricolour and received a guard of honour from a joint parade of personnel drawn from the state police, the Chhattisgarh Armed Police, the CRPF, the SSB, the National Cadet Corps and National Service Scheme, among others.The labour ministry will begin a drive in April to register over 47 crore unorganised sector workers and provide them with Unorganised Worker Index Number or UWIN Card, bringing them under the social security net, according to an official source.

It wants to complete the exercise by the end of next fiscal, before going to the polls in 2019, so that these workers are covered under the social security code proposed by the ministry.

"The ministry will begin registering the unorganised workers across the country by the beginning of the next fiscal (April-March, 2018-19)) to provide them benefits of various social security schemes run by retirement fund body EPFO and state health insurer ESIC," the official source said.

The UWIN Card would have unique number which would be seeded with Aadhaar to provide all benefits of social security schemes at one stop, he added.

"Labour Code on Social Security and Welfare is at the consultation stage and could be a reality by the time registration of informal workers is complete," he said.

The ministry has already initiated a pilot on the UWIN Cards to test the efficacy of the system, he said, adding that it is satisfied with the results.

The source said that the only issue is that as to who would pay the matching contribution for informal sector workers under the schemes run by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).

Under these schemes, apart from employees, the employers also contribute to social security scheme accounts.

The government, said the source, will have to find some mechanism for informal sector workers as there would not be any employer to contribute for the schemes.

The source said that the under the new code, the issue of contribution by employer is likely to be sorted out.

The code provides that in case of an informal or non- employee worker, the 'principal employer' could be the said worker himself.

Therefore, once the code is enacted, there would not be any hindrance of having 'principal employer' to subscribe the social security schemes run by the EPFO and ESIC for the informal sector workers.

The Code on Social Security & Welfare will combine all the existing 15 laws related to social security including EPF & MP Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Payment of Gratuity Act, Employees Compensation Act, Unorganised Social Security Act, and various Welfare Cess/Fund Acts.Representative Image

NCP chief Sharad Pawar said today that opposition parties will meet in New Delhi on January 29 to mull on the way ahead in the fight against the BJP as they held a march to "save" the Constitution which they said was under "assault".

The march, coinciding with the Republic Day which marks the coming into force of the Constitution, brought several opposition leaders, including from the Left, on a common platform in a show of unity against the ruling BJP with just over a year left for the Lok Sabha polls.

Besides Pawar, Sitaram Yechury (CPI-M) Sharad Yadav (rebel JD-U leader), D Raja (CPI), Hardik Patel (Gujarat's Patidar leader), Dinesh Trivedi (Trinamool Congress), Sushilkumar Shinde (Congress) and states leaders attended the "Save the Constitution" march.

It started from Oval Maidan near the state secretariat and concluded at the Gateway of India in South Mumbai, covering a distance of around two kilometres.

Addressing the media at the Gateway of India, Pawar said it was a joint decision of "like-minded" parties to come together and rally to "save" the Constitution.

"It would be a great disservice to the nation and the Constitution if we do not raise our voice against this," Pawar said.

The former Union minister said leaders of opposition parties would hold the next round of deliberations on January 29 in the national capital.

"All the like-minded parties, committed to our cause, will sit together in Delhi and deliberate on the way ahead to save the Constitution," Pawar said.

NCP leaders Praful Patel and D P Tripathi, former Maharashtra chief minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan and ex-MP Ram Jethmalani were also present.

Yechury claimed the fundamental rights of people, guaranteed by the Constitution, were being "assaulted" by the ruling party.

"All the opposition parties have come together at the Gateway of India, which was once seen as a sign of slavery but is now a sign of freedom to save our democratic institutions, for which we have taken an oath," he said.

The CPI(M) leader said all political parties, that want to save the nation from being "destroyed" by the BJP, will unite against the saffron outfit.

"Our Constitution ensures equality for all. However, the fundamental rights, guaranteed by the Constitution, are being assaulted," he said.

Chavan alleged that the government has moved towards "dictatorship", and all secular people, who have a stake in democracy, should unite to fight against the BJP.

"They are attempting to change the Constitution and this poses a grave threat to the country," Chavan said.

Ever since a Nitish Kumar-led mahagathbandhan (grand alliance) of RJD, JD(U) and Congress handed down a stunning defeat to BJP in 2015 Bihar Assembly election, a grand alliance is being seen as the only way to stop the saffron party which has won elections in nearly a dozen states since 2014.

However, attempts to forge a grand alliance in Uttar Pradesh fizzled out. The Presidential election also saw fresh moves for opposition unity against the BJP but they too came to a cropper.

In July last year, Nitish Kumar-led JD(U)returned to the BJP-led NDA, dealing a blow to efforts to form an anti-BJP front ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that various capacity-building projects have been undertaken through the ASEAN-India funds.

Currently, there are three cooperation funds -- ASEAN- India Fund, ASEAN-India Green Fund and ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund.

Addressing the India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit here, Modi said there has been excellent progress in implementing the objective of the ASEAN-India partnership for peace, progress and shared prosperity through five-year plan of actions.

"The progress in implementing our third action plan for the period of 2016-2020 is commendable. Capacity-building projects have been undertaken through the ASEAN-India cooperation Fund, the ASEAN-India Green Fund and the ASEAN- India Science and Technology Development Fund," he said.

At the 7th ASEAN-India Summit in 2009, India had announced a contribution of USD 50 million to the ASEAN-India Fund, to support implementation of plans of action, which envisage cooperation in a range of sectors in the political, economic and socio-cultural spheres.

Projects worth about USD 48 million are under various stages of implementation or processing, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

Modi had proposed enhancing the ASEAN-India Fund with an additional grant of USD 50 million at the 14th summit in September 2016.

At the 6th ASEAN-India Summit in November 2007 in Singapore, India announced the setting up of an ASEAN-India Science and Technology Development Fund with a USD 1 million contribution to promote joint collaborative R&D projects in the sector.

This fund became operational in 2009-10 and expenditure began to be incurred from financial year 2010-11.

This fund has been enhanced to USD 5 million from 2016- 17. Projects worth USD 0.67 million are already under implementation and new projects are being identified.

At the 6th ASEAN-India Summit on 21 November 2007 in Singapore, India announced the setting up of an ASEAN-India Green Fund with an initial contribution of USD 5 million from India, to support collaboration activities relating to environment and climate change.

Some of the areas identified for collaboration under the fund are climate change, energy efficiency, clean technologies, renewable energy, biodiversity conservation and environmental education.

Projects worth USD 1.97 million covered under this fund are currently at the implementation stage.

The ASEAN comprises 10 south-east Asian states -- Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Laos and Brunei.

Modi said the ASEAN-India business council meeting, the Start up festival and Hackathon have shown encouraging results.

He hoped that the 'project development fund' and quick impact project will help the companies integrate into regional value chain, particularly in textile and garment, pharmaceuticals, agro processing and electronics.

He said people to people contact has been the foundation of close ties for hundreds of years.

Stating that the Indian diaspora has settled far and wide in Southeast Asia, he added they are warmly accepted in the local community.

"Earlier this month, the ASEAN-India Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Singapore recognised their contribution in forging closer ties between us. While at the same time in New Delhi, at the first conference of members of Parliament and mayors with Indian heritage... there was a lot of representation from the ASEAN countries," he said.

To build on the historical bonds, Modi proposed to declare 2019 as ASEAN-India year of tourism.

"We could set up tangible and in-tangible heritage circuits to further promote tourism. The Buddhist tourism circuit could be an important part of this to attract tourist and pilgrims from our region," he said.

Modi said it was a privilege for India to play a role in conservation works of temples in Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR and Vietnam.

"To further empower our youth in the our region, I have the pleasure to announce 1,000 fellowships to students and researchers from ASEAN countries for studying integrated PHD programmes in IIT, India's premiere institution of imparting knowledge," he said.

He said India would also like to offer dedicated courses at the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers for ASEAN highway professionals.

"I also propose to set up a network of universities and encourage greater inter-universities exchanges," he said.(REUTERS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held bilateral talks with his Malaysian counterpart Nazib Razak, focusing on ways to enhance counter-terror cooperation and boost ties in areas of defence, trade and investment.

The external affairs ministry spokesperson said the two leaders had an "engaging" discussion.

"An important strategic partner! PM @narendramodi met with Malaysian Prime Minister @NajibRazak. Two leaders had an engaging discussion on defence and security, trade and investment, counter-terrorism and people to people links. #ASEANIndia," he tweeted.

Razak is among 10 ASEAN leaders who participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit yesterday and watched the Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath today.

Modi also held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR Thongloun Sisoulith during which a range of issues of mutual interests was discussed.

"Longstanding, friendly and mutually supportive relations! In his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister of Lao PDR, Thongloun Sisoulith, PM @narendramodi discussed developmental cooperation, and partnership in trade and HRD.#aseanindia," the MEA spokesperson tweeted.

Sisoulith also participated at the India-ASEAN Commemorative summit and witnessed the Republic Day Parade.

Since Wednesday, Modi had held bilateral meetings with Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha, Singaporean Premier Lee Hsien Loong and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.Congress president Rahul Gandhi today attended the Republic Day Parade and took the designated seat in the sixth row, prompting an angry reaction from his party that accused the government of setting aside tradition and indulging in "cheap politics".

Gandhi was seated in the sixth row, along with Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government's "cheap politics" was at display today when it broke tradition and denied Gandhi a front-row seat.

Congress sources said the party presidents, including Sonia Gandhi who handed over the party reins to Rahul Gandhi in December last year, had always been seated in the front row at the Republic Day Parade.

"The Modi government's cheap politics is for all to see. The Congress president was deliberately made to sit in the sixth row, after initially assigning him a fourth-row seat, at the Republic Day celebrations by the arrogant rulers, who set aside all past traditions. For us the celebration of the Constitution is foremost," Surjewala tweeted in Hindi.

He also tagged a picture of Gandhi seated along with Azad at the Republic Day function.

Former prime ministers H D Deve Gowda and Manmohan Singh were seen seated in the front row in the picture, followed by Union ministers Smriti Irani and Thawarchand Gehlot.

Congress leaders had yesterday alleged that assigning a seat in the fourth row to the Congress president was an attempt to "humiliate" him at a public function, which was attended by heads of government/states of 10 ASEAN countries.

India today celebrated its 69th Republic Day with a grand display of the country's military might and rich cultural diversity in the presence of leaders from all the ASEAN nations, in a historic first and unprecedented strategic outreach to the powerful bloc.

This is for the first time that leaders from 10 countries attended the annual celebrations as chief guests, and the overwhelming presence of the ASEAN leadership is seen as a reflection of India's growing stature as a major power in the region where China has been expanding its footprint.

Last year, Sonia Gandhi was assigned a seat in the front row and was seen sitting along with BJP president Amit Shah. The BJP president was seated in the front row in the function today.

Government sources said that as per the protocol, the Leader of Opposition is accorded a seat in the seventh row.Chinese ride-hailing company DiDi Chuxing launched its smart traffic product named "traffic brain" at a summit in Beijing on Thursday, seeking to optimize urban traffic systems using artificial intelligence.

The product has already been put into use in 20 cities in China and eased traffic jams during rush hours, the company said.

DiDi noted that it aims to reduce 20 percent congestion in each of those cities.

Cheng Wei, founder and CEO, said that the company will cooperate with 10 cities in 2018 to explore a traffic assessment standard and build a smart traffic city model.Morningstar India

Do you feel strongly about climate change or wish to contribute to society but dont know how to go about it? One way to achieve it is through investing in companies/mutual funds which are aligned with your values.

For instance, in the US, investors who feel that they can contribute towards a cleaner environment are backing the California-based automotive firm Tesla which produces zero-emission electric cars.

In investment parlance, this method of investing is known as socially responsible investing which is fast gaining popularity. Morningstar defines sustainable investing as a long-term approach that incorporates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors into the investment process.

Responsible investment does not require ruling out investment in any sector or company. It simply involves including ESG information in investment decision-making keeping.

The acceptance for responsible investing is gaining ground. According to the 2014 Nielsen Global Survey of Corporate Social Responsibility, more than half of consumers surveyed globally said they would be willing to pay more for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact.

Two-thirds said they would prefer to work for a socially responsible company. When it comes to investing, a recent Morgan Stanley survey found 71% of respondents indicated they were interested in sustainable investing.

Investors increasing focus on ESG is evident by the growth in ESG assets globally. According to a McKinsey report, ESG assets totaled USD 22 trillion across Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Europe and the US at the start of 2016. There are 187 US-listed open-end funds and ETFs in this space, with total assets of USD 75 billion.

Internationally, institutional investors who practice ESG investing include Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) of Japan, Norways Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), and the Dutch pension fund ABP.

In the UK, defined schemes are expected to grow six-fold to 1.7trn by 2030 and the UK government is considering issuing guidelines on adopting socially responsible investing.

Many asset managers and retirement funds across the globe have committed to socially responsible investing by being signatories to the United Nations supported network of investors called Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

The PRI works with its international network of signatories to put the six Principles for Responsible Investment into practice. Its goals are to understand the investment implications of environmental, social and governance issues and to support signatories in integrating these issues into investment and ownership decisions.

Back in India, ESG is still a niche market. That said, the government and SEBI has recognized the importance of adopting responsible business practices in the interest of the social set-up.

In fact, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs came out with the 'National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities of Business' in 2011.

From 2012, the top 100 listed companies according to market capitalization are disclosing Business Responsibility Reports in their annual reports.

The size of the ESG linked investments in India is pegged to be USD 30 billion and estimated to touch USD 240 billion in next 10 years, as per cKinetics.

So how do you go about making socially responsible investing? There are two ways to investing in companies which score high on ESG  buying the stock directly or through mutual funds.

In India, there are a handful of socially responsible funds such as Tata Ethical Fund, Taurus and Reliance ETF Shariah BeES which follow the moral codes of Shariah law while investing.

For instance, the Shariah law does not permit investing in companies dealing in alcohol, weapons, gambling and so on. While these funds are around for a long time, they are yet to catch investors fancy.

Morningstar has been helping investors make an informed decision while looking to invest in such funds through its The Morningstar Sustainability RatingTM in developed markets.

It is a measure of how well the holdings in a portfolio are managing their environmental, social, and governance, or ESG, risks, and opportunities relative to their Morningstar Category peers.

In 2016, Morningstar has launched its Morningstar India Sustainability Index which ranks companies as per their ESG score. Technology companies like Wipro, Infosys and Tech Mahindra had the highest ESG score in the Morningstar India Sustainability Index.

This can be a good starting point for Indian bourses filter their socially responsible investing choices. Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and National Stock Exchange also have ESG indices which can help investors screen such companies.

Going ahead, the ESG market is expected to grow rapidly as investors across the globe grow conscious of issues such as environment, workplace policies, product safety, and the global supply chain.

Disclaimer: The author is part of Editorial Team at Morningstar India. The views and investment tips expressed by the 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.Storyboards Anant Rangaswami caught up with Kevin Swanepoel, CEO of The One Club For Creativity, as they announced their partnership with the Kyoorius Group which will be the clubs official representative in India.

Also, Bisleri launches its new campaign for Republic Day.Zhongzhong and Huahua, the world's first cloned monkeys using somatic cells, play in their chamber at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neurosciences in Shanghai.

The successful cloning of two monkeys by Chinese researchers have excited the scientific community, with many calling it a great leap forward in biomedicine.

The two long-tailed macaques named Hua Hua and Zhong Zhong were the first primates cloned using the same techniques that produced Dolly the sheep in 1996.

Insoo Hyun of Case Western Reserves's School of Medicine said the successful cloning of monkeys is a remarkable breakthrough.

"People have been trying for the past 20 plus years to do this since the birth of Dolly sheep...But nobody has ever been able to produce live baby monkeys from this. So it's quite startling," the bioethicist told Canada's CTV NEWS in an interview.

Darren Griffin, a professor of genetics at the University of Kent, called the research "very impressive" from a technical standpoint.

Despite a series of ethical concerns, Griffin said the benefits of this approach, however, are clear.

"A primate model that can be generated with a known and uniform genetic background would undoubtedly be very useful in the study, understanding and ultimately treatment, of human diseases, especially those with a genetic element," he was quoted by the France-based news agency AFP as saying.

Jennifer Barfield, an assistant professor in biomedical sciences at Colorado State University, found the work significant, "particularly for primates, where success hasn't been that easy to come by," she told CNN.

Previously, the technique has only been used to clone animals like dogs, pigs and cats. Primates cloning has proven particularly difficult.

The process involves removing the nucleus from an egg cell and replacing it with another nucleus from differentiated body cells. Then the reconstructed eggs produced embryos, which were put into the wombs of surrogate female monkeys, producing a group of cloned monkeys with the same genetic background.

This success means China will be a pioneer in disease and brain science research by taking cloned macaques as animal models, said Muming Poo of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

"We plan to produce more cloned monkeys designed for gene-related brain diseases, such as the Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease and autism. It will give us an international edge in the research of primate brains," Poo added.North China's Hebei Province, which is plagued by the overuse of underground water, is seeing a rise in underground water levels, thanks to efforts it has made to curb the exploitation.

The province has formed 3.36 billion cubic meters of surface water use capacity to replace underground water exploitation during the past five years, Xu Qin, governor of the province, said at the ongoing local parliamentary session.

Over many years, the province, which lacks water resources, has been largely relying on underground water for grain production. Over 80 percent of farmland irrigation comes from wells.

During the past three decades, the province has reported an over exploitation of about 150 billion cubic meters of underground water, resulting in problems such as the drying up of rivers, shrinking of wetlands, ground subsidence and sea water encroachment.

The province has made use of the south-to-north water diversion project, and constructed some water conservation projects, to increase the use of surface water from outside the province, according to a government report.

In December 2017, Hebei designated an area of about 2,500 square km where underground water exploitation has been banned as well as 40,000 square km where it has been restricted.

In 2018, the province will continue its efforts to restore underground water levels and reduce the over exploitation of underground water for agricultural use by 258 million cubic meters.Since being launched in 2010, China's first petaflop supercomputer Tianhe-1 has served more than 1,600 clients as of the end of 2017.

The computer, housed at the National Center for Supercomputing in the northern port city of Tianjin, is performing an average of 1,400 online tasks on a daily basis, said Zhang Ting, an engineer with the center.

Zhang said that with the help of Tianhe-1, the center is capable of technologies such as super computing, cloud computing and big data, offering support for research institutes, universities, companies and governments around the country.

It is estimated that Tianhe-1 has helped hundreds of companies save up to 100 million yuan (15.65 million U.S. dollars) of R&D investment, and brought in over 3-billion-yuan profit for them, she said.

The supercomputer serves industries including animation, online finance and big data, as well as e-governance of the Binhai New Area.

Tianhe-1, which is capable of at least 1 million billion calculations per second, was unveiled to the world in 2010.

Zhang said that the center would further incorporate the technologies of big data and cloud computing with traditional industries, and better serve advanced and hi-tech manufacturing sectors.